Dear families,
We have some very exciting news to share with you all this week.
On Saturday we were announced as the GOLD WINNER in the National Teaching School Awards for Primary School of the Year! It’s fantastic to have our wonderful school recognised in this way. The award is for the Whole School Team – so it is for the entire SSQ community – staff, parents, carers, board members and of course our amazing pupils, past and present! So we would like to thank you for all you have done and continue to do to support the school.
We are very proud of the whole SSQ team and we will be celebrating together as a whole school in the new year.
As always, lots going on at SSQ this week. The children are busy with assessments in the core subjects as well as rehearsing for the Winterfest show. As a bit of light relief from assessments, and to celebrate the end of term, we are having our Winter Wonderland day again on Thursday – courtesy of the Caring Family Foundation. Once again, there will be lots of fun activities including face painting, a DJ, dancers and a special lunch cooked by the team from Bill’s restaurant. A reminder that the children can wear a Christmas/winter jumper on this day if they wish – or they can wear their usual school jumper. We’re sure it will be a great day and we know that the children are already very excited about it!
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.
On Wednesday 11th December, we will be holding a Wellbeing Coffee Morning for parents and carers, 9-10am. As part of the morning, we will be hearing about a new Housing Advice and Support in Schools project that we’ll be starting in January. This will be weekly support from a Housing Case Worker based at school, for families experiencing housing difficulties, such as living in Temporary Accommodation.
Please note, if you have a Biometric Residence Permit Card, they are being phased out so it is necessary to apply for an eVisa by 31st December by registering with https://www.gov.uk/get-access-evisa Please let me know if you have any questions about this – we have a parent who may be able to support your with taking a digital photo.
The council are now responsible for issuing Free School Meals vouchers during school holidays, and we’re aware that several of our families didn’t receive them over half term. 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
Southwark council are holding a Cost of Living Roadshow this Thursday in Rotherhithe, where they will have people there who can help with applying for benefits, looking at debt, dealing with high fuel costs etc. See https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17XY-enr7Zgsus0ZlcYiyveTJeclFDE3u?scrlybrkr=2048a7a2 for more information.
If you replied to the survey I sent out in the summer term about the offer of freshly-cooked meals for our families to collect once a week, please look out for further information as we hope to have the meals available very soon.
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 https://www.pecan.org.uk/employment-support/
If you are interested in training courses, the Thomas Calton Centre in Peckham run 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. They will probably have a new range of courses starting in January as well, so keep an eye on their website https://www.southwark.gov.uk/education-and-training/adult-learning/southwark-adult-learning-service
Don’t forget the Citizens Day of Action on 5th December – all the information is in the ‘Community Notices’ section of the newsletter below.
Please keep an eye on my information page outlining advice from me about various issues that may concern you.
Fi
Core Value Champions for last week:
Last week all the adults at SSq were on the look out for children who showed this half term’s Core Value: Perseverance. Using Percy Perseverance as their inspiration, let’s see which children have been standing out last week.
NEWS – SSq Exhibition in North Greenwich Opens THIS WEEK!
We are all excited and looking forward to the launch of Socks: The Art Of Care And Repair at The Now Gallery THIS FRIDAY (with a private viewing on Thursday!).
Celia and the team at the Now Gallery have been busy setting up for the exhibition. It’s already looking brilliant and we can’t wait to see the exhibition when it opens. We do encourage parents and carers to go and visit when they can – the exhibition runs until March. Take at look at some of the photos below!
To book FREE tickets to see this wonderful exhibition at the Now Gallery in North Greenwich (near the 02 Arena) then click here. We also hope to arrange trips for all the children throughout the exhibition. The exhibition runs from December until March 2025.
NEWS – Footballers Flourish at Mentivity x Goldman Sachs Football Tournament
Members of Year 5 and 6 took part in the second Mentivity x Goldman Sachs Football tournament held at Burgess Park last Friday. Playing a number of local teams, the mixed team showed all the Core Values and made it to the semi-finals! After a tight match against local rivals Grange (eventually losing only on penalties) the team secured a well-deserved third place finish. Well done to all the players and their coaches Quentin and Nick. We are looking forward to hearing about more sporting success this year.
Inspirational Class Names
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. Next week we will find out why our Nursery Teachers have named their classes after Axel Scheffler and Ellie Simmonds. In the meantime, find out why our teachers have chosen their names this year by watching the playlist below.
NEW PHOTO PERMISSION FORM YET – final few days!
Thank you to everyone who has already submitted this information via our online form.
We are looking to update our records for photo permissions. At SSq we use media in a variety of ways to promote our values, our practices and our excellence in and out of the classroom. This may include images of your child here at school or on trips therefore we would like the most up-to-date permissions from our families so please take your time to read this form and respond accordingly.
We will need one response for each of the children you have here at SSq.
We will also resend this out by Parentmail. If you have any questions then please email office@surreysquare.co.uk
After School Club News
This term’s 430pm clubs finish on Thursday 19th Dec (the day before we break up for the holidays on Friday 20th Dec).
We will be sending out the sign up form for Spring Term’s 430pm clubs during the week beginning 9th Dec.
Remember to sign up quick as some clubs fill up fast!
Any questions about 430pm clubs, please email Maxx mwalker@ssq.org.uk
Music Lessons Update
Please ask your child to check the daily timetables that come around to classes each day.
Do email Maxx (mwalker@ssq.org.uk) or Chris (canderson@ssq.org.uk) if you have any question or queries.
Attendance Last Week – well done Mellah Class!
Well done to Year 3 Mellah Class who had 98.2% 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.
Key Dates: 2024-25
Please see our updated Key Dates Summary – please note that EYFS Winterfest (Nursery and Reception Classes will now be on Monday 16th December at 10.30am and 2.30pm
Time Out for Parents – The Teenage Years:
This course consists of six sessions designed to help parents stay connected with their teenagers through understanding their world and developing good communication skills. We look at a variety of subjects including handling conflict, parenting styles and supporting our teenagers with their emotional needs.The workshops are informative and fun and there are lots of opportunities to chat with other parents experiencing similar joys and challenges! We learn from each other. Parents that attend, receive a certificate and workbook.
When– Thursday mornings 9.30am- 11.30am from 14th November- 12th December
Where– Tigers Clubhouse- next to 1st Place SE50RN
Contact clare@burgesssports.org with name and mobile number for more details or to register.
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 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
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.
