A Note from Mr Mansfield

What a busy and exciting start to the school year! The children have settled well into their new classes, and it’s been lovely to see them building friendships, embracing new challenges and getting stuck into their learning.

Mrs Howells has started her maternity leave, and Miss Ashcroft has taken over her class. We send Mrs Howells our very best wishes as she becomes a mum.

Our pupil leadership team is also ready for action! We have elected our Pupil Parliament Chairpeople, held our first cabinet meeting of the year and elected our Head Boy, Head Girl and their deputies. We are looking forward to seeing their ideas take shape and hearing how they would like to make our school even better.

Thank you to everyone who attended parents’ evening in October. We hope you found the opportunity to chat with your child’s class teacher useful and enjoyed hearing about their progress and how they have settled into the new school year. Your support makes such a difference.

Of course, this half-term also included our school inspection, with eight inspectors visiting us at the beginning of October. The report will be published on 7th December, and we will share it with you then. We are really pleased with the outcome! The inspectors recognised so many strengths at St Julian’s Primary, which is a testament to our hardworking staff, incredible children and brilliant community. I could not be prouder of our school.

We are also delighted to have achieved the ‘Beyond the Basics’ level of the Young Carers Programme, recognising our commitment to identifying and supporting young carers and improving their outcomes. We want every young carer to feel understood, supported and able to make the most of school life.

Finally, I wish all our children and families a very happy half-term. Despite the awful weather, I hope you manage to find some fun things to do together and enjoy a well-deserved break! We look forward to welcoming everyone back after half-term as we get excited about the build-up to Christmas.

Best wishes,

Mr L Mansfield

New Chartwells Dinner Menu

Chartwells have updated their school dinner menu in line with the latest Welsh Government guidance. Click here to view the latest menu.

Visits, Visitors and Experiences

One thing that both we and the inspection team recognise as a real strength of our school is the range of experiences our children enjoy. Visits, visitors and practical activities bring learning to life, spark curiosity and help children discover interests and possibilities they may never have considered before.

We work hard to keep these opportunities affordable for families, using grants to subsidise nearly every visit that takes place. We want as many children as possible to benefit from these memorable experiences.

There has certainly been plenty happening this half-term!

• History brought to life: Children explored the past at St Fagans, taking part in a Daily Life of the Celts workshop, and visited Roman Caerleon, where a Medicus workshop helped them discover more about Roman medicine. A trip to Berkeley Castle offered another opportunity to explore history beyond the classroom.
• Books on board: A visit to Logos Hope, the world’s largest floating bookfair, in Cardiff Bay gave children the chance to experience a very different setting for discovering books!
• From farm to fork: At Slade Organic Farm, children explored where food comes from and the journey it takes to reach our plates. This connects with their own efforts to grow fruit and vegetables in our school polytunnel and vegetable patches.
• Exploring our mining heritage: A visit to Big Pit in Blaenavon helped children investigate the question: What was life really like for people connected to Big Pit and mining communities?
• Engineering in action: Visitors from the Newport Transporter Bridge, including a structural engineer, helped children explore the expertise involved in such an important local landmark.
• Stories, beliefs and reflection: Rachel Meates has been delivering weekly Old Testament workshops as part of our Religion, Values and Ethics learning.
• Belonging and celebrating differences: An anti-racism workshop explored cynefin—a sense of belonging—and how we can help create a positive school culture where every pupil feels valued and included.
• Learning to stay safe: At Crucial Crew, children heard important safety messages from a range of organisations, helping them think about how to respond to everyday risks.
• Discovering careers in film: Jenna McDonnell visited to deliver a prosthetics workshop, introducing children to some of the creative skills and career opportunities within the film industry.
• Keeping active: Fortnightly Gateway Rugby sessions and weekly PE sessions delivered by County in the Community have given children further opportunities to develop their skills, teamwork and confidence.
• Puppet-show excitement: We were thrilled to win a competition for a free visit from Hand in Glove, bringing Goldilocks and the Three Bears to life through a puppet show!

We were also really pleased to welcome BBC presenter Mo Jannah, who recorded a podcast with our Racism Busters and a video about the Windrush generation with a group of our pupils. What a fantastic opportunity for the children to share their voices and contribute to these important conversations!

Pupil Voice: Representing Our School

Our Head Boy and Head Girl proudly represented St Julian’s at the Autumn Grand Council meeting at Newport University, joining pupil representatives from schools across the city. They took part in workshops about being prepared and staying safe with Newport City Council’s Civil Contingencies team, explored anti-racism with Cynefin Pamoja and developed their understanding of dementia. They also tested their teamwork by building a LEGO shelter for an imaginary desert island challenge and heard from Police and Crime Commissioner Jane Mudd.

Head Boy and Head Girl Podcast

What does being Head Boy or Head Girl involve? What are they looking forward to, and what do they hope to achieve?

Sophie put the questions to our newly elected Head Boy and Head Girl in a special podcast about their roles. Have a listen and get to know our pupil leaders!

Sporting Spirit at St Julian’s

We were delighted to host a girls’ football tournament, welcoming 11 schools for a day of exciting matches, teamwork and fun. Twelve children represented St Julian’s brilliantly, and we received lovely feedback about the event’s positive atmosphere and organisation.

On 15th October, another 14 children represented us in an after-school football match against Charles Williams. They played with such positivity and worked hard for one another. Further matches against Clytha and Marshfield are planned for after half-term.

We also have two teams, involving 14 children, taking part in the Newport Mixed Football Tournament, with 14 schools from across the city involved.

Well done to everyone representing our school, and thank you to the staff who make these opportunities possible!

Reading, Rhymes and Proud Performances

Thank you to all the parents and carers who joined us for our Reception Reading Workshop and Nursery Rhyme Singing on Wednesday 21st October.

The children loved performing, and it was wonderful to see so many smiling faces watching and joining in. Sharing stories and rhymes is a lovely way to enjoy time together while helping children develop their language and confidence.

We have also enjoyed a class assembly this half-term, giving children another opportunity to share their learning and practise performing for an audience. Thank you to everyone who has supported these occasions.

Small Packets, Big Ideas!

Our Crisp Packet Campaign has encouraged children to think carefully about waste, recycling and what happens to packaging after we have finished with it.

They have been fascinated to learn that, through specialist recycling processes, crisp packets can be transformed into useful products – including furniture! It has been a great starting point for conversations about looking after our environment and making thoughtful choices about what we throw away.

Forest School: Learning in Rain or Shine

Learning does not stop at the classroom door! Mrs Gough works particularly with our younger children to help them explore, investigate and learn outdoors, come rain or shine.

Outdoor learning creates opportunities to build confidence, solve problems, cooperate and notice the natural world. It also gives children plenty to talk about, from changing leaves and muddy footprints to the creatures they discover.

Literacy and numeracy fit naturally into these experiences. Counting and sorting natural objects, comparing the size of sticks, describing textures and colours, and using outdoor discoveries as inspiration for stories all help children put their learning into practice.

With suitable clothing and a sense of adventure, even a rainy day can offer plenty of possibilities!

Keeping Children Safe on Their Digital Devices

We are increasingly concerned about the number of issues arising outside school through children’s use of WhatsApp groups, Snapchat and TikTok. Unkind messages, disagreements and inappropriate content can quickly affect children’s wellbeing and friendships, including when they return to school.

Standard WhatsApp accounts, Snapchat and TikTok have a minimum age of 13. These age limits are an important consideration when deciding which apps your child can access.

If your child has a phone, tablet or other internet-connected device, please make time to:

• Talk about their online life: Ask which apps they use, what they enjoy and who they communicate with.
• Check together: Look at the apps, groups and privacy settings on their device.
• Discuss the risks: Remind them never to share personal information, passwords or their location with people they do not know.
• Encourage kindness: Explain that the same expectations of respect apply online as they do face to face.
• Keep communication open: Make sure they know they can tell a trusted adult if something worries or upsets them.
• Agree boundaries: Set clear expectations about when and where devices are used, including time away from screens.

Thank you for working with us to help children develop safe, positive digital habits.

Eat Out for Less Over Half Term

We know that keeping children entertained over half-term can be expensive, so we’ve gathered a few options for eating out for less during the holidays. We’re sharing these for information and cannot endorse the venues or guarantee the offers. Please call ahead to check availability, dates and any terms and conditions before visiting.

Place	Local location	Children’s offer	What you need to buy / know
Asda Café	Lower Dock Street, Pillgwenlly; also Asda Living, Newport Retail Park	£1 children’s meal every day	No adult purchase required. For under-16s. storelocator.asda.com
Morrisons Café — free breakfast	Newport and Rogerstone	Free cereal, milk and fruit for children and accompanying adults	Ask for the “Kellogg’s breakfast”. No purchase required; advertised 12 October–1 November. October Half term
Tesco Café	Spytty Road and Risca Extra	Free children’s breakfast, hot meal deal or pick ’n’ mix	One free children’s meal with any adult café item purchased — you don’t have to buy an adult meal. Clubcard/app required, and the child must be present. Includes weekends. Tesco Café
Pausa Café, Dunelm	Newport, near Newport Retail Park	Free children’s main, drink and two snacks	One children’s meal for every £5 spent in the café. Available daily. dunelm.com
Morrisons Café — main meals	Newport and Rogerstone	Free children’s meal and drink	Buy a qualifying adult main costing £5 or more. Available every day; café specials excluded. my.morrisons.com
Harvester	Newport Retail Park and The Borderer, Malpas Road	£1 children’s main	One per qualifying adult main. Download the Harvester app and claim the voucher. Advertised daily until 1 November; drinks and dessert extra. Half Term Deals for Kids
Las Iguanas	Friars Walk, Newport	Free children’s main, two sides and dessert	For under-12s, with each adult main from the à la carte menu. Las Iguanas app perk required; excludes the adult lunch deal. Available daily.

Ideas for things to do over half term…

Have a look at this flyer which has been shared with us from the Newport Youth and Play Service

• Free holiday fun with Newport City Council – Explore a programme of play, creative activities and outdoor fun at venues across Newport, including playschemes for children aged 5–12. View activities and booking information.
• Free museum crafts – Get creative with artist Lucilla Jones at Newport Museum and Art Gallery on Wednesday 28 October, 11am–3pm. Suitable for ages 3–10, with an accompanying adult; drop in without booking. Find out more.
• Pumpkin crafts and scavenger hunt – Visit Newport Central Library on Thursday 29 October, 2–3pm, for a free craft session where children can design their own pumpkins and follow a scavenger hunt around the library. Find out more.
• Free family bike ride – Join Newport Live’s Momentwm family ride on Thursday 29 October, starting at the Geraint Thomas National Velodrome of Wales and following a traffic-free route. Check times and booking details.
• Family swimming – Newport Live has added extra family and public swimming sessions at the Regional Pool and Tennis Centre and Active Living Centre over half-term. Check sessions, prices and availability.

You can also visit https://www.newport.gov.uk/our-city/our-city/see-and-do/our-city/our-city/see-and-do/school-holiday-fun for more events.

Please check directly with organisers for availability, age restrictions, prices and booking requirements before travelling.

A New Chapter for the Old Library

You may have noticed some changes to the former Library and Adult Learning Centre next to our school site. The council has repurposed the building to create a Flying Start nursery provision, alongside several meeting rooms available for hire.

Flying Start is a Welsh Government programme supporting young children and their families. Its childcare provision offers eligible two-year-olds funded, part-time places where they can play, develop their communication and social skills, and build confidence before starting school.

An open day at the end of September gave families and members of the community an opportunity to look around and find out more about the facilities.

Cymraeg: A Little Welsh This Autumn!

Why not try a few Welsh words and phrases together over half-term? A little practice in everyday conversations can help children grow in confidence.

Cymraeg	English
Yr hydref	Autumn
Dail	Leaves
Mae hi’n bwrw glaw.	It is raining.
Mae hi’n wyntog.	It is windy.
Mae hi’n oer.	It is cold.
Gwisga dy gôt.	Put your coat on.
Am hwyl!	What fun!
Hanner tymor hapus!	Happy half-term!

PTA Bingo Night and Upcoming Events

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for the PTA Bingo Night this week! Your support is greatly appreciated, and a special thank you goes to our wonderful PTA volunteers for organising the evening.

There’s more festive fun on the way! The PTA will be sending out dates for our Christmas Movie Nights and Christmas Bazaar very soon, so keep an eye out for further details.

Dates for Your Diary

We have lots to look forward to in the second half of the autumn term! Here are some upcoming dates to add to your diary. Further details about individual events, including times and arrangements, will follow nearer the time.

• Tuesday 3rd November: Year 2 planetarium visit in school.
• Wednesday 4th November: Toileting Workshop, 9:15–10:15am.
• Friday 6th November: Nursery Stay and Play.
• Wednesday 11th November: Year 6 Llangrannog Meeting for parents, 3:30–4pm in junior hall.
• Friday 13th November: Crazy Hair Day for Children in Need.
• Monday 16th–Friday 20th November: Anti-Bullying Week.
• Wednesday 18th November: Coffee Morning with Citizens Advice, 9–10am in School Library Cabin.
• Thursday 19th–Thursday 26th November: Book Fair in the School Hall after school each day.
• Monday 23rd November: Year 5 and 6 pupils visiting Rougemont to watch Oliver.
• Monday 30th November: Mince Pie and Raffle Event.
• Tuesday 1st December: Louby Lou visiting Nursery in school.
• Thursday 3rd December: Christmas singing at Glyn Anwen.
• Friday 4th December: Year 2 Christmas Concert.
• Monday 7th December: Year 4 Christmas Concert.
• Monday 7th December: New Nursery Parents’ Meeting, 4pm in Nursery.
• Monday 7th December: Christmas Carol Service at the Baptist Church.
• Tuesday 8th December: Year 1 Christmas Concert.
• Wednesday 9th December: Year 3 Christmas Concert.
• Wednesday 9th December: Reception Christmas visit to Tredegar House.
• Thursday 10th December: Nursery Christmas Concert and Christmas Jumper Day in support of Save the Children UK.
• Friday 11th December: Reception Christmas Concert.
• Monday 14th December: PTA Christmas Bazaar.
• Thursday 17th December: Class Christmas Parties.
• Friday 18th December: Autumn term ends.

Diolch am eich cefnogaeth – thank you for your support!