Dear Parents and Carers,

We are so looking forward to the Winter Fair tomorrow. Thank you so much for your kind donations. I know a lot of you have also signed up to help. We really appreciate it and look forward to seeing you there. Thank you to the organisers. It is a lot of hard work to organise and we feel very lucky to be part of such a great community.

The Quiz night last Friday was great fun and it was lovely to see so many of you there. Thank you again for all the support and the organising. It was great to see everyone enjoying themselves.

 

Year 4 have been working on a project called Constellations. This year, See You In Stokey and local artists Output Arts are organising a community lights project

across Stoke Newington called Constellations. The project involves stars appearing in shop windows across the neighbourhood, star-themed light installations outside The Old Church arts centre and on St Pauls West Hackney, and star lights on the big tree by the fire station. These will be lit throughout December and January to bring cheer to the winter months. The Year 4 children have made their own star-shaped lanterns from willow and tissue paper and have been invited to join a lantern procession along Church Street on Saturday 3rd December from Stoke Newington Town Hall to a free community celebration outside the fire station. I am sure anyone can attend. The procession will be led by a samba drumming band, and at the fire station the Mayor of Hackney will turn on the lights on the big tree with some of the children, Vox Holloway choir will perform and there will be a chance to sing along. The street will be closed to traffic during the event, which will finish at 6pm.

 

Next week we are hosting our Scholastic Book Fair. This will take place at the end of the school day from 3:15 until 3:45 in the school library. Please ensure that you enter via the door that opens into the playground. Parents, carers and children will be able to purchase books in a variety of ways. A QR code will be on display so that parents and carers can pay via their phones or smart devices. Alternatively, books can be purchased using cash. We ask that children from Reception to Year 4 are accompanied by a parent. Children in Years 5 and 6 may attend and purchase books on their own. If your child is in Year 5 or 6 and are intending on purchasing a book please can they have their money in an envelope which they will hand to their teachers in the morning before school. We can't wait to see you there.

 

On Tuesday 22nd November the Betty Layward boys and girls football team took part in their third league match at the Young Hackney Hub against the Olive School.

The boys started first and were 2-1 down at half time however perseverance and team spirit by the boys brought the scores level to 3-3 and that's how it finished.

The girls kicked off their match against the Olive School and comprehensively won 8-2 with 6 goals scored by Eliza. Well done to all the children who participated. We are very proud of you all.

 

Thank you if you have bought in your money for the mini-marathon. We really appreciate your support and thank you for helping us with this. Any more sponsorship money is welcome.

 

If you need to tie your dog up outside school please ensure they are calm and will not bark. Some of our children are frightened of dogs. I know they are harmless but not all children do. Thank you for this. 

 

Please can I ask you to remind your children to wear coats to school. It is getting colder. Please can all items of clothing be named.
 

Our road safety officers led an assembly this week and we are really proud of how good they are at their roles. We are really concentrating on how we can travel to school safely.

 

Thank you for your donations for Children in Need. We raised £397.96. That is a fantastic amount, especially when the cost of living is becoming so expensive. Thank you.

 

I hope you have a lovely weekend and I look forward to seeing you at the Winter Fair tomorrow.

 

Jessica

Headteacher