Friday 19th January
Co-headteachers’ welcome
As we finally reach the end of the spring half term I wonder where the time has gone. The days are definitely getting longer and the emerging bulbs remind us that summer is on its way. I for one am looking forward to lighter and warmer evenings which bring the chance to get outside as much as possible.
The biggest pleasure of being a headteacher is the ability to walk around the school visiting classrooms and seeing students grasp ideas, concepts, skills and knowledge. To watch students methodically work their way through problems on their own, or with their peer group, is great to see. I was lucky enough to be in the primary phase last week and heard Miss Blackman’s class talk enthusiastically about the Vikings. They proudly showed off their model longships which were simply stunning. I was struck by the level of completed work and the deep learning which had taken place. It was wonderful to witness the level of commitment, enthusiasm and dedication of the students to their learning. I left with a smile on my face and a new understanding of Viking coastal raids.
Last week I attended a fantastic presentation on apprenticeships delivered by our sixth form team, with a representative from GSK as our external speaker. The range of careers and pathways of entry for students is expanding and it is well worth making yourself aware of the opportunities available. Our careers education has flourished under the leadership of Mr Prendergast and day to day work of Mr Carr. Year 9 students have taken part in a careers day encompassing interview practice and feedback, with external employers, teamwork activities and problem solving. Initial feedback to the day has been excellent. It is so important to develop the academic and personal skills young people need to be confident articulate adults ready for the outside world. This is symbolised by our key message of ‘Creating Tomorrow’s Citizens Today’. Sometimes as Milton Berle said, ‘If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door’!
The new MFL block is now pretty much ready for occupation, with the final pieces of cladding are being applied to the exterior. Yesterday we received delivery of the furniture, and lessons are scheduled to start in there at the beginning of March. We will be emailing a separate buildings update later today.
We wish those travelling to Austria for the ski trip at half term a safe journey and a wonderful adventure. Please consult the calendar about the vast array of events taking place next half term. Whether it is music, drama, art, sport or even the talent event organised by our House Leaders in late March. There is lots to look forward to and I wish you a happy half term break!
Y11 Business Trip
Last week 73 of our Y11 Business students enjoyed the magic of Disneyland Paris whilst attending a Business convention. As well as enjoying the rides, attractions and shows, the students gained an insight into Disney as a Business. With live talks from Disney executives, students gained a greater awareness and understanding of how Disney markets their brand, which links directly to their GCSE course.
Students also got to experience first hand the disruption caused by pressure groups and how businesses are affected by government decisions, although this did mean we had to postpone our trip to Paris.
Whilst away, students accepted the trust bestowed upon them. They were punctual, polite and certainly more courageous than me on some of the rides.
STEM Update
These are just some of the exciting projects being worked on at STEM Club:
- Falcon drone to keep the seagulls away
- Dynamo with gears that can be attached to a bicycle
- Wind turbine to generate free electricity
- 3D printed chromebook
- Robot that collects rubbish
- Hydraulic machine to lift heavy objects
If you would like to get involved, please come to S8 on Thursdays after school, 3:10pm – 4:10pm.
Spotlight on phase 3
Year 5 have been busy writing balanced arguments about Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. We have been impressed by how they have developed their ideas to provide the reader with a tricky decision to make at the end. In Maths, they have been finding the volume of shapes, remembering to use the correct units and applying their knowledge of times tables. TT Rockstars has been a huge hit and we are seeing great uptake across Phase 3.
Year 6 thoroughly enjoyed their visit from Michael Owen as part of our careers work over the last few weeks. Prior to his visit, they spent some time researching his career to formulate a range of questions to ask him at school and were very excited to see his memorabilia.
Last week, Year 6 also had the opportunity to visit the food tech rooms and make smoothies with Miss Newman. The lesson involved following the recipe to create two different smoothies, taste test and then describe the texture and taste using a range of vocabulary – the green smoothie was a huge hit!
In English, they really have shown off their writing skills with their current narratives – based on our WWII text ‘Goodnight Mr Tom’. We have discussed using ‘show not tell’ in their writing to really capture the reader’s attention as well as making mature decisions with vocabulary and punctuation. Each and every pupil has been so proud of their achievements and hard work through this unit of writing
Library news
It’s been another busy fortnight in the Library. 66 people took part in Thursday’s Harry Potter quiz – you’ll need to head on over to the latest Library news blog to find out who won. You’ll also be able to catch up on all the news about the visit to Bishop’s Stortford College, the most recent Speaker’s Corner and plenty more besides that.
Pedagogy Portal
A ‘deep dive’ is a phrase given to the process that is used to gain a deeper understanding of a particular subjects’ curriculum. Through close inspection of several subjects, schools are better judged on the overall quality of the education they deliver. Lesson visits, student voice & curriculum discussions are all part of a ‘deep dive’ experience.
At the start of the academic year, we shared the feedback of Maths within our all-through school and now would like to follow this by celebrating the success of a recent deep dive in Music and Geography, led externally by our improvement partners from the local authority. Click this link to find out more https://www.simonballe.herts.sch.uk/pedagogy-portal-deep-dives/
Holocaust Memorial Day workshops at St Albans Cathedral
On the 30th January the history and PRE department took 40 students from Y9 and Y11 to St Albans Cathedral to take part in a series of workshops focused around Holocaust Memorial Day. The students participated in a series of workshops delivered by the Holocaust Educational Trust on pre-war Jewish life, the Wiener Library on resistance and the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust where they discussed the importance and purpose of Holocaust Memorial Day. They then had the opportunity to listen to Antoinette Mutabazi, who described her harrowing experience of the Rwandan genocide.
This was followed by a presentation by Robert Voss, the Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire whose family came to England during World War II to escape persecution in Nazi Germany. Roxy (Y11) spoke with Mr Voss after the presentation to share her own family’s experiences.
The day came to a close with Y11’s Meredith Wing, Elizabeth and Grace reading the Statement of Commitment and Roxy reading the ‘The Jewish Shtetl’ Poem under the Peace Doves installation.
A truly thought provoking and memorable day.
ELSA Next Generation ‘Get Work Ready’
On Friday 2nd February our Year 10 had a great day provided by ELSA Next Generation,. The students all attende 6 workshops throughout the day based on how big company recruitment carousels can work. ELSA ran one workshop themselves, another was interview practice (with the fantastic support from Simon Balle parents and carers) and the remaining workshops were provided by Local employers (Fortem, Bowmer and Kirkland, the Royal Navy and NGTU). The students were incredibly grateful for the change to experience an interview for the first time and many found it a far more daunting task than they initially thought, however, the session provided them with some really valuable feedback to help improve any interviews they have in the future.The Royal Navy session focused on students team work, leadership and communication skills. In one activity they were asked to follow a series of instructions in a knockout style competition – it was wonderful seeing the students encourage their classmates in the later stages of each competition. Students then had to create a raised border which could hold all the students in their group and were challenged to make the border smaller and smaller – the creativity demonstrated by some groups was outstanding! All the activities encouraged team building, leadership and communication skills and the students even carried out logistical planning for a construction site! We trust the day encouraged the students to think about how they present and sell themselves as well as how to work in and communicate with a team.
Careers related activities taking place this term
- Y8: McMullan trips – including a tour of the brewery and kitchens and a talk about careers in hospitality
- Y9: Royal Navy – Leadership and Team building day
- Y12: Talks from the British Army, Ernst Young, and a Student FInance talk from Hertfordshire University
Unifrog
Just a reminder that all students in Y7-13 have access to Unifrog – the universal destinations platform, which helps students compare every university course, every apprenticeship, and Further Education courses. Students can also explore a range of careers and labour market information using the site.
Careerometer
If your child is interested in finding out more about different careers, the careerometer is a tool that allows you to compare different jobs e.g. wages, growth etc click here
YHT Careers Fair
On Friday 9 February twelve of the year 10 students who are taking part in the YHT programme had the opportunity to visit a Careers Fair held at the UOH Fielder Centre, Hatfield, which was put on by Hertfordshire Opportunities Programme. This was a great opportunity to talk to a variety of companies about opportunities they have including degree apprenticeships as well as local colleges and universities.
Employers and Providers in attendance include:
| Army
Bower and Kirkland B & D BPL/Kedrion Care Tech Computacenter Crane & Staples Solicitors CT Catapult Fire & Rescue Service GLL trading as Better Hertfordshire Building Control Hertfordshire Sports Village Herts Academy of Beauty Herts Sport Partnership Home Instead HOP HR Owen Iknaia Institute of Motor Industry |
JPA Furniture
Learning Curve Group Lovells Morgan Sindall NHS Not going to Uni Oaklands College Pay Point Pitman Training Police Quantum Care Right At Home Roche Royal Air Force Royal Navy & Royal Marines Siemens Police Quantum Care |
Right At Home
Roche Royal Air Force Royal Navy & Royal Marines Siemans Simmons Bakers Skillnet Sky Studios Stevenage Football Club Teach In Herts Tesco Tewin Bury Farm The Royal Veterinary College Toffee’s Beauty House Tottenham Hotspurs FC University of Hertfordshire
|
Blog
Please click here for our latest Careers Blog.
Young Enterprise
Colour 2 Learn, a company comprising 16 Year 12 students, as part of a business social program called Young Enterprise, have created a colouring book with educational elements and are hoping to begin selling soon. Young Enterprise is a registered charity and gives students the opportunity to create a business, create a product or service and then bring their business to market, with a competition between different Young Enterprise businesses across the UK competing. This gives them the full experience of running a business including running their finances, research and development ,and introducing them to the real business and working world.
We have created a colouring book with educational elements aimed at children aged between 3 and 7 that allows them to explore and colour various topics including sports, jobs and world landmarks. Please see some examples of our hand drawn pages here. We are excited to be offering a launch offer for our Larch students with the first 30 copies sold priced at £3.50. After these initial copies, our book will retail at £4.99. We are really excited about launching a product of which we feel very proud and would love support for our Young Enterprise competition too.
If you would like to sign up to a preorder one of the reduced price copies, please email 12e-ye@simonballe.herts.sch.uk
PSHRE
We are currently reviewing our PSHRE curriculum and we would really appreciate your feedback to help improve our PSHRE programme even further. If you have time, please complete the relevant questionnaire below:
- Primary school parent questionnaire – click here
- Secondary school parent questionnaire – click here
Our PSHRE curriculum helps children and young people to identify, celebrate and manage the many personal, economic and social challenges they face, in order to become responsible and active members of society. Secondary school students work on a carousel where they will learn about different topics for 5 weeks in one of the following areas: physical health, mental health, relationships and living in the wider world. We have designed our curriculum so that each year group experiences a different aspect of these core themes e.g. in the physical well-being unit students will learn about healthy diets in year 7, maintaining a healthy lifestyle in year 8, the importance of physical health (dental health, sun safety, vaccinations) in year 9, vaping in year 10 and blood and organ donation in year 11, alongside many other topics.
A list of the different topics covered in PSHRE can be found here: click here
World Book Day week celebrations in the Larch
After half term, we are looking forward to celebrating World Book Day throughout the week w/c 4th March!
On Tuesday 5th March, we will be hosting our first ever book swap morning during the school day where children in the Larch will get a chance to explore books donated and choose one to take home to read and keep. If you have any spare children’s books at home you’re able to donate, please send your child in with them by Friday 1st March. If you have more than one book to donate, this would be greatly appreciated to support those who may not have any books to donate. Please ensure the children’s books are not in a poor condition and could be enjoyed by another child in the Larch.
As in previous years, instead of dressing up we will be focusing on the true meaning of World Book Day- reading! Please watch this space for upcoming dress-up and wow days in your child’s year group (such as the fantastic Year 4 Roman Workshop day on Thursday!).
There will be lots of reading based immersive activities throughout the week such as all of the the younger and older children in every class reading with and to each other.
Hall of Fame Results
Having counted down our Top 15 Hall of Fame pieces over the past weeks, we revealed our 2023-24 Hall of Fame champion in our assemblies last week. It was very tight at the top, but Wagner’s Ride of The Valkyries just pipped Debussy into the top spot. Below are the standings for the top 15 this year:
- Ride of the Valkyries- Wagner (up 3 places)
- Claire De Lune- Debussy (down 1 place)
- Fur Elise- Beethoven (down 1 place)
- Moonlight Sonata- Beethoven (new entry)
- Theme from Swan Lake- Tchaikovsky (up 1)
- Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy- Tchaikovsky (down 3)
- Winter from The Four Seasons- Vivaldi (new entry)
- Spring from The Four Seasons- Vivaldi (up 1)
- Ode to Joy- Beethoven (down 4)
- Symphony no.5- Beethoven (up 1)
- Nimrod- Elgar (new entry)
- William Tell Overture- Rossini (new entry)
- The Lark Ascending- Vaughan Williams (new entry)
- Piano Concerto no.2- Rachmaninov (new entry)
- The Firebird Suite Finale- Stravinsky (new entry)
SEND
If you would like to speak to a member of the SEND team you can book a virtual appointment of up to 15 minutes using this Booking link.
The latest parent newsletter from DSPL3 can be found here: DSPL3 Parents February Newsletter
A coffee morning on Neurodiversity being held 12th March 2024 in the Larch from 9.30am to 10.30am. Further information about Add-vance can be found on this link https://www.add-vance.org. . If you would like to attend this coffee morning please email vivashk@simonballe.herts.sch.uk
Safeguarding and health
Read the latest what parents need to know about online-dating-platforms and video chat service monkey
The latest Public Health Nursing newsletter can be read here: PHN Newsletter teen Winter 2023 2024 Final (1)
A separate letter will be sent home today on behalf of the Hertfordshire Association of Secondary School Headteachers (HASSH) regarding vaping in schools. It is a joint letter to parents from all secondary school headteachers in the county.
Larch Sport
Year 5 and 6 have participated in a number of fixtures and events over the past two weeks. A huge well done to the Y5/6 netball team who are through to the next round of the Evans trophy after beating St Mary’s 14-6. The Y5/6 football team are also through to the next round of the Hope cup after beating Mill Mead 4-1. A number of students also represented the school at a Sportshall Athletics competition on Monday, where the girls came 5th and the boys achieved 2nd place. Well done to all who participated.
Simon Balle Parent Staff Association
Vice Treasurer Opportunity
Are you detail-oriented, financially savvy, and passionate about supporting your school community? Simon Balle Parent Staff Association is seeking a dedicated individual to fill the role of Vice Treasurer. You will support our Treasurer and work with the school, ensuring the financial health and success of our association.
This is a wonderful opportunity to make a meaningful impact and contribute to the success of our school community.
To find out more, please come along to our next meeting on 26th March at 7pm (Secondary Library) or email us by March 31st psa@simonballepsa.org.uk
Volunteers needed for the Wind and Brass evening
We’re still looking for bar support for the Music Department’s Wind and Brass evening on April 27th. If you’re available and willing to lend a hand, please sign up via this link. Your commitment is greatly appreciated, and we look forward to creating memorable experiences together!
Secondary pre-loved uniform plea
We are really pleased that the secondary pre-loved offering has been a success so far. We are now running low on stock and so welcome your uniform donations of items, in clean condition with no stains or holes.
Please drop off to secondary reception.
Slice of Summer, 13th July
Can your business sponsor our summer fair?
Does your company offer Match Funding?
Are you able to donate a star prize to the Summer Raffle?
Please get in touch if you are able to help us psa@simonballepsa.org.uk
Interested in registering on our Stallholder Database?
Red Nose Day
On Friday, 15th March, SBAS will be joining the global movement to end child poverty by participating in Red Nose Day. We are lining up some exciting activities for the day, ensuring that everyone can participate and contribute to this worthy cause. Among these will be a sponsored football match in Sixth Form, a Wear Something Red fundraiser in the Larch and we will also be providing a special Red Nose Day menu across the all-through school. We hope all students, staff and parents can get involved.
How You Can Contribute:
Donate Online: Visit our Just Giving page and make a donation. Every contribution, no matter the amount, brings us one step closer to our fundraising goal. Here is a link to our page: Just Giving Simon Balle School Comic Relief Just Giving Simon Balle School Comic Relief
Foodbank Collection: In addition to supporting Red Nose Day, we are partnering with the local foodbank charity Jedidiah. Let’s help make a positive impact on our local community. You can read more about Jedidiah and their work here: https://www.jedidiah.org.uk/
We will provide more details regarding the donations and activities planned for Red Nose Day closer to the time. Thank you for your ongoing support!
Dates for your diary
A full calendar of events can be viewed on the school website.
- Monday 26th February: INSET Day
- Tuesday 27th February: Y13 Berlin trip departs
- Wednesday 28th February: Y3 visit to Hertford Museum
- Thursday 29th February: Y9 Royal Navy Activity Day
- w/c 4th March: Y3,4 and 5 swimming to begin . More details will be sent via letter.
- Wednesday 6th March: Y13 Parents’ evening
- Thursday 7th March: World Book Day
- Saturday 9th March: Big Band Evening
- w/c 18th March: Reception parent evenings
- Monday 25th March: Simon Balle’s Got Talent (more details to follow)
Wishing everyone in our community a positive and fulfilling fortnight ahead.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs Rachel Kirk and Mr Michael Moss (Co-headteachers)
