I think most of us are eager for this “gloomy, very cold” spell to...
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Transcript of I think most of us are eager for this “gloomy, very cold” spell to...
31st January 2017
I think most of us are eager for this “gloomy, very cold” spell to end but I am
pleased to say that there have been many events recently, which have
lightened up this feeling.
The “Poetry Evening” was one such event. A new venture, it was a joy to see so
many young people reciting poems they had written on a variety of subjects
ranging from old age, politics, seasons and identity. Some members of staff
read favourites, including a powerful rendition from Dr Nwahba on a childhood
favourite about Africa. Various musical interludes performed by other students
helped the evening along. The special guest appearance fro the poet Keith
Jarret was a great treat.
A thank you, to Mrs Gibberd and her team.
Year 9 spent a whole day reflecting upon and learning about aspects of the
Holocaust and this resulted in powerful studies evolving. Please see the webpost
http://www.simonballe.herts.sch.uk/holocaust-memorial-day-2017
for more information about their day.
Meanwhile I continue to visit lessons and talk to students about their learning.
This is a real privilege as I am able to see passionate teachers enthuse students.
This week I have been welcomed in maths, psychology and English lessons. I
even went with the year 1 children to All saints Church as part of their religious
education lessons.
On Tuesday Mike Moss (deputy), Paul Connolly (Chair of Governors) and myself
will be attending a celebratory event organized by the Department for
Education for those schools who achieved the highest progress 8 scores at
GCSE in 2016. It will be a great honour to attend and represent the hard work of
those students, staff and the great support from parents which made this
happen. We are very proud of this success nationally at Simon Balle.
31st January 2017
Dates this Term
Monday 6th February Drugs Education workshop for parents
Tuesday 7th February Year 9 Options evening
Battlefields trip parents information evening
Strings recital
Wednesday 8th February Drums recital Monday 13th to Friday 17th February- half term
Tuesday 21st February Iceland trip parents information evening
Sports tour parents information evening
Thursday 23rd February First Battlefield trip leaves
Wednesday 1st March Year 13 Parents consultation
Thursday 2nd March Second Battlefield trip leaves
Friday 3rd March Big Band Evening
Saturday 11th March An evening of singing & strings – All Saints Church
Tuesday 14th March Year 12 Parents consultation
Wednesday 15th March Larch centre parents evening
Rock gig – Corn Exchange
Thursday 16th March Larch centre parents evening
Thursday 23rd March Brass recital
Friday 24th March Non uniform day – Red Nose
Monday 27th March Stevenson’s uniform sale 3pm to 5.30pm
Mon, 27 March – Thu, 30 March Y10 Sheringham Geography Field Trip
Monday 30th & 31st March School Play
Easter Holidays- Monday 3rd to Tuesday 18h April (all students expected in 8:40 Wednesday
19th April)
Monday 10th - Friday 14th April - Sports Tour
Thursday 20th April –Y7 Parents Evening
Friday 21st—Sunday 23rd April –Haworth –A-Level English Trip
31st January 2017
Fantastic Final Products from Key Stage 3 Textiles Key Stage 3 students have been working really hard in Textiles demonstrating
their creativity and improving their technical skills to create some fantastic final
products. Our new projects aim to provide students with the skills and
experience necessary to prepare them for our new GCSE course in Art and
Design: Textiles Design. This exciting new course will allow our students to explore
a variety of different techniques including; fashion design, digital textiles, dyed
fabrics, printed fabrics, soft furnishings and embellishment.
This qualification is now available for our current year 9 students to start studying
in September 2017, any year 9 students who would like to see more examples of
the work they could be creating for this course please see Miss Fish for more
information.
New House Newsletter.
New have had a very successful start to the academic year and have already
had a number of significant noteworthy achievements.
Year 7 have made a great start and have been involved in music through the
junior wind band as well as sports. A number of 7N students achieving “student
of the week” for house points, and a special mention goes to Willow
Hamilton-Hill for achieving “student of the month” in October for KS3. 7N are
also third so far in the Accelerated Reader competition.
Mr Brennan’s Year 8 form have made a great contribution to some of New’s
successes. Katy Szymanska won “best model” in the Volcano Day competition.
On top of this, many of the Year 8’s have been regularly attending art club, run
by one of our Year 13 students, earning house points for their commitment and
efforts.
Year 10 have seen success in English, with Oliver Scorey winning the year’s Haiku
competition. Outside of school, Jacob Broadwood has impressively performed
in a theatre production at Gordon Craig Theatre.
Year 12 have begun their first year of A-Levels and have worked very hard in
making the house play competition a huge success for New - congratulations to
Rose Shepherd and Kitty Voss for directing the house’s entry of “Jack and the
Beanstalk” and winning the overall competition! It was a great effort from all of
the performers and it was great to see so many new Year 7s contributing to the
school already. A special mention should be given to Dawa Karko in 7N for
receiving the best newcomer award. A big thank you also to the students
supporting the performers on the evening.
Year 13 are very busy with their final year of A Levels and applying to university,
and 13N have had a number of very positive offers from top universities
including Leeds, Southampton and Nottingham. Aside from this, Gwilym Turner
has been very active as Music Ambassador and worked very hard to organise
and promote the recent Rock School concert.
We wish them the best of luck in their future endeavours.
We have all gone into the “New” Year ready for another great term and ready
to climb back up the house points table.
New House Captains
Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Parent Support Group
Dear Parents/Carers,
The mental health and emotional wellbeing is an ever increasing aspect of
children's lives that are impacting on them in so many ways. I am working with a
range of agencies, who are at their maximum capacity in terms of referrals.
Much of my work with students is focused primarily on a wide range of mental
health related problems and I have seen a considerable rise in concerns from
parents and carers. This can be anything from having an understanding of some
of the underlying problems or being able communicate with professionals. It is
with this in mind that I am planning to set up a parental help group, which will
meet on a fortnightly basis throughout the school year.
I am still in the early stages of planning but would be keen to share my thoughts
with parents and shape the support group around their needs. I plan to have an
initial meeting after half term, when I would like to meet with interested parties
to plan how we go forward.
I feel this is a great opportunity for us to work collaboratively on a key area of
impacting on the development of our children.
Please could email [email protected] by Friday 10th February if
you feel you would like to be part of the group and attend the first initial
planning meeting on Wednesday 1st March.
The group will meet on a Wednesday evening, between 6pm and 7.30pm.
I look forward to hearing from interested parents and carers.
Leon Brown
Director of Care and Wellbeing
Designated Senior Person For Child Protection
Parental Drug Awareness Workshop
Concerned that your knowledge about drugs and alcohol is limited or out of
date?
Then we would like to invite you to our Drug Awareness Workshop specially
designed for parents / carers at Simon Balle on Monday 6th February from
18:00 – 19:30 in the Larch Centre (primary phase building)
The workshop aims to:
Provide relevant, up-to-date information about alcohol, cannabis and legal
highs in a safe and familiar environment
Offer strategies for parents to have open conversations with their children
about drug and alcohol misuse
Promote ways parents can help children make positive, healthy choices.
As well as an interactive presentation and informal learning tasks, there will be
an opportunity to ask questions and find out where to go for more information
and support.
Please let us know if you are coming by emailing [email protected]
stating your child’s name and year group as well as the name of anyone
attending.
We look forward to welcoming you.
Please note this workshop is for parents/Carers only no
student should be in attendance.
Leon Brown
Director of Care and Wellbeing
Designated Senior Person For Child Protection
Spare time to help older people?
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