Welcome to the new school year!  We were delighted to see pupils and parents returning to school on Tuesday, and we have also welcomed new pupils and parents to our lovely school.  We hope that you all enjoyed your summer break and are looking forward to all the exciting learning and events we have planned for the autumn term.

On Tuesday, the children met their new teachers and got to grips with their new classroom.  Mrs Littlewood welcomed all the children to an assembly and talked to them about the school year.  There is always a lot of excitement at the start of the new school year and we love seeing how happy children are to be in their new classrooms, meeting their new teacher and seeing their friends.

Below is a copy of the presentation to children during the welcome assembly.

Enrichment

We will be launching the new timetable for enrichment next Friday and are delighted to be offering a range of exciting activity sessions.  We will send information to parents next week once we have finalised arrangements.

Asda Rewards - Cashpot for Schools

Calling everyone who shops in Asda!

The School has a brilliant opportunity to receive money from Asda as part of a UK wide campaign that runs from now until end of November! If you have the Asda rewards app please go onto the cashpot bit and select Oldcastle Primary School!  Asda will donate 0.5% of your shopping total to the school time every time you shop and use your rewards card! We also get £1 when you go in to the app and select the school for the cashpot.  If you shop at Asda but don't have the rewards app yet, please get the app.  In the Rewards App, click on the Cashpot for Schools icon and select Oldcastle Primary School.

Please spread the word!

Junior Leaders

Ava and Harry from year 6 invited year 5 pupils to apply to become a Junior Leader today.  Pupils from year 5 may apply to become part of the junior leadership team and become involved in various aspects of the school.  Year 5 children should submit their applications by 20th September.

School Savings Club

Please see below a letter from the School Savings Club.  For further information on the Savings Club and to view a membership form please click here - School Savings Club

PTA Disco

The PTA are delighted to announce they are holding a disco on Friday 4th October - Tickets are £2.50 each and this time the PTA will be accepting payment at the door. Please do not send money into school, bring the payment with you on the day. All children need to be supervised whilst at the disco.  

You will need to complete a separate form for every child you wish to purchase a ticket for. The PTA are hoping to be paperless so will not be sending tickets home.  Please keep your email to hand and show this to gain entry to the disco.  The PTA will have a list on the door of all tickets ordered.

Tickets are allocated on a first come first served basis and are limited due to fire regulations. We cannot guarantee entry to anyone who has not pre ordered a ticket.

Drinks, sweets and snacks will be available to purchase at the disco.

Disco Application Form

Community Food Pantry

The food pantry will be restocked from next Tuesday and we invite parents and carers to pop in and fill a bag with 15 items for £5.  The food pantry is available to everyone and we hope that you can make use of the items.  

Universal Free School Meals

All primary school children in Wales can now access Universal Primary Free School Meals.  This commitment by Welsh Government is in response to the rising cost-of-living pressures on families and our shared ambitions of:

• tackling child poverty

• ensuring no child goes hungry in school

There are also wider benefits of free school meals, including:

• promoting healthy eating across the school

• increasing the variety of food options

• improving social skills at mealtimes

• improving behaviour and attainment

This will not affect older children who currently receive or are eligible to apply for free school meals.

Schools Essential Grant

The start of the school year means increased spending for many households, as the cost of uniform, sports kit and classroom essentials can add up.  Parents and carers are encouraged to check their child’s eligibility for help with school costs with the application window for the School Essentials Grant now open.  Families on lower incomes who receive certain benefits, those seeking asylum, and children in care can claim £125 per child per year to help with school costs in primary and secondary school. Families must apply for the School Essentials Grant through their local authority, and applications can be submitted annually for each child.

For a learner to be eligible, they must be in care, seeking asylum, or their parent/carer must receive one or more of the following:

• Income Support

• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

• Guaranteed element of Pension Credit

• Child Tax Credit (as long as parents do not also get Working Tax Credit and their annual income is £16,190 or less before tax)

• Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for 4 weeks after parents stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)

• Universal Credit (as long as the annual net earned household income is less than £7,400, not including benefits)

Even if your child already receives a Universal Primary Free School Meal, you still need to check eligibility to access the School Essentials Grant and extra funding for your school.

For more information, please click here - Schools Essential Grant

Year 6 Residential

If your child is going on the year 6 residential trip in January the next payment instalment of £50 is due by Friday 13th September.

• September - Respect and Responsibility 

• October - Compassion and Hope 

• November - Friendship and Forgiveness 

• December - Understanding and Patience

• January - Determination and Perseverance

• February - Honesty and Trust 

• March -Learning and Effort 

• April - Community and Service 

• May - Co-operation and being a good citizen within society

• June- Showing Gratitude and Care and Generosity

• 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.  

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. 

Toddler Group

We are looking forward to starting  our Toddler Group back on Wednesday 11th September.

Sadie and Franks

We have been supplied with the following information which may be of interest to you.  Please contact Sadie and Franks if you would like further information. 

Football Sessions

Employability Bridgend

• 16th October - Individual Child Photos

• 28th October to 3rd November - October Half Term

• 20th December to 5th January - Christmas Holiday

Parents Evenings are planned for week beginning 21st October 2024 and 24th March 2025.

Inset Days 2024/25

• Monday 2nd September 2024

• Friday 6th December 2024

• Friday 21st February 2025

• Friday 11th April 2025

• Monday 2nd June 2025

• Monday 21st July 2025

PE Days

• Nursery - Thursday

• Reception -  Wednesday

• Year 1 - Monday

• Year 2 - Tuesday

• Year 3 - Monday

• Year 4 - Wednesday

• Year 5 - Thursday

• Year 6 - Tuesday

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.