Latest News
Latest News
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Summer Childcare Offer
Fri 10 Jul 2020Here is the information for the summer childcare offer by MonLife.
The link is below.
I have copied the information from their page for your information, but don't know if the links will work sorry!
www.monlife.co.uk/monactive/childrens-activities/summer-activity-hubs/.
Monmouthshire Summer Activity HUB’s
We are pleased to confirm that this summer we will be delivering ‘Monmouthshire Summer Activity Hubs’ at all four MonLife Leisure Centres for a 5 week period running from Monday 20th July – Friday 21st August, 8am – 5pm.
This provision will be available for all children to attend between the ages of 5-12 years old, it is not restricted to key workers. The cost will be £20 per child per day which is the equivalent of £2.22 per hour. We also have a limited number of funded spaces available for children in receipt of free school meals. To access this please complete the Register Your Interest form below.
Each site will have a maximum number per day and we will not be able to go above this due to social distancing restrictions and the conditions we have put in place, due to this we strongly recommend pre-booking.
From Friday 10th July you will be able to register your interest by completing the REGISTER YOUR INTEREST form. Please note that this is not a confirmation of booking and you will be contacted W/C Monday 13th July by the relevant Leisure Centre to confirm your child’s place and to take payment. All calls will take place between 8am and 5pm Monday to Friday, you will be contacted within a 24 hour period and this will be on a first come first serve basis. A list of FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS have been produced to provide some further information.
Here at MonLife we understand how difficult recent months have been for both parents and children. We are committed to providing a positive experience for the children attending this summer with our Leisure, Sport Development and Youth Service team providing a range of exciting activities. We look forward to welcoming you back to our Leisure Centres this summer for the Monmouthshire Summer Activity Hubs.
Please note, we have limited spaces available, please book in advance to avoid disappointment. To enquire about The Summer Activities HUB’s, please click here.
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Kirsty Williams information regarding September
Thu 09 Jul 2020Archbishop Rowan Williams Church in Wales VA Primary School
‘I can do all things through Him who strengthens me’
Philippians 4:13
Crick Road, Portskewett, Caldicot, Monmouthshire. NP26 5UL
Tel: 01291 420526
www.arwprimaryschool.co.uk
Dear Parents,
At last! We have the news that so many have wanted to hear! All children to return to school in September!
This, as you can imagine, will mean that the school now needs to reorganise and modify our plans, as, it still remains the case that whilst wanting to get back to learning, safety remains a priority.
I shall now be working on new systems and engaging with staff and the governing body to ensure that we are thorough in our approach. We also value any feedback around what is working well for you, and what you feel could improve our systems further. As usual, please send your ideas to the school website at arwprimary@monmouthshire.gov.uk
Kirsty Williams has given schools the opportunity to use the first two weeks of September to ensure that planning is finalised and school is ready for the new arrangements, and also offers an opportunity for transition work. All children must be in school from the 14th September onwards. Specific return dates for your child will be shared as soon as it has been decided, and I am waiting to see what decisions are made after discussions with Monmouthshire and our cluster of schools, to ensure consistency for our pupils.
Below are some of the key points from today’s announcement by Kirsty Williams:
- The first fortnight will allow schools to prepare for the full return on September 14th (focus on specific groups of learners) or to allow time for extra planning and reorganisation.
- In the interests of all of our children and young people, all schools will be open to all pupils by Monday, September 14th at the very latest.
- £29m is available to ‘recruit, recover and raise standards’ in Welsh schools in response to the impact still felt from the pandemic. Support will be targeted at Years 11, 12 and 13, as well as disadvantaged and vulnerable learners of all ages.
- We will also continue to fund free school meals for all eligible children over the summer holidays.
- Estyn has also halted its inspection arrangements until further notice.
- There needs to be a broad and balanced curriculum focusing on well being.
So! There is much to do, and we are delighted to be getting on with it, and will keep you as informed as we can.
I will be sharing more information, hopefully tomorrow, regarding classes for next year.
Kind regards as always,
Caroline Swann
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First full week back
Fri 03 Jul 2020Dear Parents,
Thank you for your continued support and your trust in us as a school, to create a safe and welcoming learning environment for children to return to this week.
It really has been FABULOUS to see our children, and an absolute joy and privilege to witness their beaming faces as they have come through the gate! In fact, it was the parents faces that were etched with worry rather than the children! I think for many families it felt more like dropping the children off for their first day in school ever!
This said, the children across the week and across every year group have adapted extremely well with the ‘new normal’ and wellbeing levels have been very high…for both staff and pupils. It really has been lovely to be back together, and routines have felt very natural and easy to maintain.
I am acutely aware of the eagerness you will undoubtedly have to know what the plans are for school in September, and am so sorry not to be able to give you and the children clarity at this time. I am waiting on Welsh Government as well as Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) guidance, and at this point in time, there is no information.
Kirsty Williams will be making her usual weekly announcement on Wednesday 8th July 2020, and I am hoping that this will provide us with some direction, as the lack of information impacts upon us all, and particularly for our new intake of Reception pupils who have not been able to engage in the process of transition yet. Unions have written to the Minister asking for a decision to be made regarding September, so that schools can start the process of planning and adapting the current system. I will share new information as soon as it is known.
This just leaves me to thank you once again, for the kind messages of support that you have sent the school (these mean more to us than you could imagine) and also to say how much we appreciate your punctuality when dropping off and collecting children, as this has allowed the system so far to be flawless (fingers crossed that it remains dry for two more weeks!)
I look forward to seeing you next week on the gate,
Kind regards,
Caroline Swann
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Latest information from MCC for future term dates
Tue 30 Jun 2020School year 2020-2021
Term
Start
Half-term starts
Half-term ends
Term ends
Autumn
1 Sept 2020
26 Oct 2020
30 Oct 2020
18 Dec 2020
Spring
4 Jan 2021
15 Feb 2021
19 Feb 2021
26 Mar 2021
Summer
12 April 2021
31 May 2021
4 June 2021
20 July 2021
School year 2021-2022
Term
Start
Half-term starts
Half-term ends
Term ends
Autumn
2 Sept 2021
25 Oct 2021
29 Oct 2021
17 Dec 2021
Spring
4 Jan 2022
21 Feb 2022
25 Feb 2022
8 April 2022
Summer
25 April 2022
30 May 2022
3 June 2022
22 July 2022
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Key messages for Monday
Fri 26 Jun 2020Dear Parents/Carers/Families,
Below is a summary of the main points in preparation for our return on Monday as I know that the initial letter was long and full of so much information!
Key messages are;
- Arrive on time
- Stay in the bottom car park (maintain 2m social distancing) to drop off/collect your children
- Only a snack, labelled drink and sun hat (if needed and sun cream pre applied), in a disposable bag.
- No lunch
- If you are unsure of your child’s allocated day, please contact the class teacher
- For further detail, look at the original letter
Families(children come at this time not their year group time if part of an ARW family)
line up by the gold or green markers
(starting with the gold).
9.30-1.00
Year 6
line up by the red markers.
9.00-12.30
Year 5
line up by the red markers.
9.15-12.45
Year 4
line up by the green markers.
9.00-12.30
Year 3
line up by the green markers.
9.15-12.45
Year 2
line up by the gold markers.
9.00-12.30
Year 1
line up by the gold markers.
9.15-12.45
Year R
line up by the red markers.
9.30-1.00
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Provincial Website Curch in Wales
Thu 25 Jun 2020Here are a few words from Dr Annette Daly, our Diocesan Director of Education.
https://www.churchinwales.org.uk/en/news-and-events/top-marks-teachers/
I also want to thank the staff at ARW CiW Primary, for their dedication, commitment, hard work and team spirit as we have worked through this very unusual set of circumstances!
They make a great team, and with our families soon to return, we collectively become a fabulous team!
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Further clarification of return to school arrangements
Thu 25 Jun 2020Dear All,
As we prepare to open on Monday, various queries are coming my way, which I am more than happy to respond to.
I thought that in all probability, many others would be wondering the same things, so, I will post my responses on the ‘Latest News’ so that everyone can benefit from this additional information. I will put general headings for ease:
Uniform:
With regard to uniform, if anything still fits, then we recommend that children wear it as it will give a sense of 'normal school' to children, but if clothes are too small, then don’t worry, normal clothes will be fine.
September organisation:
At this moment in time, Welsh Government plans that schools will have the same organisation in September as to now and that these three weeks are a trial period for us as a school as well as for pupils to check in and catch up their teacher or familiar adult.
Any changes in the meantime or during the holidays will be shared with families via our school webpage and through direct email.
What to bring:
Nothing needs to come in from home except for a labelled drink and healthy snack... sun hat if required! (Children do not need lunch)
We will provide a zippy wallet per child and we will put pens, pencils, glue sticks etc. into that wallet. This wallet will be labelled with the child's name, and this will only be used by your child. Children will also have an allocated space within the room, and all spaces have been measured as 2m apart.
Staff will be adding photos or videos onto their class page by Friday lunchtime (26.6.2020), so that children can see what school looks line and know what to expect.
Family arrival and departure
Family groups arrive at 9.30 am and will be picked up at 1.00pm. They do not come at the same time as their class, but at the time that families assemble. Families can stand together at a green or gold marker.
If you are unsure of anything, contact your class teacher or the or the office and we will endeavour to shed a bit of light onto matters!
Kind regards,
Caroline Swann
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Our wonderful Ambassadors this week!
Fri 12 Jun 202012.06.2020
Archbishop Rowan Williams CiW Primary School
proudly present to you this week’s Ambassadors:
Billie Rowan-Williams- for astounding us all and producing 8 eggs!!!
Mr Edinborough- for working so hard while we have been learning at home, and making our school look beautiful!
Elizabeth Phelps- For OUTSTANDING reading!
Amber-Brie- for by recycling and collecting rubbish, helping to sustain our planet. She has also been a very brave person!
Lilia Morris- for being an ambitious and capable learner with her maths!
Lyla Jones- for being an ambitious learner and using excellent adjectives when describing a setting
Ruby May- for working hard in all areas of her learning
Emma Bailey- for being creative and making a movie about her nature walk
Abigail Fuller-Holtam -for being an ambitious, capable learner who turns in every single piece of work set, completed to high standards. Very proud of you Abigail! Well done!
Zack Reece- for being an enterprising and creative learner who have produced fabulous literacy videos this week.
Lila Ramsden- for being an enterprising and creative learner who have produced fabulous literacy videos this week.
Abi Ost – for being highly creative! She has, as part of her topic, she made up a country, written it’s background information, then created a national dish. She then wrote instructions on how to make this dish… and cooked it!
Harrison Thorn – for persevering with a story map of the myth of the Welsh flag and producing an amazing piece of work
Evan Powell- for excellent work in all areas of learning and always going above and beyond. He has been extremely ambitious and attempted the hot chilli challenges throughout his home learning!
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Update from Monmouthshire County Council
Fri 05 Jun 2020Tel/Ffôn: 01633 644582 Fax/Ffacs: E-mail/E-bost: willmclean@monmouthshire.gov.uk Our Ref/Ein Cyf: Your Ref/Eich Cyf: Date/Dyddiad: 5th June 2020
Dear Parents/Carers
I write to share with you the latest information about the phased re-opening of all Monmouthshire schools. The Minister for Education in Wales (Kirsty Williams) announced on 3 June 2020 that all children would have the opportunity to ‘Check in, Catch up, Prepare’ for the remainder of the summer and for the new school year in September. The next phase will start on 29 June 2020 with term extended by a week and will end on 27 July 2020.
This is an anxious time for everyone. Whilst there has been a fall in COVID-19 cases nationally, we also know that for some of our families lockdown has been a challenging period. Some in our community have experienced loss and grief, others will have encountered financial challenges and we have all experienced change and uncertainty. This next stage will see us begin to move forward gradually in a managed way so that we do not see an increase in cases locally but in a way that allows our children and young people to engage with their schools before the summer holidays.
I know that many of you may feel uncertain and have many questions about your child(ren)’s individual circumstances. I want to be clear that at every stage the safety of children, staff and their families is our absolute priority. We want to help deal with those questions and address your concerns.
At this stage in our preparations and planning, I want to reassure you that no pupils who are in receipt of a shielding letter due to their medical vulnerability or who live in a household with someone who is in receipt of a shielding letter should return to school.
Across the county, our school leadership teams will be carrying out risk assessments to help them identify the approach that is right in your child’s school. As a council, we acknowledge that not all schools will be able to meet the Welsh Government’s ambitions immediately. Capacity in schools will vary and many schools will need to introduce a phased re-integration. This might affect the year groups that can attend and the days available.
Schools will work very differently in the short term i.e. the rest of this summer term and I also want to stress that at this stage I anticipate a different method of school
operation in September. Class sizes will be small and in line with the social distancing arrangements that schools will implement. The day will look and feel very different to how children will have experienced it previously, break times and lunch times may be staggered, school start and finish times may be different and ‘traditional’ lessons will no longer take place. We will be working closely with schools leaders and governors to try to ensure consistency in terms of principles and approach.
The provision of transport is particularly challenging as we apply strict safety and social distancing arrangements on all vehicles. I will provide further details in due course.
We recognise that the new pattern of school opening may create difficulties for some working parents. We are creating a set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) for the council website in the near future and I will write again to let you know when these are available. The Minister has been clear that the existing provision for key worker children and vulnerable learners will continue.
I am sure we all agree that it will be good for children to return to school but it has to be when schools and parents are confident that this is safe. Monmouthshire Council continues to work closely with all our schools who, I am sure that you will agree, have performed a fantastic job under very difficult conditions.
I will write to you again once we have had further guidance from Welsh Government. There is lots to consider, as I am sure you appreciate and there will be more information for you as soon as possible.
Thank you in anticipation of your continued support.
Yours faithfully
Will McLean Chief Officer – Children & Young People -
Big Big News!!!!!!
Fri 05 Jun 2020Some new additions to our school family!
Well!!! This started as a bit of a worry!
Mrs Hoare rang me to say that she was really worried about Billy, our little boy tortoise, because he wasn’t able to walk. We both agreed that she needed to take him to the vet so that they could help our Billy.
So, the story changed from being a bit of a worry, to a bit of a puzzle! The vet said that they were not an expert in the medical needs of a tortoise, so they decided to take an x-ray and send the pictures to the zoo for an expert to have a look and help us.
That’s when our story changed from a worry, to a puzzle and then a SHOCK!!!!
Take a look at the x-ray!
So…Billy is a girl! We are going to still call her Billie, but spell her name differently.
The vet then said to take her home and let her walk onto some nice soft soil, where she can dig.
So that’s just what Mrs Hoare did!
She rushed home with Billie and got out a fresh bag of soil and tipped it into a tub. Billie loved it and laid her eggs straight away until there were 8 beautiful eggs nestled in the soil! Luna was there too and was very interested in proceedings!
Billie was shattered and fell fast asleep, slept right through the night and didn’t wake up until Mrs Hoare woke her up with a tasty strawberry ...mmmmmm!
The next day, Billie could walk again! Yay!
Now before we get too excited (even though I am!) the vet said that the eggs probably won’t hatch, so we may not get any baby tortoises, but, we have put them into an incubator just in case…fingers crossed!
Well isn’t that fabulous new!....we have been so excited to tell you x
