22nd March 2016

Easter Greetings It does now seem if we have turned a corner with lighter evenings and slightly brighter days. Our youngest members of the Simon Balle community are back on their “welly walks” into the woods and spotting daffodils and snowdrops. We are currently teaching them some of the important values we expect all of our students to know and practice- respect and appreciation. Sometimes our older students need to be reminded of these and even at times parents. I do hope you will support us working with our local community and respect traffic rules. As many students live locally I am mystified as to why parents have to bring children to school by car and pick them up. If travelling, why not collect them from town rather then on site? Simon Balle is a school that has a clear vision and set of values and perhaps at times we need to remind all of our families of this as their first open day may now be some time ago. Our school is about developing young people to be independent and creative thinkers, to aspire to the highest standards both in terms of academic and personal behaviours and to be accepting of others. We want young people who are honest, positive and happy to serve the wider community. Thankfully I am surrounded by so many like spirited young people who are eager to grow, develop and give. Please as parents continue to spread these important values, including kindness and thoughtfulness which do need to be taught at home. Then the world will be a better place and of course we feel supported at school. We continue to be the first choice for so many families and once again we are over subscribed for September both at secondary and primary level. Our new senior student leadership team are beginning to take up their roles and James Pooley and I will shortly appoint a group of year 10 prefects. We shall shortly be planning our 60

th birthday celebrations and I would like to mention that if you

are an ex student and would like to help or attend any of the events planned please email 60th@simonballe.herts.sch.uk Please pass this information to any Simon Balle Alumni you know! Hertfordshire this year is celebrating the Easter weekend and then returning to school until Friday April 1

st. This will be a

normal working day. We return to school on Monday 18 April to start the summer term. Alison Saunders—Headteacher ———————————————————————-

The level of school traffic entering Balls Park continues to rise and we have received complaints from the residents. Balls Park is private property. Please do not use the Red Lodge access road for school drop off/pick up. Only residents and visitors should use the Lon-don Road entrance gates, and the Red Lodge exit gates. Balls Park is not open to the general public for vehicle access. We always consider our neighbours and would therefore ask you to make alternative arrangement when dropping off/picking up. Thank you in advance for your co-operation. Madeleine Harman—School Manager

End of Spring Term On Thursday 24

th March the canteen will be providing an Easter lunch for all our students. Meal of the day - Roast lamb

with all the trimmings plus a dessert will be available for £2.30 and our two reception classes will be coming over to join us. British summer time begins on Easter Sunday so remember to put your clocks forward one hour! Can we just remind you that school will run as normal Tuesday 29

th March to Friday 1

st April and we will finish at the

normal time on Friday (3.25pm)

Dates for your diary Tuesday 22

nd March Y10 geography field trip

Wednesday 23rd

March Gym and dance evening Friday 25th March GOOD FRIDAY – SCHOOL CLOSED Monday 28

th March EASTER MONDAY – SCHOOL CLOSED

Thursday 31st March Stevenson’s uniform sale (3pm to 5.30pm) Friday 1

st April END OF TERM – NORMAL FINISH TIME

Saturday 23rd

April Wind and Brass concert 7pm in hall Tuesday 26

th April Y7 parents evening

Thursday 28th April String Recital 7pm in hall

Monday 2nd

May BANK HOLIDAY Tuesday 3

rd May INSET DAY

Thursday 12th May Singing Evening 7pm in Larch Centre

Monday 16th May Start of public exams

Friday 27th May 6

th form ball

Key Stage 4 Leadership This term the Headteacher and I launched the prefect system to the current Y10 Students. This gives students the opportunity to develop their leadership skills and give something back to the school. Prefects are role models and will contribute to the wider school community – they will have a duty and be expected to take on a number of responsibilities across the school. Many students in the year group are already excellent role models and support the school in a number of ways and should be applying for this position of leadership. The first part of the process is to write a letter of application addressed to Mrs Saunders outlining why you would like to become a Prefect. This must include skills and qualities that you think you possess and would help you in your role.What experience you have had which may help you in your Prefect duties. How you can have an impact on the younger years. The deadline for letters in the 31

st March, please encourage your sons and daughters to apply.

James Pooley – Head of Year 10 New Head Girl and Head Boy announced for 2016-17

Chloé Lake – Head Girl 2016-17

My previous schools:

I am originally from Florida and so I began my education at Jensen Beach Elementary School shortly followed by Stuart Middle School. Then, I moved to Yorkshire where I studied at the Elizabethan Academy for 2 years before moving to Hertfordshire where I started at Simon Balle

School in year 10.Subjects studying: Currently, I am studying Art, English Literature, French and Government & Politics. Hobbies/interests: I am interested in a variety of activities: I play football inside and outside of school and recently, I set up a girls rugby team at Hertford Rugby Club. I’m also an avid reader (who likes writing poetry and creative writing) with a passion for languages and art. Motivation for wanting to be Head Girl: One of the main reasons why I felt motivated to become Head Girl was so that I could reciprocate what Simon Balle has given me over the past few years as well as build upon the foundations already in place within the school. Moreover, I’d like to use my own experiences in leadership to encourage more students to take advantage of the plethora of opportunities on offer to them so that they can expand their horizons. What I want to achieve in the role: As Head Girl, I would like to guarantee the continuation of the school’s positive ethos and at the same time promote more independent learning and the importance of languages early on in the primary school. Additionally, I want to ensure that the SSLT becomes better known around Simon Balle so that students can approach us with any questions more easily. Future ambitions: In the future, I aspire to go to university, predominantly in the hopes of doing a joint honours degree possibly with law and French/Spanish.

Joe Vinton – Head Boy 2016-17

My previous school:

Six years ago I completed my primary education at Abel Smith School in Hertford.

Subjects studying:

I am currently studying English Literature, History, Geography and Drama at A level.

Hobbies/ Interests:

My hobbies include sports like running and swimming as well as arts such as acting and creative writing. Filmmaking is a centric passion of mine and I revel in reading which in turn feeds my

desire to enter the writing/directing side of cinema.

Motivations for being Head BoyThe qualities of diligence, tolerance and resilience that I now possess are assets I strongly

attribute with my school’s teachings and ethos. I am extremely grateful for what has been given

to me and in turn I wanted to express my gratitude as an ambassador for Simon Balle. I genuinely feel that it is my

responsibility to give something back to our school and I felt that the best way to do so was as Head Boy.

What I want to achieve in the role

I hope to develop the Student Senior Leadership Team along with Chloé this year. Our SSLT will work closely together,

utilising our individual talents in order to provide students with more opportunities further afield. I also want us to develop

Simon Balle’s connections with other schools, universities, charities and local youth groups thus enabling younger

students to get more from their time at school.

Future ambitions

I hope to go to University in order to study English Literature. This will propel my long term goal of pursuing a career in

the Film/ TV industry, whether it be acting, directing or writing.

Student Leadership at Simon Balle

Many of our students are keen to put something back into their school and as a result we have developed a Senior

Student Leadership Team that offers a range of opportunities and responsibilities.

Aims of Student Leadership:

To empower students to work in partnership with staff and each other towards shared goals.

To provide opportunities for students to develop leadership skills through a variety of roles which impact positively

on learning, teaching and well-being for students at Simon Balle School.

We are delighted to announce the SSLT for 2016-17:

Abi Cousins Ashbourne House Captain Co-ordinator

Dominic Rugg-Gunn Ashbourne STEM Ambassador

Matthew Day Ashbourne House Captain Co-ordinator

Scott Davis Ashbourne Student Leader for KS3

Yasmin James Ashbourne Journalism & Publicity Leader

Natasha Hill Beane Charity Ambassador

Chloe Pitch Beane Primary Link Leader

Sophie Tarry Beane STEM Ambassador

Daniel Fellows Beane Digital Leader

Josh Moses Beane Sports Ambassador

Emilia Holden Lea Charity Ambassador

Stacia Read Lea Student Leader for KS3

Edward Brown Lea Digital Leader

Sean Harris Lea Student Leader for KS4

Callum McKeown Lea Global Links leader

Victoria Hill Mimram Sports Ambassador

Lilli Canham Mimram Community Leader

Katie Kelson Mimram Teaching & Learning Ambassador

Matthew Parris Mimram Parliament & Year Councils Leader

Joseph Vinton Mimram Head Boy

Gwilym Turner New Music Ambassador

Libby Harding New Global Links leader

Emily Hook New Community Leader

Connie Pope New Charity Ambassador

James Rider New Teaching & Learning Ambassador

Emily Free Rib Student Leader for KS4

Chloe Lake Rib Head Girl

Imogen Welch Rib Primary Link Leader

Oakley Hunt Rib Parliament & Year Councils Leader

James Madell Rib Music Ambassador

Steve Preshous – Director of Sixth Form

ASSOCIATED BOARD EXAMS SPRING 2016 Congratulations to the following students that the following Associated Board results

NAME FORM INSTRUMENT GRADE RESULT

TOM THORNTON 12N CLARINET 3 PASS

JOSIE PEARSON 8L CLARINET 4 PASS

JOSHUA GREEN 8A CLARINET 5 PASS

MARCUS LOWE 9B CLARINET 5 PASS

JAMES MILROY 8L SAXOPHONE 2 PASS

MAX MERRETT 11L SAXOPHONE 5 MERIT

POPPY NEWMAN 7L SINGING 1 MERIT

GRACE STANBROOK 8A SINGING 1 PASS

HANNAH FREDERIKSEN 8A SINGING 3 PASS

JESSICA MARTIN 9B SINGING 3 MERIT

LUCY MARTIN 8B SINGING 3 DISTINCTION

TRIXIE WRAITH 8A SINGING 3 PASS

ANNA BEAVEN 9R SINGING 4 MERIT

SARAH GREAVES 9R SINGING 4 PASS

NANCY WAUGH 9M SINGING 4 MERIT

ANYA DAAR 10B SINGING 5 MERIT

KATIE KELSON 12M SINGING 8 MERIT

SOPHIE NOXON 13N SINGING 8 PASS

Hertfordshire Catering Limited HCL awards – shortlist announced The shortlisting task was a difficult process with an unprecedented number of excellent and comprehensive nominations and we are delighted to announce that our Canteen Manager, Lorraine Gregory, has been short-listed in the HCL Manager of the Year category. The overall winners from each category will be announced on Thursday 28

th April at a

special awards ceremony at the Hilton Hotel, Watford. Congratulations to Lorraine for getting this far and we wish her every success at the Hilton.

Uniform

Our uniform suppliers, Stevensons, are next in school on Thursday 31st March from 3:00 – 5:30 in the dining room.

Please remember that boys can wear their summer shirts for next term.

Reminder of correct secondary uniform:

BOYS

Shirt and ties – Ties to be worn up the collar with the school logo showing. Shirts must be neatly tucked in. During the summer term boys are allowed to wear summer shirts (with logo) and no tie.

Jumpers – Jumpers must be worn, but if it is warm in class they may be removed

Shoes – Black leather GIRLS

Skirts/Trousers – We have made a change to our school skirts. From September 2014 girls will wear either tartan kilt or black trousers. Kilts should be knee length or just above the knee. School skirts can be bought from Stevensons in varying lengths (eg 18” 20” etc) to ensure correct fit.

Tights/socks – Plain black tights or under the knee black socks. Over the knee socks or socks with embellishments (eg ribbons) are not acceptable

Shoes – Black fitted shoes. They should have a small heel and support the foot. Pumps are not suitable school footwear

Makeup – Make up and nail varnish should not be visible

Jewellery – One pair of plain stud earings. Rings and bracelets should not be worn unless it is a medical bracelet

Primary and Sixth Form information can be found on the school website

Give As You Live Campaign

You may be aware that there are various cash-back schemes which enable you to claim money back on online

purchases, did you also know that you are able to direct some of this cash-back towards charity donations?!

As a registered charity, our PSA (Parent School Association) are signed up to one such scheme called ‘Give As You Live’

and many online retailers will donate a percentage of online purchase values to the PSA. Please be aware that there are

no extra charges to you if the retailer makes a donation!

If you would like to participate in this scheme, all you need to do is install a taskbar on your web browser by following the

simple steps below. Once installed, you can then shop as normal and whenever you visit a site offering donations you will

get a message asking if you’d like to activate retailer donations.

Give as you live set-up steps:

1.Go to www.giveasyoulive.com and click “Sign up”. You can sign up with your email address or with Facebook.

Click “Select Cause”

2.Search for “Simon Balle School” and select “Simon Balle PSA” as your cause

3.Activate your account

4.Once your account is activated, log in to Give As You Live and install the Shopping Bar

5.The Shopping Bar appears at the top of your browser. Click here to search for retailers and start shopping

through Give As You Live!

Thank you for your support

Simon Balle All-through School has bagged a share of a £11.5million carrier bag charge fund

We are delighted to announce we have bagged £8,000 from the Tesco Bags of Help initiative.

‘We are really pleased to have won funding from this Tesco initiative as it will allow us to clear our pond and create an outside teaching area. Our science department in particular will make good use of this facility and our younger students will be able to go pond dipping. Teaching outside the classroom is very important as it makes learning relevant, nurturing creativity and imagination. It also develops an interest in the environment and wider surroundings.’ Alison Saunders, Headteacher

Caroline Silke, Head of Community at Tesco, said: “Bags of Help has been a fantastic success. We have been overwhelmed by the response of our customers and the feedback has been brilliant. We can’t wait to see the money being put to use bringing these projects to life. Nominations for the next round of the initiative will open on April 18th and we look forward to helping a further round of groups and projects bag their share of the bag charge fund.”

Tesco estimated that around eight million votes were cast in stores across the UK. Groundwork’s national chief executive, Graham Duxbury, said: “We have been delighted to have been involved in the Bags of Help project. It has been wonderful to follow the projects through the application process to the final announcement. This is money which will go directly back into the communities up and down the country creating places to meet people, be active, play or simply relax. This initiative is really putting something back into the local environment, transforming greenspaces and helping the community at a grass-roots level.”

Nominations and applications for the next round of Bags of Help funding will open on April 18. As well as applying direct, suggestions for projects can also be nominated by people living locally.