Simon Balle All-through School Newsletter Autumn Term
Friday 9th November
Message from the Headteacher Dear Families Welcome back after half term and I trust that most managed to have time to re-charge batteries. So many other Counties had half term a week earlier than Hertfordshire and I am aware that this has caused issues for some. However with an action packed half term ahead, the seven weeks will fly by. Please do take note of the dates below as we would like to see as many of you as possible at our events. Thank you to those families who have responded to past newsletters and who continue to send in donations. We are as ever very grateful. In addition we are always eager to hear from you if you would like to get you or your place of work involved either in our careers fair or come in as part of our learning for life programme with any of our children or young people.
Inside this issue: Library and Non – Uniform Day
2
Year Group News
3, 4, 5
Careers News
6-7
Christmas Lunch Info
8
PSA News
9-
Dates for your Diary
11
Stem Returners
12
We are still looking to recruit staff and also as part of the Alban Teaching Alliance, train future teachers. Please see our website for details. As I write this I am mindful of our preparations for our “Remembrance” service which will be held on Friday 9th November. We introduced this several years ago and it has come to be an important time for the community to gather. Whilst some of our children are too young, we ask for representatives from the Larch Centre to join us for readings, music and the laying of the wreaths. This year is obviously an important one; one hundred years since the Armistice. Our Year 9 students will once again visit the First World War Battlefields in March and many students learn of events in history lessons. Having just returned from Krakow and seen the horrors of Auschwitz, and having read of the awful recent killings in the United States of America, we as a school community continue to emphasise the importance of living well together and celebrating differences.
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Writing Challenge Awards Evening Well done to the following winners who will be given their prizes on Monday night at our special Writing Challenge Awards Evening. The judges were very impressed by the high standard of entries. Thanks to all of you who entered - House Points are on their way. Y2 Category Winners: Archie C and Grace M Highly Commended: Oliver J, Wally C, Amaya S Y3 Category Winner: Summer L Highly Commended: Harry O and Holly W Y7-8 Category Winner: Henrietta R Highly Commended: Ruby G and Orla W Y9-13 Category Winners: Ruby-Leigh S and Lucie W Book Week We will be celebrating Book Week from Monday 12th November - Tuesday 20th November. There will be lots going on including a number of authors coming in to speak to different year groups and the Browns Book Bus which will be on site on Monday 19th November.
Non Uniform - Friday 16th November CHILDREN IN NEED Children in Need is the BBC’s UK charity. Since 1980 it has raised over £900m to change the lives of disabled children and young people in the UK. The charity funds over 2,600 projects 365 days of the year. We would encourage students to bring a minimum of £2.00 to support this very worthwhile charity. Students should dress sensibly and not wear anything which may be deemed inappropriate. Those who come to school dressed inappropriately may be sent home to change. Mike Moss Deputy Head
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Year 7 Year 7 have now completed their first half term at SBAS. They are settled, getting into good routines and habits and are enhancing their independence and confidence each day. Moving forward the tutor team and I will be encouraging students to try out some different clubs and get involved in the wider SBS community. This half term, we will be focusing on motivation, organisation and presentation skills. Students will be receiving their PGL certificates this week to acknowledge their teamwork, determination and enthusiasm on their first residential trip at Simon Balle. Autumn Term 1 reports will be sent soon, giving you the opportunity to discuss the progress your child has made during the first half term with them. We will also be carrying out some work in school, where students will set themselves SMART targets based on the feedback from their report to aid their progress. For Year 7, this report contains attitude to learning marks for each subject on: effort, organisation, engagement and homework. It will also contain a form tutor character report. We really do value the triangulation between students, staff and parents, so please do not hesitate to contact your students form tutor or myself about any feedback you may have regarding the transition process. We are constantly striving to improve to enhance the progress our students make. Well done to the students named below for being awarded student of the week in the last two weeks before we broke up for half term. The following students have had certificates and house points given; William C, Olivia L, Thomas K, Jesse D, Floyd F, Isabel P, Samuel J, Libby H, Kieran F, Luke H, Oliver S and Ilan G. Over the next few week, students will be writing about their experiences here at Simon Balle so far, so please look out for these in the upcoming newsletters.
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Year 8 A big well done to all the Year 8 super students so far this year; Ella C, Harry B, Timothy H, Peter F, Nicole W, Isabella B, Sophie H, Tatiana F, Zak D, Jennifer P, Niamh S and Saffia M. Year 8 have recently been studying tectonic hazards in Geography and as a part of their homework over half term, they were given the task of creating a volcano. Students had the choice of making a volcano cake, making a model, creating a piece of art work or demonstrating a volcanic explosion. Over 180 fantastic creations were submitted and the standard of the work was very high. There was a big range in creativity from volcano pencil pots and lego models to pop art and even a volcanic dress design. The overall winner of this years competition was Marie T-H who created an outstanding volcanic pillow which had the structure of a volcano stitched onto it. Well done year 8 the display of all 180 volcanoes in the hall was breathtaking and some students had clearly made a tremendous effort. Once again I was very proud of the year group. Well done! Year 9 Congratulations to the Year 9 students of the month for October: Alex W, Jack S, Juliet C, Harry B, Cassius R, Jenna D Isaac W and Caitlin W. I would like to remind all Year 9 parents that reports will be issued shortly; please take some time to read these and discuss them with your son or daughter. You will notice that we have made some changes to the Attitude to Learning grades, as we now have four separate strands in which students are assessed; we hope that you will find these more informative. Letters inviting you to the Year 9 Parents' Evening on Wednesday, 12th December will be sent out shortly. I would be grateful if you could reply promptly and encourage your child to begin making appointments as soon as possible. Attendance at parents' evening is crucial for monitoring progress and attitude to learning and providing support in this crucial year when students begin GCSE courses and engage in the preferences process. Thank you for your continued support,
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Year 10 The Year 10s finished a brilliant first half term with a 5-a-side Boys Football Tournament which was played in fantastic spirit and cheered on by nearly 100 other Year 10s. It was a pleasure to watch the Year group unite like this and also show patience with my refereeing skills - I do think there is any danger of a career move for me! Beane were the overall winners and a special mention must be given to Luke R for his leadership and performance throughout. They have taken this verve and energy into this half term with an excellent performance by the drama group at Hertford Theatre this week. The performance was sensational and a joy to watch. The group did the school, their director, Ms Green, and the school proud. This half term our focus is Giving and Direction. We will be working on the importance of giving back to others, in a variety of ways, and the power you hold as a individual to have a positive impact on others around you. The Year group have already thrown themselves into this with gusto as we have had a vast array of volunteers that have done this in a range of ways: reading with younger students, buddying up with Year 7 Forms, taking care of our environment by litter picking. The next few weeks will see us explore many options to do this and hopefully build links with the wider community too. The Direction element will see the students use the school reports to set targets for the run up to Christmas and ensure they are actively engaging with feedback and ways to progress at this critical point in their education. Please look out for the reports, along with the Parental Guidance Document, to help support them as they do this. Year 11 With mock exams on the horizon Year 11 have been continuing to focus their energy on revision. Over the past 3 days 150 students have been recorded as attending one of the many revision session that have set up by staff. Well done to all of the students who are taking ownership of their learning. In learning for life we are continuing to develop metacognition using the memory clock to recall content from Yr9, 10 and 11. The historians of the year group attended a trip to London to support their studies and developed their understanding of Whitechapel and Jack the Ripper. Congratulations to last months students of the month Daniel C and Harry B. Both boys achieved 24 house points each across a variety of subjects for excellent work ethic as well as attending extra curricula sports, supporting KS2 students and revision sessions.
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Careers News & Updates Please see a wide range of opportunities below, if you have any questions or require further information please see or contact Mr. Brennan on brennand@simonballe.herts.sch.uk Sixth form Students – Please complete Mr Brennan’s questionnaire as soon as possible. This will enable me to provide you with specific career opportunities in your preferred area when they arise. Work experience opportunities at GSK – Closing date 16th Nov – If interested apply now by following the link below. http://uk.gsk.com/en-gb/careers/school-work-experience/ Aviva investment opportunities “If you are interested in starting your career next September, you are looking in the right place.” Aviva have opened their applications to their Investment20/20 Trainee Programme. There are opportunities in a range of departments. Interested? You will gain industry knowledge, experience and develop relationships enabling you to progress your career and provide you with skills to secure a permanent job, either with us or with another industry firm. You will gain experience across one or more of the following teams: - Operations - Trading - Controls - Transformation/Project Management -Technology & IT
Closing Date: 8th December 2018 Assessment centre will take place between January and February 2019 Start Date: 9th September 2019
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WSP, an international engineering design consultancy opportunities If interested in a applying for an apprenticeship at the above company please go to the following website – http://www.wsp-pb.com/en/WSP-UK/careers/What-we-offer/Early-career/ Apprenticeships-/? utm_source=vanity_url&utm_medium=offline_media&utm_campaign=apprentices hips_uk_2018 If you would like anymore information please e-mail Mr Brennan. Interested in becoming a Pilot? Event for young people interested in in training to become a pilot or air traffic controller, please go to the following link and register for this exciting event; https://www.pilotcareernews.com/live/london/ Interested in Engineering? On Wednesday ‘The big engineering assembly’ took place online – if you would like to find out more about opportunities in engineering please go to the following link; https://www.tomorrowsengineers.org.uk/tomorrows-engineers-week-2018/the-big -assembly/ NCH Essay writing competition Year 12 Essay competition with prizes up to £2000, if interested please go to the following site below for more information from the National College of Humanities https://www.nchlondon.ac.uk/2018/01/11/nch-london-essay-competition-awards/
IBM School Leaver Opportunities: https://www-05.ibm.com/employment/uk-en/ school_leaver.html
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CHRISTMAS LUNCH Thursday 20th DECEMBER 2018 Ticket ÂŁ4.00
The lunch will be a traditional two course Christmas lunch. A vegetarian option is also available. Tickets must be bought in advance, ideally via Parent Pay, however there will be some tickets available to buy with cash at the front office. They will be available from: Monday 19th November to Friday 7th December. Please indicate whether a traditional or vegetarian meal is required. We look forward to seeing all our students (Reception to Year 13) Please note that there will be no other food served and no food at break. Christmas lunch must be pre-booked. Students in Reception, Y1 and Y2 do not need to buy a ticket.
SIMON BALLE ALL-THROUGH SCHOOL
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PSA News Next PSA Meeting—Monday 19th November 7-9pm in IT2 Frost Fair Raffle Tickets The PSA will be selling raffle tickets for the Frost Fair (Saturday 1st December 1-4pm) at the Year 8 Parents Evening and the autumn concert. Tickets are £1 each and come in books of 5. Prizes include Afternoon tea at Down Hall, a Google Home, hampers and many more! Prize list available at www.simonballepsa.org.uk (draw date: Saturday 1st December, 3:30pm—The Larch Centre) We are looking for parent helpers from BOTH secondary AND primary phases to assist with the Frost Fair. Funds raised at this event will benefit the entire all-through community, helpers from BOTH phases would be greatly appreciated. Your child(ren) are welcome to accompany you during your slot. The fair runs from 1-4pm and we also need helpers before doors open and close to aid set up and clear away. Shortly, secondary phase students will be invited to volunteer. Please email penny@simonballepsa.org.uk indicating your availability. PSA Donations to School The Parent and Staff Association were delighted to present Mrs Saunders, with a generous £15,000 cheque at their AGM in October. We have been working very hard to fundraise this money and thank all the parents, staff, students and businesses that have helped make this happen. The donation will go towards refurbishment of the swimming pool. We are already discussing with Mrs Saunders what the school needs for our next project donation. In the academic year 2017/ 18, the PSA donated £5,000 towards the lease of one of the minibuses, helped pay for a group of Year 10 students to take part in the Big Bang Science competition in Birmingham and provided some treats to make the Year 11 Leavers Awards Party a memorable event for them. We couldn't do this without the time our supporters donate in one way or another. A big thank you goes to all of them.
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PSA News PSA AGM At our AGM held on 22nd October we sadly said goodbye to our Treasurer Nicola Irons who has helped us enormously for the last 5 years. We warmly welcome Rebecca Pirt as our incoming Treasurer. Also stepping aside was longstanding member and Vice Chair, Sharon Jones who made way for Sarah Holzbauer to step up as Vice Chair, but luckily for us, Sharon remains on the Committee. Our other re elected Committee members were Clare Stokes (as Chair), Ali Mackie (as Secretary), Jana Veryard , Janice Lucas, Jo Duggan, Penny Lafferty and Sandra Rumbold.
Take Note (adult) Choir Concert Bar and Refreshments, Saturday 15th December, Main School Hall Helpers needed at various times. We need Helpers please to - purchase drinks and snacks a few days beforehand (we will give you a shopping list and pay you back of course!). You get to keep the Clubcard points! - from 2 - 3:30 pm on 15th, stock up our fridge with chilled drinks, set up a few tables as our bar, put out glasses, bottles of beer and snacks and display a raffle prize - from 6:30 pm serve at bar, and interval. - sell some raffle Tickets to the audience - tidy up and pack away - take a tray of glasses home to wash and return to school during the following week - help count the money in the following few days. It's not a lot to do if there's a group of us. But we need YOU to help make up a group. It's a lovely small event and a nice introduction to volunteering work with the PSA if you haven't done so already. If you can help in our friendly team, please email us with your mobile number and what part you could help with. psa@simonballepsa.org.uk
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Statutory Admissions Consultation 2020/2021 We are holding a consultation on our Admission Arrangements for 2020/2021. The consultation period takes place between 19th November 2018 and 6th January 2019. If you wish to make any comments regarding this consultation please email admin@simonballe.herts.sch.uk. The admission arrangements can be found on the school website.
Dates for your diary Tuesday 13th November - Autumn Concert
Thursday 6th December - Larch Open Evening
Wednesday 14th November - Y8 Parents Evening
Wednesday 12th December - Y9 Parents Evening
Wednesday 14th - Friday 16th - Y12 Geography Trip
Wednesday 19th December - Carol Service 7pm
Friday 16th November - Non-uniform Day (Children in Need)
Thursday 20th December - Carol Service -Christmas Lunch
Monday 19th November —Larch Open Morning
Friday 21st December—End of Term (Early finish, more details to follow)
Wednesday 21st November - Y8 Girls HPV injections - 6th Form Open Evening
Monday 7th January - Term Starts
Friday 23rd November - Occasional Day 1
Thursday 17th January - Year 11 Parents Evening
Monday 26th November - Occasional Day 2
Monday 4th February—Y7 Trip to Bletchley Park
Friday 30th November - Larch Open Morning
Tuesday 12th February - Y10 Parents and Students exam prep talk
Saturday 1st December - Frost Fair Thursday 6th December - Larch Open Evening
Wednesday 13th February - Y13 Parents Evening Friday 15th February - INSET: School closed for students Monday 18th– Friday 22nd February - Half Term
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STEM Returners programme running in Hertfordshire with ACE Lifts
Have you taken a career break from an engineering or a technical sector and wish to return? Are you working below your experience in a different sector? Do you have an engineering or technical degree that you aren’t using? Do you just wish to transfer sectors but don’t have any experience? If so this could be the opportunity for you! We are currently sourcing candidates for the ACE Lifts ‘STEM Returners’ programme, a 13 week, fully paid and supported return to work programme starting in February 2019 in Watford. All candidates will also have the opportunity to obtain a permanent role at the end of the programme. No career break is too long, register to return to STEM today! For more information please visitwww.stemreturners.com or email hello@stemreturners.com.
More information on the programme is also available here: https:// www.stemreturners.com/2018/11/07/engineering-returners-given-lift-watford-thankslocal-employer-ace-lifts/
Natalie Desty Director 01794 336194 07850766392 www.stemreturners.com
Hertfordshire Get Into Teaching Events 2018 At Teach in Herts (managed by Herts for Learning), we work on behalf of over 525 Hertfordshire shareholding schools to raise the profile of our job search website on which schools can manage all of their school vacancies. Encouraging people to career change in to teaching is a vital part of our work and we would like you and your extended family and friends to support us in getting the word out about our two new Get Into Teaching events which precede our Teacher Recruitment Jobs Fairs in 2019. Individuals can meet teaching school and university training providers face to face for an informal discussion. This event is also suitable for those interested in teaching as their first career or are considering a career change in to teaching. Attached with this message is a flyer and further information can be found on our Teacher Recruitment Events pages along with a link for delegates to book on to each one of the events. To register for either of the events please click on the correct link below:
Hertfordshire Get Into Teaching Event – Saturday 10th November 9:30am – 1:00pm Location: Parmiter’s School, High Elms Lane, Watford, WD25 0UU Complete this delegate booking form to reserve your place Hertfordshire Get Into Teaching Event – Saturday 19th January 9:30am – 1:00pm Location: Fearnhill School, Icknield Way West, Letchworth, SG6 4BA Complete this delegate booking form to reserve your place We will also send you a reminder just before the fair you book on to so that you don’t miss out on the day. There are FAQs for each individual event on the Recruitment Fair event pages to provide you with more information. Save the dates for Hertfordshire Teacher Recruitment Fairs coming in 2019 further information to follow.
Best wishes, Anne Taylor Head of Recruitment Services Teach in Herts, Herts for Learning Ltd.