Category: Kids
March and April Activities
Well, here we are at the start of the Summer Term already! The time really is going by so quickly.
Just before we broke up for Easter, the children in our Foundation Phase took part in an Easter Bonnet parade! The bonnets were, without exception, delightful! The parade took place in our school playground and was well supported by parents, grandparents, carers and friends. Our judges were Oliver Fulthorpe (Head Boy and Millie Jorna (Head Girl). Thanks go to all our families for such amazing efforts in making the bonnets and, of course, to our PFTA, who provided the prizes.
Thank you again to the PFTA who arranged an Easter egg hunt for all the children on the afternoon we broke up for Easter. This is always hugely enjoyed by the children.
Year 1 attended a multi skills festival at Barry Leisure Centre, enjoying taking part in activities such a karate and tennis. They were very well behaved and a real credit to school.
Year 1 also led worship towards the end of term– speaking and singing beautifully. Very well done, Year 1!
The children all took part in the Sport Relief Mile; this was a great success, with circuits of the playground mounting up magnificently!
We were delighted to have been invited to the Memorial Hall, Barry, to showcase the work the children in Year 2 have been undertaking in their Creative Writing. The children have been working with our hugely talented, Mrs Michelle Briscombe: Mrs Briscombe is a published author and has been developing the skill of story writing in the Foundation Phase. Miss Starke and Mrs Briscombe presented this to a wide audience of school leaders from across the Vale of Glamorgan.
We are engaging in a partnership with Cardiff Metropolitan University; this saw us welcome 13 student teachers for a day in March; the students were investigating what effective teaching learning looks like in practice. The trainee teachers visited all classes as part of their observations; thanks really must go to all the teaching and support staff and to the pupils, who created such a good impression. Feedback received was very positive indeed. Later this week, we will be welcoming the students again, when we will be facilitating opportunities for them to learn about cross- curricular learning.
We are looking forward to the warmer weather and with that, the lovely opportunity to play on our school field. We really do count ourselves blessed to have such a wonderful and stimulating environment.
London Visit
Gwenfo Pupils visit to Westminster Abbey and 10 Downing Street.
Eight lucky Y6 pupils accompanied by Miss Starke (Acting Headteacher) and Mrs Gordon (Acting Assistant Head Teacher) travelled to London on Monday 12th March to attend the inaugural Big Commonwealth Lunch held at 10 Downing Street. Unfortunately, the Prime Minster was called away to the House of Commons, but we met Damian Hinds MP and Ainsley Harriot the infamous TV chef who helped us learn about how sharing food with each other can help build communities. After a delicious lunch we walked down the famous spiral staircase and left via the black door (opened from inside by a Police Officer!) We walked through the rain to Westminster Abbey where we spotted lots of famous faces entering the Abbey. We enjoyed seeing the Royal family arrive and stood to welcome Her Majesty the Queen with a trumpet fanfare. We enjoyed the service, the beautiful singing of the choristers and just sitting in such a magnificent building. We listened to the Commonwealth message of looking towards a common future and loved listening to Maori singers, Gospel singers and even Liam Payne from Direction. We also enjoyed spotting iconic London landmarks such as the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye and red London buses!
If you would like to hold your own community big lunch please pop in for details or go to www.commonwealthbiglunches.com for more information.
February Playgroup News
I recently attended a meeting with regard to the Governments 30-hour Childcare offer which they propose to roll out across Wales by 2020.
It will be offered for 48 weeks of the year for all children the term after their 3rd Birthday until the September after their 4th Birthday (Nursery age).
To be eligible, both parents in the household need to work a minimum of 16 hours per week at the National Minimum Wage (NMW). If you are a single parent family the 16-hour rule applies at the NMW.
The 30 hours will be split between education and childcare provider e.g. 15 at Nursery and 15 with a Childcare Provider.
Although Nursery School offer term time only which is 39 weeks per year, we have been advised that the extra 9 weeks at 30 hours can be claimed with a childcare provider.
This is very exciting news for Playgroup with the wraparound that we provide alongside Gwenfo Nursery. We can now start to plan a way forward and gather information to support the Community with their Childcare needs to be ready in time for 2020.
We will keep you up-to-date with the latest information as and when we receive it.
Playgroup numbers are continuing to rise, with the wrap around care facility most popular.
Children may be left in our care from 9am with their packed lunch from home and walked across to Gwenfo Nursery for 1pm for £16 each morning Monday to Friday.
We pick up everyday from Gwenfo Nursery at 11:20 and on into Playgroup until 12:45pm for a cost of £8 per child. On a Wednesday, children may be collected from Nursery and stay with us until 3:15pm for a cost of £16 per child. A packed lunch is provided from home to eat at 12 noon.
We care for children from the age of 2 years and 4 months and support their care and development until reception age. If you would like more information on any of the above then please email me wenvoeplaygroup@btinternet.com or telephone 20597494 between 9 and 12 noon Monday to Friday.
Sandra
Half Term Report
Well, the past half term has passed by in a flash!
The children have engaged in various activities; some have been playing African drums with specialist teacher, Mr Rees. Pupils in Lower Key Stage 2 have thoroughly enjoyed taking part in a Creative Schools project and have been learning how to screen print; the finished results are truly beautiful. Pupils are also benefiting greatly from learning how to create computer code.
Years 3 and 5 have both led worship this past half term. Parents are welcomed into school to join with their child’s class worship and are invited to stay for a coffee and biscuits afterwards; this is always a special time. Well done to the children and thank you also their class teachers for their very hard work in the planning and facilitation of the class assemblies.
The week before breaking up was Arts Week; the children have been very busy in their preparations for Saint David’s Day, including art work and story writing. They will, no doubt, also be enjoying being creative over half term, making items for the home entries. All entries receive House Points. We have four Houses in school, named after local farms: Ballas; Greaves; Whitehall; Wrinstone. On entry into school, pupils are placed in one of these Houses. House Points are also earned throughout the year, with the winning House presented with an engraved trophy, on an annual basis.
We are looking forward to next half term, with Saint David’s Day celebrations and also the run up to Easter, which is always a very special time in school.
District Cub Badge Day
WENVOE CUBS SWIM SQUAD
CONGRATULATIONS TO 1ST
WENVOE SWIM SQUAD
Five beavers and cubs took part in the Cardiff & Vale of Glamorgan scout swimming gala in February. they all took part in this big event for the first time, overcame their nerves and swam brilliantly. Four of the team are through to the finals in March!
GOOD LUCK 1ST WENVOE
