Our Parent/Teacher Consultations for the spring term are advertised in the following timetable. These ten-minute consultations will be via telephone and you will be invited to book an appointment by email through our online booking system. We will notify you prior to opening up the booking system which will then remain open for five days.

 

St David’s Day

 

We’ve had a very busy first week back from half term and would like to thank you all for the support you’ve given to the many activities that we have run.

 

St David’s Day was a great success. The children had produced some fabulous paintings and writing for the competitions in our Eisteddfod and the overall results are as follows:

 

4^th Draig (Red Dragon House Team)                           36 points

3^rd Cennin (Green Leeks House Team)                       48 points

2^nd Castell (Yellow Castles House Team)                    64 points

1^st Afon (Blue Rivers House Team)                             76 points

 

There were points for 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd and Highly Commended entries and it was great to see everyone having a go.

We also ran a special Eisteddfod Mega Quiz. The younger classes had a go together with their teachers. In Year 4 the children had a go in pairs and in Years 5 and 6 the children had a go as individuals. The quiz questions were all about our wonderful country of Wales.

 

Top Quizzers

Top Class: Reception and Mrs Jones with 21 Points

Top Pairs:

Sienna & Miller Y4 16 points

Mia & Lewis, Amber & Dominic, Jonah & Finley 15 points

Tyler & Lillie 14 points

Top Individuals

Caitlyn Y5 12 points

Emma & Michalina Y6 16 points

 

World Book Day

 

Many children came in dressed as their favourite character from a book and we had a little competition with prizes donated by the PTA. We were mainly looking for children who had helped to create their own costumes or had used their imagination to make a costume from things that they could find from within the house. Many of these children enjoyed telling us about their character and the book that they had read. There were a great many wonderful ideas for costumes and we’re only sorry that we couldn’t recognise them all.

 

 

Digital Mascot

 

The children have been judging the designs for a school digital mascot. Each class has looked at and voted for the design options from all the other classes. The designs from the following children have gone forwards for the selection of one overall winner who’s design will become the school’s digital mascot.

Isla, Marlee, Szymon, Layla and George

 

We have also now received all the designs for our Criw Cymraeg logo and some of these look fantastic. Well done to everyone who has had a go!

If your design doesn’t get selected this time don’t be disheartened – it might be your turn next time.

The Met Office has today issued a severe red weather warning for this part of South Wales. On advice from Welsh Government Bridgend  County Borough Council has closed all its schools for Friday 18th February.  Children and staff should not attend school. Severe winds are expected between 06:00 and 10:00 tomorrow morning which are expected to cause wide spread disruption.

Celebrating St David’s Day

We’re celebrating St David’s Day with a special assembly on 1^st March and a week of activities giving a special focus to our Welsh identity and practicing our Welsh language skills. There will be a special St David’s Day menu (Published on our Website) on offer for lunch for all those who have school meals and we’ll ask everyone to wear something Welsh on St David’s Day.

During the week each class will learn a Welsh song to perform and everyone will have a go at learning the Welsh National Anthem. Over the half term break we’re asking the children from Y2 to Y6 to have a go at designing a new logo for the Criw Cymraeg (entries in for Friday 4^th March please) and the winning design will be judged and used by our Criw Cymraeg team. As ever there will be lots of competitions for the week so everyone can take part and pick up points for their House teams. In addition, Year 5 and 6 will do some persuasive writing arguing that there is a value in learning the Welsh language and Year 3 and 4 children will design some posters to remind us to have a go and speak Welsh whenever we can.

 

World Book Day – Thursday 3^rd March

The children can dress up as a character from their favourite book and in class there will be a special focus on finding out about Welsh authors.

 

Did you know

All foundation phase (infant) children will be entitled to free school meals from September 2022 and preparations are in place to ensure that this can happen for all primary schools in Wales. The offer will probably be made to all KS2 (junior) children from September 2023.

Welsh Government plans to restructure the school year for Wales are well advanced. They are exploring changes to the number of school terms and balancing out the number of weeks holiday between them. We’ll send you a link to the Welsh Government Questionnaire shortly so you can have your say.

 

IMPORTANT – The school will be closed on Monday 25^th April for staff training

In AD 60, wronged and mistreated by Roman soldiers Boudica, Queen of the Iceni, leads her people in  open rebellion against the might of Rome. 

Children in Year 3 and 4 get a chance to play out the drama on a visit to the Iron Age village at St Fagans.

Our Catch Up Learning Plan for 2021-2022 has been published on this web site under:

Key Information - School Improvement - Catch Up Learning 

Dear Parent/Carer

 

I would like to provide you with an update regarding how schools in Bridgend will operate following the Christmas break.

 

Earlier today, all schools in Wales were informed that the Minister for Education and Welsh Language will be providing schools with two planning days at the start of the new spring term. This will allow headteachers time to assess staffing capacity and put the necessary measures in place to support the return of learners. The two planning days will be held on Tuesday 4 January and Wednesday 5 January 2022.

 

It is important to note that there will be no on-site (ie in-school) provision for any pupil on 4 or 5 January. Similarly, schools will not be offering remote learning provision during these two days. At present, all pupils attending Bridgend schools will return to school on Thursday 6 January 2022. However, this position may change if circumstances (eg staffing capacity issues) dictate. Individual schools will update parents/carers in due course if arrangements change. Where necessary, secondary schools will prioritise pupils in examination classes.

 

Breakfast clubs, where applicable, are planned to recommence on Monday 10 January 2022. However, parents/cares are advised that this might change depending on staffing levels. Parents/carers with children eligible for free school meals will be provided with a digital payment voucher during the week commencing Monday 3 January 2022.

 

The local authority and schools readily acknowledge that this is a difficult time for all learners, especially those learners who are preparing for examinations. At present, there is no change to the January 2022 examination timetable. Schools will continue to provide support for all learners to ensure the learning environment is safe and learners’ emotional wellbeing is supported.

 

Welsh Government has confirmed that it expects all school staff and learners of secondary age and above to test three times a week (on Monday, Wednesday and Friday) using lateral flow devices in the week before returning to school and to then continue regularly testing three times a week after the start of term in January.

 

The wearing of face coverings will continue for secondary school pupils and all staff in all settings in all communal areas and classrooms where physical distancing cannot be maintained. However, there will be staff and parents who are exempt from wearing face coverings.

 

Parents/carers are reminded that pupils are advised not come to school if they, or anyone in their household, have been tested positive for COVID-19 or is displaying any of the cardinal COVID-19 symptoms.

 

In conclusion, I would like to thank you all, once again, for the enormous support you have given your child’s school during such a challenging period.

 

I hope you all enjoy a peaceful Christmas and a happy new year.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Lindsay

 

Lindsay Iorwerth Harvey (Mr)

Corporate Director – Education and Family Support

Bridgend County Borough Council     

If you fancy a real tree for Christmas this year and don't want to travel far to get one you'll be interested to know that our PTA have arranged a Christmas Tree Sale here at Croesty on Saturday 4th December. Please see the poster for further details.