Friday 8th December 2023

Dear Parents/Carers,

Wow! Our Winter Showcase was a great start to the Christmas season. It was terrific to have the community come together celebrating students’ talent. The young people(plus a few staff!) did all the hard work: decorated the Christmas Tree in the Main Foyer, sold handmade Christmas goods in the market, and those important students and colleagues serving food and refreshments. Many thanks to those of you who attended and made the evening so special. Due to your generosity, we raised £1600! If you participated in the raffle, please do check your emails to see if you are a lucky winner.

We look forward to creating many more musical opportunities next year!

SNS Annie Performance - Wednesday 13th – Friday 15th December – Tickets still available!

Featuring over 100 of our fabulous students, the long-awaited whole school production of ‘Annie’ is fast approaching!

Annie is the adorable orphan living her ‘Hard Knock Life’ during the Great Depression in 1930s in the USA. She manages to flee the misery of life at Miss Hannigan’s Orphanage and find a fairytale Christmas with famous billionaire Oliver Warbucks. It looks like Annie and America’s luck is changing for the better, but will Miss Hannigan and her sneaky brother ruin a happier ‘Tomorrow’?

Buy your tickets using this link. We hope to see many of you there, full of festive cheer and remember; You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile!

If you would like to donate funds towards supporting the production, you can do so on your child’s Parent Pay account under ‘SNS Production Donations’.

End of Term Arrangements, Celebrations and Key Dates

Student Christmas Lunch – Tuesday 12 December

Student Christmas Lunch is planned for Tuesday 12th December. The cost is £2.60 and will be served from the Blue Bird Café. Please ensure your child’s Parent Pay account is topped up prior to the day to ensure they can purchase. Alternative food will also be available to students to purchase from the outside pods.

Club Information

All after-school clubs will be ending this year on Tuesday 19th December (inclusive), lunch time clubs will run until Wednesday 20th December and essential breakfast club provision will run until the last day of term, Thursday 21st December.

Dismissal Times - Thursday 21 December

The morning will be normal lessons for the first two periods and in the third period we will mark the end of this term with assemblies, awards, and tutor time. Dismissal of all students will be at the following times:

Time of Dismissal

Year Group

10.55am

Years 12 and 13

11.40am

Years 10 and 11

12.00pm

Year 9

12.20pm

Year 8

12.40pm

Year 7

If your child is entitled to Free School Meals and would like a packed lunch to be provided, please email admin@sns.hackney.sch.uk with your child’s full name and year group by Tuesday 19 December 5.00pm

Non-Uniform Day – Thursday 21 December

A donation of £1 to participate in non-uniform day will be collected from students on arrival money raised will be donated to Just One Tree. Students are encouraged to wear a green item.

Collection of Lost Property

If your child has lost property this term, please ask them to check the lost property located in the Main Reception. All unnamed and unclaimed remaining items after the end of term will be donated to charity.

Free School Meal Vouchers

All parent/carers eligible for free school meals will receive their free school meal voucher by Thursday 21st December. If you do not receive your voucher or need further advice or support, please email Mr Lenny Labiche, Operations Manager, via Len.Lab@sns.hackney.sch.uk

Year 7 Parent/Carer Virtual Forum – Thursday 11 January 2024 5.00pm – 6.00pm

Our next Year 7 Parent/Carer forum will be taking place virtually on Thursday 11th January from 5.00pm – 6.00pm. Information shared in the forum will include Progress Review Day and key dates for diaries. A joining link will be sent to parent/carers separately.

Year 11 Parent/Carer Virtual Forum – Wednesday 10 January 2024 6.00pm – 7.00pm

Our next Year 11 Parent/Carer forum will be taking place virtually on Wednesday 10 January from 6.00pm – 7.00pm. Information shared in the forum will include preparation for upcoming examinations, interventions and support available for students, and key dates for diaries including Year 11 Prom. We will also be joined by Ms Saida Warsame, Careers Lead, and Mr Shane Bell-Nevin, who will be sharing information regarding post-16 options and application process to the Sixth Form.

Year 11 Sixth Form Open Evening – Monday 15 January

Our Sixth Form Open Evening takes place on Monday 15 January 2024 with one session at 5.00pm and another at 6.00pm. You can book your tickets for the open evening using this link.

Progress Review Day – Wednesday 17 January 2024

This is an opportunity for you to meet with Form Tutors to review your child’s progress so far in the academic year. It is a time to celebrate what has gone well and set targets to make further strides in their learning. The school will be closed to students for the day to allow meetings to take place. Further information will be sent shortly confirming information such as how to book meeting times.

Correct PE kit reminder

Please ensure your child has their full PE kit for every PE lesson. Correct PE kit is a red school PE T-shirt or red school PE sweatshirt, black shorts or black tracksuit bottoms (other colour shorts or tracksuits are not acceptable) and appropriate trainers or boots for the activity they are completing. In cold and wet weather pupils may still be required to go outside for their PE lessons so we encourage them to bring base layers or mid layers to wear under their red t-shirt or fleece. Pupils are not allowed to wear their school coats for PE lessons as this is unhygienic and does not allow them to participate in their PE lesson fully. If you have any questions regarding PE kit, please contact Mr Fahy (Head of PE) at eam.fah@sns.hackney.sch.uk

Language of the Month – Russian!

The language of November is Russian. Suggestions from all students and parent/carers to introduce the SNS community to the language and culture are most welcome. Please email to community.languages@sns.hackney.sch.uk and encourage your children to send us creative and informative posters and presentations or give to their Form Tutor.

Pines and Needles Discount Code

A reminder of the discount code from Pines and Needles being ‘NEWINGTON10’ at their pop up store located at St Mary’s Church on Stoke Newington Church Street. Alternatively, you can find other locations using this link.

Key dates, Cultural Events and Opportunities in the Community

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 local cultural events taking place this month using this link as well as opportunities in the community that your child may want to sign up to using this link.

Wishing you a restful weekend and positive week ahead.

With best wishes,

Zehra Jaffer