The Lister Bi-Weekly Update #11

As you know, at the Lister News Desk, there is nothing dearer to our hearts than reading. During this week, when we celebrate World Book Day, it seems that the world is in tune with our thinking. As part of the big day, we expect to see many of our dedicated staff dressing up in costumes to celebrate some of their favourite books and authors. We will also be running a quiz, so that our students can confirm with teachers where their costumes come from and have the chance for some dialogue about great reading. Following this, students who identify the largest group of teachers will be invited to a World Book Day Feast to be held in our wonderful library (this event will take place after Ramadan).

Rumours are also circulating that the Leadership Team at Lister have begun a new acting group that may well be nominated for the next Oscars... (at least the Lister Oscars!). Apparently - as the rumours swirl - we have heard that the Leadership Team have sacrificed all in making a film to promote the importance of reading for Lister students. Please reinforce the message that all reading is valuable for students and their lives.

We also have a best-selling author coming into Lister on the big day! Teddy Keen, author and illustrator of the Unknown Adventurer series, will share his approaches to writing and illustration with a range of students from across our NCL Trust! Selected students from year 7 and 8 will get to meet him and ask questions during his presentation. It's another way we are investing in order to bring reading to life for Lister students.

Finally, on Thursday, students will be receiving their World Book Day vouchers - enabling them to buy one of the World Book Day titles for free - why not plan a visit to your local bookshop in order to make the whole process an adventure? We will also be launching our class readers across the school - we have spent lots of time and careful thought on choosing books for each year group so that reading can be a shared experience for students in our community. Please ask your children about the books they are reading on Thursday mornings.

To all of our Lister Community families, happy World Book Day!

As much as we love reading and mental health, we are also aware the physical health is a cornerstome on which many of the other good things in life stem from. With this in mind, registration is now open for the ‘Big Walk & Wheel’ 2026, running from 16 - 27 March.

For those who haven’t taken part in previous years, the ‘Big Walk and Wheel’ is a week-long active travel challenge open to all primary and secondary schools. It is free to take part and there are daily prizes to be won.

On each day of the challenge, schools compete to see who can get the highest percentage of their pupils walking, using a wheelchair, scooting, or cycling to school. Your school’s best five days will determine your final position, but you can log journeys on all ten days if you wish.

Prioritizing mental health at Lister Community School is fundamental because a student’s emotional well-being serves as the bedrock for their academic success and personal development. When children feel supported and mentally resilient, they are significantly more likely to engage in the classroom, build healthy relationships with their peers, and navigate the inevitable stresses of adolescence with confidence. Within a diverse and vibrant school community, proactive mental health support ensures that every child, regardless of their background, has access to the tools they need to manage anxiety or trauma, ultimately preventing small hurdles from becoming significant barriers to their future.

Furthermore, fostering a culture that de-stigmatizes mental health at Lister creates a safer, more inclusive environment where students feel seen and heard. By integrating emotional literacy into the daily school experience, staff can identify early warning signs of distress and provide timely intervention. This holistic approach doesn't just improve grades; it equips young people with lifelong coping mechanisms and empathy, ensuring they leave Lister not only as successful learners but as well-rounded, resilient individuals prepared for the complexities of adult life. This is why we have such an ongoing focus on mental health as a school and why we have numerous points in the year when we refocus back on mental health.

Place2Be, our in-school mental health support service, has a variety of resources to help you support your child's wellbeing.

Visit their Parenting Smart website for free practical advice on a range of topics (from friendship issues to anxiety): www.parentingsmart.org.uk

Lister Community School in Newham has a long-standing reputation for excellence in the performing arts and the recent performance of Antigone was another stand out success. Students from all year groups were part of the production and the real winners of the night were the parents who were able to proudly watch their children perform. Of course, many students were also part of the back-stage team who worked tirelessly to stage the performance. We would also like to recognise the contributions of the arts departments - including drama, music, DT and art for their immense contributions. The show can't go on without you.

At the end of the performance, the students who had taken part were breathless with excitement. They were so proud to have contributed to a spectacle that was greater than the sum of its parts. Ms Clay reflected on the production saying that: "It was an insightful reimagining of the play suitable to our modern times. Although the play was a tragedy, it was an absolute delight to see our Lister students perform with such skill and effort."

This event is aimed at kinship carers—such as grandparents, siblings, extended family members, or family friends caring for a child who does not live with their biological parents. It offers a space for carers who are not currently receiving support from Children’s Social Care to share their experiences and discuss what support would be most helpful.

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday 5th March 2026
• Time: 10:00am – 11:30am
• Location: Online (link shared after registration)
• Thank you gift: £20 voucher for all participants
• Registration: Scan the QR code on the leaflet

At the Lister News desk, we know that some of the families at our school face difficult challenges. The Ivison Trust (formerly Pace) is a national charity working to keep children safe from exploitation by supporting parents, disrupting exploiters, and working in partnership with police and family services. Their work is grounded in a trauma-informed, family-centred approach.

During March 2026, the Ivison Trust is delivering a series of live webinars for parents and carers focused on county lines and criminal exploitation. The sessions help parents understand how exploitation happens, how children are groomed, what warning signs to look out for, and where to access advice and support. Each webinar includes local context, time for questions, and input from a parent with lived experience.

More information and booking details are available at:
https://ivisontrust.org.uk/webinars/

We have more support for those families who might that the challenge of raising teenagers can sometimes feel more than a handful.

Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities (SFSC) Stronger Relationships is a free, 6-week evidence-based online program designed to reduce damaging parental conflict and enhance co-parenting, whether partners are together or separated. It provides tools to improve communication, manage stress, and build better relationships for parents and carers of children aged 0–18.

Newham’s Family Hub Network is offering weekly Speech and Language Support sessions for children under 5s. These sessions provide an opportunity for parents and carers to speak directly with a Speech and Language Therapist about any concerns they may have regarding their child’s talking or communication skills.

Key details:

• When: Every Tuesday, 12:30–2:30pm

  
  

• What’s offered:
• Guidance on early communication and speech development
• A chance to discuss concerns about a child’s talking
• Practical advice tailored to each family

• Support with understanding typical developmental milestones

  
  

• Who is it for: Parents and carers of children under 5 with questions or concerns about speech and language.

How to book:
Families can email familyhub@newham.gov.uk or call 020 3373 2555 to arrange an appointment with a Speech and Language Therapist.

More information is available at: Newham's family Hub Network

The Thought for the Week this week is focused on a combination of International Women's Day and science week. 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.