Tuesday 11th February, 2009 School Open Today!

The school is open today! I have not received a call from Mr Bailey(Phil) to inform me of any significant problems. Please use the main entrance to the school and enter through the infants gate and please DO NOT USE THE MAIN DOUBLE SCHOOL GATE! This is a Danger Zone! children watch you as parents using these double gates and they will copy you and start using them. We had another near miss yesterday! Anyone using these gates in future will receive letters from myself and the community police officer PCSO James Page.

Please use gritted pathways around the school to enter and leave the premises!

Many Thanks

Mr Carrington

Adverse Weather Conditions - 6th February, 2009

The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for snow arriving in our area overnight and in the early hours of Friday 6th February 2009. There is a chance that between 1cm - 2cm will fall generally and between 2cm - 5cm on higher ground. It is forecast to clear by mid morning. Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council have issued further advice regarding home to school transport which has been withdrawn due to the possible disruption to traffic on Friday morning. This only affects one child in our school. There is expected disruption on roads and a decision to close the school will be taken as early as possible when we know what conditions are like in the morning. The protocol that we need to follow is posted on an emergency arrangements page. We will endeavour to contact parents via postings on the school website and bullitins in the media. Thank you for your patience during this unsettling time.
IT IS OUR INTENTION TO OPEN THE SCHOOL UNLESS HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERNS PREVENT US FROM DOING SO.

Formula 1 Competition

In the Autumn Term our year six class took part in a fantastic Design Technology Project 'The F1 Competition'. The class developed their scientific, mathematical, design and technology, creative, artistic, ICT and teamwork skills.

The class voted for 6 children to lead the project. These pupils were Courtney(Team Manager), Jordan(Design Technician), Iwan(Marketing Manager), Jordan(Manufacturing Manager), Kieron(Quality Control Manager) and Ben(Research Manager)

The team used CAD/CAM software to design a car for a drag race against other schools. They then posted their design to Bob Edwards who machined our model. The team then sanded, spray painted and added logos to the final model. They then visited local businesses to gain sponsorship. During the first two months of the project the children managed to secure £1000 of funding.The team then raced the 'Draguar' car against other schools in a drag race powered by co2 canisters.

During the Final at the Waterton Centre, Bridgend 25 teams took part and the children were judged on car design, car speed, display, sponsorship, team presentation, team appearance, and innovation. Our team came 2nd in team appearance and 3rd in display and team presentation skills. They will be receiving trophies during the Spring Term. Well done Team Draguar!

Chris Bryant presents our school with Parliamentary Award for Excellence in Art

In the Autumn Term our school entered a Parliamentary Art Competition to celebrate the Year of European Dialogue. Our school won the Rhondda Regional final and on December 15th Owen Morgan (Year 6 pupil), Kevin Morgan (Chair of Governors) and myself were invited to Parliament by Chris Bryant MP to attend the National Final.

It was a fantastic day where we visited the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Owen met Father Christmas and asked him for a Laptop, however he was more excited when he had his photograph taken with X Factor finalists 'Hope'.

During the Children's party Keith Vaz MP announced the winners of the competition and out of 646 constituencies our school came third. I am very proud of this wonderful achievement by our children and staff and look forward to showcasing our artistic talents in future competitions.

Minister of Education Visits Penyrenglyn

The Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning & Skills, Jane Hutt AM, visited Penyrenglyn Community Primary School in Treherbert last week (Thursday 15th January).

The purpose of the Ministerial visit was to observe the Welsh Assembly Government’s ‘Foundation Phase’ initiative at the School. The Foundation Phase initiative aims to provide a broad, balanced and varied curriculum for children aged between three and seven based on play, active learning and experience. The Chair of Governors, Mr Kevin Morgan, and the Head Teacher, Mr Mark Carrington, greeted Ms Hutt, before Mrs Eiluned Davies, the school’s Foundation Phase Leader, accompanied the Minister around the school prior to the Minister joining the children in a variety of ‘learning through play’ activities. Councillor, Eudine Hanagan, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, said: “The ‘Foundation Phase’ initiative has proved to be a great success in the school and is a credit to the hard work that the staff and children have put in to it. This initiative has given children a very good opportunity to get involved in a wide range of activities, that may not have been available prior to this scheme being launched.”
Head Teacher, Mr Carrington, said: “We wanted to highlight the importance of outdoor experiential learning and show how we have utilised our local environment to stimulate children’s imagination. Our plans for the future include establishing our own Forest School site that the children can use on a weekly basis.”
“In particular we wanted to show the Minister how we are approaching the Foundation Phase and putting her policies into practice. I pay tribute to all the staff for their dedication to the development and care of our children – and I was so proud of the children themselves who were so natural and un-phased by the VIP visitor!”