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Given the restrictions we have faced, it has been a busy term! We have been able to have some visitors in school. We have had Father Dominic in for assemblies and have taken Foundation Phase children to the church. The older children have had workshops for sports such as dodgeball and boccia. A group of or 5/6 pupils presented at the Tedx Climate Change event at Theatre Clwyd and you and your children have supported both Children in Need and Greenfield Churches Food Club. In addition, our junior classes have all supported the Lend With Care organisation. We have no real idea about what next term will look like, but we are prepared for the worst and hoping for the best! A reminder that term starts for the children on Monday January 10th and as it stands, breakfast club is open and normal school opening times are in place. If there are any changes to this, we will inform you once we have information from FCC or the Welsh Government. Staff are being asked to turn off the notifications for Seesaw as of 3.15 today and will not be accessing their emails either until Thursday 6th January. If you need to contact the school on an urgent matter, please do so by emailing me at ghhead@hwbcymru.net, if you need a more immediate response, a DM through Twitter will be quicker. All the staff at Maesglas would like to thank you for your support after what has been another difficult term and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year
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We have been asked to share this information with you by Flintshire County Council. It is not the news we were hoping for, but I can fully see why they have made the decision they have. I will be in touch later today to give you information about registering for a Key Worker place for your child and to discuss what home learning will be made available for your child for the period 20-22nd Dec.
Flintshire’s rates of Covid-19 infection have been rising consistently over the last few weeks. On Friday 10th December, the incident rate reached 558.6 per 100K and whilst below the Betsi Cadwalader University Health Board average of 611.2, it is above the all Wales average of 501.9 per 100k. Coronavirus infection rates are impacting on many schools and rapidly increasing workforce absence due to Covid-19 and other factors is now having a knock-on effect, with many Headteachers reporting that they are having difficulty in maintaining adequate staffing levels. Some Flintshire schools have already had to close classes or year groups to safely manage. The availability of supply staff is virtually non-existent, not only in Flintshire but across Wales, and this is adding to the pressures. These factors and the emergence of the new variant of concern in the UK have prompted the Council to advise all schools to reintroduce blended learning from Monday, 20 December to Wednesday 22 December when the autumn term officially ends. Some schools have used training days or the Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday entitlement to finish on 21st December whilst others were finishing on the 22nd December. Claire Homard, Chief Officer for Education and Youth said “This decision – which has the backing of head teachers – will allow staff to use a blended approach to deliver education, whilst also providing head teachers with the discretion to invite groups of learners to attend school for face-to-face learning where required particularly in examination year groups in secondary schools. Children of key workers and vulnerable children will be permitted to attend school for the last few days of term (as determined by their school calendar) if no alternative arrangements can be made. Further information regarding arrangements will be issued directly by head teachers to parents. This decision has not been taken lightly. The Council expects the workforce situation to deteriorate as the week progresses so has made this decision now to give parents and carers as much time as possible to make arrangements.” Council Leader, Councillor Ian Roberts said, “Flintshire County Council will do what we believe is necessary to safeguard our children, our staff and our communities. Coronavirus cases have increased considerably and, as a result, staff absence in schools has increased. This does not just include teachers but a wide range of support staff too. Our young people will continue their education and will switch to blended learning for the last few days of term. We share the concerns of government around the Omicron variant and are aware that many parents and staff are extremely worried. We must consider people’s wellbeing after a very difficult year. “Our education team continues to work closely with head teachers and all staff in schools and I would like to thank our school staff, governing bodies and parents for their continued work and care during a very difficult time.” In the meantime it is vital that we all take the simple but necessary precautions so please remember to: · wear a mask when needed · get tested and self-isolate if required · get vaccinated · allow fresh air into indoor spaces · take regular LFD tests at home |
AuthorMr Cass, Headteacher Archives
December 2021
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