Dear Families, We continue, like most families, to try to ‘pack in’ so many activities before we finally break up for Christmas. As our youngest students reminded me today, only 19 sleeps to go! They are incredibly busy but involving the rest of us. The ‘Frost Fair’ was a roaring success last Saturday; a big thank you to the PSA, parents and staff who put in such a great effort. On Monday morning, the children arrived to find that poor Father Christmas had ‘crashed’ in the school playground, with parts of his sleigh and his parcels scattered around the site. So we are currently all looking for him with ‘wanted’ posters everywhere, interviews, letters and all sorts of activities! I do hope we find him before Christmas. Next week sees the Larch Centre plays, always a memorable experience. Here at secondary level, Year 11 are fully involved with their mock examinations. Parents will be expected to attend the Parents Evening on 18th January 2018 to receive in depth feedback and next steps. I have been impressed by their stamina and work ethic. The rest of the students continue to work well and get involved. As a parent wrote at the weekend, we are proud of our students and how they take the many opportunities on offer and flourish. May I please remind you at this time; Uniform: All students must be in correct uniform and as the weather gets colder, we do expect layers to be worn under the uniform, however they must not be seen, and coats. Attendance: We do need all children to be in school and return back quickly if they are ill. Most parents and students understand this, those who don’t receive plenty of reminders! Thank you Alison Saunders

Dates for your Diary:

7th December - Y7 Music Celebration Evening 6pm

13th December - Y9 Parents Evening

16th December – Take Note choir at St Andrews Church (7.30pm)

18th December - Carol Service (All Saints) Evening

19th December - Carol Service and Christmas Lunch

20th December - End of Term (Early finish, details included further on in newsletter)

Thursday 4th January– Term Starts

Monday 8th January - Y11 Mock results day

Monday 18th February - Y11 Parents Evening

Monday 5th February - Y7 Maths trip

12th-16th - Half Term

End of term arrangements Wednesday 20th

December 2017 Students will be allowed to wear Christmas jumpers on the last day of term. They should bring in a minimum £1 donation which will go towards a local homeless charity.

Dismissal times are as followed;

Year 7-12:50pm

Year 8-12:50pm

Year 9-12:45pm

Year 10-12:45pm

Year 12/13-12:05pm

Youth Speaks

On the 4th of December Alec Neate, Ruby-Leigh Smith and Chloe Hill performed at Ware Priory in the Youth Speaks competition speaking passionately on the topic of the media's presentation of body image.

The team placed just outside the top 2 whilst being the youngest team in the senior category!

House Plays

Well done to everyone who participated in the House Plays in particular the winning team, Rib for their performance of ‘Bar Wars- Return of the Sauce.’

All Saints Church Carol Service We will be holding our Carol Service on Tuesday 19th December for our Y1, Y2, Y7, Y8 and Y12 students. The students will be walked to All Saints Church at 10.45am and return to school in time for their Christmas lunch. At this festive time, it is important for us as an All-through School to meet together as a flourishing community and to hear once again the Christmas story. If you do not want your child/children to attend the service would you please email Lucy Deards (deardsl@simonballe.herts.sch.uk) by Monday 11

th December to allow us to

make alternative arrangements. Please remember that tickets must be bought for the Christmas lunch on the 19

th by

Wednesday 13th December. No other food will be available. Those not eligible to pay need not purchase a ticket. Tickets are available from the school dining room or the 6 Rivers Café for 6

th form

students.

Staffing news We are delighted to have appointed Tayla-Jay Ridley who will be joining us in the Larch centre teaching Y2.

Mr Hay will be absent for the rest of this term. All his English classes have been covered and we look forward to him re-joining us in January.

CHRISTMAS BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS FROM STUDENTS AND STAFF

Girl Online by Zoe Sugg (Zoella)

Penny has a secret. Girl Online is about a girl called Penny, whose mum is asked to travel to New York for work, and Penny goes too. In New York she blogs anonymously under the name Girl Online. There she meets someone called Noah and she is beginning to fall in love. But Noah has a secret too. I recommend this book to people of ages 11 - 15. I really enjoyed this book and

I am currently reading the 2nd book (there are 3 books in the series).

Freya Praverman Yr7

Fly by Night by Frances Hardinge I really enjoyed this book because it was comical but not too silly. I would

recommend this book to anyone who can manage a slow beginning because the end is worth it. This is written in a

classical style but it is still very interesting. Suitable for age 9 years+

Sophie Rupeiks Yr7

Ingo Chronicles 2: The Tide Knot by Helen Dunmore This is a very good book and I would recommend it for age 9 years+ .

The main characters are Sapphire, Conor, Mum, Roger and Faro. This is a mysterious book and there is trouble in Ingo waters. If you have not read the first one called Ingo, you should read it first. It is a very good

book too.

Nicole Williams Yr7

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl This book is full of magic, strange characters and fun. At every page there

is a twist or a turn that will make you want to read on. I recommend this book for Year 7 students as it is full of magic and craziness.

Connor Allen Yr7

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down by Jeff Kinney

This book is so funny: the characters and the animals are the best . This book is for people who love comedy

George Matthews Yr7

War: Stories of Conflict by Michael Morpurgo

This was a very good book including several true war stories and a real page turner. I would recommend this to anyone who likes Michael Morpurgo

Zane Mirza Yr7

The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullman

After nearly two decades of the publication of His Dark Materials Trilogy, Philip Pullman is back with the first in his latest trilogy: The Book of Dust:

La Belle Sauvage. A thrilling adventure following a new hero, Malcolm along with Alice in their attempt to rescue the baby Lyra (the heroine from

the original trilogy) from the authorities and especially the villain Bonneville. When a flood hits the south east of England, their only hope is a small

canoe - La Belle Sauvage - to transport Lyra to her father in London. Along the way they have to deal with The Magisterium, Bonneville and other sectors of the church to keep her safe. A fast paced story which will leave you not wanting to put the book down, linking aspects of the original trilogy and bringing a type of

nostalgia that only book lovers understand.For age 11 years +

Mrs Wigmore (Science Teacher)

Turtles all the Way Down by John Greene

John Greene has done it again! 'Turtles all the Way Down' is a captivating and deeply emotive novel that combines mystery and a viscer-

al portrayal of the realities of mental health issues. This is a book that will move, entertain and resonate with teenagers and adults alike.

Mrs Owen (English Teacher and Head of Y10)

Wonder by R. J. Palacio

A deeply moving read and a story with a message that will stay with you for ever is Wonder by R. J. Palacio. This book looks at life through the

eyes of Auggie, a 12 year old boy with a facial deformity and the film of the book is out now. Suitable for Y7 and upwards. R. J. Palacio has just

written and illustrated We’re all Wonders for younger readers – another book inspiring kindness and acceptance, so especially suitable at

Christmas. This is for age 9 years +

Two excellent book websites are given below. We often refer to them in the Library as they give age guidelines as well as recommendations:

www.booksforkeeps.co.uk

www.lovereading4kids.co.uk

Happy Reading and Happy Christmas!

Mrs Syme (Librarian)