31st 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 1st
Nov Flu
inoculations (nasal spray) for Nurs-Y3 -
with school nurse - parents must be present for Nursery children
Wed 2nd
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 3rd
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 10th Nov Yr5 - Welsh Millennium Centre – Roald Dahl Sleepover
Fri 11th Nov Remembrance Day Assembly
Yr5 - Welsh
Millennium Centre – Roald Dahl Sleepover
Thurs 17th Nov 6.00pm – Hawthorn
High Awards Evening
Fri 18th Nov BBC Children in Need
Tues 22nd Nov 6.00 - Shakespeare Schools Festival at the Muni
Mon 28th Nov Maths Workshops at school from Techniquest
Tues 29th Nov Maths Workshops at school from Techniquest
Thurs 1st Dec Christmas
Fayre
– straight after school
Fri 2nd Dec Lego
Robotics with Holly Class
Choir singing at Nat West in Ponty
(1.30pm)
Mon 5th Dec Key
Stage 2 “Christmas at Coedpenmaen” – Coedpenmaen Chapel–1.30pm AND 6.00pm
Wed 7th Dec Year 1 and Year 2
Christmas Celebration in the school hall (1.45pm)
Thurs 8th Dec Nursery and Reception Christmas Nativity (9.45am) in the school hall
Thurs 8th Dec Year 1 and Year 2
Christmas Celebration in the school hall (1.45pm)
Fri 9th Dec (am)–Yr2–Christmas
Wrapped Up! –Baptist Chapel
Wed 14th
Dec Yr1-Yr6
– Panto at Muni – £5 per child
Fri 16th
Dec Last Day of Autumn Term
Tues 3rd
Jan INSET Day – no school for
children
Wed 4th
Jan Children return to school
Fri 13th
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 3rd – 10th 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)
