Headteacher's letter to parents and carers

Dear Parent/Carer,

Headteacher’s Letter - Week 11

I would like to start this week’s letter by thanking you all for your understanding and support with the heating challenges faced by the School. I am pleased to confirm that the heating is now back on, and I have been reassured by the contractors that the heating issues have been resolved. We will continue to have contractors on site over the weekend to ensure this is sustained. As part of our further contingency plan, we will be in receipt today of a further 70 heaters should this be needed.

School will be open as normal on Monday 29th November, with students expected to arrive by 8.25am.

Use of Social Media Platforms

There have been a number incidents in various schools where school children have been posting malicious information about school staff on social media platforms such as Tik Tok, which can be distressing to the staff member and their families. Please read this letter from our Safer School’s Officer PC James Ridout. We ask if you can please make sure you discuss this with your child so they are aware of the consequences of misuse of social media.

Safer Schools Community App

We have recently signed up to the Safer Schools community app. This provides an online portal providing access and information to support your child’s health and wellbeing. With age-appropriate support and advice covering a range of issues from mental health to online safety, we recommend downloading the app. In addition to support and advice, it also syncs with school’s newsfeed and calendar so you can keep up to date with all things SNS. Once you have downloaded the app please search for ‘Stoke Newington School’ and enter the code: 3447 for Years 7 and 8; 1544 for Years 9 to 11. If you have any further questions or queries, please contact Mr Michael Collins, Assistant Headteacher in charge of Safeguarding, Mr Michael Collins via mic.col@sns.hackney.sch.uk

Year 11 and 13 Mock Exams – Monday 29th November – Friday 10th December

From Monday 29th November to Friday 10th December, Year 11 and 13 students will undertake their mock exams. Please see a link to the exam timetable for Year 11 here and Year 13 here. Please ensure you read through these timetables with your child, so they are prepared and equipped.

Professor Paul Miller – Deep-Dive Review of the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusivity (EDI) Strategy – Wednesday 1st December 5.30pm – 6.30pm

As part of our review of the EDI strategy, Professor Paul Miller will be conducting a facilitated session with parent/carers on Wednesday 1st December at 5.30pm- 6.30pm to review the impact of the strategy. The meeting will take place in person, and if you would like to attend, please email the Headteacher’s PA on sop.pre@sns.hackney.sch.uk

Mixed Heritage Week – Monday 6th December – Friday 10th December

As part of our Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity strategy, an area identified for development is to celebrate and recognise the contribution of our mixed heritage communities. From Monday 6th December we will be celebrating mixed heritages with activities and events. If you have any ideas, please email Anna Gluckstein, Diversity Lead via ann.glu@sns.hackney.sch.uk

Parent/Carers of SEND Students Forum – Monday 6th December 6.00pm – 7.00pm

We are very pleased to let you know that our next Parents/Carers of SEND Students Forum, on Monday 6th December, 6-7pm, will introduce the Hackney Independent Parents SEND Forum (HiP). HiP’s message to parents is, ‘Please come and meet other SEND families in a safe space to share ideas, support each other, make friends, get some guidance on where to access support and be empowered to improve services’. After the item from HiP our forum will include updates from our SENCO and then opened to parents’ questions and suggestions. Please find a link to the forum here.

Progress Review Day – Wednesday 8th December 12.00pm – 7.00pm

As part of the school’s annual assessment cycle, we will be holding our Progress Review Day on Wednesday 8th December. In the week preceding this, you will receive a Progress Check Report for your daughter or son which will provide a summary of their most recent attainment and progress towards targets for all subjects. The purpose of the day is to offer an opportunity for you to discuss the report with your child’s form tutor, an associate tutor or member of the Senior Leadership Team. It is also an opportunity to identify any objectives to help support achievement. The day is dedicated for these important discussions to take place, and you and your child will be expected to attend a 15-minute meeting either between 8.30am – 3.30pm or 11.30am – 6.30pm held via Microsoft Teams. Further information will be sent out shortly, with the opportunity to confirm your time slot with your child’s form tutor.

SNS Christmas Market – Tuesday 14th December 6.30pm – 8.30pm

This year to kick start the festive celebrations, SNS will be hosting a Winter Showcase and Christmas Market. The event will celebrate essential values such as love, generosity, family, and community.

Market stalls will offer ethical and sustainable food, beverages and craft items manufactured by students. The outdoor event will begin at 6.30pm with music ensemble throughout the evening. We look forward to welcoming you on the 14th of December.

EAL and Community Languages

Congratulations to students who applied for a language ambassadors' role and have been selected.

We will have representatives of Polish, French, German, Kurdish/Kurmanji, Turkish, Albanian, Romanian, Guja-rati, Brazilian Portuguese, and Danish who will support newly arriving EAL students but also contribute to promoting all languages across the school. Successfully selected students will be informed tomorrow during tutor time.

Covid-19 Protocols

At SNS, safety of the community is always of paramount importance. Due to an increase in Covid-19 cases both locally and nationally, the wearing of face masks in communal areas for students and staff. As we know, face masks are compulsory on public transport, we ask that students comply to this and respect social distancing to best represent themselves, the School and their families well by being the very best versions of themselves.

Students should continue home testing twice a week, Wednesday and Sunday mornings. If you require a test kit, these can be collected from Reception. If your child is presenting with Covid-19 symptoms, please do not send them into school and book a PCR test as soon as possible via this link: https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test

Work is set for self-isolating students on Microsoft Teams. If you have any issues accessing work, please contact Mr Mark Bynoe, Deputy Headteacher on mar.byn@sns.hackney.sch.uk

Staff Vacancies

We are currently looking for various position in the School, temporary and permanent. To view and apply, please find the vacancies listed here.

Parent/Carer Forums – Autumn Term

Please see below details of Year Group forums taking place this term.

And lastly, I want to give a huge shout to the Music Department for Tuesday’s Cake Concert. The evening was well attended and gave a great taster of the wonderful skills of our students. We are very proud of them all.

With best wishes,

Zehra Jaffer