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Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
Dear Parents,
It is with great regret that we contact you to inform you that given the latest Corona virus news we will not be able to allow parents to come to school to see the shows next week. We have spent time meticulously planning how we would be able to get parents in to school to see the shows safely, however, given the latest news and guidance about the ‘Omicron’ variant and the fact that we don’t know how transferable or severe it may be, we need to take a "cautious and balanced response" to ensure everyone's safety.
Latest government guidance tells us to “take seriously the threat of mixing with others indoors” in the run up to Christmas and that … "The most effective way to prevent transmission of COVID-19 in schools is to stop infection being brought into the school". In addition to this, we are also told that ... “Everyone identified as a close contact of a confirmed or probable Omicron case in Wales will need to isolate for 10 days “regardless of their vaccination status or age”. With this in mind it would not be responsible of us to invite upwards of 200 parents into the school in a very short period at this time.
We are as bitterly disappointed to have to do this as we are sure that you will be not to be able to come in and see your children perform but no-one wants to have to isolate in the run up to Christmas or even worse over the Christmas period.
We will still perform and record the performances and these recordings will be made available to all parents for free. Details will follow shortly.
We thank you for your anticipated understanding and support.
Dear Parents
Well what an end to the last full week that was! Having gone over 7 months without sending anyone home to isolate as being ‘absolutely’ Covid positive we’ve had to take action on several cases across the school and ask staff and cohorts to isolate. I think we had all forgotten just how stressful, confusing and challenging the whole matter is.
For the best interests of all, I’ll summarise what has taken place this weekend. Following the procedures set out, Y1KO were sent home to isolate as there was a positive LFT test, however, this has subsequently been followed by a negative PCR test and so the class can return to school on Monday as normal. Y1CD weren’t affected by the first case, however someone has had a positive PCR test over the weekend and so, sadly, this class now has to isolate up to and including the 18th of July.
Please be assured we have and will take action where pupils are unwell with potential symptoms and we are grateful to those of you who have come to collect your children and taking them to be tested. We know that many turn out to be negative but your support in protecting the community is appreciated by all.
We have other positive parent and pupil cases in our school, but here children were already off and so no further classes have to isolate at present. We have 9 staff off having been connected to positive cases in school. Sadly these staff will miss the end of term.
All actions have been taken in following the guidance for schools and in consultation with TTP. No decisions have been taken lightly and have been made in order to protect the wider school community. We wish all those isolating well and thank them for their support. Covid continues to be a challenge to us all. I think these past few days have reminded us all that we cannot be complacent and we still need to be very careful. We thank everyone for their support.
I know that some of you feel that your children should come to school if they aren’t showing symptoms but the present rules say that we must keep everyone off in case they develop symptoms. I am sorry but we have to follow these requirements at this time. We really do appreciate how difficult and frustrating this is for all concerned.
This has perhaps been a very important reminder that we need to keep wearing our masks on site at this time and ensure that we continue to socially distance. Please be assures that none the pupil cases have been attributed directly to the school and the present procedures are working and protecting everyone and will continue to do so as long as we follow the rules / guidance.
September changes to Covid rules
The Welsh Minister for Education has sent a letter to schools and parents about the autumn term (Copy attached). In his letter he makes statements that will need to be ‘unpicked’ by schools and the Local authority. Please be assured that we will give you guidance about the return in the autumn as soon as we are able to give clear messages.
September Return
One clear message I can share is that September 2nd will be an INSET day and we will return to school on Friday September 3rd
Reports
On Friday we sent out our end of year reports. An electronic copy has been sent to every child’s Hwb email account. In addition, paper copies were sent out on Friday, along with an attendance report for the year, a self-portrait by your child, notification of who your child’s class teacher will be next year and a feedback form. We hope you find the reports informative and that, along with your recent teacher meeting, they give you a feel as to how your child has settled to school in this Covid ravaged year, their strengths, development needs and how they have been learning. Please take a moment to use the form to feedback on the reports as we use this to ensure they meet your needs and expectations.
If you have not been able to collect your child’s report please contact us and we will do our best to ensure you get a copy as soon as possible.
Sports Day /Sports days
Weather permitting will be proceeding with sports day events for the children. They will compete within their bubble and all equipment will be cleaned before being used by the next bubble. Each teacher has been asked to ensure that they take lots of photos and share them with you through your normal communication software Dojo, twitter, etc.
Class Parties
The end of year has always been marked with a class party and this year will be no different. Each class has organised its own event. No food or drink can be shared between pupils so please ensure all food is individually packed or sealed. Thank you. All tables will be cleaned before and after the children eat, just as they would have been when we had to have dinners in class when we first came back in the autumn term.
Transition session
All pupils will have a short transition session on Wednesday when they will spend some time in their new classroom with their new teacher. We appreciate that for many pupils this will be the same as this year, however for some it will be totally new and it essential they have some idea as to where they will be and who they will be with.
Last day of school
School will close to pupils at our normal end of day times on Wednesday July 14th The following two days are INSET days.
Parental Feed-back requested
We need your feedback on the ‘staggered day’ in place at present. We believe that the way the day is set up at present works well. It has certainly made entry and exit more structured and calm. Playtimes and lunchtimes have had more structure and the children have had more space to play. Children have settled to learning quicker and more readily. … However you will no doubt have your own view and we are genuinely interested in what you think. Please reply to Gwyrosydd.primary@swansea-edunet.gov.uk or send a reply in with your child.
Dear Parents and Carers,
A little later than expected but here is an update to the KS2/Junior return to school, I do apologise for the delay. Please read the information below and adhere to the safety advice. We are aware of at least two schools that have had to send classes / year groups home today due to coronavirus cases in their schools. The virus has not gone away. We can safely manage pupils in school but in order to control the spread of the virus and limit any potential impact on pupils being able to be in school we need to work together and keep to the rules. Perhaps the most important ones for you are to “Keep 2m apart at all times”” and to wear a mask at all times when on the school grounds”. Also, if you, any close family members or your children show any signs of Covid, stay at home and seek advice or get tested.
Junior Return
All Junior children will return to school on Monday 15th following the timetable set out below. As stated previously there are some changes to the entry and exit times. Part of the thinking behind the changes is that the older children tend to hang around on the yards first thing and then Y3 take time to leave so we have changed the order to hopefully make the process more efficient. Other than Y4, ‘Entry Doors’ have remained the same, the change in Y4 stops them having to crossover in the corridor. Please aim to arrive as close to your allocated times and avoid waiting on the yards. Please remain socially distanced at all times and please be aware that masks must be worn on all school grounds including ours. Please clear away from the yards as quickly as possible.
Staggered timetable and Door entry and exit Plan
|
Class |
Time in |
Door |
Home time |
|
Nursery am |
8.50 |
Nursery |
11.20 |
|
Nursery pm |
12.40 |
Nursery |
2.55 |
|
Reception EJ |
9:00 |
Rear Rec LJ |
3.05 |
|
Rec/Y1 CD |
Rec - 9:00 Y1 - 8.50 |
Rear Rec/Y1D |
3.05 |
|
Y1 KO |
8.50 |
Infant Middle |
3.05 |
|
Y2 CM |
8.40 |
Bottom door Y2CM |
2.55 |
|
Y2 MB |
8.40 |
Infant Middle |
2.55 |
|
Y3 KH |
9.00 |
Bottom door |
3.05 |
|
Y3 CO |
9.00 |
Middle door |
3.05 |
|
Y4 CR |
8.50 |
Middle door |
3.00 |
|
Y4 GD |
8.50 |
Bottom Door |
3.00 |
|
Y5 FW |
8.50 |
Top door |
3.00 |
|
Y5 CJ |
8.40 |
Middle door |
2.50 |
|
Y6 LD |
8.40 |
Bottom door |
2.50 |
|
Y6 CG |
8.40 |
Top door |
2.50 |
If you have children in the infants and juniors all your children can enter the building via your infant child’s classroom and entry time. Older children can make their way through the school to their classroom where an adult will be on duty to receive them. Hands must be sanitised at the point of entry. Please remind them that they go straight to class without stopping touching things.
We are sorry but we are still unable to provide breakfast club at present.
We have reintroduced the ‘Daily Mile’ to encourage physical activity during the day. This takes place at different times for different year groups. Classes may also make use of online physical activities like Joe Wickes, or yoga activities or well-being activities. No specific kit is required.
Please remember that for PE sessions, PE kit should be worn to school as safety guidance does not allow changing in school.
The Schools meal service is providing hot and cold lunches and these can be purchased via the Squid App. Dinner time will run as it did before Christmas with year-groups attending the hall but remaining socially distanced in classes.
Playtime is an important part of the day. ‘Class-bubbles’ will be maintained during playtimes to ensure safety and virus control. Sadly the amount of equipment permitted is limited by the safety guidance.
In line with Government guidance, Play time snacks must be fruit. Snack bars and chocolate and crisps are not permitted. We are now able to provide fruit and this can be purchased via the squid app, guidance on doing this has been sent out vi the school app or you can contact the office for help. Before Christmas playtime snacks became really unhealthy, this cannot continue and will be challenged. Fizzy drinks and energy drinks are not permitted. If they are brought in they will be confiscated until the end of the day. Water will be provided.
Under the safety guidance, windows must and will remain open for ventilation. Given that it is still March we can have cold days and so please provide you child with ‘layers’. Please ensure a jumper is sent into school on colder days and you may wish to encourage the wearing of a vest.
We really are looking forward to seeing all the children back. We acknowledge that there is a lot of work to be done settling children back in to school, re-establishing routines etc, building confidence and rebuilding learning confidence and progress. We are prepared for this and will continue to support the children as we move forward through the pandemic. Please support us in supporting your children, keep to the rules, and encourage the childfen to try their best and make the most of being back in school.
Dear Parents,
An email has been sent out with an attached a letter that schools were asked by the Local Authority to share with parents, before the Welsh Government made a further announcement with regard to schools staying closed to pupils until at least the 18th of January.
Whilst the Welsh Government decision over rides the time line set out in the letter, the letter does help to explain the rationale behind the need for caution and the decision that schools should remain closed. The letter also contains essential information for those of you who are in receipt of Free School meals.
As you will probably be aware, the Welsh government has subsequently stated that schools will remain closed to pupils until at least the 18th of January.
The BBC report can be found here https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-55534599
and the Minister's statement can be found here https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTAxMDQuMzI3NzgxMTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3lvdXR1LmJlLzU4Vm90TXJrYzdZIn0.aWV9HKbrxKFrs4-3Hu4e1HJwals4Kttxd--ASUkJ-TU/s/650004067/br/92623227691-l
Further to this Boris Johnson has announced tonight that schools in England will close until February half term, we have to wait and see if this will further affect the decisions in Wales.
Please be aware that the information has been shared with schools a bit at a time and we are generally finding out shortly before you are. In effect we get little time to plan for what we will do to support you but please be assured we will do the best we can.
As things stand, staff have been asked to prepare online learning for pupils for this term’s topics and they are already working on this. In this first week, we are looking at engaging the children, supporting learning and getting the children to think about the new term topics, what they already know and what they would like to find out about. More information will be shared as the week goes on.
Teachers will also be on line using ‘Teams’ on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week. The children will receive invitations to join the meetings via their hwb accounts. Staff will be online as follows, Reception, Y1, Y3, Y5 and STF will be on line between 9:30 and 10:00. Nursery, Y2, Y4 and Y6 will be online between 10:00 and 10:30.
Teams can be joined via a computer or mobile device. In this first week we are looking to encourage the children to join in and take part in the online sessions with the staff. They will be an opportunity to talk about what they’ve been doing over Christmas, talk about what’s happening in the news, what we think is happening and any concerns the children might have and there will also be opportunity to talk about what the spring term topics are. From the sessions we held before Christmas we know these had a very positive affect for both the staff and the pupils and encourage you to join even if for only a couple of minutes. You don’t have to join everyday but you can if you wish.
We’ve run the meetings every day as we appreciate that you may have two or more children sharing computers or devices and so different children can access their teacher on different days.
We will do my best to keep you up to date with the latest in terms of school closures and what we are offering as support.
We realise there are some errors in the email sent out for which we apologise, the priority was to get the information out and in our haste we missed the mistakes.
Sincerely
Jonathan Atter
Dear Parents
An electronic copy of our latest newsletter can be found in the newsletters section. Going forward we will be sending out our newsletters online and via email as this is quicker, environmentally friendlier and is Covid safer as staff do not need to visit all the classes to distribute them. It also means that the copy actually gets to you and doesn’t get blown away up the street or stuck in the bottom of a sandwich bag instead! If you require a paper copy please let us know and we will send one home to you on request. Please read the newsletter as it contains some vitally important updates.
Thank you
We regret to inform you that we will be unable to run breakfast club on Monday 30th November due to a shortage of catering staff to prepare the meals.
We apologise for the late notice but had hoped alternative arrangements could be made. Sadly this has not been possible.
We will advise on Tuesday onwards as soon as we are able to do so.
Hi all,
If you gave consent for your child to have the Flu Nasal Spray but your child was not in school, the school nurse has asked if you could contact your GP to arrange to have it done there.
The nurses are not sending letters out this year like they usually would for children who have missed it due to new guidelines.
Thank you
Today, Friday 8th October, we are celebrating World Mental Health Day. We are disappointed that 4 of our classes are not with us today but we hope they will join in with some o the activities at home and share some pictures of what they are doing them so that we can share their sorts as well as those going on in school. This can be done via Dojo or through the class blog pages. Please join us and please share what you're doing.
Activities in school will include thinking about things we can do to be kind to myself and make me eel better/happier. We are making self help posters and cards that can be used to share ideas. We are sure you'll have lots of ideas but here are some more to help you if you're stuck or some.
Have a nap
Eat chocolate
Exercise
Talk to a friend
Talk to family
Play with my friends
Talk to a friend
Talk to my family
Play a sport
Draw
Paint
Colour
Read a book
Ask family to read a book to me
Watch some TV
Watch my favourite film
Watch my favourite programmes
Watch my favourite cartoons
Have a warm bubble bath
Have a cwtch/cuddle
Play a computer
Play on my iPad/tablet
Do some baking
Play with my pet
Cuddle with my pet
Go for a walk
Have a good cry
Eat your favourite food
Relax and have a cuppa
Eat your favourite food
Duvet day
So tell us what you like to do and maybe include a picture of yourself doing it.
Given the questions raised on our Facebook page, we would like to clarify that Y5D, Y4D Y2B and Y1O are the affected classes and the children in those classes are unable to attend school for the next 14 days.
We would like to be clear that what has happened today is a result of events that have happened outside the school and are external factors that we cannot control that have affected our school. The decision to send pupils home has been made by the government’s Trace, Track and Protect team (TTP), not the school, it’s a decision we have to follow, just as you do.
The bubbles and systems in place have worked as we have been able to limit the number of pupils affected. Without the bubbles and the procedures in place, we would have needed to send at least twice the number of children home and we would have many more staff home, in turn affecting the number of staff able to stay and support the rest of the school.
What has happened is painful and inconvenient for us all and a reminder of how important it is to follow the guidelines and everyone needs to work together to keep each other safe. As you can see there is significant impact that nobody wants if we dont.
We are grateful for the support we have received with regards to the TTP decision to close the bubbles.
We acknowledge that some of you are having to make significant sacrifices. We hope you understand that the decision is made in the best interests of our children’s health and safety as a whole school.
So thank you all, pupils parents and staff alike. Stay safe.
Date: 6th October 2020
Dear Parent or Carer,
Re: Information regarding a confirmed case of coronavirus in Gwyrosydd Primary School
NHS Wales Test, Trace, Protect has been informed of a confirmed case of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) in Gwyrosydd Primary School.
Gwyrosydd Primary School remains open. It is working closely with Public Health Wales, the Local Authority and NHS Wales Test, Trace and Protect to ensure that all the appropriate measures are in place to protect students, staff and the wider community. This letter is to inform you of the current situation and to provide advice on how to support your child.
All close contacts of the case have been identified and have received appropriate advice to self-isolate. Your child has not been identified as a close contact and therefore does not need to self-isolate and does not require testing for COVID-19. They can continue to attend Gwyrosydd Primary School, as usual.
However, as a precaution, please be alert for any symptoms of COVID-19:
If your child develops any of these symptoms, even if they are mild:
To reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading, there are things that everyone in your family can do to help. These include:
Further information on symptoms and self-isolation can be found here https://gov.wales/symptoms-and-self-isolation-contact-tracing
Further formation on Test, Trace, Protect can be found here https://gov.wales/test-trace-protect-coronavirus
For general information on COVID-19 https://gov.wales/protect-yourself-others-coronavirus
The COVID-19 online symptom checker can tell you if you need medical help and advise you what to do https://gov.wales/check-if-you-need-coronavirus-medical-help