Greenhill Primary School
Gallwn Gyda'n Gilydd Together We Can
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Half Term Sports Camp Information
Wed 02 Feb 2022Please see the leaflet providing information regarding the sports camp in February half term 2022
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SUPER IMPORTANT! TESCO BLUE CHIP COLLECTION!
Wed 05 Jan 2022Please vote for our SNRB when you are shopping at Tesco Ystrad Mynach, Tesco Blackwood Newport Express, Caerphilly Express, Riverbank Court Express, Caerphilly Crossways Tesco, Caerphilly Bry Road Express
We are planning to update our sensory equipment which is so important to the children's development and well being. All you need to do is ask for the blue chips at the checkout, then post them into the collection box these are normally situated at the front of the store (by the self service tills in Ystrad Mynach store).
Each chip is counted as a vote, please make sure you post it in the Greenhill box as there will be other causes collecting too.
If we recieve the most votes we will recieve £1500 towards the equipment 2nd place has £1000 and 3rd place £500.
So please ask family and friends to vote for us too. Thank you for your support, fingers crossed.
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Returning to School January 2022 and the Challenges it Brings!
Wed 05 Jan 20225th January 2022
Dear Parents/Carers,
I hope you have all had a lovely Christmas, and enjoyed spending time with your families and friends. However, I imagine you all know of someone who tested positive for Covid-19 over the festive period, and numbers are certainly on the rise in Caerphilly borough!
I attended a meeting with the Local Authority yesterday afternoon regarding the new Covid guidelines and am writing this letter to update you before the return to school tomorrow.
Before Christmas, schools advised parents that we may need to return to staggered starts and finishes. At present, like most schools, we have no plans to do this. However, we ask that social distancing is observed, especially at hometime when waiting to collect your children, and that all adults wear a mask when entering our school grounds.
As a school we will also need to continue implementing the current control measures which include:
Social distancing
Use of hand sanitiser at regular intervals throughout the day
Face masks to be worn by all adults whilst on school site and staff in communal areas
Use of LFT testing for all staff (to be increased from twice weekly to three times a week)
Use of CO2 monitors in classrooms to ensure adequate ventilation.As prior to Christmas, children will be in contact with the children in their class, in their year group and in their ReadWriteInc group (these groups are usually small). If there is a case in one of these, you will receive an ‘inform’ letter. If there are two cases within 7 days, you will receive a ‘warn and inform’ letter. It may be that your child is identified as a close contact of the positive case and in this case you should follow the close contact guidelines as stated below:
If you are a fully vaccinated adult or aged between 5 and 17 you do not need to self-isolate if identified as a close contact but you are strongly advised to:
take a LFT every day for 7 days or until 10 days since your last contact with the person who tested positive for COVID-19 if this is earlier
take this daily test before you leave the house for the first time that day
If any of these LFT tests are positive you must self-isolate. You should arrange to have a PCR test within 24 hours. If the PCR test result is positive, you must self-isolate for at least 7 full days starting from the date the LFT test was taken. If the PCR test result is negative, you can stop self-isolating but you should continue to take your daily LFT tests. You should follow this advice for 10 full days after your most recent contact with the person who has tested positive with COVID-19 or the end of a positive household member’s self-isolation period.
You can get LFTs by:
collecting from a pharmacy or a local collection point.
by ordering online for home delivery: Order rapid lateral flow home test kits on GOV.UK. You can order 1 home testing kit (7 tests) at a time. Delivery takes 1 to 2 daysIF YOUR CHILD HAS COVID-19 SYMPTOMS:
If your child has symptoms of COVID-19, they should self-isolate and take a PCR (NOT A LFT) test as soon as possible. If they have tested positive for COVID-19 they must self-isolate and follow the current guidelines. (https://gov.wales/self-isolation#section-86588).
Due to the high transmissibility of the Omicron variant, please do not send your child to school if they are unwell with a temperature, cough, loss of sense of smell/taste, headache, sore throat, or they appear very tired.
Children under 5 do not need to take a PCR or a LFT, even if they have COVID-19 symptoms. They can take a test if a doctor advises it, or if a parent believes a test is absolutely necessary and in the best interests of a child. If they have symptoms or if they have been a close contact of a positive case, they do not need to complete any mandatory period of self-isolation. They should stay home until they are well enough to return to school or childcare setting. If a child under 5 has symptoms, other household members do not need to isolate unless the child takes a test and has a positive result. If a child does take a test and the result is positive, then the child must self-isolate for at least 7 days.Staff absences
There is the potential for significant staff absences this term, which may lead to a class closure at very short notice. If this happens, the class will switch to distance learning. Seesaw (you will need the family app and the class app) and Google are our preferred platforms for this. Your child’s class teacher will be in touch with some practice activities over the next few days to make sure this can go smoothly.As always if you have any questions or concerns then please do not hesitate to contact us. Please continue to inform us of any Covid-19 related matters via greenhillc19@greenhillprm.co.uk
Thank you again for your support and understanding at this difficult time. Take care and stay safe.
Lisa Jones
Headteacher -
Letter from CCBC
Wed 08 Dec 202107.12.21
COVID-19 – update for parents and carers
Dear parents / carers
I have not written for a while about Covid-19, but we seem to have returned to a situation
where events are moving at pace again.
Not only have we seen an increase in Covid 19 cases in some of our schools over the last
week or so but the news about the Omicron variant has clearly caused concern.
In response to this we have received new guidance from the Welsh Government that states
that "pupils and staff in secondary schools should wear masks in all areas inside the school
where social distancing cannot be maintained, this includes classrooms. The feedback I
have received from Headteachers indicates that pupils have responded positively in general.
(exemptions for health reasons still apply).
Schools have spare face coverings for those who have forgotten them we well as plenty of
LFD tests and we would encourage you to use these tests regularly at home. We will
continue with this practice until the end of term and then I expect a review of the situation.
However, it is important that we and the Welsh Government monitor this as schools may
have to take some measures short of closure due to increased levels of staff absence and
shortage of supply staff.
The guidance from Welsh Government can be viewed here https://gov.wales/schooloperations-
coronavirus
There are lots of rumours in the media that the Welsh Government is discussing the early
closure of schools at the end of the term. We are not aware of any such plans at this time,
but the next Welsh government 3-week review takes place on Friday 10th December, so we
will need to wait to see if there are any further changes to current guidance
In the meantime, please be patient with schools, they are doing everything they can to keep
pupils in school safe and limiting any potential disruption to their learning.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding in these uncertain times.
I sincerely hope that you will enjoy a safe, family Christmas.
Regards
Keri
Keri Cole
Chief Education Officer, Caerphilly County Borough Council -
CHRISTMAS JUMPER DAY
Tue 07 Dec 2021On Friday December 10th we will be participating in Christmas Jumper day at Greenhill. Children can come to school in Christmas jumpers or t-shirts and help to raise money for Save the Children by donating £1.
We appreciate that Christmas is an expensive time of year so please don't feel the need to go out and buy new jumpers and t-shirts just for this day.
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Christmas Permissions
Mon 06 Dec 2021Attention: several parents reported difficulties accessing the permission form over the weekend. The issue has now been resolved and the link below should work. IF YOU HAVE ALREADY SUCCESFULLY COMPLETED THE FORM YOU DO NOT NEED TO DO SO AGAIN. Apologies for any confusion.
Parents and carers, This year, once again, we are having to be flexible with our Christmas arrangements. Each class is preparing a short piece or performance as a celebration of the time of year. Unfortunately, we are not able to invite parents and carers into school to see these performances but we still want to share the magic with you all! Therefore, we would like to film some of the performances and share them on SeeSaw. If you are willing for photographs or videos of your child's performance to be shared we require your permission to do so. Any children who do not receive permission will not be included in the photos or video but will otherwise participate fully in the celebrations and performances.
Please follow the link to the permission form. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSesrcYOyMavAD_KU9n7U5c373wfqsnlRanmFvr4dbWX84XLgA/viewform?usp=sf_link
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OurSchoolsApp no longer in use
Tue 23 Nov 2021Good afternoon, prynhawn da,
We are no longer using the OurSchoolsApp programme. If you have this app still installed on your device you are free to uninstall it.
PLEASE NOTE this message does not refer to the SeeSaw apps, keep those! DO NOT UNINSTALL SEESAW!
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Self-Isolating Latest Advice
Mon 22 Nov 2021Parents/carers,
As I’m sure many of you are aware we are currently experiencing significant levels of illness in the school. This has meant that we need to contact parents when children show any symptoms linked to Covid-19 whilst in school. Therefore we felt it would be useful to share the latest guidelines regarding self-isolating and when to get a PCR test.
Changes from 29 October 2021
If you develop COVID-19 symptoms at any point, no matter how mild, regardless of your vaccine status and you are over age 5, you should immediately self-isolate and arrange a COVID-19 PCR test and self-isolate for 10 days if the test is positive.
Self-isolation means that you do not leave the house. You should self-isolate straight away if you have symptoms and until you receive the results of a COVID-19 PCR test.
Fully vaccinated or aged 5 to 17
If someone in your household has symptoms or has tested positive you should self-isolate and take a PCR test. If your test is negative you can stop isolating. PLEASE NOTE, an LFD test is not sufficient in these cases. Lateral flow tests are not good at finding the virus in people who aren’t infectious yet (i.e. early in the infection). The PCR tests are better at finding very small amounts of the virus, especially early in infection, so these are used primarily in people who have symptoms and can be booked through the NHS website.
Not fully vaccinated
If someone in your household has tested positive and you are not fully vaccinated you should self-isolate for 10 days. You should take a PCR test on day 2 and day 8. You should self-isolate for 10 days even if your tests are negative.
Children aged under 5
Children aged under 5 do not have to self-isolate or take a test if they have been a contact of a positive case. They can get tested if parents feel that a PCR test is necessary and in the best interests of the child. However, we advise that children who show symptoms should be kept home from school or childcare until they are well enough to return.
Shared child responsibility during self-isolation
Child with symptoms or who has tested positive
Parents and guardians should avoid moving a child with COVID-19 symptoms or who has tested positive, between households.
If parents and guardians share responsibility of the child, the child should stay with 1 family for the time they need to self-isolate. This is to reduce any possible spread of the virus.
If it is not possible to stay with 1 family, the child can move between both households. The child must continue to self-isolate for the full 10 day period. Anyone in the household they leave must self-isolate for 10 days unless they are exempt (as defined earlier in this guidance). Anyone in the household they go to must start their 10 day self-isolation period when the child arrives, unless they are exempt.
We greatly appreciate your understanding, patience and cooperation as we work together to keep everybody safe and well in these challenging circumstances.
Regards,
S Holloway
Deputy Headteacher
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Parent Letter 15/11/2021
Mon 15 Nov 202115th November 2021
Dear Parents/carers,
RE: Gwent Covid-19 Community Level of Risk – VERY HIGH
Thank you for your continued support with helping us keep our school communities as safe as possible in relation to Covid-19 so far this term. You may be aware that the community risk level across the Gwent region has now been increased to Very High. This change in risk level means that we have needed to review our school based risk assessment and increase the number of control measures that we have in place.
In order to continue to keep our pupils, staff and families safe we will would like to remind you of that Face Masks - these should be worn by all adults whilst on school site – including at pick up/drop off time.
Social distancing measures are in place across the school between adults and between adults and children where possible.
We ask that you please continue to support us by not sending your child to school if they are unwell. If they, or any member of your household, are experiencing any of the main three symptoms of Covid-19, then please self-isolate immediately and book a PCR test as soon as possible.
It is important to note that we are facing significant staffing challenges at the moment and our ability to arrange supply staff to cover classes for unwell staff members is becoming increasingly difficult. As such, it may become necessary to revert to distance learning for individual classes at short notice as we may become unable to maintain safe staff/pupil ratios. If this does become the case we will endeavour to give you as much notice as possible using our normal messaging services. We will only take this course of action if we have no alternative.
We thank you in advance for your continued cooperation and support with the above matters. We completely understand how difficult some of the restrictions above may be for you and your family, and are working hard to minimise the disruption to children and their education.
Yours sincerely,
Lisa Jones
Headteacher
Greenhill Primary School
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Social Media Warning
Mon 15 Nov 2021We have been asked to share a messaage from Caerphilly County Council regarding inappropriate use of social media by pupils in the county.
Here at Greenhill we encourage all parents and carers to supervise children's use of various social media platforms (please be aware that for many platforms the suggested age limit is 13 or 16) and to be vigilant of what children are posting and who they are in contact with.
From Caerphilly county Borough Council
Dear Parent / Guardian,
Unfortunately, it has come to our attention that social media accounts have been set up on platforms such as TikTok, that are designed to look like official school accounts, to which pupils have been uploading short videos.
Recent incidents have involved inappropriate posts and videos being uploaded to such accounts that are offensive, discriminatory or defamatory. Such posts cause distress to others and may be illegal.
We would kindly request that you speak to your child / children and remind them of the dangers associated with the misuse of social media in this way and that activity of the kind described above could lead to serious consequences.
If the perpetrator of offensive content is found to be a pupil at a school within the county borough, they will be dealt with according to that school’s disciplinary policy and could be reported to the police for further action if appropriate.
You may also wish to check your children's devices / social media accounts to ensure any inappropriate videos, pictures or other content is deleted.
Schools will continue to monitor social media channels including TikTok in future and will take action as and when appropriate.
Pupils should also be reminded that they are not permitted to film on school premises without prior permission of the school.
Thank you for your co-operation in this matter and let’s work together to keep our children and young people safe online.
Regards
Keri Cole
Keri Cole, Chief Education Officer
Annwyl Riant/Warcheidwad,
Yn anffodus, mae wedi dod i’n sylw bod cyfrifon cyfryngau cymdeithasol wedi’u sefydlu ar lwyfannau fel TikTok, sydd wedi’u cynllunio i edrych fel cyfrifon ysgol swyddogol, ac mae disgyblion wedi bod yn uwchlwytho fideos byr iddyn nhw.
Mae digwyddiadau diweddar wedi golygu bod postiadau a fideos amhriodol wedi cael eu huwchlwytho i gyfrifon o'r fath sy'n sarhaus, yn wahaniaethol neu'n ddifenwol. Mae postiadau o'r fath yn achosi trallod i eraill a gallan nhw fod yn anghyfreithlon.
Rydyn ni’n gofyn yn garedig i chi siarad â'ch plant chi a'u hatgoffa o'r peryglon sy'n gysylltiedig â chamddefnyddio cyfryngau cymdeithasol yn y modd hwn, ac y gallai gweithgaredd o'r math sydd wedi’i ddisgrifio uchod arwain at ganlyniadau difrifol.
Os mae’r sawl sy'n creu ac yn postio’r cynnwys tramgwyddus yma yn ddisgyblion mewn ysgol yn y Fwrdeistref Sirol, byddan nhw’n cael eu trin yn unol â pholisi disgyblu'r ysgol honno, ac mae’n bosibl y bydd yr heddlu yn cael gwybod am gamau pellach os yw'n briodol.
Efallai yr hoffech chi wirio dyfeisiau/cyfrifon cyfryngau cymdeithasol eich plant hefyd i sicrhau bod unrhyw fideos, lluniau neu gynnwys arall amhriodol yn cael eu dileu.
Bydd ysgolion yn parhau i fonitro sianeli cyfryngau cymdeithasol, gan gynnwys TikTok, yn y dyfodol a byddan nhw’n gweithredu fel y bo'n briodol.
Dylai’r disgyblion gael eu hatgoffa hefyd nad ydyn nhw’n cael ffilmio ar dir yr ysgol heb ganiatâd yr ysgol o flaen llaw.
Diolch am eich cydweithrediad yn y mater hwn, a gadewch i ni weithio gyda'n gilydd i gadw ein plant a'n pobl ifanc ni yn ddiogel ar-lein.
Yn ddiffuant,
Keri Cole
Keri Cole, Prif Swyddog Addysg.
