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School Councillors meet the Countess Of Wessex at the Swansea Arena official opening ceremony.

Fri 11 Mar 2022 School Council

On Wednesday March 9th 2022, ten members of our Sketty Primary School Council, Mrs Philips our headteacher, Mrs Berry our Chair of Governors and Miss Lewis School Council co-ordinator, were invited to the opening ceremony of Swansea Arena by the Countess of Wessex. We were very excited to see the new arena and to meet the Countess.

When we arrived, we met Mr Phil Roberts the Chief Executive of Swansea Council and he gave us a tour of the arena, it was amazing! We were told the arena cost millions of pounds to create. It has moving seats that can be folded away into the wall to allow space when seating isn't needed. It can seat up to 3,500 people.

After the tour we spoke with the Deputy Lieutenant Alan Brayley, as we awaited the Countess' arrival. We met pupils and staff from other schools who were also invited; Blaenymaes; Penyrheol and Pentrehafod. They were just as excited as we were.

We were asked to greet the Countess at Swansea’s Costal Park, which is next door to the arena. We were lucky enough to be the first school to meet the Countess when she arrived. She spoke to us and asked us how we were. She was really kind. The Countess thanked us for coming to help her plant a tree for the Queen’s Canopy and to celebrate Swansea being a Queen's Green Canopy “Champion City”. Harry was asked to help plant the tree for the Queen's Jubilee, with the Countess, he even shared her trowel! The Countess asked all the children to come back to the Costal Park to check on the tree to make sure it was growing well.

After planting, the Countess had a tour of the arena and spoke to all the schools and dignitaries who were at the event. We met the Lord Lieutenant, High Sheriff of West Glamorgan and the Lord Mayor of Swansea. They were really nice.

After the Countess had officially opened the arena by unveiling the plaque Manon did a courtesy and presented the Countess with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Freya explained the sentiment behind the flowers in the bouquet, sunflowers to support Ukraine as they are the Ukrainian national flower and daffodils to represent Wales. The Countess thanked us and said they were lovely. William presented the Countess with a pack of greeting cards that our pupils had made. Bella told the Countess that our pupils had used silk printing to make them. The Countess thanked us for the gift and said that she liked the Welsh ladies which were printed on the cards.

Then, it was time for the Countess to leave so we all said goodbye, as she left for her next engagement.

We thoroughly enjoyed our day, it was an honour to meet the Countess of Wessex and help her plant the tree for the Queen's Jubilee. We were also very grateful to be invited to the official opening of Swansea Arena, it was fantastic to be some of the first people to view it. We are super excited to visit again with our families and to fulfil our promise to the Countess and see how the tree is growing!

Click on the following Swansea Online Facebook links to view a video of the Countess of Wessex's arrival and photographs of her officially opening Swansea Arena.

Video

https://fb.watch/bEMGNiZ3EF

Photos

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=331778142325582&set=a.309854681184595&type=3

How to talk about Ukraine with children

Fri 11 Mar 2022 Carly Jackson

Our children are constantly absorbing things they read, see, and hear and it’s completely natural for them to be picking up on the situation in Ukraine and feeling anxious and asking questions about what is going on.

Children and young people have experienced an incredibly difficult two years due to the pandemic, and now they are faced with an even more uncertain world with the threat of conflict and war. It is important that we don’t avoid talking to our children about what is going on, but you might want to try to moderate their exposure to constant rolling news and updates. As hostilities in Ukraine escalate, children may see and hear things about the crisis in the news, leading to feelings of uncertainty, anxiety, and fear, which parents and caregivers need to address. News should come from reliable sources. Avoid exposure to a constant stream of news – be mindful of whether parents/carers have the radio or TV on all day, as children will be absorbing news without us realising it.

Children around the world might not fully understand what is happening in Ukraine and may have questions about the images, stories, and conversations they are exposed to.

Visit the following page on our website for resources and information for how to talk to children about the current situation in Ukraine.

The websites below also share some useful advice:

https://schools.cityofsanctuary.org/2022/02/28/speaking-with-children-about-the-war-in-ukraine

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/13865002

Swansea Schools Stand up for Ukraine

Wed 09 Mar 2022 Carly Jackson

Thursday/Friday 10/11th March 2022

What is the Red Cross doing to help Ukrainian people now?

•So far, Red Cross teams in Ukraine have distributed over 30,000 food and hygiene parcels and provided food, warm clothes, and other aid to around 8,000 people sheltering in metro stations.

•First aid training has also been delivered to over 2,000 people taking cover in metro stations and bomb shelters, so they have the skills to treat their loved ones if needed.

What are Swansea schools doing?

•Our money will get sent straight to the Red Cross that is on the front line of the crisis. It will be used to purchase much needed emergency medical supplies, shelter to those who have been displaced, give families access to food and water and relief items.

•On Thursday/Friday 10/11th March we will be holding a ‘Stand up for Ukraine’ days across all schools in Swansea.

•We in Sketty Primary are planting Sunflowers and ask for a £1 donation from each child. We will add our donation to the Swansea Schools Stand up for Ukraine just giving page.

Your donations matter!

•Your donation will help us reach more people.

•£10 could provide a hygiene kit to a family of five, giving them supplies to stay healthy for a month

•£20 could provide five blankets to families taking shelter

•£33 could provide 40 chlorine tablets to ensure that families have access to clean, safe water

•£72 could provide a thermometer to help treat those who have fallen ill

•£210 could provide a fully equipped first aid kit, including supplies, to a first aider treating those wounded

School Photos - Complete form by 9th March

Fri 04 Mar 2022 Carly Jackson

This year, in order for your child to have an Individual photo taken, we need consent from you first. Please click on the link below and enter the PIN, to consent to your child's photo being taken. Only children with consent will be photographed.

https://schools.rozandkirsty.co.uk

PIN : 4375

Updates from Mrs Phillips

Fri 04 Mar 2022 Bev Phillips

Dear Parents/ Carers,

School update.

I hope this update finds you well. We are hopeful that we shall carefully return to “normal” times, which means we could be looking at a summer term filled with lots of activities that parents/carers will be able to attend! Watch this space!

Staffing News

Mrs Sander, one of our year 1 teachers, has decided to take a career break. Mrs Palmer will continue in her place and Miss Baldwin will continue as class teacher in Reception. We wish Mrs Sander well and wish her luck with any new ventures.

Exciting news!

We have been invited by the Local Authority on Wednesday 9^th March, to be part of the opening ceremony for the cities new Arena. We are limited to taking 10 children to the opening. It is never easy to choose just 10 children from our fabulous school! In this instance, 10 members of our School Council will represent the school. The Countess of Wessex will be present and the children will have a chance to talk to her during the opening ceremony.

On Thursday 10^th March, the school will be visited by, The Lord Lieutenant, High Sheriff and Lord Mayor to plant a tree commemorating the Queens Jubilee. They will also officially open our new well-being shed outdoor reading area and our long awaited play area! I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has attended any event organised by our wonderful, hard-working PTA. The money raised has made the new play area and out-door reading space possible. Thank you so much.

Helping Hand

We really seem to be moving to the other side of the pandemic with much relief. As one global incident comes to and end we know are faced with news of the terrible conflict in the Ukraine. As a school, we would like to contribute to the efforts of the Red Cross who work tirelessly in areas of conflict. On Friday 11^th March, every child will be plant a Sunflower seed. They will care for the plant and bring it home just before the Easter break. We have chosen Sunflowers, as they are the Ukraine’s national flower. We ask, if you are able to, please contribute a £1 per child to this venture with money collected going to the Red Cross.

And finally…

We have had a great week in school. Year 5 and 6 have been on their first residential to LLangrannog. It is the first time in over 2 years that we have had this opportunity. Many thanks to our wonderful staff who tell me they too had a great time! Our Cynefin fortnight, a celebration incorporating our Eisteddfod and visitors to school celebrating being Welsh is in full swing. The school is buzzing with welsh music, singing, ukuleles and poetry. All children have enjoyed taking part in the Eisteddfod competitions and wait with baited breath for the results to be announced next Friday.

We really do seem to be moving toward school normality. Let us hope the very welcome end is in sight.

Thank you for your continued support.

Mrs Bev Phillips

Head Teacher

World Down Syndrome Day

Fri 04 Mar 2022 Julie Miller

Monday 21st March is World Down Syndrome Day …. It falls on 21st March each year as all people with Down syndrome have 3 copies of chromosome 21 – hence 21/3!

It is a day to raise awareness and acceptance and for our community to join together … one way of doing this is to Rock Your Socks! Wear odd socks, bright socks, long socks .. any socks at all.

The socks are representative of chromosomes and this is a really fun & colourful way to share our individuality and celebrate that we are all unique.

This years theme is What does Inclusion Mean? The children will be focusing on what Inclusion is and how important it is for everyone to be included

TOF Awareness Week!

Thu 03 Mar 2022 Mr Crofts

28th February – 6th March 2022 is TOFS awareness week, along with rare disease day on 28th February and Swallowing Awareness Day on 16th March.

Over 5% of the world's population are affected by rare diseases. OA/TOF is a condition that affects 1 in every 3,500 babies born. Please help us raise awareness of #oa #tof and share this post. https://www.tofs.org.uk #tofs #oatof #RareDiseaseDay

Please spread the word! Press achieved through awarness raising last year:

https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/swansea-mum-finds-lifeline-over-sons-rare-medical-condition/

The press achieved last year in awareness week brought a TOF families together. A grandmother of a TOF child saw the article in the paper and sought others on social media, and they are now active members of the TOF charity and community. The two boys (just 4 months apart in age) are now in contact with each other and will support each other through their lives. What an achievement! Here are the boys recently down the beach.