Dear Parents/Carers,

A quick reminder of today’s PTA Cake Sale to raise money for the Turkey/Syria earthquake appeal. 

As most of you probably know by now - there will be no Teachers’ Strike on Tuesday 14^th.  School will be open as usual to all pupils and staff.

Safer Internet Day – Tuesday, 7th Feb

The Digital Leaders competition results were NOT announced in assembly today because there were so many amazing entries, we need more time to go through and judge them!  The results will be announced next Friday.  Thank you for helping and encouraging your children to take part in these competitions about this very important subject. 

International Day of Women and Girls in Science: Saturday 11^th February

Saturday 11^th February is only the second International Day of Women and Girls in Science.  Our very own scientist, Mrs Gamble, introduced a video about a friend of hers (Professor Haley Gomez) who is a Professor of Astrophysics at Cardiff University.  She is studying Dark Matter, using infra-red cameras and telescopes.  Mrs Gamble had an infra-red camera and shared images of our assembly, showing how heat and cold have different colours, which delighted the children.  If you, or someone you know, are involved in science and would like to come and share your experience with us during British Science Week, which is between 10^th and 19^th March, we would love to welcome you.  This could be in the form of an assembly, a talk with a group of children or a scientific demonstration (or all the above!).  Please contact me on MitchellR28@hwbcymru.net.  Thank you.

St David’s Day and Eisteddfod

The Wednesday after our return from the Half Term break is 1^st March, which is St David’s Day.  Pupils are welcome to wear Welsh costumes on that day, or Wales sports tops.  On Friday 3^rd March there will be an Eisteddfod in which Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 will compete in various competitions.  For this day, pupils should come to school wearing their school House colours which will be Red, Blue, Green or Yellow.  

Big School Birdwatch

Lakeside pupils submitted the results of their Birdwatch with the RSPB, so we thought we’d share them with you: pupils counted 50 blackbirds, 9 herring gulls, 210 house sparrows, 363 magpies, 41 robins and 103 doves/pigeons.  Thank you to the pupils and Mrs Thomas for carrying out this study.

Books from home for World Book Day – Thursday 2^nd March

Thank you to those of you who have already donated books for our reading corners.  There’s room for plenty more fiction and non-fiction books for children, as well as comics and magazines.  Thank you.

Parent Sharing Sessions

Your children would love to invite you into school to see some of their Spring Term work and share the things they’ve enjoyed about their Learning Projects.  Below is a list of confirmed dates for these sessions.

Year Group	Date and time	Location	Event
Reception	9.10am: Friday 17th February	Key Stage 2 Hall	Come and meet our Dinosaurs
Year 1	9.10am: Thursday 16th March	Key Stage 2 Entrance (Both Halls needed)	A celebration of Brazil
Year 2	TBC
Year 3	2.30pm: Wednesday 1st March	Key Stage 2 Entrance (Both Halls needed)	Art and Science
Year 4	9.10am: Friday 24th March	Key Stage 2 Entrance (Both Halls needed)	Presentations of different American states
Year 5	2pm: Thursday 30th March	Key Stage 2 Entrance (Both Halls/outside)	Planting seeds to grow over Easter
Year 6	TBC

Pupil absence

If your child is unwell and not able to come in to school, please could you phone school on 029 20767050 and leave a message on the absence line before 9.30am if possible.  Thank you.

And finally…

If you visit the school office from next week you may meet a new addition to our Admin Team: Ms Rebecca Strange (who some of you will know from Dragonflies).  A warm welcome to her to the team.

Wishing you all a pleasant weekend,

Rachel Mitchell, Headteacher

DATES: 2022-2023 academic year

February 2023

Monday 13^th to Wednesday 15^th – Year 5 & 6 residential trip to Manor Park Adventure at Abernant Lakes in Brecon

Monday 20^th February to Friday 24^th February – Half Term break

March 2023

Wednesday 1^st March – St David’s Day (wear national costume/sports kit)

Thursday 2^nd March – World Book Day

Friday 3^rd March – Eisteddfod for Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 (wear school house colours)

6^th – 17^th March – Year 3 Swimming Lessons fortnight

10^th-19^th March – British Science Week

Friday 17^th March – Red Nose Day

Wednesday 22^nd March – Ramadan begins (exact dates TBC)

Week beginning 27^th March: Parents’ Consultations

Friday 31^st March – break up for Easter

April 2023

EASTER BREAK

Sunday 9^th April – Easter Day

Monday 17^th April – back to school

Friday 21^st to Saturday 22^nd April – Eid ul-Fitr (exact dates TBC)

May 2023

Monday 1^st May – BANK HOLIDAY

Monday 8^th May – BANK HOLIDAY for Coronation

Monday 29^th May to Friday 2^nd June – Half Term break

June 2023

Monday 5^th June – INSET DAY

July 2023

Friday 21^st July – last day of 2022-23 academic year for pupils

Monday 24^th July – INSET DAY

SUMMER BREAK