SSq Newsletter: TLC Day, Lunar New Year, and More

Dear families,

We hope that you are well.

A reminder that tomorrow – Wednesday 29th – is TLC day. On this day, school will be closed to children, but we expect them to attend their TLC appointments with you. This is a valuable opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher to discuss their personal and academic progress. Thank you to those of you who have booked in your appointment – Here is the link again for those who need it. Remember that there is also an opportunity to book a later appointment on Thursday evening. The partnership between home and school is vital in supporting your child’s growth, and we look forward to these conversations helping us work together for their success.

There has been lots going on at SSQ as always with community projects underway, the beginnings of the Night at the Museum projects starting and lots of trips and experiences going on. Year 5 got to experience a night at the theatre last Monday where they went to watch a pantomime of The Little Mermaid at the Peacock Theatre. They had a great evening and were able to sing and dance their hearts out!

The SSQ Shakespeare Company have also started their rehearsals for Twelfth Night. The 35 strong company are made up of children in Years 4,5 and 6 and they will have the opportunity to perform this play at a West End Theatre on March 21st. We’re very excited to see the results of this!

It’s Lunar New Year tomorrow (Wednesday 29th) and we shared about this festival in assembly on Friday. On Thursday the children will enjoy a Lunar New Year themed lunch at school. This year is the year of the Snake which is good luck to those that are born in 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 or indeed this year! Happy Lunar New Year to those that are celebrating.

Have a great week ahead!

Matt

I am available in school from Monday to Wednesday – do get in touch (fcarrick-davies@ssq.org.uk) if you have any questions in the meantime.

If you have a child born between 1st September 2002 and 2nd January 2011, they may have money in a Child Trust Fund set up by the government that you don’t necessarily know about. Please check this website for more information. Feel free to share this with other friends who have children that age.

The council are now responsible for issuing Free School Meals vouchers during school holidays, and we’re aware that there have been problems for some of our families. Please email Maxx on mwalker@ssq.org.uk if this applies to you.

If you have No Recourse to Public Funds and I don’t already know about it, please do let me know asap by emailing fcarrick-davies@ssq.org.uk

Several of our parents have recently asked me about employment opportunities at school – these are always advertised on our website. One of our partner organisations, Pecan (based in Peckham) offers employment preparation support, CV writing and other programmes to help people get back into work. Please go to this website for more information Please also go to this website for more information about local jobs.

If you are interested in training courses, the Thomas Calton Centre in Peckham runs a wide range, including academic subjects like maths, English and IT, but also practical courses like fashion, pottery mindfulness and textiles. Lots of the courses have already started, but there are some that begin this week. There is a new range of courses starting this month, so do check their website

There is a WhatsApp group set up specifically for mothers in Southwark and Lambeth who have experienced maternal wellbeing challenges. Please visit this link to join

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

Fi

Community Core Value Champions Spring Term 2025:

Well done to all the children who have showed the core value of community last week.

NEWS – Picture Perfect trip for Year 1

Year 1 went to Dulwich Picture Gallery to take part in a Nature workshop. They looked at an impossible painting of flowers. They then went into an Art Studio with an artist called Charlotte and created four pictures using a range of materials. The drawing ink was their favourite!

NEWS – Year 4 Visit Young V and A Museum

Year 4 visited the Young V&A Museum last Wednesday. The three areas of play, imagine and design were interactive and inspirational and they all had huge fun. Matt, Molly and the whole team were impressed with the entire year group’s attitude and focus. Thanks to all the adults who attended for making it such an unforgettable trip.

NEWS – Science Competition Launched

The Science ambassadors launched the QR CHALLENGE last week. Excited Science co-ordinator Marica said: ‘It is a class competition where the children have to find the QR code and write down the science-based questions and answers correctly.’ We look forward to hearing the results – watch this space!

NEWS – OKRFZ Marketplace Success

It was wonderful to see so many of you at the Marketplace on Saturday. Tiff, Lea, Kam, and the entire team extend their gratitude for your donations of products and time. It was delightful to watch everyone enjoy Noel’s Drummercise, Mood Board crafting, and a delicious free lunch from Kam that celebrated the Lunar New Year. Don’t forget the next Marketplace is on Saturday 29th March.

NEWS – OKRFZ NEEDS YOU!

Help us co-create a vision of what time-out to think should look like for our community. Share your thoughts and join our very first cohort to explore what’s possible together.

To sign up, please email tbarone@ssq.org.uk Limited places available.

NEWS – VOTE SURREY SQUARE AT TESCO!

We are so lucky to have Christina and her team from Edible Rotherhithe who provide so many amazing opportunities for our young gardeners here at SSq. 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.

By simply shopping at a local Tesco and voting using their blue token system you can make a difference.

Here is where you can vote for SSq/Edible Rotherhithe: 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.

Help Edible Rotherhithe and SSq this Spring

Key Dates for the rest of the year

Please see our updated Key Dates Summary for the rest of 2025

Music Lessons

Thank you to everyone who has already signed up for Spring Term music lessons.

Please email Maxx (mwalker@ssq.org.uk) or Chris (canderson@ssq.org.uk) if you have any question or queries.

Attendance Last Week – well done Simmons

Well done to Simmonds Full Time Children who had 97.78% 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 attendance@ssq.org.uk 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 office@ssq.org.uk

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

FREE CELIA PYM x SSq Exhibition

To book FREE tickets to see this wonderful exhibition at the Now Gallery in North Greenwich (near the 02 Arena) then click here.

Local Stay and Play Sessions

Free Book Club at Una Marson Library

We are extremely lucky to have the brand-new Una Marson Library around the corner. As well as being a fantastic library, they also have a wide range of clubs and events for children. Check out the upcoming events below:

Click here to sign up or ask staff in the library for a paper form. Limited places so sign up today!

Find the Una Marson Library at 62 Thurlow Street, SE17 2GN

FREE ENGLISH COURSE FOR PARENTS

Would you like to support your children with their school work and exams? Do you want to increase your confidence in English for your own life or work? Join Southbank UA and Lambeth College for classes dedicated to parents. Lessons will help you improve your reading, writing and communication skills. We will also guide you to further courses to support with numeracy and IT. This course is completely free, and you will have help and support from experienced teachers.

To sign up and for more information email: office@southbankua.org.uk Phone: 020 7277 3000

King's College London and South London Citizens have created two groups aimed at empowering parents to guide their children’s academic journey effectively and campaign for their access to university and other educational opportunities:

South London Parent Power: Open to all parents, providing comprehensive resources and tools to help foster their children’s educational development and college admissions journey.

Empoderando Familias: Tailored to assist Hispanic parents with resources and strategies that align with their unique needs in supporting their children’s academic success.

South London Citizens are arranging a day of events to celebrate another year of campaigning. Please see the flyer below and do let Fi know if you intend to attend (fcarrick-davies@ssq.org.uk)

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

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)