School Blog

Here you will find the latest news and information about school events. Please subscribe to the calendar to keep fully informed.

• School Blog Friday 22nd July 2022

  Thu 21 Jul 2022

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  Well, we have made it!  A complete academic year with no major lockdowns!   A big thank you from all the staff for your support over the challenges we have faced.  These have included the national shortage of teachers, various weather emergencies, and who can forget the pandemic itself.   Your kind words, patience and understanding has enabled us to not only survive the school year, but to have a very successful year of learning for our pupils. 

   

  From September the new Curriculum for Wales will be mandatory, but for us this means continuing with what we do best.  We are looking forward to our "Launch Day" on September 7th.  Please remember we have INSET days booked for September 5th and 6th.  

   

  I cannot express how excited we are for next year.  With all Covid restrictions removed. We are planning more trips, events and school visitors than ever.  As always we will keep you fully informed.

   

  Our residential trip to Llanmaddoc has been a great success, and this is something we are planning again for next year.  A big thank you to Miss Colwill and Miss Weatherly who have given up their summer evenings to make this happen for Pod PryCop. 

   

  As the restrictions are no longer needed, we do not need a "window" of  pick up.  As a result we ask all parents to collect their children by 3.30 every day from September.  Please see Pod pick up times below.

  Pod Pengwin  - 3.20 to 3.30

  Pod Pysgodyn - 3.20 - 3.30

  Pod PryCop - 3.25 - 3.30

  Please ensure your child is dropped off in school by 8.50 each morning ready for registration by 8.55. 

   

  We say our final farewell to Mrs Morgan, Mrs Howells, Miss Owen and Miss Thomas today - we wish them all luck in their new ventures.  Thank you to you all! 

   

  Please  have a wonderful Summer break, and we all look forward to seeing you in September. 

   

  Best Wishes 

  Mrs Caswell and All the Staff. 

   

   

• School Blog Friday 15th July 2022

  Wed 13 Jul 2022 D Caswell

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  Thank you to you all for an amazing Sports Day - we have had so much positive feedback that we think it is a formula we will keep.  We raised over £1000 and this will be used to resource the pupils learning environment eg "big construction".  We also raised £600 on the Gower Bike Ride Day.  Thank you to all the staff and parents who helped us sell 200 bacon rolls!  

   

  Community Market - We have had many discussions about how we can develop our links with businesses to expose our pupils to the world of work.  We have also been considering how we can provide a beneficial community service to our families.  As a result we are considering a monthly market during the times we have the marquee.  (ie Oct- March).  However, we need to assess the appetite for this.   Would you know of any local business who would like a stall? We are not going to charge, this is about the school being part of the community.  The market would run on a Thursday 1-4pm, and the pupils will advertise and promote whatever business book a space.   Please pass this message on to any "local" persons who may be interested.  eg Craft, Vegetables etc.  Contact the office for more information. 

   

  INSET Days - We have two INSET days for training on September 5th and 6th.  This means we will start the Autumn term with a "launch day" on September 7th.   We also have an INSET day on the last day of term December 23rd.  All term times are available here.  

   

  Summer Raffle Reminder Draw Monday 18th July  - Thank you for all the prizes.  We will be drawing the raffle on Monday, and will let all the winners know.  Good luck everyone!  We have made over £400 -Thank you. 

   

   

  Thank you for an amazing end of term!  One week to go! 

  Mrs Caswell 

   

   

• Summer Raffle Reminder

  Mon 11 Jul 2022 D Caswell

  Summer Raffle Reminder Draw Monday 18th July  - As always we are are running a termly raffle to raise money for pod resources.   Please sell as many as you can as every £1 helps us to provide our pupils with the little extras that make their life in Llanrhidian memorable.  We will be making up hampers from smaller donations and larger items will be stand alone prizes.  We are asking for donations of the following prizes.  If you know any local business who can help, please let them know that we will always "Tweet" a thank you.  We are collecting:-

  • Sweets, biscuits, chocolates, wine, summer toys etc for hampers
  • Bottles of champagne, liquor, spirits, vouchers,  etc for stand alone prizes

• School Blog Thursday 7th July 2022

  Wed 06 Jul 2022 D Caswell

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  We are all so excited for tomorrow's Sport's Day.  I do not feel we are exaggerating when we say that this is a momentous occasion for us all.  It has been 3 years since we have held a similar event, and we have high hopes that tomorrow will be an event that everyone will remember.  Just turn up, Put your picnic rug down and enjoy.  (More details below).  A huge thank you to Wipeout Creations for the kind sponsorship of medals.  These will be given to every pupil at the end of the races and  have a wonderful "jubilee" theme. 

   

  Please remember to visit our Jubilee Gardens tomorrow.  Thank you to the parent who have built the raised beds and helped us with top soil. The pupils have worked so hard to plant the flowers you have donated, so these gardens are the result of amazing collaboration and will remind us of this very special year. 

   

  Today we will be enjoying ice-cream from "Big Al" kindly paid for by Cllr Richard Lewis.  What a treat for us all.  Thank you so much. 

   

  As this term is rushing by we will be sadly saying farewell to four members of staff.  Mrs Morgan joined us in 2006 and has been a committed member of our team.  She has promoted and led children's rights and supported learning right across the school.  Although we will miss her, we are also celebrating her new job at Oystermouth Primary where she will be running the nursery as a HLTA.   We are also saying goodbye to Kath Howells, Caru Owen and Annabel Thomas who have been with us over the past year.  A big thank you to all these wonderful staff who have been invaluable over the challenges we have needed to face together.  

   

  We are currently finalising the pupils' Summer term written reports, and these will be emailed you by the end of next week.  Please ensure you have given us an up-to-date email.   

   

  Here are this weeks headlines:- 

   

  Important Arrangements for Sports Day Friday 8^th July 2 to 4pm:

  • Please let us know if you are not able to attend so we can supervise your child until the end of the school day. (Bus pupils will leave school normal time if parent not attending)
  • Parents/relatives that do attend will be expected to supervise their own children.
  • Nursery AM are invited back to the school for this event 
  • Gates will open at 1.45pm.  Bring a blanket and a picnic.
  • We will be selling Tea/Coffee and cold drinks for £1.   There will also be ice-cream on sale. (Please bring lots of £1 coins)
  • Raffle tickets will be available.
  • Younger pupils can use Pengwin toilets, older pupils and adults can use portaloos.
  • When pupils are not racing there will be other activities available (parents to supervise)

   

  Order of Events (Times will need to be flexible) 

  Opening Ceremony 2pm

  Races - Pili Pala and Pengwin

  Races  - Pysgodyn and PryCop

  Race - Parent Teacher

  Please stay and enjoy our field! 

   

  Summer Raffle Reminder - As always we are are running a termly raffle to raise money for pod resources.   Please sell as many as you can as every £1 helps us to provide our pupils with the little extras that make their life in Llanrhidian memorable.  We will be making up hampers from smaller donations and larger items will be stand alone prizes.  We are asking for donations of the following prizes.  If you know any local business who can help, please let them know that we will always "Tweet" a thank you.  We are collecting:-

  • Sweets, biscuits, chocolates, wine, summer toys etc for hampers
  • Bottles of champagne, liquor, spirits, vouchers,  etc for stand alone prizes

   

  Gower Cycling Festival Sunday July 10th (morning).  School Field - All welcome from 9.30 am.  -  We have been asked to be a "pit stop" again for this traditional event.  White Rock Events have already sponsored us a wonderful football kit and are also sourcing us some free portaloos for our sports day.     Thank you to those parents who have already offered to run the bacon butty BBQ and to help on the day.  We are expecting 600 cyclist to ride past the school so come along to cheer them on!  Hopefully lots will stop for breakfast.  We expect the first of the cyclists to arrive around 9.45 am. 

   

   

  Weekly Premises Plea -   This week we need:-

  • Decking planks (New floor for the Pengwin house)
  • We need bark chippings for our paths  - does anyone know any landscape gardeners or tree surgeons who could dump their chippings in our field? 
  • Good quality toys eg lego, cars, role play etc for Pengwins and Pili Pala
  • Artificial plants to soften our indoor environment 

   

  Have a fabulous weekend

  Mrs Caswell