SBS Alumni News

23rd July 2014Alison Saunders

Alumni stars

Alumni ‘stars’!

There has been good news for a couple of our a alumni recently.

George Ezra, who left Simon Balle in 2009, has had chart success with his album ‘Wanted on Voyage’, reaching no 3 in the charts.  We wish George continued success in his chosen career and will watch his increasing stardom with interest.

Chris Holdys, who joined us for his 6th Form studies, has been awarded a scholarship from the Savoy Educational Trust. Chris says: “The Edge Hotel School degree is the perfect mix of hands-on, practical learning and theory and I’m excited to kick-start my career in such a professional environment.”

It is great to hear success stories of those who spent time at Simon Balle – I’m sure there will be lots more in the future!

Y7 Picnic

23rd July 2014Linda Jones

Y7 Food Technology students worked hard earlier this week to prepare a feast of savoury and sweet buffet foods for their picnic. They were keen to present and serve their food to the highest standard and addressed portion control and larger scale catering as part of their task on ‘Cooking and Sharing’.

They were able to enjoy their culinary creations in the shade of the outdoor classroom. The students were, as always,so enthusiastic and passionate in the preparation and preparation of a range of different foods.

SBS LANGFEST – Now You’re Talking!

21st July 2014Richard Taylor

Lang parrotThe 6th Annual Foreign Language Festival took place on Thursday 17th July and proved, once again, to be a highly motivational event focused on the creative use of Foreign Languages – mostly familiar and some less so.

This year’s theme was “Food for Thought” – MFL activities on and about matters culinary. We were pleased to welcome again Y4 and 5 pupils from Bengeo and Mill Mead primary schools who took part in Danish, Italian, Spanish and Japanese workshops – which involved role plays, games, songs and much more.

Y10  students spent the first half of the day rehearsing groups of Y7 SBS students to present a showcase of French song, poetry and sketches at the end of the day for the visiting Key Stage 2 pupils. Those visitors then  voted for their favourite act, concluding the event with great enthusiasm!

EPQ students visit Hertfordshire University Library

18th July 2014Janet Syme

UHTwo groups of ‘EPQ’ students from Y12 have visited our local University library over the last two weeks. They were given access to a wide variety of online and printed resources to assist them in their research for the Extended Project Qualification.

Universities are particularly keen on this qualification as it demonstrates a wide range of skills connected with independent learning.

Each year our students choose fascinating subjects to investigate and the level achieved is usually very high.

Good luck to all the Y12s writing their reports over the summer break!

 

East Herts Awards Evening

18th July 2014Daire Brennan

20140717_202300Last night the Y7 Boys Sportshall Athletics Team received certificates in honour of their win earlier in the year at the County Sportshall Finals.

Congratulations to Albert N & Jean N, George J, Jake A, Ben T and Finlay C on this fantastic achievement.

Peer Teaching in Physics

17th July 2014Mr M Allred

peer teachingIn the physics lesson today some of the students took on the role of the teacher and taught the rest of the class about the Rutherford model of the atom. In the picture Andrew is talking through a spider diagram the other students had created.

Bruce Longden Memorial Challenge

16th July 2014Daire Brennan

Bruce Longdean MemorialThe Simon Balle boys team competed at the Bruce Longden Athletics Memorial Challenge (formerly known as the Steven Moore Challenge). The Boys finished 3rd overall in Division One behind Saffron Walden and Richard Hale.

In the Y7 competition the boys finished 2nd overall with Jean & Albert N winning two events each. Albert won the 200m and Discus, while Jean won the Shot Putt and 800m.

In the Y8/9 competition Jacob F ran a school record of 4.43 in the 1500m, while Jacob G won the High Jump with a jump of 1.65m.

The Senior Boys impressed once again, finishing joint 2nd with Saffron Walden. Joe C won the 100m in a school record of 11.3 sec which was a fantastic performance. Ben M won the 200m in a school record of 24.0, as well as the Long Jump with a distance of 5.77m. Kallum T also went on to break the school record in the 1500m with a time of 4.40m.

Well done to all the boys who competed and well done on a successful season.

National Final of the National Science and Engineering Competition

16th July 2014Dr G Jones

12 students from Y7 and Y9 recently attended a Regional Heat of the National Science and Engineering Competition (http://www.nsecuk.org/) and had to present their extended research projects to a panel of scientists at the Big Bang Science Fair in Duxford (https://nearme.thebigbangfair.co.uk/Eastern/).
All students acquitted themselves admirably and were a credit to the school.  Out of 120 schools that took part and 350 students who had projects on display, one of the Y9 projects won their heat and both Y9 projects have been invited to attend the final next year.
All students involved should be congratulated on their hard work and outstanding achievements.

Y12 Redrafting

15th July 2014Miss K Hill

Really proud of Y12s today as they re-drafted their first ever A2 level on Nibbana in pairs.

A 35 mark essay is very different to what they have done before and the way they have managed to break down their own essays into PEEL, combine their individual points and re-draft to create excellent pieces of work was very inspiring.

A massive well done on working so hard – here are screenshots of their work in progress.

Redraft 1

nirvana redraft 1

Redraft 2

nirvana redraft 2

Redraft 3

nirvana redraft 3