What another busy week we've had at Oldcastle.  We've had quite a few visitors into school recently who have all commented how polite our pupils are.  It's always pleasing to hear comments like these and we encourage pupils to hold open doors and greet visitors when they pass in the corridors.  Da Iawn plant.

We finished off our busy week with a whole school singing assembly this morning followed by a varied enrichment afternoon. 

House Rewards

Children enjoyed taking part in their house rewards this week.  Monday was a busy day with children making pizza's, riding scooters and bikes, and enjoying extra playtime.  

Parents Evening

All parents from full time nursery to year 6 will have received an email this week to book an appointment for parents evening.  If you haven't received an email please let us know.  The appointments will be held week beginning 27th March and will be in person appointments held in your child’s classroom between 3.30pm and 6.30pm.  Telephone appointments will be available by request only.   

The PTA will be offering refreshments in the main hall from 3.30pm to 5.45pm we hope you can support them and take time to enjoy some time with other parents.  We are also offering parents the opportunity to have a tour of the school and see parts of the school that you may not see.  This will include our radio station.  Tours will take place at 4pm and 5pm.   

If you need any assistance with the booking please get in touch.

Cross Country - Years 3 to 6 - Saturday 11th March

The next schools cross country race will be held at Pencoed Comprehensive School on Saturday 11th March.  If your child is wanting to attend please meet at 9.30am for a 10am start.  Mrs Evans will be at the cross country to coordinate events.

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@oldcastlprimary.co.uk) or complete the change of details form.  

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. 

School Meals

The School Catering team have made a couple of amendments to the school meal menu.  This new version of the menu will be implemented from Monday 13th March.  The menu will be on week 3 from 13th March. 

Journalism Competition

Are you a budding journalist? Do you have a story to tell? Are you dedicated to making changes to our world?  As part of our work with Voice 21 we promote the sharing of stories and ideas. 

Our school is getting involved in The Day’s Global Young Journalist Awards this year, so we encourage all pupils to enter! It’s a free journalism competition for under 18s that aims to inspire future journalists to build a better world through storytelling.  This year’s awards deadline is Wednesday 19th April, meaning projects can be finalised over the Easter Holiday if needed.

For more information and to download the pupil and parent information pack, please visit Young Journalist Award Entry Pack. 

Please note: this is a home learning task and is not compulsory. If you would like any support in submitting applications, please speak to Mrs Burr.    

Welsh Games

Children and parents may find the following links helpful to understand welsh that is being taught in Oldcastle. The final link provides useful information of adults to learn welsh. 

Useful Welsh links

Admissions to school

Please refer to the Bridgend Council website for details of applications to school, currently applications are open for children moving to secondary school and children  moving from nursery to reception.

Applications are open from 9th January for admission to nursery with a start date from September 2023

BCBC School Admissions

Junior Squash Competition

Well done to Heidi in year 4 who played in the South Wales Junior squash  open recently and won the U11 event at only 9.   We enjoy earning about her success and dedication and drive to perfect her squash game. 

Squash Wales Selection

We are also pleased to hear that Eliza from year 6 has been chosen to represent Wales at the upcoming 5 Nations squash competition in Scotland!! Wow what a fantastic achievement and we are delighted to hear about this selection.  We can't wait to hear how Eliza gets on in the competition. 

Bridgend Girls District Football Team

Well done to Seren H in year 3 who has been selected to for Bridgend Girls District Football team.  Following two weeks of trials Seren has just found out she has been slected.  Da Iawn Seren!!

Enrichment

So lovely to see such lovely activities taking place throughout the school and beyond for our Friday afternoon enrichment programme.  This term we have such a variety of activities taking place including llino printing, fabric printing, line dancing, cooking, gardening, lego, science experiments, fitness, tennis, fencing, felt, digital skills, textiles to name a few!

Language and Play

We had a good turnout for Nursery Language and Play this week.  Parents / Carers and children enjoyed listening to the story ‘The Tiger who came to tea’ and creating their own tiger masks with Mrs Diehl, our Family Engagement Officer. Looks like great fun! 

Huxley and Mabel Artwork

The artwork developed by our year 1 pupils with local artist Huxley and Mabel is looking great on the wall! Well done year 1 we love it. 

Sink or Float

Reception have been enjoying discovering if their boats made over half term sink or float.  Looks like a fun learning activity! 

GIRLS TENNIS OPPORTUNITY - please see below information received from Bridgend Tennis Club

We want girls across Britain to pick up a racket and start playing tennis on their terms, with Prime Video LTA Youth Girls 

The course costs £35 for 6 sessions of coaching, as well as a t-shirt, tennis racket and tennis balls so they can keep practicing at home or at your local courts 

Delivered by Tennis Wales’ Development Coach of the Year 2023 Mark Thomas, the 6 week introductory course is packed with games and exercises to build confidence and skills on court, all whilst having fun with friends 

Girls 4-6 years: https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/BridgendTennisClub/BookCourse/fc2f26c3-be68-4081-85e8-1cfffcd60bce 

Girls 7-9 years: https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/BridgendTennisClub/BookCourse/dc51b4d1-159f-4652-8c35-61cd2d02134e 

Girls 10-12 years: https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/BridgendTennisClub/BookCourse/1d8f32e9-6050-4f3b-ad85-55515b91ab68 

Girls 13-16 years: https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/BridgendTennisClub/BookCourse/b5562a2e-c9e8-4696-93b2-919a34479d57

Inset Days 2022 / 23

Inset days for the remainder of the school year

• Friday 31st March 2023

• Friday 26th May 2023

• Monday 24th July 2023

Term Dates - all term dates are available to view on our website

• Easter Holidays - Monday 3rd April to Friday 14th April

• May Half Term - Monday 29th May to Friday 2nd June

• School year finishes on Friday 21st July

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. 

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