We hope that our children and families enjoy the half term break next week.  The weather is hopefully staying dry and warm and everyone can enjoy a relaxing break.  We return to school on Monday 5th June for an exciting summer term.

Outdoor Learning

We are always keen to make further improvements to our outdoor learning provision and are asking if parents / carers have any of the following that could be donated to the school for children to create things and use their imagination in their outdoor learning sessions.

We are looking for a variety of items including:

• pots and pans

• wood, drain pipe, pipes

• measuring jugs

If you are able to help with donations of the above or any items that will aid outdoor learning throughout the school please let us now via ask@oldcastleprimary.co.uk or drop the items into main reception when we return to school.  Thank you for your support.

Central South Consortium - Oldcastle Success

We were delighted to have our success celebrated in the recent Central South Consortium Snippets of Success publication.  The report highlighted success with our well-being dog, family engagement and wellbeing champions.  The read the report please click here.

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

Sports Day - Years 1 to 6

Sports Day for children in years 1 to 6 will take place on Friday 30th June.  Children in years 1 to 3 will complete their events in the morning and years 4 to 6 in the afternoon.  

We are still finalising details for the nursery and reception children.

Sports Day - Nursery and Reception

Nursery and Reception sports day is now confirmed for Thursday 6th July in the afternoon.  The event will take place in Heronsbridge School.

E Safety reminder to parents

Pupils are not permitted to carry mobile phones in school.  If a mobile phone is bought into school by an older pupil this should be handed to the class teacher at morning registration and released at the end of the day. 

Children should not wear smartwatches to school that can take photographs or are connected to the internet.  The functionality of these watches poses concerns regarding privacy and safety as children are freely allowed to take photos in all areas of the school. 

Thank you for your support.

Careers Week - Don't forget to get in touch if you can help with our second Careers Week

Our aim is to inspire and educate our children and enthuse them about the array of different jobs that can be done.  We are hoping that we can encourage our parents to get involved in our Careers Week by coming along to school and talking or demonstrating what you do in your job.  If you cannot visit but are able to support us in another way, for instance a pre recorded session or other support, please let us know via the Google Form below. We are looking for a range of different job roles and this is the type of information we think would be useful :

• Explain what your job is and what your day-to-day responsibilities.

• How long have you worked in this job?

• What do you love the most about your job?

• When did you decide you wanted to work in this job role?

• Did you have to do any training for your job role?

• Was there something you learnt/did at school or someone that inspired you to pursue this line of work?

• Practical display - ie show something about your job or do a display for instance flower arranging - florist

We are looking for a wide variety of career / job options that will inspire our children.  If you can help out please let us know by completing and submitting this form.

Careers Week

If you require further information please get in touch with Sara Peters, Grants, Media and Health and Safety Manager on 01656 815790.

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. 

Nursery

This week in Nursery the children are reading the Gingerbread Man.  They have made their own gingerbread men.  Keep your eye out in case one escapes! 

Reception

Reception have been busy making and baking bread this week.  The class have been learning all about the 'Little Red Hen' and followed her recipe to make and taste their own bread.  It smelt and looked amazing Da Iawn! 

Year 1 have been busy with their outdoor learning today making potions and they decided to try and build their own 'fires' too. 

Year 2 are looking at past and present as part of their current topic and enjoyed a wander round the school to identify older parts of the school.  The old part of Oldcastle School was built in 1912 and Mrs Roberts managed to find some photos of the new part of the school being built in 2009.

Nursery Numbers and Play

To celebrate Elmer Day on the 27th May, we had an Elmer themed Number and Play session this week.  We read the story of ‘Elmer and the Wind’, the children made some brightly coloured ‘Elmer light catchers’ and played an Elmer dice game.  You can find lots of free, fun activities to do at home on the Elmer website at elmer.co.uk.  

Reception L have been reading the Magic Paintbrush recently and made their own Dragons this week.  They look fantastic. 

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.  

Bridgend Schools Tennis Tournament

Well done to our years 3 & 4 boys and girls for winning the Bridgend Schools Tennis competition today. Thank you to Bridgend Tennis Club for hosting.  Well done to everyone who played. 

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. 

Inset Days 2022 / 23

Inset days for the remainder of the school year

• Friday 26th May 2023

• Monday 24th July 2023

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

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

• School year finishes on Friday 21st July

Wednesday 7th June - Class and Team Photos

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