School News
Dear Parents, Carers and Friends,
Our children have made a wonderful start to the new term. It has been lovely watching them settle so confidently into their new classes, forming new relationships with their teachers and making new friends. The calmness, enthusiasm and positivity across the school have been a joy to see.
Head Boy, Head Girl & School Council Speeches
This week, we have been blown away by the effort and enthusiasm shown in the speeches for Head Boy, Head Girl, and our School Council positions.
Staff have been incredibly impressed with the children’s confidence, their thoughtful ideas, and the way they presented so clearly to their class — and in some cases, the whole school. It has been a very difficult decision for staff and peers during voting, and we are all looking forward to the results.
Homework & Home Learning Habits
A gentle reminder about the importance of bringing book bags daily and practising High Frequency Words (HFW) and spellings at home. Homework can be little and often — small, regular practice makes a big difference.
We are excited to see all classes getting fully involved in achieving their Mathletics certificates, which will be awarded in assembly. Each certificate earns 5 dojo points, and we can’t wait to celebrate lots of success this term. If anyone needs any support with homework routines, spelling strategies, or reading practice, next week’s Meet the Teacher meetings are the perfect opportunity to chat with staff. We also have a YouTube channel with fun examples of spelling techniques — lots of playful ways to explore words. You can explore ideas like spelling techniques or HFW practice tips if you’d like more inspiration.
Sporting Success & Exciting Events Ahead
We would like to wish Jouson the very best of luck in his boxing match tonight. He has taken his training incredibly seriously and is now at the correct weight, fully prepared and ready to go. Good luck, Jouson — we are all cheering for you!
We are also excited for the sporting opportunities coming up this term. The Dragons Rugby coaches will once again be working with classes across the school, delivering high-energy sessions that children absolutely love. In
addition, we will be attending a range of Caerphilly sports events over the next few weeks, giving pupils plenty of chances to shine, compete and represent our school with pride.
PTA – Volunteers Needed
We would love to welcome some new volunteers to join our wonderful PTA. A few of our long-standing volunteers are looking to step down soon, and we are hoping to find parents, carers or family members who can help us continue running the events that our children enjoy so much.
As the nights begin to draw in, these PTA events become such lovely
opportunities for children to have fun with their friends — and we really want them to continue. Please join us for our PTA Coffee Afternoon on Tuesday 22nd September at 3pm. Bring your children, come with friends, or simply pop in for a chat. We would be delighted to see you.
Looking Ahead
Please keep up to date with everything happening in school by checking our Important Dates page and keeping an eye on Class Dojo events. We have lots planned for the coming weeks, and your support makes such a difference to the children’s confidence and progress.
Kind regards,
Mr Lloyd, Mrs Lloyd and the Derwendeg team
Important Dates
Key Dates for 2026-27 – Term Dates
Autumn Term: Tuesday 1 Sept – Friday 18 December 2026
Half Term: Monday 26 Oct – Friday 30 Oct 2026
Spring Term: Monday 4 January – Friday 19 March 2027
Half Term: Monday 8 February – Friday 12 February 2027
Summer Term: Monday 5 April – Tuesday 20 July 2027
Half Term: Monday 31 May – Friday 4 June 2027
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
Tuesday 1st September
Friday 2nd October
Friday 5th February
Monday 5th April
Monday 19th July
Tuesday 20th July
September
Wednesday 16th September – Meet the teacher meetings 9.00-10.00
Thursday 17th Sept – Individual School Photos being taken
Tuesday 22nd Sept – PTA Coffee afternoon 3-4pm
Friday 25th Sept – Science in Schools Interactive Performance
Monday 28th September – Harvest Festival Celebrations
October
Thursday 1st Oct – Y3-6 Caerphilly School’s cross country event
Friday 2nd Oct – Inset Day
Wednesday 7th October 9:00am – Early years phonic workshop
Monday 12th-14th October – Parent consultations.
Friday 16th October – Wear it Red – Show Racism the red card.
Friday 23rd Oct – Flu Spray for whole school
Friday 23rd Oct – Break up for half term
November
Mon 2nd Nov – Children return to school
Wednesday 11th November – Year 5/6 Remebrance Service – Dosbarth Porffor.
Friday 13th November – Children in Need
Friday 13th November – Anti-bullying Assembly – Dosbarth Glas.
Thursday 13th November – ALN Coffee afternoon
Mon 23rd Nov – Snow White Pantomime in School
December
Christmas events TBC
Monday 14th December – Christmas party week
Friday 18th December – Pupils finish for Christmas
School Menu
Click here to see the school menu.
Week beginning Mon 14th Sept 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: 94%
Weekly total
(Week ending 4th Sep): 94%
Dosbarth Oren: 97%
Dosbarth Melyn: 98%
Dosbarth Gwyrdd: 100%
Dosbarth Glas: 98%
Dosbarth Porffor: 92%
Dosbarth Enfys: 94%
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 Oren: Archie B & Arthur-Jay F
Dosbarth Melyn: Harlan P & Sophie W
Dosbarth Gwyrdd: Deacyn T-B & Mylee W
Dosbarth Glas: Isla-Mae D & Teddy H
Dosbarth Porffor: Harper-Rae PD & Paige I
Dosbarth Enfys: Skyla P & Glyn R
Dosbarth Seren: The Whole Class
Hot Chocolate Superstar!
This week’s Headteacher Awards go to:
Tia D
Jessica H
Oscar GM
Emiah H
Afon R
These children were chosen for displaying our school values and will be treated to a hot chocolate and a chat with Mrs Lloyd. Da iawn bawb!