Can we once again say thank you so much for your continued support over the Autumn Term. Putting together a virtual concert was never going to be the same as a concert with a live audience, but we are truly proud of what the children and staff have achieved.
We hope you enjoy the show. Please click the picture link to watch:
In case of a positive Covid test result – If you contact the school to inform us of a positive test result there are some questions we will ask you, so that we can pass them on to Track and Trace.
Hamper Raffle – We have received a donation of a lovely hamper which we are raffling to raise funds for the school. If you would like to buy tickets please go to Squid/ Trips & Offers purse/ Raffle – Hamper. Tickets are £1.00 each and you can buy as many as you like.
Free School Meals over the Christmas Holidays – The council will be supporting free school meal children by offering either a payment or a food parcel over the Christmas holiday period. If you have previously received a payment you do not need to do anything. If you have not received anything previously you can either contact the school by 16 December to request a food parcel delivery or await email instructions on how to apply for payment.
Our School Christmas Dinner is next Friday (11th December) If you haven’t done so already please complete this quick questionnaire. Please complete the form even if your child will be bringing a packed lunch, so we can gauge numbers.
Next Friday is also our Christmas Jumper Day in aid of Save the Children, pupils are invited to wear their Christmas Jumper in exchange for a donation to the Charity.
Lateness – We are seeing an increase in the number of pupils who are arriving at the school gates after 9.00am. Please try to be on time. Remember you can bring siblings at any time from 8.30 to 9.00am to Gate 1 on Trafalgar Place.
Elf Day – Thank you to everyone who has supported the staff with their Elf Day today, in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society.
School Christmas Parties – These will take place during the last week of term, children are asked to bring in some party food for themselves, as we are unable to share like we normally do. The party food should be in addition to their normal school dinner or packed lunch. Children are welcome to dress in party or fancy dress clothes. Please see below for which day each class is having their party.
Monday 14th December – Y1/2H
Tuesday 15th December – Y1/2L, Y5/6E, Y5/6D
Wednesday 16th December – LFPR, LFPM, Y1/2B Y3/4N, Y4/5J
Thursday 17th December – Y3/4T
Last day of Term – Friday 18th December, we come back on Monday 4th January 2021
Year 6 Leaver’s hoodies. If you would like to order these in time for Christmas. Please click on this link to go to your login page https://www.schoolleaverscompany.co.uk/leavers-hoodies-login . Or alternatively go to our website and click on “Login” at the top of our home page.
Your login details are as follows: USERNAME: SL52921 PASSWORD: 52921brynmill
You can share these login details with everyone in the year and each person can order and pay for their hoodies online. They can choose their own style, colour and size. Price includes delivery to your home address. We have set the shop to close on the 06/12/20 so please let everyone know that they must place their order by then.
If you haven’t filled in the questionnaire we sent a couple of weeks ago about including your child’s name on the back of the hoodie, please complete this as well.
At the time of writing we have not had any positive Covid cases at Brynmill. We would like to thank parents and carers for continuing to keep everyone safe by:-
We continue to try to keep everyone safe in school by:-
Face Masks – As per our message earlier this week, we are asking parents to please wear face masks at drop off and pick up time. We continue to appreciate your support and patience while we take time to check if anyone in your immediate family has any Covid Symptoms.
Informing the School of a Child’s Positive Covid Test – Fortunately we have not had any Covid cases to date, but if your child develops symptoms and you receive a positive test result, we would be grateful if you could let us know as soon as possible (as well as liaising with Track & Trace). During the school day you can ring the school number on 01792 463019, or if you receive the result outside of school hours please send a message via ClassDojo to Mrs Morgans.
School Christmas Dinner – If you haven’t done so already please complete this quick questionnaire about the School’s Christmas Dinner on Friday 11th. Please complete the form even if your child will be bringing a packed lunch, so we can gauge numbers.
Elf Day – Next Friday staff will be dressing up as Elves to raise money for the Alzheimer Society, it is completely optional but if children would like to join in too, for a small donation towards the charity, that would be fantastic. There is a Charity Donation offer in the Trips and Offers part of sQuid.
Inset Days – We have two Inset days on Monday 21st & Tuesday 22nd December, which means our last day in school this term is Friday 18th December. We start back on Monday 4th January 2021.
Urgent – Christmas Concerts Consent – Mr Davies has sent out a link to a parental consent form to allow us to film children performing their Christmas item. If you haven’t done so already please complete the form here .
Christmas Jumper Day – To coincide with our Christmas Dinner Day children are invited to wear their Christmas or Festive Jumpers on Friday 11th December in exchange for a donation to Save the Children. There is a Charity Donation offer in the Trips and Offers part of sQuid.
Parent Governors – Thank you to everyone who returned a voting slip. The votes have been counted and verified, and we would like to welcome Mr David Rees & Mr Steven Lovatt as our new Parent Governors.
A big thank you to everyone who donated to last week’s Children in Need, we raised £ 270.00.
Parent Governor Elections – Please look out for the letter coming home today. Please complete the form and return by next Friday morning.
Elf Day – On December the 4th the school staff will be dressing up as Elves and donating money to the Alzheimer’s Society.
If any children would like to join in too they are more than welcome, and there will be an offer on sQuid for any donations.
Our School Christmas Dinner is on Friday 11th December, if you haven’t done so already please complete this short questionnaire. That day is also our annual Christmas Jumper Day in aid of Save The Children, children are welcome to wear a festive jumper and there will be an offer on sQuid for any donations.
Christmas Concerts – Unfortunately we will not be able to put on our Christmas Concerts this year, however we hope to be able to film each class performing an item, and edit them together into a video. We are still working out the details, and will need to get parental consent for children to appear in the video, but this will be in the next couple of weeks.
Welsh government launches ‘Parenting. Give it time’ campaign
The Welsh Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services, Julie Morgan has launched a new campaign to give information, support and advice to parents. “Parenting. Give It Time” recognises that the pandemic has had an impact on families, including through increased isolation, supporting children who are self-isolating, or dealing with children’s anxiety. The new campaign provides information to parents on how to understand and respond to their children’s behaviour. It offers practical tips and advice on a range of issues. The core three themes are: your child’s behaviour, giving your child time, and supporting parents through the challenges they face. Full details available here: https://gov.wales/parenting-give-it-time.
COVID-19: Useful videos
Self-Isolation and a negative test. What happens next?
Has your child tested positive for COVID-19?
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
There are loads of benefits to sending your child back to school
As always, a big thank you for bearing with us at the beginning of the school day while we check that everyone is well and doesn’t have any Covid symptoms, and for keeping everyone safe by adhering to social distancing. Diolch
New arrangements for Gate 1 & Gate 2 – From Monday we will be altering the arrangements slightly. If you are bringing your child to line up with their class ( Y1/2L, Y4/5J , Y3/4N) please use Gate 2 (the double gates). If you are bringing siblings or you are late for your class line up, please use Gate 1 (the single gate). Thank you.
Earlier this week we sent home a questionnaire about Service Children, thank you if you have already completed it. If you haven’t had the chance please take a few of minutes to answer a couple of questions here.
Children in Need – Thank you to everyone who joined in today, and for the donations. The offer will remain open on sQuid for a few days if you haven’t had the chance to make a donation yet.
Parent Governor Elections – we received three nominations for the two vacancies, so we will be sending home ballot papers for an election in the next week or so.
Reminder – Please can children bring in their own pencil cases (Year 1 to Year 6) with some pens/pencils/ruler/eraser/sharpener etc. We do have some items to lend children but they have to be thoroughly sanitised/ quarantined before they can be lent out again.
School Dinner Menu – The options have changed, and Miss Rees has sent a copy of the new menu out via Dojo today.
Message from the Local Authority – Digital Exclusion – During the first lockdown, schools looked to identify those pupils that were digitally excluded and with the support of Swansea Council and Welsh Government, provided connectivity and devices to learners. We are currently trying to ascertain any further barriers to home/blended learning, especially those caused by digital exclusion. The responses from this survey will enable us to find what these are and help us to provide appropriate strategies for the continuation of learning. https://forms.gle/ZVZvpALvVnbsVfWUA.
Just a reminder that if any pupils or members of their household are showing any Covid symptoms please isolate immediately and seek medical advice.
Dear Parent/Carer
Despite the restrictions, we have been determined to find alternatives where possible that allow us to maintain a sense of community and communication. These have ranged from recording our Star of the Week and other assemblies to be played in class to offering teacher/parent meetings via telephone or video conference. We hope that you found the parents ‘meeting’ as useful as we did.
Health and Safety has always been a very high priority to our staff and governors but it has obviously come into sharp focus since March. Schools have been told that the Health & Safety Executive will be carrying out spot checks to confirm that arrangements comply with Welsh Government and local safety guidelines including how we communicate and maintain safe drop off and collection times. We have been very grateful to you all for the way that you have supported us over the course of this half term and again ask for your continued support and understanding when we return on Monday 2nd November 2020.
I probably should not speak too soon but I am so relieved that we have got through a whole half term (at time of writing) without one positive case amongst our staff or pupils. This has meant that no classes have been told by TTP (Track, Trace & Protect) to self-isolate for a period of time. Please be assured that should there be a positive case over half term, senior leaders, our school administrator and myself will make ourselves available to work with TTP and the Local Authority to identify contacts and communicate with parents/carers and staff in affected classes.
Other schools have reported that keeping contact groups separate both within and outside of school, has been enormously helpful in minimising the number of classes/ children and staff affected. Whatever your view, I am sure most of us are keen to avoid staff and pupils being directed by TTP to self-isolate. Naturally, children want to see their friends, have sleep overs and play dates, perhaps with friends from other classes but I know many of you agree that we all have a collective responsibility to play our part in keeping the numbers of our school community affected by self-isolating to a minimum.
I know the next 2 weeks of National Lockdown rules will be especially difficult for families over half term and hope that the children manage to enjoy the week despite the restrictions.
Please visit our school website for key documents including packs and other key information supporting continuity of learning.
Miss Simons
Please find a link to a letter from the Interim Director of Education – letter to parents Oct 20
Flu Vaccinations – Just to confirm that the school nurses attended today to give the Flu Vaccinations to those with consent. Please find a link to a postcard which is normally handed to those children who have received the vaccination Beat Flu-ChildrensPostcard-Eng-
What’s coming up.
Autumn Half Term Holiday- Monday 26th October to Friday 30th October
Inset Day 3 – Monday 21st December
Inset day 4 – Tuesday 22nd December
Christmas Holidays – Wednesday 23rd December – Friday 1st January
Spring Half Term Holiday – Monday 15th February to Friday 19th February
Easter Holidays – Monday 29th March to Friday 9th April
Summer Half Term Holidays – Monday 31st May to Friday 4th June
Flu Vaccine – The school nurses will be with us next Friday to give the nasal flu vaccine to those children who have had consent. If you haven’t returned your form yet, please do so on Monday (even if you are not giving consent), so that the correct number of vaccines can be ordered.
Please take a minute to watch this video with your child, so they know what to expect when the school nurses visit. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1120037595059712
Breakfast Club – If you would like to be added to the Breakfast Club Dojo Group, so that you get the weekly booking form, please contact Mrs Morgans.
Coming to school – A big thank you to parents for their patience with our staggered start times, and different gates, it really does help us keep the children safe in their bubbles. We will continue to follow Welsh Government Guidance and ask parents if they, or anyone in their family, are displaying any Covid symptoms.
We have had a few instances of parents stopping their cars in the middle of the road and ushering their children out. This is not acceptable, please park in the nearest space, get out of the car, and walk your child(ren) to the gate. We would prefer you were slightly late but safe, as we do need to ask you the Covid symptoms questions before admitting your child to school.
Parent Governor Vacancy – We have a vacancy for a Parent Governor. Nomination forms have been sent home via School Comms and ClassDojo, with paper copies available on request. The deadline to return the form is next Friday at 3.30pm.