Letter to Parents/Carers

Dear Parents/Carers,
I hope that you are keeping well as we approach the Easter holidays.
Once again, Prestatyn High School has been extremely busy with trips, events and academic activities to maximise progression. Hot on the heels of our very successful ski trip, we have had the Maths Department trip to Paris and the very recent Geography trip to Iceland. The photographs look amazing and the pupils seem to have gained so much from the experiences.
Attendance and punctuality
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support over this matter so far this year. We are currently looking at all systems and processes alongside the Local Authority to make sure that we can do what we can to improve our attendance. This year, our whole school attendance rate is still lower than pre-pandemic years and we as a whole community must do what we can to get back to where we were before COVID. The issue of school attendance has gained significant media coverage in recent months and it is a concern for the whole of the UK. Good attendance is so important for the life chances of young people that we will stop at nothing to continue to improve it further. In terms of punctuality, persistently late pupils will continue to be sanctioned and phone calls made home. I appeal to all parents and carers to support your children, support the school, and make sure all pupils are in school on time unless there is a very good reason for absence. The local authority has issued several fines to the parents of our poorest attenders. Poor attendance to school will harm the chances of your children later on in life.
The highlight of this half term has to be our production of the musical ‘Matilda’ by the Creative Arts Department. The matinee performance for our cluster schools and the three evening performances were nothing short of outstanding and, once again, showcased how much talent we have here at PHS. Well done to Miss Southall, Mrs. Bennett, and the whole Creative Arts Department. I can’t wait to see what we have planned next.
As our exam classes in Years 11 and 13 continue to prepare for the summer, we are doing all we can as a school to make sure that they are ready for their forthcoming exams. As always, school will be open throughout the Easter break (excluding bank holidays) so that all pupils who have exams can access our Easter school revision sessions. These exam revision sessions will be focused on what pupils need to learn and what pupils need to do to prepare for their GCSEs and A levels.

During the week beginning the 18th March, students, pupils and children from our cluster of primary schools will be taking part in an annual ‘Festival of Culture’. This is part of our Discrimination: It stops with me campaign and it helps us embed the key messages to all of our community. As always, we are working with local partners and external agencies to support effective delivery and ensure that our young people are receiving the very best in personal and social education at Prestatyn High School. Further information about the campaign can be found on our website. At the end of the festival, on Friday 22nd of March, students are invited to come to school in their own clothes, as it will be a non-school uniform day. Students are encouraged to wear dress that represents their culture or character in a visual celebration of diversity that all of the school community can get involved in. Students are asked to donate £1 for this non-school uniform day. This will help the school to raise money for the local food bank and the Red Cross.

We know that, at times, discrimination and hate are present in our community, Wales and around the world. If we all work together, we can take a stand and drive out discrimination wherever we find it, step by step and lesson by lesson. It stops with us!
I hope you all have a nice Easter break.
Neil Foley – BSc,
Pennaeth/Headteacher

Iceland Field Trip Report

GCSE Geography pupils saw spectacular scenery during their visit to Iceland. We visited The Bridge Between Continents and Thingvellir National Park to observe the rift valley as the Eurasian plate and North American plate move away from each other.

The Raufarhólshellir Lava tunnels were stunning with icicles from recent snow melt as well as the tunnels (which formed from lava flows 5200 years ago during a volcanic eruption). We also visited the Secret Lagoon, Stokkur geysir, the Lava Centre, the beautiful Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls and for most of us the highlight was a hike on the Sólheimajökull glacier where many of us completed 'Viking press-ups' (a press up using an ice axe to drink from a melt water stream) and looked into a crevasse.

We were also treated to the magical aurora borealis. Pupils' behaviour was impeccable, and pupils have enhanced their geographical knowledge ahead of their GCSE examinations as well as seeing beautiful volcanic landscapes.

Regarding Y11 Prom

Dear parent / carer

I am sure your son / daughter is looking forward to the Y11 Prom on the 20th June. This is a
prestigious occasion and a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the end of their GCSE exams with their
friends, year groups, teachers and support staff.

In order to receive a ticket to attend the Prom, we expect the following from our Y11s:

  • To be engaged in after school revision (includes any lunch sessions) and Easter school. A
    register of attendees is taken during all revision sessions.
  • To have good attendance and punctuality. Pupils to be fully engaged in their lessons, ensuring
    homework / past papers are completed.
  • Have a good or improved behaviour record. Any pupil internally and or externally excluded (from
    the week beginning 19th February) will not be permitted to attend our Y11 prom.
  • Demonstrate exemplary behaviour during the exam period and wear the correct uniform at all
    times.
  • To attend all their GCSE examination, including any oral examinations.

All decisions regarding admittance to the prom will be at the discretion of the Headteacher and Head
of Y11, and like all other decisions made at school, individual circumstances will always be
considered.

If your child already knows that they do not wish to attend the Prom, they are still
expected to the meet the high standards required throughout.

Further information regarding the Prom will be shared with parents prior to the Easter break.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish your child all the very best for their final few months left
with us at Prestatyn High School, and I hope they achieve all their goals.
Thank you for your continued support,
Yours faithfully,

Mr. G Turner
Deputy Headteacher

Letter to Parents/Carers

Dear Parents and Carers,
I would like to take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to all pupils and parents for their continued
support this half term. We take great pride in the appearance of our pupils, most recently we have allowed pupils to wear their
coats in the school building as they move between lessons, due to the cold temperatures. However, when we return to school after half term we will be expecting all pupils to remove their coats as they enter the building and when they move from lesson to lesson. All pupils will need to be in full uniform including blazers. This will be reviewed if the temperature changes.
Thank you for your support and have a restful half term.
Best wishes,
PJ Hill
Pam Hill
Assistant Headteacher

Awards Evening

Dear Parent/Carer,

It is with great pleasure that I am writing to inform you that our amazing awards evening is back again on the 9th April, 2024.
The evening will highlight the achievements of our wonderful pupils who work hard day in day out to achieve their potential. Nominations from departments and Heads of Year will take place during the coming half term, so there is plenty of opportunity for your son/daughter to work hard over the next few weeks and be recognised for their achievements.

Awards are handed out for engagement and effort as well as going above and beyond for the school or the community. If you know of a pupil who works above and beyond for the good of the community of Prestatyn, or the wider area and would like to nominate them for the community award we would love to hear from you. Please contact me at the school by the 23rd February 2024.

This event is sure to be one of the highlights of the school year. Tickets will be allocated for those people who have been shortlisted for awards closer to the time and further details will be available then.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs PJ Hill
Assistant Headteacher