Headteacher’s Letter to Parents/Carers 23rd October 2020

LETTER TO PARENTS/CARERS 23^rd October

23^rd October, 2020

Dear Parents/Carers

Thank you for all your support and patience over what has been an eventful week for the school. On Thursday 22^nd we asked Year 11 students to remain at home while we waited for Track and Trace information as there was a confirmed case in the year group. Track and Trace confirmed that Year 11 would need to self-isolate until the 3^rd November. However, due to the ‘Fire-break’ year 11, along with year 9 and 10 will not return to school until Monday 9^th November (a week 2). These year groups have been prepared for blended learning. Resources  for some Year 11 students will be posted out to them.

During the morning of Thursday 22^nd October I also worked with Track and Trace following a Year 8 positive case (the student was not in school and had NOT been all week).  We were asked by Track and Trace for Year 8 students to self -isolate. A thank you to year 8 students who followed all instructions carefully and looked after themselves and each other. Year 8 students have now been asked to self-isolate until the end of October 30^th.

Monday 2^nd of November is a designated staff INSET day.

Both Year 7 and Year 8  will return to school on Tuesday 3^rd November(week 1). These will be the only two year groups in school during that week due to the ‘Fire-break’. However, our STF is open to all year groups. Please can I stress that you continue to monitor your children’s health: DO NOT send them to school if they have a continuous cough, a temperature or have a loss of taste/smell. Also, do not send them to school if a family member shows these symptoms.

It is really important that your son/daughter knows their HWB password and can get onto HWB at home. Your son/daughter can do this on a smart phone, tablet, computer, x-box or play-station.   It may be that other year groups will have to self-isolate and have to work from home with very little notice. Please do contact us if you do not have any device at all.

It is important that we keep in regular contact over this challenging time. Please can you update us of in terms of any change in phone number or email address.

I will continue to keep you informed of the situation at Pentrehafod School .

There is also a short video message available on the school website reinforcing some key messages.

I do hope that your family have a relaxing and restful break, despite the constrictions. Take care and keep safe.

Yours faithfully,

Jennifer Ford