Dear Parents and Carers / Annwyl Rieni a Gwarchodwyr,
Not that I’m completely obsessed with the weather, but… it’s been a lovely sunny week this week. The children have really enjoyed the time on the school field and squeezing the pips out of every outside playtime. The preparations for our Harvest service are getting under way and, even though it strikes fear into my heart, the PTA Christmas cards have been receiving their finishing touches, despite the fact that even saying the word ‘Christmas’ in September should be subject to an automatic six months!
Head Lice
I have been informed of ongoing 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
Nant BH and Pentrellyncymmer
As the date of our two planned residential visits draws ever nearer, please can I request that all outstanding payments are made in full, via out ParentPay app, before each respective start date. The Nant BH residential is at capacity, but we do have spaces available on the Pentrellyncymmer residential. Please speak to our admin team if you would like your child to take part.
Grapes
I have had a request from the Infant department that grapes, sent in with school lunches and snacks, be cut in half please as we are mindful of the current guidance around avoiding possible choking hazards.
So, why are grapes so dangerous?
The size and shape of grapes means they can completely plug a child’s airway. And the tight seal produced by the grape’s smooth surface makes them difficult to dislodge with standard
first aid techniques.
Young children are particularly vulnerable to choking on grapes because:
They don’t have a full set of teeth and are still learning to chew properly.
Their swallow reflex is still developing.
Their airway is very small.
It’s why we advise that grapes should be chopped in half lengthways and ideally in quarters.
For more information, from The Child Accident Prevention Trust please follow this link:
https://capt.org.uk/why-are-grapes-so-dangerous/
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 the sessions have planned activities that help children build language and social skills in preparation for school in a fun, friendly environment.
Rhos St will be hosting a series of Language and Play sessions, in the school hall, Wednesday afternoons 1.15pm – 2.45pm for children 1 – 3 yrs. old. Call Nicola on 07770681399 for details.
Parking on Double-Yellow Lines
I have received concerns regarding members of the Rhos St and Ysgol Pen Barras school community parking on the double-yellow lines outside of the car park. This irresponsible parking restricts the visibility of adults, and particularly children, when crossing the road and could lead to injury or worse. I have contacted North Wales Police and requested they monitor this going forward.
I would request that all car-park users respect the signage and designation of areas, both inside and adjacent to the school car park, to ensure that children and other members of the school community are kept as safe as possible.https://www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/waiting-and-parking.html
Admissions
Please see below the School Admissions timetable for Denbighshire when application for entry to school in September 2025 must be made. All applications for school places should be made through Denbighshire Admissions Department: https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/education-and-schools/school-admissions/school-admissions.aspx
Pre-Loved School Uniform
We have recently revamped our pre-loved school uniform station in the foyer. As a Platinum Eco-School, we are all about reusing things and would love parents and carers to help themselves to any uniform items that they require. It’s great to give these pre-loved items a second life, saving money and helping the planet in one go! The items are organised in age groups, so it should be really easy to find anything you are looking for. Please come and have a look before buying new. We would request that any items taken from the pre-loved rail, along with all other school uniform, are clearly labelled with their owner’s name, so they don’t end up back in the dreaded lost property pile.
Cornel Gymraeg
In Welsh Corner this week the children learned all about the story of Owain Glyndŵr, on his special day – September 16th. He was a prince of Wales and Medieval Welsh nationalist leader, who organised a rebellion against the English king, Henry IV. Like the legend of King Arthur, Welsh legend has it that when Wales is threatened again, he will rise in order to lead the defence of Wales.
Weekly Wellbeing
This week’s quote is from Samuel Langhorne Clemens, known by the pen name Mark Twain. He was an American writer, humourist, and essayist. He was praised as the “greatest humourist the United States has produced,” with William Faulkner calling him “the father of American literature.”
Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.
Mark Twain
Achievers
This week’s fabulous achievers are Isaac, Thomas, Ted, Amelia, Paige, Eve, Logan, Flynn, Curtis. Kalani and Eudora.
Jessica shared her gymnastic medals; Isla shared her swimming medals and Ella shared her dance and gymnastics medals.
We also had some more children who have worked incredibly hard to complete the Summer Reading Challenge. Very well done to: Romeo, Sophie, Poppy and Louie.
We are also recognising Oscar this week, who played in a golf tournament at Pwll-glass last weekend. Oscar was not only competing against adults, but won, taking home the prize money. A future Rory McIlroy in the making, I think.
We were also lucky this morning to be treated to a lovely piano recital from Poppy and Charlotte.