Useful Information

Dear Parent /Carer, 

Please find some useful information below.

Inset Days
Please note that there are inset days planned for Friday December 22nd 2017 and Monday 8th January 2018.  School will be closed to pupils, apart from those in Years 12 and 13 who have lessons at Mountain Ash Comprehensive or St John’s school, who should attend lessons there as normal. Consortium transport will be available on those days. 

Attendance
As I’m sure you would agree, attendance at school is extremely important for your child’s education and we would encourage all parents/carers to ensure that their child attends school every day. The Welsh Government states that a pupil’s attendance should be over 95% so please support us in reaching this target for your child. 

Uniform
Thank you for supporting us with our school uniform. I would like to remind parents/carers and pupils that hoodies are not permitted in school and blazers are compulsory. If your child isn’t wearing the correct uniform please can you write a note so that they can avoid a detention being issued. I would also like to remind parent/carers that facial piercings are not permitted and only one earring in the lobe of the ear.

Energy and High Sugar Drinks
Before the Summer holidays we took a decision as a school to ban energy and high sugar drinks. Please can you remind your children that they are not permitted and will be confiscated if they are seen with them.

Parent Forum
We are looking to re-establish our Parent Forum. This is an opportunity for parents to contribute to some of our new initiatives and policies and also feedback to us on what we are doing well and what we need to improve upon. If you would like to be part of this group please e mail school@aberdareschool.co.uk expressing your interest.

Public Spaces Protection Order
Schools have been asked by the local authority to inform parents/carers that as from 1st October 2017, dogs have been banned from entering all school sites, children’s areas and marked sport pitches maintained by the council, even if they are on a lead. 

Email addresses
We have recently upgraded our parental communication systems allowing us to contact parents via email rather than pupil post.  However, we are currently unable to properly launch this as we have a relatively low percentage of up to date email addresses for parents.  Please, if you have not already, done so, contact the school with your email address so that we can move forward with this.  

Dates for your diary 

•    Our Christmas Carol Service and Concert will take place on Tuesday 19th December 2017 at 6pm and be held at St Elvan’s Church, Aberdare. Details will be posted nearer the time onto the school website.
•    A charity bag pack with take place at Tesco store on Thursday 21st December 2017.
•    Our school production of Bugsy Malone will take place on 6th – 8th February 2018.

We have lots of exciting events happening over the year and you can keep up to date by visiting our school website www.aberdareschool.co.uk. Alternatively you can follow us on Facebook and twitter. Once again can I take this opportunity to thank you all for your continued support of the school and the work that it is doing with our young people.

Kind regards,

Mr M Powell
Headteacher