Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope you enjoyed a lovely half-term break and it's wonderful to see the children back this week.

This week, Year 6 visited Hoxton Street Monster Supplies to take part in a Gothic fiction writing workshop organised by the Ministry of Stories. The workshop offered a great opportunity for pupils to dive into the Gothic genre, which they have also been studying in their class writing lessons. Pupils were given a selection of intriguing, themed objects to inspire their stories and they rose to the challenge, creating some wonderfully eerie and imaginative pieces. The session encouraged them to develop ideas freely and creatively, resulting in some truly impressive writing.

On Wednesday, Year 4 Cerise enjoyed an exciting trip to The Barbican Centre, where they watched the London Symphony Orchestra perform. They appreciated the chance to sing, perform various rhythms and listen to the dynamics and techniques employed by many professional musicians. It was a wonderful musical experience.

Year 2 welcomed Perform this week for an engaging workshop all about the Gunpowder Plot. They journeyed back in time to 1605, hiding out under the Houses of Parliament, waiting to steal Guy Fawkes' matches and thwart the Gunpowder Plot. They also discussed fireworks and how to stay safe on bonfire night.

This week, we were very fortunate to have a visit from the London Fire Brigade at our school. The firefighters worked with Year 2 and Year 5, teaching us about fire safety and the vital role they play in keeping people safe. The children in Year 2 learnt what to do if there is a fire, how to stay safe at home, and how to call 999 in an emergency. They also talked about smoke alarms and the importance of having them in every home. The Year 5 pupils participated in more detailed sessions, learning about fire prevention, emergency procedures, and how to make safe choices as they grow older. They also discussed how firefighters work together as a team and the different types of equipment they use. Everyone really enjoyed meeting the firefighters and had plenty of opportunities to ask questions. It was an exciting and educational experience that helped us understand how to stay safe and appreciate the vital work carried out by the London Fire Brigade.

This week during OPAL play, the children had an amazing time outside in the playground. They loved exploring and playing with the crunchy autumn leaves—throwing them in the air, making piles, and inventing their own leaf games. There was plenty of laughter and imagination everywhere. We also worked together to clean our brand-new kayaks, ensuring they’re clean and ready for more exciting adventures. Teamwork made the task enjoyable, and everyone showed great care and responsibility while playing together.

Hackney Council is hosting two exciting festive art competitions this year, in which we will be participating. The first involves designing the official festive greeting card for the council and the second requires creating an image for the t-shirt worn by Hackney’s float during the New Year’s Day Parade in central London. The theme for this year’s parade is 'Celebrating Diversity’, so designs should reflect this vibrant and inclusive spirit. All entries must be submitted on the square template provided and handed in by Monday, 1st December. There will be prizes for runners-up and overall winners, so we would love the children to get festive and showcase their artistic talents.  

We were delighted to have five candidates for the Parent Governor elections. Thank you for voting. We received a total of 309 votes, which was fantastic, and the results were very close. We now have two new parent governors, Cheikh Tato and Kezia Tobin. We look forward to welcoming them to the board. I would like to extend a huge thank you to Shevelle Furlonge, Josie Marwick, and Emily Ware for their time and support as candidates. I truly hope to involve them in school life in some way, as I very much appreciate them putting themselves forward.

We have decided to stop requesting treats for birthdays, such as cakes, due to increasing allergy concerns. Instead, we aim to do something special for each child on their birthday, keeping it a surprise to help them feel celebrated. Thank you for your support with this.

There is an app that children have been telling me they are using, and I am aware that there is a chat room on it. This app is called Zepeto and lacks built-in parental controls, which poses risks for your child if they are using it. It is also designed for children aged over 13/14, and the child should be entering their birthday to ensure they are the correct age. Please look at this link about the app-

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Please ensure that the children are not bringing money or sweets to school. Thank you for your support with this.

Have a lovely weekend,

Jessica

Headteacher