Visit to the Big Pit Museum

On Monday, pupils from Years 4, 5, and 6 visited the Big Pit National Coal Museum as part of their inquiry into the question, "What was life like in Wales during the Industrial Era?" The children learned about the challenging experiences faced by children working in the coal mines during the Victorian era. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the parents who supported us on this visit. School trips like these are invaluable as they bring the curriculum to life, providing pupils with hands-on, real-world experiences that deepen their understanding of the topics studied in class. These experiences help make abstract concepts more tangible, sparking curiosity and engaging different learning styles.

Enrichment Clubs

Our after-school enrichment program kicked off this week with a variety of clubs. On Monday, we had Netball and Art; Tuesday was Football/Rugby; Wednesday saw the return of Mad Science, and Thursday was dedicated to Welsh and Cookery clubs. Next Wednesday, we are excited to introduce our new Table Tennis Club, led by Coach David from Table Tennis Wales. These enrichment clubs provide children with the chance to explore interests beyond the standard curriculum, develop new skills, and build confidence. They also promote teamwork, social interaction, and problem-solving, helping to create a fun, relaxed environment where children can nurture lifelong passions.

Football Match and New Kits

On Thursday, our school football team hosted their first fixture of the season against Y Bontfaen Primary School.

The team showcased excellent skills and teamwork, all while proudly wearing their brand-new sports kits, generously sponsored by DWA Accountants in Bridgend and Pure Indulgence in Pontyclun.

A huge thank you for your kindness and support – the kits looked fantastic, and the players felt very proud to wear them!

Non-School Uniform Day for the NSPCC

Friday was a non-school uniform day to raise funds for the NSPCC, a charity close to our hearts. Mr. Howles is running the Cardiff Half Marathon to support this amazing cause. The NSPCC plays a vital role in creating a safe, nurturing environment for all children, reinforcing lessons about kindness, empathy, and the importance of supporting others. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this worthwhile cause.

Harvest Appeal with Vale Foodbank

Also on Friday, we were visited by Mrs. Thomas from the Vale of Glamorgan’s Foodbank, who launched our Harvest Appeal. As part of our Harvest celebrations, we’ll be collecting food and household items to support those in need within our community. Mrs. Thomas shared with us the vital role the foodbank plays and how this summer, they ran out of food and had to turn people away.

It’s more important than ever to support such initiatives, especially in these challenging times. If you can donate any items next week, we would be incredibly grateful. Our School Council will be helping to organise the collection, which we’ll deliver to the food bank in Llantwit Major over the coming weeks.

School Committees Update

Our various school committees are hard at work this term:

• School Council: Working towards the Rights Respecting School Award
• Eco Owls: Aiming for the Eco-Schools Green Award
• Digital Champions: Focusing on the 360 eSafety Award
• Criw Cymraeg: Committed to achieving the Cymraeg Campus Award
• Healthy and Fit Committee: Pursuing the Healthy Schools Award

Upcoming Events

We look forward to welcoming parents to our Harvest Festival next Friday, 27th September, at 9:30 am. Following this, we’ll be hosting a Macmillan Coffee Morning, where parents and family members are invited to join us for refreshments and homemade cakes. We hope to see you there!

Parent Volunteers

A heartfelt thank you to all the parents who supported us on Friday, helping to transform our Infant School Garden, as well as those who lent a hand during our Help Out Day at the start of the year.

The Infant Garden looks fantastic, thanks to your hard work in planting, weeding, clearing, and power-washing the children's equipment. We are also excited to share that the school has recently received a £12,000 grant to further develop our infant classes’ learning environments, both inside and outside. This will enhance the outdoor space even more and create an inspiring area for our youngest learners.

As a small but mighty school, we rely greatly on the strength and generosity of our community to help us thrive. Your involvement and support make a huge difference, enabling us to provide the best possible experiences for our children. Together, we can continue to ensure that Llangan Primary School remains a vibrant, successful place for all our learners.

Join Our Parent Forum!

We are looking for a class representative from each year group to join our Parent Forum, and we'd love to hear from you! Previous representatives are very welcome to continue, and we encourage new parents to get involved as well. If you're interested in being your year group's representative, please email me directly (Griffithsj107@hwbcymru.net).

The Parent Forum at Llangan Primary School provides a space where parents can share their views, discuss educational matters, and work in partnership with the school. It’s an opportunity to ensure that parents’ voices are heard and valued. The forum helps to strengthen the relationship between home and school, supports improvement by discussing the school’s strengths and areas for development, and plays a vital role in engaging with our wider community. Please note that the forum does not address individual issues related to specific children or staff.

Our upcoming Parent Forum dates are as follows:

• Thursday, 10th October 2024, at 9 am
• Thursday, 18th November 2024, at 9 am
• Thursday, 20th February 2025, at 9 am
• Thursday, 3rd April 2025, at 9 am
• Thursday, 22nd May 2025, at 9 am

We look forward to working with you to continue building a strong, supportive community at Llangan Primary School!

Thank you for your continued support.

Mr. Griffiths