Ysgol Gymunedol Casblaidd Wolfscastle Community Primary School Annual Report to Parents 2015 (September 2014-June 2015) No. of children on roll: 38 FTE Attendance: 94.53% Spring 2010 97.55% Autumn 2009 97.73% Summer 2009 No unauthorised absences. Teaching Staff: Mrs. W. Raymond Miss. B. Lewis Mrs. S. Griffiths Head Teacher- K.S.2/Additional Learning Needs Co-ordinator Foundation Phase 0.3 Non-Teaching Staff: Mrs. E. Beynon Mrs. G. Morgan Mrs C. Rowe Mrs. M. Peakman Mrs H Battin Mrs C Rowe Mrs G. Davies Mrs E Parry Mrs S. Hedley Administrative Support Learning Support Assistant Learning Support Assistant Learning Support Assistant Caretaker/ Dining Room Assistant/Meals & Milk Clerical Lunch time Supervisor Breakfast Club Assistant Breakfast Club Supervisor Breakfast Club Supervisor Peripatetic Staff: Mr. C. Gillatt Mrs. P. Roberts Mrs. M Barrett Mr. J. Roach Mrs. M. O’Toole Miss. A. John Mr. S Davies Woodwind Teacher and School Orchestra Strings Teacher Percussion Teacher and Keyboard Guitar Harp Physical Education After School Sports Club Regular volunteers at the school: Mrs J. Hughes Reading Mrs. P. Griffiths Reading Mrs. G. Williams Reading Mrs. M. Barker Reading Mr. B. Harries Reading Members of Wolfscastle in Bloom, gardening Mr T Rodgers, Mr J Thorne Carpentry Courses and Meetings: Additional Learning Needs, Welsh Literacy Skills, Child Protection, Healthy Schools, Family of Schools, Elklan, Dyslexia, Accelerated Literacy, Foundation Phase, Numicon, Self-Assessment, Speech & Language difficulties, Information technology, Moderation, Shakespeare in Schools, Behaviour, Emotion and Wellbeing, Numeracy, Literacy & Numeracy Framework, School Effectiveness Grant, Being ready for an Estyn Inspection, Professional Learning Communities, Early Identification and Intervention, Visits: Castell Henllys- The Celts Crucial Crew-Pavillion Haverfordwest Llangrannog-Urdd weekend Jambori KS2-Bro Gwaun School Council Conference-Picton castle Urdd Football – Bloomfield, Narberth Urdd Netball-Bro Gwaun Urdd Carols-Abergwaun Torch Theatre- Christmas Goose Withybush Hospital-Annual Carol Singing County Hall-British Citizenship Ceremony Bro Gwaun- Moderation of core subjects Area Eisteddfod – Fishguard Urdd Jambori – Infants Letterston Valero Music Festival Building The Health and Safety committee meet termly to approve the updates made to the policy and practice of the school. Curriculum Key Stage 2. Foundation Phase Literacy. Numeracy. Health Promoting. Sustainable Schools. School Self Review During the Autumn term the whole school which included pupils, parents governors and staff contributed to the school’s self review. The outcome of questionnaires and discussions fed into grading the school according to Estyn’s 7 key questions. The inspection report concluded that the school had matched the school’s grading in 5 of the 7 areas. The targets raised from the Self – Review Document will now be fed into the school’s Development Plan and into staff Performance Management Targets. Performance Management: A review of the staff Performance Management targets was held with moderator, Mrs. Gwen Jones during the Autumn term. Teaching staff targets have been updated. Performance Management for Learning Support Assistants has begun. Admissions: The current admissions policy has been developed by the County. All admissions to the school currently have to be submitted via the Admissions Officer at County Hall, who then informs the school. Deadlines for applications are in place to allow schools to plan staffing up to a year in advance. Funds received from: Wolfscastle Festival Committee: £1300 Welsh Amateur Music; £260 GTCW:£215 Siop y Blaidd: £246.04 Donations from: Parents and Friends – Lease of Photocopier, Christmas Gifts, Leavers Gifts, Concreting Outdoor area Donations- Gardening Tools- Really Wild Farm Shop. Digital Photo frame & MP3 Player- LNG. Mr & Mrs J Thorne- Bird box. Resources Purchased. Curtains - £50.00 Canopy - £99.00 Carpets - £950.00 French Doors- £1936 Reading Books – £267.58 ICT Resources- £101.75 Numicon- £70.00 Garden resources- £166.39 Polydron £199.00 Matters of Interest: Summer 2014 Wales in Bloom 2014 Pupils were present for the school visit by the Wales in Bloom judge Mr John Woods. He was given a detailed narrative of the school's activities during the year which included the community recycling project to collect plastic bottles in order to make 2 growing frames, our Pembrokeshire potatoes project where he had the opportunity to taste our freshly picked and boiled new potatoes, the school sustainable scarecrow, the painted storage shed depicting the 4 "R's" of the area, various other recycling schemes such as ink cartridges, mobile phones and clothing and planting flowers and vegetables and the sustainable ways we collect water and look after the plants. The whole school community were delighted to hear the success of the village once again in the competition and the major role the school played in achieving the success. Leavers Assembly This summer we said goodbye to 7 of our pupils which included four families who have been a part of Ysgol Casblaidd for many, many years and whose support will be sorely missed. Elen, Iago, Rhys, Ceinwen and Ioan were moving on to Ysgol Bro Gwaun. Harry to Sir Thomas Picton and Cian to Castle School. During the service the year 5 pupils gave a presentation onthings to remember when moving on and pupils performed on guitars, percussion and in the school orchestra. Iago, Elen na Rhys were jount winners of the Jon and Dan Roche Music trophy, 7 pupils from year 1 to year 6 acheived 100% attendance for the school year, Dewi and Morgan were the Ser y Ser. The winner of the Endeavour Award was Ioan Parry for his outstanding endeavour in his education and for his contribution to the life of Ysgol Casblaidd. The leaving pupils were presented with gifts on behalf of the Parents & Friends by Mrs Sarah Miles Vice Chair of the committee. During the service a presentation was also made to Mrs Nia Phillips and our good wishes were extended to her for her new post at Ysgol Glannau Gwaun in September. After the service everyone present enjoyed a buffet lunch provided by the parents and staff. Autumn 2015 School Captains At the beginning of the new school year pupils chose their school captains. Congratulations to Nia Bateman on being voted in as school captain, to Domi and Ifan who are the Anghof team captains, to Cerys and Rebecca who are the Cleddau team captains and to Alonwy and Seren who are the School Council chairs. Sponsored Walk Pupils, staff parents & friends of the school enjoyed an afternoon at Scolton Manor organised by the Parents & Friends committee. The pupils raised funds for the school by collecting sponsor money. Diwrnod Shwmae Our newly formed welsh committee called Cegau Coch Casblaidd organisedsome activities to mark the Diwrnod Shwmae and to promote the Welsh language not only amongst their peers but also with parents, staff and visitors to the school. The committee organised for every child to have their mouths painted bright red and to produce a “Shwmae” banner so that every on who visited or attended the school on that day could sign the banner with a welsh word, phrase or sentence, The banner which has quotes from governors, granddads. Aunties and delivery men is now on display in the school corridor. This years service on the theme colour took place in St Dogwells church. The pupils took charge of most of the content as they prepared and presented plays, songs, informative narrative, prayers and a dance on the colours of the Rainbow. It was wonderful to see all our pupils from 3 to 11 years old take part. The School Council made and distributed pink flowers to raise money for Breast Cancer and also collected tins and dried foodstuffs for the local charity PATCH. Shakespeare in Schools Festival The Junior pupils performed Shakeapeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at Theatr Mwldan in Cardigan to an audience of parents, friends, governors and staff of the school. The performance was a resounding success with every pupil giving of their best and enjoying a most wonderful experience. Annual Remembrance service After weeks of hard work from staff, pupils and parent Mrs Craig the mosaic to commemorate 100 years since the Great War was unveiled by villager Mr. Alwyn George in our annual community memorial service. The pupils sang “Can y Cofio" before laying wreaths and personal messages of thanks to all who had given their lives so bravely. Pupils, staff, Governors, parents and friends of the school joined invited dignitaries for this special event which was broadcast on "Radio Cymru" and filmed by S4C for "Heno" and "Prynhawn Da." Student Voice Conference Seren Thorne and Alonwy Roberts represented the school in the Student Voice conference at Picton Castle for School Council members. During the conference the girls learned about and discussed The Rights of the Child and had the opportunity to share their experiences of School Council with other schools. On returning from the conference the girls produced a presentation for a whole school assembly and displayed important messages about a child's rights throughput the school corridors. Urdd Football tournament Pupils from Years 3-5 represented the school in the Urdd 5 a side football tournament at Bloomfield in Narberth. The team played exceptionally well with many excellent goals being scored. Urdd Carol Service All pupils together with staff, parents and some governors of the school enjoyed the annual Christmas carol service at Hermon in Fishguard. Entertaining Wolfscastle W.I The whole school was again invited to entertain the W.I at their pre-Christmas meeting by their president Mrs Greta Homewood. The Junior pupils gave a presentation of the story from the Great World War of "The Christmas Truce." The Foundation Phase class gave a brief part of their Nativity story. The whole school sang some Christmas song before enjoying refreshments. School Council Evaluation Visit Mrs Kathy Young Powell from Pembrokeshire County Council carried out an Evaluation visit on the role of the School Council at Ysgol Casblaidd. Mrs Raymond and Rev Martin Spain (Governor responsible for Pupils Voice) were interviewed on the work of the Council before Mrs Young Powell sat in on a Council meeting and held interviews with members of the School Council and other pupils in the school. The report was highly complementary to the School Council and its place in the school. Christmas Concert The School pupils joined with Cantorion Ty Ddewi to perform a Christmas Concert at Pen y Bont chapel. The concert was very well supported by the community. Entertaining "Dysgwyr Sir Benfro" Menter Iaith invited the pupils to entertain at their annual Christmas dinner for Welsh Learners which was this year held at Allt yr Afon. The pupils delighted the diners with Christmas carols and songs all through the medium of Welsh. School Christmas lunch Pupils, staff and regular volunteers to the school enjoyed a traditional Christmas dinner at School. Everyone wore their Christmas jumper to raise money for Save the Children. Torch Theatre Visit & Christmas Party The Parents & Friends kindly funded a bus to take all pupils and staff to the Torch theatre for a Christmas pantomime. On returning everyone enjoyed the Christmas party and a visit from Sion Corn who had gifts for all. Carol Singing at Bro Cerwyn and Withybush Hospital The annual Carol singing was an excellent day in the community with staff, patients and relatives giving the school a very warm welcome. Our Chair of Governors Rev Eynon, led us around most of the hospital wards to entertain before we finished the day singing in the hospital foyer where we collected an amazing £80 in about 20 minutes. The bus to the hospital was funded by Fishguard Round Table. Spring 2015 Cwis Llyfrau 4 teams of pupils in years 3-6 took part in the first round of the welsh Cwis Llyfrau. Mrs Penfold congratulated all pupils on their knowledge of the book and their ability to discuss the book as teams. 2 of the teams will now go on to represent the school in the next round at the end of this term having read another set of books. Entertaining the "Over 60's" The whole school enjoyed entertaining the Over 60’s at Allt yr Afon with a variety of songs. School of the Week 10 pupils from year 1 to 6 represented the school on Radio Pembrokeshire's School of the Week. The pupils talked about school activities including some of the work they were doing in class at the time. The standard of speaking was excellent. February 2015 National Story Telling Week To celebrate story telling week pupils, parents and staff were invited to bring in their favourite story book. During assembly these books were shared and discussed with a selection of stories being read out every day. A display of story books and photographs was place in the school reception area. Wales in Bloom Mrs Raymond represented the school in a meeting with representatives of the Wales in Bloom committee. The school will host the launch of the 2015 Wales in Bloom competition on March 27 th 2015. Dydd Gwyl Dewi All pupils made a special effort to look their best in traditional welsh costumes and Wales rugby shirts to celebrate St David's Day. The morning was spent with various activities about Dewi Sant. Parents, friends and governors of the school joined us in the afternoon for a short concert where the pupils sang songs about Dewi Sant and performed the items we are preparing for this year's Urdd Eisteddfod. During the concert Alonwy Roberts was presented with the Rev Rodger White Harp for the best Welsh literary work in Years 5 and 6. All the literary and handwriting entries were judged by community stalwart Mr Brian Jones. Nia and Morgan Bateman won prizes for gaining the most points in the homework competitions and Rebecca Hall, Ifan and Ianto Evans and Lois and Lowri Morris won prizes for being the best dressed pupils for the day. Governor Rev Eynon presented the winning team captains of Anghof house with the Gwyl Dewi Sant cup for gaining the most points on the day. After the concert everyone enjoyed welsh cakes and tea which raised £67.60 for the Bopath charity. Gardening Day Members of the community, governors, staff, parents and friends enjoyed a day working in the school garden and reweaving the willow maze. We were delighted to welcome members from Fishguard Y.F.C who came to help us by weaving willow fences for the Foundation Phase garden. Refreshments for the workers were provided by the Parents & Friends committee. British Citizenship Ceremony Pupils from years 1, 2 and 4 represented the school at the St David's Day British Citizenship ceremony at County Hall. All the pupils wore traditional Welsh costumes and entertained the new citizens, their families and councillors to 3 songs. The ceremony concluded with the National Anthems. Urdd Cylch Eisteddfod Successes We have had a very exciting and successful day at Fishguard in the Cylch Eisteddfod. We acheived:2nd place with the Parti Unsain singing party. Iolo Evans was 1st in the reciting years 3 & 4 and took 1st place in the solo competition for the same age group. Gwenna Maycock acheived 2nd place in the solo for years 3 & 4 and Ianto Evans acheived 3rd place in the reciting for pupils in year 2 or under. Valero Music Festival Congratulations to Iolo & Morgan Bateman who represented the school in the percussion competition at this year’s Valero Music festival. The boys were then joined by Alonwy Roberts, Seren Thorne, Nia Bateman, Rebecca Hall, Domi Clee and Gwenna as they represented the school in the Bro Jemeima orchestra during the afternoon concert. Wales in Bloom 2015 competition launch The school was proud to be the hosts for the Wales in Bloom launch which we incorporated into our annual Easter afternoon. Both activities were a resounding success for the school and the community. We were delighted to welcome so many people from all over Wales including the Secretary of State for Wales, the High Sheriff and Radio Cymru. The children performed musical items and were delighted to be presented with a wooden gazebo for the school garden from the Festival committee. Urdd County Eisteddfod Success We achieved excellent results in the County Urdd Art and craft competition this year again with 11, 1st places, 6, 2nd places and 9, 3rd places. This is a wonderful achievement for such a small school. All 1st places represented the County in the national round of the competition. Congratulations to Iolo Evans who took first place in the solo and third place in the recitation for pupils in years 3 & 4 at the County round of the Urdd Eisteddfod. Iolo will represent Pembrokeshire in the National Eisteddfod at Caerphilly during the May half term. Congratulations to Gwenna Maycock who gained 3rd prize in the County Literary Eisteddfod for her story “Storm” Gwenna’s story has been published in the County’s winners book a copy has been presented to the school. Summer 2015 Pupils in Years 5 & 6 enjoyed a residential trip to the Urdd centre at Llangrannog during the first week back in school after the Easter break. It was a pleasure to take the group, their behaviour, manners and enthusiasm was excellent and noted by the Urdd staff as well as the staff from other schools. Community Links - Dog Wardens After a visit from the dog wardens the pupils have designed posters to alert all dog owners as to the effects of dog fouling in our community. The designs will be turned into plastic colourful signs and during June will be displayed around the village. Urdd National Successes At the Urdd National Art & Craft Eistedfod Ysgol Casblaidd gained its best ever successes at National level. Congratulations to Gwenna Maycock who achieved a first and second place for her art work, to Nia Bateman who achieved first place with her photography and to the Year 3 & 4 ( Dewi, Ffion, Morgan & Gwenna ) and Year 5 & 6 (Ifan R, Cerys, Domi & Alonwy ) puppet makers who both achieved third places for their groups of puppets. Gwenna and Nia's first prize entries were on display at the National Eisteddfod in Caerphilly during the half term break. Congratulations also to Megan Miles, who gained a third prize for her poem “Y Ddraig” in the National Urdd Eisteddfod poem competition for pupils in a year 2 and under. School Fund: The Treasurer’s account is held at Lloyds/T.S.B. and is managed under the guidance given by the County Treasurer. An audit of the school fund is carried out annually. Balance at 10th June 2010 £4780.28 We remain very grateful to all who help the school in a variety of ways and who continue to support us each year, helping to keep your children very well resourced. Wolfscastle Additional Learning Needs Policy A copy of the school SEN policy, which is reviewed regularly, is available at the school. All pupils work is assessed and monitored constantly, children on the special needs register fall into the following categories: School Action: This is the stage when children receive individual support and have their own Individual Educational Plans which set specific targets and are reviewed at pre-arranged times. School Action Plus: This stage might include the support of outside agencies such as a Speech Therapist or an Educational Psychologist. The register of pupils with Special Needs fluctuates constantly as sometimes only short-term intervention is required. This year again extra resources have been used from school reserves to ensure all children’s needs are met. Anyone wishing to discuss their child’s progress is always welcome to do so either with myself as the Special Educational Needs Coordinator or the class teacher. PARENTS & FRIENDS OF YSGOL CASBLAIDD The aim of the group is to raise funds for the benefit of the school to supplement the budget allocated by the education authority. On an annual basis they fund the school’s photocopier and insurance premium and also provide funds for Christmas gifts and gifts for the pupils who are leaving the school. The cost for these items alone is in the region of £1,000 per annum. Educational items are also purchased from time to time following specific requests from the Head teacher. The Parents & Friends also sometimes meet the cost of transport for excursions. Funds have been raised in a number of ways this year – Bag to School, raffles, Strawberry Tea and by the weekly “bonusball” draw. In addition to financial help, support is also provided with gardening and in decorating and providing furnishings. W D Raymond