Nativity Practice
We have been hard at work rehearsing our Nativities this week!...
06 December, 2024
St John The Baptist
Newsletter
06.12.24
Dear Families, It has been another fantastic week as we embrace the Christmas season here at school! It was lovely to see parents and staff at the wreath-making session and our church service on Wednesday. A heartfelt thank you to everyone for...
Dear Families,
It has been another fantastic week as we embrace the Christmas season here at school! It was lovely to see parents and staff at the wreath-making session and our church service on Wednesday. A heartfelt thank you to everyone for your generous donations towards the tombola and raffle. These contributions will help make this year’s Winter Fayre the best one yet!
The children are buzzing with excitement as they prepare to present their nativities at the church next week, and I can’t wait to see them shine. Please check the key dates poster below to ensure you have the correct times for your child’s performance.
During Nativity Week, we’ll also be celebrating with Christmas lunch and Christmas Jumper Day – there’s still plenty of festive fun to look forward to!
As we head into the winter months, with colds circulating, please help your child stay healthy by encouraging plenty of sleep, regular handwashing, and healthy eating. This will ensure they don’t miss out on all the exciting events, as well as their important lessons and key learning.
Thank you for your continued support, and I wish you all a wonderful festive season ahead.
Warm regards,
Ms Toni Mason
Headteacher
Christmas at St John the Baptist
We have many events scheduled see the poster below – but here are the dates for the Nativities. No tickets are needed but please do make time to find your seat before we start.
Nursery, Reception & Year 1 Nativity: Monday 9th December – starting at 2pm in the Church
Years 2 & 3 Nativity: Wednesday 11th December – starting at 2pm in the Church
Years 4, 5 & 6 Nativity: Friday 13th December – starting at 2pm in the Church
Here is a reminder of our important festive dates!
Christmas Jumper Day
When: Thursday 12th December 2024
What: Wear a Christmas Jumper to school over your school uniform
Why: Christmas Jumper Day is Save the Children’s annual event which raises money for the children who need it most. Every December, millions of people across the United Kingdom (and beyond!) put on a festive knit at their workplace, school or with friends and make a donation to help give children the magical future they deserve.
Donate: Please donate a coin on the gate for this worthy cause
& Christmas Lunch day
When: Thursday 12th December 2024
What: We have planned a delicious Christmas lunch menu for our children. We have festive crackers, we will play merry tunes and will make a special hat to wear – watch out next week for the photos!
Feedback from Gabi at Magic Breakfast
From our Magic Makers breakfast this week
This week Breakfast Club welcomed some local volunteers to come and play and eat with them. They also brought some presentws for our Breakfast club – toys, books and activities that they will be able to enjoy in the morning.
They were so impressed with our school they sent this message:
“I just wanted to share with you that we have been inundated with positive feedback from the volunteers at Hawksmoor about the wonderful Magic Makers visit they had at your school. I couldn’t help but share some of the quotes – they absolutely loved your schools and students. Thank you for all you do to create such a beautiful space for your children and young people – and the lucky ones who get to visit from outside!
A huge thank you to you and the school for having us this morning. We all had such a great time, the staff were fantastic and all the children so welcoming. We really appreciate all the time and efforts that go into setting up.
Everyone really enjoyed the experience, and we hope the children enjoy the gifts. Hopefully we’ll be able to join again next year!
The staff and team were delightfully welcoming and evidently seriously proud of their school which was wonderful to see. Also, as a parent, I found it particularly heartwarming to see how much care the children receive and what a positive impact such small things can have on children.
I can’t wait to work with you on all things volunteering again in the future.”
It is always nice to have such positive feedback. Well done to all the staff and children involved.
Selin Degmenlibey is our new Educational Mental Health Practitioner, and is present at the school every Wednesday morning. She is a member of the Mental Health Support Team in Schools and provides support to both parents and students. In her role, Selin collaborates directly with parents to address and manage their child’s anxiety and behavioural concerns. Additionally, she engages with students through group sessions focused on key topics, including self-esteem, friendships, bullying, and emotional regulation. We are thrilled to have her support for our children and families at St John the Baptist. Welcome Selin!
Keeping Healthy During Winter: Tips for Avoiding Colds
As the colder months arrive, we all know that winter colds seem to become more common. At school, we want to ensure that every child stays healthy and ready to enjoy all the exciting activities we have planned for this festive season. To help your child avoid falling ill during winter, here are some simple tips that can make a big difference:
1. Get Plenty of Sleep
Adequate sleep is essential for boosting your child’s immune system. Encourage them to establish a bedtime routine to ensure they get enough rest each night. A well-rested child is more likely to fight off viruses and stay energised for the school day.
2. Wash Hands Regularly
Handwashing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs. Teach your child to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water, especially after coughing, sneezing, or touching surfaces that others may have used. Hand sanitiser can be a good backup, but washing with soap is the best protection.
3. Stay Warm and Layer Up
It’s important to dress warmly in layers when going outside, as being cold can weaken the body’s immune response. Make sure your child wears a warm coat, hat, gloves, and scarf to protect against the chill, and encourage them to keep their layers on while indoors if the temperature drops.
4. Eat Healthy, Nutritious Foods
A balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals helps the body stay strong. Encourage your child to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, which are packed with vitamins that support the immune system. Foods like oranges, berries, carrots, and spinach are great choices to help fight off illness.
5. Stay Active
Exercise boosts the immune system, so make sure your child stays active even during the winter months. Encourage outdoor play when possible, or indoor activities like dancing, stretching, or jumping jacks to get the body moving and keep them strong.
6. Keep Hydrated
It’s easy to forget about drinking water in the winter, but staying hydrated is key to overall health. Encourage your child to drink water throughout the day, even if they’re not feeling thirsty. Proper hydration supports the immune system and helps maintain energy levels.
7. Teach Good Cough and Sneeze Etiquette
Remind your child to always cover their mouth and nose with a tissue or their elbow when coughing or sneezing. Dispose of tissues immediately and wash hands afterward to reduce the spread of germs to others.
By following these simple steps, we can help ensure that your child stays healthy and strong throughout the winter months. Let’s work together to keep our school community happy and safe this season!
Stay warm, stay healthy, and enjoy all the festive fun ahead!
A little Reminder…
Friends of SJB
(St John the Baptist Primary School PTA)
Annual General Meeting (AGM)
When: Tuesday, 10th December, 8:45 am
We are excited to announce the inaugural meeting of our Parent-Teacher Association – Friends of SJB (St John the Baptist Primary School PTA) This is an important opportunity for parents and teachers to come together to help St John the Baptist Primary to grow.
At this meeting, we will be electing the Chair and Treasurer. These roles are vital in steering the activities and initiatives.
During the nomination period we had one parent nominate for each position. We will be voting these candidates in officially.
I encourage all parents and guardians to attend and participate in this significant event. We look forward to seeing you there!
If you have any queries, questions and ideas please do not hesitate to contact us at friends@st-john.hackney.sch.uk
Kind Regards – Friends of SJB Committee
A Little Reminder…
Christmas Raffle
Christmas comes but once a year and to celebrate we are organising our Christmas raffle to run alongside our Winter Fayre.
Our PTA have been working hard to secure some wonderful donations for the prizes. Prizes will include an array of lovely hampers, an Echo Dot, Gift Cards from Wagamama and Nandos and vouchers for use in some of our local shops for prizes. We are extremely grateful for all the donations we receive. The prizes will go on display in the foyer as they arrive in. Please keep an eye out for them.
Tickets cost £1 per 5 tickets (a strip) and will be sent home on Monday with each child. Each child will receive £5 of tickets to sell.
If you wish to purchase any and be in with a chance to win some amazing prizes, then please return with the name of your child and their class on the back of each individual ticket and return to the school office in the envelope provided. If you require more tickets, please ask at the school office.
Closing date: All tickets and money to be returned by Monday 16th December. We will draw the raffle on Tuesday 17th December at our Winter Fayre.
Many thanks for your support as always and don’t forget if you have anything you would like to donate for prizes, please bring them to the office.
In the news this week…
Outdoor Play in Nursery
Nursery have been enjoying lots of outdoor play this week!...
06 December, 2024
Donations!
This is just a few of the many donations that we received on Friday. We want to say a huge thank you to all the parents that made a donation towards our Christmas Fayre that will be taking place on Tuesday 17th December....
06 December, 2024
Spanish in Year 3
Hola!! In Spanish Rowan have learnt to say ‘hello my name is..’ ‘I was born in..’ and ‘I live in….’. Thanks to our amazing Spanish teacher Enrique...
05 December, 2024
Wreath Making Workshop
On Wednesday, we hosted a festive wreath making workshop for staff and parents. They created some wonderful wreaths which helped get into the Christmas spirit....
05 December, 2024
Role Play in Year 1
In Palm this week we used role play to demonstrate a character’s feelings. We became a dragon, snowman and villagers and then planned and wrote a diary entry from our characters perspective....
05 December, 2024