Dear Parents and Carers,

I do hope you are well. You may be aware from media coverage that similar to other public sector workers, some teaching unions have declared strike action. The proposed industrial action will take place on: Wednesday 1st February 2023; Tuesday 14th February 2023; Wednesday 15th March 2023 and Thursday 16th March 2023.

This has been well documented in the media. This could mean a partial or full closure of the school to pupils if these strikes take place.

This action will impact PHS and all schools in Wales depending upon how many staff decide to take industrial action. You may want to start thinking of alternative childcare arrangements for these days in case they are required, especially if you have primary aged children.

I will keep you up to date with the situation, and I will inform you of the final arrangements as soon as possible.

Yours faithfully,

Neil Foley - B.Sc. MA. Pennaeth Headteacher

Dear Parents and Carers,

Download the timetable - Timetable Enrichment V5 JW

Happy New Year. I do hope that you have had a restful break with family over the holidays and are now ready for another successful and engaging year. I am delighted to inform you that our enrichment opportunities and after-school clubs for 2023 are up and running with a host of sessions on offer for your child.

In the first term, we have seen over 1,400 students access the sessions and activities that have been on offer, and we are looking forward to seeing an increase in these numbers as the year progresses. We are now looking to expand the enrichment and are in the process of setting up a dedicated council so students can take a lead for sessions and play a more integral role in future plans.

Sessions and classes still take place between 3pm and 4pm. For all year groups, these include the core areas of additional learning, alongside extra qualifications, group sessions and physical activity. The sessions this term range from Art Club and Animal Care to Eco Club, F1 in School and Harry Potter Club. We offer plenty of groups and clubs to suit all ages and interests.

The PE Department offers a variety of physical activities for all year groups including football, basketball, gymnastics, badminton and rugby. Physical activity has a host of benefits and also improves wellbeing and physical/mental health. We have a few changes to the timetable this half term with archery being added on a Monday. In addition, basketball is returning on a Wednesday and GCSE badminton will be on a Tuesday.

All of the enrichment sessions will be registered in the same way as a normal lesson, and this is so that we know who is on site after the school has closed. A reminder that if pupils get the school bus home, and wish to attend an enrichment session, they can book on to the Prestatyn High School minibus at reception.

I have attached a copy of the 2023 timetable for you to explore what we have on offer this term. All sessions on the timetable also include information regarding which year group can attend. Please look closely at the key at the bottom of the page.

I do hope your child takes up this fantastic opportunity, and I look forward to welcoming them to the sessions.

Yours sincerely
Neil Foley - B.Sc. MA.
Pennaeth Headteacher

James Williams
Alex Fuller
Enrichment Enrichment

Denbighshire County Council has welcomed news that the Welsh Government are continuing to make funding available to make free school meal payments for eligible pupils during school holidays, in response to the cost-of-living crisis.

The Council have made arrangements for these payments to be made for the forthcoming Christmas holidays (26^th December to 6^th January), with the payment due to be made on Friday 23^rd December.

Parents / guardians are being informed that the payments will be made based on eligibility for Free School Meals.

This is completely separate to the roll out of Universal Primary Free School Meals which has seen Reception age children being able to access free meals this school term and will be extended to Year 1 pupils in January 2023.

Councillor Gill German, Cabinet Lead Member for Education, Children and Families, said:

“We welcome this funding as it will provide reassurance to some families, given the cost-of-living crisis. We want to make sure all children receive a proper meal and this payment, made directly into bank accounts of eligible parents automatically, will help with this cost.”

For more information go to: https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/education-and-schools/grants-and-funding/free-school-meals.aspx

11-Beat-exam-stress

Download the flyer - iGAS and Scarlet fever ENG

Presented by the Creative Arts Department featuring Music, Drama and Dance students

Wednesday 14th December at 7pm

Prestatyn Parish Church

Free entry

Download the letter from Public Health Wales - 29112022 GAS Letter Schools and Nurseries

We are writing to inform you of a recent increase in notifications of scarlet fever and invasive streptococcal disease. There were 1,512 notifications of scarlet fever in the first 47 weeks of 2022, compared to 948 in the same period in 2019. There were lower numbers of scarlet fever notifications across 2020 and 2021 (likely due to changes in transmission and behaviour during this period).

We are notifying schools and nurseries as this infection mostly affects children aged under 10 years, and so outbreaks can occur in schools and nurseries. Older children are also susceptible to streptococcal sore throats but may not have the rash of scarlet fever.

Signs and symptoms of scarlet fever

Scarlet fever, sometimes called scarlatina, is an infectious disease caused by group A streptococcus (GAS) bacteria (also known as Streptococcus pyogenes).

It is highly infectious and can be caught through direct contact with an infected person or through the air via droplets from coughs or sneezes.

The characteristic symptom of scarlet fever is a widespread, fine pink-red rash that feels like sandpaper to touch. Other symptoms include a high temperature, a flushed face and a red, swollen tongue.

Treatment is straightforward and usually involves a course of penicillin antibiotics.

Complications of scarlet fever and streptococcal infection

Most cases of scarlet fever cause no complications, especially if the condition is properly treated. However, complications in the early stages of the disease can include ear infection, throat abscess, sinusitis, pneumonia and meningitis.

Very rare complications include rheumatic fever, kidney damage, liver damage, bone infection, blood poisoning and toxic shock syndrome which can be life-threatening.

There has been an increase in severe disease caused by this bacterium (invasive group A streptococcal infections) in late 2022, including some fatal cases in children. Invasive disease may occur without a person having had scarlet fever or sore throat first. Early signs of invasive disease include: high fever, severe muscle aches, local muscle tenderness, or redness at the site of a wound. If there are any concerns about invasive disease, then urgent medical advice must be sought.

Recommended actions

• • Staff should be aware of the possibility of this infection in children who become ill with a fever, sore throat or rash
• • Parents of unwell children should be advised to seek medical advice for diagnosis and treatment
• • A person with scarlet fever should withdraw from your setting for 24 hours after the commencement of appropriate antibiotic treatment
• • Where there are 2 or more cases of scarlet fever in your setting within the same 10-day period, please notify the Health Protection Team on 0300 00 300 32 for further guidance
• • Scarlet fever circulating at the same time as chickenpox or influenza can increase the risk of invasive disease - please report this to the Health Protection Team as above
• • Good hand hygiene and avoidance of spread of respiratory secretions (as per influenza- “catch it, bin it, kill it”) can help to prevent the spread of infection

Many thanks for your assistance.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Rhianwen Stiff

Consultant in Communicable Disease Control

Source of advice:

NHS 111 Wales scarlet fever webpage https://111.wales.nhs.uk/encyclopaedia/s/article/scarletfever