Week 2 of the school year is complete and what a busy week it has been.  Children are settled into school routines and enjoy learning new and exciting topics.  This week we sent out a reminder to parents about the reading scheme we use in Oldcastle.  Further information on our curriculum can be found on our website - Curriculum at Oldcastle.

Class newsletters for the autumn term have been prepared by teaching staff to let you know what your child will be learning over the course of the term.  Please take a look at the newsletter on our website.  Please click here to view - Class Newsletters.

Don't forget to scroll to the bottom of the newsletter to view photos from this week.

Enrichment

We launched our new enrichment programme today for children in nursery through to year 6.  We have a vast array of varied activities throughout the year group.  Children are split into groups and will rotate through the activities during the term. Here's an idea of the sessions taking place:

• Nursery - junk modelling, crafts, mud kitchen, bikes and scooters

• Reception -  Water colour painting, den building, gardening and digital photography

• Year 1 - Karate, Bee Bots computer coding, hockey, painting

• Year 2 - Clothing design and tie dye, food preparation / cooking, dancing, board games

• Year 2 - Ball games, cooking and painting

• Year 4 - Films reviews, netball and science experiments

• Year 5 - School of rock, tennis, minecraft challenges

• Year 6 - STEM / Digital, badminton, fields sports

Due to the variety of activities offered children may wear PE kit to school on Friday.  Please scroll down to view photographs from enrichment.

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.   There is a one off membership of £1. Items change from week to week and we are always open to suggestions of the type of items you would like to see in the pantry.  

Volunteer Army

Thank you to the parents who completed the Volunteer Army form at the end of the summer.  We will be in touch shortly!  As a reminder here are the details we hope can get involved.

As a school we are extremely grateful to the support we receive from parents, carers and members of our local community.  We would like to grow our Volunteer Army and asking for you to complete this short form if you can help us at all. We understand that you may not be able to commit to every week so please let us know what you would be interested in helping out with, along with days and times that suit you.    

All volunteers will be rewarded with  Tempo Time Credits. For more information on Time Credits please follow this link.  Tempo Time Credits | Uniting Volunteers, Businesses & Charities (wearetempo.org)

Volunteer Army Google Form

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!

Trip Consent Form

If you haven't already done so please complete the annual trip consent form to allow your child to go on school trips.

The annual form provides consent for your child to take part in routine school visits.  Parents will always receive communication regarding specific trips arranged for your child.  

Please complete and submit the form as soon as possible to enable your child to take part in routine visits.

Annual Trip Consent Form

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

Attendance

We are committed to promoting good attendance at school and have a target of whole school attendance of 95%.  This week's attendance was 

• 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.  

Well done to Heidi from year 6 who competed in the European Welsh Junior Squash Open last weekend and won the Girls u11 championship. Hard work and dedication has paid off especially as she missed it last year when she had broken  2 toes at training and couldn't compete. Next up will be the British closed in half term in the next age group girls U13.  Heidi has also just signed a  2 year sponsorship contract with the major sporting manufacturer  HEAD - great achievement Heidi!

Toddler Group

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. 

• 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

Year 1 

School Savings Club

Enrichment

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.