SSQ Newsletter - 1st October 2024

Dear families,

I hope you had a lovely weekend and managed to stay out of the rain! It was lovely to have a dry day for the ORRFZ Marketplace on Saturday and lovely to see lots of you there. Check out the dates below to find out when the next OKRFZ Marketplaces are happening.

On Friday we welcomed Mother Ellen and Imam Kazeem to our assembly. They shared with us how the value of responsibility is shown in both of their religions in very similar ways. It’s always really powerful to have them both here together, giving the same message and modelling their friendship to the children.

A reminder that TLC day is next Wednesday 9th October. You will have seen the Parentmail for TLC day. Please make sure you have booked your appointment(s) by clicking on the link in the Parentmail. Please remember that school is closed to children on this day but children should attend the appointment with you. These meetings are an essential part of your child’s progress at school.

Thanks again to everyone who attended our ‘Meet The Teacher’ sessions – if you were unable to attend or want to see the slides again you can access them here.

Have a wonderful (hopefully drier) week ahead!

Matt

Mother Ellen and Imam Kazeem joined us for assembly last week!

Fi is in school Mondays to Wednesdays. You can email her on [email protected]

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

We will be holding a Coffee Morning at 9am on Tuesday 8th October, here at school, for anyone who is in Temporary Accommodation (TA). We know that many of our families live in TA, and are aware that this can be extremely challenging and stressful. We are going to be joined by someone called Leila, who is carrying out some research about how living in TA affects the wellbeing and mental health of our children. Maybe you have experienced this yourself, and have noticed that your accommodation is affecting your child’s emotional health. If so, please do come along – you won’t need to share any personal information in public if you don’t feel comfortable, but it would be great to have as many people affected by TA there as possible.

I would also 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. If this issue doesn’t affect you personally, but you’d like to support the wider community, you are also more than welcome to attend.

Do get in touch ([email protected]) if you have any questions. Have a great week! Fi

Responsibility Core Value Champions for this week:

NEWS – OKRFZ Marketplace Returns!

It was great to see so many familiar and new faces at last Saturday’s Marketplace. As well as the usual services on offer it was fantastic to welcome Noel from Drummercise to do a few sessions – what a fun way to mix music and exercise – if you enjoyed it why not join up one of the after school clubs?(see below for more information)

Here are the dates for the remaining Marketplaces for 2024 – to find out more about the Old Kent Road Family Zone see their website here.

NEWS – Year 4 Meet Superstar Hamza Yassin

Year 4 had a virtual visit from the photographer, presenter and Strictly Come Dancing star Hamza Yassin, talking all about his new book to many schools across the country. They learnt so many brilliant animal facts, got to think about questions they wanted to ask and heard all about the support he had to write his book with Dyslexia.

NEWS – Black History Month Launches for October

At SSQ, we ensure that our curriculum offer is diverse and reflects the community we serve. The staff have worked to develop this further to ensure that all children can see themselves in the curriculum that is taught – through the history we teach throughout the year, the books that are shared and the people that we celebrate and look up to. SSQ has its very own Identity curriculum as we believe that focusing on who you are is critical in developing confidence, self-esteem and positive wellbeing. Nationally, Black History Month is celebrated in the month of October and in line with national celebrations we will be holding some special events throughout the month as we do feel it is important to mark this occasion also.

We will be listening to a variety of black composers throughout the month – scan the QR code to listen to the playlist

As well as highlighting prominent black composers, artists and musicians throughout the month, we will also be having a day of celebration on Wednesday 16th October where we will welcome Big Foot Arts Education to SSq. Through drama and interactive workshops, they will be telling two imprtant stories in relation to Black History in the UK: The Empire Windrush – Then and Now for KS1 & KS2 and My Friend Flo for EYFS. Keep your eyes peeled for updates and news about Black History Month.

NEWS – Year 6 Graduate at Oxford University!

Year 6 finished off their IntoUniversity weeks with an incredible trip to Oxford University. After a long coach journey there, they presented the projects they had been working on and held their own graduation. It was really inspiring for the children who were able to spend the week thinking about their future aspirations.

NEWS – Year 4 begin Brain Buddies Sessions

Year 4 had their first lesson with The Brain Buddies (Bonnie and Anabel) from the Mental Health Support Team. They will be learning all about identifying different emotions and some helpful strategies to manage them. We are so looking forward to the activities and games we will be doing to help us with our well-being.

NEWS – Find out more about our wonderful partners Edible Rotherhithe!

We’re so lucky to work with Christina and her team of community-focused volunteers who provide such amazing opportunities for our young growers here at SSq. They have just been featured in this amazing blog by the Incredible Edible Network – so do check it out! Link here.

NEWS – Music Homework Challenge Plays On

Thanks to everyone who has already sent in their music challenge homework! We shall be showcasing some of them over the next few weeks.

There’s still time to enter! Everything you need to know is on the poster below however please email [email protected] if you have any questions in the meantime.

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 2!

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 Jenny and Fiona chose Imani-Lara Lansiquot and Alice Tams as their aspirational class names in Year Two. Watch their videos below!

Find out why Jenny chose Imani-Lara Lansiquot for her class name this year.

After School Clubs Update from Carol

Did your child try Drummercise with Noel at the Marketplace at the weekend?

There’s a couple of places left in his Y2-Y6 Drummercise after school club on Thursdays. Contact Maxx [email protected] if you want to sign your child up for it. Like the other clubs it’s £4 a session.

We are hoping to run a Drummercise club for Reception and Y1 children in Spring term so look out when Spring Term clubs sign up form is released in mid-December.

There are 3 spaces left in Noel’s Y2-Y4 Friday after school Djembe Drumming club too: Get in touch with Maxx if you would like your child to take part.

Drummercise with Noel is a fun and exciting club that links drumming and keeping fit in a FUN way!

Music Lessons for Years 3-6

These will begin this week and next. Your child’s teacher will be given a timetable to display in their classroom each day. Lessons will be during the afternoon sessions. For further information please email Maxx [email protected]

Attendance Last Week – well done Wiltshire Class!

Well done to Year 6 Wiltshire Class who had 98% 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 [email protected] or phone 0207 7033049 (option 1)

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)