As you may already be aware we work very closely with Ty Hafan who provide family hospice care and support for young people suffering from serious and sometimes terminal illness.  Over many years Ty Hafan have supported a number of families and students from Crickhowell and our Student Council has decided to nominate our next Non Uniform Day to support this worthy cause.  Our receptionist, Mrs. Mutlow, is also entering The Three Peaks Challenge this year as part of our fundraising for Ty Hafan and students and staff are running a number of coffee mornings to raise additional funds.

Therefore, on Friday, 24^th May 2013 we will be holding a Non Uniform Day and asking students to bring in at least £1 as a donation to Ty Hafan.  As this is the last day of the half term and for Year 11 their last full day in school before their examinations, they have opted to wear uniform on this their last day and to hold their Non Uniform Day on the 21^st May 2013:  students have already been notified of this.
We appreciate parents reminding students that a Non Uniform Day does require dress to be appropriate for school and therefore not too short or too revealing, particularly in warmer weather.
If you wish to send in a donation or support Mrs. Mutlow by sponsoring her in her Three Peaks Challenge we would be delighted to hear from you.
Yours sincerely

Jackie Parker  Miss Rebecca Thomas
Headteacher  Student Council Advisor

Dydd Llun Mai Monday 20th May (Day 1)

• A Level and GCSE exams
• ICT Moderator in school
• 1.25pm-1.45pm Student Voice Meeting

Dydd Mercher Mai Wednesday 22nd May (Day 3)

• MMR inoculations (AM) – Drama Studio
• DT Moderator in school
• 5.00pm-6.30pm Governors Finance and Resources Meeting

Dydd Gwener Mai Friday 24th May (Day 5)

• Year 13 on Study Leave
• French Assessment for Year 10

Half Term – have a lovely break

Every student and their Parents/carers will receive confirmation letters in the next half term. Option classes will then begin in September 2013.

Some subjects may begin to teach the GCSE content prior to September and so we encourage all students to continue to work hard with all of their subjects.

Year 8 reports will be issued on Friday 14^th June 2013.

An extra 56 cases have been reported to Public Health Wales since Tuesday illustrating the outbreak is showing no signs of ending, particularly in the 10 to 18 age group.

Although the outbreak is centred mainly on Swansea, rates of measles are high throughout the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University, Powys and Hywel Dda health board areas, especially in Neath Port Talbot and North Powys.

A total of 83 people have been hospitalised since the beginning of the outbreak.

Dr Marion Lyons, Director of Health Protection for Public Health Wales, said: “The increase of cases shows that the outbreak is not easing up, especially in the 10 to 18 year old age group.

“Young people have important examinations coming up and we need to make sure that those aged between 10 and 18 are vaccinated so their preparation for these examinations are not affected.

“Vaccination sessions are continuing in schools throughout Wales and I urge pupils and their parents to take advantage of these.

“We have seen that measles can be potentially fatal and no one should be complacent about the severity of measles.  It can kill but can be prevented by a simple, safe vaccine.”

A third week of MMR clinics at schools in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot will begin on Monday 29 April and drop-in vaccination sessions will again be held across the outbreak area this Saturday.

Parents are reminded that the only protection for their child is two doses of the MMR vaccine and they should not assume that others around them have been vaccinated.

Those not vaccinated are highly likely to catch measles, which is highly contagious, and it is just a matter of time before a child is left with serious and permanent complications such as eye disorders, deafness or brain damage, or dies.

It is inevitable that some children vaccinated in the last two weeks will already be incubating measles and vaccination will not prevent them from becoming unwell, but their illness is likely to be milder than if they had not received the vaccine.

Dr Marion Lyons added: “Measles cannot be taken lightly because you can never tell who will go on to develop the more serious complications of pneumonia or encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). MMR vaccination offers the only protection against these complications.

“The MMR vaccine is recommended by the World Health Organization, UK Department of Health and Public Health Wales as the most effective and safe way to protect children against measles. The alarming numbers of cases of measles and continuing spread of the disease in Wales illustrates how vital it is for parents to get their children vaccinated.

“Unvaccinated children aged between six and 12 months living in or travelling to the outbreak areas of Swansea and Neath Port Talbot can be offered vaccination by their GP. There’s no adverse effect to this extra jab and those children would still need to receive the recommended two doses at 12 months and three years and four months of age.”

To prevent the spread of the illness, Public Health Wales has issued the following advice:

• If your child is unvaccinated make immediate arrangements with your GP for them to receive the MMR jab. This is even more important if your child has had contact with someone with measles.
• If your child is unwell and you suspect it is measles you should contact your GP. Your child should not attend school or nursery for four days after the rash starts.
• Telephone your GP surgery to inform them you or your child has a rash illness before attending, so that arrangements can be made in advance for minimising contact with other vulnerable patients.
• Avoid going to A&E unless you are seriously ill, and if you do attend, telephone ahead to let them know you or your child may have measles.
• Avoid contact with pregnant women, people with weak immune systems and babies who are too young to be vaccinated, as they are more vulnerable to infection and there are very few treatments available to help them if they do catch measles.
• If any family members are pregnant, receiving chemotherapy, or aged under one, it is vital to ensure that all other family members are up to date with their MMR vaccination.
• Maternity wards, midwives and health visitors are being asked to share information with parents to encourage them to check the vaccination status of all children in the family to avoid further household spread amongst vulnerable groups.

Further information on measles, including a link to a video testimony from a mother whose three year old unvaccinated daughter contracted measles, is available at: http://www.publichealthwales.org/measles

The latest data on the measles outbreak – including cases by health board area, vaccination uptake data and numbers of unvaccinated children in Wales – can be found at: http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/888/page/66389

CONTACT:   Public Health Wales Communications Team on 029 2034 8755 (24 hours)

More information on Public Health Wales is available at www.publichealthwales.org

We hope that all students and their families have enjoyed a good break for Easter and are now refreshed for the new Term. GCE and GCSE examinations will soon be upon us (Starting 13^th May) and the ‘Silence’ notices will be back up around the school. We hope that all students will be responsible and adhere to the notices so as to maximise the chances of everyone sitting the examinations.

The Thought for the week beginning Monday 15^th April is ‘Humour and Laughter’

The Thought for the week beginning Monday 22^nd April is ‘Home’

The Thought for the week beginning Monday 29^th April is ‘Spring and New Life’

Thought for the week beginning Monday 6^th May is ‘Tolerance and Difference’

The Thought for the week beginning Monday 13^th May is ‘Loneliness’

The Thought for the week beginning Monday 20^th May is ‘Honesty’

Advance Notice – Early June 2013 dates:

Monday 13^th May                    GCSE Exams begin

Tuesday 4^th June                      Sports Day

Thursday 13^th June                  New Intake Day (Year 6)

Friday 5^th July                          Year 10 Reports issued

Year 10

Work Experience:

Forms have recently been issued to all Year 10 regarding the October Work Experience placement. The deadline for the return of these forms ( to Mrs. C. Powell ) is the 14^th June. Should you experience any problems with finding a placement please could you contact Mrs. Powell asap either by telephone or email: carolepow@crickhowell-hs.powys.sch.uk.

Religious Studies Week

Details of this week have recently been issued by Mrs. Pugh. This starts on Wednesday 25^th April and runs through and including Tuesday 30^th April. This week students will be away from school working in various locations around Crickhowell and will not be required to wear school uniform during this time as per instruction sheet. We will of course expect exemplary behaviour to be shown by all pupils as they move around Crickhowell.

Work Related Activities Week 15^th – 19^th July

Further information regarding this week will be issued at a later date.

Year 11

GCSE Examinations

As mentioned earlier these written exams begin on Monday 13^th May. In previous years students have been allocated Study Leave prior to this time. However, Study Leave is no longer permitted. Therefore students will be expected to attend normal timetabled lessons up until half term i.e. until Friday 24^th May.

Students with scheduled exams will sit these at the scheduled time. If pupils have an afternoon exam that starts at 1.00pm they will have a lunch-time from 12noon.

If any exam has already been undertaken in a particular subject area and they are timetabled for a lesson in that subject, this time may be used for private/supervised study for other subjects not yet taken.

Post Half Term: Pupils may choose after half term to either study at home or in a supervised Study Area in school, until their exams have finished.

• Year 12 Induction Day Friday 21^st June
• GCSE Exam Results issued Thursday 22^nd August

As always, we recognise the great importance of Home and School working together and so if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Mr A Dawkins and Mrs C Powell

Upper School Pastoral Team

If you are worried about measles or want to get the MMR Jab please contact the School Nurse, Julie Burdon, on 01874 615675

1. Measles is one of the most infectious diseases known.
2. It is spread through the air – on tiny droplets of moisture that are expelled when someone cough or sneezes and these droplets are breathed in by someone else.
3. If your child is unprotected, the chances are he or she will catch measles if they come into contact with an infectious child.
4. Nearly everyone who catches measles will have a high fever, a rash and be unwell.
5. A child infected with measles virus will not usually show any symptoms for about the first 10 to 12 days – the incubation period. The first symptom is usually a fever that lasts between one and seven days.
6. The rash can appear as early as seven days after infection and up to 18 days after infection, but usually it appears around 14 days after. It lasts for five or six days and then fades.
7. An infected person remains contagious from the appearance of the first symptoms to about three or four days after the rash appears.
8. Children with measles have to spend about five days in bed and may be off school for ten days.
9. Adults are likely to suffer more complications and be ill for longer than children.
10. The complications of measles include chest infections, fits, swelling of the brain and brain damage.
11. Measles can kill.
12. Measles can be prevented by MMR vaccination, ideally at 13 months of age, with a second dose about three years and four months.
13. Children who have had measles should still have MMR to protect them against mumps and rubella.
14. More than 500 million doses have been given in over 100 countries worldwide.
15. The MMR vaccine is as safe as any other vaccine and it’s never too late to get your child vaccinated.

Research Shows:

0x MMR = 0 Protection
1xMMR = 90% Protection
2xMMR = 99% Protection
Against

• Measles
• Mumps
• Rubella

so go on
3 for 1
Get Protected!

Required to provide a Clerk Service to the school’s Governing Body for 6 Full Governors’ meetings and 12-15 Sub Committee meetings throughout the academic year.  Knowledge of clerical and administrative work required, including ability to take accurate minutes.

Salary is approx. £2000 p.a.

An enhanced CRB disclosure will also be required by the successful candidate.

Please contact Mrs Carol Hasleham (Headteacher’s PA) for an application form and job details: 01873 813501, or email carolh@crickhowell-hs.powys.sch.uk .

Closing date for applications: Friday 15^th March, 2013.