Contact Details
- 01792 232754
- bishopstonprimaryschool@bishopston-pri.swansea.sch.uk
Bishopston Road, Bishopston, Swansea, SA3 3EN
Friday Messages
13th December
Next week
Thursday 19th – Choir singing in the community. They will leave school at around 9.15am, go dowo to Pile corner and sing some carols etc. They’ll then be back in school by 10.45am. In the afternoon we will be taking the choir to a local care home for some singing too.
Christmas shows
Wow what a fantastic performance by our Sea and Land phase children – they did so well. We hope you all enjoyed too.
Just a friendly reminder that school gates will be locked during school hours for safeguarding reasons. The main driveway and parallel footpath are open for people coming to watch Christmas shows; please pass this info onto family members if they are attending. The PTA hamper raffles have gone exceptionally well, so thank you to all those that have showed their support so far. Be it sending in an item, or buying a ticket, we couldn't raise money without our supporters. In just 3 shows we have raised just over £450.
Plant Plea
If anyone has any spare plants (or even cuttings in small pots), the school would love to have them. Artificial, real, trailing, large plants, pots, carriers, you name it - we could use them. It would be lovely if each class could have some greenery.
Painting Plea
We want to get some decorating done in the school. If you know of someone good that works locally, let us know and we’ll get onto them for a quote.
6th December
Next week
Monday 9th - Flu nasal spray for anyone who missed the last session – Please give your consent ASAP via the link: https://forms.office.com/e/zV0bjq9QNm Full info was sent out via iPay (06/12/24 at 11:03).
Christmas Shows
Please scroll down to last week’s messages to see all the details of the Christmas shows.
Homework
Homework won’t be sent home on the last week of term.
Snacks
Please don’t send children to school with chocolate bars. We do not allow that in school. If you want to send them with a snack it must be a healthy one.
PTA
Huge thanks to everyone who supported the PTA’s recent events. Even in such dire weather, the lantern parade was a great night and in total, the PTA made the following profit: Lantern Parade & Christmas market £737, Golden raffle £925. A big thank you to the local businesses below for providing such great raffle prizes! Cadog Homecare Ltd, Eden Days, Surfside Cafe, Gower Coast Holiday Homes, Beauty Box, Bay Fitness, Gower Inn, The Plough and Harrow, South Gower RFC, Belvoir Estate, The Joiners Pub, The New Gower, Hotel, Worms Head Restaurant, Hot Dog surf shop, Shepherds, Copper Boat, Bishopston Gym, Clyne Farm Centre, Gower Heritage Centre, On the Rocks, Flow Yoga Wales, The Valley Pub, Jenkins Brothers Garage, Beaufort Arms.
During the Winter term, the PTA have given each class teacher £250 to spend on items they believe will enhance their students’ learning. This has been a great initiative to ensure each pupil can benefit directly from fundraising.
The last PTA activity of the year will be the Christmas show hamper raffle. Each year group has been asked to bring in a specific item so we’ll receive an array of lovely things to include in the raffle (see attached poster). Please can we have donations in ASAP as the Foundation shows start next week! Items can be handed to the class teacher or in at the office. Thank you!
Flu nasal spray - for anyone who missed the last session. Ifd you have not yet given consent, please do so via the link: https://forms.office.com/e/zV0bjq9QNm Full info was sent out via iPay (06/12/24 at 11:03.
Christmas Show tickets – You should now be able to purchase a maximum of 4 tickets per child on iPay. On Tuesday 10th December, any unsold tickets will be available to purchase if you need more.
Drive issues
Please do not stop illegally at the end of the drive to drop off. If we are handed photos of cars doing this, we will pass them on to the police. Please do not use the drive unless you have a pass. No one should be using it between 0830-0900 and 1500-1540.
Data updates
Please do email the school office if you have any changes to phone numbers or addresses etc.
Coming in late
If you come in late with your child, please do ensure they are booked in for dinners.
29th November 2024
Tonight – the Lantern Parade – come to the school from 5pm or meet us on the route. Bring your gloves and umbrellas! The school gates will be locked at 6:00pm so please don't park in school.
Next week
Tuesday 3rd – Mountain Phase Beach School (packed lunch needed)
Tuesday 3rd – CAMHS Coffee morning at 9am (see below)
Wednesday 4th – Choir singing in town centre, leaving school at 1pm
Friday 6th – Mrs Beynon’s RVE coffee morning
Coffee Morning CAMHS-Managing Big Emotions
Those who have been to these CAMHS session have told us how useful they are. This is particularly helpful for parents of children who struggle with emotions – possibly get angry, scared, anxious etc.
Governors QUESTIONNAIRE on the After School Club
If you use ASC or not, Governors would love to hear your views on the ASC provision. Please fill out this short questionnaire for them: https://forms.office.com/e/1XFbdPTK26
Christmas show arrangements
Please read through the information below to understand what we’re doing with the shows this year. Tickets are now available to purchase via iPay. The last opportunity to buy two tickets for your child's show is on Wednesday 4th. After that, the remaining tickets will be put on sale for people to purchase more.
The Foundation Phase show normally lasts for around 50mins. The Mountain Phase shows is new this year, but we’re expecting it to last for no more than an hour. An important change is regarding the Y3/4 show, it will be in school now, no longer Murton church hall. The Sky Phase show will be just over an hour.
Raffle tickets will be sold and the wonderful prizes given out at the conclusion of each show.
AM Nursery
- Friday 13th December at 9.30am (no tickets needed)
Please bring the children to school as usual. The show will involve walking around the outside of the school before finishing in the Foundation Phase Hall. Please bring warm clothes. At the end of the show you’ll have an opportunity to chat over a mince pie and cup of tea. After this, you will be able to take children home if you want to. There is no show for the afternoon nursery, that happens next year!
Foundation Phase (Reception and Y1-2)
- Wednesday 11th December at 9.30am
- Wednesday 11th December at 5pm
- Thursday 12th December at 1.30pm
This will be in the junior school hall. Those with tickets will need to come to the side entrance of the hall, go through the wooden gate on the left hand side of the bin area (not the main entrance to the school). The door will open 20 minutes before the show begins.
For the afternoon show, parents can take children home after, but it will be from the FP playground.
For the evening show, please bring children to the main door of the school, where the Reception is, at 4.30pm. After the show children will get changed and then will be dismissed from the main door, it will be dark on the car park, so those picking up will need to come to the door to collect. For this evening show, the school playground will be a carpark for anyone to use. Please drive exceptionally carefully.
Mountain Phase (Y3-4)
- Monday 16th December at 1.30pm
- Tuesday 17th December at 5.30pm
This show is going to be more of a music concert, it will be in the junior school hall. Those with tickets will need to come to the side entrance of the hall, go through the wooden gate on the left hand side of the bin area (not the main entrance to the school). The door will open 20 minutes before the show begins.
Parents will be able to pick up from the playground at the end of the show.
For the evening show, please bring children to the Y3/4 door of the school at 5.00pm. This is the door at the far end of the playground, close to the walk through to the comp and leisure centre.
Children will be dismissed from the Y3/4 entrance, it will be dark on the car park, so those picking up will need to come to the door to collect. Children will not be allowed to walk home alone, so please do arrange pick-ups.
For this evening show, the school playground will be a carpark for anyone to use. Please drive exceptionally carefully.
Sky Phase (Y5-6)
- Tuesday 17th December at 1.45pm
- Wednesday 18th December at 1.45pm
- Wednesday 18th at 6pm
This will be in the junior school hall. Those with tickets will need to come to the side entrance of the hall, go through the wooden gate on the left hand side of the bin area (not the main entrance to the school). The door will open 20 minutes before the show begins.
Parents will be able to pick up from the playground at the end of the show.
For the evening show, please bring children to the Y5/6 door of the school at 5.30pm
Children will be dismissed from the Y5/6 entrance, it will be dark on the car park, so those picking up will need to come to the door to collect. Children will not be allowed to walk home alone, so please do arrange pick-ups.
For this evening show, the school playground will be a carpark for anyone to use. Please drive exceptionally carefully.
22nd November
Next week
Friday 29th – the world famous Bishopston Lantern Parade! Come to the school from 5.00pm (definitely not earlier) ready to set off for 5.30pm.
Coffee Morning CAMHS-Managing Big Emotions
This is on Tuesday 3rd December; those who have been to these CAMHS sessions have told us how useful they are. This is particularly helpful for parents of children who struggle with emotions – possibly get angry, scared, anxious etc.
Children in need raised a total of £178.00 so thank you to all those that donated.
Christmas Shows
Having listened to feedback from parents over the last couple of years we have made a change to our Christmas Show arrangements. Please make a note. If you subscribe to the school calendar these will automatically come up on your phone calendar. Tickets will be added to iPay next week.
Nursery
Friday 13th December at 9.30am (no tickets needed)
Foundation Phase (Reception, Years 1-2)
Wednesday 11th December at 9.30am
Wednesday 11th December at 5pm
Thursday 12th December at 1.30pm
Mountain Phase (Years 3-4)
Monday 16th December at 1.30pm (at Murton Church Hall)
Tuesday 17th December at 5.30pm (at Murton Church Hall)
Sky Phase (Years 5-6)
Tuesday 17th December at 1.45pm
Wednesday 18th December at 1.45pm
Wednesday 18th at 6pm
Ordering a Christmas Dinner for the last day of term
All children in the school have the option of free school meals now. For Nic, the cook, it’s really helpful to get the order right for Christmas dinner. Even if your child normally has a school meal, please could everyone who is going to have a Christmas Dinner fill in this form by 29/11/24. It will be on the last day of term, Thursday 19th December https://forms.office.com/e/fUzBCG7yvi
We have a lot of lost property that has no name label. If your child has lost something, please come to the office and have a look. Anything unclaimed by the end of this term will need to be recycled.
Flu nasal spray – The school nursing team will be back in on 9/12/24 to give the Flu nasal spray to anyone that missed the last session. Please give your consent ASAP via the link: https://forms.office.com/e/zV0bjq9QNm Full info was sent out via iPay (24/10/24 at 13:41).
Pallet wood
If you have any spare pallets – not old and rotten – that could be brought to school. We’re going to do some woodwork with some of our children in KS2. If you ould drop them near to the bins that would be great.
Volunteers
As ever a big thank you to those of you who kindly come in and support the school by volunteering to help. It’s been suggested we see if some of the grandparents (some already do) would like to come in and read with children and then have a coffee break together where they can enjoy a chat with others. If you think any of your family might be up for this idea, please email Mr Owen owenj142@hwbcymru.net
PTA
Looking forward to seeing you all at the Lantern Parade next Friday (29/11/24) from 5pm at the school. Lantern kits are available to buy at Northway Garage for £7. If you have a lantern from last year and you only need additional lighting, glow wands can be bought from the office for £3.
The last few remaining seats are available for the Bath Christmas market (7/12/24). Contact Aimee (07947719377) to reserve your place; there’s even a complimentary glass of fizz. Last year was a great opportunity to have a fun time travelling together and then to go off to do our shopping / lunching.
Sweetie jar donations – this year any sweetie jar donations will be rewarded with 1 dojo per jar, so get creating! Please see poster for more info. If you need a jar please come and collect one from the office.
More prizes have been added to the Golden raffle, so get your ticket(s) quick! This year, as well as the star prize, a Smyths Toys voucher for £150 kindly donated by Cadog, there are numerous meal vouchers for local restaurants such as The Plough and Harrow, The Valley, On The Rocks, The Gower Inn, to name but a few, plus a couple of overnight stays! Tickets cost £1 each and can be purchased via iPay – the fund is called ‘PTA Golden Raffle - tickets £1’ (tickets will be in the name of the child who's account they have been purchased via). Tickets will also be available to purchase at the carol service, the lantern parade, Murton light switch on and the Christmas market (29/11/24). The draw will take place via a video on 29/11/24 which will then be sent out via the school WhatsApp groups and the local FB site. Prize winners will be contacted via txt. Good luck!
If anyone is having a clear out, we would really appreciate any good quality soft toys / teddies you may be getting rid of. Please bring them into the office by Tuesday 26th November for our Teddie tombola at the Christmas market (29/11/24).
15th November
Next week
Monday 18th – Reception children having hearing screening
Coffee Morning CAMHS-Managing Big Emotions
This is on Tuesday 3rd December, those who have been to these CAMHS session have told us how useful they are. This is particularly helpful for parents of children who struggle with emotions – possibly get angry, scared, anxious etc.
PTA – The Golden raffle is back with a bang with over 20 wonderful prizes to be won! This year, as well as the star prize, a Smyths Toys voucher for £150 kindly donated by Cadog, there are numerous free meal vouchers for local restaurants such as The Plough and Harrow, The Valley, On The Rocks, The Gower Inn, to name but a few, plus a couple of overnight stays! Tickets cost £1 each and can be purchased via iPay – the fund is called ‘PTA Golden Raffle - tickets £1’. Tickets will also be available to purchase at the carol service, the lantern parade, Murton light switch on and the Christmas market (29/11/24). The draw will take place via a video on 29/11/24 which will then be sent out via the school WhatsApp groups and the local FB site. Prize winners will be contacted via txt. Good luck!
Bath Christmas Market – 7/12/24 - last few tickets remaining.
Contact Aimee (07947719377) to reserve your place. Last year was a great opportunity to have a fun time travelling together and then to go off to do our shopping / lunching. The ticket price even includes a glass of fizz! Bingo tickets can be purchased on the day - there's an opportunity to win a £50 meal voucher for 2 at Worms Head Hotel as well as a luxury hamper.
Christmas Tree Lights Competition
Councillor Lyndon Jones runs a competition each year for children to be able to turn on the Christmas Tree Lights at Murton Green. This year children need to draw/paint a Christmas scene, they can do this with any medium of art. Entries need to be on A4 paper and in school by 9:00am Monday 25th November.
Book Fair
Please can anyone who hasn't yet paid for their book/stationary come to the office and pay cash. The online link has now closed. Thank you all for your support, it was a really successful event.
AM Nursery collection – use of car park
Please can we remind all parents that unless you have a pass for the drive you shouldn’t be using the school drive. Most parents have this sorted, those picking up at the end of morning Nursery need a reminder. We don’t want to run patrols! Please can everyone support by not using the drive. Please pass this information on to any friends/relatives who pick up.
Ordering a Christmas Dinner for the last day of term
Many children in the school have school meals now. For Nic the cook it’s really helpful to get the order right for Christmas dinner. Even if your child normally has a school meal, please could everyone who is going to have a Christmas Dinner fill in this form. It will be on the last day of term, Thursday 19th December. Thanks
8th November
Monday 11th November - Flu nasal spray – please give your consent ASAP via the link: https://forms.office.com/e/zV0bjq9QNm Full info was sent out via iPay (24/10/24 at 13:41).
Tuesday 12th November – Moutain phase beach school – packed lunch needed
Thursday 14th November - Lantern making workshop Junior hall: afterschool. No need to book. Lantern kits available to purchase too if needed (£7 cash)
Friday 15th November – Children in Need – wear spots. We'd love to make a great contribution to Children in Need. Please use the ipay purse 'Children in Need 2024'. We used to ask for £1, just pay whatever you want to pay.
Friday 15th November – Scolastic payment deadline - see below
Coffee Morning change
Next week our planned coffee morning on Religious and Values Education (RVE) has been moved to December 6th – apologies for the change.
Book Fair
Please can anyone who hasn't yet paid for their book/stationary pay online before 15/11/24 https://bookfairs.scholastic.co.uk/pay/1425487/checkout. It's easier to follow this link but cash payments can be made at the office.
Attendance and Punctuality Reminders
Please try to avoid wherever possible taking children out during term time. Our attendance is normally good. Please help us to stay good! Punctuality is improving, some families still need a gentle reminder that school starts at 0850.
PTA Updates
Thanks to everyone who helped support the PTA in the glow wand sale during Bonfire night; it was really nice to see some new faces helping out! They made a grand total of £320 profit. The PTA are always very busy around the Christmas term, please see posters for the upcoming events listed below.
Lantern making workshop – Thursday 14th November – after school: come to the main reception. Get ready for the annual village Lantern Parade (29/11/24) by attending this free session with your child that has been kindly organised by Gini Lawson. Kits will be available for you to purchase if necessary (£7) and Gini will guide you through how to make your lantern. Lantern making kits will be available to buy from Northway Garage very soon, keep an eye for the WhatsApp update.
Lantern Parade - Friday 29th November
We will leave school at 5.30pm - come a bit early for a warm drink. After the parade, the Christmas lights are switched on and the Christmas Market is open so come and have a browse and support local small businesses.
Bath Christmad Market - Saturday 7th December
If you haven't yet bought your ticket for the Bath Christmas market (7/12/24) there are still some left. Contact Aimee (07947719377) to reserve your place. Last year was a great opportunity to have a fun time travelling together and then to go off to do our shopping / lunching.
HELP!
The PTA are desperately low on volunteers and Christmas is a busy time for fundraising. If you can spare even just half an hour it would be really appreciated! Be it selling glow sticks at the firework display in Murton (5/11/24) or manning the teddy tombola at the Christmas market (29/11/24) we could really use your help. Contact the school office if you can lend a hand. Each year they ask parents to decorate jars and fill them with sweets for the tombola and also any teddies that are in good condition.
Ros and Zoe are looking to hand over the chair position of the PTA, if you're interested, please let them know. The PTA is most effective when different parents are willing to take a turn.
25th October
Next week is the half term holiday
The week after:
Monday 4th November – all children back after half term
Monday 4th November – Sky Phase (Y5/6) Beach School – packed lunch needed
Tuesday 7th – at 9am, Coffee Morning - CAMHS - Emotional Regulation
Tuesday 5th – Land Phase (Y1/2) Beach School – packed lunch needed
Book Fair
From 3:15-3:45pm on Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th we will have a Book Fair in the KS2 School Hall. There are always lots of books on offer, it’s worth coming for a peruse and it's a more cost-effective way to buy books your child may be interested in. They have now developed an online payment system so no need to bring cash.
In parents evening, a number of parents mentioned that it’s a struggle to find age appropriate books for their children that they are interested in. This might be a real help!
Ros and Kirsy Photographs – last order day is today, Friday 25th October. Check your email for your unique link.
Tree for firewood
Lots of you will have seen that a tree has come down on the school grounds – near to the fence between the FP and KS2. If you could come up over half term and saw it up, you’d be welcome to any wood for firewood. Branches that are left over we’ll get into the hedgerows after half term. This will save us £450 for a tree surgeon to come and get rid of it.
PTA
Such a great Halloween disco this year – we made over £750! Huge thanks to Natalia Marie for her DJ skills and Louis Kennedy-Mort for his epic light show. It’s lovely having some new faces join the team with fresh ideas and extra help.
Lantern making workshop –
This will be on Thursday 7th November – after school: come to the main reception. Get ready for the annual village Lantern Parade (29/11/24) by attending this free session with your child that has been kindly organised by Gini Lawson. Kits will be available for you to purchase if necessary (£7) and Gini will guide you through how to make your lantern. Lantern making kits will be available to buy from Northway Garage very soon, keep an eye for the WhatsApp update.
If you haven't yet bought your ticket for the Bath Christmas market (7/12/24) there are still some left. Contact Aimee (07947719377) to reserve your place. Last year was a great opportunity to have a fun time travelling together and then to go off to do our shopping / lunching.
The PTA are desperately low on volunteers and Christmas is a busy time for fundraising. If you can spare even just half an hour it would be really appreciated! Be it selling glow sticks at the firework display in Murton (5/11/24) or manning the teddy tombola at the Christmas market (29/11/24) we could really use your help. Contact the school office if you can lend a hand.
Ros and Zoe are looking to hand over the chair position of the PTA, if you're interested, please let them know.
Christmas Tree Lights Competition
Councillor Lyndon Jones runs a competition each year for children to be able to turn on the Christmas Tree Lights at Murton Green. We will once again have a lantern parade on Friday 29th November. This will finish at Murton. It’s normally a very lovely evening. This year children need to draw/paint a Christmas scene, they can do this with any medium of art. Entries need to be on A4 paper and in school by 9:00am Monday 25th November.
Free bus travel
In Swansea free bus travel will be back in the run up to Christmas. The dates this is available can be found in the link below:
https://www.swansea.gov.uk/article/9473/Free-bus-services
A huge thank you from Crisis Homelessness Charity!
We have received a thank you letter from Crisis Homeless charity thanking us for the generous food donations made by parents in our school community. It says:
‘Thank you for your generous donations which were collected in aid of Crisis, as part of your Harvest festival this year. This Christmas, your support will help us to provide food hampers and warm meals to our members, as well as offering a range of activities for them to benefit from at our Skylight, in Swansea. Our team at Skylight work tirelessly to support our members out of homelessness, helping to find them a place of their own, which they can call ‘home’. ‘
If you would like to find out more about volunteering or fundraising for Crisis, please follow this link: www.facebook.com/crisissouthwales
Half Term Fun -
The Swansea Science Festival returns with the main event on the weekend of 26th and 27th October 10am - 4pm, at the National Waterfront Museum.
The grand finale on Monday, 28th October, will showcase the much-loved TV presenter Andy Day with his exciting show, Andy’s Dino Rap.
Throughout the weekend, enjoy FREE exhibitions showcasing groundbreaking research at Swansea University. No booking is required—just drop in to explore hydrogen energy, meet robotic dogs and cats, uncover the secrets of ancient Egyptian mummification, and even learn how to love a maggot!
There are lots of bookable events. Hands-on workshops and inspiring talks that delve into the mysteries of oceans, the wonders of electricity, and the incredible stories of people shaping our world. Weekend highlights include a science rap workshop with presenter Jon Chase, insightful talks with TikTok star Big Manny, renowned explorer Ray Mears, and wildlife TV presenter Megan McCubbin.
18th October
Next Week
Monday 21st at 9am – Coffee Morning (Play Based Learning) with Mrs Ellis
Monday 21st – Y6 Cycling proficiency. A message has been sent via the Y6 WhatsApp group detailing who is in each group – please remember the bike and helmet and suitable clothing whatever the weather! Ideally bikes will go home each night.
Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 23rd – Parents' Evening. For those who booked a slot, slips with times on them should have come home. Please touch base with your child’s teacher on Monday if you haven’t had that.
Thursday 24th – PTA Halloween Disco
PTA Halloween disco – 24th October. Please keep sweetie / costume donations coming in, we can't run these events without your generosity and support. The last date we can accept donations is Monday 21st.
Seesaw: If you are having trouble accessing this application and either need a new QR code or need the teacher to send an email to initiate private messaging, please let the office know ASAP. We will need your child's name and teacher as well as details of the issue.
Roz and Kirsty photos – now available. School photos are ready! Please check your email for their link so you can place your order. Parents have until Fri 25 Oct 2024.
Absence - Polite reminder to call the absence line to report your child ill. Please do give some details about the issue; ‘feeling unwell’ doesn’t give us much to go on.
Christmas Shows
Having listened to feedback from parents over the last couple of years we have made a change to our Christmas Show arrangements. Please make a note. If you subscribe to the school calendar these will automatically come up on your phone calendar.
Nursery
Friday 13th December at 9.30am
Foundation Phase (Reception, Years 1-2)
Wednesday 11th December at 9.30am
Wednesday 11th December at 5pm
Thursday 12th December at 1.30pm
Mountain Phase (Years 3-4)
Monday 16th December at 1.30pm (at Murton Church Hall)
Tuesday 17th December at 5.30pm (at Murton Church Hall)
Sky Phase (Years 5-6)
Tuesday 17th December at 1.45pm
Wednesday 18th December at 1.45pm
Wednesday 18th at 6pm
Blood donation session - coming up at Ostreme Community Centre Mumbles on the 31st October. They are really struggling to fill the sessions and have 92 appointments still available. Book an appointment today 🔗 https://wbs.wales/BishoptonPriSch
Beach Clean Session
Keep Wales Tidy are running a beach clean, open to all on Sunday 19th October at Llangennith Beach between 10.00 - 12.00 (meet time is 09.45) Any families that would be willing to go along and support would be hugely appreciated. Please wear sturdy footwear and dress for the weather. Litter picking kit and bags will be provided. Please bring your own gloves if you can.
Hill End Car Park, Swansea, SA3 1JD
What3words: ///occur.suits.prove
Y4 Residential
The presentation for parents giving key information is now available on the website
https://primarysite-prod-sorted.s3.amazonaws.com/bishopston-primary-school/UploadedDocument/c054b0b9-8205-4464-b6ca-44bd4fa500fe/year-4-urdd-residential.pdf
11th October
Next week
Monday 14th – Y6 Cycling proficiency. A message has been sent via the Y6 WhatsApp group detailing who is in each group – please remember the bike and helmet and suitable clothing whatever the weather! Ideally bikes will go home each night.
Monday 14th – Harvest Festival. Nothing is needed from the parents but please do donate dried food items if you are able to (tins, cereals, pasta, rice etc.) This year we will be giving donations to CRISIS Homeless Charity.
Tuesday 15th – Shwmae Day – celebrating Welsh, please wear red
Tuesday 15th at 2.30pm - come and meet the Governors.
Wednesday 16th – Share my Work Day (please ensure you have used the booking system as shared in previous week’s Friday messages, just scroll down).
Thursday 17th at 3.30pm – Y4 Residential Information evening. No problem to bring children in. This will be in Mrs Cowling’s classroom.
Friday 18th – Show Racism the Red Card Day – please wear red
REMINDER - Parents Evening booking form
We were asked last year to send out the booking form for Parents’ Evening a bit further in advance. Here it is. Our Parents’ Evening is for the final week of the half term: Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 23rd October. We will send out the appointments in the week before. Please ensure you have filled this by Monday 14th October.
https://forms.office.com/e/SBV5i54DPj
Coffee Morning – Monday 21st October
Mrs Ellis is running a session at 9am on Play Based Learning. This will be a useful session for parents of Foundation Learning children, (Nursery, Reception, Years 1-2).
PTA – Volunteers needed
Murton Firework display (5/11/24)
Help make lantern kits (November)
Set up Santa’s grotto / support the lantern parade / run PTA stall for an hour (29/11/24)
If this is something you can help with, even for just an hour, please txt Ros: 07790005953.
Homework Clarification
In KS2, Your child will be given literacy homework every other week, alternating with maths homework. The literacy task will reflect the topic covered in class the previous week and will offer at least two levels of challenge. If your child wants to stretch themselves to do the higher level work then they can complete the extra challenge questions independently or it may be that working through the main task with your support is challenge enough for them. When your child has literacy homework, they will also have a Mathletics task set online. All children are given spelling words to learn at home and are tested on those spellings each week.
As you are aware, we set for maths and your child may have a different teacher for this lesson. The maths homework is set by your child's maths teacher, while all sets work on the same skills, they do so at different levels of difficulty. This is reflected in the task sent home. When your child has maths homework they will also have a Reading Eggs task set online.
In Land Phase we have the traffic lights system must do, should do, could do. As part of the "must do" your child will be given literacy and mental maths homework every week. These are differentiated using our Dewi flames. The aim of the mental maths is that it can be done orally and does not need to be recorded in any way. We are hoping that with regular exposure to these skills your child will develop rapid recall of these number facts. The "could do" task will reflect the topic covered in class that month.
In Reception your child will be given a weekly reading book or library book to take home. Families will also be asked to practice early mathematical skills in an informal way e.g. counting on, counting back etc.
Parent Help Day
Thanks so much to the parent and grandparents who gave up their time this morning to help improve our Nursery outdoor area. We really do rely on the ‘Parent Help’ days to keep our beautiful school grounds in order. Diolch yn fawr!
Lottery Funding questionnaire
At the end of last year I mentioned that one of our parents is kindly supporting the school to write a bid for lottery funding. It would really help the bid if more families filled in the questionnaire. We may be able to get funding to improve the school.
https://forms.office.com/e/yvE5r3EvVs
Does your family need financial support?
All of our pupils are fortunate to be offered free school meals now.
While families don’t need to apply for the free meal offer, many may still qualify for additional support, such as help with school uniforms and discounts on school trips. Applying for this support not only benefits families but also greatly helps the school, as it increases our eligibility for additional funding – and we need every penny we can get!
Please can we ask that you take the time to learn more or check your eligibility, you can visit Swansea Council Free School Meals by using the following webpage - https://www.swansea.gov.uk/schooluniformgrant
The School Essentials Grant is available to children and young people:
eligible for free school meals (eFSM)
Looked After Children (LAC), (must attend a Swansea school)
those who are classed as No Resource to Public Funds (NRPF)
in year groups Reception to Year 11 (as of September 2024)
*Pupils who receive free school meals due to transitional protection do not qualify for this funding*
Funding available is £125 for each eligible learner with the exception of those in Year 7, who will be entitled to £200.
The grant can be spent on:
School uniform including coats and shoes;
School sports kit including footwear;
IT Equipment: laptop and tablets ONLY (School Essentials should only be used in limited situations where a school is unable to loan equipment to the family).
Uniform for enrichment activities, including but not limited to: scouts; guides; cadets; martial arts; sports; performing arts, or dance;
Equipment - for example, school bags and stationery;
Specialist equipment where new curriculum activities begin such as design and technology;
Equipment for out-of-school hours' trips such as outdoor learning - for example, water proofs.
We are able to offer help to children whose parents or carers receive the following support payments. (The term 'parent' includes someone living in the household as the partner of a child's biological parent.)
Universal Credit if your annualised net earnings are £7400 or less*
Income Support
Income based Job Seekers Allowance
Income related Employment and Support Allowance
Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
Child Tax Credit where total annual income (as assessed by Her Majesty's Revenue and Custom service) is less than £16,190 a year
Working Tax Credit 'run-on' - this is the payment someone receives for a further four weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit (usually when their employment ceases or after they start to work less than 16 hours per week).
4th October
Next week
Monday 7th – Sky Phase (Y5/6) trip to the Civic Centre to examine WW2 archives –packed lunch needed for all children
Thursday 10th – Sky Phase (Y5/6) Beach school – packed lunch needed
Friday 11th October – Parent Help Day – Focus on FP Outdoor Learning Areas – please call / email the school office if you can make it. Let us know what time you can be here. We really appreciate even an hour of your time.
Calendar Dates
We are trying to put whole school diary dates onto our shared calendar which you are able to subscribe to: https://bishopstonprimaryschool.wales/diary/grid/2024/10/
You’ll note that we have Shwmae Day on Tuesday October 15th and Show Racism the Red Card Day on Friday October 18th. We simply ask the children to wear something red on both days. Nothing complicated.
Parents Evening booking form
We were asked last year to send out the booking form for Parents’ Evening a bit further in advance. Here it is. Our Parents’ Evening is for the final week of the half term: Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 23rd October. We will send out the appointments in the week before. Please ensure you have filled this by Monday 14th October.
https://forms.office.com/e/SBV5i54DPj
Share my Work
We have our Share my Work session coming up – Wednesday 16th October. This is a lovely opportunity for parents, carers, grandparents to come in and spend a bit of time
https://forms.office.com/e/viYwASAtWe
Help with finances
Governors of the school have asked I remind parents about this. The school receives a grant that is dependent on the number of pupils in the school who are eligible for FSM. We would encourage you to apply. The Welsh Government now offer universal free school meals to all primary aged children. However, the website below refers to ‘eligible free school meals’ (eFSM). Parents/carers can apply for this in order to receive other benefits such as school uniform payments or discounted trips. eFSM figures are used by the Welsh Government to allocate grants such as the Pupil Deprivation Grant (PDG) and so we encourage parents/carers to continue to apply where they believe they are eligible. The website contains further information on the eligibility criteria.
PTA Halloween disco
It's looking likely that events may need to be cancelled next year due to the dwindling number of helpers. We know how busy everyone is these days, but it would be a shame to see this vital revenue stream for the school disappear and we all know how much the kids love the events that are put on. So please volunteer if and when you can. Currently the PTA are asking for sweetie donations to help make up the sweetie bags. Please can you hand donations to the class teachers or bring them into the office. The PTA are also selling pre-loved Halloween costumes so would welcome any you may have gathering dust in the back of a wardrobe. If you're looking to buy Thanks for the support we have received so far.
No bikes on the school yard
We’ve been asked to mention again the policy of no bikes or scooters on the school yard before and after school. This is for the childrens’ safety as there have been some near misses recently, we appreciate your support.
27th September
Next week
Tuesday 1st October – Land Phase (Y1/2) Beach School – packed lunch needed
Thursday 3rd October – School PHOTOS. Consents must have been given to Roz and Kirsty for children to have their portrait photo. They are beaut photos normally.
Friday 4th October – 0900 – Coffee Morning It’s an ‘Introduction to sensory processing’ with Hannah Childs. (Hannah is one of our parents, she is an Occupational Therapist and Sensory Integration Practitioner.)
Parent Help Day - Friday 11th October
Focus on FP Outdoor Learning Areas
Parents Evening booking form
We were asked last year to send out the booking form for Parents’ Evening a bit further in advance. Here it is. Our Parents’ Evening is for the final week of the half term: Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 23rd October. We will send out the appointments in the week before. Please ensure you have filled this by Monday 14th October.
https://forms.office.com/e/SBV5i54DPj
Share my Work
We have our Share my Work session coming up. This is a lovely opportunty for parents, carers, grandparents to come in and spend a bit of time
https://forms.office.com/e/viYwASAtWe
PTA
Please support us by helping and or / donating sweets for our Halloween disco (poster below). We are also collecting and selling Halloween outfits so save some money and recycle at the same time by purchasing your outfit from the PTA this year. Costumes are on a rail near the office in the juniors and start at a bargain price of £3.
Bishopston Comprehensive Y6 Open Evening - Thursday 3rd October 2024, 6:15PM - 8:00PM
Bishopston Comprehensive are holding an information evening for current Year 6 pupils and parents. This is a ticketed event so your place will need to be pre-booked. Full details have been sent via iPay but if you need more information, please contact the office and we can provide you with the booking link.
Parking at the Comprehensive
Please do not part on the comprehensive school site. This is a message from them:
Can we please remind parents/carers to refrain from entering the school premises at the start of the school day between 8.10am and 8.45am as there are 15 buses as well as taxis requiring clear and safe access. Also we are unable to allow vehicle access to the school grounds between 2.45pm and 3.20pm.
We have picked up issues with primary parent/carers parking in our staff car park and the back car park to drop off their children to primary school. Primary pupils should not be cycling or on scooters through the main staff car park/school site
We greatly value being a 'community school' but have to put measures in place as advised by health and safety. The footpath which goes past the BT Exchange Building is for public access and there is safe passage through to the primary school from there. The community car park is for people accessing the leisure centre.
Drive use in the mornings
Please can we remind everyone that unless you have a pass you should not be using the drive at any time. Those who do have a pass are still not to use the drive between 0830-0900 and between 1500-1540.
BSC/breakfast club/ASC timings
Before school club and Breakfast club timings are as follows:
- 0750 – BSC opens
- 0820 – Breakfast club opens
- 0830 – Breakfast club shuts the doors
- 0850 – School starts
After school club timings are
- 1520 – School finishes, ASC starts
- 1715 – ASC shuts, please don’t be late picking up. Staff aren’t paid to be there past that time.
Trip payments
Please pay on time. When you consent to the trip the school is therefore committing to the payment. We do not have the time to be chasing parents for payments, so please do pay on time.
20th September
Next week
Tuesday 24th – Mountain Phase (Y3/4) Beach School (packed lunch needed)
Wednesday 25th – Some pupils from Sky Phase coasteering
Friday 27th – Sky Phase (Y5/6) trip to Talesin (no packed lunch needed)
PTA Meeting 26/09/24 @ 7:30 in the Valley pub
Please come along and get to know the team if you can. We are always keen to welcome. We will be planning the year’s activities and organising the Halloween Disco (24/10/24). Don't worry if you can't make it, there are still lots of ways you can help support the PTA... we would really appreciate any sweetie donations to help keep our costs for the disco as low as possible - please hand them to the class teacher. Other ways to help can be found: https://bishopstonprimaryschool.wales/how-to-raise-money-for-the-children/
Help with finances
The Welsh Government now offer universal free school meals to all primary aged children. However, the website below refers to ‘eligible free school meals’ (eFSM). Parents/carers can apply for this in order to receive other benefits such as school uniform payments or discounted trips. eFSM figures are used by the Welsh Government to allocate grants such as the Pupil Deprivation Grant (PDG) and so we encourage parents/carers to continue to apply where they believe they are eligible. The website contains further information on the eligibility criteria.
Photo Consents
We understand that some parents choose not to give consent for the school to put photos of their children on social media. Our policy is that if parents don’t want photos on social media the child isn’t in the photo. It leads to mistakes when teachers are bringing children into the photo and then taking time editing photos with blurs over faces etc. We find nearly all parents want their children on photos when it comes to residentials, trips etc. Please do give it some thought as to whether you really do not want your child to be on photos taken in school. Notify the office of any changes, we will then update our records.
Pick ups
If you decide your child is going to go home with someone else, please make sure the school knows.
Site Security
Padlocks are now going on most of the gates each day at 9am and coming off again at 3pm. If you are coming in the middle of the day to pick up, this includes Nursery families, you will need to come up the main school drive.
Lose Parts' Shed
The shelter on the Foundation Phase playground to the right of the stage area is for ‘loose parts’ play. This is specifically for school break times and lessons. Please don’t allow your child to help themselves before or after the school day.
Coffee Morning – Guest Speaker coming up on Friday 4th October
Last week we had a great turn out to our Phonics Coffee Morning, there was barely any space! We have an interesting one coming up on Friday 4th October. It’s an ‘Introduction to sensory processing’ with Hannah Childs. Hannah is one of our parents, she is an Occupational Therapist and Sensory Integration Practitioner. It should be a really useful session for all parents and carers.
Taking children from school early!
Please avoid wherever possible taking children out from school early. Please book appointments outside school time. The impact on the Foundation Phases classes in particular is causing a real stress. We simply don’t have spare staff to be running around getting children. It means staff are leaving valuable teaching time.
Parent Hack....
We all know how hard it can be to keep track of log ins. Teachers either send you them via Seesaw or stick them into the home learning book. As soon as you have them, take a photo, favourite the photo and you will always have them to hand 😉
Residentials
We have planned residential trips for children in Y4 (1 night), and Y5 and 6 (4 nights). Information is on the website https://bishopstonprimaryschool.wales/residentials-1/ . We will send out more information next week this will include how to pay.
13th September
Next week...
Monday 16th at 9am – Phonics Coffee Morning. This will be led by Mrs Ellis and will be held in one of our support rooms in KS2 (just come to the main office). This will be invaluable advice to support your children learning to read at home. For any parents that cannot attend, a slide deck will be available on our website (ADD LINK)
Tuesday 16th – Y4 Museum trip – packed lunches needed
Friday 20th – Y3 Museum trip – packed lunches needed
Healthy Snacks!
We have been asked to clarify where the school stands with snacks. We love them! Children must bring in a healthy snack for morning break. They are not allowed chocolate, sweets, or crisps etc at that point. At lunch time if you choose to send them with a packed lunch, we simply ask that they have a balanced diet, if a small treat is in the box, no problem.
We should also remind parents we are a NUT FREE school. We have both children and staff with severe allergies.
PTA Meeting
The PTA do an incredible job raising vital funds for our school and they are always looking for new members to help whenever they can. The next meeting will be held on 26th September at the Valley pub so please come along and get to know the team if you can. The next event will be the Halloween Disco (24/10/24), so if you can help decorate the hall or man one of the stalls please contact the office.
6th September
Welcome back, or welcome to our school, everyone!
Next week...
Tuesday 10th - 3.30pm meet the teacher
Key Reminders
The Drive - no one should be using their vehicles on the drive unless they have a pass.
Booking for BSC, ASC - please use ipay for booking either Before or After School clubs.
Phones - children cannot use phones on the school grounds.
All families are now eligible for Free School Meals.
Appointments - wherever possible, please ensure appointments for dentists etc are made outside of the normal school day.
School uniform - please wear uniform if possible. Second hand uniform is on sale at the school office. Uniform labels are available through Stikins, our school code is 2074
Padlocks on the gates
From Monday, our caretaker will be putting padlocks on all the gates, except the one leading into the car park and up to the front entrance. This is to further improve our safeguarding. The padlocks will go on at 9am and come off at 3pm.
Please can we urge you to be on time. It is a real hassle for staff when parents bring children in late, it interrupts the learning of everyone else in the class.
SeeSaw
All parents should have a QR code come home which you need to scan to join the class SeeSaw. Paper copies went home this week. This enables teachers to be able to communicate with you. Please don’t delay signing up.
Coffee Morning
Phonics on Monday 16th September– this will help you to understand how you can help your child learn their sounds at home which in turn has a huge impact on their reading, writing and future academic success.
Dismissal
At the beginning of term, dismissal takes a bit of extra time simply because teachers are getting to know new faces. Bring an umbrella if it’s wet, you might have to wait a few extra minutes.
Late comers
Anyone who is late for school needs to come to the main entrance and sign the late book.
Food bank
Sketty food Bank are desperate for carrier bags; they give out over 100 per week! Tracy from the kitchen has kindly agreed to collect any unwanted extras we may have, so please bring them into the main office and we can help recycle and reuse.
Message from Swansea Council
Proposed new model for Specialist Teaching Facilities (STFs) across Swansea
Swansea Council is consulting on a proposal to redesignate 25 STFs, change the specialism of 3 STFs, expand 4 existing STFs and close 5 STFs in Swansea with a phased implementation commencing in September 2025.
A copy of the consultation paper, including the impact on each school affected, along with all associated documents can be found via the following link:
https://www.swansea.gov.uk/schoolorganisationSTFreview
If you have any comments, please use the on-line response form available on the link above or refer to the consultation document for alternative ways to send us your views. All responses must be received by no later than 17 October 2024.
If you would like to know more information or would like an opportunity to ask questions, you can attend one of the following:
an online consultation meeting on 9 October at 1pm on Microsoft Teams (please register your interest in attending this session by 30 September 2024)
an in-person meeting will be held on 16 September at 4pm in the Scout Hut, Bryn Road, Brynmill, Swansea, SA2 0AU (please register your interest in attending this session by 10 September)
an additional in-person meeting will be held on 8 October at 5pm in the Scout Hut, Bryn Road, Brynmill, Swansea, SA2 0AU (please register your interest in attending this session by 30 September)
To register your interest in attending one of the above consultation meetings, please email schoolorganisation@swansea.gov.uk by the dates specified above. If we do not receive any bookings to attend these sessions, then these meetings will not proceed.
You are welcome to use the Welsh Language in any of the above meetings. We kindly ask that you inform us when booking if you require the presentation to be delivered through the medium of Welsh, this will allow us to make arrangements for simultaneous translation to be available at the meeting specified.
If you require this information in a more accessible format, or you are unable to access the website to view the consultation document, please contact Michelle Thomas on (01792) 636686 or email schoolorganisation@swansea.gov.uk to arrange for an accessible copy of the consultation document to be delivered to you.