Ebrill 1af / April 1st 2022

Dear Parents and Carers / Annwyl Rieni a Gwarchodwyr,

The spring term is flying by at breakneck speed, with one more week to go before the Easter holidays sail majestically over the horizon. As ever, this week has been full to bursting with activity, both inside and out. A fantastic PTA Easter Fun Day brings this week to a close. We can all gird our loins ready for the final push next week!

Garden-Area Donation
Many thanks to Mr. Siôn Gwyn-Jones, Arlo and Fleur’s dad, for his kind donation of £200 towards the Garden-Area project, from his company Urbanbuild Homes. We are extremely grateful and will put the money to very good use developing the area further for the children to enjoy and learn in.

Broken Digging Tools

We are looking for donations of any digging tools, even if they have broken handles, as we have a volunteer who is able to fabricate new handles. Please drop off any donations in the foyer. Many thanks.

Olivia
I was accompanied by Mr. Bryn Jones on Tuesday to the premier of the road-safety film Olivia at Cineworld Llandudno. Working with Olivia’s parents, family and friends and after securing funding through collaborative working involving North Wales Police and partners, a film and supporting lessons have been produced which will be shown to school pupils right across Wales as part of the national SchoolBeat programme. Olivia, a much-loved, ex-Rhos St pupil, was tragically killed in a road-traffic incident. The film was the most difficult thing I can ever remember watching, but will do a vital job in educating new or pre-drivers and aims to help them be aware of their responsibilities and of the devastating consequences that can occur.

Earth Hour

Many thanks to Ben and Emily for sharing pictures of their Earth Hour activities. I’m sure that they were not alone in taking time to stand alongside the WWF – World Wildlife Fund collaborating with people from all over the world celebrate and support positive action for our fragile planet.

Wellbeing
As part of our work supporting Wellbeing in school, and in recognition of the challenges that many children have faced in recent times, we have a copy of the excellent book: Worry-Proofing Your Anxious Child by Bev Aisbett available to loan form the school. A calm, clear and reassuring book that is filled with explanations and practical advice for parents. If you would like to borrow this book please contact Mr. Davis, Mrs. Liddy or Mrs. Davies.

Eleri Morris Retirement
A card and envelope are in the school office for any parents who wish to leave a message or make a donation for Eleri who will be leaving us next Friday after over 40 years of sterling service. – The end of an era!

Easter Fun Day
A brilliant time was had by all at the Easter Fun Day, organised by the wonderful Rhos St PTA. There were lots of great activities including arts and craft, Easter-egg hunts, pin the tail on the bunny, Easter hat / bonnet competition and lots, lots more. Many thanks to all of the PTA members who gave up their time to support the school and also to parents and carers for their kind donations in support of the school. Pictures of the event will soon be available on the schools Flickr account, accessible through the Rhos St website.

Achievers
Our fab achievers this week are: Amelia, Aliza, Oliver, Isabella, Skye, Max, Kalyani, Emi-Lee and Ella May.
Meredith was awarded a Welsh award and Emi-Lee shared her rugby award. Well done to them all!

Yours sincerely / Yn gywir,

Andrew Davis, Headteacher / Pennaeth

Mawrth 25ain / March 25th 2022

Dear Parents and Carers / Annwyl Rieni a Gwarchodwyr,

The warm, sunny weather this week may have lulled us into a feeling that spring is springing. There have been lots of great work outdoors, both in the Living Classroom and also in our Garden Area. It is great to see children outside learning and having fun. Fingers crossed that the weather lasts over the weekend, as the forecast looks a little more unsettled for next week, with even the word snow being recklessly bandied about, so we all need to make the most of it.

Earth Hour
Our service this morning was all about Earth Hour. Started in 2007 by WWF and partners as a symbolic lights-out event in Sydney to raise awareness of climate change, Earth Hour is now one of the world’s largest grassroots movements for the environment. Held every year on the last Saturday of March, Earth Hour engages supporters in more than 190 countries and territories, all taking action to ensure a brighter future for people and the planet.
We are asking for pictures of any Earth Hour activities be forwarded to: andrew.davis@denbighsire.gov.uk so that we can celebrate Rhos St school’s part in the global, collective action for our planet. Many thanks.

Little Princess Trust
We are so proud of Piper, in Yr 2 for her selfless donation of 13 inches of her hair to the Little Princess Trust, a charity that provides real hair wigs, free of charge, to children and young people who have lost their own hair through cancer. Well done to her for such a kind gesture. We will Tweet her certificate next week.

Tesco Donation

A massive thank you to Tesco Ruthin who have donated plants and compost to our Garden Area project. Yr. 5 had a brilliant time helping bring in the goodies. Many thanks also to school Governor Pat Astbury and husband Peter for collecting and delivering the donations.

Co-Op Donation
Many thanks to Co-Op Ruthin for their kind donation of plants for the Garden Area project. Also to Pat Astbury and Julie Debicka for organising their collection and drop off at school.

Achievers
Our wonderful achievers this week are: Jake, Emily, Morgan, Jude, Joshua, Arlo, Skye, Maddie, Amelie, Milo, Daniel, Melissa and Miley.
A Welsh award went to Isabella, well done to them all!

Yours sincerely / Yn gywir,

Andrew Davis, Headteacher / Pennaeth

Mawrth 11eg / March 11th 2022
Dear Parents and Carers / Annwyl Rieni a Gwarchodwyr,

Another week flies by with lots and lots of activity throughout the school. There have been groups working in the Living Classroom with Denbighshire Countryside Services. Work has begun in earnest in the garden area, with groups going out to plant trees and begin the long job of landscaping. Our polytunnel is up and will soon be in use, sewing seeds and starting plants, ready for groups to begin developing the different areas of the garden.

Nant B.H / Penrellyncymmer
Please may I request that all outstanding monies still owed for the completed trips to Nant B.H and Pentrellyncymmer are paid as soon as possible. We are, at present, organising visits to these centers for November, details to follow nearer the time.

Garden-Area Donations
Many, many thanks to everyone who has made such kind donations to the garden-area project. We are still looking for wellies, suitable for Foundation Phase and Junior children, and any garden tools would be gratefully received. I am informed that, due to very kind donations, have reached plant-pot critical mass and do not need any more plant pots. Many thanks again to everyone who has donated.

Wellies / Outdoor Footwear
As our garden project develops we will be working with all the children in the school, in small groups, and possibly in a variety of weathers. We are requesting that, when it is your child’s garden-area session that they have either a pair of wellies or a pair of old shoes, boots or trainers (not their PE trainers please) that they would be able to wear for their gardening activities and then bring home.

Wheelbarrows
A huge thank you to Chris Roberts for her incredibly kind donation of three wheelbarrows for our garden area. They will be put to very good use as things develop in our garden area.

Polytunnel
Another thank you, this time for Tony Dallolio for his fantastic work preparing the garden area for pupils, moving all the tyres from the front of the building and for constructing our new polytunnel. Also big thanks to A.J and Liz, who volunteered their own time to help with the works. I am extremely grateful for all of their efforts.

Allergy / Medical Information
Please can any changes to your child’s medical needs, allergies, food intolerances or specific dietary requirements be shared with the school office, as it is of great importance that our records are as up to date as possible. Your assistance, in regard to this, is greatly appreciated.

Ukraine-Crisis Appeal

Thank you to everyone who supported the Wear What You Love Day today. In agreement with the PTA it was decided that the donations made for Wear What You Love would be collected, by the school, and donated, from Rhos St, to the Disaster Emergency Committee – Ukraine Crisis, Red Cross Appeal. A cause, I’m sure, that is on many of our minds at the moment.

Achievers
Our wonderful achievers this week are:

Henry, Elliot, Sophie, Daisy, Sebastian, Rayne, Penny, Maisie, Henry M, Willow, Fletcher, Barkley and Luca.
Zakk for his Welsh Award and Hollie for her Gold, Rookie-Lifeguard Award.
Well done to you all!

Yours sincerely / Yn gywir,

Andrew Davis, Headteacher / Pennaeth

Mawrth 4 ydd / March 4th 2022
Dear Parents and Carers / Annwyl Rieni a Gwarchodwyr,

Wow, what a busy week! St David’s Day and our Rhos St Eisteddfod activities, World Book Day with everyone dressing up and fantastic book-based lessons, not to mention donations of tyres and logs and tools for the garden area! All the children, and definitely the staff, will need a lie down! It’s great to see so much going on and, as we head into spring, a real feeling of new projects dawning in parallel with the lighter mornings and blossoming trees.

Bartley’s Tyres
A huge thank you to Bartley’s Tyres for kindly donating, and delivering, tyres for our Garden Area! We are extremely grateful. The tyres will be put to lots of uses, for planters, seating and for outdoor play. Pupils, from all classes, will enjoy using and benefit from them.

Garden-Area Logs

A big thank you to Mr. Palmer, the father of our very own Mrs. Lewis in Yr 4, for donating and delivering some large logs. We are planning to use them as seating in the bushcraft area of our school garden. I can smell the toasting marshmallows already!

Website – Flickr Update
The pictures on the Rhos St Flickr have been updated, so feel free to check out the latest pics. I’m reliably informed that you may need to accept cookies (unfortunately not triple chocolate) before being able to view the pictures.

Rhos St Eisteddfod 2022

We had a fantastic St David’s Day here at Rhos St. Children came to school wearing Welsh colours and Mrs. Lewis led a fantastic Eisteddfod event with pupil learning all about Wales, its culture, language and traditions as well as some great singing. We will be filming and sharing each classes Welsh performances in the near future.

Garden Area Donations
We have been bowled over by the generosity of of the school, and wider, community in donating to our Garden Area project. A huge thank you to Gill Wilkinson, who runs a local gardening business, for donating tools, water butts and other garden equipment. We have also received an extremely generous donation of wheelbarrows from Chris Roberts, Charlie and Joe’s mum that will get us all gardening like professionals in no time. In addition we have had an very generous donation from Faye Jones, Arlo and Fleur’s mum, who has offered to pay for the school to purchase tools and gardening equipment. I am extremely grateful, and very touched, by the wonderful support we are receiving from the school community.
Many, many thanks again for all of your generous donations.

RGC Competition
Rugby Gogledd Cymru (RGC) the regional representative team for the North Wales Rugby Development Region are running a competition to design their new shirts (see competition entry attached). Any budding designers that would like to take part need to complete the competition-entry form and send it to the address provided. Here is the link to the RGC homepage should you like more information: http://northwalesrugby.wales/home/

World Book Day
World Book Day was a fantastic success with lots of fantastic costumes, from pupils and staff, and some brilliant book-related games and activities. Have a look at the school’s Flickr account for more great pictures.

Achievers
This week’s achievers are: Poppy D, Thea, Bertie, Eliza, Samuel, Paige, Thea, Oscar, Teddy, Nimrod, Jack, Sophie, Charlie G, Poppy, Kush, Liam G, Ethan and Lacey.
Welsh awards went to: Liam P, Leila and Charles. Well done to you all!

Yours sincerely / Yn gywir,

Andrew Davis, Headteacher / Pennaeth

Chwefror 18ydd / February 18th 2022
Dear Parents and Carers / Annwyl Rieni a Gwarchodwyr,

Storm Eunice seems to be the defining factor as we bring this half-term to a close, and it’s a good analogy for the rollercoaster ride that we have all been on in recent times. Through all of this challenge the resilience and support of the Rhos St community has shone through. I won’t lie, taking over the role of Interim Headteacher at the sharp-end of an Omicron pandemic and with a large section of school roof missing did fill me with no small amount of trepidation. It has been the fantastic colleagues, governors, parents and of course, most importantly pupils of this school that have turned this period from one of initial foreboding, to one of pride in the fantastic progress made by so many of our learners, as well as the positive steps taken forward towards our goals for this year. I look forward to continuing the move forward, after half term, and would like to thank you all for your ongoing support, and hope you all have a great half-term break (weather permitting).

Garden Area
The plans for the garden area continue to move forward with the purchase of a polytunnel and the collection of the brilliant garden-area plans completed by the pupils. They have a wonderful imagination and have produced some fantastic ideas for us to work with in our final garden-area design. If anyone has suitable tools, waterproofs or wellies that they were able to donate to the children, to use in garden area, they would be gratefully received.

Wear What you Love Day
Because of the school closure today we have, unfortunately, missed out on the PTA’s Wear What You Love Day.
Never fear, the day has been rescheduled for Friday 11th of March. We have avoided the first week back after half term as children will be invited to dress up for St David’s Day and also for World Book Day in that week and I’m mindful of avoiding dress-up overload!

Have a great half-term holiday everyone.

Yours sincerely / Yn gywir,

Andrew Davis,

Headteacher / Pennaeth

Chwefror 11ydd / February 11th 2022
Dear Parents and Carers / Annwyl Rieni a Gwarchodwyr,

Another really positive week draws to a close. Time is flying by and I can’t believe that it is only a week until half term. School has been a hive of activity with lots of work raising awareness for Children’s Mental Health Week 2022 as well as preparations for out in-school Eisteddfod on St David’s Day.

Garden Area
We are making really positive steps forward with our garden-area project. A polytunnel has been ordered and the children have been busy with their designs for what they would like to see in the garden area. Donations of tools or child-sized waterproofs would be very greatly received.

Jumpers
I have been made aware of some school jumpers going missing, despite being named. Please could I ask that jumpers are checked to see if the missing items have been accidental taken home and that they be returned if this is the case. Many thanks for your help and support.

PE Kit
Please could PE kit worn in school, as much as possible, be black shorts / jogging bottoms, white t-shirt and a school jumper. We encourage this simple PE kit as it reduces the need to purchase expensive sports clothing and protects pupils from some of the possible negative issues related to sports branding.

Tesco Tokens
We have applied to the Tesco Blue Token scheme in support of our garden area. So if you find yourself in Tesco, picking up ‘essential’ supplies (white or red), please give us a thought and direct your token appropriately.

Wear what you Love
The PTA are planning to hold a Wear What you Love day on Friday 18th of February. Children can come in clothes that they love and bring a donation of £1 towards PTA funds.

Children’s’ Mental Health Week
There has been lots of work going on all around school this week based upon Children’s Mental Health Week. The issues, which can sometimes be difficult, have been dealt with in a sensitive and considerate manner with many of the children engaging in fun activities designed to raise the awareness without causing distress.

Healthy Snacks
As a healthy school I would like offer a gentle reminder that snacks brought in to school by pupils should be, as much as possible, fruit. I am aware that some children have a preference for different things, but would ask that any break time snacks be what would be considered ‘healthy’, rather than the crisps and chocolate bars that have made an occasional appearance of late. I would also ask that, due to some children having a severe allergy to nuts that, although a healthy snack option, nuts are not brought in to school as the consequences from an anaphylactic reaction could be severe.

Safer Internet Day
Our assembly today was all about keeping safe online and followed this year’s Safer Internet Day theme of All Fun and Games. We learned all about the importance of talking to a trusted adult if any experience online makes children feel ‘sad or bad’ and the importance of treating friends online with the same respect that is given in ‘real life’.

Pentrecllyncymmer / Nant B.H
Please could any payments due for the Penrellyncymmer or Nant B.H trips be paid as soon as possible. Many thanks.

Achievers

Today’s achievers are:

Louie, Abi, Drago, Thea, Sophie, Isla, Penny, Skye, Charlie R, Jack, Maisie, Eva, Jay, Ella, Lilly-Mae, Riley, Milo, Emily and Emily J well done to them all!

Yours sincerely / Yn gywir,

Andrew Davis, Headteacher / Pennaeth

Chwefror 4ydd / February 4th 2022
Dear Parents and Carers / Annwyl Rieni a Gwarchodwyr,

It seems like a long time since I penned my first newsletter as interim headteacher. A brush with Covid-19 has put many of the pupils and staff out of action for a short while, myself included, but I am so proud of the resilience of the school community who have worked so positively together in these challenging times. It has been so heartening to see the fantastic teaching and learning going on in every classroom, and, along with the early snowdrops in our hedgerows, if you look carefully you can see the tiny, green shoots of normality hopefully returning to school life.

Garden Area
Our major project for the rest of this year is to develop the garden area, adjacent to the bat loft. We have been putting plans in place to enable us to take small groups out into the garden area to begin the transformation. As the year rolls on children will, be landscaping, planting, harvesting, pruning and a myriad of other outdoor skills. They will be learning about living things, the environment, recycling, bushcraft, gardening, financial education, and lots more, all while getting their hands dirty with real-life practical activities. As part of the launch we have sent home a sketch map of the area for children to use their imagination and create their perfect garden. We will then be using the children’s ideas to make our ‘master-plan’ moving forward. We are hoping that this will be a real opportunity to invite visitors and volunteers to work alongside the children as they get to grips with this whole-school project.

Tools, Wellies and Waterproofs
With the garden-area project in mind, we are making a request to the school community for any gardening hand tools, spare child-sized wellies and waterproof jackets and trousers. If you have any of these items that you are willing to donate to the school please drop them off with either the office, KS2 or Foundation-Phase staff at drop off or pick up. All will be gratefully received.

Kindness Week
Our previous assembly was all about kindness. We will be continuing to focus on this throughout the year, as well as our other two school rules: be respectful and do your best. I asked the children to undertake some random acts of kindness, and the staff to keep a sharp eye out for such things. We will be sharing our kindness certificates for those children caught in the act of being kind after Random Acts of Kindness Day. It was so lovely to hear about how thoughtful and considerate our pupils can be.

Music Tuition
Payment for this term’s music tuition is now due and can be made via parent Parent Pay. There are still some outstanding fees due from previous terms and we would appreciates payment for these as soon as possible. Many thanks.

PTA
The PTA are currently looking for new volunteers to join their fantastic team. We are very lucky at Rhos St to have, and to have had, such a wonderful and supportive PTA. Fundraising by the PTA has paid for many exciting things in school including trips to the pantomime, Chromebooks for the classroom and very recently a large donation towards the outdoor play equipment. The financial and operational support that we receive from the PTA is invaluable to us in offering the rich experiences that children in Rhos St enjoy, and have enjoyed over the years. If you are able to offer your time, experience and expertise to the PTA in any way it would be very greatly appreciated. Please get in touch, however great or little the amount of time you are able to offer, if you would like to join this great group of people, working together for the children of Rhos St.

Olivia Alkir
We were delighted to pass on the money that the school community raised towards the stained-glass window to be created in memory of Olivia Alkir, Jo’s daughter and ex-Rhos St pupil, who was so tragically killed. We will be keeping in close contact with Jo and will keep you abreast of developments with the stained-glass window and also the road-safety campaign, which Jo is very involved in; due to premiere soon. The campaign will deliver a vital message to young people and their parents about the dangers posed by inexperienced drivers.

Achievers
Our fantastic achievers this week are:
Ethan, Toby, Sophie, Ayla, Thea, Sophie, Piper, Joshua, Louie, Sebastian, Daisy, Alex, Romeo, Mia, Mia-Rose, Kaden Anna, Alexander, Maisie, Isabella, Elsie,

Yours sincerely / Yn gywir,

Andrew Davis, Headteacher / Pennaeth