THIS ISSUE:
30th January 2015 This week has been “Challenge” week at Simon Balle and hopefully you have not only read about how teachers have set challenges within lessons but that the students themselves have relayed examples to you at home. Obviously as teachers we try and challenge our students all the time, but what we have tried to do is to think very carefully about the level of challenge and build in the expectation that to struggle and fail is in fact good news. It is, of course, in overcoming problems and finding solutions that we grow as learners. My year 7s were given the challenge of planning, cooking and preparing an ambitious cooked breakfast to include the hob, oven, electrical equipment, fruit, vegetables, you name it all. They had an hour! It was great to not only see the variety (muffins, traditional pancakes, hotcakes, smoothies, baked eggs, fried breakfast etc) but also the presentation and skills. We are all very familiar with the concepts of reading, spelling and numeracy ages, but an article I was reading mentioned the idea of a “cooking age”. Talking with others schools, I really believe that our students are not typical in their level of skill and that by promoting high expectations, creating a passion and enthusiasm for cooking and using skill development, their “cooking” ages are far beyond age expectation! This is indeed an important skill for life. The newsletter as usual will give you a flavour of so much that is happening and all of this is only possible with your great support and commitment. So, a big thank you!
Introduction Non Uniform Day Year 7 Castle Competition Holocaust Memorial Day Freddie Knoller Hertfordshire Memorial Day Year 9 Options Challenge Week Science Update Smartcards and ParentPay ICT Support for Primary Schools MFL Young Leaders Library News Music PE PSA news UniFest DATES FOR YOUR DIARY: Term Dates Spring Term : Half Term :
Summer Term : 20th Apr to 22nd Jul Half Term : 25th-29th May February Mon 2nd to Fri 6th :
Year 12 exams
Fri 6th :
Non-uniform day
Wed 11th :
Year 7 Humanities trip
Thurs 12th :
String Recitals and UCAS talk at 7pm
Wed 25th :
Year 10 Art Trip
Thurs 26th:
Year 13 RE Trip and Year 13 Parents Evening
March Mon 2nd :
Alison Saunders Non Uniform Days As usual there are two non-uniform days this term. Our first will be held on Friday 6th February in aid of cancer charities Our second non-uniform day will be on Red Nose Day on Friday 13th March.
5th Jan to 2nd April 16th-20th Feb
Full Governing Body Meeting at 7pm
Thurs 5th :
Year 12 Parents Evening
Fri 6th :
Big Band Evening at 7.45pm
Thurs 12-14th :
Year 13 Geography Trip
Fri 13th :
Non Uniform Day