What a fantastic week of weather we have had, with the promise of more sunshine to come over the weekend and into next week. We have certainly been making the most of it at Gwersyllt CP, with children enjoying the field at lunchtimes. Forest School really comes into its own at this time of year too, with blue skies and new life and plants growing all around us.
This week also saw our Year 4 pupils taking part in cycling sessions on two days, developing both their confidence and road safety skills.
We have finished the week with our monthly Senedd meetings. These meetings are an important act of pupil voice, where children in Key Stage 2 take part in a pupil voice group aimed at making improvements across the school. These groups include the School Council, Wellbeing Committee, and groups linked to the four core purposes of the school.
Next week is another busy one. On Monday, we begin with a trip to Birmingham. Dosbarth Afallen and Dosbarth Celyn finishing of last terms Victorians topic in style. On Thursday, we have a further trip for Dosbarth Celyn with outdoor learning focused on vegetable growing when visiting to Bangor-on-Dee, alongside all the other aspects of school life that continue to run on a weekly basis.
I hope the sun continues to shine over the weekend, and I look forward to seeing everyone next week.
Upcoming Roadworks on Dodds Lane Road – Important Information
This week, we met with representatives from the council to discuss the newly approved works taking place along Dodds Lane Road. These works are scheduled to begin on 13th April and will be carried out in several phases over the coming months.
Planned Schedule of Works
From 13th April to mid‑May: Work will begin at Llay New Road End and progress past Mardon house, Woodlands View and Lakefield Court, continuing towards the roundabout near the school.
End of May: Work on the roundabout near the school is planned to begin.
May, June and the Summer Holidays: Further improvements will take place outside the school, including:
Installation of a zebra crossing
Widening of footpaths
Adjustments to existing crossing points
Additional pathway and safety improvements
These developments are designed to enhance safety in the area for pupils, families, and the wider community.
Impact on School Access
Please be aware that there may be disruption when entering and leaving the school site, especially once work begins near the roundabout and school frontage. We encourage families to allow extra time for travel during these periods.
We will continue to share updates as we receive them from the council. Thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation while these important safety improvements take place.
There will be no change currently to the school crossing patrol that the school offer.
Please see plans I have placed on the website for what is proposed.
A huge well‑done to all the pupils and staff involved in the service on Wednesday. It was wonderful to see such a fantastic turnout, with everyone coming together to support the efforts that went into the preparation and delivery of the event. It was a lovely way to finish off the end of a cold term.
This week we also celebrated attendance and Pupil of the Term. An extra‑special congratulations to all those who received:
Gold Certificates for attendance above 97%
Platinum Certificates for 100% attendance
And, of course, Pupil of the Term, awarded to one pupil for their outstanding efforts over the last three months
Forest schools
The pupils continnue to enjoy forest schools- just a few snaps below (this one including a home made relective oven to bake cookies)
I hope everyone has a fantastic couple of weeks, enjoys the bank holidays, and we look forward to welcoming pupils back on Tuesday 14th April.
What a lovely week it has been—finally a bit of sunshine to enjoy after two and a half very cold months to start the year!
Below is a recap of what the school has been up to this week:
Activities This Week
Tuesday– Art Project at the Local Church Celyn spent the day working with our local church, helping to paint an art mural in collaboration with an artist. We’re hoping the finished piece will be available to view in the church very soon.
PC Reeves Visits Year 1 and 2 PC Reeves visited our Year 1 and 2 pupils in Bedwen and Llwyfen classes to help support them with aspects of safety and awareness outside of school. The children thoroughly enjoyed the session.
Wednesday – Cluster Girls’ Football Event Seven of our girls took part in a cluster football day held at Black lane school. The event included skills training and a rotation of matches against other schools. As expected, the girls were fantastic—showing wonderful behaviour, enthusiasm, and teamwork throughout the day.
All games were very close, with results including:
2 losses
2 draws
A win in the final match
The girls also had the privilege of meeting three players from the Wrexham Ladies Team!
Comic Relief – Thank You!
A huge thank you to everyone for your effort and donations for Comic Relief this year. Together, we have raised a sizeable total, which will be sent off next week to support those who need it most.
Next Week
Monday – Easter Bingo Our PTA are running Easter Bingo. Please see the poster included in the newsletter for start times and further details.
Wednesday – End of Term Celebration We will be holding our end‑of‑term attendance awards and Pupils of the Term celebration.
Friday 27th March
Pupils can wear blue or yellow to support Down Syndrome this day (odd socks also welcome). We will be selling gingerbreads socks from Monday onwards. School closes for the Easter break. We will reopen to pupils on Tuesday 14th April.
MCAS Reminders
Most families are now successfully using MCAS, which is fantastic. This allows two way dialogue to send messages regarding attendance and personal details.
However, please note: Any holiday request must still be submitted using the official holiday form, available on the school website. These should not be sent through MCAS messages.
Thank you again for your continued support. Wishing you all a lovely weekend!
A lengthy note from myself this week- my apologies in advance.
KS2 pupils finished off the remaining performances for the Eisteddfod and received their well-deserved certificates. We have so much talent in the school we could have kept on going for another week or two.
Year 6 had a wonderful visit to DangerPoint in Talacre, and we are sure they have returned with a stronger awareness of health and safety.
On Thursday, pupils also enjoyed dressing up as their favourite characters to celebrate World Book Day. They learned about books, authors, and many other aspects of the literacy world. Thank you, as always, for the effort put in at home to help prepare for this special day.
Looking Ahead to Next Week
We have another busy week planned, with several exciting opportunities for our pupils:
Years 3, 4 and Onnen will be visiting the Iron Works on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The majority of Year 6 pupils will be attending our annual residential to Glan Llyn, running from Wednesday to Friday.
On Monday and Tuesday afternoon, Year 6 will also be working with an artist and the local Congregational Church to create a mural for the church. We look forward to seeing the finished piece.
Breakfast Club Debt
It has come to our attention that a small number of parents have noticed unwarranted Breakfast Club debt appearing on their accounts. We were advised last week that any initial queries should be directed to the county contact numbers listed in the newsletter of last week.
However, several parents have informed us that when they call these numbers, they are told to speak with the school instead.
Therefore, if you have any concerns or notice any discrepancies:
Please try contacting the county number first, as advised.
If you are then redirected back to school, please email us so we can look into the issue further.
We appreciate your patience while this matter is resolved.
Parents Evening – appointments on MCAS
On Monday 9th March, our Parents’ Evening appointment system will go live on MCAS. We are trialling this new method and are keeping our fingers firmly crossed that everything works smoothly. If things do not go quite as planned, please bear with us — we will make sure to find an alternative way for you to book your appointments. If all goes well, most families should be able to book their appointments from 9th March through to 12th March, ahead of the following week’s meetings.
Thank you very much for your patience and understanding.
Dates
A reminder of dates below- plus a couple of extras:
Year 6 Art Murial workshop-Monday 9thand Tuesday 10th March
Year 3/4 & Onnen Trip: Tuesday 10thand Wednesday 11th March
Glan Llyn Year 6 trip: Commences Wednesday 11thMarch
PTA Non school uniform for tombola-Friday 13thMarch
Parents Evening: Week Beginning 16thMarch – see above
PC Stu Reeves Year 1 & 2 sessions: Wednesday 18thMarch
Comic relief- Friday 20thMarch
PTA Easter Bingo: Monday 23rdMarch
Attendance/Pupil of the term awards: Wednesday 25thMarch
Odd Socks/Wear blue and yellow for World Down Syndrome Day- Friday 27thMarch
PTA Easter Bingo
Please note that there is a change of date to the PTA Easter Bingo. This will now take place on Monday 23rd March – Eyes down at 6.30pm. We look forward to seeing you there.
We have had the pleasure of welcoming the pupils back after the half‑term break. What has made this week even more enjoyable is the wonderful sunshine we’ve experienced—it has made the whole school feel that little bit brighter. Long may it continue!
This week has seen a huge focus on cycling across the school. All Key Stage 2 pupils have taken part in a puncture‑repair session to equip them with practical skills should they ever need them. In addition, our Year 5 pupils have had the opportunity to develop their cycling skills further through Level 1 and Level 2 training.
We were also delighted to receive a wonderful message from Sainsbury’s. As part of their work on recycling, reusing, and caring for the environment, our Year 3, 4, and 5 classes sent letters to a range of organisations. They were fortunate enough to receive a thoughtful reply and a very generous gift from Sainsbury’s, which was greatly appreciated.
Of course, the main event this week has been our Eisteddfod celebrations. I am delighted to say that the standard of work produced is as impressive as ever. We look forward to celebrating this fully at the end of the week and hope to display the work throughout school over the coming weeks. Well done to everyone who took part. And the children dressed up in Welsh outfits looked fantastic as always.
Looking ahead to next week, Year 6 will be visiting DangerPoint on Monday, and we will also be celebrating World Book Day on Thursday 5th March.
As we come to the end of the first half-term of the new year, I wanted to write to you and reflect on what has been a busy—somewhat cold and certainly very wet—six weeks. Despite the weather, the children have enjoyed a wide range of activities and learning opportunities, and I think most of them would agree that they are ready for a well‑earned break (and the staff are too!) before we begin the next half-term leading up to Easter.
As always, the children have been fantastic, and I am very much looking forward to all the trips and activities planned for after half-term. Below is a reminder of just some—though not all—of the events and sessions that will be taking place. More will, of course, be added as we move through the term.
Dates (and Corrections)
Apologies- a couple of dates were incorrect last week- the fog has cleared and I’ve amended them.
Year 5 Cycling: Thursday 26th 27th February- for those that brought in return slips
Eisteddfod: Friday 27th February – Welsh dress or red if pupils wish
World Book day: Thursday 5th March – Pupils are welcome to come in costume of a book character
Yr 6 Art Murial workshop-Monday 9th and Tuesday 10th March
Year 3/4 & Onnen Trip: Tuesday 10th and Wednesday 11th March
Glan Llyn Year 6 trip: Commences Wednesday 11th March – 13th of March
Parents Evening: Week Beginning 16th March
PC Stu Reeves Year 1 & 2 sessions: Wednesday 18th March
Attendance/Pupil of the term awards: Wednesday 25th March
PTA Easter Bingo: Thursday 26th March
Bedwen & Llwyfen Easter performance- Wednesday 25th March @ 2pm
Nursery Spa Day
This week Dosbarth Glasbren had a Spa day to encourage us to think about connecting with others and building friendships. The theme of this years Children’s Mental Health week is ‘Belong’ the Spa day offered an excellent opportunity for the children to develop their sense of belonging! It also looks like they had a pretty relaxing time!
Farewell
The school say farewell and a huge thank you to Ms Hayley Edwards who worked alongside Mrs Sailes and Dosbarth Onnen over the past year. We are extremely grateful for all the support, dedication and effort she has given to the class and wish her all the best moving forward. Diolch.
Welcome back! We hope you all had a fantastic couple of weeks. We’re delighted to say that, despite the weather, we’ve thoroughly enjoyed having the children back in school. We really appreciate the effort you made to get them in, particularly on that first Tuesday when conditions were quite challenging. Despite the dicey conditions, our attendance was still strong.
School communication
We want to let you know about an important update to how we communicate with you. Over the coming weeks and months, we will be transitioning from Teachers2Parents (T2P) to MyChildAtSchool (MCAS) as our main communication platform.
This change will not happen overnight. There will be a period where both systems run side by side to ensure a smooth transition. Eventually, Teachers2Parents will be phased out, and MyChildAtSchool will become our primary tool for messages and updates.
What does this mean for you?
You will receive instructions on how to access and use MyChildAtSchool.
During the transition, please check both platforms for messages.
We will provide plenty of notice before Teachers2Parents is fully retired.
Message from County Catering
We wanted to make you aware of a change to the bread supplied in primary school meals this week, and to apologise for the short notice.
We have arranged with Dairylink to replace the white sliced bread with a 50:50 alternative across all primary school orders. This change has been introduced to ensure we are compliant with the new nutritional regulations, which will soon become compulsory for all schools.
Unfortunately, we did not notify our school cooks in advance, which means they were unable to inform or prepare for any questions from pupils or parents. We’re sorry for the oversight and for any inconvenience this may cause.
If you have any queries about the change, please feel free to direct them to the Catering team and they will be happy to provide further explanation.
As we come to the end of a very busy week, I’d like to start with a few heartfelt thank-yous:
Thank you for joining us at our pupil-led Christmas Fair. It was a little different this year, but I hope you enjoyed seeing the creativity and ideas the children brought to life through their stalls.
Thank you for your generosity today in supporting the PTA Tombola ahead of the Christmas Bingo, which will take place next Thursday in the school hall.
A huge thank you to the PTA, staff, and pupils for all the hard work that went into the Christmas Fair and the many events leading up to Christmas.
Finally, an apology for the frustrations with the school phones this week. We’ve been working closely with the county to resolve the issue. While the phones have worked intermittently, they have often been down. If you are struggling to get through by phone, please contact us via email. Although responses may not be immediate, this ensures we can receive your messages while the phones are unreliable.
Looking ahead to next week:
Cinema Trips:
Year 1 & 2 – Monday
Year 3 & 4 – Tuesday
Year 5 & 6 – Friday
Christmas dinner and Christmas Jumper Day on Thursday
Llwyfen and Bedwen: Sing-along and Christmas Crafternoon on Wednesday afternoon. Doors open at 1:15 pm, event starts at 1:30 pm.
Glasbren Performance: Friday morning at 10:00 am. Doors open at 9:30 am.
We look forward to seeing you at these events. Have a lovely weekend!
We are excited to invite you to our Christmas Market on Thursday 4th December, from 3:00pm to 4:30pm.
This year will be a little different, as the event will largely be led by pupils and their classes, with a couple of external stalls joining us. Here’s how it will be organised:
Key Stage 2 stalls – in classrooms
Foundation Phase stalls – in Playmates
External stalls – in the Learning Plaza
Food and drink – in the hall
Please collect your children from their usual doors first, before entering through the front reception to enjoy the market.
Thank you for your support – we look forward to seeing you there!
Your child may be eligible for free school meal support.
This is more than just free meals in both primary and secondary schools—it can also include: ✅ Uniform grants ✅ Free school trips and music sessions ✅ Reduced costs on other aspects of education
Click the link below to check if this applies to your child:
As we move past mid-November, it’s lovely to hear the sound of various classes beginning to practice for the festive season. There’s a real buzz around the school! You will already have the dates and times for these performances. There will be more information about coming to see these performances out soon.
Poverty Proofing
This week, we welcomed two visitors who audited the school to review the impact of costs on pupils’ education. We’ve always worked hard in this area, and Estyn’s recent visit agreed that we are strong at this aspect of school life. Of course, there is always room for improvement, and we look forward to their report to see what further positive changes we can make.
Pick-Up of Pupils
A quick reminder: whenever possible, please ensure pupils are picked up promptly at the end of the school day or after clubs. Staff often have meetings and commitments after school, both linked to work and personal, and waiting with pupils can impact these arrangements. Your support is greatly appreciated.
As always, thank you for your continued support and have a lovely weekend.
Gwersyllt CP 