ST. HELEN’S NEWS
NEWYDDION SANTES ELEN
ISSUE 606 23rd MAY 2014
Attendance is 96.47% slightly down again on last week. Term time holidays are hitting us hard.
INSET DAYS 2014/15
We have decided to make a change to way we plan our In Service Training Programme (INSET)for the next academic year. This will result in us taking all 5 days consecutively and adding them onto our summer half term holiday. Therefore we will be closed to the pupils from Monday 25th May – Friday 5th June 2015.
We hope that this will enable some families to take advantage of a cheaper holiday as we will be closed during term time for 1 week. This will help parents avoid taking their child out at other times of the year. We are sure you will agree, if children are taken out in term time, their academic progress will be impacted upon.
We feel that there will be an additional benefit to the pupils due to the fact that a comprehensive programme of training can be put together for staff in one block which will be far more effective than the ‘ad-hoc’ single day arrangement we have had in the past.
THIS MEANS THAT THERE WILL NOT BE AN INSET DAY AT THE START OF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR AND CHILDREN ARE BACK IN SCHOOL ON MONDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER.
HAPPY HALF TERM
Enjoy the bank holiday weekend and let’s hope for fine weather all week. School re-opens for the final 7 weeks of the academic year (where has that year gone!) on Monday 2nd June.
URDD RUGBY REARRANGED DATE
This has now been confirmed for Sunday 15th June. Same arrangements as before-please let us know if you cannot make this new date as reserves will need to be drafted in. Supporters will be refunded their £10 if they cannot make the new date.
LEARNER TRAVEL TRANSPORT
To date,16 parents have expressed an interest attending a meeting with Jeff Cuthbert to discuss the possible changes to learner travel in CCBC.
As soon as the date has been arranged, we will let you know.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ….
Michael Davies of Davies Sutton Architects, past Foundation Governor (and Husband of Mrs Pat Davies Learning Support Assistant) who this week was awarded Welsh Architect of the Year 2014. Congratulations and best wishes.
NON UNIFORM DAY – FRIDAY 6TH JUNE
Is in aid of Marine Conservation Day. Everyone is invited to wear something blue (please don’t forget to send in your donation).
ARMED FORCES DAY
CCBC along with the Royal British legion have arranged this year’s celebration – Saturday 21st June 2014, 10.30am in Ystrad Mynach Town Centre.
PARENT’S BUSINESS DIRECTORY
These were sent home last week. Would you please complete and return them to school on or before 6th June. Thank you.
BOOK FAYRE
Our annual book fayre arrives in school on Friday 6th June. All of the children will have the opportunity to visit the book fayre (the children in the Foundation Phase are accompanied by their teacher/learning support assistant). Your child will bring home a ‘wish list’-there is no obligation to buy. Again this year all of the books on sale are offered are buy 2 get one free (the cheapest book is free) basis (if you have more than one child in the school you can combine your orders).
Your purchases earn commission for the school which we always take as books to re-stock/add to our school library.
WELSH PREMIER SPORTS – AFTER SCHOOL SOCCER
Thursday 22nd May is the final session. Look out for the next sign up sheet after half term.
BELGIUM 2015
The first interim payment of £100.00 is due on or before 6th June. A reminder that all children will need a valid passport and EH1C card (these cards do have an expiry date so please check yours). You can apply on line for a EH1C.
ST. HELEN’S PARISH NEWS
Nothing Doing over Half-term? Come for a wacky night-out on Friday (30th) in the Parish Hall, at the monthly Quiz 7pm. Licensed bar; fish and chips; impossible conundrums; and lots of laughs.
50 Years Old! Wednesday 3rdSeptember will be the 50th birthday of Saint Helen’s Church. To mark it we will be redecorating the church this summer: Over the next few weeks we are invited to help decide on colours. On the day itself we will have an evening Mass celebrated by Archbishop Stack with former Parish Priests and curates, followed by an all-night (or as long as you can keep going) party. Then a month later we will look to build up the living Church, ourselves, with a weekend mission celebration, 18th, 19th, and 20th October - Book these dates now!
And a First: On the weekend of June 14th / 15th 34 Families in Saint Helen’s Parish will bring their children to share Communion for a first time in the Parish Mass and. On the following Sunday ‘Corpus Christi’, the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, the children will gather again (with their families) for a celebratory Mass and party. Please pray for them all as they prepare and grow into Communion.
SUMMER BALL – JULY 4TH JULY
For those parents/friends who have paid their £10.00 deposit (thank you) the balance (of £40.00) is due on or before 13th June.
RAFFLE PRIZES
Can you help? We need prizes for the raffle at our summer ball in July. Would your employer like to donate a prize? They would get free publicity in our newsletter? Thank you for your help.
SWIMMING CLUB…
… will take a break over the half term holiday and meet again on Sunday 8th June 7.30 – 8.30pm at Caerphilly Leisure Centre). During the last half term the children will be given the opportunity to try for their distance badges and hope to end the term with a pool party (including the ‘funtastic’ inflatable). All welcome, £1.00 per session. It’s not too late to join if you’ve not been before.
We would like to thank all of the parents who generously give their time to run the swimming club each week. A special word of thanks to Mrs Claire Cushion who is ‘retiring’ from the club at the end of the term and to Mrs Clare Simpson who is taking over from Mrs Cushion.
TUCK SHOP
Eco councillors are continuing to work hard to run the school fruit tuck shop each morning break time. Apples and bananas are 20p and grapes 30p.
CROSS COUNTRY COMPETITION
ST. HELEN’S RUGBY TEAM – CAERPHILLY 7’S
Well done to the boys last Friday. They did not win the competition but represented the school very well.
ATHLETICS TRIALS
Trials continue next week. Would all of the children (years 3 – 6) please bring their trainers into school each day.
ST. HELEN’S PARISH YOUTHCLUB
Will meet again on Thursday 12th June for the children in years 3&4. 6.00pm – 7.15pm.
CARDIFFCITY FOOTBALL COACHING
Sessions continue each Tuesday – year 5 after lunch and those invited from year 6 after school (pick up 4.30pm).The final session will be on Tuesday 3rd June.
FOUNDATION PHASE UPDATE
NURSERY
Big book next week … ‘Number farm’
Sound of the week – ‘n’ as in nut.
RECEPTION
Big book next week .. ‘Super Worm’
Could each child please bring in an empty 2 litre, clear pop bottle.
It would be most helpful if children could wear school shoes that close with Velcro (rather than buckles or laces). Diolch.
MRS HELYAR’S CLASS
Big book next week is-‘Who Lives Here?’
Writing task – Creating books
MRS SELLICK’S CLASS
Big book next week is – ‘Eating Plants’
Writing Task – Non fiction using I Pads
Would parents please ensure that all children have a sun hat for break/lunch times and outdoor learning activities.
RECEPTION – YEAR 6 – PE LESSONS
For the last half term all PE lessons will be outside – please send in trainers and outdoor kit. Thank you.
ST. HELEN’S PFA (PARENTS FUNDRAISING ASSOCIATION)
Will meet again on Thursday 5th June 2pm in the school staff room (free tea and coffee). Everyone is very welcome just come along.
WORLD CUP FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT/PICNIC
Save the date – Friday 20th June 6-8pm on our school field. Watch this space for more details.
DESIGN A SHIELD COMPETITION
All of the children (year 2 – year 6) have been asked (by Mrs Simmonds during Art/DT lessons) to design a shield. The winning designs from each class may be reproduced and fixed to our very own castle (on the infant grass area). Each child will have a blank shield template as the basis for their design.
SPACE-YEAR1
We have 1 space in year 1although all other spaces in the Foundation Phase have been filled.
SAINSBURYS - ACTIVE KIDS
Our total to date is 2900-many thanks. This promotion came to an end on 20th May. Please send in any ‘stragglers’.
BATTERY RECYCLING INITIATIVE
We are participating in the CCBC Battery Recycling Initiative. We have a collection box in our foyer. Please send your batteries in and we will recycle them for you.
CAERPHILLY FLOWER FESTIVAL
13th, 14th and 15th June. The theme this year for the floral displays : War, Peace & Communities. For more information please contact the events hotline-02920-888777 or
MYT – MUSICAL YOUTH THEATRE- OPEN TO AGES 9 - 16
A new theatre group that will meet for the first time on Wednesday 4th June and then each Wednesday at Caerphilly Workmen’s Hall 6.30 -8pm
Joining fee £10.00-this includes a ‘MYT’ T shirt with your child’s name printed on the back and then £2.00 per week. For more information please visit
CARDIFFCITY – HALF TERM SOCCER SCHOOLS
Lots going on during half term at locations near and far for boys and girls. For additional information and to book go to for questions or queries contact Damian Flynn 077911 82864 or e mail
WHAT’S ON AFTER HALF TERM?
Tuesday 3rd June – Cardiff City Football –last session
Friday 6th June – Non-Uniform Day
Book Fayre arrives