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

• Friday 27th January 2023

  Fri 27 Jan 2023 Jessica

  Dear Parents and Carers,

  What a great week we have had. We have loved the Grandparents coming in to visit us and sharing their stories. Thank you so much to all the Grandparents who came in and to the ones who wrote letters. We thought it was great and we really enjoyed you being part of our school.

   

  Individual children photos are on Monday 30thJanuary and Tuesday 31st January. Sibling photos will be taken on these days too.

   

  Well done to the Year 5 children who organised the children’s clothes sale for Cancer Research. They worked really hard during their lunch times and break times to organise the clothes. Thank you for your donations and for coming to the sale too. I really look forward to hearing how much they raised.

   

  Two Year 1 children led an assembly on ‘how to keep the school clean’ this week and reminded the children about how to look after our toilets. This is really important and something we are always reminding the children. Well done to those Year 1 children. It’s a brave thing, standing in front of the whole school and speaking to everyone.

   

  Over the last 3 weeks, Year 3 Jade class have been participating in a fully inclusive programme which involves pupils’ competing against themselves in a variety of multi-skill based activities to achieve their own personal bests. Well done to 3 Jade, who worked really hard at this.

   

  On Wednesday 25th January a group of children representing year 5 and 6 took part in a netball tournament at the Young Hackney Eastway Hub. The children did really well and had a great time and experience. Thank you to Briony for providing lunchtime training sessions with the children who took part.

   

  You would have received the information about the Parent Governor position this week. I really hope you are thinking about it. Any questions please do not hesitate to ask.

   

  Please remember school is closed on Wednesday 1st February due to the teacher’s strike. Please remember Jade class assembly is now on Tuesday 31st January.

   

  Thank you for all your kindness and support. I hope you have a lovely weekend,

  Jessica

  Headteacher

   

  

• Newsletter Friday 20th January 2023

  Fri 20 Jan 2023 Jessica

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  I hope you have had a good week. Thank you for your donations of children’s clothes for the Cancer Research clothes sale. You have been very generous and we have enough donations now. We hope you will come and buy some on Friday 27th January at 3:15pm in Daniel House playground.

   

  As you may have heard on the news teachers in the National Education Union (NEU) have declared strike action and the first day of striking would be Wednesday 1st February. The strike is happening because of a national dispute between the unions and the government over pay, school funding and the future of education provision. The NEU is the largest education union and we have a significant number of staff who could be striking. Whilst I understand that this situation may cause frustration those staff who could be striking are committed and hard working members of staff who have given this matter much thought and consideration. There is a strong likelihood we will be closed on that day and I wanted to give you as much notice as possible. I will let you know for certain as soon as it has been confirmed. Thank you for your understanding.

   

  We are really looking forward to seeing the Grandparents next week. It is really lovely having them in school. Thank you for organising any Grandparents that are visiting.

  Well done Aranea in Year 6 who was shortlisted for the Poems for the Planet Competition. Amidst thousands of entries, hers stood out as being both artful and empowered by our esteemed (and so far secret) judges. We are so proud of Aranea, what a great result. Winners will be announced soon.

   

  On Tuesday 17th January the Betty Layward boys and girls football team played two league matches against London Fields and Woodberry Down school. Both teams recorded very impressive scores which moved them closer to the top of the league. Well done everyone!

   

  On Wednesday 18th January the Betty Layward cricket team took part in the Hackney indoor cricket finals at Queensbridge Sports Centre against Shacklewell school. It was the best of 3 rounds. It was a very close encounter with Shacklewell who ended up winning the whole tournament. Well done everyone!

   

  The parent governor letter will be coming out next week so please keep an eye out.

   

  We will be celebrating Chinese New Year next week at school, starting with a delicious Chinese New Year lunch on Monday. I hope you have received the menu.

   

  Have a lovely weekend,

  Jessica

  Headteacher

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

• Newsletter Friday 13th January 2023

  Fri 13 Jan 2023 Jessica

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  We have had a lovely week. The Year 5 children led a lovely assembly on raising money for Cancer Research on Wednesday. They will be having a children’s clothes sale on Friday 27^th January and donations can be brought in from Monday. We hope you are able to donate some clothes or come and buy some at the clothes sale. Please can any clothes that you kindly donate be washed and in good condition. Thank you for supporting us and the Year 5 children with this.
  
  We also need leggings and jogging bottoms, as spare clothes, in case a child has an accident. We especially need items aged 8 to 9, so if you have these please bring them to school. If your child comes home in anything that belongs to the school please return it afterwards as we can run very short. Thank you, we really appreciate it.

   

  We are going to send out communication about parent governor positions next week. This is a really important role that supports the school. I hope you take the time to read this letter and consider this position. Any questions please ask me.

   

  Thank you to those of you who have told me they have set up a direct debit or standing order or who have offered help to support the school. We do really appreciate it. We know it is a hard time for everyone at the moment and this contribution is voluntary. We are really grateful to be part of such a kind and supportive community. Thank you.

   

  We are really looking forward to Grandparent’s Week next week and meeting all the Grandparents who are visiting us. Please sign up if you haven’t already done so or ask them to send a letter or an email to their grandchild for us to read out in class.

  Thank you for all your support. I hope you have a lovely weekend,

  Jessica

  Headteacher

   

   

  

• Friday 6th January 2023

  Fri 06 Jan 2023 Jessica

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  Happy New Year. I hope you had a lovely holiday. It was great seeing all the children back on Wednesday. They came into school with big smiles and they told us some great New Year’s resolutions in assembly. Thank you for all your kind words, cards and gifts last term. The staff were incredibly grateful. 2023 is going to be a great year for Betty Layward. We just know it!

   

  Please remember it is Grandparent Week the whole week beginning Monday 23rd January from 2:30pm each day. This is when a child’s Grandparent can visit their Grandchild’s class and talk about their own school experience or read the class a story. They could also tell the children about a job they once did or an experience they have had. Times are available at the end of each day that week. Please can you let your child’s class teacher know what day and time if you have a Grandparent who is able to attend. There will be a sign-up sheet outside the classrooms downstairs. Key Stage 2 teachers will have their sign-up sheet with them when they are seeing the children home at the end of the day in the playground. We are really looking forward to meeting all the Grandparents. If your child’s Grandparent lives abroad or cannot make it in please ask them to write your child a letter and we can read it in class. Any questions please ask.

   

  Please remember that Clissold Road is a school street from 8.30am to 9.30am and 3pm to 4pm, Monday to Friday during school term time. This means no cars can enter the road during this time. Unfortunately, yesterday there was an accident during the road closure time. A car entered and while trying to reverse hit a secondary school child on a bicycle. Luckily, she was okay but she was in shock. This is why we ask that people do not drive down the road during this time as it is so busy with our children and the secondary school children coming to school. The council have decided to put up cameras very soon so the likelihood of you or someone else being caught while driving down Clissold Road during school closure times is very high and there will be a fine.

   

  Class assemblies start again. This is an opportunity for each class to tell you about what they have been learning in class. The dates of these are –

   

  Peach Class (Year 2) – 9:10am Tuesday 24th January

  Emerald Class (Year 3) – 9:10am Wednesday 1st February

  Buttercup Class (Year 5) – 9:10am Wednesday 8th February

  Chilli Class (Year 6) – 9:10am Wednesday 8th March

  Violet Class (Year 1) – 9:10am Tuesday 14th March

  Fuchsia Class (Year 4) – 9:10am Wednesday 29th March

   

  The other classes will be in the summer term and dates will follow. We hope you can attend your child’s class assembly and look forward to seeing you there.

   

  Last year there was amazing fundraising from the PTFA and we look forward to even more events this year. Here are the dates for the upcoming cake sales-

   

  January 13th and March 17th
  Hosted by Years 4 and 6
  
  January 27th and April 21st
  Hosted by Reception and Year 3
  
  February 10th and May 5th
  Hosted by Nursery and Year 2  
  
  March 3rd and May 19th
  Hosted by Years 1 and 5

   

  There will be a Jumble Sale this term and we will confirm the date very soon. Please start sorting any jumble for us so we are ready and have lots to sell. The Summer Fair will be on Saturday 24th June. Please put these dates in your diary. Thank you for all your help and support. It means a lot and really makes a difference.

   

  Some of our Year 5 children are raising money for Cancer Research this term. I am really proud of them and they have come up with all the ideas themselves. They will be asking for donations of children’s clothing, shoes, hats, etc from Monday 16th January and then having a clothes sale after school on \Friday 27th January. They will also be presenting an assembly to the children about this. If you do have any donations of clothes etc please drop them off at school from Monday 16th January. Please ensure they are washed and in good condition. All money raised from the sale will go to Cancer Research. Well done to these children who have really worked hard on this.

   

  Have a lovely weekend,

  Jessica

  Headteacher