The Lister Weekly Update #35

We are delighted to announce the Year 11 Prom - a special evening dedicated to celebrating the achievements and time spent at Lister Community School for our graduating students. This memorable event will take place on Thursday, 26th July 2025, from 4.30-8.00pm

The Year 11 Prom is a cherished tradition, providing a wonderful opportunity for our students to mark the end of their GCSE exams and the culmination of their secondary school journey in style. It's a chance for them to gather with their friends, create lasting memories, and celebrate their hard work and growth over the past five years. We believe this evening is a fitting send-off as they prepare for their next exciting chapter, whether that be further education, apprenticeships, or entering the world of work. At the Lister News Desk, we wish all of our year 11s the very best for their futures!

The Year 10 students have arrived to the end of their year 10 exams, but there is no rest for them as they will instantly from tomorrow be taking place in WoW Week. This is the information that has been shared with students and shows again how we, at Lister, promote the careers path ways that our students can take after leaving school:

• During the week, you will attend 6 different workshops on the Monday and one careers visit on either Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday.

• It will provide you with an experience of the workplace and insight into a range of different careers

• It aims to upskill you on the skills and qualities required to be successful in the world of work

• On Monday, all Y10 will be on site with a range of workshops that you will carousel around in your new form groups

• Tuesday to Friday we will have three careers insight visits each day so everybody will get to attend a workplace or University

Dear Parents and Carers,

We are delighted to share the success of our recent Deaf Support Department (DSD) Coffee Morning, held at Lister Community School on Tuesday 24th June. It was a warm, welcoming and highly informative event that brought together parents, carers, professionals, and staff with a shared goal of supporting our deaf learners.

The morning provided an opportunity for families to meet and network with each other, as well as speak directly with key professionals. Representatives from the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS), Newham Sensory Service, and our Speech and Language Therapist were on hand to provide advice, resources, and guidance to support the children both at home and in school.

Our DSD team also presented on the support available for deaf students at Lister, highlighting the fantastic work happening across the school to ensure access to learning, communication, and social inclusion. It was particularly inspiring to see the passion and commitment from all involved in helping our students thrive.

We’d like to thank all the families who attended and contributed to the open and engaging discussions. We are proud to continue building strong partnerships with parents to ensure the very best outcomes for our young people.

We look forward to hosting more events like this in the future and welcoming even more of our DSD community.

Warm regards,
The Deaf Support Department
Lister Community School

We're excited to let you know that our school newsletter will now regularly feature pictures and themes from our recent school assemblies. Assemblies are a vital part of our school week, providing a special time for us to come together as a community, celebrate achievements, reflect on important values, and learn about a wide range of topics.

By including these highlights in the newsletter, we aim to give you a clearer insight into the enriching experiences your children are having during these sessions. You'll get to see the engaging activities, the faces of our students participating, and learn about the key messages and themes we've explored, whether it's celebrating our school values, discussing topical issues, or recognizing student successes. We hope this small addition helps you feel even more connected to daily life and the shared learning experiences here at Lister.

Last week's assembly was on refugees. Although the information and anecdotes that are shared in assemblies are sometimes emotionally challenging, and demand a level of maturity, we believe that it is essential for our Lister students to learn and grow as citizens of the world. Please speak to your children about the assembly and discuss their insights.

At the Lister News Desk, we know what it is like to have a long summer holiday with children at home. Often the answer is to work hard at finding friends and relatives who can jump in to provide childcare. We are delighted to remind you about Newham's fantastic Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme, a government-funded initiative designed to support families during the Easter, Summer, and Christmas school breaks.

The HAF programme aims to provide free, high-quality holiday provision for school-aged children and young people from Reception to Year 11 who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals. This means that if your child already receives free school meals during term time based on your household income, they are very likely eligible for the HAF programme.

These programmes are much more than just childcare. They are specifically designed to offer a blend of healthy food and enriching activities to tackle issues like holiday hunger, social isolation, and limited access to organised activities for some children. During HAF clubs, children can typically expect:

• Free, Nutritious Meals: Each session includes at least one healthy and tasty meal, ensuring children receive good nutrition during the holidays.
• Fun Physical Activities: From multi-sports and dance to outdoor adventures, there's a wide range of activities to keep children active and healthy.
• Exciting and Enriching Sessions: Programmes often include creative arts and crafts, drama, music, cookery, and opportunities to learn new skills or develop existing ones. This helps foster resilience, character, and overall well-being.
• Opportunities for Socialisation: Children get to make new friends, play together, and enjoy a safe, structured environment.

The HAF programme is a wonderful way to ensure that all children in our community have access to enriching experiences and healthy food during the school holidays, regardless of their family's circumstances.

How to Find Out More and Book:

Information about the specific activities available and how to book places for upcoming holidays is usually shared directly by Newham Council through their local offer website or via communication channels like text messages or letters to eligible families. You can also visit the official Newham Council website and search for "Holiday Activities and Food Programme" for the most up-to-date details and booking links. Clubs often open for bookings a few weeks before each holiday period, so it's a good idea to check regularly.

We strongly encourage eligible families to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity to provide your children with memorable and beneficial holiday experiences.

Here is a link to the Newham HAF website. Activities are on offer through Premier Education. We expect more to be on offer as we get closer to the holidays and we will update you:

Newham HAF

Here is a link to the activities offered by Premier Education through July and August. These activities are available to book now:

Premier Education

The Thought for the Week next week is focused on learning. Please discuss the thought with your child who will be looking at the thought in assembly and discussing the idea with peers and the year team.