Cherry in Kings Square Gardens
Cherry Class had an enriching day out at Kings Square Gardens. They learned the 8 compass points and used this knowledge to successfully read maps....
11 June, 2026
St John The Baptist
Newsletter
12.06.2026
Dear Families, A huge thank you to all of you who joined us this afternoon for our Music on a Summer's Afternoon performance. It was the first time it was held in the church grounds and many parents have commented on the...
Dear Families,
A huge thank you to all of you who joined us this afternoon for our Music on a Summer’s Afternoon performance. It was the first time it was held in the church grounds and many parents have commented on the lovely setting, the better sound and being amoung those lovely trees. It was wonderful to be in such a special space, sharing our children’s voices and talents with the wider community.
The children performed beautifully and represented our school with confidence, enthusiasm and joy. Watching them sing together reminded us of the power of music to bring people together and create lasting memories. We are incredibly proud of every child who took part and grateful to our staff team for preparing them so well. Thank you also to all of you who helped carry chairs and equipment to make the clean up easier.
Our children make us proud every day, but this week I would also like to celebrate our staff.
Last Friday, we co-hosted a professional learning event with Margaret Mulholland, a nationally recognised specialist in SEND and inclusion. We welcomed colleagues from schools across Hackney to visit classrooms, observe lessons and share ideas about effective teaching and learning.
All of our teachers were given the same starting point: What can we learn from the River Lea? They were challenged to design an age-appropriate lesson that would engage and challenge every child while showcasing the adaptive teaching strategies they use every day. Adaptive teaching is the way teachers thoughtfully adjust their teaching, support, resources and questioning to ensure that all children can access learning and make progress, regardless of their starting point.
The feedback from visitors was overwhelmingly positive. They were impressed by the creativity of the lessons, the high expectations for all pupils and the care and expertise our staff demonstrate every day. One visitor commented: “The best adaptation I saw was through the quality of the teacher.”
I wanted to share this feedback not only to celebrate our dedicated teachers, teaching assistants and wider staff team, but also to reassure families about the quality of education and support your children receive at St John the Baptist. We are fortunate to have such a committed team working together to help every child flourish.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support.
Best wishes,
Ms Toni Mason
School Community Dates & Events
Summer Term – 2nd Half
A Few Photos from MOASA
We had a professional photographer on site to take some photos and videos of today’s amazing event. However, here a few photos we took from the day.
Free Family Wild Walk – Saturday 13th June
Join us for a FREE Family Wild Walk this Saturday, led by Outdoor People, a Hackney-based non-profit organisation. This is a fun adventure where children take their grown-ups on a journey to discover local nature, wild plants and hidden green spaces.
Meeting point: St Jude’s Street Garden children’s playground
Meet at: 10:45am (for an 11:00am start)
Finish: Around 1:00pm at Shakespeare Walk Adventure Playground
The walk will visit at least one other playground along the way and end at Shakespeare Walk Adventure Playground, where families are welcome to continue playing and/or enjoy a picnic on the beautiful Butterfield Green.
Please bring:
- Snacks and drinks
- Weather-appropriate clothing
If you need a waterproof jacket, Outdoor People have spares available—just let them know in advance.
All families are welcome!
Outdoor People have been running Wild Walks for over 12 years, helping thousands of families enjoy spending more time outdoors together.
To book your free place, please use the Family Wild Walk booking link.
Helping Children Stay Safe Online
The internet offers amazing opportunities for learning, creativity and staying connected, but it can also expose children to inappropriate images, harmful content and unwanted contact. Social media and video platforms use algorithms that quickly suggest more and more content, which can sometimes lead children towards material that is not suitable for their age.
One of the simplest and most effective steps parents can take is to switch on parental controls. These can help filter inappropriate content, manage screen time, restrict purchases and provide a safer online experience across devices and home broadband. They are not a substitute for conversations and supervision, but they are an important first line of defence.
We also encourage families to:
- Talk regularly with your child about what they do online.
- Ask them to show you their favourite games, apps and websites.
- Encourage them to tell a trusted adult if they see anything that worries or upsets them.
- Review privacy settings and parental controls regularly as children grow and technology changes.
For more information, practical advice and step-by-step guides to setting up parental controls, visit the UK Safer Internet Centre’s Parents and Carers Hub:
https://saferinternet.org.uk/guide-and-resource/parents-and-carers
You can also find specific guidance on parental controls here:
https://saferinternet.org.uk/online-issue/parental-controls
Next Week’s Lunch Menu
Please see School Uniform Order Deadlines for Brigade:
KEY SUMMER DEADLINE DATES – Order early to avoid the Back to School rush!
Direct to School (Delivery to School) – Order by Friday 12th June for free delivery to school before the summer holidays*
*From Saturday 13th June, all orders will switch to Parents Direct (Home Delivery).
Parents Direct (Home Delivery) – Order by Friday 17th July for delivery before the new September term.
Wholesale Orders – Order by Friday 12th June for delivery to school before the end of the summer term.
Web: www.brigade.uk.com
Charity Mud Run
A Filming Opportunity for Families
Clubs/Sports
In the news over the past week…
Animals in Palm
Year 1 enjoyed learning about different animal groupings: mammals, reptiles/ amphibians… and which food group they belong to: herbivores, omnivores, carnivores. They worked as a team to group animals into land/ sea or both....
11 June, 2026
MOASA Practice in Chestnut
The children have been having a lot of fun rehearsing for MOASA this week. They always bring an amazing amount of energy and commitment to these events and I’m sure they will look and sound fantastic on the day. And a massive thank you to Michelle......
11 June, 2026
This week in Plum
This week Year 6 students continued their learning about the respiratory system and the different chambers of the heart! Students looked at different models of the heart, and were able to draw their own illustration with labels!...
11 June, 2026
Maths in Cherry
This week, Cherry begun exploring the concept of multiplication in maths lessons. They identified equal and unequal groups, and answered questions such as There are ___ groups of _____. Children worked together to split 10 cubes into 1, 10, 2 and 5 equal groups....
11 June, 2026
Water play in Fig & Apple
Water play, washing pots and pans for mud kitchen, using the water to dig for worms. ...
10 June, 2026