This is the place where you will be able to read my weekly newsletters. Thanks for taking the time to read them, Jessica

• Newsletter 21st October

  Fri 21 Oct 2022 Jessica

  Dear Parents and Carers,

  We have had a great day today celebrating as part of Black History Month. The children enjoyed drumming and storytelling assemblies and a delicious lunch. We heard some lovely music as the children came into school this morning. I really hope you enjoyed our Black History celebration after school. Thank you to those of you who helped organise it, attended it and supported it. It was a really lovely and special event. Black History Month gives everyone the opportunity to share, celebrate and understand the impact of black heritage and culture. October is Black History Month in the UK and a time to celebrate the contribution black people have made over the centuries in shaping the dynamic and diverse country we have today. Black History Month is about celebrating and sharing knowledge; celebrating the contribution black people have made to freedoms, our culture and our society – from books, music to art, with authors such as Malorie Blackman, musicians such as Christopher Ellis, and scientists such as Mae Jemison, there are many great individuals to celebrate. Although Black History Month only happens once a year, the teaching of black history doesn’t begin and end there at Betty Layward. Our curriculum supports children learning about it all year round.

  We have had a great first term of this academic year. The children are settled and happy. I walk around and see them enjoying learning, looking after each other and helping around school. They are an absolute joy to be around and I especially love seeing them proud of their achievements and what they are able to do. I feel very lucky to be here surrounded by them. Thank you for your support this term and I am looking forward to the rest of the academic year.

  Betty Layward boys football competed in the Young Hackney football tournament at Mabley Green this week. We played 7 games winning 5, drawing 1 and losing 1. We have qualified for the next round so please watch this space. Well done Simon and the team.

  Apologies for the glitch with the Parent’s evening bookings yesterday. I have heard that some of you did not get confirmations by email after you booked. We have checked and your appointments are there. Apologies, ICT can have it’s issues. Thank you for your understanding.

  We have had a great first term of this academic year. The children are settled and happy. I walk around and see them enjoying learning, looking after each other and helping around school. They are an absolute joy to be around and I especially love seeing them proud of their achievements and what they are able to do. I feel very lucky to be here surrounded by them. Thank you for your support this term and I am looking forward to the rest of the academic year.

  There will be a Dr Bike offering free cycle mechanical checks outside the Clissold leisure centre between 3.30pm and 6.30pm on Wednesday October the 26th. The mechanics will be on hand to make adjustments and simple repairs to bikes of any size.

   

  I really hope you have a great half term break and I look forward to seeing you all on Monday 31st October.

  Jessica

  Headteacher 

  

• Newsletter - Friday 14th October 2022

  Fri 14 Oct 2022 Jessica

  Dear Parents and Carers,

  I can’t quite believe we are near the end of this term. Only one more week to go. Where does the time go? Year 1 went to the zoo today and had a fabulous time. What an exciting trip for them and well done for being so great. 

  This week our school WAMHS worker (well-being and mental health), Natalie, spoke to the children in year 1 to 6 about how we can look after our mental health using the 5 ways to Wellbeing - Be Active, Connect, Keep Learning, Give, Take Notice. The children thought of different ways they could keep their minds healthy. You can ask your child the ideas they came up with about how they can keep a healthy mind. We have been looking at World Mental Health Day and discussing how important it is to look after our mental health as well as our physical health. We have Mindful Mondays every week and we discuss questions that help support the children with taking care of their mental health.

  On Tuesday, two of our reading ambassadors represented Betty Layward at the launch of the Hackney Schools Reading Champions Challenge. This was hosted by Hackney's Deputy Mayor, Anntoinette Bramble. This project strives to link Hackney schools together through the excitement of and love of reading. The children were introduced to a series of challenges which will help to further highlight and raise the profile of reading in our school. Please keep your eyes and ears open for future Betty Layward reading events.

  Thank you for coming and supporting the clothes sale today. Thank you for the support and all the donations. It is impressive how supported Betty Layward is, so a massive thank you from all of us.

  Please remember to come to the Betty Layward Black History Month Celebration next Friday after school. There will be music, storytelling, a fashion show and delicious food. Please join us for this event. On this day all the children will be having a drumming and storytelling assembly too.

  Your child might come home letting you know they are going to present an assembly to the school. We have asked children if they would like to. They have to find an interesting topic to talk about and make a plan and then they can come and see me to make a time. We are really looking forward to these.

  Please remember we cannot give children medicine unless it a prescribed medicine that your child needs to take four times a day. If your child does need to take this medicine please come to the office to get a medical form to fill in.

  Please remember to fill in the school lunch survey. The link was sent out this week.

  We cannot authorise time off in term time unless it is for an incredibly special reason. To ask for time off please come to the office and ask for a leave of absence form.

  Have a lovely weekend,

  Jessica

  Headteacher

  

• Newsletter Friday 7th October

  Fri 07 Oct 2022 Jessica

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  We have had a really good week. The children are really settled and working very hard. They are really looking after the playground and keeping it tidy too. I am really impressed. Please can you make sure all your child’s clothes are labelled with their name as items are often left around school. Please can I remind you that children are not allowed to wear crocs at school.

   

  Year 6 Chilli got to the British Museum this week and had a look around. Ruby class unfortunately didn’t make it. The member of staff leading the workshops was not well so they had to cancel at short notice. Sorry Year 6.

  Please can I remind you the main school entry gates will close at 9am and if your child arrives after that time they will be marked in as late. KS2 come into school between 8:50am and 8:55am and Nursery, Reception and KS1 come into school at 8:55am-9:00am. Please arrive to school during these times.

   

  I know some parents have said they cannot read this newsletter on the Teachers2Parents App. If you are finding it hard please delete the app and the newsletter will come through as a regular text, which you can click on and the newsletter should come up on your phone. Any problems please let me know. I hope you are enjoying our new website.

   

  Thank you for attending the Meet the Teacher sessions this week. I hope you found them useful. We have put all the slides from the meetings on the website. We are also putting every year group’s newsletters on the website too so please take a look.

  We have spaces for instrumental lessons for Year 2 to Year 6 children for flute and trombone. Please email me if you would like your children to learn one of these instruments.

   

  We work alongside a great company called Streetbox who provide delicious fruit and vegetables. If you sign up and order from them the school get a free box for every box you order. The children really enjoy this at playtime. I have attached a flyer. Thank you for your support with this.

   

  If your child has a stomach bug- sickness or diarrhea please ensure that they are off school for 48 hours. The 48 hours has to start after the last bout of sickness or diarrhea as the child can still be contagious for that time. Thank you for doing this as it helps to stop the spread in school.

   

  Thank you for supporting us with the mini-marathon. I hope the sponsorship is going well.

   

  Have a lovely weekend,

  Jessica

  Headteacher