Week 6 - Friday 13th October 2023
Thank you for your support over the past week and ensuring children did not return to school following any sickness or diarrhoea. We are still in contact with Environmental Health and following their advice. We have a small number of cases throughout the school and we ask that parents adhere to the 48 hour rule.
Welsh Coffee Morning
We would like to invite parents to a coffee morning on Monday 16th October at 9.10am to find out how we teach welsh in school. Some of our children will be chatting to parents and informing you what they are learning in welsh.
Pupil Voice
A huge thank you to all the pupils who applied for one of the Pupil Voice roles. It has been a fantastic couple of days listening to our pupils explain why they love Oldcastle and want to be part of Oldcastle's Pupil Voice team. Yesterday was a tense afternoon; all our houses got together and listened to the House Captain pledges. We were incredibly proud of each and every one of them who put forward their videos. After the voting, we can announce that the following House Captains were chosen:
Ty Melin
Rosie and Esmay
Ty Coch
Viktorija and Sofia
Ty Gwyrdd
Leila and Isla
Ty Glas
Darcey and Matthew
Unfortunately, due to the sickness bug, not all Class Reps have been able to present to their class, we have extended their deadline to next week and they will be announced in our Whole School celebration next Friday.
Discovery Week - Monday 23rd October to Friday 27th October
We are excited to launch our Discovery Week from 23rd to 27th October. Discovery week is about igniting curiosity and inspiring creativity within Science and Technology. Throughout the week, pupils will have the opportunity to participate in a range of interactive and engaging activities and experiments.
Each year group will have a specific focus and an outcome to achieve at the end of the week. We invite parents into the big hall at the end of the day on Friday 27th October to view the completed work.
Please read our timetable below and find out if your child's year group will require any donations to help with their projects.
Parents Evening Appointments
Parents evening appointments for reception to year 6 have been sent to parents this week, if you have not received please get in touch with us.
Appointments will take place week beginning 23rd October.
Nursery parents will be invited into school to view children's work and have an opportunity to chat with Mrs Evans.
Schools Cross Country Competition Year 3 to 6
Well done to all children who represented the school at the Schools Cross Country competition last Saturday. We were really impressed with the number of children who took part in the races.
School Attendance
Attendance at school is important. Our whole school target for attendance is 95%.
School Vacancies
We have vacancies for Learning Support Officers and Lunchtime Supervisors. Please click here for more information.
Dinner Money
Payment for school dinners should 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.
School Swimming
Year 5 will be completing school swimming in the coming weeks. 5R will swim for one week from 16th October and 5P will swim from 23rd October. Children will require a swimming costume, towel and goggles.
Toys
Please can we ask that children do not bring their own toys into school. Any toys which do appear will be collected and returned to carers at the end of the day.
Individual Class Photos
Individual class photos are being taken on Wednesday 18th October. Children should attend school in uniform.
Year 5 request
At Oldcastle Primary School, we have been studying Democracy and Parliament as part of our Year 5 focus. We have learned all about having a voice that our voice can change our future. With this in mind we have been assigned a project to make improvements to our school. Our group focus is the Outdoor area and we propose to change the look of our school by painting murals on our sheds and walls of our school . We feel we need to make this school improvement because children think that the walls are grey and dull and because we do not have any green spaces, the yard is boring.
We wondered if you were able to donate some paint, brushes, rollers and dust sheets so then we can lower the budget of our school.
If you are able to help us, please email year 5 at ask@oldcastleprimary.co.uk and tell us what you are able to donate.
We would appreciate it very much if you are able to support us with the changes we want to make to improve the look of our school for the future .
School Values
The school values for October is Respect and Responsibility
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
School Vision
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.
PTA
PTA Fundraiser - Personalised Christmas Cards
Your child will have come home with a template this week to order personalised Christmas products. This template can be used to create a design for personalised Christmas cards, mugs, bags etc. Please help your child to create a festive design on the template.
· Make sure your design is within the borders.
· Use bright colours, paint, felt tips, crayons and coloured card.
· Don't use glitter, 3D objects (pom poms etc), Sellotape, staples, glossy or metallic paper.
· All designs must be PORTRAIT, not landscape.
· Write your child's name and class in block CAPITALS at the top of the template in the space provided.
Please return templates to school by Friday 20th October.
You will then receive a personalised order form displaying your child's design and how it will appear on the cards. There will be full instructions on how to order cards, mugs and tea towels etc online.
More information can be found at https://www.classfundraising.co.uk/.
Please help the PTA raise funds and support this fundraising project.
Pupil Success
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.
School Photos
Keep Mi Sessions
Some Reception families have taken part in our Keep Mi sessions this week. The project supports learning and play at home and provides families with a range of resources to use at home. We were delighted to receive these photos to show how the boxes are being used at home.
Nursery this week
Nursery have been making the most of the dry autumn weather. We collected conkers, leaves and pine cones. We made faces.
Year 2
This week Year 2 have been learning how to use the mud kitchen properly and have also made some bug hotels. We’re hoping lots of mini beasts will come and visit.
Year 5
Year 5 have enjoyed nature walks for their outdoor learning over the last few weeks with Mr Murdoch. Looks great fun!
Shocktober Training
Thank you to our lovely visitors earlier this week who talked to our years 4 and 5 pupils about lifesaving skills. We are very grateful and we were very impressed with the questions form our pupils!
Enrichment
Community News
Girls Football
Useful Dates
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
Safeguarding
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.