Dear Parent / Carer
Thanks to everyone who attended parents’ evenings this week. Also, thank you to the parents who attended the workshop with ‘WiseKids’, learning about keeping the children safe whilst online – using social media, as well as the importance of the age ratings on games. Please look at http://wisekids.org.uk/wk/parents-online-guide/ for further information.
Children in Years 5 and 6 had a great day at Hawthorn High School’s first ‘Sports Fest’. It was a cold and busy day – but the children thoroughly enjoyed the day and all returned to school with ‘goody bags’!
Science week has been a ‘blast’ with thanks to Hawthorn high for providing some ‘real’ science sessions for Years 5 and 6. We also had a ‘Bendigedig’ Eisteddfod and awesome World Book Day. Remember to look at Twitter/school Blogs for photos. Our ‘Writing Workshop’ for Key Stage 2 this year was again very well attended – thank you to all of you who came to work with your children on their writing.
Our value for this half term was ‘forgiveness’ and next term the children will be learning about ‘courage’ and facing up to difficult situations. Your support, as always, is much appreciated in this. Please remember that sheets are available at the classroom doors for you to be able to share how your child shows these values at home.
Our next 100% days this term are on 23rd and 24th March – the last days were won by Hazel and Acorn classes. Please help the children in your child’s class achieve their prize!! We are currently below our target and need your support !
We encourage the children to wear school uniform every day. Please remember that we have over 280 navy blue cardigans/jumpers etc. worn each day! Please, please ensure your child’s name is clearly marked on their clothing so that we can make sure they are returned to their rightful owners!
Our Attendance Policy has been updated in line with more recent guidance. This policy was approved by the Governors on 3rd March 2016. A full copy of the policy is available on the Parents' Section of Moodle. The school will continue to monitor all attendance which falls below 90%.
With regard to holiday requests - and to deliver a fairer process, the school will unauthorise holiday requests, and therefore request the local authority to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice for holiday absences in the following circumstances:
- The holiday is during Welsh Government tests or,
- Attendance for the previous full academic year is below 95% (Welsh Government’s target for all learners) or,
- Current school attendance is a cause for concern and AWS procedures have begun to be followed (e.g. standard letters issued to inform parents of school concerns.)
- The child does not return to school following the agreed period of the holiday absence
Applications for holiday /leave of absence must be made on the appropriate documentation (available from the school office).
Please note: if your child visits the doctors/dentist etc. during a bout of illness, it would be helpful for the school to take a copy of an appointment card / label on prescribed medicine if possible as this can help us discuss each child’s attendance effectively with the Local Authority if needed.
Microsoft Office Code - Don’t forget that we have Microsoft Office codes available for those families who wish to use this free offer. Just send your email address to school and we can forward the details to you.
School Dinners
Please bring your dinner money in an envelope each Monday. Unless there are exceptional circumstances, we also ask that your child maintains the same arrangements for lunch throughout the week. This helps the accurate administration of dinner money.
Stay and Play
We are planning on supporting a ‘Mother and Toddler’ Group called ‘Stay and Play’. This will be run by Mums (and grans etc!) for Mums. We’ll let you know more about this soon.
I have received a complaint about litter being dropped by children on their way home from school. Please encourage your children to dispose of the litter responsibly.
I have detailed a number of key dates below:
22nd Mar Football tournament at Rhydyfelin
23rd – 24th Mar 100% challenge days for attendance
23rd Mar Trallwn Infants Year 2 visit Coedpenmaen
23rd Mar Sports Relief – arranged by Bronze Sports Ambassadors and School Council
24th Mar THURSDAY – Last day of Term
Faces Photography – classes and teams
25th Mar Good Friday (beginning of Easter Break)
11th Apr Monday - Children return to school.
Next INSET Day Friday 27th May
WG Test dates - The Welsh Government Tests for all pupils in Years 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are 3rd - 10th May 2016. Please avoid taking any absences during this time.
Please note: the school will be used as a Polling Station for both the Welsh Assembly Government elections and the European Referendum. The school will remain open on these dates
