St John The Baptist
Newsletter

13.12.24

Dear Families, What a joy it has been to watch the Nativity performances this week! Our excited EYFS and Year 1 children lit up the stage with their delight, thrilled to see their families and unable to contain their joy. The Year...

Dear Families,

What a joy it has been to watch the Nativity performances this week! Our excited EYFS and Year 1 children lit up the stage with their delight, thrilled to see their families and unable to contain their joy. The Year 2 and 3 children brought laughter and cheer with their humorous retelling and joyful singing, they really did left the roof with their vocals! The Year 4, 5, and 6 students captivated us with their beautiful harmonies, heartfelt narration, dramatic storytelling and pithy jokes which made us giggle as we all thoroughly enjoyed watching their Nativity. I am proud that fronm 3 years of age our children have the opportunity to sing and perform. We really are talented at SJB!

It was truly a pleasure to witness these wonderful moments, and we are so proud of all the children. A huge thank you to our incredible staff—teachers and support staff—for their dedication and effort in making these performances so special. Thank you also to our wonderful families, who not only supported their children but who may now know every song and line by heart!

We are also excited to see you all at the Winter Fayre on Tuesday, 17th December! There will be many activities and stalls to enjoy—see below for more information. Your support makes events like these a great success!

Ms Toni Mason
Headteacher

🎉❄️ Join Us for Festive Fun at 🎉❄️

St John the Baptist Primary School Winter Fayre!

Calling all parents and families! Don’t miss our magical Winter Fayre!

On Tuesday, 17th December, from 3:40pm to 5:30pm, the school will come alive with festive cheer, fun activities, and delightful surprises for everyone to enjoy.

🌟 What to Expect:
🎅 Meet Santa Claus in his grotto
🎁 Fabulous stalls with unique gifts
🍰 Tasty treats and drinks
🌟 Raffle prizes to make your holiday extra special!

Christmas Raffle – Don’t forget to return all tickets and money by Monday 16th December. We will draw the raffle on Tuesday 17th December at our Winter Fayre.

Tickets cost £1 per 5 tickets (a strip). Each child has been given £5 of tickets to sell.

Bring the whole family and let’s celebrate together. Your support makes all the difference and helps our school community shine even brighter! We can’t wait to see you there!

Exciting News

We are delighted to share some news following our recent AGM meeting. We are happy to announce that the roles of Chairperson and Secretary for the Friends of St John the Baptist (PTA) have been successfully filled. After two strong applicants came forward, both roles ran unopposed, and we are pleased to introduce our new leaders.

Rebecca Jenson – Chairperson

Rebecca Jenson is our new Chairperson, and we are excited to have her take on this important role. Rebecca shared, “I’ve been a member of our school community for the past five years, and currently have children in every stage of the school (EYFS, KS1, KS2), so I will be pursuing opportunities in all areas. I’m a mother of 5, so I have to keep things on schedule and very well organised. This is evident in how my children are always on time for school and have very few absences. I’ve worked in retail for the past 16 years, so I’m good at engaging with people from all backgrounds. I am an honest, open, and approachable person, and I make myself available to attend all coffee mornings at the school to stay up to date with current events in our school community. All I want is what’s best for my children and all the children in our school community. I believe this is best achieved through teamwork and collaboration with school staff and parents/carers of the children. One cannot do it all; it takes a village!”

We are excited to see what Rebecca’s leadership will bring to our school community!

Lisa Hawkins – Treasurer

We are also excited to introduce Lisa Hawkins as our new Treasurer. Lisa has been an SJB parent for nine years and is well-known and trusted within our school community. Lisa shared, “I value myself on being a very trustworthy person. I’ve been an Avon rep for over 15 years, which involves dealing with orders and money from customers, so I am used to handling large amounts of cash and keeping records of in and outgoings. I have a BTEC in Computing, so I’m comfortable using computer software to track data and manage finances.”

We are confident that Lisa’s skills will be invaluable in helping us manage our finances as we work together to support the school.

Join Us!

We would like to extend a warm invitation to all family members to join our committee. Everyone is welcome to attend meetings, contribute ideas, and help make a difference in our school community. We look forward to the future as we work closely with the school and the Friends of St John’s PTA to make SJB an even better place for all of our children.

Festive Family Fun at St John’s Hoxton

Join us for an amazing afternoon of Festive Family Fun at St John’s church from 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm on Friday 20th Dec 2024.

There will be craft tables – make a Christmas card for a loved one, create your own Christmas baubles/decorations , gingerbread decorations station, small stocking fillers and many more! We will sing Christmas carols together or maybe even rocking around the Christmas tree!

We will also watch a short Christmas movie together and finally Santa bearing gifts will make an appearance! So, make sure you sign up for your tickets (FREE) as due to health and safety reasons, we will only allow those who have tickets to come into the event.

Here is the link to book: GET LINK FROM DOREEN

Not Sure What to Buy for Christmas?

We recommend you buy your child a watch.
Learning to read time is a critical skill that helps children understand the concept of time, manage their daily routines, and develop a sense of responsibility.
The best way for our children to grasp this essential skill is by consistently practising with a watch they are wearing. We encourage you to support your child in this endeavour by ensuring they have a watch to wear both at home and at school. By wearing a watch, your child can frequently see the time and will be able to practise reading it when asked throughout the day.
To see the types of watch we recommend for supporting your child to be reading please use the link below:
Recommended style of watches

Just a Little Reminder for what’s still upcoming…

Free Family Events in Hackney This December

December is a month full of festive fun, and Hackney has some fantastic free events for families to enjoy! Whether you’re looking to get into the Christmas spirit, explore creative activities, or simply spend time together, there’s something for everyone. Here are some of the top free family events happening in Hackney this December:

Hackney Christmas Market

Get into the festive spirit with Hackney’s local Christmas Market, which will feature a range of stalls offering everything from handmade gifts to delicious food. There will be live music and a warm, festive atmosphere, making it a wonderful outing for all ages. Best of all, it’s free to browse and soak up the holiday cheer!

When: Various dates throughout December
Where: Hackney Central
Cost: Free to attend

Christmas Lantern Parade

Join the community for a magical Christmas Lantern Parade in Hackney. Families can make their own lanterns at a free workshop earlier in the month and then take part in the parade. The procession will light up the streets, creating a wonderful festive display. It’s a perfect chance to come together as a community and celebrate the season!

When: December 16th, 5:00 pm
Where: Hackney Town Hall
Cost: Free (workshop spaces are limited)

Festive Family Film Screening

Why not enjoy a free film screening with the family? The Hackney Picturehouse is hosting a series of free Christmas movie showings, including holiday classics and family favourites. Grab your popcorn, settle in, and enjoy a cozy movie afternoon with your loved ones!

When: December 20th, 2:00 pm
Where: Hackney Picturehouse
Cost: Free (booking required)

Christmas Crafting at Stoke Newington Library

If you’re looking for a fun, hands-on activity, head to Stoke Newington Library for a festive crafting session. This free event allows children to create their own Christmas decorations, cards, and gifts. It’s a great way to get into the holiday spirit and make something special.

When: December 16th, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Where: Stoke Newington Library
Cost: Free

Winter Fun at London Fields

For families who enjoy outdoor activities, London Fields park is offering free winter-themed events, including ice skating (for those with their own skates) and winter games. It’s a great opportunity to get active together and enjoy the crisp winter air.

When: Every weekend in December
Where: London Fields Park
Cost: Free (some activities may require booking)