School News
Dear Parents, Carers and Friends,
As we approach the end of another busy and successful week, I am delighted to share some of the highlights with you.
Sports Day
Our Sports Days were a tremendous success, and we were incredibly fortunate to enjoy such beautiful sunshine. It was lovely to see our pupils having so much fun whilst taking part in the wide variety of activities and races. The enthusiasm, positivity and determination shown by all the children were a pleasure to witness. It was also wonderful to see so many parents and family members supporting and encouraging the children. The positive atmosphere and the encouragement given to help every child keep going created a truly special feel across both Sports Days. A big Da iawn to Tŷ Melyn, the winners of the Year 3–6 Sports Day! They were absolutely thrilled with their achievement, and it was lovely to watch them complete their lap of honour around our wonderful field with beaming faces.
A special thank you to all the parents who took part in the parents’ race. Whilst some of you may have felt a little pressure to participate, the children absolutely loved seeing you get involved. Your enthusiasm helped create wonderful memories and added to the fantastic atmosphere of the day.
Early Years Curriculum Case Study
We have also been incredibly fortunate this year to work collaboratively with Early Years Wales and our governor, Kelcie Stacey, on an exciting and valuable project. This partnership has resulted in our school being featured in a case study that will be published on the Hwb website to support educators in developing and improving their own settings and curriculum journey. The case study showcases our Early Years curriculum journey, highlighting the work that has taken place to create engaging learning environments and meaningful experiences for our youngest learners. We would like to take this opportunity to recognise and thank our Early Years team and all staff involved for their dedication, creativity and unwavering commitment throughout this journey. Their passion for providing the very best experiences for our children, alongside their willingness to embrace new ideas and continually reflect on their practice, has been instrumental in the success of this work. We are incredibly proud of all that they have achieved. Whilst we know there is always more to do, it has been a privilege to be part of this important process, and we look forward to continuing our journey of improvement in the years ahead.
Allotment
Our school allotment continues to flourish, and it is so exciting to see the many fruits, vegetables and plants that have been carefully grown by the children throughout the year. Recently, pupils have particularly enjoyed picking and tasting our delicious ripe strawberries. It has been wonderful to see the pride they take in harvesting something they have helped to nurture and grow. The allotment provides valuable opportunities for children to develop a wide range of skills, including responsibility, patience and teamwork. It is also encouraging to see how enthusiastic many of the children have become about gardening and growing their own produce at home. Seeing the results of their hard work has been a rewarding experience for everyone involved.
Trips and ParentPay Reminders
We are excited about the educational visits and experiences planned for the coming weeks. Please keep an eye out for letters and emails regarding upcoming trips, and ensure payments and permissions are completed promptly via ParentPay. If you need any support accessing the system, please contact the school office.
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 5th January
Friday 13th February
Monday 13th April
Monday 20th July
June
Monday 15th June – Whole School Sports Day
Wednesday 17th June – Dosbarth Glas Ystrad Mynach Library visit
Thursday 18th June – Dosbarth Enfys Ystrad Mynach Library visit
Friday 19th June – Dosbarth Porffor Ystrad Mynach Library visit
Monday 22nd June – Year 6 swimming sessions start (3 week block)
Tuesday 23rd June – Bible exhibition Bethel Chapel – Gwyrdd
Wednesday 24th June – Bible exhibition Bethel Chapel – Glas, Porffor, & Enfys
July
Wednesday 1st July/Thursday 2nd July – Lewis school Transition days
Wednesday 1st July – Dosbarth Coch, Oren & Melyn Class trip
Monday 6th July – Spain visit to our school
Wednesday 8th July – Dosbarth Glas class trip
Friday 17th July – break up for Summer holidays
School Menu
Click here to see the school menu.
Week beginning Mon 22nd June will be Week 1
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: 91%
Weekly total
(Week ending 12th June): 88%
Dosbarth Oren: 95%
Dosbarth Melyn: 89%
Dosbarth Gwyrdd: 87%
Dosbarth Glas: 83%
Dosbarth Porffor: 88%
Dosbarth Enfys: 88%
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.
