Letter to Parents 23/10/20

October 23rd, 2020

Dear Parent/Carer,

Re: National ‘Circuit-break’

As you will have seen, this week the Welsh Government announced a circuit break, (a set of tight restrictions, for a short period of time to slow down transmission and infection rates of the coronavirus) which will come into effect from 6.00pm on Friday 23rd October and remain in place until Monday 9th November 2020.

This will affect our school provision the week after half-term, week beginning 2nd November 2020. During this time, pupils in Years 7 and 8 will attend school for face-to-face learning as normal. However, the remaining year groups will not attend school and will access their work remotely using a range of platforms. Information will be provided on the weekly ‘Teams’ information which will be sent to all learners. Learners will be expected to follow their normal weekly timetable for Week A week beginning 2nd November 2020 and engage with the Blended Learning.

Blended Learning is a combination of traditional in-classroom and online or home learning activities, which many of our learners have already engaged with over the past weeks and months. Parents/carers will need to consent to the developing online live teaching arrangements that we are beginning to offer via an online form. This must be completed before your child will be allowed to access live online lessons. This guidance for learners/parents and carers, together with the live online consent form can be found on our school website. If there are any technical difficulties, please contact Techsupport@aberdareschool.co.uk

Learners who attend the Local Authority resource base provision (Astra & Sirius) at Aberdare Community School should attend as normal from week beginning the 2nd November 2020.  Home to school transport will operate as normal during this week.

May I also take this opportunity to remind all parents and learners that we will be using the Class Charts ‘Announcements’ package as the school’s communication system after half term. (Please see the links below). It is essential that all parents, carers and learners follow the log on information already sent out, so that we continue to improve our whole school communication systems during these challenging times. The functionality of the ‘Announcements’ system allows much greater flexibility for effective communication with classes, year groups and the whole school. Please email school@aberdareschool.co.uk with any additional queries.

https://www.classcharts.com/parent/login
https://www.classcharts.com/student/login

BACS payments will be made to parents/carers for those eligible for free school meals to cover the week of half term. Pupils in years 9-13 will also receive this payment for the week commencing 2nd November. Further information can be found on the RCT website.

I realise that this new lockdown is likely to cause anxiety and worry for many of you. This may be especially the case for those in years 11-13 who should be sitting external exams this year. The Education Minister has promised us a definitive statement about arrangements for exams on 10th November 2020. We will share this information as soon as we have it. 

The last eight months have been very challenging in many ways, I am proud of how the learners have resiliently responded to control measures in school and all staff have worked tirelessly to ensure the continued wellbeing and academic progress of your child.

I wish you and your families a safe and restful half-term.

Yours sincerely
Mrs C Morgans
Headteacher

Message from South Wales Police

As we approach another lockdown period here in Wales, we kindly ask for your support in sharing the following message. 

For Halloween

  • We ask everyone to think how they can keep everyone safe this Halloween and not spread Coronavirus.

  • Traditional trick or treating is not allowed. 

  • Halloween parties in either your home or at another venue are not allowed.

  •  Do not to meet anyone indoors that you don’t live with and do not meet up with your friends either indoors or outdoors.

  • Celebrate at home instead of going out and about.

For Bonfire Night

  • There will be no organised public bonfires or firework displays this year.

  • No visitors are allowed into your garden. If a firework display in your garden turns into a party at your house, you are putting everyone at risk of catching the Coronavirus.   The adults who look after you will be breaking the law.

  • REMEMBER it is illegal to buy Fireworks under the age of 18 - your parents/carers could be prosecuted.

  • You shouldn’t set off fireworks in a park or other public open space.  All local authorities in Wales have banned this.

  • Setting off fireworks in the street is anti-social.  It can be a fire risk and is against the law. 

 

We kindly ask people to act responsibly and to keep each other safe. Staying safe and not adding extra pressure to the emergency services will be important.

In addition to the above the School Community Police Officer team have created two vlogs to support the above messaging. These vlogs are suitable for use in educational establishments. Please follow the link below to view;

https://schoolbeat.cymru/en/news/halloween-2020/

Diolch am eich cydweithrediad / Thank you for your cooperation.

Y11 Parents’ Evening Announcement.

Dear Parent / Carer,

Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions it is not possible for us to hold parents’ evenings as we usually do. The year 11 parents’ evening will not go ahead on Thursday 22nd October.

We are replacing it with an ‘enhanced data drop’. This will be the usual data drop information sheet plus subject specific guidance for each subject a learner studies and a brief learner specific comment from each teacher your son / daughter is taught by. The reports will be issued after half term once we have received the guidance from Welsh Government that will be issued after Monday 9th November.

We understand that this is a difficult time but please ensure your son / daughter engages with the blended learning activities from Monday 2nd November. If you have any questions please contact the school via email school@aberdareschool.co.uk

Important Message from Councillor Andrew Morgan

Dear Parents/Guardians

As a Council, we recognise this is an anxious time for our communities with the continuing of restrictions on daily life and increasing rates of Covid-19 again throughout RCT. We are respectfully asking and reminding parents/guardians to help minimise the transmission of coronavirus at every opportunity, including by continuing to observe social distancing outside school grounds and by wearing a face mask if possible, in line with the Council’s advice to residents issued on Thursday, Sept 10th.

Whilst we do recognise that it is important that children are able to socialise responsibly and outdoor activity is vital for their wellbeing, we are urging all parents and guardians to please be mindful of where your children are, who they are with and what they are doing when outside of school, particularly in evenings and on weekends. Restricting the number of social contacts, maintaining social distancing and promoting effective hygiene are essential to reducing the risk of transmission.

You will be aware that there has been a significant increase in positive cases across Wales and Rhondda Cynon Taf over recent weeks and each and every one of us needs to play our part in minimising the spread of coronavirus in our communities. Please take extra care and stay safe.

Councillor Andrew Morgan

Leader RCT Council