Welcome to our St Mary's Weekly Newsletter!
Let us Pray- Gweddiwn
Jubilee Year 2025
“For all of us, may the Jubilee be an opportunity to be renewed in hope.” Pope Francis
June- Month of Sacred Heart of Jesus
In the Catholic Church, June is traditionally dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The month is a time for special devotion and reflection on Jesus's love and mercy, particularly as symbolised by his heart
Congratulations on your 25th Anniversary Fr Nicholas!
On Saturday, we will be attending a special Mass at the cathedral to celebrate Fr Nicholas' 25th anniversary of his ordination. A group of children will be singing in Mass and we invite all St Mary's children and families to join us in the celebration. If you are able to attend, please meet at the cathedral entrance at 11:45. All welcome!
Stay and Play for new Nursery Children
On Monday 9th and Monday 16th June, our new Nursery children are invited to a Stay & Play session in the Nursery class. It will be great to meet the children and their parents. We will all join together for a Teddy Bears' Picnic on Monday 23rd June. We are all very excited!
Safe and happy playtimes for all at St Mary's - New procedures KS 2 yard
A big thank you to Miss Edwards and the PLAY TOGETHER team for organising a new safe and inclusive playtime for all Key Stage 2 children starting from Monday. There will be designated areas for FOOTBALL, GAMES (both coordinated by the Play Together team) and FREE PLAY (choice of resources provided), and a TIMETABLE will be in place to ensure fairness and safety for all.
The Play Together team have devised a set of expectations for each area and all children are expected to adhere to the rules and expectations.
I spoke to the children about proposed changes this week and will share the new system with everyone on Monday.
Criw Cymraeg- Non- negotiables
We are progressing well towards achieving the next level of the Cymraeg Campus award. However, in order to help us further, the Criw Cymraeg are setting some 'NON NEGOTIABLE' language patterns to use instead of speaking in English. The NON- NEGOTIABLES we are encouraging everyone to use are
Wedi gorffen- I'm finished Dioch- thank you Croeso- You're welcome Bore da- Good morning P'nawn da- good afternoon
Parents can also help our efforts at school by using these patterns at home, by the school gate and with your friends and families. Diolch for your continued support!
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Attendance Matters
Please note school starts 08:55 and finishes at 15:15.
St Mary's Attendance Race 2024-25
Please remember that children should not worry about having to stay off school if they are poorly. Children should only attend school if they are fit and well enough to do so. Routine appointments, holidays during term-time, days off for birthdays however, are not valid reasons to stay off school.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding with this very important matter.
Foundation Phase winners this week are:-
Dosbarth Tylluanod with 94.6%
Dosbarth Palodau- 92.9% Dosbarth Parotiaid- 86.1%- Dosbarth Pengwiniad-88%- Dosbarth Robin Goch- 87.5% Dosbarth Tylluanod- 94.6% Dosbarth Dryw-91.3%
Key Stage 2 winners this week are :-
Dosbarth Gwaun with 99.2%
Dosbarth Clywedog-90.8% Dosbarth Conwy- 96.9 % Dosbarth Alyn-98.3% Dosbarth Gwenfro-95.3% Dosbarth Dyfrdwy- 95.8% Dosbarth Gwaun- 99.2%
WHOLE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE TARGET- 96%
THIS WEEK'S WHOLE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE -93.4% - decreased again sadly.
Forthcoming events and dates for your diary
Friday 6th June- Dryw assembly
Monday 9th June/ Stay and Play Session- Grp 1- New Nursery children
Friday 13th June- Tylluanod Assembly
Monday 16th June-Stay and Play Session- Grp 2- New Nursery children
W/C 16th June- Refugee Week
Tuesday 17th June- Diocesan Year 6 Mass- St Winefride's Holywell
Thursday 19th June- Robin Goch Assembly
Monday 23rd June- New Nursery Teddy Bears' Picnic
W/C 23rd June- Year 6 Rocket Transition week at St Joseph's
Thursday 26th June- Transition day- visit new classes
Friday 27th June- Monday 30th June- Year 6 Cardiff Trip
Class Assemblies 2024-25
This week's assemblywas led by Dosbarth Dryw. A super assembly all about their class book 'You're called WHAT? parents. Parents are going to LOVE it this afternoon. (Apologies that I cannot attend as I am in a Catholic Headteachers' meeting but Mrs Jones will be in the hall to welcome everyone.)
Next Class assembly is Dosbarth Tylluanod on Friday 13th June
SCHOOL OFFICE HOURS
Please be aware that there is no cover in the school office between these hours:-
08:30-09:00 (mornings)
11:45-13:15 (lunchtimes)
15:10-15:20 (afternoons)
School Dinners- please remember to pre-order meals at home each day
Nursery & Reception-Matthew went on holiday to Spain and loved swimming with the dolphins and making sandcastles.Eliza went to London and stayed in a hotel.Hephzibah went swimming with her big sister.Patryk went on holiday to Turkey and he saw a lizard. He really enjoyed swimming in the pool and saw a pirate ship in the sea.Eliah went camping with Tahlia.Finley went to Tenerife with his cousin. He enjoyed playing football and basketball.Harrison went to his friend's house.Ann went swimming with her big sister.Zofia went to Poland.Saaveri went to the park.Elodie went to the farm with Cora.Anwaar went to gymnastics and enjoyed doing cartwheels. Sasha went to the park and played on the slide.
Years 1 & 2-Luka and Harri's Team Brickfield Rangers came second in a football tournament and they got a medalNoah went on holiday and went for a boat ride on the sea. Hallie is going swimming. Kiki is going to swimming and moving up to Wave 2. Jacob went to the beach. Lena went to airhop and it was a lot of fun. Owen enjoyed his birthday party. Tom went to his friend’s house. Elliot saw a lamborghini. Yemi went to Banana Ben’s and McDonald’s and went to sheffield for 3 days. Freya went to Greece and Hugo has started his first swimming lesson. Isabella went to Tenerife with her friends. Sasha played with Jan in his house. Danny went to church and saw Kiki. Oliver’s Mummy and Daddy got married in Cyprus. Nelly went on holiday to Disneyland and met the princesses. Lennon received a football trophy. Alice is going to Florida in 9 weeks.Elliot, Annwen, Chinua, Fiadh,Joanna, Elena, Ivo and Zera went to watch the new Stitch movie. Daniel went to Manchester.Hunter went to the Liverpool Championship parade.Marianna went to see her Auntie’s new baby.Lena went to the beach. Elena has moved up a level in gymnastics. Seth went to Chinatown in Manchester and had lobster. Zera went to see the new Minecraft movie.Chinua went to Chester for a special Maths and English lesson to learn about division. Fiadh passed Wave 6,Luka and Harri won a medal in football for becoming 2nd in a tournament.Abigail has 2 new kittens.Zofia has a new bike and headphones.Lucja went to Chester zoo.Max has been busy building a lego set.Patrycja has a new bag.Roche went to Scotland.
Years 3 &4-Szymon has a new dog. Amelia has passed her bronze challenges. Daniela went camping with Zoja.Daniel, Blossom, Georige, Hania, Nathan, Jaden, Evelyn, Melanie, Oyintaena, Hanna and Finn, William and Katlyn made their first Holy Communion. Hania has got a new scooter. Eulla went to the cinema to watch Lilo and Stitch. Oyintaena has a new car.Lily is going to Zipworld.Aditi is going to a gymnastics competition in Bolton.Alfie Jay achieved the lowest heart rate with his horse Pebbles in an endurance ride.Melvin D won MOM in football practice, Zuzanna, Lilianna, Gabriel, Kordian and Lily made their Holy Communion.Tommy went to the Cavern club and met a band called Carousel.Nicolas won first at a Motocross weekend.Lily and Erin had lunch in the Plassey.George won a medal in football.Madison has made some beautiful crochet animals.Ariana and Maya went to Airhop.Akain and Logan went to Conwy castle.Andy, Artur, Benj, George, Pola, Paulina, Scarlett, Sophie and Szymon made their first Holy Communion.Clara went swimming.Julian went to the Welsh Mountain Zoo to celebrate his birthday.Rene went on the ferry to Ireland.Paulina celebrated her Holy Communion with a special meal with her godparents.Scarlett and Sophie have a gymnastics competition in Bolton- pob lwc!Abigail and Vanessa went to the cinema to watch Lilo and Stitch.George went to the caravan and had new lego.Andy’s football team won a tournament- congratulations!Benjamin had his football presentation on Friday. He won Under 9s Sports Person of the Season- congratulations!Okedinachi has been crafting over the half term!Tony has been busy learning how to crochet. He made a blue octopus plushy.
Year 5 & 6-Joia competed in the under 10s fencing competition and came 1st! Rozalia competed in the under 12s fencing competition and came 2nd!Olivia achieved her orange belt in Judo!Daniel, Lea, Jewel and Ashley completed their first Holy Communion over the weekend.Pati has won dance medals and trophies during the holidays.Grace has a dance show on Friday and Saturday.Daniel’s cousin had a birthday and they are going horse riding. Tomasz and Diego have done theri first holy communion.Annabelle has a new baby cousin.Molly, Ivy and Ella came 2nd with their group dance at a competitionMark went to Edinburgh over half term - he loved the history.Sophie went to Caernarfon over half term.
Please email school/ Seesaw class teachers to share good news for our weekly newsletter. Thank you.
Local Support for Families
At this difficult time of austerity, please see some information about local services that are available to provide support to families in need.
Please contact school if you find yourself in a difficult situation and need some help/ support to signpost you to an appropriate service. Your requests will be handled in confidence and with sensitivity. Diolch. Mrs Acton.
If you need help from our foodbank there are a few simple steps to follow. THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP IS TO GET A FOODBANK VOUCHER.
In order to provide the most appropriate help for the circumstances of your situation we work with local agencies. If they feel you are struggling to put food on the table, they will issue you with a foodbank voucher. The local agency can also provide long term support if needed to help address some of the issues behind the reasons for your crisis. Agencies we work with include: Citizens Advice, housing support officers, children’s centres, health visitors, social services and some local charities.
1. GET IN TOUCH WITH US.
If you call or email our foodbank we can talk through your situation and put you in touch with a relevant local agency.
2. ARRANGE A VISIT TO THE REFERRAL AGENCY.
They will discuss your situation and supply you with a foodbank voucher where appropriate.
If you can’t afford food, you can call 0808 2082138 (freephone) to speak to a trained and independent Citizens Advice agent (Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm). Please note this number is for people who do not have enough money for food – if you are a local organisation or charity that works with people who might need the food bank, please contact us directly.
Alternatively, please call 0300 330 1178 to speak to Wrexham’s Citizen’s Advice Bureau, who will be able to issue you with a food bank voucher if necessary.
3. BRING YOUR FOODBANK VOUCHER TO YOUR NEAREST FOODBANK CENTRE.
You can find a list of our local centres and opening times here. When you arrive, we’ll welcome you with a warm drink and our trained volunteers will chat with you about your situation. We’ll also discuss any dietary needs you may have and exchange your foodbank voucher for a parcel of three days of emergency food. We’ll also help to support you in any other ways that we can. Most of our foodbank centres offer a cafe style environment and our aim is to provide non-judgemental support at the point of crisis.
Pupil Development Grant
The Welsh Government funded Pupil Development Grant is available to help towards the costs of a child’s school uniform and equipment, for those on a low income. Any child eligible for free school meals in the year groups listed below are eligible. However, those receiving free school meals due to transitional protection arrangement would not be eligible.
Depending on the school year your child will be entering in September 2021 you could receive a grant of £125 or £200. Link
Anyone eligible for free school meals and in the following year groups will qualify for the grant: Entering reception class in primary school, Entering school years 1 to 11, In a special school, special needs resource base or pupil referral unit and are aged 4 to 15.For any looked after children of compulsory school age who are not receiving free school meals, please email uniformgrant@wrexham.gov.uk for an application form.
Welsh Courses for Parents
Are you interested in becoming a volunteer in school?
Here at St Mary’s we are very keen to involve parents, grandparents and family members in the life of the school. We are always looking for volunteers to help out a wide range of activities such as school trips and walking the children to sporting events. We are also very happy to invite volunteers to share special skills, interests or experiences to enhance the children’s opportunities or provision e.g. gardening, sewing, sharing job skills/ experiences etc.
If you would like to be involved in any volunteer work for the school, please click on the link and complete and return the forms attached.https://stmarys-wxm.co.uk/about-us/forms/volunteer-form-2/
Please note:- All volunteers will be subject to DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) clearance. Thank you
Many thanks.
Welsh Government Announcement
Physical punishment of children is now illegal in Wales. Children have the same protection from assault as adults. This is to protect children and their rights. To find out more visit: http://gov.wales/EndPhysicalPunishment
Support the Friends of St Mary’s
to raise much needed funds for the benefit of all our children Friends of St. Mary’s School are now registered with easyfundraising, which means you can raise FREE donations for us every time you shop online. Over 4,000 shops and sites will donate to us when you use easyfundraising to shop with them – at no extra cost to yourself!
These donations really mount up and make a BIG difference to us, so we’d really appreciate it if you could take a moment to sign up and support us. It’s completely FREE and only takes a moment.
Do it today- Sign up by clicking on the link below
Please encourage your family and friends to do the same.
Credits:
Created with images by julaszka - "Cute girl playing with paints" • phonlamaiphoto - "Gold star trophy" • Maya Kruchancova - "cupcake with sparkler on old wooden background" • Irina Schmidt - "Adoralbe little toddler girl with rainbow and heart painted with colorful window color during pandemic coronavirus quarantine. Child painting rainbows around the world with the words Let's all be well"