Croeso to our St Mary's Weekly Newsletter!
Let us Pray- Gweddiwn
Hoping you all had a very blessed, happy and Holy Easter.
Calling all St Mary's Family- present and past...
Can you help us?
After Easter, our whole school topic is 'A twist in time' and we are going to be delving back into our school history books to find our more about the history of our wonderful school here in Wrecsam. If you or any members of your family or friends attended St Mary's or if you know of any past teachers or staff members, please share this information with them. We have shared the link via our social media platforms @stmaryswxm. We look forward to sharing our learning with you all. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Please click on the link to add your memories. Please see our school social media accounts to share. Diolch.
School Council & Eco Ambassadors' Assembly
A huge DIOLCH to our wonderful School Council, Super Ambassador reps and Mrs Robertson for delivering an excellent assembly today about our children's rights. The children led a number of fun games to reinforce our understanding of Article 31- Your right to relax and play- the game to eat a doughnut without licking your lips was the funniest challenge of all!
The representatives also thanked us all for helping them in their March challenge set by the Children's Commissioner for Wales, Rocio Cifuentes linked to school meals and Article 24- Your right to good food and water and to see a doctor if you are ill. All feedback about our school meals has been sent to Rocio who will ensure that the feedback from all schools is reported to and discussed with the Welsh Government to make sure that all children's rights are being met.
We now have a new challenge for April and this time Rocio is keen to find out about how we all travel to school and what is good/ not so good about our experiences. We look forward to working with the pupil voice groups and will learn more about Article 19-You should not be harmed and should be kept safe and article 28- Your right to learn and go to school.
Finally, all classes have been challenged to think creatively about how they can help us all learn about 4 important terms linked to the UNCRC- i.e. CHARTER, DUTY BEARER, ARTICLE and CONVENTION. Classes can choose to use art, dance, song, rhyme, rap or any other medium they choose. Either way, we all want to know, understand and use these words as a result of our task. Everyone will need to get their thinking caps on by the end of half term when all entries will be judged and the winning class will have a special treat! Pob lwc pawb!
Eco News
A huge thank you to our St Mary's family for donating to our first textile recycling collection with Dragon Bags. A super £110.80 was raised - what a great start! Diolch pawb.
WG Workplace recycling Law- 6th April 2024
As you will be aware, a new workplace recycling law came into force in Wales on 6th April. As a school, we must ensure that all children, staff and visitors to our site, follow the law and dispose of all recyclable waste in the correct bins.
Please do ask your children about our new bins and how we are all working together to recycle all our waste. The children were absolute superstars in assembly on Tuesday and all the staff were very impressed with how much they had remembered from our assembly before the holidays. Diolch a da iawn pawb!
COMING SOON...
The Friends of St Mary's present for us...
The Friends have made it easy for everyone to gather sponsors by setting up a JUSTGIVING fundraising page. This saves paper and saves time- just share the link below and gather as many sponsors as you can! Diolch o galon.
PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK TO SPONSOR OUR CHILDREN AND DONATE TO SUPPORT OUR SCHOOL! LINK
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 96.4%
Dosbarth Palodau-94.6% Dosbarth Parotiaid-94% Dosbarth Pengwiniaid-90.4%, Dosbarth Robin Goch- 86.4%, Dosbarth Tulluanod-83.5%. Dosbarth Dryw- 96.4%
Key Stage 2 winners this week are:- Dyfi with 99.6%
Dosbarth Clywedog-92.7% , Dosbarth Conwy-98.1%, Dosbarth Alyn-95%, Dosbarth Dyfi-99.6%, Dosbarth Gwenfro-99.2%, Dosbarth Dyfrdwy-92.1%, Dosbarth Gwaun-89.3%
WHOLE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE TARGET - 96%
WHOLE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE- 93.2%- another slight dip again this week!
Please help us achieve our target next week!!
Early Years-Nancy went to the zoo and fed the giraffes, Noah went to the arcades, Jacob went to Banana Ben's, Loura, Akia and Lennon went to the circus, Michael enjoyed lots of yummy ice-cream on holiday and Nelly went to the farm, fed the lambs and goats and the cheeky goats nibbled her hair! Emilia has lost her first tooth, Roche went to Harri & Alfie's house for a visit, Ashani went to Spain and took her scooter to a park, Zayden went to Spain on an aeroplane, Maria went to see her babcia in Poland and Max's brother taught him how to play a new video game.
Years 1 and 2- Hanna went to Poland and had rainbow eggs for Easter breakfast, Melanie went to Cornwall and visited the castle, George passed green belt in Taekwondo and Evelyn went on a ski holiday and was able to ski down a huge hill! Nicolas passed wave 7 and also passed his Taekwondo grading and received his green stripe, Nazif passed his grading and got a green belt, Dorian's dad had his birthday this week and Oyintaena won a football trophy. Blossom visited Lapland over the Easter break and enjoyed meeting Santa and seeing the Northern Lights. Sasha went to Tenerife and saw a volcano
Years 3 and 4- Aiden's sister is coming home from university in Italy, Isabella made it through in her dance competitions- she's doing a Barbie & Woody dance! Rozalia competed for World Fencing competition U11s in Poland and came 40th in the world and also came 2nd in another competition in Cardiff. Niamh went to Perry's baking class in Eccleston and earned a certificate. Tony has moved up to Wave 5, Arthur has moved house, Zuzanna has a new dog, Lucia has a new rabbit called Rupert, Lilianna has started gymnastics in Delta and Alfie-Jay has been diving with sharks! Benj has moved up to Wave 5 and david and Zion have moved to yellow stripe in Taekwondo.
Year 3/4 Wow day on Wednesday 16th April- War Time Tea Dance.
Year 5-Evie is going to Turkey next month, Daniel's axoloti laid eggs, Matilda is going on holiday next month, Fabian's cousin is 3 months old, Molly is going to Cyprus very soon and Theo's birthday is coming up.
Year 5 are visiting the cathedral next week as part of the Religious Education work and Xplore as part of their topic work.
Year 6- Matthew had a great time in Cornwall, Violet went to St Dwynwen's well, Zi-Ying went to Caernarfon Castle and Bella Rose went to the circus. Sophia's netball team won the league and they are going to watch Manchester play, Issy G got a distinction in her singing at Grade 4, Zofia is now a green stripe belt in Taekwondo, Evelyn visited Cadbury's World and Maks and Gabriel are going on holiday to Turkey.
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