Gwersyllt CP

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Wow what a busy week, We had a fabulous St David’s Day with Eisteddfod assemblies for Foundation Learning and Key Stage 2. Many certificates were given out for all the fabulous work and baked goods created over half term. Thank you for joining in so enthusiastically with both your time and effort with this.

Here are some of the fabuous costumes worn.

The celebrations will continue for our older children and activities and events will continue over the next few weeks for Key stage 2.

Please see some of the fabulous work created.

The following day saw World book day for the majority of pupils. Those that dressed up looked fantastic and I know that they enjoyed the activities they were set.

Parents Evening

It is Parents evening for most of next week. Please enter via the front reception. The doors will be open and signs will lead you to where your child’s class is. Please take an available seat- there should be some samples of your child’s work to look through whilst you wait. We look forward to welcoming you.

Dates for your diary

March 17^th – Comic Relief- Pupils are welcome to sport their Red noses and wear red. A link will be sent via Parent pay to contribute to this wonderful cause.

March 21st- A day close to our hears- World Down syndrome Day- We ask pupils to wear odd socks- No contribution needed but we will be endeavouring to sell our gingerbreads at £1 a piece again.

Have a great weekend

Monday 27^th February 2023

Dear Parents/Guardians, 

National Strike Action by Members of the NEU 

I am writing to inform you about strike action that is being taken by members of the NEU and to advise you about arrangements for the school on the days of strike action. 

The teaching trade unions have recently balloted their members in relation to their dispute with the Education Employers about teachers’ pay.  As a result, members of the NEU have voted to take national strike action on the following dates: 

• Thursday 2nd March 2023 
• Wednesday 15^th March and Thursday 16^th March 2023* 

The action will result in class or whole school closures across the country.    

What does this mean for our school? 

Teachers in our school who are members of the NEU will be on strike on the above dates if the dispute is not resolved by then. 

How will this affect my children? 

The decision to close the school or send pupils home is never taken lightly, but where staff have elected to take lawful industrial action, I have no choice but to take appropriate steps to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of all pupils.   

Following undertaking a risk assessment, the decision I have made is that on the days of strike action: 

the school will be open only for pupils in the following classes: 

•  Barn Owls (Nursery) 
•  Harriers 
•  Class 1 
•  Class 2 
•  Class 3 
•  Class 4 
•  Class 5  

who should attend school at the usual times. 

I appreciate that closing some classes will cause inconvenience for families and it is not a decision that I have taken lightly. I can assure you that in forming my decision I have taken into account the well-being of all pupils and their families and school staff. 

We are aware that class closures inconvenience parents and carers and so I am writing to give you advance notice of the likely impact of the action on this school.  

Please note, staff have the right to change their mind on strike action prior to and on the day. If there are any changes to the above actions the school will let you know as soon as possible.  

Thank you for your patience and understanding. 

Yours sincerely, 

Mr J Moore 

Head Teacher 

* A letter will be sent out prior to these dates to ensure clarity on any actions

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Though we have reached the end of another long term, and we hope you have a lovely week next week, there are just a couple of things to draw your attention to for the week straight after half term.

Dates for the diary

Eisteddfod-You may well have had some news already about challenges, tasks and competitions for the pupils leading up to St David’s Day. Of course the big day is on Wednesday 1^st March and we are inviting pupils to wear traditional Welsh clothing or to wear red for the day. 

World book day-The following day we have World book day on Thursday 2^nd March. Pupils are welcome to come dressed as their favourite book characters and will be digging a bit deeper into their faourtie books and authors during the day.

Hopefully there will be plenty of pictures so show after these two events.

In other news- our forest school half days continue to be a roaring success. Even when the weather isn’t at our best it doesn’t dampen our spirits. Our new tarp ensures that we can stay dry aswell.

…and because of our super design and technology skills, we have plenty to feed the wildlife too.

On Wednesday, a group of 4 Year 6 boys visited St Mary’s Brymbo primary school to take part in a Maths problem solving event. they acquitted themselves very well and just fell shy of being in the prizes.

And finally, we have started placing our school staff avatars up on the wall. We thought some of the pupils may enjoy playing guess who with the faves 🙂 There are still a few more staff to go however.

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Just a few things to bring to your attention in this week’s newsletter.

New curriculum

If you haven’t seen it already an easy read version of the new curriculum is up on our blog. It is a good way for the children to understand school life and the different aspects of the new curriculum they will be exploring. Please give it a click and a read

School Committees

We have a number of school councils up and running currently. Mrs Howe and Mrs Harrison run Eco Committee weekly after school. Our Bronze certificate has taken pride of place on the Eco committee display.

Our Pupil Wellbeing council led by Mrs O’Toole and Miss Thomas have spent a good amount of time looking at the School’s Golden rules. they have used the new school vision as inspiration and have put together 4 new rules that we hope to place around the school.

School Council have also been working hard. They have a large list to get through. So far they have added clocks to all classrooms, bought in more netballs and tennis balls and are putting the finishing touches to a pupil friendly Antibullying policy.

Finally, there was something very intriguing happening in Jaxon’s Wood this week. Our Blwyddwn 5 & 6 in Dosbarth 5 were searching around for cabbage leaves. Inside these cabbage leaves there were many edible delights to enjoy. It was with great delight that I manage to witness some of our more peckish pupils having a pre lunch snack. I have been advised that this is all linked to the classes English work. Watch this space.

Dear Parents/Guardians,

You may be aware that over the past couple of years the school have sent out a number of communications about the New curriculum. This came into schools in Sept 2022, and all primary schools across Wales are being asked to trail, review and adjust the provision they are giving to the pupils.

We understand that, for many, this may not mean to much. The Welsh Assembly Government have created a document which very simply puts across the main aspects of the New Curriculum. It is meant primarily for the pupils but I believe it is a good introduction for all.

Please clink the link below to download

Our School Council are also putting in place a Pupil friendly Antibullying policy. Once this has been completed we will publish it on the school website.

Dear Parents/Guardians,

As I am sure most of you are aware through the national news, dates have been announced for teacher strikes in both England and Wales. Currently I am unable to tell you whether this will lead to full or partial school closure and which classes the strikes may affect. I will, of course, make you aware of this information as soon as I can.

For clarity, the days that these strikes are set to take place in Wales are:  

• 1^st February 2023
• 14^th February 2023
• 15^th and 16^th March 2023

The final two dates fall on Year 6’s trip to Glan Llyn. As far as we are aware, and after brief initial contact with the organisers, this is still set to go ahead. However, this may change and again, we will let you know as soon as we have further information.

Many thanks for your understanding,

Mr J Moore

A combination of compacted snow, rain and ice as led the school to be extremely dangerous on and around the site. Despite our best efforts this morning we have been unable to make it safe. School will be closed and we will endeavour to do what we can to ensure we are open tomorrow. We appreciate the inconvenience that this will cause parents. Thank you for your understanding. Home schooling will be provided for pupils.

Mr J Moore

Year 3 and 4 (Dosbarth 1 & 2) enjoyed a Friday afternoon full of celtic themed activities based around their topic of Warriors. There were many tasks to do based both in the classroom and outside in Jaxon’s Wood. Here are just a few snaps from the day.

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Happy New Year and a huge welcome back to the pupils. We are all keen to get going and looking forward to a collection of exciting topics that the classes will be covering.

Topics this term

Barn Owls – Winter followed by Superheroes Superfood

Snowy Owls- Winter followed by Superheroes Superfood

Harriers- Wonderful Winter

Kestrels- Bodies and Bones

Class 1- Warriors

Class 2- Warriors

Class 3- USA followed by Working in Wales

Class 4 – WoodlandsClass 5- Rainforest

Snack

Firstly, a huge thank you for your support with healthy snack. Nearly all pupils can be seen either choosing not to have an unhealthy snack at break time or eating fresh fruit and veg. This will make such a difference to their health and to their concentration skills during periods in class. Hopefully, over the course of the next week, I will get some information together to demonstrate the impact this has had.

Engagement centre

Finally, I have been in conversation with the Engagement centre next door. They are in the process of reopening and are having building works commence as of next Monday. They have kindly requested that their car park is not used for parking, pick-ups or drop-offs. Many thanks.

Have a lovely weekend

Dear Parents/Guardians,

So here we are, the penultimate newsletter of the year. We have officially entered into (and embraced) the festivities now. We have had the first of our performances this morning, thank you Early Years, and have the rest next week. After the past three years, it is easy to forget what an integral part of Christmas time in a primary school these concerts are and it was a pleasure to welcome parents in this morning to watch a lovely performance by Barns and Snowys.

On Tuesday (Year 1/2) and Wednesday (Year 3/4 ) Parents/Guardians will be able to take the pupils and siblings home after the concerts. We ask that Parents/Guardians wait at the usual pick-up points for their children that have been in the concert. If parents are also wanting to pick up siblings, if they could then come to Reception a member of staff will collect the pupils and bring them to the front of the school.

Lastly, we have been trying to use this time of year to allow the pupils opportunities to experience art and craft activities a little outside the norm. Amongst many different tasks we have electronic light up Rudolph’s being made with circuit boards and clay and pupils creating their very own material stockings.

Have a lovely weekend and we will see the vast majority of you in person next week.

We also had some delicious Argentinian food served up by Dosbarth 5. I got my own particular serving from Brooke and Logan.