SSq Newsletter – 15th October 2024

Newsletter

Dear families,

We hope you had an enjoyable weekend. The weather has certainly turned more autumnal now and it looks like it will be getting colder. Please do make sure that your child has a warm named coat to wear to school.

This week is Foundation Subject Week for years 1-5 where the children spend each day developing their skills in the subjects of art, RE, geography and computing. This gives them the chance to really understand the subject in more depth and take part in lots of engaging activities throughout the day. Ask them which subject they’ve been immersing themselves in today!

A reminder that the half-term break (that begins on Monday 21st October) is 2 weeks long!

It’s the ideal time to make sure that your child has the correct uniform for next half term. Please see the link here to our uniform expectations. Please note the following:

  • For PE, children need to wear a plain white t-shirt with grey/black shorts/jogging bottoms or leggings.
  • Earrings should only be small studs – NO hooped earrings due to health and safety reasons.

So please take a look at the link above to make sure you’ve got what you need!

Enjoy the break with your families when it arrives!

Matt


Last week I met the Programme Manager for Children and Young People from an organisation that supports families with a Latin-American background, IRMO (Indo-american Refugee and Migrant Organisation). They run several services for children and young people – I’ve included the flyers on the Community Noticeboard page later in the newsletter.

During half term, on Wednesday 23rd October, there will be a housing action in Westminster, run by our friends at Citizens UK. If you’re interested in getting involved with campaigning about issues that affect you personally, or your friends/family, this would be great to attend. Please see the flyer below.

A few weeks ago, I sent out a survey about the offer of freshly-cooked meals for our families to collect once a week. We are in the process of finalising the process and hope to have the meals available after half term!

Last Wednesday, I attended a South London Citizens Migration Summit, as we’re campaigning for affordable, timely and Fair pathways to Citizenship. We instil confidence in our children to become Change-makers in our community, and have no better role models than our own SSq parents, so I was very proud to hear one of our Mums, Kafilat, speaking so passionately about her own family’s pathway to Citizenship. When we see policies and processes that are unfair and have a negative impact on our families, the best way to highlight this and work towards change is for people to be brave enough to share their own story – so thank you Kafilat for your meaningful contribution!

Thank you Kafilat for your meaningful contribution at last week’s Citizen’s UK event!

Please keep an eye on my information page outlining advice from me about various issues that may concern you.

Have a great half term break!

Fi


Responsibility Core Value Champions for this week:

Well done to all our winners – look out for next term’s Core Value after half term!

NEWS – Marketplace Returns this weekend!

OKRFZ will be having a Half Term Party so if there are any budding magicians, games maestros or face painters that have availability to come down and volunteer we would welcome your time and energy greatly THIS SATURDAY from 10am-1pm!

Also we will have the Community Cycleworks team on site to offer mini bike 'MOTs'  and bike repairs advice. So if you cycle this may be a great opportunity to have your bicycle looked at.

Don’t forget to dress up for some half term fun – prizes for the best costumes – adults and children welcome to take part!

This Saturday’s Marketplace! See below for the remaining dates this year!

Here are the dates for the remaining Marketplaces for 2024 – to find out more about the Old Kent Road Family Zone see their website here.

NEWS – Half Term Sports Camp at SSq

Our friends at Burgess Sports are running their Sports Camp here at SSQ for the 2 weeks of half term. It’s free & is for children in Reception – Y6. It’s from 9:30 – 3pm. Children can attend for the whole 2 weeks (if there’s availability) or just come for odd days. They are given a free, hot lunch. They just need to bring a water bottle.

Use the following the link to book a place: https://eequ.org/experience/4902

Need help booking or have any questions, contact Maxx [email protected] or Afruja from Burgess Sports [email protected] or 07384 336 925

NEWS – Music making in Darwin House!

Jo, Nicky and all the team in our Darwin Provision are so proud of all the children in their music lessons. Fiona and Nicola from Southwark Music are teaching weekly music and sensory sessions to two small groups of children. Room leader Nicky said “The children are really enjoying their sessions and look forward to them each week. It's so lovely to see them all engaged and having their sensory and creative needs met.” As you can see from the photo, they’re loving every minute!

NEWS – Year 4 hit the Natural History Museum!

Year 4 had a brilliant trip to the Natural History Museum on Thursday. They explored fossils, discovered loads of animals and even spotted some dinosaurs. They clearly loved exploring and year 4 showed so much responsibility around the museum. Thank you to Molly, Matt, the Year 4 Team and of course the families who joined us to make the trip possible.

NEWS – Flo visits Nursery as part of Black History Month

Last week we had Bigfoot Arts Education come into Reception and Nursery to do a storytelling workshops, retelling the story of Floella Benjamin travelling from Trinidad to London as part of the Empire Windrush generation.

Inspired by the true story of Floella Benjamin as she travelled from Trinidad to London as part of the Windrush generation. EYFS Joinef Tara as she re-told the story of her friend Flo, a 10 year old girl who finds herself in a new country, surrounded by new people, and experiencing new things. Both Nursery and Reception children enjoyed a story of friendship, hope and determination that explored what ‘new’ means for a young black child in 1960s England! Thanks to Jenny for organising and the children for being amazing in the workshops!

At SSQ, we ensure that our curriculum offer is diverse and reflects the community we serve. The staff have worked to develop this further to ensure that all children can see themselves in the curriculum that is taught – through the history we teach throughout the year, the books that are shared and the people that we celebrate and look up to. SSQ has its very own Identity curriculum as we believe that focusing on who you are is critical in developing confidence, self-esteem and positive wellbeing. Nationally, Black History Month is celebrated in the month of October and in line with national celebrations we will be holding some special events throughout the month as we do feel it is important to mark this occasion also.

There are also some amazing free events across Southwark Libraries. Check out everything via the Southwark Website here.

NEWS – Inspirational Class Names Focus – Year 4!

Each year our teachers think carefully about an inspiring person to name their class after. This year we have artists, activists, athletes, paralympians, musicians, mathematicians and TV presenters.

Throughout this term, we are going to find out a little more about why teachers chose these inspirational people. This week, we find out why Matt and Molly chose Celia Pym and Zeb Zoanes as their aspirational class names in Year Two. Watch their videos below!

Find out why Matt chose Celia Pym for his inspirational class name.
Discover why Molly chose Zeb Soanes as her inspirational class name.

NEWS – Music Homework Challenge Final Week!

Thanks to everyone who has already sent in their music challenge homework! Keep them coming in – we shall be showcasing some of them next week and before half term! We will be sharing some entries in assembly this week and in the newsletter after half term! You still have a few days to enter! All the information you need is below.

NEWS – ASPIRATION FORTNIGHT RETURNS AFTER HALF TERM!

The children will be hearing from a variety of speakers over the first two weeks of the new half term. Look out for the newsletter after half term to find out more about this exciting event!


Opal Play Reminder!

As colder weather and rain inevitably arrives this Autumn, please remember to send your child in with a WATERPROOF COAT. Part of our OPAL play scheme is that children will go out in all weather.

We are also grateful for any donations for the playground: scooters, bikes, dressing up clothes, prams, wheelchairs etc).

Please email Debbie or Kathryn for more information or questions.


Music Lessons Update

Most lessons have now begun – Violin will begin this week (on Thursday)

There are still a few spaces for Guitar and Violin – if you would like your child (Yrs 3-6) to take part in a music lesson or for further information then do email Maxx [email protected]

Music Lessons this week

Tuesday – Keyboard

Wednesday – Guitar and Drums

Thursday – Keyboard and Violin


Attendance Last Week – well done Simmonds PM !

Well done to Nursery Simmonds Class (PM) 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)


This Week’s Menu and Update!

Thank you to all the parents that responded to the lunch survey before the Summer, apologies we haven't let you know sooner about the steps we have taken to improve the dining experience. The current menu is under review and we are looking at making sure this reflects our community, we  will be collecting daily feedback from the children and tweaking the menu in terms of their responses. We will update in a couple of weeks on what further steps we have taken to improve this service. If you have any questions or comments please come to the office and speak to Kelly or email [email protected]


Please ensure that you never send your child in with any foods that may contain nuts. Click here for more details.


Key Dates for this academic year!

We know that some of you like to plan ahead for the year. Please see our summary of key dates for 2024-25. Please note that some dates may change so keep checking this website or our social media channels (X formally Twitter and Instagram).


Below are the flyers that Fi mentioned earlier from IRMO (Indoamerican Refugee and Migrant Organisation). Scroll for your language of choice!

Southwark Food Action Alliance Food Map

Find more services at their website

Southwark Food Action Alliance have launched their new food map which you can access using this link. This map shows food banks and pantries, community fridges, community meals and more. They have also produced a leaflet that is split into four sections: Places to go for free food, Places to go for low-cost food, Places to go for meals, cafes and takeaways, and Foodbanks where you need a referral or voucher from an agency. You can view and download the leaflet here.

Footballers in Years 3,4 and 5 wanted!

As you may or may not be aware, Southwark Jaguars launched their first ever girls football team in August 2023. Since that first sunny day they have grown from strength to strength and currently have 60 girls registered across our U9’s, U10’s, U11’s & U12’s teams. We can guarantee that most of you will have at least one girl at our school that is a Southwark Jaguar. With that in mind they are keen to offer the opportunity of playing competitive weekend football to more girls. Unlike most football teams they do not offer trials. If you are girl and want to play, then this is the club for you. Please note they are looking for girls that are currently in year three, four and five.

Parents/carers will need to follow the link below or scan the QR CODE on the attached flyer to register their interest.

Southwark Jaguars Register of Interest – The PE & School Sports Network (lpessn.org.uk)

The SEND Saturday Sports Club returns!

This amazing opportunity reopens again on Saturday 21st September! Please see the below info or find our more from the LPESSN website.

Stay up to date with all things SSQ!

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