COVID-19

Covid Update - Wednesday, 14th December, 2021

Good afternoon, 

I hope you are all keeping safe during these challenging times.  

I am sure many of you will have been following the news regarding the new variant of Covid which is currently sweeping across the country. Despite the fact that we returned to relatively normal face-to-face learning at the beginning of September, Covid is still causing huge disruption to schools nationally, with cases amongst pupils going up and staff absences leading to classes/schools having to close.  

We have had our challenges throughout this term, especially when we had an outbreak in September, but as you know we have made every effort to mitigate the impact of COVID and to provide continuity of learning at Abermorddu School.   

Many local authorities across Wales have been announcing this week that they will be closing early for Christmas, with children moving onto blended learning for the last few days of term.  I have just had notification from Flintshire County Council that all schools in Flintshire will also now close for the majority of pupils on Friday, 17th December. (Please see statement from Flintshire CC).  

Abermorddu will provide childcare on Monday, 20th December and Tuesday 21st December for key worker children and vulnerable children only. If you have no alternative childcare available on these two days and you think you will require key worker provision, please notify the school by Thursday, 16th December so that we can put all arrangements in place by Monday. Key worker provision will be provided between 8.45am to 3.45pm for the last two days of term. Breakfast club and afterschool club will not be open after Friday, 17th December 2021.

The list of critical workers can be found in the following guidance: https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgov.wales%2Fidentifying-children-critical-workers-guidance&data=04%7C01%7CKiheaD%40Hwbcymru.net%7Cbfb1b9609e644b944e9108d9bee73193%7C4f3f0e52b734416494091b601d147993%7C0%7C0%7C637750722747283573%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=99IGKjynUHEy%2BGCLbHEw8%2FcM69IiN3fTGT%2BOtrFje%2Fk%3D&reserved=0 

We would request that you only use this provision if no alternative childcare arrangements can be made. 

We are also mindful that any positive cases that may be identified this week, especially of the new variant, would result in individuals having to isolate over the Christmas period, including Christmas Day.  I am aware that many of you and us will be concerned about the Christmas period and hoping that you will be able to share it with your extended households. We have had a few requests from parents about pupils not attending Abermorddu School for the rest of this term, so as to try and keep Covid free for Christmas.  We do have an increasing number of positive cases in the school at the moment, and hopefully things will remain stable for the last few days, but we all know how quickly the situation can change following our outbreak earlier this term. If you are planning to keep your child/children home to isolate in readiness for the Christmas period, please notify the school so we can update our records. These requests will be authorised at this time. 

I would also like to thank all of the school staff who have worked tirelessly to implement rigorous and robust safety measures and to do as much as they can throughout this term to provide quality, happy learning experiences.  The children and staff have worked extremely hard all term and this time in the run up to the festive period is traditionally a time for us all to enjoy as the children get more and more excited about Christmas. Thankfully, the pupils have already had their Christmas lunch and today the children are again filling the school with joy as they practice their carols that will be shared with you before Friday.

Wednesday 15/12/21 will now be our Christmas party day instead of Friday, so all children are welcome to come in dressed in their party clothes tomorrow.  The menu for school lunch will be normal school menu tomorrow (roast dinner).  

Your continued support and understanding in this situation and throughout the term is greatly appreciated. 

I sincerely hope that you will enjoy a safe, family Christmas and that we can all look forward to an improving situation in January. 

Upgrading risk - moderate - 15.9.2021

Dear Parents, 

Due to the increasing numbers of positive cases throughout the school, we have had to increase the risk status within the school from low to moderate.  As a result can I please ask for your support in wearing masks to drop off and collect your child, maintain social distancing and follow all the guidance below.  

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading, there are things that everyone in your family can do to help. These include:

• washing hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
• using hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
• washing hands as soon as they get home
• covering their mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve (not their hands) when they cough or sneeze
• putting used tissues in the bin immediately and washing hands afterwards

Please be alert for symptoms of COVID-19, which are:

• A new or continuous cough
• A high temperature
• A loss of or change to sense of smell or taste

If you develop any of these symptoms, even if they are mild:

• Please do not send your child to school.  
• Book a COVID PCR test through the online portal for the symptomatic individual: https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test (or by phoning 119)

• Inform Abermorddu School that you are unwell with COVID-19 symptoms and that you have requested a test

• Do not visit a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital but if you require medical advice please contact NHS 111 or telephone your GP; if there is a medical emergency phone 999
• If you require medical advice for COVID-19 symptoms or another reason, please inform the healthcare worker that you are a contact of a case of COVID-19 and in self-isolation
• Please follow the advice provided when you receive your test result

If you, or a member of your household, has one or more of the ‘wider symptoms’ it does not necessarily mean you have COVID-19. You are required to isolate for 48hrs if you develop any symptoms.  If you test negative, you are still required to isolate for 48hrs.