Bump Up Day

Next week on Thursday 29th June children will be meeting their class teacher for the next academic year.  We will all meet in the main hall to announce who the teachers will be for each class and then children will go with their new teacher to spend time in their new classroom.  On this day we will email parents to let you know who your child's teacher will be for the following year. There is always a buzz of excitement on Bump Up Day and we look forward to announcing class teachers next week.

Year 6 pupils will be visiting Brynteg on this day as part of their transition arrangements.  Please note Brynteg have requested that parents drop off and collect your child.  Please get in touch with us if you haven't already if this causes a problem to year 6 parents.

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.  

The timings for the day are as follows:

• 9.30am to 12pm - Years 1, 2 and 3 events - Children will return to school for lunch.

• 12.30pm to 3pm - Years 4, 5 and 6 - Children will need to bring sandwiches on this day.

Please ensure that all children attend school with a bottle of water, a hat and sun cream applied.

The PTA will be providing refreshments on the day.  If you are able to help out please get in touch.  The PTA will also be hoping for cake donations for the event.  If you are able to donate a cake please bring into the main office at school drop off (9am), homemade cakes will require a list of ingredients included.  Thank you for your support.

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.  Please ensure that all children attend school with a bottle of water, a hat and sun cream applied.

The PTA will be providing refreshments on the day.  If you are able to help out please get in touch.  The PTA will also be hoping for cake donations for the event.  If you are able to donate a cake please bring into the main office at school drop off (9am), homemade cakes will require a list of ingredients included.  Thank you for your support.

House Colour T-shirts

House colour t-shirts ordered through the Ckeey Baby T-shirts websute will be collected by the PTA over the weekend and these will be sent home to parents with children on Monday 26th June.

Universal Free School Meals

Children in Reception, Years 1 and Years 2 are provided with  universal free school meals as part of a Welsh Government initiative.  The year groups are provided with a hot school dinner, if requested, on a daily basis.  When these year groups are on a school trip the provision will be a packed lunch and we ask that parents complete a Google form to confirm if they require a packed lunch provided by the school or if they will provide their own packed lunch.  If your child is in one of these year groups and on a school trip please look out for an email to confirm if you require a packed lunch for your child.  Please get in touch if you would like further information.

Class Photos

All parents will have received an email with a link to purchase your child's class photo that was recently taken at school.  Please order the photo directly with Tempest Photography.

There will be a free “deliver to school” option open until 29th June otherwise home delivery is available for £5 postage and packing. If you need assistance please call  Tempest on 01736 751555 (option 5) or click on contact us on the Tempest home page.

If you have not received an email from us with a link to order the photo please get in touch via ask@oldcastleprimary.co.uk 

Criw Cymraeg 

We are preparing for our Bronze Award verification in the next few weeks. We want everyone to speak as much Welsh as possible and to be enthusiastic about the Welsh language! If you would like to find out the targets we have already completed make sure you visit our Siarter Iaith Padlet. 

Our challenge for the week will be to use Welsh when asking for things in school and at home. We especially want to see our phrase of the week used during lunchtimes! Da iawn! 

This week’s word and phrase of the week are-

Word of the Week- Bwyd - Food

Phrase of the Week- Ga i… os gwelwch yn dda.  

Community Food Hub

Thank you to the parents who have been in touch regarding our Community Food Hub.  We hope to arrange a get together soon to discuss further.  If you still haven't heard about our idea please see below:

We are looking to create a Community Food Hub for the wider community to provide food parcels.  The food parcels would be offered at a discounted or pay as you feel rate and would be operated as a not for profit enterprise.  Our aim is to contribute to the reduction of food poverty and food insecurity. We would like reach out to our school community to find out if there are any volunteers that would be able to set up and run this venture once a month.  We would also be grateful for businesses to support the venture and help with initial set up costs.

If you think you can help please get in touch with Sara Peters via our ask@oldcastleprimary.co.uk or by phone on 01656 815790.

School Savings Club

School savings club will continue every Wednesday until 12th July - this will be the last savings club until the next academic year.

Message from Bridgend Lifesavers - 

As we near the end of the school year, I wanted to message all our school savers. It has been a really positive year and we continue to grow our school membership. I would like to thank all the staff, children and families who embrace the school savings – it really is fantastic to visit the schools and meet so many of our savers building good habits and learning about money management.

The children do not need to withdraw any savings as we will return in September, but if your child does want to withdraw some, or all of their savings, a BACs withdrawal (Bank Transfer) can be done online at any time by their parent/guardian at School Withdrawal Form - Bridgend School Savings. BACs transfers are the easiest way to withdraw their savings and we encourage all our savers to choose this option, where possible. We aim to process all BACs withdrawals within 48hrs.

During the summer holidays we can be contacted through our website at Bridgend School Savings - Part of Bridgend Life Savers Union or by visiting the main Bridgend Lifesavers Credit Union office where they can continue to save their pocket money.

A note for Year 6s. If they have a younger sibling in school, they are more than welcome to continue saving for them. Alternatively, they can save directly with the credit union by setting up a standing order or by visiting the branch in Bridgend. 

If you have any other questions, you can find lots of information at Bridgend School Savings - Part of Bridgend Life Savers Union. You can contact us directly through the website (including during the school holidays) or by email at damianf@blscu.co.uk.

Thanks once again for all your support!

Kind regards,

Damian Faulkner

School Partnerships

Email: damianf@blscu.co.uk

Website: www.bridgendschoolsavings.com

Careers Week

Following the success of careers week we thought we'd share that 91% of children said that they have more idea about the types of jobs that are available.  The aim of Careers Week is to inspire, educate and enthuse children with the array of different job types that are available.  So we are delighted to learn so many enjoyed the week. 

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. 

This week Reception have been learning about Africa and made African masks. The children researched masks together and then followed a set of instructions to make ther own masks. They look fabulous.

Year 5 have been archaeologists this week, excavating Anglo-Saxon treasure clues for their new The Literacy Tree book, Beowulf by Michael Morpurgo.

Enrichment

Year 5 upcycling enrichment. Sanding down furniture, they realised how hard it was. 

Year 2 made some yummy looking Pad Thai this afternoon.

Year 6 have been weaving today with the help of Laura Thomas.  Looks fantastic we look forward to seeing how these will be used in their fashion show.

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. 

The PTA are organising Oldcastle Rocks again this year.  Save the date Saturday 8th July 2pm to 6pm!

Diary Dates

30th June - Years 1 to 6 Sports Day

3rd July - Year 5 trip to the Senedd

6th July - Year 2 trip to Porthcawl Museum and Lifeboat Station

6th July - Nursery and Reception Sports Day

8th July - Oldcastle Rocks 

Inset Days 2022 / 23

Inset days for the remainder of the school year

• Monday 24th July 2023

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

• School year finishes on Friday 21st July

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

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