Dear Families,
We’ve reached the final week of this half term – it’s hard to believe how quickly it has gone!
This week across the school we have been marking Mental Health Awareness Week, based around the national theme of “Actions for yourself, someone else, all of us.” In assembly on Monday, children reflected on the importance of talking about worries and recognising that everyone experiences different emotions at times. We discussed how small actions – listening, checking in on someone, asking for help or showing kindness – can make a big difference to how people feel . These discussions linked closely to our values of compassion and community.
It is also Foundation Subject Week for Years 1–6. During this week, children come away from their usual timetable to immerse themselves more deeply in subjects such as art, geography, RE, computing and design technology. It’s always a brilliant opportunity for children to develop specific subject skills, work creatively and make connections across their learning.
A reminder that on Friday 22nd May, we will be celebrating Eid ul Adha together in school. Children are welcome to wear their special clothes for the day – whether that is Eid clothes, cultural dress or another outfit that makes them feel good. There will also be a celebratory lunch and in-class celebrations with snacks and games as we come together as a community to mark this important festival.
We hope you all have a wonderful half-term break next week and enjoy some time together with your families. We look forward to welcoming the children back refreshed and ready for the final half term of the year on Monday 1st June.
Matt
We also still have spaces available in our Reception classes for September 2026. If you know of any families new to the area who may be looking for a school place, please do spread the word – we would love to welcome them to our SSQ community. More information can be found here.
As the half-term break approaches, we are sharing the newsletter for parents and carers from Southwark Educational Wellbeing Team. You can read it in full here.
You can also find the Southwark Parenting Team Programme for Summer 2026 by clicking here.
Southwark Council are offering portable WiFi units for residents living in Temporary Accommodation, where WiFi isn’t already installed. There are strict guidelines about who will be eligible for this – you must be on a low income and live in Temporary Accommodation provided by Southwark Council (not in accommodation that you rent privately from a landlord) and the council will carry out checks for each family. This accommodation could be in Southwark, or might be out-of-borough. I now have a referral form I can use, so please let me know if you would like me to refer you, by emailing me on [email protected].
Our friends at Spring Community Hub are starting a free two-session programme called “Empower and Thrive”. The sessions will be on Thursday 21st and Thursday 28th May, 9.30-11.30am at their base in 86-88 Vestry Road, SE5 8PQ.
Please keep an eye on this information page outlining information from me about various other issues that I can help with.
FI
NEWS – SUMMER FESTIVAL SAVE THE DATE!
A NEW COMMUNITY FESTIVAL – TOGETHER WITH OKRFZ
We are really excited about our summer festival collaboration with the Old Kent Road Family Zone on Saturday 11th July 2026 from 11am-2pm. Expect Live Music, Food, Drink, Fun, Games and LOTS MORE!
Have something to showcase?
Plans are still coming together however we are are wondering if there are any parents or carers who would like to run a stall at our summer festival on Saturday 11th July? If you have your own enterprise or business and would like the opportunity to showcase your work in this way, please let Fi know. Anyone interested will need to meet certain requirements, due to insurance purposes.
Please email: [email protected] with your stall idea and we will get back to you once final plans are in place.
If you know any sponsors or good ideas for raffle prizes then do get in touch also.
NEWS – SSq PUPILS FUNDING SUCCESS
As part of our Community Changemaker Projects, Years 1, 3 and 5 wrote to Southwark Council to ask for support with our bike sheds, with the aim of encouraging more children to cycle or scoot to school. Year 1 also raised concerns about clean streets, following the increase in dog fouling on pavements.
Below is a letter from the Council’s Director of Public Health, acknowledging the letters the children sent to Southwark. We are also seeking quotes for green roof cycle shelters, using the £5,000 Southwark has awarded us through the Clean Air Fund.
The children were delighted to see that they had been heard and that they helped secure funding for an extended cycle and scooter shelter. Well done to everyone involved and watch this space for developments!
NEWS – SSq Community Raises Almost £2000!
Melanie was delighted by the final total raised through sponsor money from the Great Athletes event, which featured visiting gymnast Saffron Severn. Thanks to your hard work, we raised £1,936.02! This money will go towards new PE equipment and resources. A huge thank you to Melanie for organising such a successful event.
NEWS – Nursery Explores Living and Growing
Woolf Class have been learning all about Living and growing. They have observed the real life cycle journey of the caterpillar to butterfly and grown plants from seeds.
Also during our Forest School sessions, sponsored by Edible Rotherhithe, they created a beautiful butterfly design on fabric using leaves that they collected from school and home gardens.
NEWS – Year 3 Multitask with Multiplex
Last year, local developers Multiplex contacted SSQ to invite the children to create artwork themed around the River Thames, which was perfectly timed to link with their Autumn term art project.
Last Friday, 20 children, along with Matt Dean, Lea, staff and parents, visited Bankside Yards, a Multiplex Global construction site near Blackfriars Station, to see the artwork Year 3 had created for the building.
The children were welcomed onto the site to learn more about construction, take part in a STEM activity to build the tallest structure, and meet team members from different roles across the company. They were also given goodie bags and their own hi-vis vests.
It was a proud moment for the class and a valuable opportunity to see the many different roles within the construction industry. Thanks to Matt, Lea and all the volunteers who helped out with this trip.
The OKRFZ Marketplace returns THIS SATURDAY!
The weather is getting hotter (we promise) so look out for splash zone, tennis, football, creative arts, gardening with Edible Rotherthithe, Southwark Library visiting and lots more.
FREE Hot lunch for all at midday!
Well done to all our Compassion Core Value champions from last week!
Well done to our OPAL Play Award Winner from last week:
Attendance from last week!
Well done to Nursery Woolf FT who had 97.8% attendance last week. Keep it up folks!
Please contact us daily if your child is off ill or for another reason.
Email [email protected] or phone 0207 7033049 (option 1)
MENU @SSq
Check out what’s on the menu – this week is week 2!
Key Dates for the rest of the academic year
Please note the new date for the SSq Festival which will be in collaboration with the Old Kent Road Family Zone’s Marketplace.
These are subject to change and we will endeavour to inform you of this as soon as possible.
Southwark Private Renters’ Fair Saturday 30 May, 11AM-3PM at the Rockingham Community Centre, Falmouth Road, SE1 6QP.
The Fair is open to any private renters in Southwark.
We will have a number of council, legal and community organisations attending the fair offering drop-in support for issues relevant for private renters, such as:
- Eviction
- Harassment
- Rent repayment orders
- Rent increases
- Property licensing
- Disrepair
- Cost of living
- Welfare benefits
- Community support
From Southwark Council, we will have officers from the Private Rented Sector Tenancy Relations team (Housing Needs) and the Enforcement Service (responsible for property licensing and disrepair).
We will also have a housing solicitor from Southwark Law Centre will be offering one-off housing advice appointments which residents can sign up to here.
There will also be two housing rights workshops (one in English and one in Spanish), led by housing experts to help residents better understand the Renters’ Rights Act and how the new law will affect (and hopefully benefit) them.
The Southwark Private Renters’ Fair sign-up link is here for anyone interested in attending and getting support from the range of services we’ll have on offer.
Family Cinema in May Half Term and throughout Summer!
The Garden Cinema hosts family film screenings every Saturday & Sunday morning, and on weekdays during the school holidays. The screenings are 'Pay What You Can', which means you’re free to pay as much or as little as you can afford. On Sundays the films are followed by free fun and creative activities for children. Upcoming films include Brave, WALL-E, James and the Giant Peach and How to Train Your Dragon.
Full Details: https://www.thegardencinema.co.uk/season/films-for-the-family
Musical Junior Summer School – Apply Now!
Dates: 27th-31st July 2026
Age: 8-13 years old
Venue: Hitherfield Primary School, Lambeth
Cost: free (£15 donation suggested if parents can)
Who is it for: any young person who would like to spend a week making friends, playing samba drums, steel pans, brass, woodwind or dancing and creating a performance in the end. No experience needed for pans, drums, dance.
Sign up: flyer attached and young people can also sign up here: Join Us | Kinetika Bloco
Local music festival in May – great variety of music on offer over a few days – some of which are FREE. More details here or the poster below.
Our friends at Community Cycleworks run a “Bikes for Families” project. Refurbished bikes are available for parents and carers from SSQ to purchase, with prices ranging from £30 to £80.
If you are interested, please apply using this link.
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Check out all the ongoing Community Notices here.
