Pont Choir of the Year Semi Final

The School Choir has successfully won its way through to the final of the Pont Choir of the Year Final. This will be held at Pontypridd High School on Wednesday April 3^rd. Tickets for the event and further details will be circulated to parents as soon as we receive them from the organisers. Thank you to Mrs Johnson for rehearsing with the choir and we wish them every success in the final.

The PESS team have requested that we observe Sport Relief day this year tomorrow, Friday 21^st March. This year we are really excited to be raising money for Sport Relief 2014! As one of the UK’s biggest fundraising events, Sport Relief brings the entire nation together to get active, raise cash and change Gelli Primary School has decided to get involved and help raise money for this incredible cause.

To do our bit and raise money we will be: allowing pupils to wear sports kit for the day and complete a Sport Relief walk around the school playground. Please will you send in a donation of your choice. The money raised by the public is spent by Comic Relief to help people living incredibly tough lives, both at home in the UK and across the world's poorest countries. To find out more about Sport Relief visit sportrelief.com/schools.

We will also be using Sport Relief as a teaching opportunity so that our students can learn about the issues children across the world face, and how the money we raise can help them.

We really appreciate your support and hope that you’ll have fun helping our school raise lots of money for Sport Relief!

Proposed Industrial action by the NUT

Members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) have notified their employers that the school will be involved in industrial action on Wednesday 26th March 2014. I am required to undertake a risk assessment relating to the potential impact of the action. Under current industrial legislation employees who continue to work cannot be required to undertake work beyond their normal duties. The risk assessment is made against the impact that the action will have on the health and safety of pupils, staff and visitors, whether the school is able to deliver a full or amended curriculum and ultimately whether the school should remain open or whether it should close.

I have informed the Director of Education and Chair of Governors that the school will be closed for pupils on that day. The reasons are that it is not possible to provide adequate staffing cover for all or some of the pupils; No first aid cover be available; There will be inadequate supervision of children at lunchtime and break times neither will there be sufficient support staff available in class to assist with children with special needs etc and the particular demands of nursery and Key Stage 1. Emergency hazards will not be dealt with appropriately, such as broken glass, spillages and hygiene issues such as cleaning of toilets and dealing with vomit and other bodily fluids.

Please will you make alternative arrangements for your children on this day as the school will not be open to receive any pupils. School will recommence for all pupils on Thursday with Breakfast Club opening at 8.00 a.m.

Internet Safety - more information for parents

Following on from activities undertaken in school I have been asked to post a link to the SID site.

Link to Internet Safety Day 2014

Parental information regarding the Literacy and Numeracy Framework

The links below are for the interactive Literacy and Numeracy Framework - the first one gets you to the 'How to use the interactive LNF' - there's a video explaining what the LNF is and how to use the exemplification materials. This could be useful for parents wishing to know more about this initiative

Literacy and Numeracy Framework link for parents

Year 6 meeting for pupils going to Abernant.

We have arranged a meeting for Year 6 pupils and their parents who are going on the Abernant Trip at the end of the month. We will go through the itinerary, update you on the expectations we demand from pupils and answer any last minute questions. The meeting will take place at 3.45 on Thursday 13th March in the school Hall. We will also distribute any letters that you may have mislaid.

So that you can see what the pupils are likely to get up to here is an iMovie trailer that the pupils in 2012 made.

Reporting to Parents Evenings for the Spring Term 2014

I would like to offer you an appointment to discuss your child’s progress with your class teacher during the week beginning on Monday 17^th March until Thursday 20^th March. The teachers are working at different times during the week and a list of their appointment times are included below.

Here are the arrangements for our parent evenings

• You are invited to report to the school main hall FIVE MINUTES prior to your appointment where you will be taken to meet your child’s teacher by one of our Year 6 pupils.
• The bell will ring after each ten minute appointment.
• Please will you complete a parental response form after your appointment commenting on your child’s achievements and progress to date.
• Please will JUNIOR PARENTS - Classes 5, 6, 7 & 8 ring Mrs Thomas, the school secretary to make a specific appointment or if you are available to come at any time then an appointment will be made for you.
• FOUNDATION PHASE PARENTS WILL FILL IN THE POSTER OUTSIDE THEIR CLASS.
• If you have not made an appointment we will assume that you are free to come at any time and an appointment will be made for you.
• You will receive confirmation of your appointment be letter on Friday 15th March.

This system proved successful in previous years and avoided unnecessary delays to those who will have later appointments.

Class 1

Nursery

Miss Evans

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 3.20 – 4.20 p.m.

Class 2

Reception

Mrs Flanary-Davies

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 3.20 – 4.20 p.m.

Class 3

Year 1

Mrs Dyer

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 3.20 – 4.20 p.m.

Class 4

Year 2

Mrs Fraser

Tuesday, 3.20 – 5.30 p.m and Wednesday 3.20  - 4.40 p.m.

Class 5

Year 3

Mrs Dyer / Miss Peppin

Wednesday & Thursday 3.20 – 5.30 p.m.

Class 6

Year 4

Mrs Johnson

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 3.20 – 4.20 p.m.

Class 7

Year 5

Miss Davis

Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday 3.20 – 4.50 p.m.

Class 8

Year 6

Mrs Carly

Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday from 3.20 to 4.20 p.m.

Dosbarth 1 - Nursery - Miss Evans - Order No.195

Dosbarth 2 - Reception - Mrs Flanary-Davies - Order No 193

Dosbarth 3 - Year 1 - Mrs Dyer Order No 196

Dosbarth 4 - Year 2 - Mrs Fraser - Order No192

Dosbarth 5 - Year 3 - Mrs Dyer & Miss Peppin - Order No 191

Dosbarth 6 - Yea 4 - Mrs Johnson - Order No 190

Dosbarth 7 - Year 5 - Miss Davis - Order No 189

Dosbarth 8 - Year 6 - Mrs Carly - Order No 188

St David's Day Photographs from the Rhondda Leader

This year’s St David's day pictures will appear in editions of the Rhondda Leader in the coming weeks. Pictures are on sale, a large number of parents contact us each year, wondering where they can purchase the pictures. They are available from - Mrs M Gunton 5 Bryn Terrace, Tylorstown CF43 3AU If you have any questions regarding your St David's day picture's please contact her on 01443 733277. Please send your order along with a cheque, made payable to M Gunton to the above address. Prices are a highly competitive £7.00 for an 8 x 6, colour photograph, presented in an attractive folder. Mrs Gunton informs us that each school will once again retain 10% of the money raised by the school, as a good will gesture. The Order number is required for each photograph. Please be mindful that the school is not responsible for ordering these photographs.