Blwyddyn Newydd Dda!
Blwyddyn Newydd Dda, to you all. Sending wishes for a beautiful 2025. May the blessings of God come and sit down at our tables and share our lives this year and always. Our children have settled back in beautifully, they are keen to begin their new topics and share their collaborative learning with other classes. We have welcomed 12 little ones - Our Ladybirds! Miss Jenkins, Mrs Goulding, Miss Baker & Mrs Sterio will be leading their learning as they begin their journey in our family. We welcome their families also, and hope you will all be very happy during your time with us.
We also welcome Mr McGuckin back to our family. Due to the retirement if Mrs Morris, we had a vacancy. Mr McGuckin was successful at interview, and is now our Year 5 teacher. Llongyfarchiadau!
On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis opened the Holy Door to lead us into a Jubilee Year. The Jubilee of Hope. In this Jubilee year, Pope Francis invites us all to be signs of hope in our world and this holy year will be a significant and memorable moment for children and young people. Reflecting on Jesus’ message of the good news of justice, freedom and love, there are opportunities for the whole school community to experience the joy of taking action as Pilgrims of Hope in building a better world.
We will join schools across the world to celebrate the launch day on Friday 24th January.
We are a Catholic Family learning together
Mass Times on Saturday evening / Sunday
Fr Paul welcomes you all to Mass. He would love to meet you and discuss anything with you. If you would like to have your child Baptised, please speak to Mrs Kelly-Fisher and she will put you in touch with Fr Paul.
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 - Sunday 26th January. There will be light refreshments in the Parish hall after Mass.
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.
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.
Brawddeg yr Wythnos
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.
January Dates
- 6th Jan - Back to school
- 8th Jan - Ladybirds begin
- 14th Jan - Family Engagement Office Coffee & Chat 2.45pm - Staffroom
- 20th Jan - Y5 & Y6 Evaccuee Day
- 21st Jan - Staff evening training - Landscapes through Learning
- 22nd Jan - Be2Enterprising & Ogi visit to Year 1
- 23rd Jan - Community Dental Service to see Y1
- 25th Jan - Jubilee Year Launch - Pilgrims of Hope
- 28th Jan - Dwr Cymru Assembly
- 29th Jan - Y3 & Y4 Trip to Caerleon
Dates for the year ahead
- 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
- 17th March 25 - 19th March 25 - Llangrannog Residential for Y5
- 18th March 25 - Governors Meeting 5pm
- 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
Generous & Grateful
Grateful for their own gifts, for the gift of other people, and for the blessings of each day; and generous with their gifts, becoming men and women for others.
By encouraging them to know and be grateful for all their gifts, developing them to the full so that they can be generous in the service of others
Questions for reflection:
How have I been encouraged to identify and celebrate my own gifts and the gifts of others?
Is ‘thank you’ something that is often heard around our school? Are there lots of different kinds of ‘thank you’?
What opportunities can I take to be generous – not just with money but with my time, talents and energy?
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 enterlinedesign - "Year 2025 Written on Pinned Cards on a String" • andiz275 - "St Peter Rome" • ungvar - "Christians symbols Holy communion on wooden table in church wine in the church during the communion" • photosaint - "dandelion flower seeds fly away from the base of the flower" • 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" • bablab - "January 1 written with wooden blocks" • meeboonstudio - "Business planning and strategy in 2025. Hand businessman holding wooden cubes with dartboard icon and wooden cubes with the letters 2025 on a table" • Odua Images - "School supplies on blackboard background" • Maria Marganingsih - "Inspirational quote - Do not lose hope. When the sun goes down, the stars come out. With blurry sunset background over the sea horizon. Half of the sun behind the clouds. Words of wisdom concept."