Our first month of the school year has flown by!  October is upon us next week and we have lots of exciting learning planned for our pupils!  At the end of October we will invite parents into school for Parents Evening meetings. Parents will be invited to book a 10 minute appointment with your child's class teacher via our website booking system.. Details of the booking dates and times will be sent to parents next week. Another date for your diary is 18th October when the school photographer will be in to take individual child photos.

Outdoor Learning

As we head into the autumn period please can we ask that children bring a waterproof coat with them to school each day.  We complete a lot of outdoor learning at Oldcastle and children will require a coat if the weather is wet.  This week our year 4E children went on a nature walk in Newbridge Fields with their class teacher and Mr Murdoch, our Outdoor Learning Champion. Throughout the term children in all year groups will be taking part in onsite outdoor learning lessons and we can't wait to share more information with parents.

Schools Cross Country Competition Year 3 to 6

The Schools Cross Country competition starts from Saturday 7th October.  Please find details from the organisers below.

School Savings Club

School Savings Club is back up and running following the summer break.  Savings Club continues every Wednesday mornings with the help of our year 6 pupils.  If you would like more information on the savings club please follow this link.

School Savings Scheme

Enrichment

The enrichment programme will take place on Friday afternoons and will give the children opportunities to try new and varied activities that may not strictly fit into the curriculum, but that develop character, resilience and motivation, and encourage them to pursue wider goals.

It helps to teach life skills that benefit children beyond the classroom and can develop an appreciation for cultural and community issues, teamwork and social responsibility.

Nursery to year 4 pupils will undertake the enrichment activities at school, however, years 5 and 6 will be using the sports hall at the Bridgend Recreation Centre, Newbridge Fields and Bridgend Tennis Centre.  The children will leave after lunch and return before the end of the school day. 

If the children are undertaking an Enrichment activity that is sport-related they will need to wear their PE kit on Fridays. 

These are the activities that children will participat in throughout the autumn term.  Children in reception to year 6 will rotate through various activities.

Cycling Proficiency Year 6

Year 6 pupils have been sent home with letters from  BCBC's Road Safety Team offering them the opportunity to participate in The National Standard Cycling training. Supporting information was sent with the letter regarding expectations and required equipment.  The deadline for consent returns is Friday 6th October.  

When we have confirmed the numbers, we will book a date and inform those children and parents involved. If you would like your child to take part but do not have access to a suitable bike, please contact ask@oldcastleprimary.co.uk and we can discuss options.  

School Attendance

Attendance at school is important. Our whole school target for attendance is 95%, this week attendance was 94.6%. 

Panto Trip - Years 1 to 6

We have provisionally booked this years Panto in Porthcawl for years 1 to 6 on Wednesday 20th December 2023. This years Panto is Beauty and Beast.  The trip will take place during the school day and children will require a packed lunch on the day, they will also be able to take a small bag of sweets and a carton of juice. The cost of the trip is £11 per child, the school is making a donation towards the cost of the transport in an attempt to keep the cost down for our families.

We are required to provide final numbers by October 28th, if you wish to secure a place for your child please log on to your ParentPay account and arrange payment by October 27th. Once we have confirmed numbers with the venue on October 28th we cannot guarantee further places, please ensure you have made payment by this date.

School Vacancy

We have vacancies for Lunchtime Supervisors.  Please click here for more information.

Lost Property

Four weeks into the school year and we have a vast amount of lost property.  If your child has lost an item please remind them to check lost property or pop in reception ad take a look for the item.

Trikes and scooters

Our nursery would like to replace some of their damaged scooters and trikes.  If you have any of these items that could be donated to the school and are in a good condition please let us know. Thank you for your support.

Dinner Money

Payment for school dinners shoould be made via the Bridgend Council website.  Please ensure your child's account has funds at least 48 hours before they require a school dinner.

Brynteg Open Evening - Years 5 and 6 

Please find below an invitation from Brynteg School regarding an Open Evening on 12th October from 4pm to 6:30pm. During the Open Evening, you will get the opportunity to meet the Headteacher, Mr. Davies, myself (Lauren Mackie, Deputy Headteacher), Mr. Steven Vicker (Year 7 Year Leader), Mrs. Tina Kersahw (Year 7 Assistant Year Leader) and lots of other members of staff from all of our areas of learning, as well as some of our current pupils. 

Our Sixth Form Prefects will take you on a guided tour of the school and you will also be invited to attend a presentation about Brynteg School from Mr. Davies and myself, where you will be able to ask any questions you may have. In order to ensure the evening runs as smoothly as possible, you will be required to arrive using the following school entrance: 

Oldcastle Primary: Please enter using the entrance off Ewenny Road (opposite Heronsbridge School). There is a car park at the top of the driveway for you to use should you require it. 

Family Engagement Course - Reception Parents

We are delighted to offer Parents and carers of Reception children the opportunity to participate in a Family Engagement Project.  This project will support learning and play at home for 6 weeks and provide families with a range of resources in these ‘Keepmi’ boxes.

The first session will begin on Tuesday 3rd October, between 9 am and 10.00 am and run for a six week period. This session will introduce the project and how to use the ‘Keepmi’ boxes.  Following the introduction of the project to parents, there will be an opportunity for the children to join you for a short parent/ child activity.

Due to having a limited number of ‘Keepmi’ boxes available, places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.  If you would be interested in attending the 6 sessions then please complete the google form below.  

Keepmi Course

Language and Play Sessions - Nursery Parents

We are delighted to be offering Nursery parents, carers and children the opportunity to participate in Language and Play sessions.   There will be six sessions in total that will focus on the importance of language and learning through the medium of play, songs and rhymes and everyday activities.

The first session will begin on Thursday 12th October at 9am to 10.30am.  Please take the children to nursery as normal and then we ask that you sign in at our main reception. The session will provide you with an opportunity to get to know other nursery parents and then your child will come and join in with the activities.  The places will be allocated on a first come first served basis, but if there is a high enough demand then extra dates may be added.  

Language and Play Booking Form

Early Help Course - The Nurturing Programme

If you are interested and would like further information please contact easthubreferrals@bridgend.gov.uk

Throughout the year we will implement the following values each month.

• September - Determination and Perseverance

• October - Respect and Responsibility

• November - Friendship and forgiveness 

• December - Compassion and Hope  / Understanding and Patience

• January - Community and Service 

• February - Co-operation and being a good citizen within society

• March - Learning and Effort

• April - Showing gratitude

• May - Care and Generosity

• June - Honesty and trust

• July - Taking and managing risks

At Oldcastle, we are proud of each other and ourselves. We nurture all of our community so that we grow as confident, responsible and happy people. Oldcastle school is more than just learning.

• We try hard for each other

• We act responsibly

• We treat people how we’d like to be treated

• We work as a team

• We trust and respect each other

• We listen and learn together

• We share knowledge and experience

Together we make the difference

Together we shape innovative experiences 

More information on our values and visions can be found on our website.  Visions and Values

Nut Free School

Please can we remind parents that we strive to be a nut free school as we have a number of pupils who have a severe allergy to nuts.  

This includes nut products such as peanut butter and nutella. 

Contact details

Please ensure we have up to date contact details for you to ensure you keep up to date with school news and we are able to contact you during the school day if required.  You can either email us with change of details (ask@oldcastleprimary.co.uk) or complete the change of details form.  

We love to hear about all of the exciting achievements of our pupils during out of school activities. Please share any successes with us at ask@oldcastleprimary.co.uk and include a photograph and details of the achievement to be included in future newsletters. 

Ukulele Club

Some of our year 4 pupils loved Ukulele Club with Miss Vaughan this week!

Enrichment

Nursery have had a busy week with learning all about autumn, making autumn wreaths with the leaves they have found and climbing wall activities.

Free Tennis Session for Reception and Year 1 pupils

Bridgend Tennis Club are offering a free taster session to children in Reception and Year 1.   Please contact Head Coach Mark to arrange a free taster session at the club:

Tel: 07816915836

Email: markthomas@bridgendtennis.club

More information on Bridgend Tennis Club can be viewed here.

Girls Football 

• 7th October - Years 3 to 6 Schools Cross Country

• 16th October to 20th October - 5R Swimming

• 18th October - Individual Class Photos

• 23rd October to 27th October - 5P Swimming

• 30th October to 3rd November - October Half Term

• 6th November to  10th November - 6I Swimming

• 13th November to 17th November - 6M Swimming

• 15th November - Governors Annual Report to Parents Meeting 5.30pm

• 4th to 6th December - Year 6 Residential Tripto Culmington Manor

• 21st December to 8th January - Christmas Holiday

Parents Evenings are planned for week beginning 23rd October 2023 and 11th March 2024.

Inset Days 2023/24

Inset Days have been approved by Governors for 2023/24 and they are as follows:

• Monday 4th September 2023

• Friday 22nd December 2023

• Monday 19th February 2024

• Friday 22nd March 2024

• Monday 3rd June 2024

• Monday 22nd July 2024

P.E. lessons this term will take place on the following days.  Children attending school should wear their P.E. kit to school on the day of their lesson.

• Nursery - Thursday

• Reception -  Thursday

• Year 1 - Wednesday

• Year 2 - Monday

• Year 3 - Thursday

• Year 4 - Tuesday

• Year 5 - Wednesday

• Year 6 - Monday

In the event that you have a concern regarding a child please follow this procedure:

• During school hours please contact Mrs Ceri Littlewood, safeguarding lead at Oldcastle Primary School.

• Out of school hours please  contact  the  out of hours Emergency Duty Team Tel No 01443743665

More information on Safeguarding at Oldcastle can be found on our website.