15th December 2016
Dear Parent / Carer
With Christmas almost
upon us, I wanted to update everyone with events at school.
As usual it has been a
jam packed half term with interesting and exciting activities for
everyone. From thinking about soldiers
on Remembrance Day to the Roald Dahl ‘Sleepover’ in Cardiff; pizza parties and
cinema afternoons for Good to be Green rewards, achieving the Healthy Schools
(Phase 3) award, the Christmas Fayre, fabulous concerts and visiting the Muni
for the Panto or Rumble in the Jungle to meet the man in the bright red suit!
Our pupil groups have
been very active too. The Digital
Leaders have begun working and started off by visiting Admiral in Cardiff to
find out more about using social media, the Eco Council have been encouraging
us all to switch off the lights more often and the Glee Choir have entertained
school, parents and the community with their Christmas tunes. The school council have begun working with
Governors to raise awareness of dog fouling on the bridge leading to
school. We ask that if you are aware of
local residents who allow their dogs to foul on the bridge, that the local
authority is informed:
The Eco Council are
also involved in the Local Authority’s Christmas
Card recycling scheme and ask that you send as many old Christmas Cards to
school as possible in the new year. PLEASE don’t just through them out…ask
friends, family and neighbours so that we collect as many Christmas Cards as
possible.
The ‘Parents’ Forum’ has had
its inaugural meeting, and has been set some tasks in preparation for the next
meeting in the new year. We will keep
you up to date with their work which includes considering homework, attendance
etc. Thanks also to all the parents who
attended parents’ evening to discuss their children’s progress. As always, we had a great turn out!
The PTA’s Christmas Fayre was again very
well attended – boosted by the inclusion of the Glee Choir to entertain during
the evening. The PTA raising £713.55. Your support of the PTA is much appreciated –
as they are working hard to raise funds to support the development of the
school grounds. Monies raised from the sale of Concert tickets
etc. through the school’s Private Fund is also used for the benefit of the
children and will be supporting the development of the school grounds as well.
Our Value next half term is THANKFULNESS,
perfect for the children to think about after the excesses of Christmas. Through this, we will be considering how
thankful we need to be for what we have, and remember those who are not as
fortunate.
A number
of parents of Year 1 and
Year 2 children are waiting for their children beyond the school fence at the
back of the school. Year 1 and 2 parents
are requested to enter the school yard to collect their children to ensure the
children’s safety and for school staff to know that they have been handed over
to responsible adults.
Attendance - This term we are absolutely thrilled
that we have rewarded 68 children for 100% attendance. This is the
highest amount for an Autumn Term ever! Spring term usually gives us the
highest amount of 100% attendance pupils, so we will hopefully see this
increase too. Children with the very best attendance also received a
special award in the Summer Term.
We are currently at 95%
for our whole school attendance. This is below our target set by the
Local Authority of 95.4%. You will all be aware that attendance is a core
feature of the school’s Inspection process. The school has previously had
recommendations to improve attendance, and as such I ask for your continued
support in sending your child to school as often as possible.
Well done to Sycamore class
who won the best class attendance of the term, and Sycamore and Beech who had
the most number of children who achieved 100%.
Please note: if your
child is genuinely ill, they should not attend school - it remains the
responsibility of parents to inform the school n the first day of absence if a
child is not well enough to attend
Tues 3rd
Jan INSET Day – no school for
children
Wed 4th
Jan Children return to school
Mon 9th
Jan Techniquest
kits at school
Tues 10th
Techniquest kits at school
PC Rob – Year 4 – Internet Safety
Fri 13th
Jan INSET Day – no school for
children
Thurs 19th
Jan Football/Rugby
after school starts back (Years 5 and 6)
Fri 20th
Jan PTA Cake Day
Tues 7th
Feb Safer
Internet Day
Fri 10th
Feb Proposed visit to HHS – Year 5 and 6 – to be
confirmed
Mon 13th
Feb Cultural
Diversity Week
Tues 14th
Feb PTA
- Valentine Disco
Wed 15th
Feb Show
Racism the Red Card Workshops (Yr 5 and Yr 6)
Anti-Bullying
Workshop - Accessibility Wales (Yr 4)
Thurs 16th
Feb Year
5 – PC Rob – I didn’t think
Mon 20th
Feb – Fri 24th Feb – HALF TERM
Mon 27th
Feb Wythnos
Cymraeg – Welsh Week
Author
Visit for KS2
Wed 1st
Mar Eisteddfod
Thurs 9th
Mar Class
and Group Photos
Fri 10th
Mar Proposed CLUSTER INSET Day –TBC
**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**
We are having a slight
swap around of staff in January. Miss
Baldwin will work in the Nursery until the summer with Mrs E Davies. Mrs L Davies will return to working in
Reception / Year 1, and Miss Richards joining Mr Carter in Ash class.
We have also had concerns raised about parking on the yellow
zigzags at the rear of the school.
Please be advised that Traffic Enforcement Officers may be patrolling in
the New Year.
I wish you all the very
best for Christmas and the New Year and I look forward to seeing you all in the
New Year.
Yours, Mrs Loveridge
(Headteacher)
