Wow we will be going into our last week of this half term next week - we can't believe how quickly these first weeks of the school year have gone!  We are sure you will agree that children have settled into school routines and we hope have been keeping you up to date with their learning experiences at Oldcastle.  Next week is a busy last week of term as we launch our first Discovery Week and we will also be holding parents evenings meetings.  

Don't forget we break up for half term on Friday 27th October and return to school on Monday 6th November.

Thank You Team Oldcastle

We have to say a massive thank you to our staff for their patience and resilience this week whilst we have had no internet connection!  Our wonderful staff were able to quickly adapt to ensure the smooth running of the school.  The local authority have informed us they hope to restore the connection early next week.

Welsh Coffee Morning

Criw Cymraeg were delighted to show parents and carers what our children learn in Welsh earlier this week. Thank you to those parents / carers who supported our #shwmae coffee morning. Criw Cymraeg loved showing their work.

Pupil Voice

We now have a full membership of Pupils Voice throughour the school. Today in assembly we celebrated all the pupils that have been selected to form the various parts of Pupil Voice.

House Captains

Ty Melin - Rosie and Esmay

Ty Coch - Viktorija and Sofia 

Ty Gwyrdd - Leila and Isla

Ty Glas - Darcey and Matthew

Well being Champions

Well done to all our well-being champions who will be working closely with Mrs Evans and Mrs Jury to develop well-being in the school.

Carys, Henry, Izzy, Milena, Harriet, Evie and Libby

Class Representatives

Well done to our class representatives from years 2 to 6 who have been selected to work as a team and ensure their class voice is heard in the school.

Lilly M (2C), Lily M (2D), Avya (3A), Gracie-Rose (3S), Bette (4T), William (4E), 

Sofia (5P), Boaz(5R), Daniel (6I) and Daisy (6M)

Criw Cymraeg

Criw Cymraeg play an important role in school developing our welsh provision.  Thank you all for your contribution.  This week the group toured the school with our School Challenge Advisor who was very impressed with their welsh knowledge.

Lewis (6M), Theo (6M, Viktorija (6M), Mya (6M), Isla (6I), Toby (6I), Darcey (6I), Macy (6I), Perla (6I), Aaron (5R), Nell (5R), Henry (5R), Ava (5R), Aled (5P), Llew (5P), Sofia (5P), Sophie (5P), Amelia (4E), Lottie (4E), Jack (4E), Roux (4E), Bette (4T), Izzy (4T), Reuben (4T) and Milena (4T)

Discovery Week - Monday 23rd October to Friday 27th October

We can't wait to launch Discovery Week next week.  Here's a reminder of what your children will be doing in school.  We look forward to sharing photos with you on our social media sites and the weekly newsletter next week.

Parents Evening Appointments

Parents evening meetings will take place next week.  Appointments will be held in your child's classroom, parents should enter the school via main reception.

Nursery Parents

We would like to invite nursery parents to an informal session on Tuesday 24th October between 2pm and 3pm.  Mrs Evans will provide parents with details of the learning your child has been taking part in since September. The session will be held in the main hall.  Children will not attend the session and will remain in nursery.

Individual and Sibling Photos

Individual and sibling photos were taken in school this week.  Proofs have been sent to parents - please follow the instructions on the proof to order photos directly with Tempest Photography.  

School Swimming

5P will be completing school swimming next week. Children will require a swimming costume, towel and goggles.

6I will start a week of swimming from 6th November and 6M from 13th November.  

All children attending swimming lessons will require a packed lunch.

School Attendance

Attendance at school is important. Our whole school target for attendance is 95%.

School Dentist Team

The school dentist team will be visiting on Monday 6th November to administer fluoride varnish to children in nursery, reception, year 1 and 2 whose parents have provided consent.

School Vacancies

We have vacancies for Lunchtime Supervisors. This role Monday to Friday 11.30am to 1.30pm.  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.

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.  

PTA Fundraiser - Personalised Christmas Cards

The deadline for orders closed today.  The PTA will forward your designs and orders to the company who will ensure you receive these in time for Christmas.

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. 

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.

Language and Play Session

We have had a busy two weeks un Language and Play nursery sessions.  The children looked at the books Going on a Bear Hunt and The Tiger  Who Came to Tea and have made lots of exciting things, including binoculars and tiger plates.  Mrs Diehl has been super impressed with creations and their singing! Well done everyone!

Brynteg Visit to Year 6

Thank you Brynteg School for visiting this week to start transition with our year 6 pupils.  Looks like everyone enjoyed learning about life in Brynteg!

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

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

• 6th November School Dentist Team

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

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

• 15th November - Governors Annual Report to Parents Meeting 6pm

• 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.