Dear Parents and Carers / Annwyl Rieni a Gwarchodwyr,

There have been many firsts this week within my role of Interim Headteacher. I’ve spent lots of time looking at e-mails trying work work out what different acronyms mean and what I need to do about them! I’ve written my first Newsletter and made my first Rhos St Tweet. Lots of change and new things. What has been wonderful through all of this ‘newness’ and unfamiliarity is the welcome and support that I have received from so many members of the school community.

I have had a lovely response form the wonderful children of Rhos St, even if many of them have said, “Why are you trying to look smart?” I would like to thank all of the parents and carers who have offered kind messages of support and a massive thank you to the staff of Rhos St who have been so positive and supportive.

It has been a busy week, with all the children settling brilliantly back to their classes and to working hard. It has been so nice to walk around the classes seeing everyone focused and learning.

Covid-19
Although we have been affected, to some degree, by the current levels of covid-19 we have, fortunately managed to keep all of our teaching and learning, this week, face-to-face. We will continue to do our utmost to keep pupils in school, but we may need at some point to move to online / distance learning if there are increased levels of staff absence and we are unable to provide appropriate staff to pupil ratios. The move to distance laearning may need to made quickly, as staff are testing for Covid-19 three times per week. I will endeavor to inform parents and carers of any affected classes as soon as I have the information via e-mail, Twitter and the Rhos St website. I would like to thank you all for your continued support in following the current guidance.

Urdd
This year, due to Covid-19, we will not be entering the Urdd Eisteddfod as we have in the past. The lack of surety around the Urdd activities that will able to be offered to pupils in the current climate, has made us consider carefully if requesting parents and carers to pay for membership of the Urdd movement would be as valuable as it has been in previous years. We will, as a school, be taking the Urdd theme of Sea to Summit and will be developing Welsh language and art activities, throughout the school, that we will be sharing with you all in our own in-school Eisteddfod, around St David’s Day. This, we feel, allows pupils the opportunity to gain maximum benefit from undertaking the activities and reducing the possible issues around the current pandemic.

Lunchtime Supervisors
Please see below our advert for Lunchtime Suprvisors at the school:

The Governing Body of Rhos Street School wish to appoint two enthusiastic Midday staff to supervise pupils during lunch time in and around the school site. We are looking for an individual who has the ability to secure the safety, welfare and good conduct of pupils during the mid-day break period, in accordance with the practices and procedures of the Local Authority.

Appointment subject to Disclosure & Barring Service Check and satisfactory references. If you would like to discuss any aspect of the post, please call Andrew Davis on 01824 702565.

If you are interested in this vacancy, please apply on-line via the website www.denbighshire.gov.uk. For alternative methods of applying please contact Customer Services on 01824 706101.
Candidates must complete our application form to be considered.

Big thank you!
A massive thank you to, ex-pupil, Anthony Dallolio (AJ) who gave up his time at the weekend to use his professional tree-surgery skills to remove a hanging branch from the garden area of the school. A big thank you to Tony Dallolio, AJ’s dad, and our relief-caretaker for arranging it.

Young Minds
We have received a big thank you from the charity YoungMinds for taking part in the Hello Yellow for World Mental Health Day. School raised a fantastic £149 which will go towards supporting childrens’ and young people’s mental health.

Uniform and PE Kit
Please could I request that all uniform, coats and PE kit is named. This really helps us to make sure lost property finds its rightful owner and will reduce the need for parents to rifle through the dreaded lost property boxes.

Achievers
Our fantastic achievers this week are:
Oliver, Thomas, Jude, Oliver, Lukas, Elsie, Sky, Sophie, Charly, Mia-Rose, Jade, Willow, Llinos, Cain and Finley
Big congratualtions to Alys for achieving a Merit in her Grade 1 Violin examination.

Yours sincerely / Yn gywir,

Andrew Davis, Headteacher / Pennaeth