ACS - Application for Key Worker Provision (15/03/21 to 19/03/21)
Please find key information below regarding our provision for the week of the 15th – 19th March 2021.
Key workers are defined only as:
- NHS and social care staff
- Public safety (emergency workers - blue light) and national security workers
- Education and childcare workers
- Food and other necessary goods workers
If you are a frontline worker and you do not have childcare in place for your child (in year groups ranging from Year 7 to Year 8) from the 15th – 19th March 2021, can you please assist us by completing this form by 12:30pm on Wednesday 10th March 2021.
Qualifications Wales Statement
Please follow this link to Qualifications Wales website for their most recent statement:
Update from Kirsty Williams
An important update on education ahead of @Fmwales' press conference today.
— Kirsty Williams (@wgmin_education) January 8, 2021
Please watch and share to keep others informed.
Diolch yn fawr. pic.twitter.com/lI26QAO7zu
ACS - Application for Key Worker Provision (11/01/21 to 15/01/21)
Following the announcement from Welsh Government yesterday please find key information below regarding our provision for the week of the 11th to 15th January 2021.
Key workers are defined only as:
- Blue light workers, including NHS, Police and the Fire Service staff
- Social care staff (including care workers)
- Childcare or education staff
If you are a frontline worker and you do not have childcare in place for your child (in year groups ranging from Year 7 to Year 8) from the 11th to the 15th of January, can you please assist us by completing this form by 9:00am on Wednesday 6th January.
Thank you
Virtual Open Evening
Welcome to our virtual opening evening.
Please follow the link below for an insight at life at Aberdare Community School.
Parent remote learning update letter 3rd September
GCSE Results Day
Congratulations to all our year 11s today. It has been lovely welcoming you back to ACS this morning. You have done very well and got the results you deserve. We are all very proud. Well done #TEAMACS.
Updated information for KS4 results day, 20th August 2020 at ACS
Results day...what's next?
WJEC Guidance
Results Day Letter
Letter to Parents
Letter from RCT Director of Education and Inclusion Services
An update letter from the school will be available tomorrow.
Update Letter 10/07/2020
Dear parents/carers,
Like me, I am sure that you too were eagerly awaiting the Education Minister’s announcement regarding plans for September. I was so pleased to hear, from the statement yesterday, that it seems that we can finally start planning to return to some sort of normality in the autumn term!
Whilst a full time return to education in September has been incredibly well received by myself and all staff at school, it is important to note that we have not yet received the operational guidance from Welsh Government. We are hoping to be in receipt of this shortly and plan to use this to help support and guide our plans for opening to pupils in September.
Rest assured, planning is already underway with regards to our return to school in September and I can promise you that details of what this looks like will be communicated to you before the end of term.
We are also finalising our plans for our A level and GCSE results days in August and these too will be shared with all Y13 and Y11 pupils and their families before the end of term.
It has been wonderful to welcome the pupils back ahead of the summer holidays and we are very much looking forward to seeing them all again in September, as well as welcoming our new Y7 pupils into our community too!
Thank you all for your continued support and further communication will be issued in due course.
Yours faithfully
Mrs C Morgans
Headteacher
Childcare and Summer Activity Programme
Applications for the Council’s ‘Childcare and Summer Activity Programme’ are now open via the Council’s website.
Parents/carers need to apply asap – applications close at 11:59pm on Sunday 12th July.
The provision is available from Wednesday 22nd July to Friday 21st August in six mainstream settings and one special school setting.
The provision is available Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm.
Provision is for children between the ages of 5 and 16 (4-19 in special schools).
Places are strictly subject to availability and late applications will not be accepted.
In accordance with Welsh Government guidance, vulnerable children will be prioritised.
Where capacity allows, places will be offered to the children of NHS and social care workers only.
Consideration will also be given to staff who are required to deliver the childcare and summer activity programme.
Other essential workers who have previously been eligible for free emergency childcare will no longer be eligible due to changes in Welsh Government grant conditions.
Places are strictly subject to availability and making an application does not guarantee a place.
Information from the Local Authority
Noswaith dda / Good evening
I hope that this message finds you all well. Due to the information that we received today from the local authority, I can confirm that the summer term for pupils will end on Friday 17th July 2020.
The letter from RCTCBC also confirms that our current Hub provision which provides support for the children of essential workers and vulnerable learners also ends on that same date.
The information that was sent out to all pupils, parents and carers last week regarding our return to school still stands for the period between the 29th June and the 17th July.
Families who have confirmed that their child is returning to school will receive further detailed information tomorrow.
We are all looking forward to welcoming our learners back to Aberdare Community School.
Please take care and stay safe.
Diolch
Mrs Morgans | Headteacher
Re-opening of schools on the 29th June
Pupil Timetables (13/07/2020)
Latest Updates
Year 6 Challenge 4
Shwmae blwddyn chwech,Thank you to everyone who entered the creativity challenge. We loved watching your videos they were very inventive.This week, we have a science and technology challenge for you.Please choose from the following;You will study science at ACS and you will need to understand about managing risk. Make a list of hazards involved when cooking dinner.ORDesign a flying car of the future imagining you are living in the year 2300.Remember all entries have to be in by 12pm on Thursday.Good luck!!
Update from RCT Director of Education and Inclusion Services
Year 6 Challenge 3
Shwmae blywddyn chwech,
Well done on the challenges you have completed so far. It has been very difficult choosing the winners because of the high standard of entries. The next challenge next challenge is a creativity challenge – Good Luck! Please return your entries by 12pm Thursday 2nd July.
Create your own musical instrument using household objects. You could use items from your recycling, dried beans, elastic bands etc. Experiment with different ways you could use the items to create sounds. Send a picture of your musical instrument and describe the sound it makes.
OR
Turn a favourite song or story into a picture which describes it.
Year 6 Challenge 2
Thank you year 6 for completing last week's challenge. We had some fantastic entries and we will be displaying them on our school website. The winners will receive a certificate and a prize.
This week we would like you to try one of the challenges below.
You will be studying mathematics at ACS. Can you identify and describe five times you have used mathematics in your daily life
OR
A 5 by 5 Latin square uses the numbers 1 through 5 only once on each row and column. A little like a Sudoku Puzzle but with the numbers 1 to 5 only.
Some numbers on the Latin Square above are already filled in, can you fill in the remaining numbers?
Good Luck!
Emergency Childcare Provision
UPDATE: Emergency Childcare Provision
Applications for emergency childcare for key/essential workers for week of 29th June must be completed online by Sunday June 21st at 11.59pm.
Transition Video 4 - Virtual Tour
Year 6 Students join Mr Williams as he takes you on a Virtual tour of our school! We can't wait for you to join us! #TeamACS #StriveBelieveAchieve
Emergency Childcare Provision
Applications for emergency childcare for key/essential workers for week of 22nd June must be completed online by Tues June 16th at 11.59pm.
Emergency Childcare Provision
Applications for emergency childcare for key/essential workers for week of 15th June must be completed online by Tues June 9th at 11.59pm.
Update Letter
4th June 2020
Dear Parent/Carer
Following yesterday’s announcement from the Minister for Education, Kirsty Williams, we are now working with RCT Local Authority on planning to re-open our school to groups of learners from Monday 29th June 2020. The Minister has stated that clear guidance for schools will be published next week. For some of you this will be a welcome relief, for others it will be a source of anxiety, and I wish at this point that I had more answers for you.
It is important to emphasise that not all learners will be returning to school at the same time. Groups of learners will return at different periods from 29th June 2020 until the summer break on the 27th July 2020. When learners return to school, it will not be to what we think of as ‘normal’, and these changes may be with us for quite some time after we start back in the autumn also. Our main job will be to make sure that pupils, staff and parents are prepared mentally, emotionally and practically for the ‘new normal’ which is referred to regularly.
I do not have any further information to share with you at this time. We will be planning very carefully to ensure the safety of our learners and staff so that every stakeholder is confident to return to school for our learners to be able to ‘check in, catch up and prepare before the start of September’.
I understand that you will have many questions, but until the official guidance is received from the Welsh Government, it would be unwise for me to speculate or second-guess. As soon as I receive these guidelines and there is a detailed plan in place, which has been agreed by the Governing Body, you will be informed as soon as possible.
Thank you so much for your co-operation during these unprecedented times.
Diolch
Mrs C Morgans
Headteacher
Message from the RCT Director of Education
Today, the Welsh Government announced that pupils will have the opportunity to return to school from 29th June for 4 weeks before the summer holidays. Pupils will be taught in small groups but will not be in school every day. Only a third of the pupils will be in school at any one time. This is the opportunity for pupils to see their teachers, reflect and catch up on their learning and prepare for September. Every child will be different and schools will allow for individual family circumstances and parental choice as to whether children attend before the summer. Further information will be shared with all parents and carers over the coming weeks as we receive the guidance from Welsh Government.
Home Learning Update
Careers Wales Newsletter
Hi everyone,
It’s Jamie here from Careers Wales.
In these strange times, I thought I would put together some ‘Careers’ tools and ideas.
Hopefully, you will find them useful when thinking about and planning, your own future Careers.
If you have any questions or need support with anything-please just let me now.
Best Wishes,
Jamie
07443293349 Jamie.Pinch@careerswales.gov.wales
Wellbeing Pack Four – Diet and Exercise
Wellbeing Pack Five – Relationship Based Play
Wellbeing Pack Six – Internet Safety
Emergency Childcare Provision
Applications for emergency childcare for key/essential workers for week of 8st June must be completed online by Tues June 2nd at 11.59pm.
Emergency Childcare Provision
Due to ongoing technical problems resulting in intermittent access to the Council's website, for this week only the application period will be extended until midday on Wednesday, May 27.
Parents/carers are still required to fill in the relevant form as usual on the following webpages: orlo.uk/jBoT8 - which we expect to be accessible again shortly, ahead of the extended deadline.
Lockdown Learner Challenge
Why not use the lockdown to develop your curiosity, prepare for the next step in your studies, and maybe win £300?
https://www.learnedsociety.wales/lockdownlearnerchallenge/details/
Cwm Taf Morgannwg - News Release
www.aberdareschool.com/…/5/22/cwm-taf-morgannwg-news-release
Transition Video 3 - Learning at ACS
Emergency Childcare Provision
Applications for emergency childcare for key/essential workers for week of 25th May must be completed online by Tues May 19th at 11.59pm.
Wellbeing Pack Three - Mindfulness and Relaxation
Emergency Childcare Provision
Applications for emergency childcare for key/essential workers for week of 18th May must be completed online by Tues May 12th at 11.59pm.
Team ACS Presents
A message from the staff at ACS to our pupils before the bank holiday weekend.#staysafe
Year 12 Learning Pathways (Options) Final Choice.
Year 11 into Year 12 final learning pathways (options) choices need to be made by Tuesday 12th May 2020. Please follow the link below and complete the online options form. You will need to log in with your school email and password.
A copy of the link has been sent to your school email address.
VE Day Celebrations
As we approach the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, we feel that is extremely important that our learners not only commemorate this event but also learn about changes that the Second World War set in motion. Not only did it result in death of millions and widespread destruction but it also paved the way for the modern world that we know today.
With this in mind, departments have created challenges for learners to attempt over the coming weeks. These can be completed and uploaded to the ACS Moodle portal in the course entitled "VE Day Project". These range from poems of peace to creating your very own VE Day playlist. Further instructions can be found in each subject area in the "VE Day Project" section on ACS Moodle.
These activities are designed to not only engage our learners during these unique circumstances but to also encourage them to research and learn more about the Second World War.
Thank you for your support in this matter and please keep safe.
Yours sincerely,
Mr. N. Keeble
Leader of Learning for History
Emergency Childcare Provision
Tweet - RCTCouncil
UPDATE: Apply now for the next period of emergency childcare (w/c May 11), here: orlo.uk/sl2pN
Applications for this period must be completed online by 11.59pm on Tuesday, May 5.
Consultation: arrangements for summer 2020 exam series
This consultation by QiW sets out how standardisation and appeals will work for this year’s GCSE, AS and A level grades, following the cancellation of exams due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Below you will find the detailed consultation document, alongside a shorter summary version aimed at young people and a survey designed to encourage you to share your views.
Please take some time to read these documents and respond to the consultation before 5pm on Wednesday, 13 May 2020.
Consultation: Arrangements for summer 2020
Consultation: Questions document
Presentation: An overview – Arrangements for summer 2020 exams
Happy 100th Birthday @captaintommoore! From all of us at the ACS Hub School
#ThankYou
@MountainAshCS @StJohnsAberdare @Rhydywaun
![EW3B0ofWkAE8M0l[1].jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/595f6db7db29d6676c91fb70/1588258775579-VKA4D8SZNTSKMCA5Z3Y5/EW3B0ofWkAE8M0l%5B1%5D.jpg)
Well done to ACS and Pontypridd High School staff who have been busy producing PPE at ACS. #TeamRCT
Home Learning Letter 29/04/20
Dear Parent/Carer,
The COVID-19 virus has meant that we have all had to make changes to the way we live our lives. During this time, the health and wellbeing of learners and their families is the priority. Although Aberdare Community School has closed to most children, their learning will need to continue in a different way. The most important thing for your children is to make sure that they are able to stay safe and keep learning.
We are continuing to make plans for your children to receive learning outside of the school setting. We are developing a whole school home learning strategy to decide the most appropriate form of home learning. We are aiming at providing opportunities for learners to engage independently in their own time and are working hard to create a range of experiences for learners to work through at their own pace. We are refining a system where all learners work will be accessed through our school website via Moodle. All our learners are familiar in this digital platform and a Moodle “how to” guide for learners, carers and parents are included in this letter and on our Home Learning section of the school website.
From Friday, on our website, there will be a timetable for each year group along with a clear breakdown of the work for the following week for each subject. This will include what work is set and where to find it, start date, completion date and any further instructions needed to complete and submit the work. By being able to access this work every Friday, the learners can use their time to prepare and plan for the following week.
However, as a school we recognise that many children and others in their households will be experiencing significant stress and uncertainty at this time. Therefore, placing excessive burdens on pupils in terms of the amount of work they are expected to complete would be profoundly unhelpful. We also recognise that the demands on parents and other adult members of children’s families at present may make it difficult for them to provide an environment conducive to extensive periods of home learning. Therefore, the timetable and work is a guide for your children and for you as parents/carers. To support all our parents and carers there is a Home Learning Guide for parents/carers available in the Home Leaning section of the school website.
We are also mindful of the fact that many children and young people live in households with no or limited access to the internet or to the technology required to make use of online resources. If this is the case, please inform your child’s Progress Leader via the school email school@aberdareschool.co.uk.
As these unforeseen and unprecedented times continue, we, as a school, will constantly be reviewing our home learning provision and will make changes or amendments where needed. These will be communicated directly to you via email and our school website.
Should you have any concerns or queries regarding any issues of home learning, please contact your child’s progress leader via school@aberdareschool.co.uk.
All staff at Aberdare Community School are very much missing our learners and their families and look forward to the time when we can come together as a school community once more.
In the meantime, stay safe and keep learning.
Mrs Emma Harris
Assistant Headteacher
Year 8 Learning Pathways (Options) Final Choice.
Year 8 into Year 9 final learning pathways (options) choices need to be made by Monday 4th May 2020. Please follow the link below and complete the online options form. You will need to log in with your school email and password.
A copy of the link has been sent to your school email address.
Applications for emergency childcare for the week commencing 4th May will be live on the Council’s website from 8.00 a.m. this morning (Sunday 26th April).
Parents/carers have until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday 28th April to apply. Please would you use your school messaging system to inform eligible parents/carers.
Nb. People who must apply:
· Key/essential workers must re-apply weekly, as requirements/shift patterns, etc. change regularly and we need to ensure the numbers of applications/hub attendees are as accurate as possible so that the hubs can be staffed appropriately.
· Parents/carers of vulnerable learners and parents/carers of special school pupils who have already applied for a place and are already attending an emergency childcare setting do not need to re-apply on a weekly basis. Their attendance will be ongoing, but they must e-mail schoolplanning@rctcbc.gov.uk if they no longer require a place.
· Any parents/carers of vulnerable learners and parents carers of special school pupils who are not currently attending one of the hubs must make an initial application for a place and complete the appropriate registration documents.
FAO learners attending the New York Educational Visit:
After some queries regarding payment for the trip, the following advice has been sent from the travel company:
As there is currently no government advice related to travel in 2021, we cannot advise you at this time as to how the situation will proceed.
However, we have now confirmed both the flight times and coach transfers so I would therefore suggest the following course of action.
Due to the social-distancing rules being enforced, payments for the New York trip will be suspended. Payments will then resume when the policy towards reopening schools has been decided. I would like to stress that this does not mean that the trip has been cancelled in any way; merely that taking payments is not viable at this time.
I would like to extend my thanks for your understanding during this difficult time and I welcome any questions/ queries via my school email (nkeeble@aberdareschool.co.uk).
Applications for emergency childcare for the week commencing 27th April will be going live on the Council’s website from 9am this morning (Monday 20th April).
Parents/carers have until midday on Wednesday 22nd April to apply.
Applications for emergency childcare for the week commencing 20th April will be going live on the Council’s website from 10am today (Monday 13th April). Parents/carers have until 23:59 hours on Wednesday 15th April to apply.
Urgent update for parents/carers
Free school meals (fsm) stop today. All parents/carers of children who are eligible for fsm will have received a letter from the Council detailing how to apply to receive a cash equivalent amount paid directly into your bank account. Please look out for this letter and register for this payment urgently. If you have difficulty in registering, then please contact your school today. We have only received 2,300 applications so far.
Emergency Childcare Provision Update
Please note that all parents/carers need to re-apply for emergency childcare provision for week commencing 6th April. Please refer to the RCT website for information. Thank you.
Free School Meal Update - 31/03/2020
Your child will continue to receive a free school meal this week and arrangements remain the same. However, the provision of chilled free school meals will end on Thursday 2nd of April. Two free school meals will be provided on the 2nd of April, one for the 2nd of April and another for the 3rd of April. Parents/carers of children eligible for free school meals will shortly receive a letter from the Council detailing how to apply to receive a cash equivalent amount paid directly into your bank account. Please look out for this letter and if you have difficulty in registering or do not have access to the internet, then please do not hesitate to contact the school.
Free School Meal provision will change to bank transfer from April 6
Education Minister announces exam arrangements for years 10 and 12
https://gov.wales/education-minister-announces-exam-arrangements-years-10-and-12
RCT Message 27/03/2020
The following message is on behalf of RCT Council:
Coronavirus is continuing to spread throughout Wales. Public Health Wales have now confirmed 34 people have died in Wales as a result of the virus and the number of confirmed cases in Wales continues to grow by the day.
The social distancing advice is there for a reason, it is absolutely imperative that we all personally take the responsibility to minimise the contact we have with one another to slow the spread of the virus. We must all work together and help the NHS which will come under huge strain in the coming weeks.
If your children are not in the Emergency Childcare settings please keep them safe at home, this extends to the evenings and weekends. We all have to do this for the safety of them, our family, friends and neighbours, the message is to STAY AT HOME as much as possible.
Updated information from RCT about school closures, emergency childcare, free school meals and advice for parents.
Eligible parents need to apply for a place in the appropriate hub by midday on Friday the 27th March 2020.
Free School Meals Reminder
We understand that the take up of on-online application for free school meals has been limited and as a school we are concerned that pupils entitled to this provision are not registering for free school meals.
We would like to remind all parents/carers of children eligible for free school meals of the link to the RCT on-line application http://orlo.uk/I9d8c
Important update from Director of Education 23/03/20
1. The latest scientific advice.
The most recent scientific advice on how to further limit the spread of COVID-19 is clear. Everyone must, as far as possible, minimise social contact and make sure that anyone who is particularly vulnerable to the virus is able to adopt strict social distancing.
2. How does social distancing affect your children?
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has advised schools that emergency childcare should only be open to a limited number of children. We must keep the number of children in educational, childcare and play settings to the smallest number possible. We also need to make sure children are not left with anyone who should be following strict social distancing guidance, such as anyone over 70 or anyone with the specified underlying health conditions. Keeping children safe in their home should limit the chance of the virus spreading and protect those vulnerable to more serious illness as a result of the virus. Parents/carers should also do everything they can to ensure children are not mixing socially in a way which can continue to spread the virus. They should ensure that children remain at least 2m apart where possible and that gatherings are avoided. Play areas across the County have now been closed and should not be attended. If your child is not in an emergency childcare setting please keep them safe at home during the day and in the evenings. This is essential to ensure the safety of your family, friends and neighbours and to limit and slow down the spread of the virus If your child receives free school meals, this will continue. In Rhondda Cynon Taf, all children eligible to free school meals will access this from their nearest primary school on a daily basis between 11am and 12pm. This has to be applied for on-line using the e-forms on the Council website.
3. What is the latest advice on key or essential workers?
A list of categories of critical workers has been published on the Welsh Government website. Places in schools and childcare will be highly limited and only particularly vulnerable children and the children of critical/essential workers whose work is critical to the COVID-19 response should be attending during this time. If you are classed as a critical or essential worker but are able to perform the critical parts of your job effectively when working from home, then you should do so. Even for critical or essential workers, provision will only be made in schools or other settings where there is no safe alternative for your family.
4. I’m a key or essential worker but my partner isn’t. What should we do?
If one parent is a critical or essential worker but the other parent is not then the other parent should provide safe alternative arrangements at home when possible.
5. What support is available in Rhondda Cynon Taf?
The Council is doing everything it can to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. Please refer to the Council website for further detail. These plans will now adapt and change as we respond to the latest guidance available from the Welsh Government and Public Health Wales. For the very latest advice, please check your local authority’s website at
Important update from Director of Education 23.03.20
Coronavirus continues to spread in Wales. Public Health Wales yesterday announced that a further seven people have died in Wales over recent days as a result of the virus and the number of confirmed cases in Wales continues to grow by the day, with significant increases over the last two days in particular. The social distancing advice is there for a reason – people are falling ill and people with under-lying health issues are dying as a result of continued transmission of the virus. Therefore, it is absolutely imperative that we all personally take the responsibility to minimise the contact we have with one another to slow the spread of the virus. Play areas across the County have all now been closed and should not be attended. If your children are not in the Emergency childcare settings please keep them safe at home, this extends to the evenings too. You have to do this for the safety of your family, friends and neighbours, to limit and slow down the spread of the virus.