Friday 26th April 2024

Dear Parents/Carers,

Week 28 - Headteacher’s Letter

It is great to see students return well rested after the Spring break. The exam season has started in full gusto, with our Year 11 and Year 13 students undertaking their portfolio examinations for both GCSE and A Level in creative subjects. We were fortunate to welcome Malcolm Chandler, former chief exams officer for AQA, to deliver a workshop for Year 11 History Students. The students were diligent and showed commitment to studies.

On Wednesday we welcomed our Year 7 parent/carers for their first Parents’ Evening. The event was well attended and a fantastic opportunity to review progress and identify next steps.

Foodbank Fridays – Friday 3rd May 2024

Our first Food Bank Friday was a great success with over 350 items being donated by students to the foodbank. Our next Food Bank Friday will be running next Friday 3rd May 2024. If you are able, please donate one non-perishable item to the Food Bank or make a financial donation via ParentPay. If you need support from the foodbank, please email foodbank@sns.hackney.sch.uk

Summer Term Parent/Carer Virtual Forums

Year 8 – Thursday 2nd May 2024 5.30pm – 6.30pm

  • Our virtual forum for Parent/carers of Year 8 students will take place on Thursday 2nd May. The agenda will include information on GCSE option deadlines and next stages, academic progress, key data and finalised details for the Manor Adventure Trip. Further information, including the joining link, will be sent shortly.

Year 13 – Thursday 9th May 2024 6.00pm – 6.45pm

  • Our virtual forum for Parent/carers of Year 13 students will take place on Thursday 9th May. The forum will focus on expectations and management of upcoming public exams, prom and Results Day in August. Further information, including the joining link, will be sent shortly.

Year 10 - Monday 20th May 2024 5.00pm – 6.00pm

  • Year 10 parent/carer virtual forum will take place Monday 20th May from 5.00pm and will cover information on upcoming mock exams and revision support, the Duke of Edinburgh programme, and introduction to Sixth Form and college admission process. Further information, including the joining link, will be sent shortly.

Year 9 – Tuesday 21st May 2024 6.00pm – 7.00pm

  • Our virtual forum for Parent/carers of Year 9 students will take place on Tuesday 21st May. Topics discussed at the forum will include Year 9 PPP Drop Down Day, updates on the partnership intervention programmes, year group successes and Summer Term key dates. Further information, including the joining link, will be sent shortly.

Community Evening – Thursday 23rd May from 5.00pm

Community Evening 2024 is fast approaching and, as every year, this is an incredible opportunity for all our community to come together, celebrate and share the diverse and vibrant spirit that characterises us. The event will take place on Thursday 23rd May starting from 5.00pm. You can purchase tickets for the event using this link.

We invite you to take part in this evening as we would love to have a representation of every community that is part of our school. We are currently looking for people that can either:

  1. Cook/bring food from different countries/backgrounds
  2. Have a stall for selling arts/crafts or showcase the work of organisations or fundraise for any cause
  3. Play some live music (all kind of music are welcome)
  4. Deliver creative workshops i.e. dancing, traditional dances, cooking, arts and crafts, sports
  5. Show case of any form of art

If you are interested in taking part, please complete this form.

Community Evening Music Concert – Thursday 23rd May 7.00pm – 8.00pm

Straight after the fantastic celebration of Community Evening, there will be a Music Concert happening in the theatre between 7.00pm, with doors opening at 6.50pm. The concert will feature our ensembles showing what they have been working on this year, including our Show Choir, Band Club, Singing Club, Chamber Orchestra, Jazz Band, as well as some GCSE and A Level performance. This event is free to attend and can be booked using this link.

Friends of SNS PTFA

The Friends of SNS, the PTFA, will be holding a drinks stall at Community Evening and would love to hear from parent/carers about suggestions for future projects and opportunities and what you could offer the group.

If you would like to contact Friends of SNS but unable to attend Community Evening, you can email the Chair, Jo Edwards, via friendsofsns@gmail.com

SNS Language of the Month – Swedish

The language of May is Swedish, selected by students in 7W who are working to produce resources for display in the foyer. We welcome resources from all students and parent/carers to promote Hausa language and culture, and ask you to send them to us via community.languages@sns.hackney.sch.uk or via your child’s Form Tutor.

Year 11 and Year 13 Prom Committee Volunteers

We are looking to recruit volunteers to help with our Year 11 and Year 13 Prom, taking place on Wednesday 26th June and Thursday 27th June. We will need volunteers to help organise decoration, be available on the evening with setting up and help to prepare food and drinks. If you would like to volunteer for the committee, please email Ms Rachel Townsend Rac.Tow@sns.hackney.sch.uk or Ms Kulsuma Akhtar Kul.Akh@sns.hackney.sch.uk.

Library Book Sale - Friday 3rd May

Our team of student librarians will be hosting a library sale selling old library books at break and lunch on Friday 3rd May. All books will be 50p and under and will be available to purchase by cash only. You can follow Library updates via our X account using this link.

CAMHS Mindfulness Sessions for Parent/Carers

CAMHS have organised a free Mindfulness group for parent/carers, with a focus to support parent/carer wellbeing by learning mindfulness techniques. You can book tickets using this link.

Uniform Donation Request

We are running low on spare skirts and trousers for students to access. If your child does have any outgrown items, please do send them into the main office.

Key dates, Cultural Events, Opportunities in the Community and Access to Support Services

Please see a link to our key dates here for this term on our school calendar that include Information Evenings, Forums, and Parents’ Evenings.

You can also find information on local cultural events here and opportunities in the community here.

Alongside this, you can find services available to support you and young person’s mental health and wellbeing using this link.

This week’s theme is ‘Success’. Students in 8N researched and read the following quote to reflect our theme ‘Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try one more time.’ Thomas Edison, American Inventor.

For families who observed Passover earlier this week, we hope you enjoyed marking this occasion with family and friends.

With best wishes,

Zehra Jaffer