Dear Parents and Carers / Annwyl Rieni a Gwarchodwyr,

After last week’s flurry of snow, it’s been a welcome change to enjoy a much calmer spell of weather. The children certainly made the most of the snowy excitement while it lasted, and it’s been lovely to see everyone settling back into their routines as things return to normal.
Our pupils have continued to throw themselves into Urdd activities, showing fantastic enthusiasm and teamwork. It’s wonderful to see so many children representing the school and embracing new experiences with such confidence.
This week also brought the first sessions with the Denbighshire Music Cooperative, giving many pupils first tastes of learning a musical instrument.
Across the school, classes are diving into new themes and topics, and there’s already a real buzz of excitement as learners begin exploring fresh ideas and projects. It promises to be an inspiring and engaging term ahead.

National Discussion on Children, Smartphones and Social Media
You may have seen recent national discussions around children’s use of smartphones and social media. This conversation is developing quickly, with various organisations, charities, and policymakers exploring how best to support children’s wellbeing online.
One charity involved in raising awareness around this issue is Smartphone Free Childhood, which is encouraging parents and carers to share their views with their local MP as part of the wider national debate. They have created an online tool that allows families to send a pre‑written message to their MP, which can be personalised if desired.
If you would like to read more, the charity’s link is here: https://smartphonefreechildhood.eaction.org.uk/raise-the-age
We are sharing this information to keep families updated on current national conversations that may influence future guidance for schools, parents, and young people. We will continue to monitor developments and share relevant updates as they arise.

Lockdown Drill
As a vital part of our safeguarding at school we will be holding a Lockdown Drill on the afternoon of Monday 26th of January in conjunction with Ysgol Pen Barras. The drill will involve the children moving into their classrooms, and staff ensuring that the school is locked and secured. Staff will be speaking to the children, prior to the drill, to explain what they need to do and reassure them that it is simply a practise, just like a Fire Drill, to keep them safe. Staff will be using the scenario of needing to lock the school doors if there was ‘A dog on the yard that we did not know.’, rather than relate it to some more serious threats, which may cause children distress or upset. This Lockdown Drill is extremely important in ensuring our ability to keep our leaners and staff safe and will be handled with great sensitivity with children being supported and reassured at every stage.

Very Best Wishes to Mrs. Lewis
All of us at Rhos Street School would like to wish Mrs. Lewis the very best as she begins her maternity leave. She is a truly dedicated and much valued teacher, and her warmth, commitment, and enthusiasm have been greatly appreciated by pupils, staff, and families alike. We hope this special time is filled with joy, good health, and wonderful memories.
We are also delighted to share that the Year 4 reins will be handed over to the incredibly capable Mrs. Janet Hughes, who has worked with us here at Rhos Street for many years. Mrs. Hughes knows our school, our children, and our values extremely well, and we are confident that Year 4 are in very safe hands. Warmest wishes to Mrs. Lewis from everyone at Rhos Street— we look forward to welcoming her back in the future and can’t wait to hear all her exciting news!

Sleep Hygiene
Community Focused Schools are pleased to announce an online sleep hygiene session hosted by The Sleep Charity, specifically for parents and caregivers. This session will provide valuable insights into children and young people’s sleep patterns, the effects of insufficient sleep, and practical ways to help them achieve better sleep for improved physical and mental health and well-being. There will also be a Q&A at the end. Parents/carers can attend the session by scanning the QR code or by clicking on this link: Sleep Hygiene Session for Parents/Carers If any parents or caregivers would like to attend but are having difficulty with technology, please reach out to Cheryl at communityfocusedschool@denbighshire.gov.uk or call 07875 689826.

Year 5 Family Service – New Date
Please note that the Year 5 Family Service will now take place on Friday 6th February at 9:15am.
Many thanks for your understanding and patience regarding this change. We look forward to welcoming you on the day.

Denbighshire Music Co‑operative – First Experiences of Music with Year 3
Our Year 3 pupils enjoyed a fantastic First Experiences of Music session this week led by Johnny from Denbighshire Music Co‑operative. Johnny was incredibly impressed with the children’s enthusiasm, creativity, and focus throughout the session. It was wonderful to see pupils exploring musical ideas with such confidence and enjoyment, making the whole experience both enriching and memorable. We look forward to building on this positive start and welcoming the Music Co‑operative team back for more exciting music‑making opportunities.

Clwb Crefft Cymraeg – Creativity, Fun and Welsh Language Learning
Our pupils have been enjoying wonderful sessions at Clwb Crefft Cymraeg, where creativity and fun combine with Welsh language learning every Wednesday. The children have produced some fantastic craft work while confidently using and practising their Cymraeg in a relaxed, engaging environment.
A huge thank you to Leanne and Becky for all their hard work, enthusiasm, and dedication in running the club. Their support and energy have made Clwb Crefft Cymraeg a highlight of the week for many of our learners.

Request for Junior Book Donations – Forthcoming Book Café
As part of our ongoing work this year to promote reading for pleasure, we are preparing for our upcoming Book Café and would be grateful for donations of Junior-age books (ages 7–11).
If you have any good-quality books at home that your children have finished with, we would really appreciate them being passed on. Donations can be given directly to your child’s class teacher or left at the main office.
Thank you, as always, for your generous support. It makes a real difference to our reading community.

Festive Reading Challenge – January Reminder!
A quick reminder that we are still collecting entries for our **Festive Reading Challenge: Reading in Unusual Places! **
So far, we’ve only received two photos, and we’re certain there are plenty more sitting on phones and tablets just waiting to be uploaded!
Here’s how to take part:
• Choose a favourite book
• Find an unusual or interesting place to read it – indoors, outdoors, cosy corners or creative spots (as long as it’s safe!)
• Take a photo of your child reading in their unusual place
• Email it to: ReadingChallengeR5@hwbcymru.net
• Don’t forget to include your child’s full name and class
We’ll be putting together a display of all entries soon, and prizes will be awarded for the most imaginative photos in each class!
Thank you to those who have already sent in their pictures — they’re fantastic. We’d love to see
more. Happy reading!

Join Our PTA – Your School Needs You!
Our PTA is small but mighty… and we’d love you to be part of it! Recently, our numbers have been dwindling, and to keep providing the wonderful extras that enrich school life, we need new members more than ever.
Being part of the PTA isn’t just about fundraising (although every cake sale and raffle helps!). It’s about:
🌟 Making a real difference – PTA funds directly support resources, activities, and experiences that benefit every child in our school.
🌟 Having your voice heard – Help shape events, priorities, and projects that matter to our pupils and community.
🌟 Building friendships – It’s a warm, welcoming group of parents and carers who share a common goal: helping our children thrive.
🌟 Giving as much or as little time as you can – There’s no pressure! Whether you can attend meetings, help at events, or even offer support from home, every contribution counts.
If you’ve ever thought, “I’d like to help, but I’m not sure how…” — this is your moment! We promise it’s rewarding, appreciated, and genuinely fun.
Interested? Curious? Even just slightly tempted. Please get in touch or pop along to our next meeting on Thursday 22nd Jan at 3.15pm. We’d be thrilled to welcome you. Let’s grow our PTA together and continue doing amazing things for our school community. Your school. Your PTA. Your chance to make a difference!

Weekly Wellbeing
This morning’s assembly explored the life and message of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a leading figure of the Civil Rights Movement. Born on 15th January 1929, he dedicated his life to promoting equality, justice and peace through non violent action. While best known for challenging racial segregation, his wider message of hope, courage and fairness continues to inspire people worldwide. To mark his birthday on Thursday, pupils reflected on how their own everyday choices can help create a kinder, more inclusive world.

Achievers
This week’s fantastic achievers are: Rayne, Jacob, All of Yr. 4, Ruby, Nancy, CJ, Noah, Lucas, Niamh, Kiara, Rose, Stevie, and Kieran.
Welsh awards went to Paige, Harri, Jack, Elianna, Ronnie, Henry, Alfie, Parker, Bryce, and Sydney. Well done to them all!