Dear Families,

What an incredible day we had on Wednesday! Our International Day was a true celebration of the rich diversity within our school community, and it was wonderful to see our pupils dressed in such vibrant and meaningful outfits representing countries from all around the world. They all looked absolutely amazing!

Over the past few weeks, both children and adults have been working incredibly hard in class to create the most fantastic displays — from smoking volcanoes and glowing lights to 3D models, videos, and even a special ‘selfie opportunity’. The effort and creativity on show were truly inspiring. The children thoroughly enjoyed exploring the different stations, learning about a wide range of countries, and collecting stamps in their passports as they went.

A huge thank you to the whole staff team for relaunching this event with such flair and energy. We are also so grateful to all who helped make the day so special — from our brilliant kitchen team who prepared some very popular international dishes, to the generous families who donated delicious food, and the amazing FOSJB team who helped set up and serve throughout the evening.

It was a fantastic event and a real highlight of the term — but it’s only the beginning! We have many more exciting events coming up, so please be sure to check the important dates in the poster below and add them to your diaries.

Warm regards,

Toni Mason

Staying safe in the sun at school

With warmer weather on the way, we’re reminding families about the importance of practising safe sun care during the school day. When it’s sunny, please ensure your child comes to school wearing long-lasting sun cream, ideally one that will protect them throughout the day. Children are also welcome to bring in their own clearly labelled sun cream for top-ups if needed. We strongly recommend that all pupils wear a sun hat to help protect them while they’re enjoying time outdoors.

Important Online Safety Information…

Swimming Discounts in Hackney

Hackney offers some great swimming opportunities for families. Children under 18, over-60s, and those registered as disabled can swim for free at local leisure centres like Clissold, Britannia, and King’s Hall, with a low-cost £1.60 annual membership. There are also free summer swimming lessons for Year 5 and 6 children who need extra support in the water.

While there isn’t a specific discount just for families on benefits, the reduced-cost membership offers up to 30% off a range of activities, and inclusive swimming sessions are also available. You can find out more or sign up by visiting better.org.uk/hackney-free-swimming.

Have an old suitcase at home?

We would love to have it!

Next half term, we are once again turning our attention to improving our playground and making it an even more exciting and imaginative space for our children. One creative idea we’ve come across is using old suitcases in play – they can become dens, treasure chests, shop counters, secret storage, or even part of an adventure game! The possibilities are endless when it comes to imaginative play. To help bring this idea to life, we are kindly asking families, friends, and neighbours to donate any old and unwanted suitcases you may have at home. If you have one gathering dust, we’d love to give it a new purpose in our playground. Thank you in advance for your support!

In the news over the past week…