Weekly Newsletter 10.10.25

School News

Dear parents, carers, and friends,

We hope this newsletter finds you well and enjoying the start of a vibrant autumn term. We have had a fantastic few weeks at Derwendeg School, with lots of exciting things happening and more on the way!

Rugby HWB – A Fantastic Launch!

We are absolutely thrilled to share how successful the launch of our

brand-new Rugby HWB was! It was wonderful to see so many children from Years 3–6 get involved, build new skills, and most importantly—have a lot of fun!

The energy and enthusiasm was amazing, and it was a pleasure to welcome Hengoed School to our first session. The Rugby HWB will now run every other Thursday, bringing together children from local schools, including Ystrad Mynach and others in our cluster.

Led by professional coaches from Dragons Rugby, the sessions are focused on skill-building, teamwork, and enjoyment. Pupils will also get chances to attend matches, take part in media projects, and even interview players— what an opportunity! We can’t wait to continue this exciting journey and welcome even more children to take part in the weeks ahead. We’ll be in touch with families about future sessions and what pupils will need to take part.

Parents’ Consultations – Next Week

A reminder that Parents’ Evening will take place on the following dates: Monday 13th October

Tuesday 14th October Wednesday 15th October We’re really looking forward to catching up with you and sharing how your child has settled into the new school year.

The Importance of Arriving on Time

We kindly remind all families how important it is for children to arrive at school on time each day. The school day begins promptly, and arriving late can mean missing out on key learning opportunities, morning routines, and important instructions for the day ahead. Being on time also helps children to settle quickly, feel confident, and start the day in a positive frame of mind.Thank you for your continued support in helping us create the best possible start to every school day.

Upcoming PTA Disco – Monday 20th October

Get your dancing shoes ready! Our next PTA Disco will be held on Monday 20th October. It promises to be a fun-filled evening with music, dancing, and lots of smiles. More details will be sent out shortly, so keep an eye out.

As always, thank you for your continued support. It’s a joy to see our school community thriving and working together to create memorable experiences for our children.

Kind Regards,

Mr Lloyd, Mrs Lloyd and the Derwendeg School Team

Important Dates

Key Dates for 2025-26 – Term Dates
Autumn Term: Monday 1 September – Friday 19 December 2025
Half Term: Monday 27 October – Friday 31 October 2025
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 Monday 21 July 2025

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

September
Friday 26^th September – Parents/Carers macmillan Coffee morning.
Monday 29^th September – Harvest

October
Monday 13th-15^th October – Parent consultations.
Friday 18^th October – Wear it Red – Show Racism the red card.
Monday 20^th October – PTA Disco

November
Monday 3^rd November – Pupils back to school
Sunday 9^th November – Community Remembrance Service
Monday 10^th November – Flu Vaccinations – Reception – Year 6
Tuesday 11^th November – Year 4/5 Remebrance Service – Dosbarth Porffor.
Thursday 13^th November – PTA film night
Thursday 13^th November – ALN Coffee morning
Friday 14^th November – Children in Need
Friday 24^th November – Jack and the Beanstalk Panto R-Y6

December
Friday 5^th December – Christmas treats with Santa PTA
Monday 8th/Tuesday 9^th December 9.30am – N-Y2 Nativity
Wednesday 10^th December – Christmas dinner day
Thursday 11th/12^th December 1.45pm- Christingle Y3-6
Monday 15^th December – Christmas party week
Friday 19^th December – Pupils finish for Christmas

January
Monday 5^th January – INSET

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: 94%

Weekly total
(Week ending 3rd Oct): 92%

Dosbarth Oren: 91%
Dosbarth Melyn: 82%
Dosbarth Gwyrdd: 96%
Dosbarth Glas: 95%
Dosbarth Porffor: 93%
Dosbarth Enfys: 93%

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: Raya J & Arthur J-F
Dosbarth Oren: Ella T & Frayah P
Dosbarth Melyn: Hollie C & Reggie G
Dosbarth Gwyrdd Lottie A & Theo B
Dosbarth Glas: Sophia G & Nile R
Dosbarth Porffor: Robyn R & Aneira McG
Dosbarth Enfys: Daniel C & Jack W
Dosbarth Seren: Oliver K