Category Archives: School News

Ty Hafan

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Dear Parents and Carers,

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, 24th 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 21st 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

Young people urged to get vaccinated to protect their health before their exams

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Public Health Wales is urging young people living in the outbreak area to get the MMR vaccination before their exams begin as cases reach 942.

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

Measles: The Facts

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MMR vaccine poster eng 140413

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!

Non-Uniform Day: 8/2/13

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Dear Parent/Guardian

I am writing on behalf of our Student Council to inform you that this Friday 8th February 2013 is a Non school uniform day. Pupils do not have to wear their uniform; however they should be in appropriate clothing with no fancy dress. We ask for a contribution of £1 which will be donated to our Eco Causes.

As a proud Eco school, we are very keen and determined to offer continued support to our environmental endeavours. The student council, along with all members of staff would like to thank you for your continued support and cooperation.

Yours Sincerely

Rebecca Thomas
(Staff Advisor to the Student Council)

Photos from the School 18/1/13

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I managed to get into work this morning and took some of these photos.

CHS is a Band 1 School

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I am very pleased to see that the banding model in Wales has recognised the hard work and dedication of Crickhowell High School students, staff and Governors, particularly as we have been ranked the fifth school in Wales in 2012.

Banding uses the performance of schools to group them into one of five bands:  from Band One schools which are performing very well to Band Five schools which need to improve.  Statistics relating to how well 15-16 year olds have performed in exams, information about their level of attendance, the number of free school meals and the improvement of students over time are among the factors used to band schools.

A total of 219 Secondary Schools have been banded across Wales with twenty eight in Band One.  Crickhowell has moved up from Band Three in 2011 and we are all delighted that our standards are continuing to improve and we are among the best in the country.  2012 has been a great year for the school with the best ever results at GCSE, outstanding A Level results and a very good Estyn Report published in November.

We are proud of our performance and will continue to strive to improve even further and to ensure that every aspect of our work reflects world class education.  The banding highlights that students receive high quality learning experiences at Crickhowell and are able to secure excellent outcomes at all levels.

I would like to express my gratitude to all parents and carers for your outstanding support of the school without which none of this success would be possible.

I wish you all a very Happy New Year, it is wonderful way to begin 2013 identified as a Band One School aiming to move forward to greater successes and achievements in the future.

Yours sincerely,

Jackie Parker
Headteacher