Category: Gwenfo Primary School

 

Well, what a busy and fun packed term this has been! It hardly seems any time since we came back in September to begin the new school year!

Our pupils really did themselves and us proud during their recent school concerts! Key Stage 2 pupils put on a wonderful performance of "Scrooge", with Oliver Brownhill Jenkins playing the role beautifully. The singing was glorious and the acting first class. Our Foundation Phase pupils acted out the Nativity play, "A Little Bird Told Me". Both the choir and Nursery children put in special performances, which were very well received indeed. Thanks really must go to: all the parents and carers, for providing such fantastic costumes; to the PTFA, who worked tirelessly to organise the raffles; to all the staff for working with the children to produce such super performances; to Mrs Sian Jones for her hard work and commitment to working with our school choirs; finally, to our pupils for working so hard and making us all so proud.

Next week, the entire school are visiting the Sherman Theatre to see The Wind In The Willows. We are all very excited and this is the first time we have gone to the theatre as a whole school! As it is a matinee performance, it means we come home in the dark, which makes it extra special and magical!

We also have a Christingle service for Foundation Phase children next week. This is always very special and thanks really must go to Mrs Claire James for her hard work in leading and organising the service.

Next week is also party week. Father Christmas visits our younger children and our Junior pupils are wonderfully entertained by Mr Bradley, with a disco and games.

We really would like to say a special thank you to our amazing PTFA, who work tirelessly to raise funds for school – it is so much appreciated and makes such a huge difference.

We would like to wish you all a very happy Christmas and all good wishes for 2018!

 

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Our new children are well and truly settled now and we can’t believe that we are fast approaching half term! Before we know it, we will be well into the swing of practising for Christmas concerts!

School is looking absolutely lovely, with bright and stimulating displays all around. We feel so fortunate to work and learn in such a beautiful environment.

We have enjoyed some fun activities in the past few weeks: to mark Mental Health Day, staff and children alike dressed in yellow and £187 was raised for the charity Young Minds. A big thank you to all!

All children received sport taster sessions from the out of school club, Superstars and a wonderful time was had by all!

Our PFTA works tirelessly to raise funds for the children; they have a number of fun activities planned, including cinema nights for Infant and Junior aged children. The children benefit enormously from funds raised. We really can’t thank them enough for their hard work, dedication and commitment.

Best wishes from the Gwenfo Team!

 

 

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It has hard to believe that we have already been back in school for 3 weeks!

Our new children are settling in beautifully into Nursery and Reception and we have also welcomed new families into our school community.

We were very pleased indeed with our ESTYN and Church School reports and the way in which the hard work, dedication and commitment of all stakeholders was recognised; the ethos of our school and the care and nurture provided to our pupils was recognised as being excellent.

We are looking forward to another school year, with lots of fun and exciting times ahead.

 

 

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Well, here we are, almost at the end of this academic year and what a fantastic year it has been!

Our Year 6 pupils led a super Leavers Assembly last Friday, sharing their memories of their time in Gwenfo. They were each presented with a memory stick containing photographs of their Gwenfo School life. Following their assembly, they then headed off to Porthkerry Park for a barbecue.

Years 1 and 2 have a planned trip to Margam Park – this is always a firm favourite, with all enjoying a ride on the land train, a visit to the play park and adventures in Fairy Tale Land. Years 3 and 4 also had a wonderful time in Cosmeston Park.

Our Nursery children led an assembly for their families and friends; this was such a wonderful occasion. It is hard to believe that our Nursery has been open for a year and that the older children will be moving up to the Reception class in September.

All the children will be running a Gwenfo Race For life this week; this is always a fun activity whilst raising money for Cancer Research UK.

Our Netball team have enjoyed wonderful successes in a tournament in Kent and also at home in the Irene Butcher Memorial Tournament. A massive well done to you all and also a big thank you to Mrs Plevey and Mrs Eltringham for all their hard work and dedication in running the netball team.

We wish you all a relaxing summer – with lots of lovely sunshine and happy memories!

 

 

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We are all enjoying this glorious weather here in school. It is always so lovely when the children are able to play on the field in their break times. We really are very fortunate to have such beautiful school grounds and surroundings.

We have been operating a scheme known as 'Family Dining'; this is when parents join their children for school dinner. Our cooks, Sian and Mandy, really do cook the most delicious dinners! It is incredibly enjoyable for the children to be joined by their parents for lunch.

The children are all busy practising for Sports Day next week…we are keeping our fingers crossed for this glorious weather to continue!

We can't believe that we are now in the final half term and how quickly this school year is going! We are looking forward to the last few weeks with lots of fun activities planned.

 

 

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It is hard to believe that we are coming towards the end of another half term……and that when we return to school, we will be in the final half term of the school year! Time does literally fly when you are having fun!

This morning, we held a hugely successful open morning; we were delighted to welcome so many parents, grandparents and friends to school. Our children were absolutely amazing, as always! It was lovely to be show our visitors the new nursery class and Year 1 classroom. We also celebrated Gwenfo Book Day today – this is our variation of World Book day which was earlier in the year – and the children enjoyed dressing up as their favourite book characters. Thank you to all our parents and carers for providing such wonderful costumes and for helping to make the day so special and memorable. A very special highlight of the day was the opening of the Infant Writing Shed; it was officially opened by our very own published author, Mrs Briscombe and was such a lovely celebration of the joy of writing, imagination and creativity.

Some of the children on the Communication Group have put together an overview of their learning and the activities they have been involved in.

Luey Maunder – Year 3. We really enjoyed visiting Cardiff Airport with Year 4.

In our class, we have been learning about thrust, weight, lift and drag – it has been good fun.

Mali Robinson – Year 4. Years 3 and 4 went on a school trip to Cardiff Airport; we went in little groups.

First, my group went to watch planes taking off and landing. Next we went into a building called Aeros. Where we met a man named Benjamin. He talked to us about the planes and then we went in a real training plane which was awesome

Rhys Hill and Milly Jorna – Year 5. On April 5th, Year 5 went on a residential trip to Tregoyd House. We did all sorts of fun activities, such as problem solving, zip wiring and abseiling.

On May 18th, we had a Book Day and we dressed up as many characters, such as Gareth Bale and Mary Poppins.

As part of our topic work, we enjoyed making George’s Marvellous Medicine using Evan’s Equipment.

 

 

As always, school life is so busy and enjoyable.

St David’s Day was a wonderful celebration for us – the children looked fantastic in their Welsh national costumes, with a mixture of Welsh shirts and traditional dress. All pupils entered various competitions, including story writing and art. There was also a home competition to decorate a wooden spoon – there really were many wonderful and indeed, innovative entries- a massive well done and thank you to all the entrants. Our Bard was Georgia Iles – Georgia wrote a wonderful poem about The Blitz; congratulations, Georgia.

Children in Foundation Phase were also treated to a visit by Braces bakery, who demonstrated how Welsh cakes are made. Our infant pupils were all given a packet of Welsh cakes to take home – they were truly delicious!

Reception children are presently enjoying a series of African Drumming sessions; previously this term, Years 1 and 2 have also enjoyed learning to play the African drums.

Vicar Jon led us in school Eucharist and Year 5 pupils also visited St Mary’s Church for the Eucharist Service. Vicar Jon visits school every Wednesday and leads us in worship – the children (and staff) thoroughly enjoy his assemblies and hearing about Goldie’s (the puppet’s) adventures!

We are looking forward to another busy few weeks, with Easter fast approaching!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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There is a change to the usual writing of our school “Wenvoe What’s On” entry. Key Stage 2 pupils are in ‘Pupil Voice’ groups and the Communication Group have put their class news together.

Year 6 News has been compiled by Abbie Ringham and Lowri James.

This January, Year 6 have been learning about the Blitz and we have completed a lot of work about it. We went on an Evacuee Walk and Abbie’s nan (in Year 5) came in to tell us about her childhood memories of World War 2. We also went on a trip to Cardiff Museum with Year 5.

Year 5 News has been compiled Milly Jorna and Rhys Hill.

This term in Year 5 we have been learning about WW11. The Blitz and Anne Frank. We have been on a trip to Cardiff Story Museum. We also had an evacuee day where we dressed up and did activities. We went to St Mary’s Church and were put into groups to be ‘evacuated’. We did a class assembly about courage and Anne Frank, where some people readout prayers they had written. Later in the topic, Abbie’s nan came in to talk to us about her family being in WW11. We have now got a quiz for you:

Q1. Who was the Prime Minister at the start of World War 11?

Q2. Who were the 3 major countries who were axis powers?

Q3. In what Years did WW11 start and finish?

Q4. How did Adolf Hitler die?

The answers are below:

Year 4 News has been complied by Mali Robinson.

My name is Mali Robinson and I love reading and writing.

Mali has complied a quiz about their topic, Blood, Bones and Gory Bits!

Q1. How many bones do you have?

Q2. How big is a child’s heart?

Q3. How long is your oesophagus?

Q4. How many miles of blood vessels are in your brain?

The answers are below:

Year 3’s entry has been complied by Rosie Corcoran

On Saturday February 11th, Gwenfo Primary had a huge clean up, ready for Spring. Lots of pupils, teachers and carers came along to help. My mum and I cleared the leaves and weeded the Faith Garden. We then filled it with soil ready for the new plants. It was lovely that so many people came to help even though it was snowing! My favourite part of the day was Sian’s yummy bacon and sausage rolls!!! School is now ready for Spring.

Foundation Phase pupils have enjoyed learning about the orchestra and had a wonderful trip to St David’s Hall where they went to see an Orchestra Adventure. Ryan’s nan also came into Year 1 to talk to us about her cello. Years 1 and 2 have also enjoyed African drumming every Tuesday and have become quite accomplished!

Reception children enjoyed a pyjama party and fun was had by all!

 

THE GREAT GWENFÔ LEND A HAND

Many thanks to all the friends, families and staff who got together at Gwenfô school on Saturday 11th February. There was a huge list of jobs from weeding and painting to building flat pack furniture. Over 50 people came to help and it was such a joy to see members of the community lending a hand. We plan another session later in the summer so if you think you could lend a hand please watch out for our next date in the newsletter!

Nicola Starke (Acting Head)

 

 

NURSERY ADMISSIONS

Nursery Admissions are open. Please see the Vale of Glamorgan website for nursery admission forms. Our lovely new nursery has spaces for pupils the term after their third birthday. We are delighted to be able to work with Wenvoe Playgroup to provide wraparound care. Please pop in for a visit. We'd love to welcome you into our school.

Nicola Starke (Acting Head)

Gwenfô Church in Wales Primary School

 

AND THE ANSWERS TO THE QUIZ

Year 4

1. 206
2. The same size as your fist.
3. 25cm
4. 100,000

Year 5

1. Neville Chamberlain
2. Germany, Japan and Italy
3. 1939 – 1945
4. Committed suicide

 

 

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We would like to wish you all a Happy New Year!

The children have settled back to school really well and we have a very busy and exciting term ahead of us, including Welsh Week and Arts Week.

Year 6 visited Cardiff Museum to learn more about their Blitz topic. They thoroughly enjoyed the day and learn lot – as evidence by the photograph on Twitter. They were a real credit to our school. Still on the topic of The Blitz, Years 5 and 5 are having an Evacuee Day next week!

 

Reception had a wonderful trip to Techniquest and enjoyed a presentation in the planetarium. As with Year 6, they were a credit to the school- well done, Reception!

Other classes have trips to come up, including Year 1 and 2 who will be visiting St David’s Hall for their topic on The Orchestra and Year 3 and 4 who will be visiting Techniquest.

 

We have had some super new equipment delivered for our Foundation Phase outdoor area and are eagerly awaiting our new Infant Writer Shed!

It will be half term before we know it!.

 

 

 

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