SIMON BALLE
CONNECT-ED
LETTER FROM THE HEAD:
Alison Saunders writes about the importance of Simon Balle’s Alumni.
It is with deep pride, that I write these words for this, our Alumni newsletter. The message is that Simon Balle goes from strength to strength! As Head I often wonder about what happens to our students once they leave us. The school will soon be 60 years old, and it is frightening to think of how many students bearing the Simon Balle hallmark have gone out into the wider world in the mere 16 years since I took up post! Every so often, however, we meet them, hear from them, or our paths cross. A number of past students work in the school; some of them are now parents of students at school; others work locally or write in. So the natural step was to set up an “Alumni or Friends” site to allow us to keep in contact with those people, and hopefully once more share our talents and skills for the greater good of the community. A few years ago, we spent a lot of time trying to capture our vision and values. Of course, we started our thoughts with the students – yes, you! We put into words what the community already knows about the school and how we see our role as developing “whole people” and not just acting as an exam factory. What fills me with great pride is that when I look at the Alumni list and see what you are all doing now,
I see you represent our visions and values so well. A great deal of you are building upon the interests and skills that you showed at school and using them to make a real difference to the communities around you.Lawyers, doctors, nurses, teachers, IT consultants, designers, event managers, journalists, lecturers, musicians, artists, therapists,managers and leaders - the list is endless.
Simon Balle students will be confident but not arrogant, have a sense of self worth and feel empowered to make decisions and be self-managers.” Please come and actively join us! Every little helps! I look forward to hearing from you!!
“Students were keen to make a difference” - OFSTED During our recent Ofsted Inspection , Inspectors spoke of how “Students were keen to make a difference” to the world around them. As a school we want our students to be successful in every way and we believe that our past students have something very special that they can do to help to make that happen.
PAGE 3: What might have happened to the three storey block during our first term?
We need you if we are to get nearer to achieving our vision. We do hope that as you read this you will recognize something very close to your own experiences! “The Simon Balle Student is a young person who when they leave will have had a fantastic educational experience. They will have achieved the highest possible grades and will be able to go out into the global world with the skills, attributes and behaviours for successful twenty-first century living. Our students will be resourceful, resilient, and able to accept others for who they are. They will be happy people; creative in their thinking, respectful and responsible in their actions.
PAGE 3: Read about our first annual open morning.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT:
After 30 years away from Simon Balle, Barry Crane revisits his memories of school
Who are you? My name is Barry Crane and I am currently working in Kabul, Afghanistan running a Risk Management project for a communications company. When did you attend Simon Balle School? I attended Simon Balle School between 1979 and 1983 whereupon I joined the military for a 25 year career. I left the military in 2008 and emigrated to Canada with my family. At school I was an athlete first and academic second! What were your favourite subjects? My favourite lessons were PE with Les ROCKET and Martin LYNCH as the teachers. If I were pushed I would say that History was my favourite lesson and I am still interested in it to this day. What was your fondest memory from school? I have to be frank and state that I cannot recall a ‘fondest memory’ from my time at SBS; not because I did not enjoy it but purely that I was in a rush to leave at 16 and join the military. I had passed all my tests and was impatient to move on. If I had to make a decision , school sports days and winning the 1500m would be the closest to a fondest memory.
MR BRINICOMBE,
former student and English teacher, is interviewed by Sam Willis
I interviewed Mr Brinicombe as the now teacher and former student. He said the main difference was the library; when he was here it was set out differently and using the now popular computers used to be classed as nerdy, as was the library. Another change was he said that the sixth form is now much better and also much smarter dressed. Now he teaches English in the same school in which he was taught his favourite subject, English. A lot of teachers who have been here a while have had
What advice would you give to your student-self? Due to my decision to enlist in the military I took the subjects that were recommended by the army recruiting centre, (Maths, English and a Science) and I did not give much thought to a backup plan – if I had failed in my military selection I would have been fairly stymied as I had not planned for anything else; if I was 16 again sat at my desk in detention I would definitely have a plan B… it’s common sense and has served me well over my adult years.
“it is increasingly apparent that students have a lot more chances than when I attended” How has the world changed since your time at Simon Balle? As I look back over the 30 years since I left SBS it is increasingly apparent that students have a lot more chances than when I attended school; it seemed that after year 2 at SBS, people were pretty well set. The ‘clever’ ones were groomed for 6th form and the remainder were groomed for industry, (or unemployment – it was the 80s after all!). I am currently embarking on a Masters program as my industry is increasingly reliant on qualifications versus field experience – and I am relishing my chance at getting back into academia after all these years. It seems that as you get older you want to educate yourself and have more patience for learning – if only it was the other way around, I may have been a much better student during my time at SBS! In three words, sum up the qualities of the Simon Balle student? I would not dare to describe the qualities of modern day students at SBS but I can say that 3 words would sum me up at 16: impatient, immature and confident! experience of Mr. Brinicombe ‘the pupil’ and now work alongside him as a teacher. One massive change he has noticed since he joined was the lack of textbooks. For instance when he did English at Simon Balle he used textbooks often, yet now, while I have been at Simon Balle I have not used a text book in English. Another change he commented on is the music department: although people did do musical instruments it was not so much looked upon as a thing the school encouraged people to do. Also the rewards of learning a musical instrument has changed as concerts were less frequent and performed-in as they are now. Even in Music lessons, high-tech computers using flashy, new music software wasn’t available, meaning that the students’ songs weren’t as high quality. Some aspects of Simon Balle school life have not changed, however – sometimes less is more, as they say.
IN PICTURES: THREE STOREY BLOCK RENOVATION vvvvv
BEFORE
DURING
The iconic ‘three storey block’ which has been a centrepiece of Simon Balle School since its construction underwent an extensive refurbishment at the start of this academic year. With an all new, double-glazed exterior and brighter, airer classrooms, the building is now a considerably more modern learning space.
OPEN MORNING: Year 9 student
Alex Willis passionately recounts the first Saturday ‘open morning’
AFTER
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
It has always been a veritable thrill taking part in the Open days for me, because I feel it is my duty to secure the next generation of Simon Balle students. I really enjoy summing up all that is brilliant about this school and showing them round a variety of colourful departments.
Head Teacher’s speech in full swing This year was a little bit different. Unlike previous years where we had open evenings over two nights, this year we had our annual jolly on Saturday 28th September. The event went on between the much more sociable hours of 9am and 1pm and
“It has always been a veritable thrill taking part in the Open days” headteacher Mrs Saunders gave three speeches over the course of the day (which meant that the usually brimming hall was less crowded for the visiting parents and children!). Personally, I started off on some Head of House duties but then I became a chirpy little tour guide.
I think this was arguably the best Open day (or night) out of the 3 I have been involved in so far as the school’s senior teachers made the most of the daylight and sunshine. Visitors were taken to a marquee which was just opposite some jolly music put on by Mr Taylor’s troops. It was here that they were given a guide and proceeded to be taken around our wonderful school. I also heard the speeches were superb, so well done to everyone that was involved in this special day on the school calendar.
CONTACT US If you, or someone you know, wants to be involved in a future issue of Simon Balle Connect-ed, please get in touch at the details below. If you have any other questions or suggestions about the content of feature issues, we would love to hear from you. journalism@simonballe.herts.sch.uk
As is the case each term, we are exceptionally busy – with extracurricular activities being held both inside and out of the school day. Here is a taster of what you could sample during this spring term: Monday 27th January Holocaust Memorial Day ~ Friday 7th March Big Band Concert ~ Thursday 20th March House Play performances ~ Friday 21st March Sport Relief Day ~ Saturday 29th March String & Singing Concert
IN PERSPECTIVE: The new tartan kilt is currently worn by students in Years 7 and 10, as modelled by two students here. There are hopes that every Year group will wear the skirt in the foreseeable future.
NEW SCHOOL KILTS: Deputy
heads Mr Moss and Ms Ellis tell us what they think of the latest change to Simon Balle’s uniform.
Throughout the country and throughout the world, each school has their own personality. Simon Balle shows its personality is through pride and individuality in the school uniform. The newest entry to our school uniform is the tartan kilt which repalces the old black skirt. Overall there was a large contribution from parents and students towards the decision to change to the kilts; the process lasted about 7 months. The school worked with Stevensons uniform shop who brought prototypes for the school to look at. To find out a little more about the ideas behind the kilt we asked Mr Moss and Ms Ellis (Deputy Heads) a few questions. The first question we asked was why the choice was made to change the school uniform. Mr Moss answered us saying that the new kilt was introduced to create a better image for the school; a smarter image as such. He then went on to say that one of the other reasons the kilt was introduced was so that all the girls would be wearing the same thing a “uniform, uniform”. Ms Ellis then
added that it was to also to create a distinction between us and other schools and to give us a bolder character. Next we asked why the change was needed. We drove straight in with the topic of girls rolling their skirts to make them shorter. Mr Moss assured us that the change of the skirts was so that they would look smarter, stating that everything can be rolled and that at the ages in which students are, we will always try to push and break rules. Ms Ellis, however, told us that the aim of the kilts was to both prevent the girls from rolling them and to look smarter. She also then added that to her skirts look “scruffy” when they are rolled. But are they happy with the way the kilts turned out? Both Mr Moss and Ms Ellis answered with a resounding “yes”. Ms Ellis then went on to say they look “fabulous. We heard that there had been good comments from parents about the change and Ms Ellis told us that she thinks the kilts look smart and go well with both jumpers. Both members of staff assured us of the influence the school council had on the change as well as parents and by respected members of the community. They told us that they believe a uniform gives a work ethic to the school and prepares students for later life when they will have to wear smart business clothes. The uniform will always be under review at Simon Balle and it is hoped that students will pay respect to the change and wear it properly.
HOW CAN YOU HELP? Headteacher, Alison Sauders, asks: can you, or someone you know... •
Come into school to talk about your life or career?
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Offer a work experience placement?
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Be available to share your experiences online?
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Mentor or coach one of our current students?
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Sponsor a student or a current project?
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Attend school concerts, plays e.t.c
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Donate your expertise or time as part of a fundraising evente.g. the annual online auction of promises, the annual fun run?
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Donate prizes or awards?
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Come in and be part of a l ecture series or part of our weekly “Speakers Corner”
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Work with a department or donate resources?
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Coach a sports team?
BOOK WEEK:
Oliver Murphy recounts another impressive library event. For the second year running Book Week has been successful and popular among students. A range of authors like Dan Freedman, Anne Cassidy and Wendy Cope visited Simon Balle to tell exhilarating stories about being an author and a writer. Students were in and out of the library to purchase books and listen to authors’ speeches. Book Week gives students an opportunity to hear first-hand accounts of writing books and to be able to read a range of books, so after a successful week I am sure the library will soon be preparing for the next annual Book Week.