Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Summer Term Letter 1

  Thu 25 Apr 2024

  31^st March 2023

  Dear Parents/Guardians

  As you can see from the school calendar below, the summer term will be another busy one! More dates will be added. Summer term will hopefully continue to bring the sunshine. As the children are outdoors for some of their learning (as well as playtimes), please ensure your child has a bottle for water with them daily, and a sun hat and sun cream on sunny days.

   

  08/04/24	All return to school . Y6 three-week daily swimming block starts	All . Y6
  09/04/24	Y6 transition PM SJL	Y6
  12/04/24	Start of Term Mass 11am	All
  12/04/24	Y6 Walk Through Bible weekly sessions start	Y6
  15/04/24	Reception Health Screening with School Nurse Team	Rec
  16/04/24	Bronze Ambassador Day Y6 leads	Y6
  22/04/24	Outdoor Learning Week	All
  24/04/24	Hockey Festival at SJL	Y4
  25/04/24	Y6 Swimming Gala (parents can attend)	Y6
  25/04/24	Public Health Team MMR Vaccine session (invite only)
  26/04/24	Own Clothes Day £1	All
  30/04/24	NSPCC Stay Safe Speak Out Assembly	All
  01/05/23	Junior Proms Practice 10-12 at Theatre Ffwrnes	Y6
  02/05/24	Charity Fun Run for Place 2 Be at school	All
  06/05/24	Spring May Day Bank Holiday	All
  15/05/24	Junior Proms Practice 10-12 at Theatre Ffwrnes	Y6
  17/05/24	First Holy Communion Practice at OLQP	Y4
  19/05/25	First Holy Communion Day	Y4
  20/05/24	First Holy Communion Celebration at school	Y4
  23/05/24	May Procession	All
  24/05/24	Last day of half term . Own Clothes Day £1	All
  WC 27/05/24	Whitsun Half Term	All
  06/06/24	TechnoCamps KS2 music session	KS2
  12/06/24	Sports Day * 9:30am start – further details to follow	All
  17/06/24	Junior Proms Concert at Theatre Ffwrnes	Y6
  WC 17/06/24	Personalised assessments will take place for Y2-Y6 over the next 2 weeks	Y2-6
  24/06/24	Inset Day – school closed to pupils	All
  26/06/24	Dogs Trust Assembly and Workshops	Y2-Y6
  28/06/24	Own Clothes Day £1	All
  05/07/24	School Reports out today	All
  09/07/24	Parents Evening Drop-in Session 4-5:30pm after reports	All
  12/07/24	Y6 Leavers Show . Own Clothes Day £1	Y6 . All
  16/07/24	Y6 Leavers Mass	Y6
  18/07/24	Y6 Leavers Celebration Assembly . Last Day of school for the year	Y6
  19/07/24	Inset Day – school closed to pupils	All

   

  Some further information regarding some upcoming dates:

   

  25^th April : Public Health Immunisation Team will be at school to meet with parents and children who according to their available NHS records have not had their MMR vaccine (of full course of vaccines). It is a drop-in session (no appointments required) - you may have already had a call from the nurse team or Mrs Partridge about it. Please be assured that no child will be vaccinated unless a parent is present and has given consent directly to the Immunisation Team who are running sessions at every school in the Health Board area due to the number of Measles cases currently present in the country.

   

  2^nd May:  The Place 2 Be Fun Run will be at school. We invite all pupils to wear orange or yellow on the day. We kindly ask for £1 on the day to take part, and if you have any spare change to donate, each class will have a fundraising jar in their class for the rest of this half term which will all go to Place2Be.

   

  23^rd May: As part of our celebration of May as the month of Our Lady, the school will be holding a May Procession on the 23^{rd of} May. Parents are invited to attend (time to be confirmed).  The children will sing Marian hymns, share in reflective prayer and process around the school to the statue of Our Lady, this will culminate in the crowning of Our Lady with flowers. Our First Holy Communion children are encouraged to wear their First Holy Communion outfits to lead this procession. It is advisable that children wear uniform to school and change into their First Holy Communion outfits at school. All pupils are welcome to bring a single flower (artificial or fresh) or a small posy of flowers to lay at the feet of Our Lady.

   

  From the 17^th of June for two weeks, Personalised Assessments will take place for all pupils Years 2-6. The personalised assessments are based on the skills in the National Literacy and Numeracy Framework (LNF) and will provide information on the reading and numeracy skills of individual learners and whole classes which teachers can use to plan next steps in teaching and learning.

   

  Further dates will be added as the term progresses. Please visit our school website and social

  media pages for information relating to school life (details below).

   

  A request regarding the Car Park: Over the last few months, the car park has become increasingly busy, particularly during the afternoon pick up times. There have been a couple of “near misses” with cars almost colliding with each other and the school gates. During one recent incident, we received reports of a parent becoming verbally abusive to another, loud enough for others to hear.

  I would like to remind you that the car park is school property and when on school property, we expect ALL parties to behave in a respectful and kind manner. This behaviour is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. If the car park is full, please use alternative surrounding areas to park and walk to collect your child. Do not park in front of the staff gates or the white lines as this is the access point for emergency services. Blocking this could delay help when needed. Please be sensible when using the car park and act appropriate to your surroundings.

   

  As always, my door is open if you have any queries.

   

  Yours faithfully

  Mrs Howells

  Headteacher

• Summer 2024 Class Newsletters

  Wed 17 Apr 2024

  Please visit our Newsletters page under News & Events on the home page for your Summer Term 2024 Class Newsletters

• RE NEWSLETTER SUMMER TERM 2024

  Mon 08 Apr 2024

  IMPORTANT DATES THIS TERM

   The month of May is dedicated to Our Lady

   

   

  The Ascension of the lord (9 May)

   

  Pentecost Sunday (19 May)

   

  The Most Holy Trinity (26 May)

   

  The Most Holy body and Blood of Christ (30 May)

   

  The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (7 June)

   

  Ss. Peter and Paul, Apostles (29 June)

  This feast day will be celebrated at Mass on Sunday 30 June.

   

  SCHOOL MASS/SERVICES

   

  Start of New Term Mass:

  April 11^th

   

  May Procession:

  May 23^rd

   

  End of term Mass:

  July 17^th

   

  FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PROGRAMME

   

  Final Group Mass at

  OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE (10:00am)

  April 19^th

   

  FIRST CONFESSION (at school) – May 8^th

   

  FIRST HOLY COMMUNION DAY

  OUR LADY QUEEN O PEACE (10:00am)

  May 19^th 

• February Information Letter

  Thu 01 Feb 2024

  1^st of February 2024

   

  Dear Parents

   

  Please see below the school calendar.  As always, more dates will be added as events are confirmed and you will be updated as the term goes on. This is also updated regularly on our school website www.stmarysllanelli.org (under news and events > calendar)

   

  Next week, the PTA are hosting their annual Valentine Disco on Thursday 8^th of February. Foundation Phase (Nursery to Year 2) is 5pm-6pm with parents requested to stay. Key Stage 2 (Years 3-6) is on 6:15pm-7:30pm where parents are invited to stay but don’t have to.  The PTA are looking for anyone who can stay to help at the disco or at any future events, if you can offer your services, please contact the school office who can put you in touch with the PTA Chair.  

   

  Next week is also the last week of this half term. We are closed to pupils on Friday 9^th of February for inset day, throughout half term week starting the 12^th of February and on Monday the 19^th of February for a Diocesan inset day. School restarts on Tuesday the 20^th of February.

   

  The current after school clubs will continue after half term from te 20^th of Feburary.  There are some clubs that cannot be held on certain dates so please check on Parent Pay and note these dates in your diaries. Pupils who currently attend this terms clubs will automatically be re-enrolled on to the same clubs next half term. If anyone would like to be added to a club, please contact the school office.

  Free School Meals: A free school meals depends on your household income and if you receive certain benefits. If you meet the criteria, please apply formally for your child to have free school meals as you may be able to receive support during school holidays and school closures as well grants for school uniforms at certain stages of your child’s education. If you think you are eligible, please apply https://www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales/home/council-services/education-schools/school-meals/free-school-meals/#   Since September 2022, there has been a gradual rollout of universal primary free school meals for pupils up to and including Year 4. There is no set date yet for when pupils in Years 5 & 6 will join the rollout.  I would encourage anyone who thinks they are eligible for the official free school meals grant to do so as  it may open other opportunities for support for you and also provides schools with additional funding to offer further educational support to pupils.

  Mrs Rebecca Gilroy (Miss Davies), one of our class teachers at St Mary’s, will sadly be leaving us at the end of February. Mrs Gilroy has taught in several classes across the school from Nursery and Reception to most recently in the Year 5 class at the start of last term. Mrs Gilroy is known to pupils and staff for her bright smile and often bright clothing (especially when in the Nursery class!) and her kind and caring nature which she used to nurture everyone pupil and every staff member at school. Mrs Gilroy has asked that we share with you that she has loved her time teaching your children at school and will miss them terribly but feels that at this moment in time, she needs to be at home to care and support her daughter who has additional needs. Mrs Gilroy, we will all miss you very much at school and hope that you will come back to see us all. Wishing you and your family all the very best for your future.

  After half term, the school calendar will start to fill up with spring and summer events. These will be advised to you when dates are confirmed.

   

  Y6 parents – just a reminder that the Manor Residential trip is Wednesday 21^st to Friday 23^rd of February. Those not attending the residential trip are expected to attend school and will join in with other class activities.  

   

  School Calendar:

   

  01/02/24	Junior Proms Practice 10-12 at Theatre Ffwrnes	Y6
  05/02/24	Netball game against Dafen Primary	Y5/6
  08/02/24	Y5 Class Assembly 11am	Y5
  09/02/24	Inset Day – school closed to pupils	All
  WC 12/02/24	February Half term	All
  19/02/24	Inset Day – school closed to pupils	All
  21-23/02/23	Y6 Manor Residential trip	Y6
  23/02/23	Own Clothes Day £1	All
  25/02/23	First Holy Communion group Mass OLQP	Y4
  25/02/23	Start of Welsh fortnight at school	All
  28/02/23	Sticks 2 Cymru music sessions	KS2
  01/03/23	Eisteddfod at school	All
  05/03/23	Fire Service Safety Talk	Y1-6
  17/03/23	First Holy Communion group Mass OLQP	Y4
  22/03/23	Last Day of Spring term Own Clothes Day £1	All
  WC 25/03/24 – 07/04/24	Easter Holidays	All
  08/04/24	All return to school Y6 three-week daily swimming block starts	All Y6
  01/05/23	Junior Proms Practice 10-12 at Theatre Ffwrnes	Y6
  06/05/24	Spring May Day Bank Holiday	All
  15/05/24	Junior Proms Practice 10-12 at Theatre Ffwrnes	Y6
  WC 27/05/24	Whitsun Half Term	All
  24/06/24	Inset Day – school closed to pupils	All
  19/07/24	Last day of academic year	All

   

  If you have any queries, regarding any of the above information, please contact me at the school office.

   

  Yours sincerely

  Mrs Howells

   

• RE Newsletter Spring Term Dates

  Wed 17 Jan 2024

  IMPORTANT DATES THIS TERM

   

  MARY, THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD 1 January

  THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD 6 January

  THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD 7 January

  THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD 2 February

  ASH WEDNESDAY 14 February

  ST JOSEPH, SPOUSE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY 19 March

  THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD 25 March

  PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD 24 March

  MAUNDY THURSDAY 28 March

  GOOD FRIDAY 29 March

  EASTER SUNDAY 31 MARCH

   

  SCHOOL MASS/SERVICES

   

  Start of New Term Year Mass: 19^th January

  Ash Wednesday: February 14^th  

  Lenten Reconciliation: February

  Spring Family Mass (OLQP): 

  End of term Mass: April 11^th

   

   

  FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PROGRAMME

   

  Group Masses at

  OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE (10:00am)

   

  21^st January

  25^th February

  17^th March

   

   

   

   

• December 2023 Information

  Tue 05 Dec 2023

  5^th December 2023

  Dear Parents/Guardians,  

   

  The next few weeks will be quite busy ones in the run up to Christmas, so I thought I’d send out some information relating to each event for your diaries.

   

  Sunday 10^th December: First Holy Communion pupils group mass at Our Lady Queen of Peace. Service starts at 10am. Please arrive by 9:45am.

   

  Week starting 11^th December: The school will host a Scholastics Half Price Book Fair this week. Books will be on sale from Tuesday 12^th December. Please pop in after school to have a look Tuesday – Thursday.

   

  Tuesday 12^th December: Nursery and Reception class concert at 10am. There are still some tickets available at school.  The concert for pupils in Years 1-6 is at 4pm. There are no tickets left for the 4pm concert. Pupils are asked to stay at school and be picked up by 5pm from their classrooms.

   

  Wednesday 13^th December: Concert for pupils in Years 1-6 is at 10am. There are some tickets available.

   

  Thursday 14^th December: Christmas dinner day. Please book and make payment via ParentPay as normal.  A headcount will be taken in classes tomorrow for the purpose of ordering enough food. If anyone needs assistance with Parent Pay log ins, please contact Mrs Partridge at school.  

   

  Friday 15^th December: Christmas Jumper Day at school. All donations gratefully accepted and will go to a local Llanelli charity chosen by the School Council.

   

  Tuesday 19^th December: PTA Christmas Disco and Fayre. There will be refreshments, some stalls, hot food. Entry £2. Nursery, Reception, Years 1 & 2 is at 5-6pm (parents to stay). Pupils in Years 3, 4, 5 & 6 is at 6:15pm to 7:30pm. (Parents are invited to stay but don’t have to).

   

  Wednesday 20^th December: St John Lloyd Carol Concert at Our Lady Queen of Peace at 6pm.

  Wednesday 20^th December: End of term Mass led by Fr Martin Donnelly at school.

   

  Thursday 21^st December: Last day of the Autumn Term. Own Clothes Day (£1 donation kindly requested).

   

  Monday 8^th January 2024: All pupils and staff return to school for the spring term.

   

  Our PTA have a fantastic raffle this year with many prizes to be won. Some prizes include hampers, rugby tickets, family passes for local attractions and many more. They have been selling tickets at recent community events and would like your support to sell more tickets.  All proceeds will benefit your children as the PTA are fundraising for them.  Each child will bring home a book of raffle tickets today, tickets are £1 each. If you can purchase some, please complete the stubs and return the tickets with the money by Friday 15^th of December. If you are happy to ask family and friends to buy tickets, please do. You are under no obligation to buy any as we know that funds are limited for some especially at this time of year. All we ask is that you return the unsold tickets as well to school by the 15^th of December.

   

  Some other dates to note for the new year:

   

  22/12/23	Inset day – school closed to pupils	All
  23/12/23 – 07/01/24	Christmas holidays	All
  08/01/24	All back to school	All
  16/01/24	PC Ruth Courtney visit all classes	All
  26/01/24	Own Clothes Day £1	All
  08/02/24	Last day of half term	All
  09/02/24	Inset Day – school closed to pupils	All
  WC 12/02/24	February Half term	All
  19/02/24	Inset Day – school closed to pupils	All
  20/02/24	All pupils back to school Y5 three-week daily swimming block starts 10am – 10:45am slot	Y5
  21-23/02/23	Y6 Manor Residential trip	Y6
  23/02/24	Own Clothes Day £1	All
  28/02/23	Sticks 2 Cymru music sessions	KS2
  01/03/23	St David’s Day (Welsh costume/wear red)	All
  22/03/24	Last day of spring term. Own Clothes Day £1	All
  WC 25/03/24 – 07/04/24	Easter Holidays	All
  08/04/24	All return to school Y6 three-week daily swimming block starts 9:15am – 10am slot	All Y6
  26/04/24	Own Clothes Day £1	All
  06/05/24	Spring May Day Bank Holiday (school closed)	All
  24/05/24	Last day of half term Own Clothes Day £1	All
  WC 27/05/24	Whitsun Half Term	All
  03/06/24	All pupils and staff back to school	All
  24/06/24	Inset Day – school closed to pupils	All
  28/06/24	Own Clothes Day £1	All
  19/07/24	Last day of academic year	All

   

  Thank you for your support at the upcoming events.  If you have any queries about any of this information, please let me know.

   

  Yours sincerely

   

  Mrs Howells

  Headteacher

• End of Term Scoop

  Fri 27 Oct 2023

  Please open this link for an insight into our school life this term

   

  https://sway.office.com/Lu6BWKjr6bI6mngf?ref=email

   

   

   

   

   

  

• End of Autumn term 2023

  Thu 26 Oct 2023

  26^th October 2023

  Dear Parents

  Thank you for your ongoing support this half term. It has been a busy half term and we have more events to come after half term in the run up to Christmas! The school calendar below will give you an insight into some of the events and activities that we have planned at St Mary’s. Some event details need finalising, and as soon as that is done, I will let you know. The school calendar is also available on the school website and updated regularly https://stmarysllanelli.org .  Photos from many of our school activities and events can be found on our school Instagram and Twitter (X) pages @stmarysllanelli and @stmarysllanell1 respectively.

   

  We break up on Friday for the October half term and return to school on Monday November 6th, 2023. Below is some information regarding upcoming events including:

   

  The PTA Autumn Disco 26^th October. The Foundation Phase disco (pupils in Nursery, Reception Years 1 and 2) is between 5 and 6pm. Parents are to stay to supervise their children at this disco. The Key Stage 2 disco is from 6:15pm to 7:30pm. Parents are not required to stay for this disco but are more than welcome to if you’d like to stay. Thank you to our parent volunteers who have organised this event. You should have received an electronic PTA information newsletter soon which has lots of information relating to how you can help.

   

  After School Clubs will continue after half term. Parent Pay will be activated tomorrow for you to book and pay for your child’s places. Clubs listed below. If your child does not attend a club currently but is interested, please contact the school office to check availability and parent pay. There will not be any school led clubs week commencing 13/11/23 due to parents evenings. School led clubs will end on the 7^th of December.

  Monday              French Y2,3,4                   Sports Y4,5,6

  Tuesday              Jujitsu R-Y6                       Drama Y3,4,5,6

  Wednesday       Cookery Y1,2,3

  Thursday            Sports Y1,2,3                    Gardening Y3,4,5,6

   

  Parents Evening letters are coming home with your child today. Parents Evenings are scheduled for week commencing 13^th November (2^nd week back after half term). In light of parents evening appointments, there will be no school led after school clubs running for the week. (Jujitsu and drama will continue as they are run by external providers).

   

  School calendar November 2023 onwards:

  26/10/23	PTA Autumn Disco – Foundation Phase (Nursery – Y2 @ 5-6pm, KS2 (Y3-6) @ 6:15-7:30pm	All
  27/10/23	Techno Camps ICT Sessions	Y,3 Y4, Y5,Y6
  27/10/23	Last day of half term. Own clothes day	All
  WC 30/10/23-05/11/23	October Half term – school closed to pupils	All
  06/11/23	All back to school (St John Lloyd have INSET, St Mary’s is open)	All
  WC 06/11/23	Y6 Cycle proficiency training	Y6
  10/11/23	Rembemberance Service at school	All
  WC 13/11/23	Odd Socks Day 13/11/23, Antibullying Week 14/11/23	All
  WC 13/11/23	Parents Evening Week (letters detail when)	All
  15/11/23	African Drum session Y3 and Y4	Y3&4
  17/11/23	Children in Need day	All
  24/11/23	Dafen Forum Christmas Fayre 6pm Dafen Park
  29/11/23	Advent Reconciliation Service at school	All
  03/12/23	Advent Mass at OLQP	All
  10/12/23	First Holy Communion Group Mass at OLQP	Y4
  WC 11/12/23	Scholastic Book Fayre at school all week	All
  12/12/23	Christmas Concert * time to be confirmed	All
  13/12/23	Christmas Concert * time to be confirmed	All
  14/12/23	Christmas Dinner Day	All
  19/12/23	PTA Christmas Disco and Fayre	All
  20/12/23	End of term mass at school	All
  21/12/23	Celebration Assembly	All
  21/12/23	Last day of Autumn Term	All
  22/12/23	Inset day – school closed to pupils	All
  23/12/23 – 07/01/24	Christmas holidays	All
  08/01/24	All back to school	All
  09/02/24	Inset Day – school closed to pupils	All
  WC 12/02/24	February Half term	All
  19/02/24	Inset Day – school closed to pupils	All
  20/02/24	Y5 three-week daily swimming block starts	Y5
  21-23/02/23	Y6 Manor Residential trip	Y6
  28/02/23	Sticks 2 Cymru music sessions	KS2
  WC 25/03/24 – 07/04/24	Easter Holidays	All
  08/04/24	All return to school Y6 three-week daily swimming block starts	All Y6
  06/05/24	Spring May Day Bank Holiday	All
  WC 27/05/24	Whitsun Half Term	All
  24/06/24	Inset Day – school closed to pupils	All
  19/07/24	Last day of academic year	All
  One more INSET day is to be determined. Further dates will be added.

   

  November is a special month dedicated to the Holy Souls where we pray for and remember those who have passed away. Each Parish has a dedicated lists of Holy Souls. We would like to mirror this at school, and ask that if you would like a dearly departed loved one or friend to be added to our prayers, please send their names on a slip of paper to your class teacher.

   

  Thank you for taking the time to read this information.

   

  Yours sincerely

  Mrs Howells

  Headeacher

• RE Autumn Newsletter 2023 Dates

  Tue 24 Oct 2023

   

  IMPORTANT DATES THIS TERM

   

  ALL SAINTS

  (celebrated Sunday 31 October)

  We celebrate the lives of special and ordinary people who have responded to God’s invitation to love.

   

  THE COMMEMORATION OF ALL THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED (ALL SOULS)

  (2^nd November)

  Today and throughout the rest of November we pray for those who have died.

  Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

  May they rest in peace. Amen.

                                                                                                                                                    

  OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, KING OF THE UNIVERSE

  (26^th November)

   

  ADVENT

  (Begins 3^rd December)

  Advent means ‘coming’. We think of the coming of Jesus when he was born but we

  also think of his promise that he would come again at the end of time.  It is a time of waiting and preparing. It is only in the last week of Advent that we focus upon the events to be celebrated at Christmas.

   

  THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

  (8^th December)

  This feast marks the first stage of the existence of Mary, the mother of Jesus.

  She was ‘full of grace’ from the very beginning & co-operated with God throughout her life.

                                                                                                                                                    

  CHRISTMAS DAY, THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD

  (25^th December)

  On this day we begin our celebration of the birth of Christ.

   

  THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH

  (31^st December)

   

   

  Important School Dates this Term

  Start of Term Mass – September 7^th

  Advent Family Mass - 26^th at Our Lady Queen of Peace 10 AM

  Reconciliation Service (KS2) – November 29^th

  End of Term Mass -  20th December

   

   

• Welcome Back Letter Autumn Term 2023

  Sun 10 Sep 2023

  6^th September 2023

  Dear Parents

   

  A warm welcome back to our pupils, parents, and staff. I hope you all enjoyed your summer holidays.  As we begin the new school year, you will be given the annual consent and medical questionnaires as well as a data checking sheet.  Please complete both forms and return to school signed and dated (please do this at the bottom of the data sheet) by MONDAY September 11^th 2023. These forms are personal to your child and need to be completed to update all our records. If your child is new to the school, you will already have received this pack and if you haven’t done so already, please return it by Monday also.

   

  It is extremely important that you keep us up to date of any changes in circumstances throughout the year e.g., change of home address, new telephone numbers or any medical conditions.  Our data privacy notice is available upon request and on our school website. Thank you in advance for your cooperation on this matter.

   

  Some general information:

  Access to school: Both the bottom gate and the main parent gate will be open each morning and afternoon for drop off and pick up. Please use the walkway around the car park for safety.

  School start: School starts at 9:10am when class teachers take the register. This means that your child needs to be in school before or by 9:10am to avoid a late mark being given. We noticed a rise in persistent lateness last term and ask that every effort is made for children to arrive at school on time to not miss out on their learning time and minimise the disruption for those who are in school in time and already learning.

  Hot weather: During this period of extended summer, please make sure your children have sun cream on and hats as you would during the summer term.  Water bottles: Pupils are to bring their own water bottles to school on a daily basis which can be filled up at our cold-water dispensers to stay hydrated. Please write your child’s name on their bottle.

  Snacks: We actively encourage children to bring in healthy snacks such as fruit and water, instead of fizzy drinks, sweets, crisps.  This will help with your child’s health and their development and goes hand in hand with the Healthy Schools Award Scheme. We are a nut free school. We have some individuals at school who suffer with severe nut allergies. Considering the severity of these allergies, our school needs to be nut free.  We ask for everyone’s cooperation on this matter.  Please do not send your child in with any food that contain nuts e.g., tracker bars, snickers, granola bars, snack packs etc.  

   

  Uniform is to be worn for all children (Nursery to Year 6). We still have some pre-worn uniform available in the main entrance if you’d like to pop in and take whatever you need. 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. New uniform can be bought at Picton Sports, Heol Aur, Dafen Industrial Estate. Book bags can be purchased at Picton or at school.  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. 

  P.E forms part of the curriculum. Pupils are to wear their school PE kits to school on their allocated days (below). This consists of a blue round neck t-shirt with school logo and blue or dark shorts. We are awaiting a delivery of PE t-shirts at school for you to purchase directly from us (or go to Picton Sports). In the interests of health and safety children are discouraged from wearing jewellery at school. If jewellery is worn, it must be removed during PE sessions. The school will accept no responsibility for the loss or damage of items of jewellery.  

  Nursery/Reception         Monday

  Years 1 and 2                   Thursday

  Year 3                                Tuesday and Friday

  Year 4                                Monday and Friday

  Year 5                                Wednesday and Thursday

  Year 6                                Tuesday and Wednesday

   

  School Meals: Meals can be pre booked and paid for on the school meal website www.parentpay.com .  Parent Pay is also used for school trips. If you have not received your log in, please let us know.  Any pupils new to the school will have their log ins soon as it takes a few days for the system to set up.  Universal Free School Meals are currently available for all full-time pupils in Nursery, Reception, Years 1,2,3 and 4. The Welsh Government Universal Free School Meals will be rolled out to Years 5 and 6 soon.

  Some pupils may be eligible for Free School Meals which also allows access to other grants. If you think you qualify, please visit https://www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales/home/council-services/education-schools/school-meals/free-school-meals/

   

  The Car Park since our return to school has been extremely busy and occasionally gridlocked. If the car park is full, please do not double park, find an alternative parking spot outside the school premises. Please do not park on the drive and please do not park on the entry way to the staff car park.  In case of an emergency, this is the route that emergency vehicles will take and must not be blocked.  Many parents are turning up very early to park to collect their child who may not finish until 3:40pm. This then takes up spaces that the 3:20/3:30 parents need.  If it helps, if you have a children across the school who finish at different times, you may collect all children at the later time of 3:40pm. All we ask is that you let us know if you plan to do this.

   

  After school clubs letter is attached to this pack. Clubs will start the week after next on Monday September 18^th 2023. Payment is to be made via Parent Pay. Please await further information and return the full consent forms to successfully book your child’s place at the club of their choice. 

   

  Our school Website is live and is being updated regularly. It is a work in progress so please bear with us if some content is not available yet. The new website much more user-friendly with options for translation to multiple languages.  https://www.stmarysllanelli.org/

   

  Own clothes days will continue  the last Friday of every month.  We kindly ask for a donation of £1 per child on these days. See the school calendar below for dates.

   

  We will celebrate Roald Dahl Day next week on Wednesday 13^th September. Pupils are invited to dress up as their favourite Roald Dahl character (or wear school uniform). We will have a theatre group at school on Monday 11^th September undertaking Roald Dahl workshops with all classes. We kindly ask for £1 from each pupil to go towards the cost of the session.

   

  Thank you for taking the time to read this rather detailed letter. Please remember to return your completed data forms by Monday so that we can update your child’s records. 

  Wishing you all a warm welcome at the beginning of a new school year.