17^th July 2024

 

Dear Parents

 

As we approach our last day of this school year, it is time to say goodbye to our Year 6 class. They will all be missed at St Mary’s, but it has been a joy to watch them grow and blossom before our eyes. Their leavers performance of Wizard of Oz was excellent – it was evident how hard they have all worked on the show. All school staff wish them the very best for this new chapter of their lives.

 

Tomorrow, Thursday 18^th of July, is the last day of the year. School is closed to pupils on Friday 19^th of July. There is a county designated inset day on Monday 2^nd of September so all pupils will return to school on Tuesday the 3^rd of September 2024.

 

As this year closes, we will say goodbye to Mr Randell and Mrs Kornobis-Wilk. Mr Randell joined the school as supply cover whilst Mrs Gilroy was absent and ended up staying with us for the year teaching in Year 5 Mondays through to Wednesday and providing PPA cover in other classes. This means that Mr Randell has taught almost every child in school! Thank you for your hard work and kind and caring support you have shown both staff and pupils this past year. Mrs Wilk has been a supply teaching assistant at St Mary’s for the past three years, working in the top juniors to begin with and this year, has worked with many children from other classes including the foundation phase. Mrs Wilk – your artistic skills ensured the leavers show props were excellent, your language skills have helped staff and pupils alike these past three years and your fun, kind and caring nature has helped nurture each child and staff member you have worked with. You will both be missed, and we hope that you will return to our school in the future.

 

From September, we welcome two new teaching staff members. Miss Nicole Clark and Miss Annabel Jones-Gammon. Miss Clark will teach the Year 5 class and Miss Jones-Gammon will teach Year 1. A warm welcome to you both to our school. The children are very excited to be in your classes in September.

 

In light of the staffing announcements, please see below the arrangements for September:

 

 

 

Information for September 

School starts at 9:10am when class teachers take the register. If you arrive after this time, your child will be marked in as late. From September, you will need to sign your child in to school at Reception if late. Please do not leave them at the gate as you will need to sign them in to the late register.

A child who is 10minutes late per day, misses 32.5hours of education in a school year. We ask you to arrive early to school to minimise the disruption to their learning and also the learning of those who are already in class. Persistent lateness may result in a referral to the Education Welfare Department.

 

You will have already heard in the media that Funding for schools have been reduced this year along with increases in costs of almost everything. From September, we ask that all pupils in Key Stage 2 (Years 3-6) bring their own pencil case to school daily. A pencil case will need pens, pencils, rubber, sharpener and a ruler. Thank you in advance for helping us with this request.

 

Uniform is to be worn for all children (Nursery to Year 6). New uniform can be purchased at Picton Sports, Heol Aur, Dafen Industrial Estate. Book bags can be purchased at Picton or at school. However, before you buy anything new, please call into school and take whatever you need from our pre-worn uniform stock. Uniform consists of white polo t-shirt, blue jumper or cardigan with school logo, grey or black bottoms – trousers, skirts/pinafores, black school shoes or black trainers. The P.E kit consists of a blue crew neck school t-shirt with logo on front and dark coloured bottoms. There will be a stock of P.E tops available to buy at school from September. Cost to be confirmed. The P.E timetable will follow in class newsletters in September. Please write your child/ren’s names on ALL uniform (and reapply after washes) to help reduce the amount of lost and found and to make it easier to return to the correct owner if lost.

 

After school clubs will not be available in the first week of Autumn term whilst new clubs are being arranged.  Further information regarding the new clubs will be issued during the first week back.

 

I would like to thank you as pupils, parents, extended family members and friends for your continued support of our school.  I am very proud of our achievements this year both at school, in the community and our parish. We are thankful for our pupils and enjoy teaching and nurturing them as they progress through the school. Have a happy and enjoyable summer.

 

We look forward to welcoming you back to school on Tuesday 3^rd of September 2024.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Mrs Howells

Headteacher