The Lister Weekly Update #2
Wednesday 24th September
Your Lister News, in a Biweekly Publication
We've made the decision to move to a biweekly publication of the Lister Community School newsletter to provide you with a richer, more timely update on school life. This shift allows our smaller news team to focus on delivering more comprehensive, event-focused summaries and stories that are well-written and can be relayed to you, the parents, in good time, ensuring you're kept fully informed about all the exciting happenings and opportunities at school.
Final Parent Open Evening - Calling all Year 11s!
Wednesday 24th September - Y11 Info Event
Entry from 3.15pm.
You will receive a full report of your child’s grades across all subjects at the end of last academic year.
There will be a session for parents/carers led by our Headteacher, Assistant Head Teachers and Year Group Teams to share more information on helping support students with revision and how to be successful in school to support their future plans after Lister.
Tutors will then meet with all parents/carers and tutees to talk through key assessment dates, revision tips and guidance on where to find key resources.
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
The Lister Dance Collective went to the first Educational Visit of the year on the 4th of September. The performance was at Sadler's Wells, Angel, and it was a fantastic experience. One student that has read the book by CS Lewis said that it was, 'Great to see the story brought to life in a modern way'. The movement, live musicians, acting and staging complimented each other to create a magical experience. Upcoming theatre visits are to see Phantom of the Opera and Hamilton.
See Ms Coke for further information if you are interested.
First Aid Incident and Medication Administration Notifications
Dear Parents/Carers,
We are writing to inform you that the NHS school-age vaccination team, Vaccination UK, will soon visit Lister Community School for sessions to offer the flu immunisations to Years 7 to 11 students, as recommended by the UK’s national immunisation schedule.
The flu immunisations will take place on 6th, 7th and 8th October 2025.
A form must be completed for every child, even if you are choosing to refuse the vaccination.
If you have any questions or require further information about the vaccine, you can visit the NHS website or contact Vaccination UK for further information, and assistance.
Pastoral Spotlight
The most important input to your child's development at Lister, outside of their time in school, is their relationship with you. As parents and carers, we want you to be informed as themes and focus during form time and during the school day. We think that it is really healthy and beneficial to talk to your children about events and how this relates to the world outside of Lister. This week in assemblies and tutor time, students are learning about:
International Day of Peace (21st September) - International Day of Peace, also known as World Peace Day, is a holiday sanctioned by the United Nations and observed annually on September 21st. Established in 1981, it is dedicated to promoting world peace, specifically by calling for a 24-hour global ceasefire and period of non-violence.
The day is meant to strengthen the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples. Each year, the UN selects a specific theme—for example, the 2024 theme was "Cultivating a Culture of Peace"—to focus global efforts on different aspects of building a more peaceful world. While the UN rings the Peace Bell and the Secretary-General issues a message, people worldwide participate through various activities like peace walks, educational events, and community service, all with the goal of committing to peace above all differences.
European Day of Languages (26th September): The European Day of Languages (EDL) is an annual celebration held on September 26th, jointly organised by the Council of Europe and the European Commission.
Its core objectives are to:
Raise awareness of the rich linguistic and cultural diversity across Europe.
Promote the value of learning languages at any age, both in and out of school (lifelong language learning).
Encourage the diversification of languages learned, highlighting that all of Europe's languages—including regional and minority ones—are a valuable resource.
The day is marked across Europe with a variety of fun events, such as mini-language courses, quizzes, debates, and cultural activities, all aimed at showing the public that language learning can be enjoyable and is crucial for better understanding, intercultural dialogue, and cross-border mobility.
This week’s assembly music appreciation piece is: Peace Piece by Bill Evans. This is a solo jazz piano improvisation from 1958. It was created to evoke feelings of calm, peace and reflection.
Students are encouraged to think about which other pieces of music help you focus and feel peaceful? Please continue these discussions at home.
The Lister Graduate
At the Lister News Desk, we are proud to provide further details, following the parent open evenings, on the Lister Graduate. The Lister Community School Graduate is a truly brilliant concept designed to develop more than just a set of grades; it's a comprehensive vision for a successful, well-rounded young adult. Our model ensures that every student is equipped with the vital life skills and mindset needed for success: they are encouraged to make the most of EACH opportunity on offer and actively take part in a range of activities to broaden their horizons. Crucially, they are taught to embrace a growth mindset, to proactively set goals and reflect on their progress, and to have the confidence to seek support when needed. This holistic approach produces graduates who can advocate for themselves and others, leaving Lister not only academically strong but also as confident, resilient, and engaged citizens ready to thrive in their future endeavors.
We aim to instill all of these qulaities in our students and as parents we would like you to echo the need to strive for these qualities at home as well as at school.
Extracurricular PE and Dance Clubs 2025-2026, Autumn Term
Keeping students active is one of the keys to unlocking a bright future for students at Lister. As a result of this, our PE team offers a wide range of extracurricular clubs. Please see the image or click on the link to access more details on the variety of clubs offered.
PSHRE Parent Consultation Thursday 2nd October 4-5pm
Please come along to learn more about how we teach PSHRE (Personal, Social, Health and Relationship Education) at Lister. There will be a short presentation, covering the rationale, statutory guideline and content for each year group. After the presentation there will be an opportunity to look at resources and ask any questions you may have. I look forward to seeing you there. Ms Skuse, Head of PSHRE
Keeping Your Child Safe Online – Important Information for Parents
Recently the Lister Safeguarding Team shared a letter with parents and carers regarding online safety. Below are the key points from the letter which can be read in full here.
We have recently contacted you regarding an online safety issue with your child. As part of our ongoing commitment to safeguarding our students, we want to raise your awareness about the growing concerns around online harms. The digital world offers many positive opportunities for learning, creativity, and connection — but it also presents significant risks, especially for young people.
When we discover any students who are affected by inappropriate online content, harmful communication, and misinformation, we share this letter and guidance so that we can support in ensuring it does not happen again. We kindly ask that you take a moment to read the guidance below and work with us to help keep your child safe online.
📱 Age Requirements on Social Media Apps
Many popular apps and platforms have minimum age requirements that are often ignored. Please be aware of the following age limits:
● Snapchat – 13+
● TikTok – 13+
● Instagram – 13+
● WhatsApp – 16+
● Facebook – 13+
● YouTube – 13+ (YouTube Kids is available for younger children)
● Discord - 13+
These age restrictions are in place to protect young users from content, interactions, and features that may not be age-appropriate.
💬 Group Chats – A Growing Concern
Group chats, especially on platforms like WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Discord, are becoming increasingly problematic.
Students may be added to large, unmoderated groups where:
● Inappropriate content is shared.
● Bullying and peer pressure can occur.
● Misinformation or harmful advice may be circulated.
● Unknown members join the chat
We advise you to regularly check which group chats your child is part of and who is in them. Encourage your child to leave any group that makes them uncomfortable and please speak to them about their online persona and being kind.
Ideally, we would advise that young people are not part of large group chats.
Time for Young People - Free After School Clubs in Newham
This month, Time for Young People are offering a dynamic mix of creative, educational, and wellbeing-focused workshops designed for young people aged 8 to 25. Whether it's building new skills, making friends, or simply having fun in a safe and welcoming space — there’s something for everyone!
Thought for the Week
The Thought for the Week this week is focused on kindness. 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.