Dear Parents, The weeks are rushing by and many of our students have already sat some of their public examinations. The school calendar continues to be crammed with various events, competitions and visits. There is never a quiet time. In addition we are beginning to look ahead and plan for the next academic year. Please keep an eye on the website. Like all secondary schools we continue to look for teachers (in a climate of a national crisis) and shortly for support staff within our primary phase. However, I know that the holiday next week will be a welcome break for the many ‘exam’ students and staff alike! Fun Run

A letter is being sent about our annual Fun Run, organized in conjunction with the PSA. For those new parents, this is an important date in the calendar (June 17) as it is our major fund raising event of the year. Unlike most local schools Simon Balle does not ask parents for a school fund. However like other schools, we also need additional funding to ensure that our students enjoy the very best opportunities. Therefore we are becoming increasingly dependent upon fund raising for those additional benefits. Whilst we ask for a set amount (£5) from every student, we know that

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY: Term Dates Summer Term : 20th April to 22nd July Half Term : 25th-29th May Inset Day : Fri 3rd July May Thurs 21st 7-10pm : String quartet Fri 22nd : Year 13 Ball June Tues 9th : Year 10 Art Trip Wed 17th: Fun Run—1-3.30pm Mon 22nd to Fri 26th: Writing Olympics Thurs 25th: A Level D&T Trip Student Parliament Art Exhibition 6-9pm Fri 26th: Year 11 leavers ‘do’

20th May 2015

THIS ISSUE: Fun Run Private Tutoring Welcome Joanna

Marychurch Uniform Golden Ticket winner Osmington Bay Year 7 Sports Year 8 Theatre Trip Art News Food Technology Library and English PSA Music PE Family Fishing Day

many families can give more and indeed do, through donations and/or sponsorship. Therefore please be generous; with four year groups we usually raise around £5,000 (650+ students) but for the schools’ 60th anniversary in 2016, we will be looking to holding the event in September so that all 9 years can participate (including reception and year 1 children!) This is a great day and is frequently one of the highlights of the school year - let’s hope the sun shines again!

Private tutoring We are sorry but as a school we can not recommend private tutors to parents. Whilst we fully understand that many parents and students from time to time feel that they would like additional support with their learning out of school hours, we for obvious reasons are not in a position to pass on names or make suggestions. There are agencies and various other ways parents can find appropriate tutors. Welcome to Joanna Marychurch Many parents know that we have worked closely with Hertford museum over many years. This has included taking students down to the museum as well as having artefacts on site. For the past two years our summer school students have had great fun working with the Learning Officer looking at the range of objects; whilst other students have participated in national “Take over day” when they have run the museum and invited local primary pupils to come to their events. It was with sadness that we said goodbye to Eleanor Payne (Learning Officer) but we now are equally pleased to welcome Joanna Marychurch, who is excited to work with us. Jo has already visited and talked enthusiastically about ways in which our students can be involved with the museum. Boys’ uniform Can I remind students and parents that the summer shirt is a short sleeved one with the school emblem. No

other summer shirt can be worn. This should be worn without a school tie. Also several boys have had their cut

too severely. The school asks that no area of the head is shaved.

Alison Saunders

We had an excellent response to our last non uniform day and raised over £1950 which was divided between Help for Heroes and the earthquake appeal in Nepal. This was an amazing amount, so many thanks to everyone who contributed. The DEC appeal worked with a number of agencies to bring tents, food, fresh water and other life-saving aid to more than 300,000 people Our final non uniform day for this academic year will be held on Friday 10th July in aid of

the Make a Wish Foundation which our Y9 students picked for their chosen charity.

This charity works to grant the wishes of children aged between 3 and 17 living with life

threatening illnesses. More details will be included in a future newsletter.

Golden Ticket Winners!

Emma Liddle of Asbourne of has recently joined the gallery of Golden ticket winners—well done Emma!

Golden Ticket

Official status : Allows winner to move to the front of all

canteen queues until the end of the year!

Admits : plus : 1 friend of the winners choice

Signed :

Primary Phase Update Our new primary building will be called The Larch Centre and the work to complete the building and hand over the site to Simon Balle All-through School is on schedule. The furniture has been ordered, the curriculum is being planned and the pri-mary team are busy building a vision for the future. I have been busy arranging pre-visits with all the local nurseries to meet our new Reception children over the next few weeks. Your primary information pack will be available at the end of this week to download from our website (under the Lower School tab), or please send in your slips if you would prefer a copy posted to you. We will continue to be in touch with updates for September. Exciting times ahead!

Ruth Oakenfull EXAM SUPPORT CLARIFICATION

Many parents contact the school as they have been advised by private tutors, work colleagues and friends that their son/daughter potentially has literacy difficulties and have been recommended that he/she should be assessed for dyslexia. The school does not assess for dyslexia, nor can we accept any external assessments as a sole application for exam support. Currently the school has to conduct its own assessments for access arrangements (exam support) and only these results can be used to determine whether access arrangements are necessary. While tests and assessments carried out privately can provide additional support for an application, they cannot be used as the basis for an application as it would be impossible to ensure parity between candidates from school; such tests are therefore unacceptable to the exam boards. We only provide students in Key Stage 4 and 5 with formal access arrangements. However, this doesn’t stop teaching staff trialling various supportive techniques with students. Tests for Year 10 students are carried out in the latter part of the summer term or the early autumn. If assessments do suggest that access arrangements are required (e.g. 25% extra time or a reader or coloured overlays), then the necessary application will be made and, if approved, the arrangement will be used throughout Year 11 - including for Y11 mock examinations. Tests for students in Years 11, 12 & 13 who we feel need further testing are conducted before the end of the autumn term.

In addition to assessments, we are required to demonstrate that students have a ‘history of need’ so performance in assessments and tests to date can be used for this purpose. Do not worry if students do not have support in assessments or tests - it provides a good opportunity to gather evidence of their independent performance which can later be compared to their performance with support. As previously mentioned, we are happy for subject staff to temporarily provide students with a reader, scribe or extra time in tests for the sole purpose of discerning whether or not this does actually aid them, to support a possible application.

Please be aware that even if a student has a diagnosis of "dyslexia", it does not automatically entitle him or her to access arrangements as these depend on the student's level of literacy in comparison with his/her peers. Many students who have received a diagnosis proceed through external examinations without access arrangements, and are able to meet their targets. I hope that this clarifies the procedure that we follow and reassures you that we assess all students we feel may benefit from access arrangements. If students are found eligible for support, then an application to the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) will be made. Mrs Selby Ian Finch

Specialist Teacher with Certificate of Psychometric Testing, Leader of Inclusion Assessment & Access Arrangements; Certificate of Competence in Educational Testing. Registered with the BPS

Year 7 Trip to Osmington Bay On Tuesday 5th May 168 students and 18 staff travelled to Osmington Bay for a week of team building and challenging tasks. Students had the opportunity to overcome their fear of heights and water by tackling activities such as Jacobs ladder and the giant swing. Outdoor skills were also developed through orienteering and survival challenges, such as learning to make a fire and building a shelter. The week went very quickly and finished with a disco, where everyone dressed up as ‘Where’s Wally?’ A big well done to year 7 for making the week very enjoyable for all.

Osmington Bay was a great trip where everyone got involved in all the activities. My favourite activity was the giant swing. It was really good because we all got two go’s and we were always doing something whether it was pulling people up to have a go, cheering someone on or actually doing it. Having lots of photographs and videos from the go pro was great, as we will be able to look back in five year time at our first proper school trip.

Max Eland 7B

On Tuesday 5th May 2015, Year 7 went to Osmington Bay, Weymouth. We stayed in rooms in our groups of four and in the mornings after breakfast (which was always delicious!) we did two activities. Out of the many activities we did my favourites were the giant swing and archery. After lunch and before dinner we would do two more activities. In Osmington Bay I learnt to work with my peers and to take risks. I enjoyed the giant swing because it was some-thing I wouldn't usually do and it was different. I would definitely go again despite the cold weather.

Ruby-Leigh Smith 7R

Sporting Achievements in Year 7 On Saturday 25th April, the Hertfordshire team of U13 girls, U13 boys and U15 boys represented the East of

England at Nationals in Manchester. We departed at 7:00am and arrived at 11:00am. I started off with the U13 girls Obstacle relay and we didn't do as well as we could because we had a small slip. Then, I did long jump and came 9th, although I could have done a lot better. After that, we did the 4x1 relay time trials and came 2nd. We managed to qualify for the finals, and shockingly, we came 1st! This meant that we were the fastest relay team in the UK! Overall, the U13 girls representing Hertfordshire came 4th. Last year, ( I didn't do this competition because I was too young ) Hertfordshire U13 girls came 7th. After a long and tiring day, we made it back to Hertford late at night. To get into Nationals, we had to go to the County regionals where we represented Hertfordshire and won, thrashing the team in 2nd by 30 points!

Julianna Glinkowska 7A

Sporting Achievements in Year 7 Congratulations to the Hertford gymnast Tilly Day, aged 11 on winning the silver medal at a regional grade 4 competition on Sunday. After qualifying top in the county competition, she went on to represent Hertfordshire in the Eastern regional competition in Ipswich. She completed against girls from clubs in Essex, Bedfordshire, Suffolk and Norfolk. She finished less than 0.50 of a mark behind the winner. Tilly completed pieces on the floor, vault, beam asymmetric bars and flexibility range. Tilly trains 4 times a week at Marriotts gymnastics club in Stevenage, where she is also part of the County Squad.

Year 8 Theatre Trip to ‘A Strange Wild Song’ On Thursday 7th May, Year 8 students went to see ‘A Strange Wild Song’, produced by the Rhum and Clay Theatre Company. The play was about three orphaned children, in northern France in the Second World War, who encountered a lost American soldier. There were only four actors, however they played two characters each. The way the actors changed their voices when they changed from one character to another was very effective. When the soldiers camera is found years later, with pictures of him and the young children on it, his grandson searches for the meaning through the photographs on the camera. Well acted and quite funny, we think that ‘A Strange Wild Song’ was a play worth watching.

Megan Walker, Sarah Greaves and Alice Brigham 8R

Art News

SBS sixth form art students recently had the wonderful opportunity of hearing about, and seeing the degree work of one of our own former students. Ruby Cowan has spent the past few years at Loughborough University where (following on from completing a foundation course at Central St Martins) she has been studying Textile design. Over a very special lunchtime Ruby talked through the various components of her degree course, showing our current art students the work she has produced. Of outstanding quality, it was amazing to hear the process of design and print that Ruby has mastered, as well as being both interesting and amusing to hear about her year out in industry. It really was a privilege for our current students to be

given such an informative speech about doing an art

degree and to see Ruby’s skilful and beautiful work.

Thanks go to Ruby for taking the time to bring in her

work, and to speak so fluently about her experience.

Ruby will graduate this summer, and we all wish her

well in what we are sure will be a very successful

future in the textile design world.

Annual Art Exhibition 2015 to be held on Thursday 25th June, from 6pm –

8pm in the SBS “Art Wing”

We do hope to see you there!

Food Technology and Catering Guides cooking We recently welcomed 2nd Hertford guides who spent an evening with us in the Food room cooking. The guides

produced a range of tray bakes which were flavoured and decorated using a choice of ingredients and flavours.

Amongst the girls were our own Year 8 students Katherine Searle and Anna Beaven who really led the way

using their own knowledge of cooking at Simon Balle. All the guides did a

brilliant job.

Food Technology and Catering Fishy Dishes! On Thursday 14th May 42 Year 7 Food Technology students were joined by 4 chefs who generously gave their

time to work with the students to produce four very tasty fish dishes. As part of our healthy schools we are always

striving to encourage healthy eating here at Simon Balle. We were trialling a number of new recipes using a

range of different oily fish to encourage students to eat fish. As always the students were brilliant. Many thanks

to Jane Sherlock and Hertfordshire Catering Ltd.

On the 14th of May Year 7 got the chance to cook a variety of different fish dishes. Four cooks used their time to help us create the ultimate fish dishes; all were very tasty! The reason they came to our school and to cook fish was, to try out a number of possible new dishes that could be included on the school’s lunch menu and to encourage us to include more fish in our diet and in school dinners. The Year 7’s split into teams to make their dish. We made salmon fish sticks with sweet potatoes, while other teams made fish cakes, lentil mackerel lunch box, mackerel pate and jerk roast fish. Afterwards we got to try and taste everyone’s dishes. All the dishes tasted amazing and people who didn’t like fish changed their opinions when they tried the fish dishes we made. A lot of people went back for 2nds or even 3rds on some of the dishes! After that we were told that we would have a vote for whose dish was the best, the result was very close, but winning by one person was the fish cake dish. We would like to thank the cooks who helped us make the delicious fish dishes and well done to the year 7’s who tried every dish and got stuck in with the dishes they were making. Thank you to Mrs Jones for organising the event. By Trixie Wraith and Hannah Southall 7A

Food Club is back!! Thursday 3.25 – 5.00

After a short period away from the kitchen while the upper school students prepared for their exams Food Club is back after half term. Year 7 will also be welcome to join us.

Year 7, 8 and 9 are welcome. Please see Mrs Jones in the Food room if you are interested in joining us.

LIBRARY AND ENGLISH DEPARTMENT NEWS Accelerated Reader Awards Congratulations to the following students who were each given 2 House Points in recognition of their fantastic reading scores. 2 million words 3 million words 4 million words Louis Broad 7L Ernie Dial 7N Jean Nwahba 8A Ruby-Leigh Smith 7R Ben Kenway 8A Emma Liddle 8A Madeline Durbin 8R Samuel Willis 8M Reader Profile Here we introduce one of our regular library users and hear which books she recommends. ROSALIE SHEPPARD 7L What are your interests , Rosalie? I enjoyed being in Textiles Club and I am a regular swimmer. How often do you visit the Library? Every day. Who are your favourite authors? I love to read Sophie McKenzie and David Walliams. Which are your favourite books? I loved ‘Split Second’ by Sophie McKenzie and ‘Demon Dentist’ by David Walliams. I would like to see them both made into films.

Book Reviews from Staff for Parents and Students Our Library held a very successful Easter Reading Challenge for Staff where they received a goodie bag including a young person’s book to review. So here are a few ideas of books that parents may enjoy reading alongside their children. All books mentioned are available to loan from our school library.

The Fastest Boy in the World by Elizabeth Laird This book would appeal to anyone who is interested in finding out about another country (Ethiopia) and who likes athletics. Solomon has many adventures, he is a likeable boy who can run fast and think quickly! This story is about how he discovers more about his family and also about himself. Highly recommended! AR Book Level 4.4 (by Mrs Saunders)

Farm Boy by Michael Morpurgo A nostalgic read with lovely illustrations, more sentimental than ‘War Horse’ but well written in parts. I enjoyed Grandpa’s story because it created a real voice for the character…For Year 7 and 8 students especially. AR Book Level 4.4 (by Mrs Woodhead)

The Gift by Carol Ann Duffy and Rob Ryan This is a different kind of picture book – different in a good way! The story goes full circle

and certainly makes you think about how family life works, changes and, quite often, stays

the same. The pictures are beautifully intricate and skilful.AR Book Level 4.6

(by Miss Haines)

COMING SOON - AUTHOR EVENT – DAVE

COUSINS – 11th

JUNE 16.00-17.00

TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM LIBRARY FROM

08.30 TUESDAY 26th

MAY – SEE

BELOW – SUITABLE FOR YEARS 4-7 (Years 4-

6 need to be accompanied)

PSA News

From Franchise to Facial. On election night the PSA transformed the 6th form block into a tranquil haven for

our pamper evening which had 60 guests being pampered by more than 20 therapists. The evening was a great

event and raised over £600 towards PSA funds. Thanks to everyone who supported the evening and the PSA

members who made it possible with their hard work.

This week students will be given the sponsorship forms for the SBS

Annual 5K Fun Run. It is a great help to the PSA if sponsorship is

given online via http://www.everyclick.com/simonballe5k A Simon

Balle water bottle will be given to every student who collects a

minimum of £7 sponsorship. And don’t forget that students and

parents can compete with staff in the Elite race – entry £10 – official

race number, time and water bottle as part of that entry. This is our

main fundraising event of the year and is always a wonderful

atmosphere. We are raising money to fund the purchase of two

defibrillators as well as continue our funding of one of the new

minibus.

After half term, Mr Pooley will be speaking to students about host families for our American visitors – if it is

something that you would be interested in doing please ask your child/ren to speak to Mr Pooley or contact him

direct on pooleyj@simonballe.herts.sch.uk

Music News We were delighted to learn that all six of our candidates were awarded diplomas from the London College of Music and can now use the letters DipLCM after their names. Well done to Stuart Bowden, Hugo Maclean, Niamh Parris, Alex Salter, Nick Stokes and Sam Trendall on this outstanding achievement. Last Thursday St Andrews Church hosted a showcase of contemporary and musical theatre songs by Simon Balle students, accompanied by Jeremy Lovell and Keith Willis. This show, in which students perform in front of friends, family and school staff, was a huge success and congratulations go to the individual students who produced confident and bold renditions. Debbie Kemp must also be recognised for her work getting the singers ready. To listen to the audio recorded on the night please follow the link below to the music department’s twitter feed (you do not need a twitter account to access it) and once again enjoy the sounds of our talented students!

https://twitter.com/simonballemusic/status/599952145232830464 Tickets for our Summer Concert on Tuesday 7th July at Broxbourne Civic Hall will be on sale straight after half term (see poster below). A reminder that ensembles are continuing to run and all senior musicians should return to full attendance as soon as their exams have finished please.

PE NEWS

County Athletics League Over the past couple of months Simon Balle Athletes have competed in the first three rounds of the County Athletics League at Wodson Park and Gosling, Welwyn. Stand-out performers have been Lily Jones (U16) who has jumped to a very high standard winning all three Triple Jump competitions as well as Jean Nwahba (U14) who has won all three of his Shot Putt and 300m events so far. There have been many more great performances so far and this has resulted in Simon Balle being placed very well in the provisional league standings so far out of 25 schools; U14 Boys – 2nd U14 Girls – 8th U16 Boys – 7th U16 Girls – 6th Upcoming County League Athletics Fixtures

Round 4 at Welwyn – Weds 3rd June Round 5 at Stevenage – Tues 9th June Round 6 at St. Albans – Mon 15th June

Other Athletics fixtures County Athletics Championships – Sat 6th June (Hemel) Fun Run – Weds 17th June Sports Day – Mon 22nd June

Athletics Officials On Tuesday a group of Y10 GCSE students attended Wodson Park to participate in an Athletics Officiating course. Students will then officiate at the major District athletics competitions in order to gain their final officiating qualification.

Cricket News Y9 County Cup v Freeman College Fremman College 100-4 SBS 101-4 Y9 played in the first round of the County Cup and beat Freeman College in a closely fought game. James Rollins and Max Lawrence started well and once James was out Josh Hill and Max put on a 50 partnership over 10 overs to win us the game. Max Lawrence score 38 not out. Boys will play Richard Hale in the next round this Thursday

Hockey Congratulations to Leah Wilkerson who played in the under 15 Herts team who won their regional hockey tournament last week. They beat Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Bedfordshire, Norfolk and Essex to secure their win.

Sailing News

James Hague (Y10 GCSE PE student) competed in the heats of the RIB challenge coming a very creditable 4 out of the 12 competitors that took part in this heat. The 13-16 year olds category is always a tough, fiercely competitive heat and James wasn't far off the winner (who came third in the overall Southampton final last year and won the heat again this year)

James also recently took part in the Comet Open event a couple of weeks ago, held at his Sailing Club (Fishers Green) - a very different experience as he sailed single handed and, in a boat, not only very different to his own but also one that he had never sailed before.

He picked up the trophy for the first Fisher Green boat home.

James competes next at the Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy, competing in his own boat over the bank holiday

weekend. He is also hoping to compete at Stone Cadet week (Essex) during the half term week as well. Good luck to

James over the summer, surely a star in the making.

THE SIMON BALLE Summer Term PE EXTRA-CURRICULAR

PROGRAMME 2015

Lunch-time clubs

1:25pm - 2:05pm

Tues 1:25pm – 1:50pm

After school clubs

3:30pm-4:30pm

MONDAY GCSE Revision Club Y9 & Y10 Cricket Training (JP & TJ)

Y7 Rounder’s (KA)

WEDNESDAY Athletics – Track events Y8 & 9 Rounder’s (Girls)

THURSDAY Athletics – Field events

Satellite Athletics Club

Kick Boxing (LB) - Gym

FRIDAY Y8 Boys Cricket (DB) - Field Satellite Cricket Club

Y7 Boys Cricket (TJ) - Field

Tennis Club – Boys (JP)