School Community Forum 

On Wednesday we held a School Community Forum drop in session.  We are very grateful to the parents who attended and will try these meetings at different times of the day to allow other parents to attend.

We had some lovely ideas from the parents that came along and we will look to action these in the coming months.  

Luke from Barclays Bank also attended the Forum and provided some useful information to parents on staying safe online.  Luke attends the Community Room every Wednesday afternoon and can provide so much valuable information on banking, online safety and a range of other things.  You do not need to be a Barclays customer to have a chat with Luke! You may find the  

Community Invitation - Every Tuesday

We are delighted to invite parents and carers to a Tea and Toast session every Tuesday during term time.  We look forward to welcoming parents and carers every Tuesday morning to enjoy a cuppa and a chat.

We truly want our families to feel welcome and make the most of our school facilities, especially during this season when managing heating costs can be a significant concern. Whether you are looking for a place to stay warm, some good company, or just a change of scenery, our doors are open to you.

On Tuesday 1st April our PTA will also be in the Community Room to have a chat.

VE Day - Celebrations at Oldcastle Primary School - Reminder 

As we approach a significant milestone in our nation's history, we are delighted to let parents know about an upcoming celebration at our school. On Thursday, 8th May 2025, we will commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, marking eight decades of peace since the end of World War II in Europe. This momentous occasion provides us with a unique opportunity to reflect on our past, celebrate our present, and instil in our pupils a deep appreciation for the freedoms we enjoy today.

Oldcastle Primary has planned a day of celebrations with a street party held within the school grounds, where our pupils will have the chance to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of that historic day.

We are encouraging all pupils and staff to embrace the spirit of the occasion by dressing up as in outfits from the 1940’s - ie simple dresses, shorts, dungarees, dai caps etc. We will provide examples to parents in the coming weeks but there are lots of simple outfit choices. Throughout the day, pupils will be treated to a variety of entertainment and activities, all designed to recreate the sense of community and shared joy that characterised the original celebrations.

Our whole school will come together at lunchtime to enjoy a free packed lunch that will be provided by our catering team. Please let us know what packed lunch your child will be requiring on the day by completing this google form. Please complete by 8th April.

VE Day Packed Lunch Order Form

To mark the occasion, we will be holding a flag-raising ceremony at the main entrance of the school at 9 a.m. We extend a warm invitation to all parents and carers to join us for this poignant moment, as we pay tribute to those who fought for our freedom and reflect on the enduring peace that followed.

VE Day 80 is more than just a historical commemoration; it is a powerful reminder of the resilience, unity, and hope that have defined our nation for generations. By involving our pupils in these celebrations, we aim to foster a sense of continuity with the past and inspire them to carry forward the values of peace and community that have been so hard-won.

We are looking forward to coming together as a school community to honour our history, and celebrate our present.

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 96.4%.

Forthcoming PTA events

• Friday 9th May - PTA Disco.  Tickets are £2.50 each. PTA Disco Registration Form

• Saturday 5th July - Oldcastle Rocks. Always a highlight in our school year as we bring the community together to enjoy some fantastic music and entertainment.

Take a look at the PTA Facebook page to keep up to date with events. Oldcastle Primary PTA Facebook Page 

Food Pantry Affordable Food Options

Our community pantry offers a selection of 15 food items for just £5. This enables families to stock up on essential groceries without breaking the bank. We believe in making wholesome food accessible to all, aligning with our commitment to the well-being and development of our pupils and their families.

Fostering Community Connections

The community pantry not only provides practical support but also serves as a hub for social interaction and community building. Parents and carers are encouraged to visit the pantry, not only to shop but also to connect with fellow members of the Oldcastle family. By bringing people together we hope to strengthen the bonds within our school community.

The community pantry provides an opportunity for our pupils, parents, and staff to contribute to the well-being of those in need, fostering a sense of empathy and social consciousness. Through this initiative, we aim to instil in our pupils the values of compassion, kindness, and community engagement.

We invite all parents and carers to visit our community pantry and take advantage of this valuable resource. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of our families.

Sports Days

Sports Day for children in years 1 to 6 will be held on Friday 16th May in the Athletics Track in Newbridge Fields.  Children in years 1 to 3 will complete their events in the morning and years 4 to 6 in the afternoon.   

Sports Day for children in nursery and reception is still to be confirmed and we will let parents know the date soon.

House Colour t-shirts

The PTA have an arrangement with a local company who are able to provide sports day t-shirts at a reasonable price and will provide a 10% donation to the PTA from all sales.  If you would like to buy a house colour t-shirt please follow this link.  Parents may, of course, buy T-shirts from any supplier.

House Colour T-shirts - Euroschools

Parents Evening - Week beginning 7th April 2025

Parents evening appointments are now live and emails have been sent to parents.  If you haven't received an email, please get in touch with us by email, phone or in person. The bookings have been sent via our website and emails will be from notifications@oldcastleprimary.co.uk 

Appointments will take place on the following days for each class:

• Nursery - Monday and Tuesday

• Reception I - Monday and Tuesday

• Reception M - Monday and Tuesday

• 1H - Monday and Tuesday 

• 1Y - Monday and Tuesday

• 2O - Monday and Wednesday

• 2L -  Monday and Wednesday

• 3C - Monday and Wednesday

• 3D - Tuesday and Wednesday

• 4A - Monday and Tuesday

• 4S - Monday and Tuesday

• 5T - Tuesday and Wednesday

• 5E - Tuesday and Wednesday

• 6P - Monday and Tuesday

• 6R - Tuesday and Wednesday

After School Club and Late Club Prices Increase from 1st September 2025

The following information has been emailed to all users of the after school and late club facility. Following a review of our Afterschool and Late Club provision, we find it necessary to make some adjustments to our pricing structure. The increase in fees is due to increases in our operating costs and will allow us to continue to offer the service you expect both now and into the future.

Prices will increase from 1st of September 2025 

• Afterschool Club will increase to £9.00 per session

• Late Club will increase to £2.50 per session

We thank you for your ongoing support and trust that these changes will help us to continue providing you with the service.  Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.

• 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.  

Rugby Tournament

We are delighted to learn that members of our rugby team will be representing Oldcastle Primary School at the Welsh School Rugby Union tournament next Thursday.   The selected team are excited to attend the tournament in Llandovery, and we look forward to providing an update to parents and carers next week. 

Well done to Harri from year 1 who had an exciting opportunity on the weekend. He was a mascot for the Wales v Kazakhstan football game. He walked out at the front with the Kazakh captain! Wow what an amazing experience Harri!

Well done to Sophia from year 5 competed in the Gwent Cross Country Championships Under 11 team last weekend.  Great news on your achievement.

Charlie from year 5 has recently passed an intense 6 week trial with Penybont Football Academy.  He had previously played for Swansea City football academy and had two successful seasons with them. With Penybont being local and close to home Charlie decided to take this opportunity as he could continue with other sports he loves.   Charlie passed his 6 week trial and was offered a place with Penybont. He worked incredibly hard during this time and is thrilled to be playing for his local academy.  

• Week beginning 7th April - Parents Evening

• Friday 11th April - Inset Day

• Monday 14th April - Easter holiday begins

• Monday 28th - Term Starts

• Friday 9th May - PTA Disco

• Friday 16th May - Sports Day Years 1 to 6

• Monday 26th May to Friday 30th May - Half Term

• Monday 2nd June - Inset Day

• Tuesday 10th June - Class and Team Photos

• Saturday 5th July - Oldcastle Rocks

• Friday 18th July Term Ends

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

Health and Wellbeing / PE Days

• Nursery - Thursday

• Reception -  Wednesday

• Year 1 - Monday

• Year 2 - Tuesday

• Year 3 - Friday

• Year 4 - Friday

• Year 5 - Friday

• Year 6 - Friday

Barney loves his time in school but equally loves his weekend walks! 

Year 6 End of Term Production

Very excited to announce that our year 6 end of year production this year will be Grease …. Over the next few weeks we will be announcing individual cast members. This week we have announced who will be playing the parts of Marty, Jan and Vince. 

Enrichment

Year 5 enjoyed football,  circuits, ball skills and badminton in the Recreation centre today.

Year 4

As they near the end of their concept, Year 4 have created posters about how people can help the environment. They planned, drafted and created final pieces before sharing with their peers and critiquing. They were incredibly proud of their work and enjoyed sharing their journey. 

This week in the Nursery

This week in the Nursery we have been investigating sinking and floating, we made predictions about which objects would sink or float and then put our ideas to the test. 

We have also been creating insects using natural materials and mud.  We had lots of fun on the big climbing frame, don’t worry, we held on tight! 

After School Clubs Crafts

Year 2 Expressive Arts

Children in 2L have been exploring stop-motion filmmaking, drawing inspiration from their literacy book Ocean Meets Sky. They began by painting their own box sets black using the tops of A3 paper boxes. The children then painted the backdrops, using their knowledge of colour mixing, blending primary colours with black and white to create a vibrant backdrop. The characters were based on those from the book but the children used their imagination to creatively alter and personalise them. Finally, the children created a short script to complement the characters' movements and adding a narrative layer to their stop-motion films. 

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.