What’s coming up?

After School Clubs

Choir (Caswell and Oxwich): Monday 3.20-4.15pm. Consent form: https://forms.office.com/e/sv4C9BRrfD
Mad Science: Wednesday 3.20 – 4.20pm (for those who have already registered and paid)
Language Explorers (Caswell): Thursday 3.20 -4.15pm. (for those who have already registered) 
Netball (Year 5s only): Thursday 3.20-4.15pm.

Dates for the Diary

• Spring Half Term Holiday – Monday 12th February to Friday 16th February
• PTA Second Hand Uniform Sale – Thursday 22nd February
• World Book Day – Thursday 7th March
• Pobbles R Class Assembly – Friday 8th March – Parents and Grandparents welcome. Starts 9.00am and lasts approx. half an hour. Please queue at Gate 2 on Trafalgar Place from 8.50am after the children have been let in.
• Easter Holiday – Monday 25th March to Friday 5th April

A message of thanks to our Chair of Governors

Anwaar Younis, has announced her intention to step down from the role of Chair of Governors of Brynmill Primary School. Anwaar has carried out this role with diligence and compassion for over 8 years. Her contribution to our school as a member of our Governing Body for the last 12 years has been hugely valued. She will be missed enormously, by staff and governors alike, for her support, kindness and courage during the difficult times we have faced over the years. Can we take the opportunity to say thank you for the many hours volunteered, challenges faced and met, and support offered freely for the benefit of the children, staff and families of Brynmill School.

Local Family Activities

Lateness

We have noticed an increase in pupils arriving late to school at the start of the day. We would like to remind you that the school gates open at 8.40am, ready for the start of the school day at 8.50am. We want to raise awareness of the importance of punctuality and would appreciate your assistance in helping your child arrive to school on time. If you arrive late, we will be asking parents / carers to bring pupils to the school office to sign them in. Thank you in advance for your support in this matter.

Year 6 Leavers Hoodies

We will be putting in another order of Year 6 hoodies. If you would like to order any please complete the form https://forms.office.com/e/UfwLMB3gGu and make payment on iPay. Deadline: Friday 9th February.

PTA News

Thank you so much to everyone who has completed our survey so far. We’d love some more responses if possible so we can make improvements to our PTA events. Link below to the survey:
https://forms.gle/MTadcXL9K82PNaGdA

Finally a reminder that we’re still looking for the following items to be donated for upcoming second hand sale: 

– uniforms 
– ⁠coats 
– ⁠school shoes and trainers
– P.E kit 
– ⁠fancy dress costumes (for world book day) 
– ⁠St David’s Day costumes 

Please can you hand any donations in to the school office and make sure they are clean and dry when handing in. Thank you so much! 

P.S. We’re bring back the Summer Fete this year…..woo hoo! So if anyone would like to help with organising, please drop us a message on friendsofbrynmill@gmail.com

Rights Respecting School

As a Rights Respecting School, we focus each month on a particular Article from the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child. Assemblies, Circle time and class activities are based on these Rights. In connection with these, we also have a Value of the Month. Together, the Rights & Values encourage our learners to be respectful of each other, safe, and to be the best they can be.

Right of the Month for February

You have the right to honest information as long as it’s safe (Article 17)

Value of the Month for February

Safety

What’s coming up?

After School Clubs

NO CHOIR next week
Mad Science: Wednesday 3.20 – 4.20pm (for those who have already registered and paid)
Languages (Caswell): Thursday 3.20 -4.15pm. (for those who have already registered) Cancelled this week
Netball (Year 5s only): Thursday 3.20-4.15pm.

Dates for the Diary

• Caswell H Class Assembly – Friday 2nd February – Parents and Grandparents welcome from 9.00am to 9.30am approximately. Please queue at Gate 2 on Trafalgar Place from 8.50am after the children have been let in.
• Spring Half Term Holiday – Monday 12th February to Friday 16th February
• PTA Second Hand Uniform Sale – Thursday 22nd February
• World Book Day – Thursday 7th March
• Pobbles R Class Assembly – Friday 8th March
• Easter Holiday – Monday 25th March to Friday 5th April

iPay impact

iPay is the online payment system that we use for all payments to school e.g. school dinners, fruit tuckshop, breakfast club, trips, activity fund, charity days etc. Everything has it’s own separate fund so please ensure that you are putting money into the correct one. To see all available funds go to the menu, then accounts, and select your child. If you need a registration letter or any help with using iPay please contact the school office.

Reporting Absence

If your child is absent from school please report this to the school office by phoning the school on 01792 463019 and leaving a message on our attendance line, including the reason for absence. Alternatively you can email the school office at brynmill.primary@swansea-edunet.gov.uk. Please do not rely on passing on messages to staff at the school gate or via class dojo as these do not always reach our attendance officer.

If you have an upcoming planned absence e.g. a holiday please complete the online form: https://forms.office.com/e/MruSui5Lfc.

Dinner Money

School Dinners are currently free for Reception to Year 3. After the February half term this will be extended to Year 4s. For those who pay for school meals, please remember that Swansea Council have a zero debt policy, and dinner money must be paid in advance. If your child is having school dinners and is not eligible for Free School Meals, please ensure that your iPay account is topped up.

Year 6 Leavers Hoodies

We will be putting in another order of Year 6 hoodies. If you would like to order any please complete the form https://forms.office.com/e/UfwLMB3gGu and make payment on iPay. Deadline: Friday 9th February.

Free Period Products

We have free Eco friendly period products to give out to girls in the Caswell & Oxwich Classes, please complete the form if you would like your daughter to receive some: https://forms.office.com/e/EsqwzkmkkF

PTA News

Friends of Brynmill Primary School are conducting a survey to get your thoughts on PTA events. If you’d could please spare a few minutes we’d be very grateful for your input. 
Link to the survey is below:
https://forms.gle/MTadcXL9K82PNaGdA

A reminder also that we’re still looking for donations of the following items for our upcoming second hand sale:
– uniforms 
– ⁠coats 
– school shoes and trainers 
– P.E kit 
– fancy dress costumes (for world book day) 
– St David’s Day costumes
Please hand any donations to the school office. Date for second hand sale is Thursday 22nd February.

Thank you so much for your support!

Rights Respecting School

As a Rights Respecting School, we focus each month on a particular Article from the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child. Assemblies, Circle time and class activities are based on these Rights. In connection with these, we also have a Value of the Month. Together, the Rights & Values encourage our learners to be respectful of each other, safe, and to be the best they can be.

Right of the Month for January

All children should be treated equally (Article 2)

Value of the Month for January

Kindness

What’s coming up?

After School Clubs

Choir (Caswell and Oxwich): Monday 3.20-4.15pm. Consent form: https://forms.office.com/e/sv4C9BRrfD
Languages (Caswell): Thursday 3.20 -4.15pm. Consent form: https://forms.office.com/e/2tiKt4w0qH
Netball (Year 5s only): Thursday 3.20-4.15pm.
Mad Science: Wednesday (for those who have already registered and paid)

Mrs Nicholas (Community Lead) and our Brynmill Senedd Pupil Voice Group have considered how we could extend opportunities for our learners. This is a challenge for many schools given that most non-fee-paying extra curricular opportunities can only happen because of the good will of staff, who are already working very hard to meet ever increasing demands that often exceed funding, time and staffing levels.

Whilst offering extending opportunities is not part of the day job, so to speak, staff willingness to give up their lunch time or after school hours, has allowed us to offer extended opportunities once more. A heartfelt thanks to the staff who invest their time and energy into extra-curricular activities to enhance experiences for our children. * Mad Science fee paying extracurricular club is also supported by Mr Newey who offers his time freely.

Dates for the Diary

• Caswell M Class Assembly – Friday 26th January – Parents and Grandparents welcome from 9.00am to 9.30am approximately. Please queue at Gate 2 on Trafalgar Place from 8.50am after the children have been let in.
• Caswell H Class Assembly – Friday 2nd February – Parents and Grandparents welcome from 9.00am to 9.30am approximately. Please queue at Gate 2 on Trafalgar Place from 8.50am after the children have been let in.
• Spring Half Term Holiday – Monday 12th February to Friday 16th February
  

Universal Free School Meals Update

Message from Swansea Council: Further to previous correspondence, we are pleased to announce we will be rolling out free school meals to all year 4 pupils from 19 February 2024 (after half term). Please note this will be automatic and there will be no requirement to apply for the meals. We aim to roll out to further year groups as soon as possible and will update you on our progress in due course.

Free School Meals and the School Essentials Grant

The Welsh Government offers support with Free School Meals and School Essentials such as uniform, kit and stationery for low income families / those in receipt of certain benefits. Make sure you’ve checked your child’s eligibility for Free School Meals. Even if they receive Universal Free Schools Meals, more help could be available! If eligible, you can get up to £200 per child for School Essentials, plus extra funding for our school. For more information and to apply go to:
https://www.swansea.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals?lang=en

Estyn’s new Parents and Carers Community

The education and training inspectorate of Wales, Estyn, have recently set up a Parents and
Carers Community to hear the views of this group. Estyn are encouraging parents and carers to join the community and share their views about education in Wales through short surveys and focus groups. You can join the community and find out more on their website
https://www.estyn.gov.wales/parents-and-carers

Year 6 Leavers Hoodies

We will be putting in another order of Year 6 hoodies. If you would like to order any please complete the form https://forms.office.com/e/UfwLMB3gGu and make payment on iPay. Deadline: Friday 9th February.

Free Period Products

We have free Eco friendly period products to give out to girls in the Caswell & Oxwich Classes, please complete the form if you would like your daughter to receive some: https://forms.office.com/e/EsqwzkmkkF

PTA News

We’re excited to be starting a new year and are looking forward to organizing more events in the upcoming months. Look out for Family Film Nights, Easter Egg Trail, Summer Fete, coffee mornings, and a few other events dotted throughout the months. 

If there are any parents, family members or carers who’d like to join the committee, we are always happy to have more on the team. Please feel free to email us at friendsofbrynmill@gmail.com and we’ll get in touch. 

We are gearing up for another second hand uniform sale after Feb half term. As part of this sale we’ll also be selling second hand St David’s day costumes and fancy dress costumes for World Book Day! So if you have any uniform, costumes and/or fancy dress items that you no longer need, we’d be super grateful for any donations to the school. Donations can be handed in to the office and must be clean and dry before handing in. 

Don’t forget we’re also looking for Christmas jumper donations for next years’ swap shop. So if you’re clearing out a Christmas jumper that no longer fits, we’d love for it to be donated to the school if possible. 

Thank you so much for your support!

Rights Respecting School

As a Rights Respecting School, we focus each month on a particular Article from the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child. Assemblies, Circle time and class activities are based on these Rights. In connection with these, we also have a Value of the Month. Together, the Rights & Values encourage our learners to be respectful of each other, safe, and to be the best they can be.

Right of the Month for January

All children should be treated equally (Article 2)

Value of the Month for January

Kindness

Happy New Year to all our pupils and families, and welcome to the Spring Term at Brynmill Primary.

What’s coming up?

After School Clubs

Choir (Caswell and Oxwich): Monday 3.20-4.15pm. Consent form: https://forms.office.com/e/sv4C9BRrfD
Languages (Caswell): Thursday 3.20 -4.15pm. Consent form: https://forms.office.com/e/2tiKt4w0qH
Netball (Year 5s only): Thursday 3.20-4.15pm.

Mad Science: Wednesday – see flyer below for more information. Deadline to register is Sunday 14th January.

Dates for the Diary

• Caswell M Class Assembly – Friday 26th January – Parents and Grandparents welcome from 9.00am to 9.30am approximately. Please queue at Gate 2 on Trafalgar Place from 8.50am after the children have been let in.
• Caswell H Class Assembly – Friday 2nd February – Parents and Grandparents welcome from 9.00am to 9.30am approximately. Please queue at Gate 2 on Trafalgar Place from 8.50am after the children have been let in.
• Spring Half Term Holiday – Monday 12th February to Friday 16th February

TESCO tokens

It is the final weekend to collect Tesco Blue Tokens for our school. If you shop at Tesco’s, please pick up the blue tokens and vote for our school. We could receive up to £1,500 towards our Sensory Safe Spaces Project.

Year 6 Leavers Hoodies

We will be putting in another order of Year 6 hoodies. If you would like to order any please complete the form https://forms.office.com/e/UfwLMB3gGu and make payment on iPay. Deadline: Friday 9th February.

Free Period Products

We have free Eco friendly period products to give out to girls in the Caswell & Oxwich Classes, please complete the form if you would like your daughter to receive some: https://forms.office.com/e/EsqwzkmkkF

Appeal for Christmas Jumpers / costumes

Later in the year we would like to run a Christmas swap shop. If you are having a clear out and are getting rid of any Christmas jumpers or costumes they would be very gratefully received. Please bring donations to the school office.

Rights Respecting School

As a Rights Respecting School, we focus each month on a particular Article from the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child. Assemblies, Circle time and class activities are based on these Rights. In connection with these, we also have a Value of the Month. Together, the Rights & Values encourage our learners to be respectful of each other, safe, and to be the best they can be.

Right of the Month for January

All children should be treated equally (Article 2)

Value of the Month for January

Kindness

What’s coming up?

Christmas Parties

Wednesday 20th December
Children are invited to wear their party clothes to school.

Children in Pobbles & Bracelet are asked to bring in some party food for themselves on a labelled plate.

Children in Caswell are asked to bring in some sweet food to share, such as cakes and biscuits, popcorn etc. (Please note if any items are home made please label any allergens).

Children in Oxwich are asked to bring in some savoury food to share, such as small pasties, sausage rolls, samosas, crisps etc. (Please note if any items are home made please label any allergens)

Please note that as we have some nut free classes, please do not send in anything that contains nuts.

If you child has any allergies you are welcome to provide them with their own labelled container/plate of party items.

Please note the party food is in addition to normal lunchtime arrangements, so please ensure your child has a packed lunch/ school dinner.

Dates for the Diary

• Christmas Holidays – Monday 25th December to Friday 5th January
• Inset Day – Monday 8th January – School closed to pupils for staff training.

After School Clubs:

• No After School Clubs until after Christmas

Christmas Concerts

Thank you to everyone who attended our Christmas Concerts this week, we hope you enjoyed. You have helped us raise an amazing £674 just from the entrance fee. Thank you to the wonderful Friends of Brynmill Primary for providing refreshments and running the Christmas Raffle.

Oxwich Residential

Letters with details of this year’s residential trip for Year 5 and 6 have been sent out today, if you haven’t received one please contact the school office.

Rights Respecting School

As a Rights Respecting School, we focus each month on a particular Article from the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child. Assemblies, Circle time and class activities are based on these Rights. In connection with these, we also have a Value of the Month. Together, the Rights & Values encourage our learners to be respectful of each other, safe, and to be the best they can be.

Right of the Month for December

You have the right to a proper house, food and clothing. Governments must help families who cannot afford to provide this (Article 27)

Value of the Month for December

Creativity

What’s coming up?

Christmas Concerts

Bracelet – Tuesday 12th December 9.30am and 4.00pm
Caswell – Wednesday 13th December 9.30am and 4.00pm
Oxwich – Thursday 14th December 9.30am and 4.00pm

£1 entry per adult

For the 4.00pm concerts, children will stay in school and be provided with a light snack before the concert. Children will be collected after the concert from the main hall.

Christmas Dinner and Christmas Jumper Day

Friday 15th December
The school dinner on this day will be a Christmas Dinner of turkey , chipolata sausage, roast and creamed potatoes, peas, carrots and gravy, with an ice cream tub for dessert. Halal and Vegetarian options are available. The usual Friday dinner of Fish and Chips, or Cheese Wrap and Chips will be swapped to the Thursday for this week.
Children can wear a Christmas jumper, suggested charity donation of £1 to Save the Children.

Christmas Parties

Wednesday 20th December
Children are invited to wear their party clothes to school.

Children in Pobbles & Bracelet are asked to bring in some party food for themselves on a labelled plate. Please note that as we have some nut free classes, please do not send in anything that contains nuts.

Children in Caswell are asked to bring in some sweet food to share, such as cakes and biscuits, popcorn etc. (Please note if any items are home made please label any allergens such as nuts, seeds or eggs).

Children in Oxwich are asked to bring in some savoury food to share, such as small pasties, sausage rolls, samosas, crisps etc. (Please note if any items are home made please label any allergens such as nuts, seeds or eggs)

If you child has any allergies you are welcome to provide them with their own labelled container/plate of party items.

Please note the party food is in addition to normal lunchtime arrangements, so please ensure your child has a packed lunch/ school dinner.

Dates for the Diary

• Christmas Holidays – Monday 25th December to Friday 5th January
• Inset Day – Monday 8th January – School closed to pupils for staff training.

After School Clubs:

• No After School Clubs until after Christmas

Road Safety

We are always trying to find ways to keep our pupils and families safe around the school and would like to remind parents / carers about road safety. We ask that you do not stop or park on the zig zag or double yellow lines outside the school. Please find a safe place to park and walk with your child to the school gate.

There is currently a vacancy for a School Crossing Patrol – if you are interested, please see the advert on the Swansea Council website here: https://www.swansea.gov.uk/article/16253/School-Crossing-Patrol-closing-date-31032024

Reporting absence

If your child is absent from school please report this to the school office by phoning the school on 01792 463019 and leaving a message on our attendance line, including the reason for absence. Alternatively you can email the school office at brynmill.primary@swansea-edunet.gov.uk. Please do not rely on passing on messages to staff at the school gate or via class dojo as these do not always reach our attendance officer.

Vacancy – Lunchtime Supervisor

We have a vacancy for a lunchtime supervisor – 5 hours a week (one hour a day) term time only. Starting in January. If you are interested please contact the school office.

Dinner Money

Reminder that Swansea Council have a zero debt policy, and dinner money must be paid in advance. If your child is having school dinners and is not eligible for Free School Meals, please ensure that your iPay account is topped up.

Easy Fundraising

You can support the school just by doing your usual shopping. To find out more about easy fundraising and to sign up click the link:

https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/brynmillps

PTA news

If you’re lucky enough to be attending the Christmas concerts over the next week, please remember to bring spare change with you as Friends of Brynmill Primary School will be selling refreshments including tea, coffee, herbal tea, squash and mince pies to raise funds for the school. 

We will also be selling hand knitted jumpers, bed socks, mice, hedgehogs, cats, monkeys and ladybirds. Raffle tickets will also be on sale, but if you’re unable to attend you can also buy tickets on the link below:

https://go.rallyup.com/christmasraffle2023bps

There are some fantastic prizes including a 30 minute flight with a pilot from team Raven! 

Also a huge thank you to everyone who attended our book fair, the number of books sold meant the teachers have acquired 80 books for our school!

Rights Respecting School

As a Rights Respecting School, we focus each month on a particular Article from the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child. Assemblies, Circle time and class activities are based on these Rights. In connection with these, we also have a Value of the Month. Together, the Rights & Values encourage our learners to be respectful of each other, safe, and to be the best they can be.

Right of the Month for December

You have the right to a proper house, food and clothing. Governments must help families who cannot afford to provide this (Article 27)

Value of the Month for December

Creativity

What’s coming up?

After School Clubs:

• No Choir until after Christmas
• Netball After School Club (Year 5s only): Thursday 3.20-4.15pm.

Dates for the Diary:

• Christmas Concerts:
  Pobbles – Friday 8th December 9:30am and 2.15pm
  Bracelet – Tuesday 12th December 9.30am and 4.00pm
  Caswell – Wednesday 13th December 9.30am and 4.00pm
  Oxwich – Thursday 14th December 9.30am and 4.00pm
• Christmas Dinner and Christmas Jumper Day – Friday 15th December
• Christmas Holidays – Monday 25th December to Friday 5th January
• Inset Day – Monday 8th January – School closed to pupils for staff training.

Road Safety

We are always trying to find ways to keep our pupils and families safe around the school and would like to remind parents / carers about road safety. We ask that you do not stop or park on the zig zag or double yellow lines outside the school. Please find a safe place to park and walk with your child to the school gate.

There is currently a vacancy for a School Crossing Patrol – if you are interested, please see the advert on the Swansea Council website here: https://www.swansea.gov.uk/article/16253/School-Crossing-Patrol-closing-date-31032024

Year 6 Hoodies

We will be putting a mini order of Year 6 hoodies at the end of next week. If you would like to order any extra hoodies please complete our online form https://forms.office.com/e/UfwLMB3gGu, and pay on iPay.

Reporting absence

If your child is absent from school please report this to the school office by phoning the school on 01792 463019 and leaving a message on our attendance line, including the reason for absence. Alternatively you can email the school office at brynmill.primary@swansea-edunet.gov.uk. Please do not rely on passing on messages to staff at the school gate or via class dojo as these do not always reach our attendance officer.

Vacancy – Lunchtime Supervisor

We have a vacancy for a lunchtime supervisor – 5 hours a week (one hour a day) term time only. Starting in January. If you are interested please contact the school office.

WOW – The Walk to School Challenge

Remember to walk to school if you can. This not only helps with congestion and pollution around the school but pupils can also earn badges in the WOW – Walk to School Challenge.

Dinner Money

Reminder that Swansea Council have a zero debt policy, and dinner money must be paid in advance. If your child is having school dinners and is not eligible for Free School Meals, please ensure that your iPay account is topped up.

School Bags

Many children are bringing large school bags into school and we are struggling to accommodate them on our cloakroom trolleys and coat hooks. If you are buying new or replacing any school bags please choose the smallest option where ever possible. If your child has a school dinner and is only bringing a water bottle to school, please consider whether they need to bring a bag at all. We have a lot of stairs in school, and therefore bags with wheels are not suitable and unsafe. Thank you for your understanding.

Easy Fundraising

You can support the school just by doing your usual shopping. To find out more about easy fundraising and to sign up click the link:

https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/brynmillps

PTA news

Thank you so much to everyone who came down to the half price book fair! Hope you all grabbed yourselves a bargain. We’ll have an update soon on how much the school will have to spend on books once sales have been counted up. 

Our Christmas raffle fundraiser is now live!

https://go.rallyup.com/christmasraffle2023bps

There’s are loads of prizes to be won including a flight with a pilot from Swansea’s very own Team Raven! Other prizes include jewellery from Thirty Pieces of Silver, a £150 voucher from online shop &Mother, vouchers for Common Meeple, Panshee Indian Restaurant, The Spa at LC2, Brynmill Coffee House, Exist Skatepark, Bluebell Coffee & Kitchen as well as artwork and crafts by local artists and makers. 

All funds raised will go towards new play equipment and other improvements to the outdoor spaces, teaching and reading materials, supports for school trips and social events. Entries can be purchased be purchased at £2 for x10 entries. 

Winners will be drawn and contacted on December 15th 2023. Tickets can be bought from the link above or with cash during our Christmas concerts. Please support if you can and share with family and friends. Thank you so much for your support!

Rights Respecting School

As a Rights Respecting School, we focus each month on a particular Article from the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child. Assemblies, Circle time and class activities are based on these Rights. In connection with these, we also have a Value of the Month. Together, the Rights & Values encourage our learners to be respectful of each other, safe, and to be the best they can be.

Right of the Month for December

You have the right to a proper house, food and clothing. Governments must help families who cannot afford to provide this (Article 27)

Value of the Month for December

Creativity