D Day Memorial Ceremony
We were extremely proud of our Y6 Ambassador Team yesterday who represented us at the memorial ceremony in Cefn Fforest alongside other local schools (Cefn Fforest, Pengam, Fleur de Lys, Blackwood Primaries and Islwyn High School).
Uniform Review
Following consultation with parents, staff & children, Governors have decided that the current uniform will remain in place with a minor update. Please click here to read more.
Jewellery
Children are only permitted to wear watches (not watches that can take photographs or record sound) and stud earrings. No bracelets, necklaces please. Children need to be able to remove earrings for PE (taping is not permitted). If you are thinking of getting your child's ears pierced, then the end of term is a good time to do this so that their ears have time to heal over the summer holidays and then they don't miss out on PE.
Bags
A polite reminder that we do not permit children to bring bags to school - they are starting to creep back in. If they are having sandwiches, children are asked to put their lunch boxes on the trolleys outside their classrooms and these trolleys are not big enough for bags. The trolleys are a safe place for lunch to be stored. Children are not permitted to bring toys or pencil cases to school - we provide all that they need.
Any exceptions to this rule must be agreed first (we do have some children who bring things for changing or for after school). If there is a genuine need, we will accommodate this but please ensure this is agreed first.
Personal, Social and Health Education
Last academic year we implemented a PSHE Programme across our school called Jigsaw, the mindful approach to PSHE. This was discussed with the Parent Forum and Governors before it was adopted.
The lessons, across the school year, have built children’s emotional literacy, self-esteem and knowledge of who they are and how they relate to each other and the world in a positive and healthy way.
During this half term the children will be following the Puzzle piece ‘Changing Me’. The Changing Me Puzzle includes 2 or 3 lessons, in every class, to help children understand the changes which happen to their bodies as they get older. There is a very serious safeguarding aspect to this work and obviously the younger year groups are not looking at these issues directly and explicitly but rather learning correct terminology for body parts and doing the foundation work for later year groups.
Across KS2 lessons build on children’s prior knowledge and they look more fully at puberty and human reproduction. All lessons are taught age appropriately and are delivered sensitively by the class teacher. This unit of work was delivered successfully last academic year and the pupils dealt with sensitive issues in an extremely mature manner.
We hope you will agree with us that this work is vitally important for children, that it needs to be done age-appropriately and that the Jigsaw Programme gives us a secure framework in which to do this. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact the class teacher or
Cyber Bullying & Keeping Safe Online
We strongly encourage that if parents choose to give their child a phone, they monitor it closely and are mindful of their child's maturity and the age limits for apps. We continue to have problems with children in What's App groups in particular: bad language and bullying. What's App shouldn't be available for under 13s but many parents have chosen to allow their children to download it. The advice we give the children is that with messaging and all social media, they should not write anything that they would not be happy to be seen in public. Parents are encouraged to help their child keep safe online: https://hwb.gov.wales/keeping-safe-online - the information about apps is kept up to date and is linked from our school website.
School Meals
Caerphilly schools (not just us) are experiencing a period of adjustment as we implement the new menu. Alongside an increase in take-up is an increased choice - it's difficult to manage the time and get the provision right. Catering Services are meeting with headteachers individually for feedback as different schools have different circumstances. The ultimate goal is to offer a healthy menu that children like so that more families can take advantage of the universal free school meal provision and we support this.
Please help us to make it work by completing the weekly google form and reading the menu updates. We check with children in case parents have ordered something they don't want or in case parents haven't ordered. However managing this for all children is a very difficult task - please don't not fill out the form because we ask!
Clubs
There will be no clubs for the remainder of this term as teachers are now preparing end of year reports and there are events booked in for later in the term.
PTFA
A reminder that on Monday the PTFA are collecting unwanted, good quality clothes, soft toys & gifts. Details can be found on their Twitter & Instagram profiles: https://x.com/Pontschoolpta Sorry - I am unable to link to Instagram when preparing newsletters in school but they can be found by searching pontprimaryptfa
They are also appealing for more parent helpers for the fete on Friday 21st June. If you're able to help the PTFA can be contacted by email: pontllanfraithprimaryschoolpta@gmail.com
Classes for September
A reminder that the policy for organisation of mixed age classes is available from the school office and on our website. Parents are reminded that all year groups may be organised into mixed age classes for September (dependent on pupil numbers). Parents of children moving into Years 3 - 6 were asked to ensure that if you have concerns with regard to keeping friends together (or children apart) that you email your child’s current class teacher before May half term. This deadline has passed. Classes will not be announced until the very end of term – this is not disorganisation on our part, it is simply that late admissions can mean we need to reorganise at the last minute. There is a strong possibility that a high number of classes across the school will be mixed age classes in 2024/25. We cannot promise to accommodate all requests but will take them into consideration.
Dates
Dates until the end of term are now on the school website calendar but there may still be some things to add.
Please can you save the date for Tuesday 9th July - Dosbarth Glas have something exciting planned for the whole community which will take place after school. They are working together to plan, organise and communicate this though so... more details to follow!
Please note the last day of term is Thursday 18th July and we will have INSET on Monday 2nd & Tuesday 3rd September so Back to School will be Wednesday 4th.