Dear Parents and Carers,

We hope you had a good week. Thanks to those of you who attended or helped at the Quiz night. The organisation and time invested in it are incredible and it was a fantastic evening. Thank you to the organisers and the hosts of the quiz rounds. It is always a great night and the bonus is that it also raises money for the school.

We look forward to seeing you at the Winter Fair tomorrow. Thank you to everyone who has offered to help. We couldn’t do this without volunteers, and it raises a significant amount of money for the school, which is much needed as budgets become tighter. There are some fantastic raffle prizes, so please buy some tickets through this link https://app.galabid.com/bettylaywardraffle/items and share it with your family and friends. Thank you also for all the donations. We look forward to seeing you at the fair tomorrow.

Year 5 enjoyed an exciting orienteering trip to Hampstead Heath this week, where they applied their geography map skills to navigate the area. Despite the weather not being in their favour, they demonstrated remarkable resilience and teamwork, making the most of the adventure and turning it into a memorable learning experience.

On Tuesday, a group of Year 5 and 6 children participated in the Hackney Schools Cross Country League at Hackney Downs Park. It was a cold, crisp day, ideal for a cross-country race. The boys went first and performed really well, with Otto finishing in the top 20 and Devon in the top 30. The girls went next, and despite a slow start, Mia W and Aurora finished in the top 10. What a tremendous effort from everyone. We look forward to more success in the new year.

Year 2 had a wonderful visit to the Museum of the Home, exploring various rooms from the past, present, and future. Afterwards, they made collages of their own homes, choosing pictures and creating drawings that represented them. The children received praise from the museum staff for their excellent behaviour and were told they were the best-behaved school ever to visit.

Poppy, in Year 3, held her own table-top sale for charity last Sunday. It was a bright, sunny day, and she set up a table outside her house with home and children’s items for sale, along with some cakes. She decided to raise money for North London Action for the Homeless. Poppy made posters, gathered customers, and ran the stall with her Mum. It was a lovely experience, and the neighbours were very generous. A delivery driver even pulled up and gave cash. Poppy is amazing and raised £215, which they plan to take to NLAH. Well done, Poppy.

Our Christmas events are coming up very soon. I hope you have marked them in your diary. Please refrain from bringing food or hot drinks into the hall or church during these performances. For the Reception and Year 1 Nativity, only three adults per family are permitted. You have received tickets for your year group's performance today.

Next Friday is Christmas Jumper Day, so your child can wear a Christmas jumper if they wish, and non-school uniform. It is also our Christmas lunch that day. Here is the menu.

Christmas Menu 2025

Roast Turkey & Gravy (halal)

Chipolatas (pork free)

or 

Cheese & Veggie Puff Pastry Slice (gl, milk)

Roast Potatoes & Mixed Vegetables

Cranberry Sauce, Sage Stuffing (gl, egg)

Wholemeal Dark Chocolate Brownies & Ice Cream (gl, milk, egg)

or 

Vegan Chocolate Ice Cream

Please remember to book your child into Premier next week, as there are only clubs on Thursday. We cannot book them into Premier ourselves. We have also noticed some parents and carers arriving very late for pick-up. We do not always have staff available to look after children at this time and parents and carers being late can cause the child to become upset and worried. Please ensure you arrive on time for pickup. Thank you.

Have a lovely weekend,

Jessica

Headteacher