Caring, learning and achieving together - Gofalu, dysgu a chyflawnu gyda'n gilydd

NEWSLETTER

22nd January 2017

Dear Parent / Carer
We have hit the ground running this term, as usual!    New themes have been started and the children are enjoying their challenges. 
Oak, Willow and BeechEnterprise Troopers:  the children welcomed a local entrepreneur who shared his work and gave the children a chance to ask questions.  They are now planning their own entrepreneurial exploits, thinking about how they can make a profit.
Sycamore, Hazel and Holly:     Survival’.  Sycamore and Hazel are taking part in ‘Forest School’s activities, whilst Holly class will benefit from some ‘Bush craft’ activities.   
Ash and Cherry:  The children have been very busy writing a ‘Message in a Bottle’ and considering survival in difficult situations.  I wonder what you would take with you to a desert island?
Maple and Acorns: ‘Holes, Spaces and Hiding Places’.  The children are using the book ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ for their story telling and experiences.  Nursery thoroughly enjoyed experiences the Bear Hunt first hand – stepping through grass, mud, water, snow etc. 

Some of our Digital Leaders have learned how to use the ‘hwb’ website.  They are now in the process of training the rest of the digital leaders, and for them to then teach their classes how to use this website effectively. Glee Choir are enjoying their singing, and looking forward to a trip to the Millennium Centre to see ‘Joseph and his Technicolour Dreamcoat’- this is being funded through a successful grant application to the Arts Council of Wales.  
Sycamore and Hazel classes are also working on creative ways of learning basic maths facts – our focus for the whole school this term.  We are also in the final stages of plans for play equipment (through the Big Lottery Fund) in the junior yard and have plans for the infant yard in the near future.
The Eco Council have collected many, many Christmas cards in their recycling scheme.  If you have any more cards at home, please send them in to school in the next few days.   They will be collected soon and will be weighed to find out how much we have collected.

The ‘Parents’ Forum’ has had its second meeting and wished for me to share their appreciation of the constructive comments provided through the ‘Coedpenmaen Parents’ Facebook page.   School staff have begun considering the points raised, will be speaking to the school council and sharing our updated homework policy in due course.    Their next meeting is on the 7th March.

The PTA’s Cake Day was again a great success with funds planned to support the development of the school grounds.   Thanks to everyone who contributed.

Our Value this half term is THANKFULNESS.  The children have begun thinking about how many things we have to be thankful for – and have shown their thanks for their families, their comfortable beds, their friends etc.  They have also been thinking about those who are not as fortunate.

Attendance Well done to Maple class last week for gaining 100% attendance.  The children thoroughly enjoyed their treat of pop and popcorn!  Hopefully more classes will be able to gain this reward in the coming weeks.  We are still at 95% for our whole school attendance.  This is below our target of 95.4%.  I ask for your continued support in sending your child to school as often as possible.  
Please note: if your child is genuinely ill, they should not attend school - it remains the responsibility of parents to inform the school on the first day of absence if a child is not well enough to attend
23rd Jan    Forest Schools – Sycamore and Hazel
25th           Bushcraft                  - Sycamore and Hazel
30th           Forest Schools – Sycamore and Hazel
31st Jan    St David’s Day photographs for Newspaper
7th Feb      Safer Internet Day
10th Feb   Year 5 and 6 to HHS – Sports Day – TBC
13th Feb   Cultural Diversity Week – details will follow from Classes
14th Feb   PTA - Valentine Disco
15th Feb   Show Racism the Red Card - year 5 and Year 6
Year 4 – Anti-Bullying Workshops from Accessible Wales
Bushcraft - Ash and Cherry
16th Feb   Bushcraft - Holly
HALF TERM – 20th Feb- 24th Feb
27th Feb   WYTHNOS CYMRAEG – Welsh Week
1.30pm - Mark Dorey – Author – Welsh Storytelling
                  Big Foot Theatre Workshops
28th Feb   Big Foot Theatre Workshops
1st Mar     Eisteddfod
3rd Mar     1.00pm – Mark Dorey – Book Signing
7th Mar     Parents’ Forum – 3.30pm
9th Mar     Colotfoto – classes and group photos
10th Mar  Cluster INSET – no school for children
24th Mar  Comic Relief / Red Nose day
30th Mar  PTA – possible Bingo evening
5th Apr      Parents’ Evening
6th Apr      Parents’ Evening
7th Apr      School’s World Book Day
EASTER BREAK – 10th April – 23rd April
3rd May    Meeting at Hawthorn High School for parents in preparation for Llangrannog
4th May    Local Elections – school will remain open.

**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 continue to take care walking through the school grounds which are used a car parks.  Please supervise your children as you would through any other car park.  Many of you may have also seen Traffic Enforcement Officers along Llanover Road working to secure the safety of the children when travelling to school. 

It is always a pleasure to meet parents through our open-door policy.  Please remember, if you have any concerns you are able to discuss them initially with the class teacher (before or after school is always best to avoid teaching times).  If you needed to see me, please either pop in, or if I am not available, please make an appointment. 


Yours, Mrs Loveridge (Headteacher)