Dear Parents/Carers,

It was a great pleasure to welcome pupils back to school yesterday. They were very happy and excited to be back, though the weather was particularly wet at exactly the wrong moment for going home! I think I need a bigger umbrella!

Our focus in school at the moment is on keeping teaching and learning as normal as possible alongside an awareness of the potential impacts of the current Covid situation on pupil wellbeing. I am always so impressed by their – and your – ability to adapt to new guidance and arrangements. We are hoping that the additional measures we have in place at the moment, including staggered finish times, will not be in place for very long. As good ventilation has been recognised as the most effective way of preventing the spread of infection, we are endeavouring to open doors and windows as much as possible, so please ensure that pupils come to school wearing plenty of warm layers. The CO2 monitors promised by Welsh Government have arrived at school for each classroom and are in the process of being set up.

Home learning books are being sent home with your child/ren. This is only a precaution in case of a sudden move to remote learning. They include any log-in details you might need in the event that this happens.

A reminder of the changes to finish times:

Start times remain the same. The Schools’ Health & Safety Team has confirmed that as the children come in to school gradually over a 15-minute period, we do not need to stagger arrival times. Where you collect/meet your child(ren) also remains the same. Please remember to wear masks when dropping off and collecting your children. Thank you.

Please can parents/carers collecting a child/children from Foundation Phase leave the playground via the lower gate, even if they have children to collect from the Key Stage 2 gates. Thank you.

Changes to AFTER-SCHOOL CLUBS

Football will now alternate between years 5 & 6 until Half Term, as below. We are awaiting confirmation on Choir and Gymnastics clubs. These arrangements will be reviewed after the Half Term Break.

Polling

We have received notification that Lakeside Nursery will no longer be used as a polling station whenever there’s an election. The council has made arrangements to use The Discovery as a polling station instead of Nursery.

Wishing you all a warm, safe and pleasant weekend.

Best wishes,

Rachel Mitchell

Headteacher

Upcoming events

January 2022

• W/C Monday Jan 24th – Year 5 Cycling Proficiency
• Weds 26th & Thurs 27th – Chinese Dance Workshop KS2
• Friday 28th – Sunday 30th Jan – Big Garden Birdwatch
• Sat Jan 29th – Friday Feb 4th – National Storytelling Week

February 2022

• Tuesday 1st Feb – Chinese New Year
• Friday 4th Feb – NSPCC Number Day – wear something to school with a number on it
• Monday 7th-18th Feb – Year 4 Swimming
• Friday 14th Feb – Valentine’s Day
• Monday 21st Feb – Saturday March 5th – Fair Trade Fortnight

March 2022

• Tuesday March 1st – St David’s Day & Pancake Day
• Thursday March 3rd – World Book Day
• Sunday March 27th – Mother’s Day
• Friday 11th – Sat 19th March – British Science Week
• Friday 18th March – comic Relief Day
• Monday 28th March – 8th April - Year 5 Swimming

April 2022

• Sat 2nd April – Sun 1st May – Ramadan (exact dates TBC)

June 2022

• Mon 13th – 24th June – Year 3 Swimming

• Term dates 2021-22

Term dates 2022-23

Monday 5th and Tuesday 6th September are INSET DAYS

Pupils return to school on Wednesday 7th September