Croeso Nôl! Welcome Back!
Snow / Ice
A reminder that we do not announce that school is open, only that it is closed. If it is closed parents will be told by text message by 8am at the very latest. Please do not tie up our phone lines ringing to ask if we are open. If school is closed for any reason (not just snow but if there is flooding, a boiler breakdown etc) in addition to texting parents, we update the CCBC school closure page (https://www.caerphilly.gov.uk/schoolclosures). Full details of our snow procedures are available on our website here.
Safety on site
Many thanks to those who supported us this morning by avoiding the lane and keeping to gritted paths.
It is really important that parents set a good example to children - children who see parents not keeping to the paths are more likely to ignore the rules themselves. Whilst a parent playing in the snow on site this morning may be able to keep their child safe, the example they are setting runs the risk of an older child, without a parent present, not seeing any danger and having an accident after school on the way home if conditions are then icy. In deeper snow there may be a covered hazard under the snow (for example, one winter the weight of the snow pulled the guttering down and it was buried under a pile of snow). If the children know they must stick to the gritted paths on school site at all times then they will be safe. Therefore we need everyone on site to set the right example and stick to gritted paths at all times.
For the same reason, we need parents to set the good example of crossing the road with Miss Davies, out crossing patrol (Lollipop Lady) and sticking to the path around the yard when the taxis are using it at the beginning and end of the day.
Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
Topic Presentations (Termly Learning Journeys) - an appeal for feedback
At the end of last term we advertised the presentations in Google Classroom and asked parents to let us know if they looked at them. We have only had 19 responses. 17 of these have said they have seen them (one has indicated that the problem was technical).
We started making these presentations last year and they take a fair bit of work so we'd really like your feedback as to whether they are worth continuing - we're not sure if they are being looked at or whether they are valued.
We had additional feedback from 9 parents and the responses indicated that the presentations are valued.
However, whilst 17 parents have seen them and 9 have commented to say they valued them, these numbers do not warrant us continuing to produce them in their current format.
We are conscious however, that they may have been seen and valued by more and that it's just that it was end of term and parents didn't remember to respond to our survey.
If you did view any of the presentations please fill out the form linked here (it's very quick - just a yes / no vote with an option to comment if you want).
We will make a decision in our staff meeting on Thursday. If we stop producing them we may still decide to do something different which is less time consuming in their place - again this will form part of our discussion on Thursday. Your feedback would very much be appreciated.
Whilst teachers have planned an outline for this term's topics, their planning is not finalised until after consultation with the children and parents. Teachers will be sending out forms to parents on Friday to gather parental input. Please keep an eye out for the emails. Whilst we cannot accommodate every idea submitted, we've had some really interesting and constructive ideas from parents so far, particularly when it comes to sharing information that helps us makes links between our topics and local history / the local community. Your input is very much appreciated.
Google Classroom & SeeSaw
We do not use Google Classroom or SeeSaw for communication for parents. If you have any questions for teachers these should be sent via email and not as a comment or message on either digital platform. This is so that staff and parents only have to monitor email for communication and not multiple channels. It is also easier to search emails to find previous communication (you have to scroll and can't search with Google Classroom and SeeSaw). For more information on how we use Google Classroom & SeeSaw & how to login, please click here.
Please read all communication from school - we had a number of parents miss out on things last term as they had not read newsletters.
Potential Changes to the School Day
Would you like us to look at changing our session times? If so what would you like them to look like? Governors have asked for your opinions with a view to changing the school session times next academic year if that is what parents would like.
For an overview of points to consider and a link to the informal consultation survey, please click here.
Parent Forum
Dates for this term are Tuesday 28/2/25 and Thursday 13/3/25, both at 2:30pm. All parent surveys are discussed with Parent Forum prior to Governing Body meetings. At the first meeting this term we will consider the results of the Session Times survey and at the second meeting this term we will be looking at the Class Organisation Policy in detail prior to Governors' policy review .
Members of Parent Forum are also now suggesting agenda items for future meetings.
If you would be interested in joining the parent forum please email Mrs Tucker: TuckerJ58@sch.caerphilly.gov.uk
Organisation of Mixed Age Classes
Our class organisation continues to cause concern every year and we are keen to find a way to organise classes without issue if this is achievable. Parents are invited to email me, at the school address, with their views on the policy prior to discussion with Parent Forum & Governors (information linked here).
Clubs
Information about clubs this term will be sent out on Friday afternoon this week, following our staff meeting on Thursday. This will let you know of any changes and will include a timetable letting parents know which weeks clubs will not run. The website will also be updated to reflect any changes from the original plan set out in September. It is extremely rare for us to cancel an individual club as staff cover for each other to reduce the chances of inconveniencing parents. Therefore it is greatly appreciated if you refer to the letter or the calendar on the school website to check whether clubs are on (rather than ring the school office as a way of checking). We do not hold clubs on weeks when there are additional demands on staff (e.g. meetings with Governors, PTFA events, parents evenings or staff twilight training).
Letter from the LA: important
Linked here
Safeguarding & wellbeing information for parents
information is available on our school website & linked here: safeguarding & wellbeing