We will remember them!
"The Great War is over! At 11 o’clock today, the armistice was signed and we could put down our weapons. An armistice is an agreement to stop fighting and discuss peace. Now, after four long years, we can go home. We call it ‘the war to end all wars’. I really hope so."
It is a honour to live in a free country and we are very grateful to our brothers and sisters who give their lives for our freedom. It has been penitent this week to see and hear the children learning and share what they know about their ancestors who played a part in this freedom we enjoy today. Let us keep their stories alive, by passing on the history of our families.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen
We are a Catholic Family learning together
Mass Times on Saturday evening / Sunday
We know how busy life can be, I always find it handy knowing the time of Masses around our area. Here is a list of Churches near by and the time of Sunday Mass.
Our Lady's & St Patrick's RC Church. Maesteg Sunday 11am & 5pm
St Robert's RC Church. Aberkenfig Sunday 9am
St Mary's RC Church. Bridgend Saturday 6pm Sunday 11am & 6pm
St Joseph's RC Church. Port Talbot Saturday 6pm Sunday 10am
Family Mass - Christ the King - Sunday 24th November 5pm this is a chance to say Croeso to Fr Paul Joseph. There will be light refreshments in the Parish hall after Mass.
Family Life - Advent Adventure
We are invited to prepare for Advent with our Parish Family. on Sunday 1st December - First Sunday of Advent at 3pm, there will be an Advent Adventure in the Parish hall. This will conclude with Mass at 5pm. All are welcome.
Please try and make every effort to attend, it will be a wonderful time to prepare for Advent together.
Please make every effort to join with our Parish family. It is a great opportunity for us to celebrate our faith together and share a cuppa and a cake after.
Contact details
Please make sure we have the most up to date contact details for your child, including any allergies, medical issues or anything we need to know to support your child's needs.
Handle with Care
If your children needs a gentle approach any day, please text 'Handle with care' to either the school messaging service or on Class Dojo. You do not have to tell us anymore than 'Handle with care'. We will know that your child will need extra time, patience or help.
World Nursery Rhyme Week
This week we are celebrating Nursery Rhymes. The importance of Nursery Rhymes in our early speaking and reading days, is often underestimated. Think of your own childhood, what are the first songs you sung?
During my career I have been blessed with many additions to my teaching roles, one was working with Book Trust Cymru on the Pori Drwy Stori project. I learnt the importance of Nursery Rhymes, and how they can help all children gain confidence with words in a fun way.
The Pori Drwy Stori website is a great learning resources - please have a look this week. There are bilingual resources to support the learning of Welsh also!
Activies to try this week;
Learn, say or sing rhymes / songs / hymns
Read and talk about books together at home
Write your own five star review of the book's you read this week.
On Friday, we will end our celebration of World Nursery Rhyme Week, by dressing up as a character from a Nursery Rhyme.
Please send in a donation, any size for Mission Together. This is Pope Francis' own charity.
Mission Together are the Catholic Church’s official children’s charity for overseas mission
Reading Cafe - Year 2
On Thursday 21st November at 2pm I will be working alongside Y2 staff to host our first Reading Cafe.
This is an afternoon to promote a love of reading. I have worked with the children to decide the book we will use, created invitations and planned the activities we will have on offer.
I really hope a member of their family will be able to attend and enjoy a hour of fun using the book 'Room on the Broom' by Julia Donaldson.
Other classes will have a Reading Cafe soon.
If you would like to discuss anything with your child's class teacher, please can I ask you to make an appointment or send them a message on Class Dojo. When you are dropping off or when we are seeing children home at the end of the day, it is not the best time to discuss important information about your child.
School Day
School begins at 8:55 am - Doors open at 8:45am. School day ends at 3pm for Nursery pupils, 3.15pm for rest of the school.
Drop off & Pick up arrangements:
• Breakfast Club – the main gate to the yard is the entry point – Doors are open between 8.15am and 8.30am.
• Mr Ballenger will be on the gate, from 8.45am to ensure the children, unaccompanied, go in safely.
(The hall door must remain closed as it as a Fire Exit)
Bus children are accompanied by staff, and they come in as soon as they arrive.
If you are on the yard with your child, Please, do not send your children in at this time.
Doors are open from 8.45am for children to come in to class, to complete morning activities, ready to begin their day at 8.55am.
Nursery pupils come in to school via the Main Reception Gates, where they are greeted by staff, this is from 8.45am.
If you access the school from the Church steps, Commercial street, the Main Reception gates are open from 8.45am for children to come into classes.
The main gate and the Reception door will be maned by staff to ensure safe entry for children.
This will be the same for pick-up
Nursery - 3pm - Main Reception Gate
Reception to Year 6 – 3.15pm - Yard
If your child/ren are to meet you at the Main Reception gate or at the bottom of the Church steps, a member of staff will always let them out of the door.
If you want your child/ren to walk home or there are any other arrangements at the end of the day, please speak to myself, Mrs James or the Class teacher please.
Please can I ask you to be very mindful of parking and DO NOT park in the Church grounds. We all have the safety of our children at heart.
November Dates
- 11th INSET - Staff training for new Religious Education Directory, with other schools from the Archdioecse
- 12th November 24 - Climate Justice Winners visit the Senedd
- 12th November 24 - Governors Meeting
- 13th November 24 - School photos
- 13th November 24 - Y3 & Y4 - Showcase for families - 1.45pm
- 15th November 24 - Nursery Rhyme Week finale - Dress up as a Nursery Rhyme character
- 20th November 24 - Choir singing in Town Hall @ 1.15pm
- 20th November 24 - Archdiocese of Cardiff -Menevia School Staff Mass 7pm Mary Immaculate Catholic High. Cardiff
- 21st November 24 -Choir singing in Town Hall @ 1.00pm
- 21st November 24 - Y2 Reading Cafe - 2pm
- 22nd November 24 - Choir singing in Town Hall @ 12.00pm
- 24th November 24 - Feast of Christ the King - Family Mass 5pm
- 28th November 24 - Disco of Light - details to follow
- 29th November 24 - Fire Brigade talk to Y3 & Y4 / Y5 & Y6
Dates for the year ahead
- 1st December 24 - First Sunday of Advent - Family Life invite you to an Advent Adventure @ 3pm in the Church hall
- 2nd December 24 - 12th December - Christmas Concerts - see above
- 8th December 24 - Winter Lights Festival - Maesteg Welfare Park - choir will be singing @5pm
- 11th December 24 - Choir - Festive Singing in the Town Hall
- 13th December 24 - Nursery, Reception, Y1 & Y2 - Visit to Wiggley's Farm
- 17th December 24 - Christmas dinner day
- 18th December 24 - Y3, Y4, Y5 & Y6 - Visit to Pantomime
- 19th December 24 - Party Food day
- 19th December 24 - Last Day of Autumn 2
- 20th December 24 - INSET Day
- 20th December 24 - 5th January 25 - Christmas Holidays
Spring & Summer 2025
- 6th January 25 - Return to School - Spring 1
- 10th February 25 -all week - Swimming Year 4 & Year 5
- 17th February 25 - Monday to Thursday - Swimming Year 4 & Year 6
- 17th February 25 - INSET Day - Church Cluster
- 21st February -2nd March 25 - Half Term
- 3rd March 25 - Return to School - Spring 2
- 3rd March 25 - Celebration of St David's Day (1st March)
- 5th March 25 - Ash Wednesday - beginning of Lent
- 17th March 25 - St Patrick's Day
- 11th April 25 - Last Day of Spring 2
- 12th April 25 - 27th April 25 - Easter Holidays
- 28th April 25 - Return to School - Summer 1
- 23rd May 25 - Last Day of Summer 1
- 24th May - 1st June 25 - Half Term
- 2nd June 25 - Return to School - Summer 2
- 18th July 25 - End of Academic Year 24-25
- 21st July 25 - INSET Day
INSET Days;
- 2nd September 24
- 11th Novemeber 24
- 20th December 24
- 21st February 25
- 21st July 25
One INSET Day to be confirmed
Jesuit Pupil Profile
Intentional & Prophetic
An intentional person is someone who lives deliberately; someone who builds up their own worldview and then tries to live by it. To live intentionally is to march to the beat of a different drummer.
The busy-ness of life can sometimes feel overwhelming. It is no different for young people: demands made by schoolwork and examinations, the many activities to which their parents ferry them, peer pressure and social media, and just growing up and finding their place in an increasingly complex and fractured world. Of course there is excitement and often fulfilment in all this. But the pressure to conform and go along with what everyone else thinks and says and does is immense. The effect is to lose control – a feeling that this whirl of activity is not allowing me to be me.
Living intentionally is not about stepping away from the world but is rather about trying to achieve a balance where you know what is important for you and what you want to spend your time and energies doing.
Living intentionally can only happen if one is attentive to one’s experience, noticing the influences which drive us along and discerning which are good and which not so good, guided by conscience. It means living ethically, with a set of values.
“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.”
Henry David Thoreau (1817- - 62)
Attendance and punctuality
Please can I remind you of the school times;
8.55am until 3.15pm - Reception to Year 6.
This is a legal requirement of children attending school, above the age of 5.
Our attendance is tracked on a 3 week basis, by BCBC.
Letters will be issued if your child is persistently late in the morning or collected early at the end of the day.
The Governors of STMP have permitted 10 days authorised holidays. Please ensure you complete a holiday form.
I thank you for your support in working with us to improve our attendance.
School officially begins at 8.55am. Please inform Mrs James of any absences before 10am in the morning of the first day. This can be done by text or phone call. If you need to collect your child early for any reason, please ring the office to explain.
Credits:
Created with images by • Africa Studio - Red poppy flowers for Remembrance Day / Sunday • ungvar - Christians symbols Holy communion on wooden table in church wine in the church during the communion • undefined - undefined • StudioStoltz - Stacks of pennies on a black background. • Ezume Images - Egg Skateboard Metaphor • Krakenimages.com - Young beautiful teacher woman wearing sweater and glasses sitting on desk at kindergarten Looking at the watch time worried, afraid of getting late • Maria Marganingsih - Inspirational motivational quote - Compliment people wherever you go. Be a ray of sunshine to everyone you meet, and make their day better for having seen you. With silhouette of young woman on boat.