Dear Parents,
Adverse Weather Procedures
I would like to share our procedures for emergency school closures with you - just in case!
I will always endeavour to keep the school open in order to provide continuity of the education of our pupils; however, in the event of heavy snowfall, heating failure or other exceptional circumstances it may be necessary to close the school. In the event of school needing to close, we will provide information via:
All of the above platforms will be utilised to ensure that as many parents as possible are notified at the earliest opportunity, BUT please note that at times of heavy usage there is sometimes a delay in texts and emails being received.
The decision to close school due to adverse weather is never an easy one. On occasion, an initial decision may be made to close breakfast club in order to give more time to assess the situation and ascertain whether or not school will be able to open. All updates will be provided via the above platforms.
If there is no closure information on the school twitter page, the school website and Denbighshire website then school will be open as usual.
In the event of deteriorating conditions during the school day, and a decision being made to close the school, parents will be advised using the systems noted above. In the event of parents not responding, we will try to make contact via telephone.
Please ensure that all contact information is up to date. Thank you
Reminder: We are planning our in-house Eisteddfod during week commencing 11th July. There will be an opportunity for parents to visit school (weather & covid permitting) on Monday 11th July to see some of the team games/sports taking place. These activities will take place as follows:
9.15 a.m. – 10.30 a.m. Dosbarth Tryfan & Dosbarth Yr Wyddfa
10.45 p.m. –11.30 a.m. Dosbarth Yr Aran (morning nursery & reception)
2.00 p.m. – 3.15 p.m. Afternoon nursery & Dosbarth Moel Siabod & Dosbarth Cadar Idris
All learners in the school will participate to gain points for their house. The houses at Ysgol Y Faenol are Clwyd (blue), Gele (yellow) and Elwy (red). It would be really helpful if children could wear a tee-shirt of their house colour during our sporting activities on the 11th July.
A letter has been shared in newsletters from the Director of Education and the local Director of Public Health. They ask that when your child goes back to school you to continue to help to control the spread of the virus by:
Thank you for your help in keeping the virus in check and helping us to keep schools to stay open this time.
A letter from Denbighshire was sent to parents by email on 18/12/20. The letter stated:
As you may have already seen in the media a common approach has been agreed by the Welsh Government and the Welsh Local Government Association for the return to school in January.
With transmission levels continuing to increase across Wales, and uncertainty over what impact that might have on school staffing levels following the Christmas break, schools and local authorities will have some flexibility built in at the beginning of term.
Following guidance from the Welsh Government and discussions with schools, Denbighshire County Council is informing parents and guardians that remote learning will be in place during the first week of the new term, the week beginning January 4th, 2021. A decision whether face to face learning can start on January 11th will be taken during the first week once the full extent of the predicted increase in confirmed cases is known.
At Ysgol Y Faenol, the new school term will start remotely on 5th January, as the 4th of January is a Staff Training Day. Little Lambs Fun Club will be open as usual on Monday 4th January.
On Tuesday 5th, Wednesday 6th, Thursday 7th and Friday 8th January school will, therefore be closed to all children, except those of essential workers and vulnerable children.
Although school is closed to most pupils on these dates the teachers will be setting work for pupils to do remotely. Learning activities will be set via: -
Completed activities can be shared with the teacher either on the hwb class pages or via seesaw.
Teachers will be starting each day with a short online drop in session at 9.15 a.m. to talk to the pupils about the activities set for the day. Pupils will be able to join this session through Microsoft Teams, which is available through their hwb accounts. A guide for how to log on was emailed to parents on 18/12/20.
The emergency childcare hub will be open to registered pupils of Ysgol Y Faenol, who are vulnerable or whose parents meet the criteria for essential workers. Please consider carefully if any alternative is available before using the school-based provision. Keeping children safely in their home to protect themselves and those more vulnerable to the illness is the preferred and safest option. In the main where there is only one critical worker in the family, there is an expectation that the other parent takes responsibility for childcare.
Ysgolion cynradd yn Sir Ddinbych i gau
Yn dilyn trafodaeth gyda'i holl ysgolion, mae Cyngor Sir Ddinbych wedi penderfynu cau ei holl ysgolion cynradd, ysgolion arbennig ac unedau cyfeirio o ddydd Mercher (16 Rhagfyr) ar gyfer dysgu wyneb yn wyneb.
Mae hyn yn dilyn penderfyniad Llywodraeth Cymru i symud pob ysgol uwchradd a choleg yng Nghymru i ddysgu ar-lein o ddydd Llun (14 Rhagfyr).
Dywedodd y Cynghorydd Huw Hilditch-Roberts, Aelod Arweiniol y Cyngor dros Addysg, Gwasanaethau Plant ac Ymgysylltu â'r Cyhoedd: "Rydym wedi gwneud y penderfyniad i gau ein hysgolion cynradd ar gyfer dysgu wyneb yn wyneb yn gynnar. Mae achosion wedi’u cadarnhau sy'n gysylltiedig ag ysgolion Sir Ddinbych yn parhau i fod mewn ffigurau sengl oherwydd gwaith caled disgyblion, rhieni a staff.
"Gydag ysgolion cynradd yn cau ar draws Gogledd Cymru, teimlai'r Cyngor nad oedd ganddo ddewis ond gwneud y penderfyniad i ddarparu dilyniant gydag ardaloedd eraill, gan roi digon o rybudd i rieni a gwarcheidwaid baratoi a sicrhau diogelwch plant a staff ymhellach yn y cyfnod cyn y Nadolig.
"Bydd ysgolion cynradd yn aros ar agor i ddysgwyr bregus a phlant gweithwyr allweddol tan ddydd Gwener, 18 Rhagfyr."
Cyhoeddodd Llywodraeth Cymru y penderfyniad i symud pob ysgol uwchradd a choleg yng Nghymru i ddysgu ar-lein fel rhan o 'ymdrech genedlaethol i leihau trosglwyddo coronafeirws' yn dilyn cyngor gan Brif Swyddog Meddygol Cymru.
Ychwanegodd y Cynghorydd Huw Hilditch-Roberts: "Wrth i ni nesáu at y Nadolig a diwedd y tymor rwyf am ddiolch i'r holl ddisgyblion, staff a theuluoedd am eu cefnogaeth a'u hymdrech yn y frwydr yn erbyn COVID-19.
"Bydd ysgolion cynradd, ysgolion arbennig, unedau cyfeirio disgyblion ac ysgolion uwchradd y sir yn trefnu dysgu o bell i ddisgyblion tan 18 Rhagfyr ac i adleisio geiriau'r Gweinidog Addysg, nid yw'r cyfnod hwn yn wyliau Nadolig cynnar.
"Mae'r Nadolig yn gyfnod o gyffro a llawenydd mawr i'n myfyrwyr ond mae hefyd yn amser pan fydd y demtasiwn i grwydro o'r rheolau llym y gofynnwyd i ni eu dilyn fod yn uwch nag erioed. Mae'n bwysig i bawb sydd wedi gweithio'n ddiflino i fwynhau gwyliau Nadolig hapus ac ein bod yn parhau i gadw at y rheolau fel y gwn fod cynifer ohonoch wedi'i wneud.
"Hoffwn unwaith eto i ddisgyblion, rhieni a staff am eu cefnogaeth yn ystod tymor hynod heriol i'n holl ysgolion a'r cymunedau y maent yn eu cefnogi ac yn gweithio ynddynt."
Primary schools to close in Denbighshire
Following discussion with all of its schools, Denbighshire County Council has taken the decision to close all of its primary schools, special schools and pupil referral units from Wednesday (December 16) for face to face learning.
This follows the Welsh Government decision to move all secondary schools and colleges in Wales to online learning from Monday (December 14).
Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts, the Council’s Lead Member for Education, Children's Services and Public Engagement, said: “We have reluctantly taken the decision to close our primary schools for face to face learning early. Confirmed cases associated with Denbighshire schools continue to be in single figures owing to the hard work of pupils, parents and staff.
“With primary schools closing across North Wales, the Council felt it had no choice but to take the decision to provide continuity with other areas, giving parents and guardians sufficient notice to prepare and to further ensure the safety of children and staff in the run up to Christmas.
“Primary schools will remain open for vulnerable learners and the children of key workers until Friday, December 18.”
The Welsh Government announced the decision to move all secondary schools and colleges in Wales to online learning as part of a ‘national effort to reduce transmission of coronavirus’ following advice from Wales’s Chief Medical Officer.
Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts added: “As we approach Christmas and the end of term I want to thank all pupils, staff and families for their support and their effort in the fight against COVID-19.
“Primary schools, special schools, pupil referral units and secondary schools in the county will be arranging remote learning for pupils until December 18 and to echo the words of the Education Minister, this period is not an early Christmas holiday.
“Christmas is a time of great excitement and joy for our students but it is also a time when the temptation to stray from the strict rules we have been asked to follow may be higher than ever. It is important for everyone who has worked tirelessly to enjoy a happy Christmas holiday that we continue to observe the rules as I know so many of you have.
“I would again like to thank pupils, parents and staff for their support during what has been a hugely challenging term for all of our schools and the communities they support and work in.”
Christmas Concert: Due to Covid restrictions we will not be able to invite parents and other family members into school to see a Christmas performance this year. Staff are currently working on plans to make a short film which we hope to be able to share with parents. Photographic/digital images permission form has been sent out by text - please return by 3 p.m. on Monday 30th December.
Party Afternoon: We are still intending to hold a party afternoon during the final week of term. Children will, of course, need to stay in their bubbles, but we still think we can have lots of fun. Our usual special visitor will be sending a virtual message this year. Further details to follow.
Christmas Cards: We usually have a post box in school at Christmas time for pupils to be able to give cards to their friends. We will not be having a post box this year, as cards pose a risk of cross contamination. We will be doing things in class for the children to share goodwill messages. If you save any money by not buying cards and/or would like to give something to a worthy cause we will be collecting items for the foodbank. From the 1st December we will have a donation box by the school entrance.
Parent Governor Vacancies on the School Governing Body
The term of office of three of our parent governors has now ended. Nominations are invited from any eligible parents who may wish to stand as a parent governor. Parents play an important role as members of the governing body. The governing body work in partnership with the head teacher to promote continuous improvement in the performance of the school. Parent governors are volunteers who wish to make a positive contribution to the school and the children’s education. Parent governors stand for a term of four years. Training is available for all governors, some elements of which are compulsory. The process involved in appointing new parent governors is as follows:
Parents are informed of vacancies;
Nominations for potential parent governors to be received in writing;
If more parents volunteer than there are vacancies, then a secret ballot is held;
The school community are advised of the successful applicants.
If you are considering standing for parent governor and would like to discuss the role in more detail please feel free to contact the head teacher. If you wish to stand for election the nomination form, personal statement and declaration are attached. Please return any nominations to school by 3 p.m. on Tuesday 8th December, 2020. If there are more nominations than vacancies the election will be by secret ballot. If that is necessary, details of the ballot procedure will be sent to all parents.
The Fire Service are running a poster competition for children.
They are keen to promote the dangers of burning garden waste – and the prize is a Lego set.
They would like you to design a poster that explains why burning garden waste is dangerous - you might want to think about the following:
· The danger to wildlife
· The risk of fires spreading
· How fires could cause injury
· The demand on our fire crews
Can you come up with a slogan for your poster?
We will be sharing as many entries as possible – so let’s get drawing!
Send your entry with your name, age, an adult’s name and contact details to competition@nwales-fireservice.org.uk.
Closing date is the 18th June and will we announce the winners before the end of June.
I hope you are all safe and well.
The Government has been very clear that the current role of schools is to provide distance learning for most pupils, whilst staff are also helping to provide emergency childcare for children of key workers in Denbighshire hubs.
As I said in the newsletter of 6th April I hope you are not finding the learning at home with your child too stressful. We appreciate it can be hard to educate at home, particularly with the added stresses upon families at this difficult time. It may not be always possible to complete the set tasks, but reading a book or playing a game together, having a chat, cooking or gardening are all learning experiences, so please do not put pressure on yourselves to get the set work completed.
To keep you updated I am retweeting information from Welsh Government and Denbighshire County Council via our twitter page @yfaenol.
We do not know when the current lockdown will end, but when I hear about any firm plans for the future I will let you know via text and/or letters on the website.
Ysgol Y Faenol is currently closed and staff have been allocated to work in other settings. If you need to get in touch with school staff please either:
- reply to a text
- contact us via the message page on the webite
- send an email to ysgol.yfaenol@denbighshire.gov.uk
We can then contact you in response to your query.
Learners can message their teachers with queries about work via the hwb class pages.
The newsletter of 6th April lists some support websites/helplines, which may be of help. I have, today, added a letter onto the school newsletters page about the 'Understanding Your Child - Solihull Approach' This is a free online course for any North Wales resident. Further details are in the letter. I have heard excellent feedback about this course, so it may well be worth registering.
The staff and I are thinking of you and looking forward to seeing you when these difficult and trying times are finally over. Please take care.