Dear families,
I hope you enjoyed the September sunshine over the weekend! It looks set to be quite wet this week so please do make sure your child comes to school with a coat – and please ensure their name is on it.
The Meet the Teacher Meetings have started – thank you to those who have already joined these meetings. We hope that you have found them helpful and informative. Please save the date for the ones that haven’t happened yet!
The term is certainly racing by and we’re now coming up to our first TLC Day of the year. As you know, this is a really important day as you get the opportunity to meet your child’s teacher in a 1:1 meeting to find out more about how they’ve settled back in to school life and what they need to focus on this year to make progress both personally and academically. The date for this is Wednesday 9th October. The school will be closed to children for the day but they should come with you to these meetings. There is a child care provision for working parents as usual. More information about this and the link to sign up for your appointment time will be shared via Parentmail this week.
Have a wonderful week ahead, Matt
I would like to invite any parents or carers who have had to apply for British citizenship for their children (or for themselves) to a meeting on Wednesday 9th October, from 10am. The location is a short bus-ride away, at King’s College, Waterloo Campus, James Clerk Maxwell Building, 57 Waterloo Road, SE1 8WA. This is part of our campaign with South London Citizens, aiming for Affordable, Timely and Fair pathways to citizenship. Those who have been through the system know that it is none of these at the moment, so we are campaigning for change. I will be leaving school just after 9am to attend the meeting, so please let me know if you would like to come with me. Alternatively, feel free to make your own way there. If this issue doesn’t affect you personally, but you’d like to support the wider community, you are more than welcome to attend.
Please keep an eye on my information page here outlining advice from me about various issues. Do get in touch ([email protected]) if you have any questions.
Have a great week! Fi
Responsibility Core Value Champions for this week:
NEWS – Year 1 Class Inspired by Paralympian Olivia Breen
Breen Class have been having a go at the Olympic sports that Olivia Breen competes in herself. In their first week they all watched Olivia compete in the Long Jump then had a try themselves! This week they all competed in the Breen Class sprint! They all had fun trying and persevering with everyone cheering on their friends. A huge well done to the Breen class gold medalists (pictured).
NEWS – Old Kent Road Family Zone Returns!
THIS SATURDAY 28th September sees the return of the inimitable OKRFZ Marketplace. This month’s Marketplace will have a Back to School theme. They will be also offering Hygiene products to tackle Hygiene Poverty.
Ever wondered what playing a musical instrument whilst doing exercise might be like? Well, wonder no more – there will be two Drummercise workshops available for anyone wanting to get involved and have some fun.
All the usual favourites will return: The Café, Col’s Boutique Shop, Sports with Quentin, the Food Shop plus Kam’s amazing lunch!
Tiff, Lea and the team look forward to seeing you!
NEWS – Half Termly Homework Challenge Launched!
Each term the children will be set a homework challenge linked to one of our foundation subjects. This half term, Chris has set a musical challenge; everything you need to know is on the poster below however please email [email protected] if you have any questions in the meantime.
NEWS – Year 3 hit all the right notes with Danny!
This week Year 3 started to learn to play the recorder with Danny the music teacher from Southwark Music Service. The children were taught the note B and had several opportunities to practise playing this note to a song in small groups. They are all excited to learn more next week and each week for this term.
NEWS – Gardening Club Win Prestigious Award!
It was smiles all around from our Thursday gardening after school club who were so excited to find out they had achieved Level 2 in the RHS Grassroots School Gardening Awards! Both clubs have worked and definitely showed all the Core Values: learning new skills, planning, growing food and supporting their community by donating to the Old Kent Road Family Zone (See above!). Thanks to Christina and her team of volunteers from Edible Rotherhithe who make gardening so much fun here at SSq!
NEWS – Colder and Wet Weather means MORE fun at Playtimes and Lunchtimes!
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.
NEWS – Inspirational Class Names Focus – Year 1!
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.
Over the next term we are going to find out a little more about why teachers chose these inspirtional people. This week, we find out why Helen and Elizabeth chose Olivia Breen and Cynthia Erivo as their aspirational class names. Watch Elizabeth and Helen’s videos below!
NEWS – Aspiration Speakers Still Wanted!
We are always looking for speakers to come in and share experiences of their career journey including the challenges they may have faced. If you could give up some time on the dates above then please email Megan ([email protected]) or Chris ([email protected]).
Clubs Update from Carol
Most of our 430pm clubs are full & some have waiting lists.
There are spaces available in:-
- Monday Drama (Y4-6)
- Wednesday Multisports (Y3 -6)
- Thursday Drummercise (Y2 – 6)
- Friday Drumming (Y2 – 4)
Please contact Maxx [email protected] if you're interested in signing your child up.
Attendance Last Week – well done Nursery Classes!
Well done to Scheffler AM Class and Simmonds PM Class who both had 100% attendance last week!
Well done folks and keep it up!
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 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).
Southwark Food Action Alliance Food Map
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.
