Dear Parents/Carers 30 September 2020
From 6pm on Thursday 1st October 2020 further restrictions will be introduced in Conwy County in an attempt to slow down the spread of the Covid-19 virus. You can find more information about this ‘Local Lockdown’ here.
Nothing will essentially change at school due to these new measures. However, this is a good time for us to send out some further information and reminders.
The first reminder is also a personal appeal from me. Please write your child’s name on their uniform labels in permanent marker. I spent a very frustrating time yesterday afternoon trying to reunite pupils with their lost property. We had some successes, but it was very sad to see the pile of new clothes that could not be returned to their rightful owner. We are unable to keep these items in school and unfortunately they will all end up in the charity bin. Please, write your child’s name on the label, especially jumpers, sweatshirts, cardigans and coats, they’re going to need them.
The weather is becoming colder and wetter and one of the key pieces of advice we have received from the authority is that fresh air is important in the battle against the spread of Covid-19. To this end, we have all the windows open in school to dilute the air within the building with fresh air from outside. As a result, the rooms are not as warm as they normally would be, even with the heating on. Having the heating on and the windows open is neither environmentally friendly, nor is it very budget friendly. What we’ll be doing, essentially, is burning more gas to heat up the air outside. Anyway, the important thing is that pupils have appropriate clothing to keep themselves dry and warm as winter approaches. We will be spending as much time outside as we possibly can, for obvious reasons. The Scandinavians and mountaineers have a saying, ‘there is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.’ It is also the title of an excellent book by Linda Akeson McGurk. Well worth a read. You can find out more about Linda Akeson McGurk here.
So, pupils will need warm clothes, hats, gloves, scarves etc. in order to make the most of the outdoors and the fresh air.
But please, put their names on the labels. It makes life so much easier.
Covid-19 Safe School – We are operating as if the school was inside a protective bubble. Our first line of defence is to ensure that the virus does not enter the building. Therefore, you must not send your child to school if they exhibit any symptoms consistent with Covid-19.
These are:
The main symptoms of coronavirus are:
- a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
According to the Government and the Local Authority, social distancing and good hand hygiene are still the most effective means of stopping the spread of Covid-19. So, at the gate in the morning and at the end of the school day, stay two metres apart. This means from each other and from school staff.
LATES: Your child arriving late for school causes more problems than you can possibly imagine. Please make every effort to be punctual. Persistent lateness will result in the Educational Social Workers becoming involved.
PLASC INFORMATION: – Conwy County Borough Council have provided printed copies of the information we hold on your child/ren. If you have not already done so, please check these forms and return to school urgently. It is vital that we have correct contact details for your child. Thank you
FLU FORMS: These have been sent home this week with pupils. Please can you complete them and return to school before this coming Friday, thank you. The immunisations are scheduled to take place on 16th November in school.
TEMPEST PHOTOGRAPHY REMINDER: Tempest photography will not be visiting before Christmas to take individual photographs of the pupils. We have arranged a provisional date in January and the situation re. Covid-19 will be reviewed then.
STAFF TRAINING DAY REMINDER: Children will be in school this coming Monday 5th October – the Staff Training Day will now be on Monday 2nd November (not school for pupils on that day).
OCTOBER HALF TERM – We will finish school on Friday 16th October. Pupils will return to school on Tuesday 3rd November.
School Information Reminder –Please continue to check our school website and Twitter page for any updates and photos/videos. The letters from the Headteacher can be found on the News section and in particular, there is also Class information available.
Contacting school – just a reminder that parents/carers should please contact us via e-mail with general queries. Please only phone the school if urgent or to explain absences.
Many thanks for your co-operation.
Yours sincerely
Iwan Lloyd Jones, Headteacher