Simon Balle All-through School Newsletter Summer term
21/06/2019
Message from the Headteacher The role of Headteacher is an amazingly varied job and one that I continue to really enjoy. Whilst able to recognise the “ebb and flow” of the calendar, each day brings variation and challenges to solve. Since returning after the May half term, this has been no exception.
Inside this issue: Headteachers Message
1-2
Sport and PE News 3-4 Music Lesson Fees
5
Charity Day update 5 Change of Date
5
PSA News
6-7
Dates for your diary
7
The exam season is almost over and as an all-through school this continues to increase with phonics testing and KS1 SATS, and looking ahead next year to multiplication tables and finally KS2 SATS. GCSEs for Year11 have gone smoothly and students have stepped up to the challenge. With an average timetable of 28 hours of testing, at a cost to the school of £375, this is a large machine, with A levels added. A huge thank you to Debbie Fitzgerald and Miles Carr who only took up post as Examinations Officers in March, they have worked tirelessly to ensure that all students, primary and secondary are able to do well. Thanks also to our great army of exam invigilators. Alongside the exams learning continues and it is a real privilege to visit lessons and talk to children about their learning. This week I have seen some Year 9 students mastering simultaneous equations and Year 2, acting out the Jewish story of Esther. The Year 1 trip to Hatfield House was another highlight, whereby they met Henry VIII (not sure he ever lived there even though his children did!) and enjoyed the Tudor experience. The afternoon had a focus on the farm and the grounds. The children were so curious, proud of their knowledge and actively promoted the Simon Balle ethos.
PAGE 2
SIMON BALLE ALL-THROUGH SCHOOL
Sport continues to be a big focus this month and next with sports days and county matches and leagues. Music and art also have their events and we hope you will join us. Please do come along to the “Taste of Summer”, Simon Balle Allthrough school’s summer fete on Saturday July 6th, from 1-4pm. We need your support and all monies raised will go towards our next big project of a community hall. More will be said about this in September prior to our Fun Run - our annual fundraising for the entire school. Whilst formal ‘thank yous’ and good byes will be said in the final newsletter, may I take this opportunity to thank Henry Mead as he leaves us after being a successful teaching Assistant and trainee teacher. Henry has been part of the all-through school, working in the Larch centre but also supporting with secondary events. We wish him success in his new post. Finally, parents may be aware of the change of provider for our pre- school and wrap around care. The new company Busy Lizzies are recruiting staff. Please also check our school website as we continue to advertise posts.
PAGE 3
SIMON BALLE ALL-THROUGH SCHOOL
PE and Sport News County Championship On Saturday a strong contingent of Simon Balle athletes completed at the annual Herts track and field championships at Jarman Park, Hemel. Performances of the day came from Trixie, Callum and Jess . Trixie ran a strong 800m race, running the first lap in 63secs and opening a big gap winning by 4secs to become County Champion and book her place on the bus to the English Schools. Callum won his 100m Hurdles heat, and in doing so qualified for the final. There he met a strong field, however came through to pick up the bronze medal. Jess ran well to make the Junior Hurdles final, finishing 5th overall. Well done to all athletes who competed in some tough conditions.
Y10 Sports Leadership Programme We have now completed our Y10 sports leadership programme, where over 160 year 10 students have delivered sports activities across 4 to 5 primary schools to students from Year 1 up to Year 6 over the past 2 to 3 months. We have witnessed a great standard of leadership across the year group.
PAGE 4
SIMON BALLE ALL-THROUGH SCHOOL
County League Athletics We have now completed all 6 rounds of the Herts Athletics league, and as it stands we are in with a very good chance of 3 out of 4 teams qualifying for the County finals on Monday 1st July at Jarman Park, Hemel. English Schools Athletics Trixie W in Y11 has qualified for the English Schools 800m which take place on the 12th/13th July in Birmingham. Trixie is also competing this weekend at the National U20 championships
Cricket Our Y7 Girls team finished 2nd in the County on Tuesday qualifying for the Regionals, a big congratulations to the girls.
Tennis On Monday 24th June we have 4 teams (U13 Boys, U14 Boys, U15 Boys & U15 Girls) competing in the County Tennis Championships at Queenswood (From 1pm onwards) as a consequence of the aforementioned becoming District Champions last Friday. We also continue to compete strongly in the County Tennis league against teams of the calibre of Berkhampsted, Beaumont and Queenswood.
PAGE 5
SIMON BALLE ALL-THROUGH SCHOOL
Music Lessons Fees from September 2019 From September 2019 music lesson fees will be as follows, please note that we do not make any money on music lessons, the increase in fees is solely down to increases in the price we pay for music teachers. · 11 x 20 minute lessons - £161 per term · 11 x 30 minute lessons - £231 per term · 10 x Primary lessons (Year 2 onwards, includes ensembles) - £100 · 10 x Primary lessons (Year 1 only) - £85 · Instrument hire - £30 per term Please email us with any queries at music@simonballe.herts.sch.uk The music department
Charity day update. Parent pay has been set up for contributions to Teens Unite. On Friday 28th June, we are asking all students to support the charity Teens Unite by bringing a minimum of £2 which will be collected at the beginning of lesson 1. Please note- this is an ordinary school day with usual uniform worn. Supporting and thinking about others without personal gain is a serious business and so the emphasis is upon education and giving.
Change of date Please note for next year that the May bank holiday has been changed from MONDAY 4th to FRIDAY 8th May to commemorate VE day.
SUMMER TERM
PAGE 6
PSA News East Herts Lottery The Parent and Staff Association (PSA) are now helping the school to start raising funds for a proposed New Hall for All. This PSA project has been accepted as a good community cause by the newly launched East Herts Lottery. Please help us to provide a much needed new building space for your children and the local community. Tickets cost just £1 for the weekly Saturday draw. You are in with a chance to win up to £25,000 and the school gets 50p from every £1 spent. Please buy your tickets from https://www.easthertslottery.co.uk/ support/simon-balle Thank you very much and good luck !
Transition Day Preloved Uniform Sale Hello and welcome from SBS PSA (Parent and Staff Association) We are a small group of volunteer parents and staff who hold various events to fundraise for your children's school and at the same time build relationships within the school community. We will be selling very low cost Recycled Uniform (for all Secondary Years) just before the close of the new Year 7s Transition Day on Thursday 11th July from approx 2:30 to 4pm in the IT2 classroom opposite the Coffee Shop. Please remember to use the fire station's Park and Stride facility as school car park is closed during school hours. All funds raised go towards the "little extras" for your children, and some big refurbishment projects for the school environment. If you are interested in volunteering, just pop in to say hello and meet some of us. You don't have to buy any uniform!
Slice of Summer Volunteer opportunities for "Slice of Summer, 6th July 2019, 14pm" are now open. It would be wonderful to see some of the Larch Centre children running an area for an hour or so (with adult supervision please) and we would welcome some volunteers from the secondary phase too. Funds raise from this event will benefit the entire school community so this is a great opportunity for the two phases to come together, creating an all-through event. Please click on the following web link (or copy it into your web browser if clicking doesn't work) to go to the signup sheet: volunteersignup.org/BBMDE To sign up, just follow the instructions on the page. It only takes a few seconds to do. Thank you for volunteering! Simon Balle PSA penny@simonballepsa.org.uk Dates for your diary Thursday 27th and 28th June - 6th form induction Friday Friday 28th June - District Sports and Y11 Leavers ‘do’ Monday 1st July - Y8 and 9 HPV2 (girls) injections Tuesday 2nd July - Spanish trip leaves (returns 5th), Art exhibition, rock school gig Thursday 4th July - Big Bang science trip, Sports Awards Evening Saturday 6th July - Slice of Summer Monday 8th July - Sports afternoon Wednesday 10th July - New Y7 parents evening Thursday 11th July - Transition day, Awards Ceremony Sunday 14th July - Saffron Hall summer concert Tuesday 16th July - Stevensons uniform sale 3pm to 8pm Thursday 18th July - Music Tour leaves (returns 23rd), Thorpe Park trip (Mimram) Tuesday 23rd July - End of Term (early finish details to follow)
We now have an East Herts Lottery page! Support local causes and win prizes of up to ÂŁ25,000! 50% of all tickets sold from our page go to us! PLUS 10% goes to other local good causes! Tickets only cost ÂŁ1 per week! Support us and win prizes - WIN WIN!
Click here to
SUPPORT NOW! Supporters must be 16 years of age or older