PHS November Circuit Break

20th October, 2020
Dear Parents and Carers,
Download the letter - PHS November Circuit Break
I do hope you are well and coping with the extraordinary times we are going through.
As announced on the 19th October by the First Minister, Wales is entering a short period of lockdown with secondary schools only to be open to Year 7 and 8 pupils for the week beginning 2nd November.
During this time the school will remain open to all staff and we will switch to online learning for Years 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. This means that the working methods we established and developed during the first lockdown will now swing into operation. Your teachers will soon be in touch with you with further instructions about how the online learning will work. For the year groups that will not be in school it is important to remember that this is not an extended holiday, they are expected to work from home for this week.
As a school, we are extremely disappointed that five out of the seven of our year groups have been asked to work from home for the week after half term, especially with most of these years having important examinations coming next year. Unfortunately, this is beyond our control, but we will do everything we can to ensure continuity of learning for these pupils and students.
If any pupils and students have issues accessing online learning please inform the school before we break for ½ term so that we can organise alternative arrangements. Pupils and students that were issued with a school device during the first lockdown must use these devices again to access the online work set by your teachers.
Key points
  • Pupils and students in receipt of free school meals will once again have money paid into their parent’s accounts. Please contact DCC direct if you do not receive these funds using the following phone number 01824 706000, or email address: 
benefits@denbighshire.gov.uk
  • The Year 7 and 8 pupils that remain in the school for the week after ½ term will continue to receive a full, broad and balanced curriculum. We will also make sure that we remain fully compliant with the latest COVID-19 guidance and ensure the safety of all staff and pupils.
  • As there will be less pupils in school we will try to give Year 7 the full experience of secondary school that they have so far missed out on. Examples of this are; accessing the diner at lunch time and full use the science labs. We will also make sure that their lessons, where possible, are out of their base rooms.
  • Year 8s will also have amendments to their timetable to ensure they too get a fuller experience of school life.
  • Pastoral staff will work over this period to make sure they contact any pupils that are highlighted as needing extra support. They will also contact any pupils and students that are not accessing the online work.
  • All external exams in November will still take place. All students involved will be contacted by the exams team to explain how, when and where these will be organised.
  • Any students or members of our school community that have been instructed by Public Health Wales to isolate must continue to do so until the end of the time period highlighted in their letter.
Whilst in this temporary “circuit break”, it is essential all members of our school community follow the guidance and restrictions set out by the Welsh Government so that this period of partial closure can make a real difference to the spread of the virus in the future. I am sure you all join me in hoping that the measures they are putting in place will be the last that they need to impose on us all.
I will write to you all again, as and when we get further guidance from Welsh Government
Please email prestatyn.high@denbighshire.gov.uk if you have any questions or concerns and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Stay safe
Best wishes
Neil Foley - B.Sc. MA.
Pennaeth Headteacher
Posted in News.