Welcome to our St Mary's Weekly Newsletter!
Let us Pray- Gweddiwn
October- Month of the Rosary
During the month of October, we are invited to pray the Rosary. As Pope Francis once said, the rosary is "a beautiful prayer full of life because it puts us in contact with the life of Jesus and Mary."
Shared Year 1, 2 and 5 Family Mass
On Thursday 9th November, Years 1,2 and 5 will be coming together for a shared year group family Mass in school. Please click on the link and complete the Google Form if you would like to attend the Mass at 10am in school so that we can organise seating arrangements. Diolch yn fawr. LINK
Messengers of Christ
Harvest Hampers
We have plenty of harvest goods remaining. Please let us know if your family would like to receive a parcel of food/ harvest items. All requests will be handled in confidence and with sensitivity. Contact the school office for information and to arrange collection.
Visit from Welsh singer- Megan Lee
What a treat! On Tuesday, all classes had the privilege of listening to the beautiful voice of Megan Lee, a local and very talented Welsh singer who sang a range of Welsh and English songs for us all. It was a joy to watch the children's faces as they listened intently and joined in enthusiastically with familiar songs. A big thank you to the staff for organising this wonderful experience for our children- another opportunity to celebrate our Welsh culture and heritage. Da iawn pawb!
Year 3 and 4 Titanic Memorial Service- Monday 23rd October
In a touching tribute to the Titanic, Years 3 & 4 hosted a remarkable memorial service on Monday, joined by our dedicated link governors, Mr. Watson and Mr. Sidney, as well as numerous supportive parents and family members. The event featured waltz and creative dancing, heartfelt poems, passenger recounts, and moving readings and prayers. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all who joined us for this memorable occasion.
'WOW' walk to school initiative
As part of our Eco plans for this year, we have signed up as a school to the 'Living Streets-WOW walk to school' initiative as a way to ease congestion, promote healthier lifestyles and be kinder to our world.
Each day, the children will log how they've travelled to school on a travel tracker. If children travel to school once a week by walking/scooting etc. for the entire month then they will achieve a badge. We will be holding a mini-competition to see who is the best class each month too!
The Eco children in each class have been trained up on how to use the tracker, so these children will have the job of logging the children's travel tracker each morning.
Today, Hannah from 'Living Streets' came to school to deliver a WOW launch assembly and Miss Edwards (Eco Coordinator), our WOW mascot and Hannah were at the school gate welcoming everyone into school. Look at some of the super photos!
Friends' Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM)
Come along to our Friends' EGM after school Thursday 8th November at 3:30 after you've picked up your child. We would love to see some new faces!
End of Term news...Please note:-
TODAY- Thursday 25th October (Last day of half term)
Teacher Training day (INSET) -Friday 26th October (no school for children)
Back to school- Monday 6th November
Friends' Autumn Discos
Tonight- Important arrangements- There will be 3 separate discos- Nursery & Reception (Infant hall) (4:30-5:30) ,Years 1 and 2 (Junior Hall) (4:30-5:30) and Years 3-6 (5:45-7:00) Junior hall
Early Years' disco- Please use the Main block door to enter the disco -(opposite bottom block entrance by steps) and collect at the Infant hall door. Please note- Nursery parents MUST attend the disco with their child/ren. Reception children may attend on their own/ with parents.
Years 1 & 2 disco-Please use the Main block door (by steps) to enter the disco- and collect all children from the Wrens'/ Dryw class in bottom block
Years 3 - 6 disco-Please use the Main block door (by steps) to enter the disco and to collect all children.
Doughnuts- 50p Sweets- 50p Cakes- 50p Crisps- 50p Hot dogs- £1
Please note- there is no tuck shop for Nursery & Reception classes
Cool Kids' Club is open over the HALF TERM holidays
Advance notice- Friends' Christmas School Fayre
If any St Mary's families would like to have a stall in our Christmas Fayre, the cost will be £5 per stall and £10 for local businesses. Please contact school if you are interested! Diolch
Attendance Matters
Please note school starts 08:55 and finishes at 15:15.
Please remember, children should not worry about having to stay off school if they are poorly. Children should only attend school if they are fit and well enough to do so. Routine appointments, holidays during term-time, days off for birthdays however, are not valid reasons to stay off school.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding with this very important matter.
Foundation Phase winners this week are:- Parotiaid with 97.9%
Dosbarth Palodau-95.2% Dosbarth Parotiaid-97.9% Dosbarth Pengwiniaid-96.3%, Dosbarth Robin Goch- 96.2%, Dosbarth Tulluanod-97.7%. Dosbarth Dryw- 95.4%
Key Stage 2 winners this week are:- Gwenfro with 98.8%
Dosbarth Clywedog-95% , Dosbarth Conwy-96.6%, Dosbarth Alyn-97.8%, Dosbarth Dyfi-94.4%, Dosbarth Gwenfro-98.8%, Dosbarth Dyfrdwy-96.8%, Dosbarth Gwaun-97%
WHOLE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE TARGET - 96%
WHOLE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE- 96.6% AMAZING- WE DID IT!!
Please help us achieve our target this year!!
Free School Meals- Are you eligible?
May I remind all families who are eligible for free school meals to make an application via the link ‘Free school meals | Wrexham County Borough Council. This will not only provide your child with a daily free meal in school but will also allow parents the opportunity to apply for a Pupil Development Grant (PDG) | Wrexham County Borough Council to help with the cost of uniforms, resources, equipment and devices etc. By making your application, school will also receive the correct amount of funding from Welsh Government.
Please note:-
Your child is eligible to receive free school meals if you or your child receive the following...
• Income Support (IS)*
• Income Based Jobseekers Allowance (IBJSA)*
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Income-related Employment Support Allowance (IR)
• Child Tax Credit - providing you’re not entitled to Working Tax Credit with an annual total income below the HMRC set limit
• Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Working Tax Credit 'run-on' - the payment someone may receive for a further four weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit - if you are working you must be earning less than £7,400 per year (£616.67 per month) to qualify for free school meal
From September 1st, all primary aged children (Reception- Year 6) in Wrexham can have a free school meal as part of the WG universal offer. However, if you are in receipt of the above benefits, please remember to make an application via the links above as well to ensure access to the PDG and to enable school to receive the additional funding.
I urge all families to take up this wonderful universal offer. Diolch
School Dinner orders
Please ensure that school dinners are pre-ordered at home. Teachers should not be ordering meals in school, as previously advised by WCBC. Thank you
Patrwm Yr Wythnos
The Criw Cymraeg’s ‘Patrwm yr Wythnos’ (Phrase of the week) this week is: Sut wyt ti? How are you?
See LINK
Nursery & Reception-Noah was baptised last weekend by Deacon Michael in the cathedral last weekend and had a party in the pub afterwards. He thought the water on his head was funny! Noah also saw Mr. Tumble in the Cbeebies panto! Willow will have her birthday in half term, Harri & Alfie went to Flip Out with Jacob, Hallie is going to Center Parcs, Isabella is going to the Lake District, Luka's family are getting a camper van and Emilia is going on holiday on holiday to see her grandma. Lennon is going to FlipOut for his birthday. Harrison is going to the pumpkin patch, Dottie is going pumpkin picking and it seems all the Palodau children are going pumpkin picking too!
Years 1 & 2- Joanna B is going to the cinema, Hannah is excited to go to Greece on holiday, Maria is excited to go to Poland in half term, Amelia M is starting a new ballet class, Amelia W is having a party at home for her dad's birthday, Gabriel has a new kitten called Luka, Lily is going to Tenerife on Monday, Finn lost two teeth and the tooth fairy has visited him and Nazif is going to London on Sunday. Lily-Rose and Elena are going on holiday and Kharis is going to London.
Years 3 & 4 -Abigail has made her Brownie promise, Scarlett is going to a wedding, Benj is captain for Lodge football team, Florence's sister who lives in Chester has a new cat called Muffin. Rozalia got a gold medal and trophy for fencing in Liverpool, Max has started writing a book about his family history and is also going to the Lake District. Rozalia is off to Poland in half term, Grace has moved to Swim Challenge, Ricky is off to Portugal and Julia M is starting swimming lessons. Dylan is having a joint birthday party with Lennon and Gabriel D is going to the RAF museum. David is now on black belt in karate, Joia passed Wave 5 and Vanessa M's dad found a bird and she touched it and realised that it was a Great Tit.
After half term, on 8th November, Years 3 & 4 are visiting Liverpool Maritime Museum
Year 5-Snoor and Evie are going Trick or Treating, Jian is happy that India beat New Zealand in cricket, Theo's grandpa has a birthday this week, Rodrigo's sister is growing up and has turned 19 months, Molly and Ivy are having a play date on Saturday and Sunday and they are going to a Halloween circus. Iris' mum's friend is coming over from Portugal to stay for a while, Sophie is having a sleepover with her friend Phoebe next week, Ella's gymnastic competition is hopefully going ahead very soon. It had to be cancelled due to the floods, Michalina's big sister is coming for the week, Fabian is going to the skate park at Deeside and the whole Year 5 class really enjoyed listening to Megan Lee singing her lovely Welsh and English songs.
Year 5 are looking forward to a Lantern making workshop for Nightingale House Hospice after half term.
Year 6-Filip won a bronze medal in Tae Kwon-do and Issy G has been walking in the mountains at the weekend. Violet and Boe are going to the caravan and a Halloween party
Local Support for Families
At this difficult time of austerity, please see some information about local services that are available to provide support to families in need.
Please contact school if you find yourself in a difficult situation and need some help/ support to signpost you to an appropriate service. Your requests will be handled in confidence and with sensitivity. Diolch. Mrs Acton.
If you need help from our foodbank there are a few simple steps to follow. THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP IS TO GET A FOODBANK VOUCHER.
In order to provide the most appropriate help for the circumstances of your situation we work with local agencies. If they feel you are struggling to put food on the table, they will issue you with a foodbank voucher. The local agency can also provide long term support if needed to help address some of the issues behind the reasons for your crisis. Agencies we work with include: Citizens Advice, housing support officers, children’s centres, health visitors, social services and some local charities.
1. GET IN TOUCH WITH US.
If you call or email our foodbank we can talk through your situation and put you in touch with a relevant local agency.
2. ARRANGE A VISIT TO THE REFERRAL AGENCY.
They will discuss your situation and supply you with a foodbank voucher where appropriate.
If you can’t afford food, you can call 0808 2082138 (freephone) to speak to a trained and independent Citizens Advice agent (Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm). Please note this number is for people who do not have enough money for food – if you are a local organisation or charity that works with people who might need the food bank, please contact us directly.
Alternatively, please call 0300 330 1178 to speak to Wrexham’s Citizen’s Advice Bureau, who will be able to issue you with a food bank voucher if necessary.
3. BRING YOUR FOODBANK VOUCHER TO YOUR NEAREST FOODBANK CENTRE.
You can find a list of our local centres and opening times here. When you arrive, we’ll welcome you with a warm drink and our trained volunteers will chat with you about your situation. We’ll also discuss any dietary needs you may have and exchange your foodbank voucher for a parcel of three days of emergency food. We’ll also help to support you in any other ways that we can. Most of our foodbank centres offer a cafe style environment and our aim is to provide non-judgemental support at the point of crisis.
If you have any further questions our FAQ’s page may help, or feel free to give us a call.
Yellow and blue (YaB group ltd) is a social enterprise non profit project. Underpinning community projects including positive pathways, food provision and social isolation beating events and activities. With a digital vision within the community - we aim to support vulnerable groups whilst creating a vibrant, supportive and uplifting experience. Creating moments, chances and smiles when people need it most.
Please get in touch by emailing:- info@yellowandblue.org
Pupil Development Grant
The Welsh Government funded Pupil Development Grant is available to help towards the costs of a child’s school uniform and equipment, for those on a low income. Any child eligible for free school meals in the year groups listed below are eligible. However, those receiving free school meals due to transitional protection arrangement would not be eligible.
Depending on the school year your child will be entering in September 2021 you could receive a grant of £125 or £200. Link
Anyone eligible for free school meals and in the following year groups will qualify for the grant: Entering reception class in primary school, Entering school years 1 to 11, In a special school, special needs resource base or pupil referral unit and are aged 4 to 15.For any looked after children of compulsory school age who are not receiving free school meals, please email uniformgrant@wrexham.gov.uk for an application form.
Welsh Courses for Parents
Are you interested in becoming a volunteer in school?
Here at St Mary’s we are very keen to involve parents, grandparents and family members in the life of the school. We are always looking for volunteers to help out a wide range of activities such as school trips and walking the children to sporting events. We are also very happy to invite volunteers to share special skills, interests or experiences to enhance the children’s opportunities or provision e.g. gardening, sewing, sharing job skills/ experiences etc.
If you would like to be involved in any volunteer work for the school, please click on the link and complete and return the forms attached.https://stmarys-wxm.co.uk/about-us/forms/volunteer-form-2/
Please note:- All volunteers will be subject to DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) clearance. Thank you
Many thanks.
Welsh Government Announcement
Physical punishment of children is now illegal in Wales. Children have the same protection from assault as adults. This is to protect children and their rights. To find out more visit: http://gov.wales/EndPhysicalPunishment