Dear Parent/Carer,
Thank you for supporting our Christmas Jumper charity collection for the Aneurin Bevan Breast Care Unit at Ystrad Mynach hospital at the end of term. Staff also donated money in lieu of sending cards to one another. We raised £120.00. Thank you.
Before Christmas we were visited by the Kelvin Reddicliffe, who is a Chartist enthusiast and has been a long-standing friend of the school. He commissioned a set of unique Chartist jigsaw puzzles which he presented to us. In addition, he gave us a large Chartist jigsaw puzzle which is one of only twenty made, and asked that we donate it to a charity. We have decided to donate it to the Breast Care Unit Appeal so that they can use it to raise more funds. We hope that a representative will be able to join us for the presentation soon.
World Week activities have been really interesting and have touched on current news stories also. The Reception classes contacted Namadgi School in Canberra and found out about some of the smoke nearby from the Australian bush fires. Class 3J, who have been finding out about Italy, have, like all classes, been moved by the problems facing Australian families and wildlife and have decided that they would like to organize a fundraising event. They have been thinking about some possibilities and will be talking more about this in the assembly on Wednesday.
Clubs start this week. However, the lunchtime Discovery Club (run by volunteers from Bethesda Baptist Church, Rogerstone) will not be starting until after half term because of availability of volunteers.
The sports coach Matthew Martin (and husband of Mrs Martin) is running a series of Football Sessions for Year 1/2 pupils over the next four weeks Class 1DJ were the first this week.
Class 5M have the first of this year’s Dragon Rugby sessions from the Gwent Dragons’ programme.
On Friday , Newport People First, a group comprising of adults with learning disabilities, will be meeting class 6W and also making some awareness-raising presentations to them. We are looking forward to their visit very much.
Attendance
The new Attendance Policy will be sent to you on Schoop and will be on our website very shortly. Please remember though that, following a unanimous decision by The Governing Body in December, we are no longer able to authorize any holiday request.
Out attendance last week was 92.6% which is short of our Newport City Council target of 94%. Our year to date attendance is 92.7%. Please help us as much as you can with this. We are currently in the bottom quartile for attendance and it must improve.
The new Attendance Policy and form for request for leave from school will also be on the website soon and a copy has been sent by Schoop with this newsletter.
Eco Request
The closing date for our Christmas Card Recycling Competition is Thursday 16th January. Thank you if you have already sent some in. Please count how many cards you send in and put the number on the bag. The Eco Team are keeping a daily tally and children in each class are keeping count. A prize of a film afternoon will go to the class that collects the highest number of cards.
Uniform and Jewellery
Please remember that no jewellery is permitted except a watch, neat stud earrings (not big earrings or sleepers) or one ring. No fashion bracelets or necklaces are permitted.
As part of the school uniform, all pupils should be wearing school shoes and not trainers. We understand however, if your child has grown out of their current footwear and you have sent in a letter to let us know about your situation.
Thank you for your support with this.
Diary Dates
You will receive a paper copy of the school Spring Diary Dates this week, and also a Class Topic letter. All of these newsletters are being sent by Schoop only now. If you know of any parent who is not using the app, please let them know about it. Copies of this newsletter are always posted on the doors and spares are available from the office at any time.
The newsletter is also always posted weekly on our website www.stwoolosprimary.org
Yours sincerely,
H Vaughan
Headteacher