Spring Term 2024--- 2025
We have had a busy start to the Spring term. Our children are ready to learn and are enjoying their new topics. Our reading drive is having an impact on our children and the buzz of Boom Readers continues. Diolch yn fawr to those families who have signed up to Boom Readers, and are using it daily. I hear lots of positive comments about the ease of recording the home reading book and how your child is enjoying reading. Long may this continue.
Your continued support is what makes us a strong family. In the date section of this newsletter you will find dates for the year ahead. You spoke and we have listened, we do appreciate that the more notice you have the better. It is our plan to complete all dates and get them out to you by February half term.
On Friday 24th January we joined schools across the UK by celebrating an Assembly to celebrate the beginning of the Jubilee Year - Pilgrims of Hope. Mrs Sherwood and the RE Council led the worship and we reflected on our role within this special year. Year 6 have made cards that people can take to send to someone who may need a little bit of Hope!
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 - 22nd February 5pm. Please join us, it is lovely to celebrate as a 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.
February Dates
- 4th - 7th Feb - Mental Health Week
- 4th Feb - 5pm - Y5 Llangrannog Parents Meeting
- 10th Feb - Nursery & Reception St David's Day photo's
- 10th - 20th Feb - Y4 Swimming
- 10th - 14th Feb - Y5 Swimming
- 14th Feb - Y6 Cycling Training
- 17th - 20th Feb Y6 Swimming
- 18th Feb - 2.30pm - Y5 & Y6 Assembly - Families invited
- 21st Feb - INSET Day - school closed to children
- 24th - 28th Feb - Half Term
Dates for the year ahead
- 21st February -2nd March - Half Term
- 3rd March - Return to School - Spring 2
- 3rd March - Celebration of St David's Day Mass 10am - Wear Welsh costumes / read, white or green (1st March)
- 5th March - Ash Wednesday - beginning of Lent
- 6th March - World Book Day (details to follow)
- 7th March - School Eisteddfod
- 14th March - CAFOD Walk for Lent
- 17th March - St Patrick's Day - wear green
- 17th March - 19th March 25 - Llangrannog Residential for Y5
- 18th March - Governors Meeting 5pm
- 19th March - St Joseph's Feast Day
- 26th March - Parents Meetings - Y3 to Y6
- 27th March - Parents Meetings - Nursery to Y2
- 1st April - 5pm - Y6 PGL Meeting
- 2nd April - Y6 Crucial Crew
- 2nd April - Parents Meetings - Nursery to Y2
- 3rd April - Parents Meetings - Y3 to Y6
- Week Beginning 7th April - Holy Week @ STMP
- 8th April - 2.30pm - Nursery & Reception - Palm Sunday Assembly
- 9th April - 2.30pm - Y3 & Y4 - Last Supper Assembly
- 10th April - 2.30pm - Y5 & Y6 - Good Friday Assembly
- 11th April - Easter Bonnet Parade / Easter Egg Raffle / Visit from the Easter Bunny
- 11th April - Last Day of Spring 2
- 12th April - 27th April 25 - Easter Holidays
- 28th April - Return to School - Summer 1
- 29th April - 2.30pm - Y1 & Y2 - Easter Sunday Assembly
- 5th May - May Day Bank Holiday
- 23rd May - Last Day of Summer 1
- 24th May - 1st June - Half Term
- 2nd June - Return to School - Summer 2
- 4th - 6th June - Y6 Residential PGL
- 17th June - Governors Meeting 5pm
- 19th June - Sports Afternoon - Nursery to Y2
- 20th June - Sports Afternoon - Y3 to Y6
- 18th July - End of Academic Year 24-25
- 21st July - INSET Day
INSET Days;
- 2nd September 24
- 11th Novemeber 24
- 20th December 24
- 13th January 25
- 21st February 25
- 21st July 25
Jesuit Pupil Profile
Generous & Grateful
Virtues in action. Can you complete one of the activities to show your generous and grateful;
- Make a card, draw a picture or write a short letter to someone who you are grateful for.
- Make a prayer cube of people to pray for who you are grateful for.
- Make a poster and display it in your home. Who will you thank? The bin collectors? The post and delivery service workers?
- Write a prayer or poem about being grateful.
- Choose a song which you know really well – can you make up your own words to it which are about being grateful?!
School Uniform
Please can I ask that you make every effort to ensure your child wears correct uniform.
NO jewellery should be worn. If earrings are to be worn, they must be studs. If they can not be taken out on PE days, please can you send in plasters that can cover the earrings for the session.
Please can long hair be tied back.
These rules are in place for the health and safety of all our children. I am sure that you will support us in tightening up on these rules.
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 kovop58 - "Hearts and snowy nature - valentine photo with copy space" • Sensay - "Hope - inscription on the heart, sharing hope concept, green bokeh background" • 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" • Bits and Splits - "Astronomical Clock on Prague Old Town Square" • katjabakurova - "Hello February - text on a letter board with a knitted green-blue, warm, cozy scarf. Winter concept" • komthong wongsangiam - "inscription on the cubes of the world, 2025 new year concept " • Angelov - "Child girl with book and bag breaking through yellow paper wall. Happy smiling kid go back to school, kindergarten. Success, motivation, winner, genius concept. Little kid dreaming to be superhero" • Odua Images - "School supplies on blackboard background" • Jenn Miranda - "Motivational and inspirational quote on stand paper with beautiful sun ray."