Dear Parents and Carers / Annwyl Rieni a Gwarchodwyr,

It has been great to see how everyone has settled in so well to their new classes this, rather soggy, week. There has been a focussed buzz discernible all over the school on my many journeys around the classes this week. Lots of new, exciting themes and topics are beginning and it’s lovely to see the enthusiasm and excitement from the children.

Taking a Holiday in Term Time Frequently Asked Questions:
Am I entitled to take my child out of school for a family holiday?
• No. Parents have a legal duty to ensure that their children attend school or the alternative provision on a regular basis
• The Education Act 1996 makes it a criminal offence for a parent to “fail to secure their child’s regular school attendance at the school”
• The view of Denbighshire County Council is no term time holidays should be approved
• Headteachers must not grant any leave of absence (holiday) during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances
• Parents do not have entitlement to take their child out of school for a holiday in term time
If we decide to take a holiday during term time what must we do?
• The parent/carer with whom the child resides must apply in writing to the headteacher where the child is registered
• The letter / application must explain the exceptional circumstance surrounding the request for the leave of absence
What will school do then?
• The headteacher will determine whether the exceptional circumstance applies, if not the application will be declined
• You will receive a written response from the headteacher (or the Deputy) letting you know if your application has been approved
• If the holiday goes ahead after the application has been declined the absence will be recorded as unauthorised

Denbighshire Music Cooperative Violin & Cello Demonstration
The junior children were treated to a wonderful violin and cello demonstration on Tuesday. Music teachers from Denbighshire Music Cooperative showcased the versatility of the two string instruments with some lovely pieces of music, many of which the children were familiar with from films and TV shows. Violin and cello lessons are available in school, please contact the school office for details.

Home-School Agreement
At Rhos St School, we recognise each child as an individual, and aim to give all children every opportunity to realise their full potential. We believe that a close partnership between the school, parents and the child is essential if we are to achieve this aim.
It is therefore an expectation that all parents who wish their children to attend Rhos St School will agree to our Home School Agreement. We ask parents to share the Home School Agreement (attached) with their child, and we will also discuss it with them in school.

Head Lice
I have been informed of incidences of head lice in school this week. I would request that you check your child’s hair and treat if appropriate. Please see the information below regarding identification and treatment of head lice:
Head lice are small insects (no larger than a sesame seed when fully grown) with moving legs. They live very close to the scalp. Nits are not the same as lice. They are the egg cases which stick to the hair and look like specks of dandruff. You only have head lice if you find a moving louse (not a nit). Your head does not have to be itchy to have head lice.
Because of children’s play activity and direct head-to-head contact, head lice are usually found on children, but can also spread to adults. Head lice are caught from close family and friends in the home and community, as well as at school. Head lice live in all types of hair – dirty or clean, short, or long. Head lice walk from one head to another, when heads are in direct contact with each other – they do not fly, jump, or swim. It may be advisable to keep long hair tied back to reduce the chance of infection.
As most children will get head lice at some point or another, we strongly advise that our parents/carers routinely check their children’s hair for head lice at least weekly. Head lice is one of the conditions covered by the Common Ailments Scheme which is an NHS service that patients can access for free advice and free treatment and is available from 99% of pharmacies in Wales.
https://111.wales.nhs.uk/encyclopaedia/h/article/headliceandnits/#:~:text=Headlice%20is%20one%20of%20the,more%20information%20on%20the%20service.&text=Lice%20and%20nits%20can%20be%20removed%20by%20wet%20combing

Urdd
The Urdd are offering reduced membership prices for families and for pupils who are in receipt of Free School Meals (not Universal Free School Meals).
Individual membership is £10. Family membership (3 or more children) is £25.
£1 for persons in receipt of one of the following benefits:
Income Support, Income-Based Job-Seeker’s Allowance, Income-Based Employment and Support Allowance, Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, Guaranteed Element of Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit or Universal Credit. Follow this link for more information on Urdd membership: https://www.urdd.cymru/en/join/

Bikes, Trikes & Scooters Request

Mrs. Liddy and her foundation learners’ department would love donations of any outgrown, appropriately sized, bicycles, tricycles, or scooters for the children to use. Please speak to your child’s class teacher or to the admin team if you think you may have a bike, trike, or scooter to donate. Many thanks

Influenza Vaccination
Schoolchildren (including all children from Reception to Year 11) are a priority group for the annual flu vaccine. Most children receive a painless nasal spray vaccine at special clinics held at school, organised by our school immunisation team. Vaccinating children helps to prevent them becoming unwell with serious flu infections – and helps to protect other members of their family and more vulnerable members of the community from flu too. You can find out more about flu vaccination at: phw.nhs.wales/fluvaccine

Bangor University Post-Pandemic Speech, Language, and Communication Needs for children aged 5-8 in full-time schooling.
Parental and Carer Survey:
Bangor University has been funded by the Welsh Government to research the speech, language, and communication needs of 5–8-year-olds. We would like to invite you to take part in a short survey to share your views. The survey will take less than 15 minutes to complete, and your responses will contribute to a greater understanding of the speech, language, and communication needs of children, supporting important policy development in this area.
To complete the survey in English, please click on the link below, or scan the QR code:
https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/bangor/bangor-university-speech-language-and-comminucation-needs-sur-3

A Free Webinar: ‘Promoting Digital Literacy & Digital Wellbeing for Children and Young People in an age of Artificial Intelligence (AI)’
17th of September 2024 – 5.15pm to 6.45pm (using Teams)
As part of Adult Education Week, WISE KIDS is delighted to offer a free 90-minute webinar for parents, foster carers and professionals across Wales on the 17/9/2024 from 5.15pm and 6.45pm (using Teams).
This webinar will provide a brief overview of the changing digital landscape with a focus on AI developments. It will explore the digital literacy skills, values and resilience children and young people need to keep be empowered digital citizens. You can register here: https://forms.gle/DMfpU6EzjjWFmrNM9
All registrants will receive joining details 3 days before the event. This workshop is kindly supported by the Learning and Work Institute in Wales, as part of Adult Learners’ Week.

Cornel Cymraeg

Our fantastic Welsh Wednesdays got underway again this week with the children gathering in the school hall to learn and sing Welsh songs, learn all about Welsh culture and traditions and to celebrate everything great about Wales.

Weekly Wellbeing
This week’s quote is from actor Christopher D’Olier Reeve the American actor, activist, director, and author. He amassed several stage and screen credits in his 34-year career, including playing the title character in the Superman film series. When he became paralyzed in an equestrian competition in 1995, Christopher motivated neuroscientists around the world to conquer the most complex diseases of the brain and central nervous system while he put a human face on spinal cord injury.

A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.

Christopher Reeve
Achievers
This week’s amazing achievers are: All of the Reception class, Amelia, Jake Orson, all of Yr. 3, Oscar, Max, Oliver and Henry.
Emilia, Joe, Emily and Eliza shared their Summer Reading Challenge certificates and Neve shared her Brownies rosette. Well done to our fab achievers this week.