The Lister Weekly Update #32

Dear Parents and Carers,

We are very excited to announce that our annual "World of Work Week" is just around the corner for our Year 10 students! This dedicated week is a cornerstone of our careers education program and is designed to provide invaluable insights and inspiration for their future pathways.

"World of Work Week" is an immersive experience where our Year 10 students will have the unique opportunity to:

• Explore Diverse Career Paths: Through a series of engaging workshops, guest speaker presentations, and interactive sessions, students will learn about a wide range of industries and job roles. This year, we're planning to bring in professionals from various sectors, giving real-world perspectives on fields like healthcare, technology, creative arts, finance, and many more. Year 10 students will be taken to presentations at various venues in London to explore this.
• Understand Essential Skills for Success: Beyond job titles, the week will focus on the transferable skills that are highly valued in any profession – such as teamwork, problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, and resilience. Students will discover how their current learning contributes to these vital capabilities. Workshops led by professionals outside of education will give a unique insight into developing these essential skills.
• Investigate Post-16 Pathways: We will be providing clear information on the different routes available after GCSEs, including A-Levels, BTECs, apprenticeships, and vocational training, helping them to connect their current studies to future opportunities.
• Ignite Aspirations: Ultimately, the aim is to broaden horizons and help students consider what they are passionate about and how they can turn those passions into a fulfilling career. It's about sparking curiosity and helping them envision their place in the world.

We believe that providing this concentrated period of careers exploration is crucial for our Year 10s as they begin to make important decisions about their GCSE options and beyond. It’s an opportunity to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and gain a clearer understanding of the world that awaits them.

We encourage you to discuss "World of Work Week" with your child over the coming days and weeks. Ask them what careers they are curious about and what they hope to gain from the experience.

More specific timetables and details will be shared with Year 10 students closer to the date.

Faithfully,

The Lister Community School Careers Team

This is awarded to students that have worked consistently hard in the GCSE Dance Course over the past two years. This year there were many students to choose from as most members of the group worked very hard, especially over the last three months, however, these four girls got the certificate and medals:

Runners up: Pooja Dey, Alisha Kamali, Ramona Tanteanu- Floria

Winner: Jessica Homocea, whose name is engraved on the silver cup

Well done to all the dance cohort of 2025!

In today's increasingly digital world, managing screen time for our children can feel like a constant challenge. That's why we, as a community school, have such a clear rule to support our students and the zero tolerance policy of phones in school is something we wanted to emphasise. We would prefer that students leave their phones at home. As part of our policy, the offer for students who have safeguarding concerns and must, therefore, bring their phones to school is that they can be kept securely in the headteacher's office. Parents must email the headteacher to agree this provision. If students do bring phones into school they should be turned off and kept in a their bags and this is done at their own risk.

While technology offers many educational and connective benefits, it's important to be aware of the impact that excessive screen use can have on a child's development and well-being.

Research from health organisations like the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) suggests that limiting recreational screen time to around two hours a day can offer significant advantages for children and young people. Here's why:

Key Benefits of Limiting Screen Time:

• Improved Sleep Quality: The blue light emitted from screens can disrupt melatonin production, making it harder for children to fall asleep and achieve restful sleep. Less screen time, especially before bed, means better sleep patterns. try to agree a 'screen off' time with you children.
• Reduced Anxiety and Stress: Excessive social media use and constant digital comparison can contribute to increased anxiety, poor self-esteem, and even symptoms of depression. Limiting exposure can help foster a more positive mental outlook.
• Enhanced Physical Health: More time away from screens naturally encourages greater physical activity, reducing sedentary habits and the risk of obesity. It also helps reduce eye strain and headaches associated with prolonged screen use.

We at the Lister news desk have written to you before to recommend 'Time for Young People' which is an extension of the Children's Society Charity. The have a work place - a modern version of a youth club - newly opened on the Barking Road. They offer numerous events and workshops to support the positive development of young people in Newham. These workshops are a fantastic opportunity for young people aged 8-25 to connect with others in the community, dive into creative and educational activities and learn new skills all in our supportive, safe, and friendly Hub. Their goal is to boost well-being, resilience, confidence, and foster a positive mindset.

Here is a link you can follow for particular details of events.

Here we highlight year groups' success and the particular form groups and individuals in year groups who are earning the most praises. Keep an eye out for your child's name here and see whether their form group have had particular success through the week!

The Thought for the Week next week is focused on resilience. 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.