Welcome to our St Mary's Weekly Newsletter!
Let us Pray- Gweddiwn
Harvest Prayer
Father in heaven, all good gifts come from you. You send the sunshine and the rain, and it is through your love and care that we enjoy the harvest time. Thank you for providing so richly for our needs and help us to share the good things we have with those who are less fortunate than ourselves.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen
Harvest Festival and Dress Up Day- Friday 13th October
Diolch yn fawr iawn to everyone who dressed up today and generously donated harvest goods. We are always so overwhelmed by the love and kindness shown by our whole school family and cannot thank you all enough!
Please let us know if any families would like a parcel of food/ harvest items. All requests will be handled in confidence and with sensitivity.
Staff enjoyed a 'feel good Friday' Harvest shared soup lunch- leek and potato soup, tomato and basil soup, roasted butternut squash, red pepper and ginger soup with fresh bread and butter and sticky toffee pudding with cream and custard!
Dydd Su'mae/ Day- Wednesday 18th October
On Wednesday 18th October, our school will be celebrating Dydd Su'mae. we encourage all children to wear Welsh colours for the day and participate in various activities celebrating the Welsh culture and language. We're very excited to have a Welsh singer performing for us and parents joining some classes in the afternoon.
Please check Seesaw for you child's class specific details.
It's going to be a super day filled with Welsh pride!
Good Practice Case Study- Implementing the new Curriculum for Wales
Yesterday, Mrs Acton was invited to attend the WCBC Lifelong Learning Scrutiny meeting held at the Guildhall in Wrexham to share the school's journey towards our successful implementation of the new curriculum. A case study written by Mrs Croston, (GWE Regional Consortia Adviser) was also shared. Please see attached for your information. LINK
Friends' Autumn Discos
On-line Parents' Evenings
Please see letter sent on 3.10.23 and link to on-line Teams Parents' Evening booking system. Please ensure that you have booked an appointment with your child's classteacher. (Weds 18th & Thurs 19th October)
Parent Governor Vacancies
There are two parent governor vacancies at present. Please see links to the information nomination form and letter sent to parents on 2.10.23. Nominations should be returned by WEDNESDAY 18th OCTOBER.
Advance notice- Friends' Christmas School Fayre
If any St Mary's families would like to have a stall in our Christmas Fayre, the cost will be £5 per stall and £10 for local businesses. Please contact school if you are interested! Diolch
Attendance Matters
Please note school starts 08:55 and finishes at 15:15.
Please remember, 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:-Dryw with 97.8 %
Dosbarth Palodau-80.8% Dosbarth Parotiaid-92.3% Dosbarth Pengwiniaid-97.5%, Dosbarth Robin Goch- 95.4%,Dosbarth Tulluanod-91.2%. Dosbarth Dryw- 97.8%
Key Stage 2 winners this week are:- Dyfi with 96.4%
Dosbarth Clywedog-95.2% , Dosbarth Conwy-96.3%, Dosbarth Alyn-95%, Dosbarth Dyfi-96.4%, Dosbarth Gwenfro-94%, Dosbarth Dyfrdwy-92.1%, Dosbarth Gwaun-93.3%
WHOLE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE TARGET - 96%
WHOLE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE- 94.2% - an increase on last week- well done!
Please help us achieve our target this year!!
Free School Meals- Are you eligible?
May I remind all families who are eligible for free school meals to make an application via the link ‘Free school meals | Wrexham County Borough Council. This will not only provide your child with a daily free meal in school but will also allow parents the opportunity to apply for a Pupil Development Grant (PDG) | Wrexham County Borough Council to help with the cost of uniforms, resources, equipment and devices etc. By making your application, school will also receive the correct amount of funding from Welsh Government.
Please note:-
Your child is eligible to receive free school meals if you or your child receive the following...
• Income Support (IS)*
• Income Based Jobseekers Allowance (IBJSA)*
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Income-related Employment Support Allowance (IR)
• Child Tax Credit - providing you’re not entitled to Working Tax Credit with an annual total income below the HMRC set limit
• Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Working Tax Credit 'run-on' - the payment someone may receive for a further four weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit - if you are working you must be earning less than £7,400 per year (£616.67 per month) to qualify for free school meal
From September 1st, all primary aged children (Reception- Year 6) in Wrexham can have a free school meal as part of the WG universal offer. However, if you are in receipt of the above benefits, please remember to make an application via the links above as well to ensure access to the PDG and to enable school to receive the additional funding.
I urge all families to take up this wonderful universal offer. Diolch
School Dinner orders
Please ensure that school dinners are pre-ordered at home. Teachers should not be ordering meals in school, as previously advised by WCBC. Thank you
Patrwm Yr Wythnos
The Criw Cymraeg’s ‘Patrwm yr Wythnos’ (Phrase of the week) this week is: Sur mae'r tywydd
See VIDEO LINK
Class Assemblies 2023-24
Our first class assembly will take place next Friday 20th October- Year 6 Dosbarth Gwaun
Parents and family members are invited into school on a Friday afternoon (at approx. 14:15) to watch their child's class assembly.
Please see the list of class assembly dates for the school year ahead below:-
We look forward to welcoming you into school!
Nursery & Reception-Isabella is having a sleepover with her cousin, Ashani is going to a hotel and having her nails done and Alice is visiting family with her mum.
Years 1 & 2-Daniela's granny came, Dorian is going to the park, Tiara had a gymnastics trophy and Joanna is going to the cinema
Years 3 & 4 - Isabella came 4th in a dance competition in Liverpool, Gabriel H has a new fish tank and Pati has a gymnastics competition in Deeside. Saoirse is going on holiday to Ireland on Friday to see her family, Melvin O has moved to Wave 4 and Franek has been to Erddig with Beavers.
Year 5-Molly is going to a gymnastics competition in December, Evie is going back to gymnastics and Jian is looking forward to watching India vs Pakistan in the cricket. Sophie went to Llandudno last weekend and had a great time. She has also recently written a new song called 'Monster', Annabelle is going pumpkin picking and is going to visit a 'haunted' maze!
Year 6- Year 6 are attending a maths transition 'challenge' day in St Joseph's on Monday
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.
If you have any further questions our FAQ’s page may help, or feel free to give us a call.
Yellow and blue (YaB group ltd) is a social enterprise non profit project. Underpinning community projects including positive pathways, food provision and social isolation beating events and activities. With a digital vision within the community - we aim to support vulnerable groups whilst creating a vibrant, supportive and uplifting experience. Creating moments, chances and smiles when people need it most.
Please get in touch by emailing:- info@yellowandblue.org
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