Dear families,
This week is Children’s Mental Health Week at SSQ. We were part of the launch of this nationally for Place2Be last week – watch the video of the launch below.
The theme is “know yourself, grow yourself” – linking up with the characters from Inside Out 2 to explore the importance of expressing our emotions. The focus is to help children discover how getting to know who we are and what makes us tick can help us build resilience, grow and develop.
At SSQ we focus on wellbeing and mental health through our curriculum every week where the children journal and learn specific wellbeing strategies and this week the children will be completing additional activities in class related to this theme as well as ending the week ready to “dress to express” themselves and the opportunity to take part in a talent show! We would also like to share this useful prompt sheet from P2B about supporting children with their mental health.Thanks for your support with this, as always.
Thank you to everyone who has already filled in our survey about this newsletter. We shall be listening to your feedback and acting on some of those comments and suggestions after the half term break. If you haven’t please fill in this very short survey here.
Thank you also to everyone who has attended our parent workshops. If you missed last week’s Early Writing sessions with Helen then here are the slides.
Next week is half-term so we hope you have a lovely week together with your families and we’ll see you back on Monday 24th February.
Have a great week!
Matt
I am available in school from Monday to Wednesday – do get in touch ([email protected]) if you have any questions in the meantime.
Please keep an eye on my information page outlining advice from me about various issues that may concern you plus many opportunities that are available to you and your family here in Southwark.
We have some upcoming events and opportunities below. Take a look and get in touch if you have any questions.
Free Half Term Events:
Events after Half Term:
We will be running a coffee morning on Wednesday 26th February at 9am which will include hearing from an organisation that supports people to find ways to reduce their energy bills – see this website and the flyer below for more information.
As part of the Old Kent Road Family Zone, we are running a day retreat for parents, called OKR ThinkSpace, on Friday 28th February, approximately 10am – 3pm. It will be held locally at a space in Elephant Park. Please email me ([email protected]) or Tiff if you want to book a place!
NEWS
Our 2025 Shakespeare Company had a brilliant workshop with Joe from https://www.shakespeareschools.org/ last week. As well as rehearsing acting and performance techniques, Joe also held a meeting with our dedicated tech team who began thinking about their light and soundscapes. The company is taking part in the Theatre Festival on Friday 21st March in Stratford, London. Stay tuned for more updates!
Year 6 traded school for Borough Market as they launched their Night At The Museum project. The children completed a treasure hunt around the world-famous market that involved speaking to traders, trying out tasters and seeking out tips to run their own bakery stalls on Wednesday 2nd April.
By simply shopping at a local Tesco and voting using their blue token system you can make a difference at SSq and help Edible Rotherhithe who provide so many amazing opportunities for our young gardeners. They have the chance to get more funding to help teach pupils how to prepare a healthy salad using ingredients grown in our outdoor polytunnel. You can vote until the end of March in these stores: Old Kent Road, The Cut, London Bridge High St, Blackfriars Circus, Tabard Square Tower Bridge Rd, Borough Rd, Gt Suffolk St, Tooley Street or Borough New Kt Rd.
It’s not too late to submit your Art Half Termly Project to Matt – see below for more information.
During the month of February (to join in with the national celebrations of LGBTQ history), we will be sharing and celebrating some inspirational contemporary and historical LGBTQ figures.
This week we shine a light on David Hockney
David Hockney was born in Bradford in 1937. After graduating from Bradford College of Art, he studied at the Royal College of Art in London before moving to Los Angeles in 1964. There, he developed his style in painting, printmaking and photocollages in works such as A Bigger Splash and Pearblossom Highway #2. He also pioneered the use of new technologies in art-making, such as the iPad, using one to design a stained-glass window in Westminster Abbey to celebrate the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. He has also designed stage sets for many operas. He came out when he was 23. His current partner is also his chief studio assistant, Jean-Pierre Gonçalves de Lima.
Key Dates for the rest of the year
Please see our updated Key Dates summary for the rest of 2025
Look out for all the OKRFZ dates including an extra one in May!
Attendance Last Week – well done Simmonds Class!
Well done to Nursery Simmonds Full Time Class who had 100% attendance last week!
Well done folks and keep it up!
Please contact us daily if your child is off ill or for another reason.
Email [email protected] or phone 0207 7033049 (option 1)
Latest Community News
Southwark Council want to hear the experiences of women and girls in Southwark, to understand how safe you feel living, working and travelling in our borough. Click here to take their short survey.
