Headteacher Prifathro David Haynes BA (Hons), PGCE, NPQH —————————— Assistant Headteachers Penaethiad Cynorthwyol Rachael Thomas BEd (Hons) Samuel Jenkins BSc (Hons), PGCE —————————— Business Manager Rheolwr Busnes Sian Churchill BSc (Hons), MSc ——————————— Associate Assistant Headteachers Penaethiaid Cynorthwyol Cysylltiol Amy Morgan BA Ed (Hons) QTS Rachel Owen BA (Hons), PGCE, Dip Lib ——————————— Chair of Governors Cadeirydd Llywodraethwyr David Halse BA (Hons), CQSW ————————— Campws Dewi Campus St. Davids Pembrokeshire, SA62 6QH ————————— Campws Non Campus St. Davids Pembrokeshire, SA62 6NU ————————— Campws Aidan Campus Maes Ewan Solva Pembrokeshire, SA62 6TS

————————— Telephone:

01437 809200

Email:

1st May 2020

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Dear Parent/Carer of pupils in Years 6 to 11,

I would like to thank all parents/carers and pupils for all their hard work during these

unprecedented times. I am extremely pleased with how our school has adapted to

remote learning and I would like to take this opportunity to thank staff of Ysgol

Penrhyn Dewi VA for their hard work in delivering quality provision for our pupils.

However, in order to improve our provision further and reduce the amount of time

being spent online, we have taken the decision to modify the current timetable for

years 6, 7, 8, and 9.

The new model consists of fewer sessions, a form period and time for physical/mental

wellbeing during the day. The timetable will remain the same every week, no longer

operating on a two-week cycle. Please see below:

Cont.

ACRONYM AREA OF LEARNING SUBJECTS

LLC Language Literacy and

Communication English, Welsh and French

HUM Humanities Religious Education, History and Geography

S&T Science and Technology Science, Food and Nutrition, Design Technology

MA Maths, Numeracy, Computer Science

and ICT Mathematics, Computer Science, ICT

EXP Expressive Arts, Health and Well

Being Art, Music, Physical Education

DAY SESSION 1 SESSION 2 FORM TIME LUNCH SESSION 3

MONDAY LLC SCIENCE &TECH

FORM TIME LUNCH EXPRESSIVE ARTS

TUESDAY MATHS

HUMANITIES FORM TIME LUNCH LLC

WEDNESDAY LLC MATHS FORM TIME LUNCH SCIENCE & TECH

THURSDAY MATHS

HUMANITIES FORM TIME LUNCH LLC

FRIDAY SCIENCE & TECH

MATHS FORM TIME LUNCH EXPRESSIVE ARTS

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Staff will be available for online support during the normal school hours. The amount of work set is

restricted to ensure a balance between the well-being of pupils and the need to progress their learning.

We appreciate access to digital technology, even with one computer at home could be problematic.

Particularly with siblings or even parents working remotely too, therefore we are happy for the work to

be complete at a time that suits the needs of your family.

It is planned that the 5 areas of learning (AOLE): Language Literacy and Communication, Humanities,

Science and Technology, Mathematics and Computer Science, Expressive Art and Wellbeing, will adapt a

more week by week way of working rather than hour by hour. Staff will upload the work for the week in

Microsoft Teams, which is expected to be completed by the end of the week. Your child/children may

also have noticed that they have been added to ‘new’ AOLE teams. This is so all staff and pupils are

working collaboratively and this also coincides with new curriculum for Wales which is due to begin in

September. Pupils are still expected to upload all work via teams under assignments. The work can be

completed online or by hand and uploaded using a photo.

As well as the three sessions of learning a day, we also expect the pupils to attend a daily Form group

meeting in Microsoft Teams. It is vital that we have daily contact with all our pupils as the wellbeing and

social interaction with our pupils is extremely important to us. I really appreciate your support in this

matter and hope to see full engagement in Form time as well as all virtual learning. Please see the grid

below with the times of the form group chats. As we all know talking is extremely important and the

form group meetings give the pupils an invaluable opportunity to socialise with their peers.

Form Time Form Time

Year 6 11am 8D 12.00pm

7Y 11.10am 9Y 11.00am

7P 11.20am 9P 11.10am

7D 11.30am 9D 11.20am

8Y 11.40am 10Y 11.30am

8P 11.50am 10P 11.40am

Cont.

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Year 10

Year 10 will continue to follow their normal 2 weekly timetable and will continue to check in with their

form tutors daily. As you are aware, Welsh Government has cancelled all exams for this summer. The

Government has put forward two options to schools:

Pupils can sit their Year 10 Units during Year 11 at the same time as sitting their Year 11 Unit

exams or

Pupils can be graded on their Year 11 exams alone

Therefore, it is extremely important that you ensure your child is completing all work set to the best of

their ability. If they are struggling to complete the tasks then please encourage them to engage with

their teacher on Teams who, like previously stated, will be online during their year 10 lessons to provide

the pupils with the support they need.

Year 11

Year 11 pupils have all been added to a year 11 Team where a number of invaluable free courses have

been advertised as well as competitions and opportunities to further their subject knowledge. There will

also be discussions about how we can help them to set up their end of school prom when restrictions

allow. We would also like to hold an official leavers assembly and would like to discuss it with the pupils

in the Team. If they log in to their HWB accounts, they will have received an email asking them to join

the Team. If any pupils have forgotten their login details then please email

admin.penrhyndewi@pembrokeshire.gov.uk

Staff from Pembrokeshire College will be contacting Year 11 learners who have applied to study A Levels

at the college (and have not yet had an interview/conditional offer) within the next week. The following

information will be sent by email but applicants will also receive a text message to prompt them to

check their emails to see it.

1. A Level Presentation

This will be a YouTube video that will give learners an overview of the college, with a focus on the A

Level faculty, and provide some clarity about next steps in the application process now we are working

remotely.

2. Online Form

All applicants will be asked to complete the A Level 'My Course, My Future' online form ahead of their

interview.

3. Interview

All interviews will be held by one of the subject tutors remotely via a program called 'Big Blue Button'.

Applicants will receive instructions as to how to access this and anyone who does not have the

technology required can opt for a telephone interview instead. All pupils will be sent an individual date

and time for their interview in the email.

4. Taster Sessions

The College will be launching a remote event for taster sessions in all A Level subjects, as a replacement

for the Taster Day which is usually run on site.

Cont.

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Wellbeing

We are very much aware that maintaining physical, mental and social health underpins all learning. Our

Heads of Phase, Form teachers and Inclusion team have been actively engaging with all of our learners

to assess wellbeing, access to learning, and in providing resources and co-ordinating regular check-ins.

On our school website, there are links (for every phase) to a variety of wellbeing activities and challenges

as well as links to outside agencies offering support.

Additionally, the short video and resources found via the following links may help to advise pupils on

getting into a daily routine. A suggested daily routine checklist can be found at the end of this update.

Families are reminded that all pupils automatically have a free licence for downloading Microsoft Office

(including word) by following the first link below:

https://hwb.gov.wales/microsoft#how-to-get-office-at-home%20so%20I%20will%20email%20her. https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/public/%EF%AC%81les/videos/%20EEF_Supporting_daily_routines_during_school_closures.mp4 https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/public/files/Publications/Covid-19_Resources/Resources_for_parents/Supporting_home_learning_routines_-_Planning_the_day.pdf

Yours sincerely,

Amy Morgan

Head of Fulfilment Phase