St John The Baptist
Newsletter

28.03.25

Dear Parents and Carers, What a fantastic week it’s been! It’s been so lovely to see some sunshine, and we've had a very busy but rewarding week here at school. Year 6 students have been participating in their practice SATs this...

Dear Parents and Carers,

What a fantastic week it’s been! It’s been so lovely to see some sunshine, and we’ve had a very busy but rewarding week here at school. Year 6 students have been participating in their practice SATs this week, which gives them a great opportunity to experience what the actual tests will be like in May. While SATs are important, it’s important to remember that they are only a snapshot in time and don’t measure everything that makes our children unique. These tests do not reflect how creative, kind, resilient, or practical our children are. That being said, I must say I am incredibly proud of how Year 6 have approached the week. The entire Year 6 team has been so impressed by both their academic efforts and their emotional determination. Well done to each and every one of them!

We also had an absolute blast on Wednesday after school with our very first Parent/Carer and Child Bonnet Making Workshop. The hats were absolutely beautiful, and it was wonderful to see so many families getting involved. If you missed out, don’t worry! You can still purchase a bonnet making kit from FOSJB members next week (£5 for a hat and £3 for a crown).

We are all looking forward to seeing many of you at our Easter Bonnet Parade next Friday morning at 9am. It promises to be a fun event, and we can’t wait to see all the creativity on display.

Finally, Eid Mubarak to those of you who will be celebrating Eid al-Fitr this Sunday or Monday. May you enjoy this special time with your loved ones.

A quick reminder: school will close at 1:45pm next Friday,.

Last day for after school care is Thursday 3rd April, there will be no after-school care on Friday.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend ahead!

Best wishes,

Ms Toni Mason

Upcoming Partial Solar Eclipse – A Child-Friendly Activity!

This Saturday morning, a partial solar eclipse will be visible from the UK, which is a fun activity for you to enjoy with your child. The eclipse will begin around 9:30 AM and reach its peak at 10:45 AM, with the moon covering a portion of the sun. If you have the chance, head to a local park to get the best views or just stand outside your home. However, it’s crucial to remember to never to look directly at the sun without proper eye protection, as it can cause serious damage. Special eclipse glasses or a pinhole projector are essential for safe viewing. As most of us do not have these lying around, please be careful and remind your children of the dangers of looking directly at the sun. For more information about this exciting event, you can read more here.

New Late to school Procedure from Tuesday 22nd April

When children are late at the beginning of a school day, they miss out on learning. The teachers start learning with catch up and retrieval opportunities as soon as the children arrive at school at 8:45am. When children come in through the school office after 8:55am, because their gate has closed, they are late. They miss out on that learning time and the start of their day is disrupted. So that we can monitor the impact this is having on our children, there is going to be a new late to school procedure from Tuesday 22nd April. From the first day back after the Easter holiday, (Tuesday 22nd April) we will need all parents who are dropping off later than 8:55am at the school office to register their child into the school with Joy and share the reason behind their late arrival.

The History of the Bonnet Parade

The Easter Bonnet Parade has a long-standing tradition, dating back to the 18th century, where people would showcase their creative, decorated hats to celebrate the arrival of spring. Originally, it became a symbol of new beginnings and the joyful spirit of the season. Over the years, the parade has evolved into a fun and colourful event for communities to come together and display their artistic flair.

We look forward to seeing you at our very first St John the Baptist parade on Friday morning at 9am!

Just follow this link to claim offer: Parents Direct – Brigade Clothing, LTD

A Little Reminder…

Easter Holiday Vouchers

We have had news this week that Hackney Council will be funding the issue of FSM (Free School Meal) vouchers during the Easter 2025 Holiday. The value of the FSM voucher for the Easter 2025 Holiday is £20 per child, which covers the whole Easter 2025 holiday. The FSM voucher is only for those children who are eligible for benefit-related free school meals and children in nursery classes who are either in receipt of the two-year-old funding or eligible for the Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP).

If you have not already please apply for Free School Meals here to be eligible to receive a voucher. Click this link

In the news over the past week…

Science in Year 4

In year 4, we have learnt about the changing of the states of matter...

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Painting In The 2 Year Old Nursery

In the 2 year old Nursery, we have enjoyed painting outside!...

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Card Making in Year 6

Look at us making Mother’s Day cards! So much fun celebrating our special carers!...

28 March, 2025

Computing in Year 5

Chestnut have been using Google Sites to design their own website. They’ve been learning how to create pages and embed information as well as making the website visually appealing. The children love developing their digital literacy skills whilst working collaboratively....

28 March, 2025