Dear Parent/Carer,

Sport Relief

Thank you very much for supporting Sport Relief! We raised a total of £98.70 

Clothes Collection

Thank you very much for your help with our Clothes Collection last week. We raised a total of £122.80 for school funds, which is extremely helpful for us.

We will be holding another collection in the Autumn Term.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

We are currently taking part in a research project with the OECD into the development of creative skills linked to the new Successful Futures curriculum. Researchers spent today with us talking to staff and children about the Lead Creative Schools’ projects that we have done and their impact on the way that we are approaching learning across the school.

Lead Creative School

Great news! Our school has been selected as one of only 32 out of the 548 schools across Wales who have taken part in the Lead Creative Schools’ projects, to take part in ‘Tate Exchange’, an exhibition running at the Tate Modern Museum in London, from 24-29th April.

We are absolutely thrilled about this! It reflects the tremedous work done by the children who took part in the ‘Hungry Heroes’ Restaurant and ‘F is for Football’ projects, Miss Spray, the Year 1/2 team and everyone thoughout the school who joined in supporting these projects. We’ll let you know more, when we can.

Show Racism the Red Card

On Tuesday Classes 5/6W, 5/6P and 4/5B are taking part in Show Racism the Red Card workshops and one of the areas that they will be looking at is immigration and the reasons behind it.

After-school Staff, Family and Pupil Netball Match

Mrs Jarrett is organising a pupil/staff/parent netball match after school on Tuesday. You are welcome to join us for this!

Easter Bonnet or Hat Parade

Our Easter Bonnet and Hat Parade takes place on Wednesday so please send your child in with a decorated hat if you are able to. All classes will share in this parade.

(An Easter Bonnet Parade originally took place in America on Easter Sunday when ladies would wear their Easter Bonnets to go for a parade after church.)

Thank you very much to The Friends of St Woolos who have arranged a small Easter egg gift for each child afterwards.

Girls’ Cricket Taster Session

Also on Wednesday, a group of girls are taking part in a Cricket Taster Session at Newport International Sports Village.

Easter Assembly – Class 5/6W

Class 5/6W are leading the Easter Assembly on Thursday which starts at 9.15am. Parents and grandparents are welcome to join us for that.

National Tests

The National Tests in Reading and Numeracy take place from Wednesday May 2nd until Wednesday May 9th, with two days afterwards for catching up.

No holidays will be authorised from the start of the summer term until after the testing period has been completed. Please do everything you can to arrange dentist, optician and non-urgent doctors’ appointments after school or in the Easter holidays.

If you would like further information on the tests, please visit the following website.

http://learning.gov.wales/resources/browse-all/reading-and-numeracy-tests-information-for-parents-carers/?lang=en

Attendance

Please ensure that your child in on time and comes through the side door before 8.50am which is when school starts. Lateness is an area that the school is inspected on during an inspection and we currently have an Estyn recommendation in place to improve the numbers of pupils coming in late. Last Thursday 27 pupils arrived late and this has to improve. Please do everything you can to help with this.

Menu Change

Please note there is a menu change on Thursday. The meal will be a beef burger in a bun with chips and beans (veggie or halal burger) and ice cream for dessert. 

Bonus Ball

There is a roll over this week.

Thank You

My period of time running St Gabriel’s RC Primary School comes to an end on Thursday.

I would like to express my very sincere thanks to Mrs Couch who has run the school so excellently as Acting Head during the time when I have not been here.

I’d also like to thank Miss Bishop and Miss Spray, (part of our Senior Leadership Team), who have taken on extra responsibilities during this time and have been such a great support to the school. Additionally, staff have helped to fill any remaining gaps so my warmest thanks go to them.

I’d also like to thank the Governing Body who, as ever, have been so supportive of the school and its direction of travel.

End of Term

We break up on Thursday. School resumes on Monday 16th April.

I wish everyone a very happy and restful Easter!

Yours sincerely,

H L Vaughan

Headteacher