Dear Families I would like to wish you a warm welcome back as we now start the academic year 2015- 2016. This is a very special time for us as we particularly welcome our very first “Reception “ students, and thus become an All through School. I have now for many years spoken of the educational advantages of working across the age phases and stages, and to this end have always looked for opportunities to work together with our local primaries. Staff and students at Simon Balle will continue to work with many local primaries; members of our MFL, Music and PE teams regularly work with primary colleagues and students. Our IT outreach team provides technical support to many Hertford and Ware schools. We are once again embarking on educational research with our four local primaries , looking at “teacher –talk” and its impact in classrooms and on achievement. All of this and more will continue. However what will be different is that we now have our very own young learners. During the coming years, I hope that everyone will come to appreciate and understand the concept of the All through School. We do not have “a primary wing”. This is not separate- it is one school. It is early days to see the benefits of All through schooling but these will come as primary children gain access to specialist teachers, meet with older students and can use specialist accommodation. Transition eases and relationships with families is obviously strengthened. All of this will come. We are delighted with our new building, the Larch Centre. The building is spacious and light, energy sustainable and purpose built. Visitors have been struck by the detail to finish and the contemporary feel. Whilst providing classrooms and wrap around care for our reception learners, we shall be using the rooms for other school activities and functions.

Examination Results I am sure that you have read of the excellent examination results both at GCSE and at A Level. We are particularly proud of our Year 11 students who achieved very impressive GCSE scores, with 75% of the cohort, achieving 5+ A*-C in English and Maths. Science results both at GCSE

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY: Term Dates: Autumn Term : 1st Sep to 18th Dec Half term : 26th-30th Oct Occasional Days : 26th and 27th Nov INSET Days : 28th Sep September Thurs 10th 6.30-8.30pm Sports presentation evening Thurs 17th 9.00am Reception Parents Coffee morning 6.30pm Reception Parents Coffee Evening Fri 25th Early Finish Sat 26th Open Morning Mon 28th Inset Day

10th September 2015

THIS ISSUE: Welcome Autumn Dates Examination Results New Staff Governors PSA Move Week Archeche Summer School Music Tour Music News PE Extra Curricular Programme Data Protection

and A level have improved again this year and now are outstanding. This should not deter from the fact that results were high in every other subject, with so many students getting the top grades. We shall shortly be publishing both subject results and overall percentages on the website, so please do look. Results only maintain or improve if sustained hard work and effort is evident. Our students, staff and parents once again have “gone the extra mile” and I would like to say thank you to those parents who have already emailed in their thanks to staff. There always are some questions and concerns; papers have been sent back for re-marking and already students have had grade increases. However Governors at their exam clinic have scrutinized all results and performance and have thanked staff for improvements, sustained excellence and hard work.

Welcome to new staff Sarah Attard – English Teacher Christina Clark – Music Teacher Victoria Davis – Head of Design & Technology Joshua Dear – Administrator Jessica Emery – Reception Class Teacher Montemayor Fish – MFL Teacher Nicola Harding – Receptionist/Administrator David Kelleway – STEM Teaching Assistant Nicholas Lee – Science Teacher Jennifer McGovern – Politics Teacher Jasmine Nesbitt-Larking - Administrator Ryan Norcross – PE/Geography Teacher Emma Pearce – Learning Support Assistant William Poley – History Teacher Emma Ponder – Teaching Assistant Richard Smith – History Teacher Craig Stoughton – ICT Technician Emma Summerfield – Reception Class Teacher Kieran Taylor – Cleaner/ Relief Caretaker Debbie Upton – English Teacher

Alison Saunders

Governors We are now looking for new Governors, both from parents and the wider community. In particular we are interest-ed in hearing from people who can bring certain skill sets and experiences to enable Simon Balle School to flour-ish and deliver first class education. We will be sending out specific information shortly but would like to take this opportunity to inform you so that you can either yourself consider this or suggest this to a friend or colleague. We would very much like to hear from people who, as well as committed to the Simon Balle ethos and values; have experience of Publicity, promotion and advertising Effective fundraising or income generation Primary or Early Years education Educational research

PSA News Dates for your diary: PSA AGM Tuesday 13th October - full details to follow. PSA Quiz Night—Saturday 14th November - full details to follow Also, we will be running our parents evenings raffles again this year - remember to bring £1 for when you sign in on the evening! All raffle prize donations will be gratefully received by the school office. Please remember that we also run a Nearly New Uniform Sale at each parents evening so feel free to pop along from 5pm (even if it isn't your years' parents evening) Tuesday 3rd November: Y10 Wednesday 2nd December: Y8 Tuesday 8th December: Y9 (other year groups to follow later in the academic year)

Move Week Dear partners and colleagues, I hope you are well and you all had a lovely summer. MOVE Week is back in Hertfordshire! Some of you may remember that the MOVE Week is an annual Europe-wide campaign promoting sport, physi-cal activity and the positive impact on society they bring. MOVE Week in East Herts is driven by Active East Herts (community sports network in East Herts) and sup-ported by other organisation (CVS Broxbourne and East Herts, East Herts District Council and Herts Sports Partnership). This year’s campaign is full of exciting opportunities for our residents including Family Football, Cycling, Tram-polining, Tennis, Health Walks, Parkruns, Senior Zumba, Buggy Circuits and much more! If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Can we also ask you to promote the MOVE Week activities to your groups, clients, local residents and community groups? Your help would be hugely appreciated! Thank you, Michal Siewniak Community Development Manager CVS for Broxbourne & East Herts Nigel Copping Community Building Sanville Gardens Stanstead Abbotts Hertfordshire SG12 8GA Tel: 0300 123 1034 Mob: 07825 021746 Connect: Web | Facebook | Twitter Please see attached PDF’s for more information on Move Week.

ARDECHE REVIEW:

For 8 days of the school holiday myself, 11 other staff and 86 Year 11 students had a fantastic time on the Ardeche watersports trip to France. After 15 years of running the trip, I made the decision that this would be my final trip, spent with my amazing year group. It did not disappoint, the pupils were impeccably behaved and threw themselves in to the true spirit of the trip and were a real credit to Simon Balle. We received so many compliments from the PGL staff in France about both our pupils and our staff and my heartfelt thanks go to each and every one of them for making my last Ardeche truly fantastic. I would also like to thank the amazing parents of Year 11 for their vast abundance of emails, cards and gifts, I have been completely over-whelmed! Below are some quotes from the pupils that give a great picture of how much they enjoyed it but also really appreciated it. NICKY TRAYNOR (HEAD OF YEAR 11)

Everything we did was so much fun but it was also organised impeccably so everyone knew what was going on, parents included’ – Sarah Kenway 11M ‘Thank you for all your hard work and preparation in making the Med/Ardeche so special, giving me lots of memories that I will cherish forever’ – Lily Jones 11N ‘A memorable trip where I created close friendships with people I have never spent time with before; it really brought us all together as a year group’ – Amy Matthews 11R ‘It was an amazing experience and I had a fantastic time’ - Clara Weller 11A ‘The Ardeche was an unforgettable experience. I enjoyed the activities such as the sailing and canoeing as it allowed me to learn certain skills whilst having fun’ – Alex Lumia 11B ‘The Ardeche was a brilliant, laugh-a-minute trip packed full of fantastic activities and many hilarious moments, all of which made it a truly unforgettable experience’ – Alex Willis 11R ‘It was really fun to be with our year group in a more relaxed environment with looooads of activities to fill every minute of our time there :)’ – Lizzie Pickup 11A

‘Thank you Miss for taking us on the trip, it was the best holiday I have been on and I had the best birthday as well. The days were packed full of really great activities and there was always something fun happening. Everyone on the trip helped make it really enjoyable, I also learned a lot and never stopped having a great time. I will always remember what an amazing time I had on the Ardeche trip. – Caitlin Mason 11A’ ‘There are no words to describe how funny that trip was. As soon as I came home I wanted to be back there…….. even though you had to sprint to the showers!’– Jenny Goodson 11A ‘I had a really good time and I shall never forget it, thank you so much for the experience and it could not have been with a better Head of Year!’ – Adam Bassett 11B

‘Absolutely amazing trip from start to finish. A completely and utterly unforgettable experience.’ – Philippa Shattock 11B ‘Thanks to all the students and staff for making it an amazing experience which I'm sure I will remember long

after I’ve left the school!’ - Elspeth Grace 11A

SUMMER SCHOOL

For one week in August we welcomed sixteen of the new Year 7s to join us for Summer School. We were accompanied by six of our older students who showed great leadership and initiative over the days. The students enjoyed different activities throughout the week, including, preparing their own lunch over an open fire, calligraphy and art work, writing and performing a rap, visiting Hertford Museum and being taught how to cook some tasty dishes by an ex-Simon Balle student who is now a professional chef. The aim of the week is to make the transition between primary and secondary as seamless as possible by familiarising the students with their new school, giving them the opportunity to make new friends ahead of the new term and boosting their confidence through fun and varied activities. The students’ views on their week included: “Fantastic, because I made friends,” “a brilliant experience,” “Fun

because we did fun activities” and “good, because it helped us learn our way around the school.” Many of them

have already said they want to come back next year as helpers!

Tania Noxon

THE MUSIC TOUR The Music Tour set off to Belgium on 22nd July destined for Ghent. Ghent is known for its massive musical festival, with over 80,000 people attending over a 10 day period. The tour kick started its first concert in De Panne, a 40 minute drive from Ghent. The second concert took place right in the heart of Ghent Festival with an audience of around 3000-4000 people. Simon Balle School has been on the Ghent music festival set list for the past 4 years, and this year, they were lucky enough to perform a later slot which meant a larger audience. Once again, the festival loved it and Simon Balle got amazing feedback from the staff running the festival and also locals. After Ghent, the tour moved on to Mons where they stayed for the rest of the tour, travelling to local towns to perform concerts. The last three concerts were performed in Namur, Charteroi and Tournai. All were fantastic performances, especially Tournai which showed a real sense of team spirit and passion where all performed in storm conditions, outside! It was also a very emotional last tour for the Yr13 Leavers, all 20 of them! It was evident that all leavers had thoroughly enjoyed their time with the Simon Balle Music Department and will miss it immensely. Massive well done to all the Yr13 Leavers for their achievements over the years, you will be missed! A final thank you to all the staff who helped with the trip and the school for providing such amazing facilities to

make it all happen. The quality of music keeps getting higher and higher and Simon Balle cannot wait to see the

amazing Music Tours to come.

MUSIC NEWS Music lessons got underway this week – a special mention for our new year 7 musicians who have been arriving promptly and have made an enthusiastic start to their lessons, well done! Singing is great fun and everyone is welcome to join one of our choirs! Melodic Minors choir rehearses from 3.30pm to 4.15pm on Wednesdays and is open to all students in years 7, 8 and 9. Coro is our choir for years 10 to 13 and rehearsals are from 1.10pm to 2pm on Thursdays. We also have a community choir Take Note for adults, which meets on Wednesday evenings from 7.45pm. No previous experience is necessary, there is no audition and you do not need to be able to read music. Anyone who is interested is invited to come along and sit in on a rehearsal, new members are always welcome! Please contact the music department if you have any queries about singing at Simon Balle. We are finalising the music calendar for the year and this will be published shortly but here are some key dates for your diaries: Friday 27th November – Big Band at Hertford Christmas Lights Tuesday 1st December – Autumn Concert at Broxbourne Civic Hall 7pm Saturday 12th December – Take Note Winter Concert at St Andrew’s Church Tuesday 15th December – Carol Service at All Saints’ Church 7pm Thursday 11th February – Strings Recital in school hall 7pm Friday 4th March – Big Band Evening Thursday 17th March – Strings and Singing Concert in school hall l7pm Saturday 23rd April – Wind and Brass Concert in school halll

THE SIMON BALLE Sept - Oct ½ 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 Y10 Football (JP) Y7 Rugby (DB)

Y8 & 9’s Basketball Y8 Football (TJ)

TUESDAY Senior Rugby (Y11-13) (DB) (Match

weeks)

10/11 Basketball – (Coach)

Girls Football

WEDNES-

DAY

Senior Football (JP) Y7 Football Club (RN)

Senior Netball (LEJ) Y7/8 Netball club (KA/ LEJ)

Y11 Girls Rugby (KA) Y8 Rugby (TJ)

Senior Rugby (DB)

3.30 – 4.30 – Mixed Martial Arts (LB)

4.30 – 5.30 – Staff Fitness (LB)

THURS-

DAY

Girls Rugby Y7-10 (KA) Y9/10 Netball club (LEJ & NJT)

Y9 & 10 Rugby (DB) Swimming (KA)

Y11 Football (TJ)

FRIDAY Basketball Training

Cross Country (DB)

Data Protection Act 1998: How we use your information

We process personal information relating to our pupils and may receive information about them from their previous school or college, local authority, the Department for Education (DfE) and the Learning Records Service. We hold this personal data to:

support our pupils’ learning

monitor and report on their progress

provide appropriate pastoral care; and assess the quality of our services

Information about our pupils that we hold will include their contact details, national curriculum assessment results, attendance information, any exclusion information, where they go after they leave us and personal characteristics such as their ethnic group, any special educational needs they may have as well as relevant me dical information. For pupils enrolling for post 14 qualifications, the Learning Records Service will give us the unique learner number (ULN) and may also give us details about your learning or qualifications. In addition once our pupils reach the age of 13, the law requires us to pass on certain information about them to the provider of Youth Support Services in Hertfordshire who have responsibilities in relation to the education or training of 13-19 year olds. We provide them with these pupils’ names and addresses, dates of birth, name(s)/address(es) of their parent(s)/guardian(s) and any other information relevant to their role. We may also share certain personal data relating to children aged 16 and over with post-16 education and training providers in order to secure appropriate services for them. A parent/guardian can ask that no information apart from their child’s name, address and date of birth be passed to the support service by informing Mrs Salter, Database Manager. This right is transferred to the child once he/she reaches the age 16. For more information about services for young people, please go to our local authority website. http://www.hertsdirect.org/services/youngpeople/. For more information about young people’s services, please go to the National Careers Service page at https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/aboutus/Pages/default.aspx We will not give information about you to anyone without your consent unless the law and our policies allow us to. We are required, by law, to pass some information about you to the Department for Education (DfE). This Infor-mation will, in turn, then be made available for the use by the LA. If you need more information about how our local authority and/or DfE collect and use your information, please visit: our local authority at http://www.hertsdirect.org/services/edlearn/privsch/ or

the DfE website at https://www.gov.uk/data-protection-how-we-collect-and-share-research-data

If you want to receive a copy of the information about you that we hold, please contact: Mrs Salter, Database Manager.

ParentPay When you log in to www.parentpay.com, there will be payment items listed as “due for

payment”, if you think that you may have already paid for these please check your trans-

action history or contact the Finance Office for further assistance.

If you have not yet activated your account or require a login, please email

finance@simonballe.herts.sch.uk or phone 01992 410400 and ask for the Finance Office.

Parental Consent forms for Trips We are changing the way we collect parental consent for all day trips. If you are paying for the trip using

www.parentpay.com then you will give your permission online and will not be required to send in a paper

reply slip. If you are paying by cash or cheque you will need to return the paper reply slip.

Residential trips will still require a signed paper parental consent form.

MOVE WEEK BRINGS COMMUN

ITIES

TOGETHER IN A LARGE

SCALE CELEBRATION OF SPO

RT

AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Aquathlon - Buggy Cicuits - CricketGeocaching - parkrun - Kettlebell ClassesTrampolining - Jhoom! - Tennis - Gym FitnessYoga - Senior Zumba - Football - Cycling - Health Walks

Date Sport Details Venue Time Cost

Saturday 19th –27th

Sunday

Geocaching A series of boxes have been hidden around Standon. Can you and your family find them following the clues? Set in and around this picturesque village; enjoy the countryside at your leisure. The event closes with a prize draw from all that took part, so get searching!

Standon All Week Free

Saturday 19th

parkrun A weekly 5km run. Simply enter online for free, bring along your printed barcode and away you go! Visit http://www.parkrun.org.uk/register/ to register.

Panshanger Park, Thieves Lane entrance, Hertford, SG14 2WN

9:00 Free

Family football

Mums and Sons vs. Dads and Daughters! A football tournament for all the family. Wodson Park Astro, Ware, SG12 0UQ

9:00-11:00 Free

Sunday 20th

Cycling (hill climb)

Who will be king of the hill? No polka-dot jersey up for grabs but still plenty of fun. Get back in the saddle at Hoddesdon.

Cock lane, Hoddesdon 10:00 Free

Health Walks A 3 mile, 1 hour walk with moderate hills and possible stiles. Meet at the bench near Hartham Leisure Centre.

Hartham Common, Hertford, SG14 1QR

11:00 Free

Monday 21st

Gym fitness All abilities are welcomed to use the fitness suite, with qualified gym instructors at hand to offer advice and assistance. 16 years and over.

Wodson Park, Ware, SG12 0UQ

10:00-12:00 £3

Health Walks A gentle 2 mile, 45 minute walk with moderate hills and possible stiles. Meet by the bench near the shops at the corner of Fleming Cresent.

Panshanger Park, Hertford, SG14 2DJ

10:00 Free

Beginners Yoga

Interested in trying yoga? This beginner’s session focuses on improving flexibility, posture, balance and general well-being.

Wodson Park, Ware, SG12 0UQ

10:30-11:30 £3

Healthwise An enjoyable programme for people aged 50+, including gentle exercises and advice in healthy eating and computer skills. A great way to stay healthy and meet new people!

St. Andrew Church Centre, Hertford, SG14 1HZ

14:00-15:00 Free

Special Olympics

Athletics and Netball especially for people with a learning and or physical disability. Wodson Park, Ware, SG12 0UQ

18:00-19:00 £3

Trampoline Club

Always wanted to try trampolining? Now is your chance! A session exclusively free for MOVE Week for over 15’s & adults. Limited availability so if interested, visit: www.ribvalleytc.co.uk

Freman College Buntingford, SG9 9BT

19:30-20:30 Free

Kettle bell class

A newly founded class at Wodson Park, using kettle bells in aerobic workouts; great for all round fitness and toning.

Wodson Park, Ware, SG12 0UQ

20:00-21:00 £3

Tuesday 22nd Health Walks A more challenging, 90 minute walk including stiles and some steep inclines. Meet outside the shops on The Avenue, near the junction with Cowper Cresent.

Bengeo & Waterford Marsh, SG14 3DU

10:00 Free

Jhoom! A vibrant, Bollywood style dance class. Fun dance fitness with an Indian twist! Wodson Park, Ware, SG12 0UQ

10:30-11:30 £3

Gym fitness See Monday 21st. Wodson Park, Ware, SG12 0UQ

14:00-15:00 £3

Special Olympics

SOEH Boccia club provides an opportunity for those with a learning and or physical disability to try out this game of skill and subtlety.

Wodson Park, Ware, SG12 0UQ

17:00-19:00 £3

Tennis A taster session hosted by St Margaretsbury Tennis Club. All ages and abilities welcome. Rackets St Margaretsbury Tennis 17:00-19:00 Free

and balls provided, just bring along your tennis shoes. Club, Stansted Abbotts, SG12 8EH

Morris Dancing

Put on your dancing shoes and join Fiddlers Brook Morris in a vibrant morris dancing session. Fun, energetic dancing to traditional folk music, not to be missed!

Allens Green Village Hall, Sawbridgeworth

20:00 Free

Wednesday 23rd

Gym fitness See Monday 21st. Wodson Park, Ware, SG12 0UQ

10:00-12:00 £3

Health Walks An easy going, 20-30 minute walk on even surfaces and regular stops. Meet outside Hertford, Theatres main entrance.

Hertford Castle, Hertford, SG14 1PS

10:00 Free

Tennis See Tuesday 22nd. St Margaretsbury Tennis Club, Stansted Abbotts, SG12 8EH

17:00-19:00 Free

Yoga Yoga and deep relaxation can bring great benefits for your health and wellbeing. Find out for yourself – 16 spaces are available, so if interested, please contact: claudia@homestretchyoga.uk

The Apton Centre, 22a Apton Road, Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 3SN

19:00-20:00

Free

Thursday 24th

Buggy Circuits

A postnatal fitness programme for mums with their babies in their buggies. A great way to get fit and lose weight, make friends and relieve stress.

Wodson Park, Ware, SG12 0UQ

10:00am £3

Senior Zumba

Just go with the flow in this easy-going Zumba class, enjoyed by all ages. Wodson Park, Ware, SG12 0UQ

13:30-14:30 £3

Gym fitness See Monday 21st. Wodson Park, Ware, SG12 0UQ

14:00-15:00 £3

Friday 25th Gym fitness See Monday 21st. Wodson Park, Ware, SG12 0UQ

10:00-12:00 £3

Health Walks A moderate walk, 1 hour, about 3 miles, moderate hills, faster pace, possible stiles. Meet opposite recycling bins at entrance to High Street Car Park.

Stanstead Abbots, SG12 8AS

10:00 Free

Healthwise An enjoyable programme for people aged 50+, including gentle exercises and advice in healthy eating and computer skills. A great way to stay healthy and meet new people!

Apton Centre, Bishops Stordford, CM23 3SN

11:00-12:00 Free

Saturday 26th parkrun See Saturday 19th Panshanger Park, Thieves Lane entrance, Hertford, SG14 2WN

9:00am Free

Aquathlon In association with Triathlon England, the Aquathlon is dual disciplined race involving a swim and a run, with age group races from 8 years upwards. All money made from entries is donated entirely the charity “Anthony Nolan”

Hartham Leisure Centre, Hertford, SG14 1QR

13:00 £1

Sunday 27th

Aquathlon See Saturday 26th. Grange Paddocks, Bishop's Stortford, CM23 2HH

10:00 £1

Health Walks A moderate walk, 1 hour, about 3 miles, moderate hills, faster pace, possible stiles Meet at the bench near Hartham Leisure Centre.

Hartham Common, Hertford, SG14 1QR

14:00 Free

Cricket An indoor cricket taster session with coaches on hand to help and equipment provided! Howzat?! Allenbury’s Sports & Social Club, Harris Lane, Ware, SG12 0DJ

17:00-19:00 Free