School Assembly

Miss Vaughan led the virtual assembly this week and it was lovely to hear all about the work that has been happening in the school over the last week. Children are becoming confident speakers addressing the camera and talking to over 450 adults and staff! We are very proud.

Miss Vaughan told the children we have one more week to go until half term so let's keep going to finish the term. The last day of term is Friday 28th October. Pupils return to school on Wednesday 9th November as we have two inset days at the beginning of the term.

Nursery / Reception Toilets

The building work on the nursery / reception toilets is progressing well. We are very grateful to our staff for dealing with the inconvenience and adapting to our new way of toileting.

Governors Annual Report to Parents

The school governors Annual Report to Parents for the academic year 2021/22 is available to view on our website or via this link below.

Annual Report to Parents

Governors will be holding a 'Meet the Governor' event on Wednesday 9th November at 5.30pm and invite parents to attend and discuss any aspect of the annual report or any aspect of school operations. The informal meeting will be held in the main school hall.

We also have a Feedback / Comments Form included in the annual report so please use this if you would like to provide comment. The link to the feedback form is included in the report or please click here - Feedback Form.

School Photographs

A reminder that if you haven't yet ordered your school photograph the closing date for free delivery back to school is Thursday 27th October. Order through the Tempest website using the unique code on your child's sample photograph

Parents Maths Session - Years 3 to 6

During a recent School Community Session attendees asked for a session to be arranged for parents to find out how maths is taught in Oldcastle. This would allow parents to better understand how their child is learning maths and support with any homework.

We are delighted to be able to offer the first of these sessions to parents of children in years 3 to 6 on Monday 28th November. We will arrange a session for parents of children in reception to year 2 in the new year.

If you would like to attend the session please complete the form below so that we have an idea of numbers attending. The session will start at 9am and last approximately 1 hour. Information from the session will also be uploaded to our website for those parents who are unable to attend.

Parents Maths Session - Monday 28th November

Oldcastle Sounds Radio Show

The radio champions broadcast live to the whole school on Wednesday and we are delighted to be able to share the recording with parents. Please take a listen to their show via tis link.

Live Radio Show 19th October 2022

Children in Need

We will be supporting Children in Need once again this year and join in with The Great SPOTacular on Friday 18th November !

Our junior leaders will be thinking of lots of exciting ways we can support the charity this year and children will be able to wear their own clothes on Friday 18th November and we will be accepting donations if parents wish to donate.

Road Safety

BCBC have received complaints which have been made to local councillors and in turn forwarded onto Road Safety regarding the parking and potential road safety issues in the vicinity of the school which may be putting the children at risk.

Unfortunately this is often caused by parents and guardians dropping off and collecting children to/ from the school.

Can parents or guardians please be aware of the parking restrictions in being both in South Street, yellow lines which prohibit parking and the School keep Clear makings and yellow lines in St Marie street, which again prohibit parking.

These restrictions are in place to assist the safety of your children and we ask that these are respected .

As a result Road Safety have asked for patrols and enforcement by Civil enforcement officers, contraventions may result in drivers receiving Penalty Charge Notices and respective fine.

The Road Safety Coordinator, Bridgend County Borough Council

Pupil Voice

We have been very busy this week, our Junior Leadership Team had their first meeting of the year, where they discussed the end-of-term rewards for each house. This upcoming Tuesday is the day of our school Autumn disco so make sure to get a boogie on. Today is an enrichment which has everybody excited for the afternoon.

Layla, Lottie, Seren, Flo.

Schools Cross Country - Years 3 to 6 - this Saturday

The Bridgend Schools’ Cross Country League is returning this half term. Arrangements are as follows:

1. 4 races available to pupils in years 3 to 6

2. First race begins at 10am so arrive by 9.30am

3. No dogs or smoking (or heaven forbid smoking dogs)

The schedule of meets prior to Christmas is as follows:

• Saturday October 22^nd – Bryntirion Comprehensive School

• Saturday November 26^th – Brynteg Comprehensive School

• Saturday December 17^th – Porthcawl Comprehensive School

School Christmas Dinner

Christmas dinner will be served in December. Please inform us if your child requires Christmas dinner or if they will be bringing their own sandwiches on the allocated day - a response is required for both options. Normal school menu is not available on these days. Vegetarian and other dietary needs will be catered for.

• 14th December - Nursery, Reception, Year 2, Year 4 and Year 6

• 15th December - Reception, Year 1, Year 3 and Year 5

NB. Reception children will be able to have a Christmas dinner on both days due to the welsh government universal free school meals allowance. A Christmas dinner will still need to be ordered if required.

Payment for the Christmas dinner should be made to your child's dinner account via Bridgend County Borough Council website. The cost of the meal is £2.20. Please ensure payment is received before Friday 9th December. Christmas lunch will not be served to any child with no credit on their account.

Please complete a separate form for each child.

Please return the form by 11th November to allow us to plan with catering services.

Christmas Dinner Form

School Swimming

Swimming lessons are offered to children in years 4, 5 and 6 over the autumn term.

Year 4 will swim every afternoon for a period of two weeks on the following dates:

• 4R - week beginning 17th October and 24th October

Year 5 will swim every afternoon for a period of one week on the following dates:

• 5I - week beginning 14th November

• 5M - week beginning 21st November

Year 6 will swim every afternoon for a period of one week on the following dates:

• 6Y - week beginning 28th November

• 6H - week beginning 5th December

Children will be required to bring a packed lunch on these days along with their swimming kit, towel and goggles. The bus will collect them from school and take them to Ynysawdre Pool and then bring them back to school in time for the end of the normal school day.

Parents Evening

Parents evening appointments were made live for parents in reception to year and here is a reminder of the dates for each year group.

Reception

• RO Wednesday 16th November - in person or Thursday 17th November - phone

• RL Wednesday 16th November - phone or Thursday 17th November - in person

Year 1

• 1C Wednesday 9th November - phone or Thursday 10th November - in person

• 1D Wednesday 9th November - in person or Thursday 10th November - phone

Year 2

• 2A Tuesday 15th November - phone or Wednesday 16th November - in person

• 2S Tuesday 15th November - in person or Wednesday 16th November - phone

Year 3

• 3E Monday 14th November - in person or Tuesday 15th November - phone

• 3T Monday 14th November - phone or Tuesday 15th November - in person

Year 4

• 4P Wednesday 9th November - in person or Thursday 10th November - phone

• 4R Wednesday 9th November - phone or Thursday 10th November - in person

Year 5

• 5I Monday 14th November - in person or Tuesday 15th November - phone

• 5M Monday 14th November - phone or Tuesday 15th November - in person

Year 6

• 6Y Wednesday 9th November - in person or Thursday 10th November - phone

• 6H Wednesday 9th November - phone or Thursday 10th November - in person

Nursery appointments will be held week beginning 21st November and these will be released to parents in the last week of term.

Autumn Fancy Dress Disco

Don;t forget the PTA are holding a fancy dress disco on Tuesday 25th October. Entry is only allowed if a booking form has been completed as numbers are limited. Payment should be made in cash at the entry door.

PE Days

Children should wear P.E. kit to school on the day their class has a P.E. session.

• Reception - Monday

• Year 1 - Tuesday

• Year 2 - Monday

• Year 3 - Tuesday

• Year 4 - Wednesday

• Year 5 - Thursday

• Year 6 - Wednesday

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.

Parent Netball Sessions

Please read on to find out more about a parent netball session being run by parents.

ALL WELCOME (from novice to experienced)

We have high hopes of starting a parent netball team after half-term. Initially running every other Wednesday after school for an hour.

Our aim is to have fun whilst achieving a level of fitness, meeting new friends and gaining netball skills through practice and competing in competitions.

Anyone interested please WhatsApp the following numbers;

Jacque 07511990386 or Gemma 07812130408

Text 'interested' and your name and we will confirm start dates. Look forward to seeing you!

Contact details

We regularly email and send App messages to parents - please ensure we have up to date contact details for you to ensure you keep up to date with school news. You can either email us with change of details (ask@oldcastlprimary.co.uk) or complete the change of details form.

Our nursery children have been visiting the radio station this week - they are looking great in the presenter chair!

Reception has also visited the radio station this week too.

Mud Kitchen

Reception have been using their mud kitchen as part of their learning this week.

Enrichment

Friday afternoons are all about enrichment sessions. Children are excited about the different activities they take part in and always look forward to a Friday afternoon.

Inset Days 2022 / 23

Inset days for this academic year are as follows:

• Monday 5th September 2022

• Monday 7th November 2022

• Tuesday 8th November 2022

• Friday 31st March 2023

• Friday 26th May 2023

• Monday 24th July 2023

Term Dates

• Last day of term for this half term is Friday 28th October.

• Autumn Term finishes on Friday 23rd December 2022.

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 01443849944

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