Weekly Newsletter 1.05.26

School News

Dear Parents, Carers and Friends,

What a fantastic week we have had! From our exciting trip to London to making the most of the beautiful weather by exploring the outdoors, it has been a joy to see the children so engaged, curious, and full of enthusiasm. These shared experiences are what make school life so special, and this week has certainly been one to remember.

London
A huge thank you to everyone who supported our London trip. Whether you helped with the organisation, accompanied the visit, or kindly arranged a delicious breakfast for our very tired children the following morning, your support made all the difference. It was lovely to come together afterwards, sharing stories and laughter as we reflected on such a memorable day. The children had an absolutely fantastic time—creating memories with their friends that they will treasure for years to come

Trips
We are also very excited about what lies ahead. With upcoming trips to Spain, the beach and Noah’s Ark Zoo, there is so much to look forward to. These opportunities enrich learning in such meaningful ways, and the anticipation is already building among the children and staff alike.

Sports Day
Information about our upcoming Sports Day events has now been shared on Class Dojo. Please take a moment to check the details so you are aware of timings and arrangements—we look forward to welcoming you to what is always a fun and energetic occasion for the children.

Curriculum
We are also delighted to share developments in our ASPIRE curriculum. Dosbarth Enfys have been busy preparing and painting our new STEM outdoor classroom, and it has been wonderful to see their enthusiasm and teamwork throughout the process. We are so excited to see this space come together and the opportunities it will provide for hands-on, creative learning.

Bank Holiday reminder
A quick reminder that school will be closed on Monday due to the Bank Holiday. We hope you all enjoy a restful and enjoyable long weekend.

ParentPay
As we look ahead to upcoming school trips and activities, we kindly ask all families to make sure they are signed up to ParentPay. This will help us manage permissions and payments more smoothly. If you need any support setting up your account, please contact the school office — we’re happy to help!

Thank you, as always, for your continued support.
Kind regards,
Mr Lloyd, Mrs Lloyd and the Derwendeg team

Important Dates

Key Dates for 2025-26 – Term Dates

Spring Term: Monday 5 January – Friday 27 March 2026
Half Term: Monday 16 February – Friday 20 February 2026
Summer Term: Monday 13 April – Monday 20 July 2026
Half Term: Monday 25 May – Friday 29 May 2026

Please remember these are the dates of the school year ,but below are the dates for the Insets to reflect when the children are in school.

INSET Dates
Monday 5^th January
Friday 13^th February
Monday 13^th April
Monday 20^th July

May
Monday 4^th May – BANK HOLIDAY (SCHOOL CLOSED)
Monday 18^th May – Spain trip
Friday 22^nd May – break up for half term

June
Thursday 4^th June – 1.30pm Reception-Year 2 Sports Day
Friday 5^th June – 9.15am Nursery Sports Day
Friday 5^th June – 1.30pm Year 3-Year 6 Sports Day
Monday 8^th June – Year 6 leavers photos
Wednesday 17^th June – Dosbarth Glas Ystrad Mynach Library visit
Thursday 18^th June – Dosbarth Porffor Ystrad Mynach Library visit
Friday 19^th June – Dosbarth Enfys Ystrad Mynach Library visit
Monday 22^nd June – Year 6 swimming sessions start (3 week block)
Tuesday 23^rd June – Bible exhibition Bethel Chapel – Gwyrdd
Wednesday 24^th June – Bible exhibition – Bethel Chapel – Glas, Bible exhibition – Bethel Chapel – Porffor, Bible exhibition – Bethel Chapel – Enfys

July
Wednesday 1^st July/Thursday 2^nd July – Lewis school Transition days
Wednesday 1^st July – Dosbarth Coch, Oren & Melyn Class trip
Monday 6^th July – Spain visit to our school
Wednesday 8^th July – Dosbarth Glas class trip
Friday 17^th July – break up for Summer holidays

School Menu

Click here to see the school menu.
Week beginning Mon 4^thMay will be Week 3

Attendance Matters
The United Nation Article 28 states ‘every child has the right to have a primary education’. We are linking our attendance performance to this article.

We want our children to have the best possible education to give them the best chance in life. If your children aren’t in school we can’t give them this opportunity and can’t give them the opportunity to ‘be the best they can be.’

School target: 93%
Annual % to date: 92%

Weekly total
(Week ending 24th Apr): 92%

Dosbarth Oren: 91%
Dosbarth Melyn: 90%
Dosbarth Gwyrdd: 91%
Dosbarth Glas: 91%
Dosbarth Porffor: 92%
Dosbarth Enfys: 98%

Congratulations to the classes who surpassed our school target of 93%. It is important all of the children are in school every day to ensure they aren’t missing out on important learning.

Heroes of the Week

Dosbarth Coch: Nora-Jo E & Kobi W
Dosbarth Oren: Sophie W & Isla T
Dosbarth Melyn: Amiya E & Janos S
Dosbarth Gwyrdd Thea J & Lily B-D
Dosbarth Glas: Emelia-Rose G & Elsie C
Dosbarth Porffor: George M-J & Liam C
Dosbarth Enfys: Korey M-P & Erin P