Newsbytes 10th september 2014 pnmc

THIS ISSUE: 10th September 2014 Dear Parents, Firstly a warm welcome back to Simon Balle and the Autumn Term, 2014- 2015. Whilst most of us have enjoyed a good five and a half weeks away, there have been so many activities to report on from the wider Simon Balle Community.

Summer school The Department for Education asks schools to run a summer school for targeted year 7 students. Five attended along with two of last year’s students who came as helpers. The week was a huge success with a variety of activities, including a study trip to Hertford museum, a visit to the library, maths and languages activities and working with our writer in residence.

The highlight of the week was the cookery day- not quite “the Great British bake off” but a triumph of cakes, a roast dinner, pancakes and smoothies!

Well done to all those students who showed that they will certainly become excellent ambassadors for Simon Balle.

Exam results There has been again so much publicity about examination results with warnings issued about how the results would “dip” due to the tightening up of the criteria. There was also the added complication that the Government announced on the Andrew Marr show (September 2013) that they had changed the regulations about how examination results would be published. Unusually we at Simon Balle had planned for a large group of our year 11 to sit their maths exam in November 2013, as this was the termination of their course. Quite rightly, we wanted them to be able to complete the course. However, this meant that for those students who wanted to sit and perhaps were not quite able to achieve a C, when they re-sat the linear exam this summer, it does not count in the school’s results.

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Summer School Exam Results Welcome to new staff Roofing Works The Ardeche Trip Music Tour PE Programme

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY: Tues 9th Sep 6.30pm

Y7 Meeting

Thurs 11th Sep 7.00pm

Y12 Expectations Evening

Thurs 18th Sep

Y13 Trip— Amaravti Monastry

Sat 20th Sep

Big Band at Wodson Park

Tues 23rd Sep 6.30pm

Y9 Expectation Evening

Sat 27th Sep

Open Morning

Mon 29th Sep

Inset Day

1st/2nd and 8th/9th Oct

Y9 History Trip to Belgium Battlefields

Mon 6th Oct 7.00pm

PSA AGM

Tues 7th Oct 7.00pm

Y7 Core learning Evening

Tues 14th Oct

Y11 Expectations Evening

Thurs 16th Oct

Y10 & 13 Theatre Trip

Thurs 23rd Oct 7.00pm

House Music and Classical Guitar Platform

Despite all of this turmoil (we like many schools saw the greatest turbulence with AS levels), students at Simon Balle made very good progress. Often the headlines (see press and our own website) focus upon the higher grades. However, for those students who perhaps found aspects difficult, but worked hard and diligently taking up the numerous offers from staff for additional support, they achieved their all time best. This is of course what counts and how we pride ourselves that our students are well prepared for their next steps.

Welcome to new staff We welcome our new staff. We wish them every happiness and success as they join the Simon Balle community.

Emily Robinson David Walsh

Maths Maths

Amy Wotton Nicola Kleanthous

Modern Languages Modern Languages

Nicola Gjoka Gibbard Lucy Owen Janice Mayo

Head of English English English

Natalie Searle Emma Ranade

Science (Chemistry) Science

Ayla Scullard

History

Tom Joyce

Physical Education

Jon Whitehouse Michael Tweed Sarah Chandler

Finance and Business Manager Site Manager Administrator Alison Saunders

Roofing works The contractors worked all through the summer finishing off the roof over science, staffroom, library, office, art and D&T – a big project. This weekend the scaffolding was removed and we can get back to normal‌for a while. We have funding which will allow us to replace the roofs in English, music, the gym and dining room. This work is scheduled to start towards the end of this term and should be completed by mid-February. This will mean that over the last 2 years every roof in the school has been replaced. This will have a direct impact on our heating bills and leaks will be a thing of the past. We would like to thank M&J, our contractors for providing an excellent service.

Madeleine Harman

The Ardeche This year’s trip was, again, fantastic and huge credit goes to the 85 pupils and 11 staff I had the privilege of taking. This year’s theme was Sporting Legends and our equipment was arm bands and rubber rings. Everyone embraced this, including the PGL staff, and much fun was had throughout the week; meal times were certainly entertaining……have you ever tried eating breakfast in a rubber ring and arm bands??

The first half of the trip took place in the Med’ where pupils took part in Sailing, Kayaking, Archery, Windsurfing and the ever so popular Banana Boat. Half a day was then spent at a water park before moving on to the mighty, mighty, Ardeche where we all undertook a 3 day descent of the Ardeche river in canoes.

Simon Balle has a huge reputation on this trip and this years’ pupils and staff did not let me down! It was heart warming to hear from the PGL staff that many had been given our school as a reward for their hard work throughout the season because being given Simon Balle School is seen as a privilege.

I have since had communication from staff in the Med which confirms this: ‘We all had an incredible few days with the legends of Simon Balle and no other group can quite meet your reputation!’

‘I hope you’ve had time to recover from an action-packed trip! Looking forward to next year already! Without a doubt, you have been the most fun and entertaining group I’ve been lucky enough to work with in 4 seasons with PGL, so huuuge thanks to you, the kids and all your colleagues.‘ Many many thanks, again, to all the pupils and staff for making this trip another success; next year sees the end of my Ardeche adventures as I am hanging up my watershoes after 16 years of running the trip ………….. watch out Year 10, it’s going to be emotional! - Nicky Traynor

Music Tour 2014 Fifty-six musicians from years 8 to 13 took part in a truly amazing music tour to Valkenburg and Ghent in July.

The rain followed us for two of our concerts which led to shortened performances but undampened spirits – they may not have been “Walking on Sunshine” but a torrential downpour didn’t stop our musicians. Saxidentals took the opportunity for an impromptu walkabout which became a hallmark of the tour. Our other two concerts were also brilliant. The teamwork, enthusiasm and professionalism of our musicians was inspiring.

For all, the highlight was the final concert in a prime evening slot at the Ghent Music Festival. Having performed at this festival twice before, we were invited back this year to perform in a 7.45pm concert. The square in Ghent was packed with over 4000 people watching the Big Band, Concert Band and Coro.

Over a hundred people joined in the conga and more than half the audience swung their arms to YMCA! It is no exaggeration to say that the venue, audience size and quality of music and sound was on the same scale as a stage at Glastonbury. Parents and friends came out to watch, former students as well. Wow! The memories that the musicians have of performing at this utterly amazing place will last them forever. The memories that I have, of the massive audience, joy, laughter, dancing and more will live with me. Most importantly, the outstanding music performed by our musicians should make everyone at Simon Balle proud. No other school is repeatedly asked back because of the high quality of its music and the professional attitude of its performers.

Mark Taylor Director of Music

…..finally “Have your children moved up to Y10?

If you have any green jumpers that you no longer need please donate them to the PSA 2nd hand uniform sale! Any donated items can be handed in to the school office—the PSA run 2nd hand stalls at all parents evenings throughout the year—items £1 each The PSA will be holding an informal evening for any parents that wish to join on Monday 22nd September in the library.

If you wish to attend please email psa@simonballepsa.org.uk

THE SIMON BALLE Sept - Oct ½ Term PE EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMME 2014

MONDAY

Lunch-time clubs 1:25pm - 2:05pm Tues 1:25pm – 1:50pm Y9-10 Girls Rugby (KA)

After school clubs 3:30pm-4:30pm Y7 & Y10 Netball (MR/HA)

Y9 Rugby (JP)

Y7 Football (TJ) Y8 Rugby (DB)

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY

Basketball (Y8 & 9) - Gym Senior Football (JP)

Y8 & 9 Netball (KA & LEJ)

Y7 & 8 Girls Rugby (KA)

Y9 Football (JP) Y7 Rugby (TJ) Girls Cricket - Gym

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Y9 Football (JP)

Swimming (KA)

Y10 Football (TJ)

Senior Netball (NJT & LEJ)

Y11 Football (DB)

Kick-Boxing – Gym (LB)

Y8 Football (DB)

Girls Football (PC) – All Years

Y7 Basketball - Gym

Rugby Y11 & Senior (DB & TO)

Privacy Notice - Data Protection Act 1998 We, Simon Balle School, are a data controller for the purposes of the Data Protection Act. We collect personal information from you and may receive information about you from your previous school and the Learning Records Service. We hold this personal data to:    

Support your learning; Monitor and report on your progress; Provide appropriate pastoral care, and Assess how well we are doing.

Information about you that we hold includes your contact details, national curriculum assessment results, attendance information1 and personal characteristics such as your ethnic group, any special educational needs you may have and relevant medical information. If you are enrolling for post 14 qualifications the Learning Records Service will give us your unique learner number (ULN) and may also give us details about your learning or qualifications.

In addition for Secondary and Middle deemed Secondary Schools Once you are aged 13 or over, we are required by law to pass on certain information to providers of youth support services in your area. This is the local authority support service for young people aged 13 to 19 in England. We must provide the names and addresses of you and your parent(s), and any further information relevant to the support services’ role.

However, if you are over 16, you (or your parent(s)) can ask that no information beyond names, addresses and your date of birth be passed to the support service. This right transfers to you on your 16th birthday. Please tell Mrs Salter, Database Manager, if you wish to opt out of this arrangement. For more information about young people’s services, please go to the National Careers Service page at https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/aboutus/Pages/default.aspx Some of the information you supply will be used by the Skills Funding Agency to fulfil its statutory functions, issue/verify your Unique Learner Number (ULN) and update/check your Personal Learning Record. The Skills Funding Agency may share your ULN and Personal Learning Record with other education related organisations, such as your careers service, school, college, university, Government Departments and public bodies responsible for funding your education.

Further details of how your information is processed and shared can be found https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lrs-privacy-notices

Other Institutions involved in collaborative delivery. Where secondary schools are involved in collaborative delivery with other schools / colleges and learning providers, pupil information may also be shared to aid the preparation of learning plans and use of data to achieve the objectives identified above.

We will not give information about you to anyone without your consent unless the law and our policies allow us to.

We are required by law to pass some information about you to our Local Authority (LA) and the Department for Education.

We are required by law to pass some information about you to the Department for Education (DfE) 1

Attendance information is NOT collected as part of the Censuses for the Department for Education for the following pupils / children - a) in Nursery schools; b) aged under 4 years in Maintained schools; c) in Alternative Provision; and d) in Early Years Settings. This footnote can be removed where Local Authorities collect such attendance information for their own specific purposes.

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and, in turn, this will be available for the use of the LA. If you want to receive a copy of the information about you that we hold or share, please contact Mrs Salter.

If you need more information about how the LA and DfE store and use your information, then please go to the following websites: http://www.hertsdirect.org/services/edlearn/privsch/ 2 or https://www.gov.uk/data-protection-how-we-collect-and-share-research-data

If you cannot access these websites, please contact the LA or DfE as follows: 

Data Protection Team Information Governance Unit Room C1 County Hall Pegs Lane Hertford SG13 8DQ email: data.protection@hertfordshire.gov.uk

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Public Communications Unit Department for Education Sanctuary Buildings Great Smith Street London SW1P 3BT Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education Email:

info@education.gsi.gov.uk

Telephone:

0370 000 2288

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Local Authority to provide a link to their website with information on uses they make of data and any other organisations they share data with. Ideally they should also provide an address where parents without internet access can write for information.

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SIMON BALLE MUSIC DEPARTMENT AT A GLANCE PERFORMANCES SAT 20TH SEPTEMBER SAT 27TH SEPTEMBER WEDS 15TH OCTOBER

THURS 16TH, FRI 17TH OCTOBER

THURS 23RD OCTOBER

MON 10TH NOVEMBER TUES 11TH NOVEMBER

MON 24TH NOVEMBER

TUES 25TH NOVEMBER

FRI 28TH NOVEMBER

TUES 2ND DECEMBER FRI 5TH DECEMBER SAT 13TH DECEMBER TUES 16TH DECEMBER WEDS 17TH DECEMBER

FRI 19TH DECEMBER

BIG BAND AT WODSON PARK OPEN MORNING DRUM RECITAL CLASSICAL GUITAR WORKSHOPS CLASSICAL GUITAR PLATFORM HOUSE MUSIC 7PM SAX QUARTET AT ROTARY MTG PIANO/KEYBOARD RECITAL FUNKY STRINGS MORNING

AUTUMN CONCERT – BROXBOURNE CIVIC HALL 7PM OCCASIONAL DAY BIG BAND – HERTFORD CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

ROCK GIG -­‐ CORN EXCHANGE TRINITY EXAMS TAKE NOTE CONCERT CAROL SERVICE 7PM CAROL SERVICE AM

AUTUMN TERM 2014 OTHER EVENTS

MON 1ST SEPTEMBER INSET 1

SAT 27TH SEPTEMBER OPEN MORNING

MON 29TH SEPTEMBER INSET 2

MON 27TH-­‐FRI 31ST OCTOBER HALF TERM

THURS 27TH NOVEMBER OCCASIONAL DAY 1 TH FRI 28 NOVEMBER OCCASIONAL DAY 2

THURS 4TH – FRI 19TH DECEMBER Y11 MOCKS

FUTURE DATES Thursday 12th February – Strings recital

Friday 3rd March – An evening with the Simon Balle Big Band

Saturday 28th March – A Spring Concert of Strings and Singing

Tuesday 7th July – A Grand Summer Concert

CONTACTS

LAST DAY OF TERM

Exam dates: Trinity – Friday 5TH December

music@simonballe.herts.sch.uk 01992 410408 (updated 05.09.1414)

SIMON BALLE MUSIC DEPARTMENT AT A GLANCE PERFORMANCES

SPRING TERM 2015 OTHER EVENTS

THURS 29TH JANUARY TRINITY ROCK & POP EXAMS

TH TUES 10 FEBRUARY AB EXAMS

THURS 12TH FEBRUARY STRINGS RECITAL

FRI 6TH MARCH AN EVENING WITH THE SIMON BALLE BIG BAND

MON 9TH MARCH CLASSICAL GUITAR WORKSHOPS

THURS 19TH MARCH CLASSICAL GUITAR PLATFORM 2

THURS 26TH MARCH TRINITY EXAMS ROCK GIG – CORN EXCHANGE

SAT 28TH MARCH A SPRING CONCERT OF STRINGS AND SINGING

THURS 15TH JANUARY

MON 16TH – FRI 20TH FEBRUARY

FRI 3RD APRIL

MON 6TH -­‐ FRI 17TH APRIL

CONTACTS

Exam dates: Trinity Rock and Pop – Thursday 29th January Associated Board - Tuesday 10th February Trinity – Thursday 26th March

Y11 PARENTS’ EVENING HALF TERM

BANK HOLIDAY EASTER HOLIDAY

FUTURE DATES

Tuesday 7th July – A Grand Summer Concert

music@simonballe.herts.sch.uk 01992 410408 (updated 05.09.14)

SIMON BALLE MUSIC DEPARTMENT AT A GLANCE PERFORMANCES SAT 25TH APRIL

TUES 23RD JUNE

THURS 25TH JUNE

TUES 30TH JUNE

THURS 2ND JULY

THURS 2ND JULY

TUES 7TH JULY

THURS 9TH JULY

WEDS 22ND JULY

TO MONDAY 27TH JULY

SUMMER TERM 2015 OTHER EVENTS

MON 4TH MAY

TUES 5TH MAY

TUES 5TH – FRI 8TH MAY

TUES 5TH – TUES 12TH MAY ART EXHIBITION

MON 25TH-­‐ FRI 29TH MAY SINGING EVENING

FRI 3RD JULY WIND AND BRASS WORKSHOP

A CONCERT OF WIND, BRASS AND PERCUSSION

PIANO & KEYBOARD RECITAL

CLASSICAL GUITAR PLATFORM 3 A GRAND SUMMER CONCERT

BANK HOLIDAY – MAY DAY INSET 4 Y7 TRIP TO OSMINGTON BAY Y10 EXAMS HALF TERM

INSET 5

FUTURE DATES

ROCK SCHOOL GIG MUSIC TOUR

Exam dates: Trinity Drums and Percussion – Weds 29th April Trinity Rock and Pop – Friday 26th June Trinity – Thurs 9th Fri 10th July Associated Board - Monday 13th July

CONTACTS music@simonballe.herts.sch.uk 01992 410408 (updated 05.09.14)