Dear Parents and Carers / Annwyl Rieni a Gwarchodwyr,

As we cross the finish line of the spring term it’s time to pass the baton, A.K.A – chocolate-infused, excited children, over for the two-week Easter break. A huge thank you to all the children for their hard work, exuberance, and positivity this term, I’ve been so impressed with them all in so many ways. Thanks also to our brilliant Rhos St staff who have shown their usual fortitude, surviving all the bugs and illnesses doing the rounds and, as always, giving their very best, in so many ways, for the children here. Thank you finally to our amazing Rhos St school community for their ongoing support. Have a fantastic Easter, from everyone here at Rhos St School, see you all on April 9th.

PTA Easter-Egg Hunt
Huge thanks to the, always brilliant, Rhos St PTA for organising the Easter-Egg Hunt today, Casey, Natalie and Wendy orchestrating the whole event superbly. The children had a wonderful time racing around finding the clues and eggs. They all definitely enjoyed receiving their Easter Egg gift from the PTA too… which may help a little to gain back some of those expended calories.

Foster Wales
Foster Wales is the national network of not-for-profit Local Authority fostering services across Wales, and our Denbighshire team is your local support network. We’re not your standard fostering agency – we’re far more connected. All across Wales, there are children who need us. They need you too. These children are babies, toddlers, teenagers, siblings, and young parents. Each child has a unique story, but our mission is the same for each one: to create a better future. To find out more information please visit: www.denbighshire.fosterwales.gov.wales

Attendance
Why is school attendance important?
At Rhos St we believe that being in school is important to your child’s academic achievement, wellbeing, and wider development.  There is evidence to suggest that regular school attendance is a key mechanism to support children and young people’s educational, economic, and social outcomes. Schools can facilitate positive peer relationships, which contributes to better mental health and wellbeing.
Attendance at school is crucial to prepare young people for successful transition to adulthood, and to support their longer term economic and social participation in society. There is also evidence that the students with the highest attendance throughout their time in school gain the best GCSE and A level results.
Research found that pupils who performed better both at the end of primary and secondary school missed fewer days than those who didn’t perform as well. For example, data from 2019 shows that 84% of Key Stage 2 pupils who had 100% attendance achieved the expected standard, compared to 40% of pupils who were persistently absent across the key stage.
We are committed at Rhos St school to ensuring the very best outcomes for all our learners and believe that attendance is a vital aspect of this. In line with Denbighshire policy no term-time absence will be authorised unless it is in exceptional circumstances.
We will work closely with families to promote good attendance and will, where appropriate, seek the guidance and support of Educational Welfare Officers if an individual pupil’s attendance remains lower than expected. Please can parents and carers ensure that school is advised of any pupil absence by email or telephone message on the first day of absence.

Kick It Sports

Kick it Sports are offering a 6-hour Easter sports club on Monday 25th of March. The cost for the day, 9.00am – 3.00pm, is £20. Bookings and payment can be made by following this link: https://bookwhen.com/kickitsports/e/ev-supp-20240325090000
Kick It Sports will be coming into school, at the start of the summer term, with information about their after-school club sessions on a Monday evening.

Language and Play Sessions
Language and play sessions are free to attend and take place throughout Denbighshire. The sessions are run by Family Link Workers on a weekly basis during term time. All of our sessions have planned activities that help children build language and social skills in preparation for school in a fun, friendly environment.
Language and Play sessions will be taking place at Rhos Street School from 1:15pm to 2:45pm on: Wednesday 10th, 17th, 24th of April and 1st, 8th, and 15th of May 2024.

Breakfast Club
Just a quick reminder that our Breakfast Club is available, during term time, from 8.00am – 8.50am for a cost of £2 -per child. Breakfast is served between 8.00am and 8.30am with entry closing at 8.40am. There is no charge for Breakfast Club for children in receipt of Free-School Meals (not Universal Free School Meals), or for the third child + in a family. For safeguarding reasons please can parents and carers of early-years and infant children ensure that they are brought to the hall door by an adult, not sent up on their own from the car. Many thanks.

Banknote Presentation
The Yr. 6 children were treated to a fascinating presentation from Charles Henshaw, a long-time collector of banknotes from all over the world. Charles shared his collection with the children and talked about the amazing history of banknotes as well as some of the incredible security features which they contain. All the Yr. 6 class were so engaged, and Charles was really impressed with their interest, focus and brilliant behaviour. Charles has kindly agreed to repeat his presentation with the Yr. 5 children in the summer term. The Yr. 6 class were set the competition of designing a Welsh banknote, sadly lacking from the banknotes of the world, which Charles will be judging next term. We are really grateful for his time and expertise and for sharing with us his amazing collection.

Dates for the Diary
25th March Kick It Sports – Holiday Session
8th April Staff Training Day
9th April School reopens
10th April Language and Play Session
11th April Chester Football – After-School Club
12th April Yr. 2 Family Service
15th April Tempest Photography – Individual Photographs
PTA Meeting 3.30pm
18th April Police Liaison Officer – Yrs. 2 & 6
Chester Football – After-School Club
25th April Bronze Young Ambassadors – Charity Sports Fundraiser
May 2nd Rhos St School Eisteddfod
May 23rd Yr. 1 Family Service
May 24th Close for Half Term
Additional dates will be added once confirmed

Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel
Huge thanks to our brilliant school community for all their support with the Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel. There have been over 1,200 active journeys taken over the fortnight with children walking, wheeling, scooting, skating and riding to and from school, making a fantastic contribution to a healthier, environmentally sustainable future for us all.

Weekly Wellbeing I Took His Hand and Followed

My dishes went unwashed today
I didn’t make my bed
I took his hand and followed
Where eager footsteps led
Oh Yes, we went adventuring
My little child and I

Exploring all the great outdoors
Beneath the sun and sky
We watched a robin feed her young
We climbed a sunlit hill
Saw cloud-sheep scamper through the sky
We plucked a daffodil.

That my house was so neglected
That I didn’t brush the stairs
In twenty years no one on earth
Will know or even care.

But that I’ve helped my little child
To noble adulthood grow
In twenty years the whole wide world
May look and see and know.

— Author Unknown

Achievers
This week’s brilliant achievers are: Leighton, Coby, Arlo, Jude, Freya, Elianna and Caden-James.
Liam, Jess, Maya and Scarlet received Headteacher’s Awards.
Ryan shared his swimming Wave-7 Award. Ella shared her gymnastics trophy. Eva and Ruby shared their gymnastics and baking awards, Grace shared her Best Dancer certificate and Emily shared her Brownie Promise badge. Well done to them all!