Cluster Football
As the costs associated with attending the Sport Caerphilly tournaments have increased (and our available funds decreased) we have joined together with other cluster schools to set up our own tournament to run after school at Islwyn High. The first was held a few weeks ago and was a huge success. A huge well done to the children who represented us (they were brilliant!) and a huge thank you to the parents who supported. We're looking forward to round 2 on Wednesday next week!
We can only take a limited number of children so we will be taking a slightly different team each time: the aim is to remain competitive whilst also giving more children the opportunity to represent the school. Emails have gone out today to children selected for next week's team. We are reliant on parents to help us transport children: Mrs Tucker and myself are insured to transport the children in our cars, and between us can manage seven children. However, if parents are able to support by taking their own child, we are able to extend this to take up to 3 subs (and therefore include more children in the tournament).
Provisional (monthly) dates have been set for the rest of the academic year and I have shared these on our website calendar to support parents in planning ahead - but please be mindful that future dates may be subject to change.
Cluster Spelling Bee - 2nd place
Three of our children from Years 5 & 6 represented the school at our Cluster Spelling Bee last week. A huge well done to Evie who came second in the cluster!
We're currently preparing to select a team for the cluster times table and 24 Game on 2nd April. Here's a link to the 24 Game if you'd like to practise at home.
Climbing Frame
A thank you to parents for ensuring that children do not go on the climbing frame at the end of the day. Your continued support is very much appreciated.
Parents Evening
Parents Evenings are Monday 31st March & Tuesday 1st April. Booking links will be sent out on Tuesday 18/3/25 and will close at noon on Monday 24th March.
A reminder that each appointment is for 10 minutes only and that if you require longer you need to contact your child's class teacher to arrange to meet on another day. Ahead of parents' evenings we send out a form to ask parents if there is any particular topic they would like to discuss (links below). This enables us to be prepared and supports us in keeping to time.
Links to forms for parents' evenings:
PACT (Parents and Children Together) Sessions: Oren & Nursery
Following the success of our Literacy Open Day in the Autumn Term we have talked about increasing the number of opportunities for parents to come into school during the school day.
We are aiming for 1 class per half term to invite parents in for something (this might be a presentation or a chance to come into class etc).
Save the Date! Parents of Nursery are invited in on the morning of Tuesday 8/4/25 and parents of Dosbarth Oren on the afternoon of Wednesday 9/4/25. More details (including times) will follow.
Are you able to help? Parent Roles:
Parent Volunteers
We're looking for more parents to help with school trips: without your help, it's more difficult to run trips. We can't spare staff from other classes without booking supply cover which can be quite expensive and is disruptive to the learning of other classes. If these costs continue to impact on school budget we will need to reduce the number of trips we run. If you can help, please let us know: we will need to arrange a DBS for you first.
Parent Governor
We still have a vacancy for one parent governor (we have been advertising termly). If you are interested in joining us and would like to know more, please see the information on website here. If you would like to volunteer, please read this letter from Pastor Dave, our Chair of Governors, and complete the form linked here by Monday 31/3/25 3:30pm (paper copies available from the school office). If we have more than 1 volunteer an election would need to be held.
Parent Forum
If the role of Governor doesn't appeal, Parent Forum is another opportunity to get involved. Parent Forum provides feedback following school events, parent surveys and it's an opportunity to bring topics to my attention. They are also a way for me to explain and communicate school matters in greater detail than can be done in a newsletter. Last week for example, we looked at the responses to the most recent parent questionnaire on Mixed Age Class Organisation and I demonstrated to Parent Forum the difficulties we face in Pontllanfraith. Parents Forum meetings are help just ahead of Governing Body meetings so that views can be taken forward. A Parent Governor and an LA Governor were present at this term's Parent Forum which will help inform the Governing Body discussion about the policy tonight. To get involved with parent forum, please email Mrs Tucker: TuckerJ58@sch.caerphilly.gov.uk
PTFA
All parents and staff are automatically members of the PTFA - and the name is Parents, Teachers & Friends Association so that we can include the wider community of family and friends. Whilst a core group meet for committee meetings throughout the year they are always grateful for helpers for events and tasks. We have an end of term disco coming up and there will be the summer fete next term. If you are interesting in helping the PTFA please email pontllanfraithprimaryschoolpta@gmail.com
The PTFA will be getting the Mothers Day plants (for those who ordered) ready for the children to bring home on Friday 28th March.
Midday Supervisor Vacancies
We are looking for an additional Relief Midday Supervisor. if you are interested (or know of anyone who might be) please contact the school office for an application form. This would be to step in and help on days when we are short staffed.
World Down Syndrome Day / Red Nose Day: Friday 21/3/25
Many of you will be aware that Mrs Greenaway, who is covering Miss Ferguson's absence in Dosbarth Melyn, has a son with Downs Syndrome and is one of our pupils. World Down Syndrome Day is held on 21st March every year: the 21st day of March (the 3rd month of the year) was selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome.
We would like to recognised both days. Children are invited to wear loud or odd socks (which is how World Down's Syndrome Day is recognised) and we will be collecting donations for the Down's Syndrome Association. Children should still wear normal uniform.
We will also, however, recognise Red Nose Day with a bit of fun on Friday afternoon and should you wish to support that charity ask that you do so online. Children are welcome to bring red noses to school but if they do, these will be collected in and saved for the afternoon to ensure that they don't disrupt learning in the morning. We are carrying out a learning walk with the EAS that day (booked for we knew it was Comic Relief that day) so it will be business as usual until it's time to switch into Comic Relief mode but are looking forward to ending the week with a bit of fun!
Year 3 Swimming
Year 3 will be having swimming lessons next term starting Tuesday 6th May, every day for the 3 weeks leading up to half term. More information is linked here. Swimming is not optional and we expect all children to attend.
Swimming lessons are paid for by the school but we do ask for a contribution towards the cost of transport. This year the cost of transport per child is £52. Following consultation with the parent forum last year, we suggest a minimum contribution of £25 (and appreciate it if parents are able to contribute more). Whilst the contribution is not compulsory, and we know some parents may not be able to afford the full cost, it is very much needed and appreciated. We can accept cash or a cheque made payable to Pontllanfraith Primary School. If you would like to split payment across April and May (or March, April & May) please contact the school office to arrange.
New Cabin
Over the next few weeks there will be some disruption whilst our LA / Lottery funded cabin is installed. The cabin is going to go where we previously had outdoor staging, the other side of the satellite class building, and will have power and plumbing for a toilet. It's brilliant news that it will be installed in time for the summer!
We have instructed contractors not to have deliveries at the beginning and end of the day when parents, children and taxis are arriving, but consequently there may be occasions when the junior children are unable to use their playground if materials are delivered during the school day. If this happens, they will have indoor play or use the infant playground. Hopefully disruption will be kept to the minimum.
Break in
Many of you will be aware that we had a break in on Saturday 8th March. The school office was targeted and our safe was stolen containing money sent in by parents for the upcoming trip for Dosbarth Melyn . We have considered that perhaps the thief expected there to be more money in the safe, not realising that we no longer have dinner money on site as dinners are now free to all. Whilst we can claim on insurance for the loss of cash and the safe itself, there has still been a monetary cost to the school: repairs to the window, alarm call out, staff overtime. CCTV footage has been passed to police. Please contact Gwent Police if you have any information that could help.