Dear Families,

What a great first two weeks back. Our year 5 Choir representatives arrived back from Portugal. They performed publicly as part of the Hackney choir and spent almost a week at a local Portugese school sharing their musical skills and attending classes. Many friends were made. The report back was amazing with our children’s conduct exemplary. We are very proud of them. We hope to attend in future years!

We have added the important dates poster to our website and include it below. We had to seperate the Coffee Mornings as there were so many dates altogether! Please make sure you add the dates to your diary. See below for our key dates and upcoming events.

We have also hung some lovely SJB artwork in the Dalston CLR Library as part of the Primary Advantage Summer Art Exhibition. Please do go along and see it if you can.

We are looking to expand the opportunities children attending St John the Baptist have for individual and small group instrumental lessons from September 2024. We are sending out a survey to see what interest you have for your children to have these opportunities. The lessons will be run by SING Music. Previously this was just to children in years 4-6. We want to expand this to include younger children. The results of the survey will decide which instrumental lessons are offered. The possible instruments available for instruction are Keyboard, Guitar (Year 3 up), Ukulele, Singing & Violin. Lessons would be for 30 minutes each, scheduled during the school day; they would be individual (£ 23.50 per session) or in small groups (No more than 5 – £10.50 per session) This is 2024/25 prices. All teachers are skilled, passionate music graduates, dedicated to sharing their love for music with children. Click here for the survey

I am looking forward to seeing you all next Friday at our Music on a Summers’ Afternoon Musical performance – Songs through the Ages. Music from the 1950s until now from our 3 year-old Nursery class to our Year 6s.

Have a lovely weekend.

Best wishes,

Ms Toni Mason

SJB Summer 2 important dates

Summer Fayre 2024

Primary Advantage Summer Art Exhibition

Open now at Dalston CLR James Library

Dalston Junction

Children from our 8 Primary Advantage schools have created artwork inspired by the theme ‘Voice’. This summer exhibition is at Hackney Central and Dalston CLR James Libraries.  Children in all year groups explored this topic in their art and each school has selected pieces to add to the Exhibition.

St John the Baptist has joined with Holy Trinity, St Matthias and DeBeauvoir Primary Schools to exhibit at Dalston CLR James Libnrary.

The exhibition is now open to families to visit during the Library’s opening hours. Classes from our school will also be visiting the exhibition. We are proud of our art and were inspired by many artists including Chris Ofili and Frida Kahlo. We used a range of medium from brusho inks and paints to collage. Don’t miss our space environment boxes where whole new worlds are visible through the holes. Hold up your camera to take a picture for a better view!

Ice Lolly Stall

From next Friday we will be selling ice lollies in the main playground. All money raised goes towards the school. Please remember to bring cash, especially if the sun is shining!

Vouchers for the Summer Holidays

Hackney Council will be funding the issue of FSM vouchers during the Summer 2024 holiday

The value of the free school meal voucher for the Summer 2024 holiday  is £60 per child, which covers the whole of the Summer 2024 holiday. We are encouraging as many families as possible to sign up for free school meals so that you are able to access the voucher scheme which covers you for all half terms and holidays.

Please click here to sign up through the Hackney Education website. If you are having any issues please come into see Katy who will be able to help you with the process.

Nursery Applications – Apply Now!

Please spread the word to friends and neighbours if they have children who are 2 and 3 years-old – applications are now being considered. Apply quickly for 2 year-old and 3 year-old Nursery places if your (or their) child was born between Sept 1st 2020 and 31st Aug 2022.

All applications are now easier as they are online and with the new funding outlined by the government more parents can access FREE 2 year old and 3 year old Nursery places. Here is the link to apply.

Free and Fun… Hackney Wild Walks!

Hackney Wild Walks are three fun walks for children and their parents/carers with routes that take you around our beautiful borough. The aim of the walks is to get young children interested in exploring Hackney on foot, and encourage them to be more active. Adults will enjoy and benefit from the adventures too.  Each walk is a tour of some of Hackney’s iconic and unusual sites with a focus on themes aimed to engage children and young people. 

What walks are available?

• Haggerston to Hoxton – see a giant snake and a mysterious stone circle
• Hackney Marshes and Kingsmead – discover hidden playgrounds and the perfect spot for flying a kite
• Woodberry Down and West Reservoir – encounter wizards and watery wonders   

For more information on how to take part, please click this link: https://www.hackneylocaloffer.co.uk/kb5/hackney/localoffer/service.page?id=yJ9K7VG2b7w

Learning Disability Week

Next week is learning disability week, organised by mencap.  The theme is ‘Do you see me?’ and we will be exploring what the world is like if you have a disability.  We will celebrate the things people with a learning disability bring to society, and challenging the barriers that those people face.  For more information, please visit their website.

Special Guest Assembly – Don’t forget to order a book!

We are delighted that CBeebies TV presenter, Joanna Adeyinka-Burford, is joining us for a special assembly on the Wednesday 26th June. Joanna has written an exciting faith-based children’s book, titled ‘What’s Up: 30 encouragements to fuel your faith’.

If you would like to pre-order a signed copy of the book, please complete the linked google form.  Otherwise, Joanna will be in our playground where you can meet her and potentially buy the book from her then.  The cost is £9.99.  See you there!

Upcoming Coffee mornings:

Look out for the poster!

Wednesday 19th June – 8:45am Coffee Morning for Y4 and 5 parents – Secondary transition and what to expect

Wednesday 3rd July – 8:45am Coffee Morning for Y6 parents  – Year 6 secondary transition: Helping your child transition into secondary 

Wednesday 17th July – 8:45am Coffee Morning – Meet the teacher (pop in to meet your child’s new teacher)

In the news this week…