11th January 2016

Welcome back and a Happy New year to every member of the Simon Balle community. We are continuing to push this term our ethos of “high aspirations; high expectations” to every year group in terms of academic success, personal standards of behaviour and dress, learning habits and motivation. Our students get so many opportunities, support and encouragement from staff and we know that the vast majority are incredibly ambitious in what they want to achieve. We ask everyone to look out for more opportunities and events and also to take time to read and appreciate just how much is going on daily basis. This term we shall start thinking about how we want to involve everyone in celebrating 60 years of Simon Balle. Contrary to ‘Wikipedia’ the log book I have records the opening on September 18th 1956, with Mr. Felts as the Head Master. As part of this diamond jubilee, we will be re-launching our Alumni network, so if you know anyone or their families who would be interested in contacting us do let them know and we will shortly communicate how this will work. We will of course involve our current PSA which is very active with a number of fundraising events as well as supporting projects. They are always eager to hear from parents who might like to join them in a particular event or for a longer period. I know that many parents and students have commented to me about how much better the “foyer” in the area by the drama and sixth form common room looks. We identified this as a key area as we use it regularly for parents’ evenings and other functions. The PSA generously gave £10,000 and this has enabled so much work to be done. The area has been painted, has a lovely reception area, new furniture and the toilets painted. We will over half term have new ceiling tiles put up which will greatly improve this further. We really do need all parents to support us as general finances become tighter, either by giving time, expertise or funds. A big thank you again to those who already do so on a regular basis. Our Y11s have come back very focused as they have now received their mock exam results (I hope you read Nicky Traynor’s website piece, where she explains how we do this). Our parents evening is always greatly appreciated as staff give “forensic” feedback to students and parents alike as to what they need to do before the exams in May. We are pleased to welcome Larinda Knight to the school. Larinda will be teaching primarily in D&T and art. Dan Smith, an ex-student will be working in our music department.

A request Last year, parents and staff were very generous in giving unwanted children’s toys, books and equipment that they no longer had a use for to our primary phase. If you, in the next few months, have a tidy out to make room for new presents or are simply spring cleaning, please send in any item as I am sure we can make good use of them. We had a wonderful response last year and this enabled our new students to have a rich supply of exciting resources. We now need new things for them as they go into year 1 as well as the reception children who will start in September. If you are unsure or want to ask anything, please email Ruth Oakenfull- oakenfullr@simonballe.herts.sch.uk Dates for your diary 2016 Monday 18th January (w/b) Y12 & Y13 mocks Wednesday 27th January Holocaust Memorial Day Friday 29th January Non-uniform day (Home Start) Monday 1st February Parents E-safety meeting 7pm Wednesday 10th February Y9 options evening Thursday 11th February String recital 7pm (hall) 15th to 19th February HALF TERM Thursday 25th February Y13 parents evening Friday 26th February Big Band Evening Tuesday 1st March PHSEE parents meeting Wednesday 2nd March Y12 parents evening Thursday 3rd March Y13 geography field trip (back 5th) Thursday 10th March Y9 Battlefields trip Brass recital evening Thursday 17th March Strings and singing concert Friday 18th March Non uniform – Sports Relief Tuesday 22nd March Y10 geography field trip Wednesday 23rd March Gym and dance evening Friday 25th March GOOD FRIDAY – SCHOOL CLOSED Monday 28th March EASTER MONDAY – SCHOOL CLOSED Thursday 31sy March Stevenson’s uniform sale (3pm to 5.30pm) Friday 1st April END OF TERM – NORMAL FINISH Extreme Weather We have been fortunate with the weather so far this winter but should the situation change and we have snow we felt it would be useful to remind you of the procedures. Our aim at Simon Balle All-through School is to keep the school open and running as smoothly as possible at all times. However, we do need to inform you of the arrangements that we have put in place should a closure be necessary. News of any school closure or part school closure will be made available to parents via the school website, www.simonballe.herts.sch.uk Twitter and Facebook pages and the Hertfordshire County Council website, http://www.hertsdirect.org/services/edlearn/schlife/schoolclose/ and choosing the ‘online school closure reporting system’ link.

Parents who have supplied an email address will be informed via InTouch as will students via their own school email account. Due to our advances in communication systems we can guarantee that every student will be directly notified. The decision to close the school or part of the school is never taken lightly and I communicate very closely with other local schools. However, Simon Balle’s position is unique as Mangrove Road can be treacherous if there is snow and ice. A number of staff and a vast number of our students can walk to school and we will try to keep open. Please do not assume that the school is closed – check regularly. For students in Y7 to Y13 – in the event of a closure or if some students cannot get in they will be expected to work at home via work accessed through the ‘smartcloud’. PSA requests Please remember that ‘pre-loved’ uniform sales happen at each Y7-Y11 parents evening. The next one occurs on Tuesday 12th January but you do not need to be a Y11 parent to come along and pick up some uniform. The final parents evening this year will be Y7 on Tuesday 26th April. If you are coming along for a parents evening and have ‘already-loved’ uniform to donate please drop it off – we also always accept donated uniform at the school reception. Do you have any unwanted Christmas gifts that you are unsure what to do with? We always need contributions towards PSA raffle prizes or events. Please also contact us if you are able to donate vouchers, plants, gift baskets etc as we are in constant need of donations in order that as much money as possible is used towards school projects! Please email psa@simonballepsa.org.uk House News Congratulations to our December Students of the Month: KS3: Niamh Hartnett – 8R – 25 points KS4: Reece Debnam – 10A – 24 points KS5: Katie Beadle – 12A – 15 points Watch the website for house news – for example Y7 have been showing off their excellent ‘Castles’ creations today.

The House ‘under the spotlight’ this time is Mimram

Mimram have had an incredible start to the year, being second and third in the house leaderboard regularly, which is a great improvement from last year. This achievement is due to the amazing amount of participation in house events and general hard work from everyone in Mimram. We have had a range of accomplishments in the past few months, from all years and subjects. A number of students have worked extremely hard over the past term and have gained a large amount of house points which has earned them ‘student of the week’status. Congratulations to the

following students, whose hard work has been recognised: Molly Daniels, Isabel Ross, Natasha Walsh, Tilly Day and Georgina Reilly. The ‘Great British Bake Off’, organised and led by Mimram house leaders Eliza and Izzy, proved to be a great success, with a huge number of creative and delicious cakes submitted by sixth form members. After much deliberation, Mrs Saunders and Mr Preshous (who jumped at the chance to be our Mary and Paul!) concluded a successful afternoon for Mimram, by voting Lilli Canham from 12M to be the grand winner. A huge congratulations to Lilli, with her winning nuclear reactor chocolate cake, which was not only incredibly inventive and looked fantastic… but it also tasted delicious! The Mimram house play, Pirates of the Caribbean, was a huge success and it won the Judges Award. The play was directed by four Year 12s: Darcy, Maddy, Debbie and Megan who did an incredible job of creating a thoroughly entertaining house play. The cast was made of students from all years who were enthusiastic, worked hard and performed brilliantly. Miss Cornell described the play as having ‘slick choreography, impressive costumes and props and well thought-out music choices’. She specifically mentioned Jess Miller and Matthew Day as being a great pairing in the lead roles. A huge well done and congratulations to all the cast and directors, and thank you to everyone who turned up to show their support. This year as a school we aimed to raise a larger amount for Children in Need, this goal was met with the school raising £1871.91. Mimram played a large role in this fundraising event, by organising a Bake Sale which raised £230! A big thank you to everyone who contributed delicious donations to the stall, as well as everyone who bought the cakes. The bake sale was so popular the cakes sold out in break alone, which was far beyond our expectations. Year 8 Mimram students also had the chance to show off their creativity in the annual Volcano Day event, which saw all students produce incredible creations. There were a number of winners from Mimram house. A big well done to Louis Cripps and Tilly Day who were the cake winners, Sorcha McComb who won the explosion category in Mimram, Charlie Brett who was the model winner in Mimram and Chloe Carter who was the art winner. All of these winners created an inventive, artistic take on a volcano which resulted in a range of entries.

‘We are The Mighty, Mighty Mimram.’

Simon Balle School

Friday 26th February 2016Simon Balle School7.45pmTickets£10 Adults£6 Concessions

Available from the Music Department music@simonballe.herts.sch.uk01992 410408Licensed PSA Bar

An Evening with the

Simon Balle

Big Band

Simon Balle School

Thursday 17th March 2016Simon Balle School7.00pmTickets£8 Adults£5 Concessions

Available from the Music Department music@simonballe.herts.sch.uk01992 410408Licensed PSA Bar