SSq Newsletter - Thursday 4th June 2026

Dear Families,

Welcome back to the final half term of the academic year! We hope you had a lovely break and that those of you who celebrated Eid al-Adha enjoyed a joyful time with family and friends.

We had a wonderful day marking Eid on the final Friday before half term. It was lovely to see so many children wearing their celebratory and cultural clothes, and the school was full of excitement as children enjoyed a special Eid-themed lunch and in-class celebrations together. Thank you to everyone who helped make it such a special occasion.

This half term, our Personal Excellence value is Responsibility. In assembly this week, we reintroduced the children to Rafa Responsibility. Rafa looks after his special jar, which represents his actions, words and choices. He knows that these can have an impact on the people around him, so he takes care with how he uses them. His shiny clock reminds him to be organised, prepared and on time, while his sensitive ears remind him to listen carefully, follow instructions and use an important word when he makes a mistake: sorry. We discussed how responsibility is about thinking carefully about the effect our actions have on others and doing our part to help our community thrive. We would love families to use this language at home too.

We also officially launched ICESQ – Stay Cool, Support School! Our Pupil Parliament Cabinet has been working hard to set up this new venture, which aims to raise money to further enhance opportunities for children at SSQ whilst giving Cabinet members the chance to develop their leadership and responsibility skills. ICESQ will begin operating this week on Thursday and Friday after school from 3:30pm–3:45pm on the playground (weather permitting!). Ice lollies will cost 50p and ice creams £1. To help keep the queue moving, please bring coins and small change where possible. If your child has allergies, there will be allergen-friendly options available. Please support your child in making appropriate choices, and if you are unsure whether a product is suitable for your child, please do ask a member of staff. We look forward to seeing the Cabinet bring this exciting project to life and raise money for the school.

Finally, a reminder that next Wednesday 10th June is our final Visit Your Child in Class Morning of the year. We look forward to welcoming families into school to see learning in action and celebrate the progress children have made throughout the year. As usual, we will begin together in the Bottom Hall at 9:00am before visiting classrooms.

We wish you all a wonderful week ahead and look forward to seeing many of you next Wednesday.

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.

This is a free workshop for parents and carers of children 10-19 happening locally on the 9th of June. Please call or email Kemisola to book a place.

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].

Please keep an eye on the community noticeboard below and 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 celebrates Eid ul Adha

On Friday 22nd May, we celebrated Eid ul Adha together in school. Children wore their special clothes for the day (Eid clothes, cultural dress or another outfit that made them feel good). There was also a celebratory lunch and in-class celebrations with snacks and games as we came together as a community to mark this important festival. We hope you had a great day if you celebrated during the Half Term.

Year 4 celebrates in class and with games

NEWS – Welcome Gina!

Before Half Term we said farewell to Bonnie from Southwark’s Educational Welfare Team. We wish her all the best and thank her for her hard work and dedication to the children of SSq. We welcome Gina who will be in on Tuesdays. Say hello if you see her around next week.

Well done to all our Compassion Core Value champions from before the Half Term break!

Well done to our OPAL Play Award and PE Winners from before the Half Term break:

Attendance from before Half Term:

Well done to Year 1 Shireen Class who had 98% attendance before Half Term. 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 3!

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 on Saturday 11th July 2026.