Spring is definitely in the air; with the evenings already getting lighter, it is benefiting many of our sporting fixtures. Our reputation for sport grows weekly with so many successes for a range of students in a variety of sports. Our year 8 girls’ football team need a special mention with their coach and manager Paul Carter. The success to become the last 8 has been documented in previous newsletters; the match against Queens School (Bushey) was always going to be a great challenge as Queens are perhaps the strongest team in the region. Our girls played incredibly well in this home match but unfortunately lost. However, we are so proud of the team- well done! Music too is blooming! The recent “Big Band” evening, which I unfortunately missed, proved to be a real treat. We have never received so many emails of congratulations from an event before, a selection of which can be read below. A big thank you to all involved. Our staff development day on Friday 18 will be delivering training on how to teach outstanding lessons, sharing good practice and materials. The school will be closed to students on that day. Governors Grapevine Let me introduce myself – I am Dr Viv Jones and I have been a Community Governor since 2007. I have two children at Simon Balle and I felt I could contribute to the Governing body of the school with both my experience working in the Higher Education Sector and my research background in Environmental Science and Geography. I am a member of the Environment and Community Committee where recently we have been working on issues of health and safety and also finding ways in which to make the school more sustainable. I also sit on the Attainments and Standards Committee which is concerned with monitoring and raising standards throughout the school. Should you wish to comment or make any suggestions, please email me at governors@simonballe.herts.sch.uk Dates for your 18 Feb 21-25 Feb 2 March 3 March 15 March 17 March 24 March 26 March 31 March & 1 April 8 April 11-25 April 26 April 29 April – 2 May 3 May
diary INSET Day, no school for students Half Term Gym & Dance Evening Yr 10 Parents Evening Spring Concert Broxbourne Yr 13 Parents Evening Yr 12 Parents Evening PSA ‘Auction of Promises’ House Performing Arts Competition End of Term Easter Holidays School resumes Bank Holiday Weekend School continues
Specialist Schools and Academies Trust We were very pleased this week to receive notification from the SSAT that Simon Balle School has successfully met the following criteria in their ‘high attainment’ category: • 65% or more 5+ A*-C results including GCSE English and Maths • 65% or more 2+A*-C results in science subjects and • 40% or more 1+ A*-C results in MFL A Selection from the many emails we have received after the Big Band evening: “Just to say how much my husband and myself enjoyed the Simon Balle Big Band Concert on Friday evening. The talent of these young people is outstanding, the enthusiasm and encouragement of the musical teaching staff should be applauded.” Cllr Brenda Haddock, Mayor of Hertford “I really enjoyed the evening and was very impressed with the performance. Such talent and maturity from your young performers.” Cllr. Edward Bedford, Mayor of Ware. “What a fantastic night! Congratulations to all involved in producing a concert of such staggering quality.” “Having only heard the band ‘in the distance’ I was very, very impressed with the live performance. I felt that the vocals were outstanding and that the whole band was extremely cohesive, and a credit to everyone. I went away with a real ‘buzz’ – a feeling that I’ve often experienced at Wembley concerts…but never in Hertford before!”