Dear Parents and Carers / Annwyl Rieni a Gwarchodwyr,

Juniors’ Return – We are delighted to be able to bring remote learning to a close for Juniors today and eagerly anticipate their return on Monday. I have posted my weekly virtual message to Junior Google Classrooms and ask you to encourage your child to view it and heed the advice I share. I have also sent information regarding arrangements for next week via email and shared Welsh Government advice on Twitter, in order to ensure everybody is able to work together to keep one another safe. I am confident we can all continue to cooperate as a school community with this aim in mind. I very much look forward to welcoming everybody back on Monday.

Lateness – It would be appreciated if you could be supportive in ensuring that your child arrives on time for school each day. I have been a little concerned that a minority of our pupils are arriving habitually late and am eager that pupils are punctual in order to start each day in a positive, organised manner. Lateness can be disruptive not only to the individual, but the whole class. Many thanks for your anticipated cooperation.

Music Lessons – Face to face music lessons will resume on-site following the Easter break. Virtual lessons are still available in the meantime.

PTA Sponsored Challenge – Huge thanks on behalf of the PTA and myself for your efforts with this challenge. It’s been really positive that so many of you have tried to get out and about, clock up the miles and enjoy the fresh air. Additionally, the projected sum of money raised is very significant and is approaching £2000 on the ‘Just Giving’ page, which is amazing! Any further donations can be sent in via the following link: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/rhosstreetschool-pta. The page will remain open for the rest of the weekend and will be closed on Monday. Contributions can also be sent into school in an envelope via the office from next week, if you prefer to donate in this manner. Once again, a massive thank you! The money will be crucial as we invest in outdoor equipment in the coming weeks and every penny has made a difference.

Mother’s Day – A template for a Mother’s Day message has been shared on Twitter and via my Juniors’ message on Google Classroom for anybody who wishes to use it. Any completed hearts can be sent to Rev. Stuart to share if you wish, via his email address cymrostu@gmail.com. I hope all the Rhos Street mums are spoiled on Sunday!!

Internet Safety Competition – I have reshared the Internet Safety competition run by North Wales Police. Information can be found on Twitter and on the Juniors’ Google Classroom.

Rugby Sessions – Ex-pupil Mike Evans is running a series of rugby sessions for our pupils on Tuesday afternoons. He is the local rugby officer, base at the Ruthin Rugby Club and Ysgol Brynhyfryd. This week, he worked with Years 1 and 2 and will do the same with Junior classes on their return. His sessions have been very well received and I’m sure Key Stage 2 will look forward to working with him.

New Pupils – Since lockdown ended, we have welcomed some new pupils to the Foundation Phase and look forward to others joining in the Juniors next week. Sophie, Joshua and Bertie have settled really well in the Infants and it’ll be great to have Zakk, Kush, Kalyani and Evelyn join Year 3, as well as Joey and Anna in Year 5 and last but not least Bhupinder in Year 6. I’m sure our pupils will make them all feel very welcome, as they join the school community.

Students of the Week – Well done to Morgan, Verity, Isabella, Isla, ArloB, Rayne, Leala, Max, OscarH, Henry, Ruben, Mia-Rose and Scarlet on their Student of the Week awards this week. Also, congratulations to Ben for achieving Grade 2 in piano.

Return of Reading Scheme Books – There are still a number of reading books that were shared with parents for Foundation Phase pupils to read over lockdown, that have not yet been returned. I’d be really grateful if those books could be sent back into school as a matter of priority, because they are now needed in school. Many thanks.

Family Link Worker Support – Please be aware, if you need any support with any issues you may be encountering at home after such a difficult period, that Family Link Workers are available to contact via this link: https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/childcare-and-parenting/family-link-workers.aspx. I have also attached a flyer for The Solihull Approach: ‘Understanding Your Child’ course for parents, which can be accessed virtually via Microsoft Teams.

Yours sincerely / Yn gywir,

Bryn D. Jones, Headteacher / Pennaeth