Venerable Edward Morgan Catholic Primary Cylchlythyr Ysgolion 2024-25, Rhifyn 3, 10 Ionawr '25 | School Newsletter 2024-25, Issue 3, 10 January '25

Holiday Dates

Spring Term 2025

• 6th January 2025 - Staff Training - School closed to pupils
• 7th January 2025 - School opens after Christmas Holiday
• 21st February 2025 - School closes for February Half Term Holiday
• 3rd March 2025 - School opens after February Half Term Holiday
• 11th April 2025 - School closes for Easter Holiday

Summer Term 2025

• 28th April 2025 - Staff Training - School closed to pupils
• 29th April 2025 - School opens after Easter Holiday
• 5th May 2025 - May Day Bank Holiday - School closed
• 23rd May 2025 - School closes for May Half Term Holiday
• 2nd June 2025 - Staff Training - School closed to pupils
• 3rd June 2025 - School opens after May Half Term Holiday
• 18th July 2025 - School closes for Summer Holiday
• 21st July 2025 - Staff Training - School closed to pupils

Inset Days

• 6th January 2025
• 28th April 2025
• 2nd June 2025
• 21st July 2025

School Communication

Hello, we know how important it is for parents to feel well informed and in touch with the school. We have listened to what parents would like and tried hard to put in place lots of ways that school can communicate with parents to help you stay up to date. Below are just some of the ways we can communicate with you and we are always open to further suggestions. Here at VEM School we try to communicate with our parents / carers in a simple and easy to use method, saving on paper and making accessing information regarding events and activities at the school as easy as clicking a couple of buttons.

We also have an online system to enable parents / carers to pay for Trips, book School Meals etc. For you to login / register on these apps / systems the school requires an up to date Mobile number and E-Mail address from at least one parent / carer in the family.

TOP TIP!!

Keeping your child’s school records up to date with the latest telephone numbers and e-mail addresses, makes contacting you or giving you the latest news very easy. So, please pass your current Mobile and E-Mail address on to the office and remember to update any changes when they occur.

Where can I find Information?

VEM has many ways for you to view our calendar, read news, find our latest newsletters, see what the choices are for school dinners, view several documents, homework, transition, links to useful sites and our booking system and much more.

• School Website
• School Newsletters
• School Gateway App
• Our Schools App
• Parentmail
• Parents Evening System
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Letters
• Seesaw

School Gateway is a great way to pay for all those trips and other school events etc with just a few clicks on your phone. Also, you can Pre-Order your Meals through this App, allowing you to order your Child’s School Meals in advance. PLEASE NOTE School Meals CANNOT be ordered on the day, they MUST be ordered in ADVANCE.

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Please ensure you have enabled push notifications for this APP; as vital messages relating to consents and payments may be missed if disabled. Also, check regularly the messages section of School Gateway found at the bottom of the home page for messages relating to your child’s payments or consents.

Our Schools App - one our favourites!

Our Schools App is a great source of information, with its calendar and regular news articles, you can keep informed on what is going on. You will be sent reminders of upcoming events, and when changes are made to items already placed on the calendar as well as new entries. You can also find contact details on the app as well as links (under Info) to other important places such as Breakfast /FUN Club Booking System, Social Media, School Meals etc. You can view recent Newsletters / Letters under the Documents section of the App.

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Make sure you change the settings within this app to alert you to the latest information and remind you of events coming up.

Parentmail

Through Parentmail we can send text and emails to all parents as a quick way to remind or inform you of anything that may be urgently happening. Please download this to your phone so you can access any incoming texts / e-mails.

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Due to General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) it is your responsibility to keep your details up to date on Parentmail, the school office CANNOT do this for you.

Parents Evening System

This is our Progress Evening, Breakfast Club, Fun Club and After School Activity Booking system. It is easy to use and all you need to do is enter your details, e-mail address, and child’s name and date of birth to book yourself or child on any sessions or a slot for Progress Evenings.

Social Media Platforms Twitter, Facebook, Instagram

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Please give school consent to use photos and/or first name of your child on these platforms. As all these platforms are public pages due to General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) we cannot place your child’s photo and/or first name on any of these platforms without your permission. You also have the right to remove this permission at any time but must be done in writing either by e-mail to emmail@hwbcymru.net or by letter.

Letters from School

Sometimes especially when a reply is needed, you will still receive paper communication from school. Letters will be given out in class for things like trips. Most of our information is supported via our website and Ourschoolsapp. Payment for trips can be paid for through the School Gateway where you can confirm your consent and inform us of any special medical, dietary needs as well as any emergency contact appropriate for the day of the trip.

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Go through your child’s bag daily to see what is lurking inside! Also, check our website and school app regularly in case things have changed!

Seesaw

This is sorted through your child's class teacher who can provide you with a QR Code to access the App.

Does your child want to become a Rock Star?

No previous musical experience necessary - you choose the instrument you want your child to learn - 30 minute lessons - Rock Students work towards a termly Rock Concert for school and parents - Places available - Sign up and find out more by clicking the button below.

Dodgeball

Mr Kelly's Dodgeball sessions are continuing on Tuesday 14th January 2025 from 3:15-4:15pm

Payments can be made via cash, cheque (payable to PG Kelly) or online please e-mail Pg.kelly7@hotmail.co.uk

For further details please click the button below.

After School Homework Club for Juniors

After School Homework Club will recommence on Thursdays from 16th January 2025 for Junior Pupils from 3:15pm to 4:30pm, in Dosbarth Maple. This will give your child the opportunity to access devices and time to complete their homework.

Thank you to all the parents who've encouraged our pupils to use this fantastic club. It has been wonderful to see the increase in numbers and enthusiasm of the pupils who are attending.

Friends of VEM School

As we start a new year we thought we would like to take this opportunity to recruit new members to our Friends of VEM School Group.

For those who may not know, the 'Friends of VEM School' is a charity fundraising committee run by present and past parents and family of children in the school and some staff. (In other schools this may be known as the PTA).

The social and fundraising events organised by our energetic and successful 'Friends of VEM School' Group continue to raise a substantial amount of money to help provide extra resources that enhance the children's lives in school; as well as subsidising trips and visits for the children throughout the year.

The 'Friends of VEM School' Group is a fantastic way for you to engage with your child's education. You don't have to join the committee or help at every event or even bake cakes if you don't want to. There are lots of ways you can join in even if you don't have much time. Being a member of the group doesn't mean a huge commitment.

Here are some ways you can help:

• You might be able to offer up some particular skills to help the group like computer skills, gardening, marketing.
• You may work for a company that might be prepared to donate a raffle prize or sponsor a stall at the Christmas or Summer Fair.
• You could volunteer to help plan and organise an event or even share good ideas from previous experience on a committee.

If this sounds too much you could simply attend and support events by buying raffle tickets, donating cakes or raffle prizes. Our discos are great fun and always well attended, so help with refreshments is always appreciated. It's a great way to meet other parents too.

The Friends, organise fundraising and social events during the year including the Christmas Tree Festival, Easter Bingo, Summer Fair and Discos. Any help with fundraising is greatly received, but we would love to hear any ideas for new future events.

With your help we can run more and better events for the children and our local community...

GET INVOLVED NOW!

Drop us a message or email us for more information at info@vemschool.com

Please join us at our next Meeting on Thursday 23rd January 2025 at 2:15pm in School - ALL Parents, Grandparents, Carers and Family members of our Pupils are WELCOME...Please COME ALONG!

WE NEED YOU!