Here you will find useful information and reminders related to our general routines and activities, as well as links to helpful websites and online resources. 

This is also a space where we will share and celebrate some of the interesting and exciting activities we carry out at school. 

Summer Term Class Information

Welcome back to a new and exciting year at Pen y fro Primary School. The year 4, 5 and 6 topic for the Autumn Term will be ‘Victorians and their Incredible Inventions’. The children will be involved in the planning of our topic work and we will use their ideas to form the basis of our studies. The work will link to the six areas of learning: languages, literacy and communication, mathematics and numeracy, science and technology, humanities, expressive arts and health and well-being.

For your information, PE lessons will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday; please ensure that children bring an appropriate kit for PE days in a small bag. 

Homework will continue to be issued on a Friday, via Teams, to be handed in the following Wednesday. As part of their homework children will be expected to write spelling sentences each week. The children will all be given a paper copy of their spelling words; the words can also be located in the assignment section of Teams. Spelling tests will continue to take place on Friday. Each week for homework there will be an additional task alternating between a maths task and a topic related task from the homework grid. The new topic related homework grid will also be available in the files section of Teams. We will also continue to use MyMaths for some of the maths homework activities. Children’s usernames and passwords will remain the same as last year. Each week a reminder of the homework activities will be posted on the chat function of Teams. The first homework will be issued on Friday 15^th September and will be spelling sentences and a maths related task.

More information with regards to autumn events and forthcoming clubs will be added to the school website when dates and arrangements have been confirmed.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued help and support.

Year 5 Homework Activities

Moki Project

Moki is the first physical activity tracker designed for schools.

Moki Bands count your steps and use contactless technology to transmit the data to the Moki app with a simple tap.

Moki is a fun and easy way to get children engaged with physical activity at school.

Pedometers have been around for ages and are readily available online at very cheap prices. Moki is much more than just a pedometer, it’s a system that combines hardware and software to create a way to very easily aggregate data across a group rather than just for an individual.

What’s more Moki is one of the only wearable activity trackers to report both steps and MVPA (moderate to vigorous activity) minutes. With UK government guidelines recommending children do at least 30 minutes of MVPA in school every day, Moki provides a way to know whether that is being achieved.

The Moki Band only records the wearer’s movement. This information is passed via the Reader to the Moki app where it is stored locally on the school computer. Anonymous movement data is backed up to Moki servers but no personal information is retained or accessible by Moki. Pupil details are added to the Moki app but that information is stored locally and not accessible in any way outside the school.

Children's Mental Health Week

Place2Be launched the first-ever Children’s Mental Health Week in 2015 to shine a spotlight on the importance of children and young people’s mental health.  

From 6-12 February 2023, schools, families and communities across the UK will take part in Children's Mental Health Week. This year's theme is 'Lets Connect'.

Let’s Connect is about making meaningful connections for all, during Children’s Mental Health Week – and beyond. People thrive in communities, and this connection is vital for our wellbeing. 

When we have healthy connections – to family, friends and others – this can support our mental health and our sense of wellbeing. And when our need for rewarding social connections is not met, we can sometimes feel isolated and lonely – which can have a negative impact on our mental health. 

For Children’s Mental Health Week 2023, we’re encouraging people to connect with others in healthy, rewarding and meaningful ways. 

St David's Day - Dydd Gŵyl Dewi

St David's Day is a special day in Wales that is celebrated on 1st March to honour the country's patron saint, Saint David. Saint David was a Welsh bishop who lived in the 6th century and is recognised for spreading his message of kindness, compassion, and being a good person in Wales. He also shared his Christian teachings with the people he met.

At Pen y fro, we celebrate St David's Day with an Eisteddfod, which is a traditional Welsh festival. During this event, our children showcase their talents and hard work by performing various traditional Welsh songs, reciting literature, and presenting artwork.

The Eisteddfod is a wonderful opportunity for our children to learn about and appreciate Welsh culture, as well as the positive values that St David embodied. We are proud to celebrate St David's Day with our children every year and to recognise the impact he had on Wales and its people.

World Book Day

World Book Day is an annual event that celebrates the joy of reading and promotes literacy across the world. It is a great opportunity for children to explore a range of literature and discover new books and authors.

On this special day, children can also dress up as their favourite book characters, sparking conversation and inspiring creativity. By participating in World Book Day, children can develop a love for reading that will stay with them for life.

At Pen y fro, we encourage all our Year 5 children to participate in this exciting event and discover the magic of books. We hope that this celebration will inspire them to become lifelong readers and learners.

Orienteering Event

The year 5 class had a fantastic time taking part in orienteering activities with  Swansea Bay Orienteering Club!
Orienteering is a fun and challenging outdoor adventure sport that exercises both the mind and body. The aim is to navigate between a series of checkpoints (aka "controls") marked on a special, highly detailed orienteering map while deciding the best route to complete the course in the quickest time.

Orienteering can either be a competitive individual sport or a totally recreational activity. It is suitable for all ages, fitness and experience levels. If you enjoy hill walking, fell running, cross-country running or geocaching there is a good chance you will also enjoy orienteering.

Swansea Bay Orienteering Club are welcoming new members of all ages. If you want to find out more, please head to their website for more information: https://www.sboc.org.uk/ 

Class Displays

Useful Links