CHRISTMAS FAYRE

@Coedpenmaenpr1  Don't forget our Christmas Fayre on Thursday - straight after school. Visit Santa and join in with Christmas songs with our choir.

 

Newsletter

31^st October 2016

Dear Parent / Carer

Welcome back!  This term we continue with our work on Roald Dahl throughout the school, with Year 5 looking forward to a ‘sleepover’ at the Wales Millennium Centre to experience a number of Roald Dahl themed activities.

 

Year 6 should have received their invitations to take part in this year’s Llangrannong Residential trip.  This is open to all Year 6 pupils, although it is arranged by staff at Hawthorn High School.

Last half term was very busy with a number of whole school activities - our amazing Macmillan Coffee Morning which raised an incredible £606.71 and our Harvest Celebration where Year 3 presented a lovely assembly and shared the Harvest loaf (with thanks to Tesco Tony for the delicious bread).  Year 6 then delivered parcels to the elderly in our locality, as well as local homeless charities benefitting from your generosity.  There have also been visits by the Fire and Rescue Service as well as the Ambulance Service’s ‘Shoktober’.  A few classes visited Pontypridd Museum and Year 6 thoroughly enjoyed watching the rehearsals of ‘Oliver’ at Hawthorn High School.

The PTA’s Hallowe’en Disco was again very well attended – with the PTA raising £343.47.  Your support of the PTA is much appreciated – as they are working hard to raise funds to support the development of the school grounds.  Year 6 enjoyed a day of Cycling Proficiency – thankfully the weather stayed dry!  The end of the half term was celebrated with our Roald Dahl Day which was a roaring success – thank you so much for supporting with such wonderful costumes! 

As you are aware, there were a few changes of staff in September.  All staff have now settled well into their new classes, and the children are progressing well.  Of particular note is Mrs Pugh’s appointment as ALNCo (Additional Learning Needs Coordinator) and Mrs Deverill who is leading the school’s approach to the ‘Digital Competency Framework’ – Welsh Government’s plan for developing pupils’ safe  use of digital media (tablets, laptops etc).  We welcome Miss Richards as a LSA in Reception class and Mr James and Mrs Crimmins as support staff in Holly class.

Our Value this half term is PERSEVERANCE.  Children will learn the importance of not giving up - both in their school work and in their ability to stand up for what they believe in – even when they are finding things a little difficult.  As usual, if your child demonstrates this Value at home, please let the class teacher know, so that we can celebrate your child’s achievements as a whole school.

School Development this year is focussing again on the children’s approach to creative writing, as well as working to improve basic skills in Maths (e.g recall of times tables, knowing a range of ‘number facts’ etc.)  We are working with staff to ensure our teaching is creative and motivates the children to want to learn.  We also hope to further develop the school grounds.  If you are able to offer any support to the school for curriculum areas and school development, please let the class teachers know.

As a further development this year, we aim to set up a ‘Parents’ Forum’, where we aim to invite a parent from each class to meet as a group with members of the leadership team to support school development.

Tues 1^st Nov     Flu inoculations (nasal spray) for Nurs-Y3 -  with school nurse  -  parents must be present for Nursery children

Wed 2^nd Nov    1.00pm - PC Rob – All year 3 – Friend or Foe

Parents’ Evening – Book Fayre, Hawthorn High School staff and Attendance and Wellbeing  Service present.

Thurs 3^rd Nov   11.30am - 1.00pm - Cross Country at Hawthorn High – Year 5 and 6

Parents’ Evening – RCT Attendance and Wellbeing  Service present and Book Fayre

Thurs 10^th Nov Yr5 - Welsh Millennium Centre – Roald Dahl Sleepover

Fri 11^th Nov      Remembrance Day Assembly

Yr5 - Welsh Millennium Centre – Roald Dahl Sleepover

Thurs 17^th Nov 6.00pm – Hawthorn High Awards Evening

Fri 18^th Nov      BBC Children in Need

Tues 22^nd Nov  6.00 - Shakespeare Schools Festival at the Muni

Mon 28^th Nov   Maths Workshops at school from Techniquest

Tues 29^th Nov   Maths Workshops at school from Techniquest

Thurs 1^st Dec    Christmas Fayre – straight after school

Fri 2^nd Dec        Lego Robotics with Holly Class

                         Choir singing at Nat West in Ponty (1.30pm)

Mon 5^th Dec     Key Stage 2 “Christmas at Coedpenmaen” – Coedpenmaen Chapel–1.30pm AND 6.00pm

Wed 7^th Dec     Year 1 and Year 2 Christmas Celebration in the school hall (1.45pm)

Thurs 8^th Dec    Nursery and Reception Christmas Nativity (9.45am) in the school hall

Thurs 8^th Dec    Year 1 and Year 2 Christmas Celebration in the school hall (1.45pm)

Fri 9^th Dec        (am)–Yr2–Christmas Wrapped Up! –Baptist Chapel

Wed 14^th Dec   Yr1-Yr6 – Panto at Muni – £5 per child

Fri 16^th Dec      Last Day of Autumn Term

Tues 3^rd Jan      INSET Day – no school for children

Wed 4^th Jan      Children return to school

Fri 13^th Jan       INSET Day – no school for children

** Nursery and Reception will be offered a visit to see Santa – details will follow soon**

**Welsh Government Tests are between 3^rd – 10^th May 2017.  We ask that every effort is made to ensure that pupils in Year 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are in school during these test dates**

Please take care when walking through the school car parks – remember that they are car parks and that children should be supervised at all times. Also please consider our neighbours – both with children dropping litter on their way to and from school as well as choosing where you park and the beginning and end of the school days. 

I look forward to seeing you all at our Parents’ Evenings this week.

Yours, Mrs Loveridge (Headteacher)