St Mary's Catholic Primary Weekly Newsletter - 23rd September 2022

Please note school starts 08:55 and finishes at 15:15.

From September, please DO NOT book routine appointments or holidays within term-time. The governors of St Mary's will not authorise holidays taken within term-time.

As you are aware, the school's Educational Social Worker monitors the school attendance every half term in line with the local authority and school's attendance policy. They are also monitor persistent lateness and calculate the total amount of minutes that children are late coming into school.

Over time, persistent lateness often equates to many hours of missed education and can be very distressing for children to enter the classroom when the register has been taken and everyone has started their learning for the day.

Please support us to ensure all children are in school on time to receive their education as long as they are fit and well to do so.

Please note that the Welsh Government are reverting back to issuing fixed penalty notices for unauthorised non- attendance at school.

Any questions, please ask. Diolch yn fawr.

From September, gates will be locked at 08:55 by which time ALL children should be in class and ready to begin their school day.

St Mary's Attendance Race

The St Mary's Attendance race is back on!

Each week during our whole school assembly, the weekly attendance figures for each class will once again be announced and displayed on the attendance race display in the school hall and reported in the weekly newsletter. The classes in Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2 with the highest overall weekly attendance will be awarded the prestigious attendance trophy or shield to keep for the week.

Our Whole School Attendance target is 96%

This week's whole school attendance is 92.7%

Foundation Phase- Winners are Owls with 94.8%

Puffins- 80.9% Parrots- 85.3% Penguins- 90.2%

Robins- 92.1% Owls- 94.8% Wrens- 91.3%

Key Stage 2- Winners are Clywedog with 98.5%

Clywedog- 98.5% Conwy- 97.7% Alyn- 95%

Dovey- 87.3% Gwenfro- 96.2% Dyfrdwy- 94.2% Gwaun 97.1%

At the end of the school year, the winning class will have the opportunity to go to the cinema for a well-deserved treat! In addition, on an individual basis, ALL children with consistent 100% attendance for the year will receive a special 'GOLD' medal.

As I explained to the children in assembly last week, children should not worry about having to stay off school if they are poorly. Children should only attend school if they are fit and well enough to do so. Routine appointments, holidays during term-time, days off for birthdays however, are not valid reasons to stay off school.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding with this very important matter.

First Holy Communion Classes 2022-23

Please see messages about enrolling for First Holy Communion classes in the cathedral Parish and the Parishes of Llay and Rossett. (Year 3 upwards)

First Holy Communion 2022/ 2023 St Mary’s Cathedral Parish

There will be a meeting on Saturday 1 October at 10.15 am in the Cathedral for all parents of children who have given details into the Office. This will be to formally register the children on the First Holy Communion programme, and will give details of the schedule of meetings which children must attend. Please bring evidence of your child's Baptism to this meeting (original certificate or photocopy)

Parents and Children should be regularly attending Mass and all children will have a passport to record attendance. If you did not receive a passport last weekend these will be available after Masses on Sunday 25 September.

This week will be the last opportunity for the names of children to be included in the programme. (Name, date of birth and contact details to be submitted either to secretarywrexhamcathedral@rcdwxm.org.uk or 01978 263943 or in person during office hours.

First Holy Communion 2022/ 2023 Parish of Llay & Rossett

The Parish First Holy Communion programme for children who belong to Llay & Rossett Parish will begin on 1st October 2022.

If your child belongs to Llay Parish and wishes to make their First Holy Communion next year, please call Miss Oonagh Thompson on 07477547574 or email your child's details to o.thompson58@btinternet.com .

Wrexham Leader will be coming to school on Thursday 22nd September to take a photo of the new Reception Class. Teachers have informed parents via Seesaw. Photos will be published in the Leader W/C 24th October

St Mary's School Family Clean Up Day

On Saturday 1st October, we are holding a St Mary's family clean up day in school from 10am- 2pm. All staff, families and friends are invited to join us to give our school gardens and grounds an 'autumn clean up'. Come along to help out, have a chat, get to know each other and make a difference within our school community. It will be lovely to see as many families as possible, particularly after the past few years where we have not been able to come together as a school family. We will even provide bacon butties and a warm drink for all busy helpers! Please click on the LINK to let us know if you are able to join us. Diolch

Extra Curricular Clubs

We are delighted to see the return of our extra- curricular clubs and thank all staff for volunteering their time and skills for the benefit of all our children.

Sorry for the delay! Next week, we will be issuing the final timetable and booking information for all after school/ lunchtime clubs. After school clubs will take place on either a Monday or Tuesday. All children will need to have signed up in advance and parents should ensure that all children are collected on time from the intercom gate. (Top Block) Please note- Reception class clubs will begin after half term.

Years 1 & 2 Parents/ families are invited to their Macmillan Coffee & Cake Event

Friday 30th September at 2pm- more details to follow on Seesaw

Year 5 Grandparents' 'Hopes & Dreams' Coffee Morning 10-30-12:30

Don't Touch Tell Workshops

On Monday, 'Don't Touch Tell' will be visiting to deliver interactive workshops to share important and effective messages for young children instilling them with the confidence they need to keep themselves safe.

Free School Meals- Are you eligible?

May I remind all families who are eligible for free school meals to make an application via the link ‘Free school meals | Wrexham County Borough Council. This will not only provide your child with a daily free meal in school but will also allow parents the opportunity to apply for a Pupil Development Grant (PDG) | Wrexham County Borough Council to help with the cost of uniforms, resources, equipment and devices etc. By making your application, school will also receive the correct amount of funding from Welsh Government.

Please note:-

Your child is eligible to receive free school meals if you or your child receive the following...

• Income Support (IS)*

• Income Based Jobseekers Allowance (IBJSA)*

• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

• Income-related Employment Support Allowance (IR)

• Child Tax Credit - providing you’re not entitled to Working Tax Credit with an annual total income below the HMRC set limit

• Guarantee element of State Pension Credit

• Working Tax Credit 'run-on' - the payment someone may receive for a further four weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

• Universal Credit - if you are working you must be earning less than £7,400 per year (£616.67 per month) to qualify for free school meal

From September 1st, all Reception children in Wrexham can have a free school meal as part of the WG universal offer. However, if you are in receipt of the above benefits, please remember to make an application via the links above as well to ensure access to the PDG and to enable school to receive the additional funding.

I urge all families to take up this wonderful universal offer. Diolch

School Dinner orders

Please ensure that school dinners are pre-ordered at home. Teachers should not be ordering meals in school, as previously advised by WCBC. Thank you