Upcoming Christmas Events
Friday 5th December – Christmas Fayre
We begin our celebrations with our annual Christmas Fayre. All children will need to be collected at 3:30pm, as there will be no After School Club or wraparound care on this day. We hope many of you will stay and enjoy the occasion. Please be reminded that all children attending must be accompanied by an adult. Thank you in advance to the PTA who have worked tirelessly at ensuring the event will be one to be enjoyed by all!
Thursday 11th December – NSPCC Christmas Jumper Day
Children are welcome to come to school wearing a Christmas jumper if they’d like to, along with their usual school uniform on the bottom half. A £1 donation would be greatly appreciated to support the NSPCC.
Tuesday 16th December – Christmas Lunch
We are looking forward to our annual Christmas Lunch. A huge thankyou to the PTA for providing Christmas crackers for every child. Children are encouraged to wear festive clothing to help make the day feel even more special.
Wednesday 17th December – Christmas Performance & Parties
Our school Christmas performance will take place at the church at 9:15am.
Later in the day, we also have:
– EYFS and KS1 will enjoy their Christmas class parties (with the possibility of a very special visitor!).
– KS2 children will have their Christmas discos in the school hall. Children in Years 3–6 may bring party clothes in a bag and will be given time to get changed. Please ensure there are no high heels, crop tops, or make-up. Children are invited to bring £1 for snacks, which should be handed into the office by Friday 12th December to allow time for purchasing.
Thursday 18th December – Last Day of Term
A reminder that this is our final day of term and school will finish at 12pm for all children.
Year 5 Writing Sample
In Year 5, we have been learning about formal letters, working towards writing our own letter based on our class text Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson.
We have been exploring what a formal letter is, looking closely at the features that make it effective. This includes techniques such as giving clear information about where, when, or how events take place, and using names and descriptive details for impact.
Below are two excellent examples of formal letters that the children have been studying in class.
iRock Concert
Yesterday afternoon, our incredibly talented iRock band members came together and put on their first ever Rock Band concert – what an outstanding achievement! Over the past few weeks, you’ve shown remarkable commitment—turning up to weekly rehearsals, learning new songs, stepping outside your comfort zones, and supporting one another every step of the way.
Your performance showcased far more than musical skill. It highlighted your teamwork, resilience, creativity, and willingness to push yourselves toward something bold and exciting. Every chord you played, every beat you held, and every lyric you sang demonstrated how much effort and passion you’ve poured into this project. Taking the stage for the first time is no small moment—it requires confidence and bravery, and each of you rose to the occasion brilliantly.
We are incredibly proud of what you have accomplished. You’ve set a powerful foundation for future performances and shown what’s possible when you believe in your abilities and embrace the joy of making music together. Keep playing, keep exploring, and keep rocking—this is only the beginning of an amazing musical journey!
If you would like your child to join one of our iRock bands, or begin their very own musical journey, please visit the iRock website for more details:
https://www.irockschool.com/enrol
Parent Questionnaire Results
A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to complete our Parent Questionnaire during Parents’ Evening last week. We received responses from over 100 parents, which is fantastic and gives us a really clear picture of how our school community is feeling.
We are very pleased to share some of the key outcomes:
- Our children are happy at school.
- Our children feel safe at school.
- Parents feel that their children are well taught and well looked after, with many of you commenting positively on the pastoral support we provide.
- Parents agree that behaviour is dealt with effectively.
- Children enjoy the OPAL play offer, and it is wonderful to hear how much this has enriched playtimes.
- Parents feel the school is a welcoming place to be
- And finally, we are extremely proud to share that 100% of parents would recommend St John and St James to another parent. Thank you all so much for this incredible feedback and for your ongoing support.
A small number of parents shared that they were unsure whether their child fully understands the potential risks of being online. We want to reassure you that e-safety is a core part of our curriculum and safeguarding practice. Every computing lesson begins with an e-safety focus, and children are consistently taught about the SMART rules. They also take part in discussions around ‘daily dilemmas’, exploring real-life scenarios where online safety could be compromised and considering the right actions to take.
Thank you once again for your engagement and partnership. Together, we continue to make St John and St James a safe, supportive, and joyful place for all our children.
St John & St James Christmas Elderly Lunch
Our Rights Respecting Ambassadors are delighted to invite members of our community to a special Christmas Lunch on Thursday, 11 December 2025, at 2:00 – 3:30 pm, hosted at St John & St James C of E Primary School.
This heart-warming afternoon will celebrate friendship, kindness and togetherness as part of our Rights Respecting Schools journey. It honours Article 12 and Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, reminding us that every child has the right to express their views and to rest, play and participate in their community.
We warmly welcome grandparents, neighbours and older members of our church family to join us for delicious food, cheerful carols and plenty of festive spirit. Spaces are limited to 20 guests, so please contact the school office if you or someone you know would like to attend.
Together, we will make this Christmas season shine with hospitality, joy and love, which is the true spirit of our St John & St James family.
Winter Weather Reminder
As the colder winter weather has now arrived, we kindly ask all parents and carers to ensure children come to school dressed appropriately for the conditions. Please make sure your child has a warm coat, scarf, gloves, hat, and any other items needed to keep them comfortable during outdoor play and travel to and from school.
Thank you for helping us keep everyone warm, healthy, and ready to learn!
Santa At St Augustine Tower
Visit Santa at St Augustine Tower on:
Saturday 6th and 13th December from 10.30am to 4.30pm. Please note the tower will be closed between 1pm and 2pm.
Free event
Careers Assembly – Can You Inspire Our Pupils?
As part of our ongoing work to help children think about their futures, we are looking for parents and carers who would be willing to come into school to speak in assembly about their job.
We would love our pupils to hear about the wide range of careers that exist and the different skills people use every day. You might talk about what you do, what skills and qualifications are needed, and what a typical day looks like in your role.
By sharing your experience, you can help our children see the many different paths available to them and start thinking about how they can prepare for adult life.
If you would be interested in taking part, please contact the school office. We’d love to hear from you!
SJSJ Christmas Fayre – Next Friday!
Get ready… our Christmas Fayre is happening next Friday, 5th December, and we can’t wait to kick off the festive season with you!
3:30pm – 5:15pm
Please remember to bring cash for the cake sale and activity stands.
What’s happening?
The school choir will open the Fayre with some beautiful festive songs
A special visit from Santa himself!
Cake Sale
Mulled wine
Face painting
Games
Festive crafts
Biscuit decorating
Lucky Dip
Usborne Book Stall – with free Christmas wrapping!
There’s something for everyone — come along, bring the family, and join the fun!
Christmas Raffle – Last Week to Buy!
Raffle tickets will be on sale at the Fayre before the big draw on Monday 8th December.
We’ll also continue selling tickets at the school gates during drop-off and pick-up throughout the week.
If you don’t spot anyone at the gates, please contact your Year Rep, and they’ll arrange tickets or booklets for you.
£1 per ticket or £5 per booklet — amazing prizes to be won, so don’t miss out!
Cake Sale Donations – One Last Ask!
Our final PTA request… we’d love donations of cakes and bakes for the Christmas Fayre cake stall.Homemade or shop-bought — everything is welcome and truly appreciated!
Morning Gate
Please can we remind all parents and carers that the school gate opens at 8.50am, ready for school to start promptly at 8.55am. We kindly ask that parents or carers do not come into the school playground or building with their child/ren.
Teachers and support staff are generally not available in the mornings as they are settling the children straight into assembly – should you need to speak with an adult, please go directly to the school office and Miss Nifa will be more than happy to assist you in arranging a suitable time.
Thank you for your continued support in ensuring that all children come into school in a calm manner and ready for a day of learning.
Late Collection Charges
We would like to remind all families that a late collection charge of £5 for every 5 minutes will be applied if a child is not collected promptly at the end of the school day or from after-school clubs.
Please ensure that you are collecting your child on time to avoid any additional charges.
We also kindly ask that you check your ParentPay account regularly and clear any outstanding balances as soon as possible.
Thank you for your cooperation and continued support.
School Uniform
As part of our ongoing efforts to maintain a smart, inclusive and focused learning environment, we’d like to send a friendly reminder about the school uniform policy here at St John and St James.
Our school uniform consists of the following items:
- Grey trousers or black jogging bottoms
- Grey skirts or tunics
- Plain red, white, or grey socks or tights
- Red or white polo shirts, shirts, or blouses
- Red sweatshirts(with or without the school logo)
- Red cardigans(with or without the school logo)
- Sensible black shoes
- Plain black trainers
During the summer months, children are also permitted to wear:
- Grey school shorts
- Red and white gingham summer dresses
Please also be reminded of the following additional guidelines:
- Footwear must be black, either sensible shoes or plain black trainers.
- Jewellery should not be worn, except for small studs in the ears.
- Hair accessories should be simple and in keeping with the uniform (e.g., plain headbands, clips, or ties).
- Tights or socks should be plain red, grey or white.
- School uniform MUST be labelled with your child’s name.
We appreciate your support in helping ensure that your child arrives at school in the correct uniform each day. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact the school office.
Thank you for your continued cooperation in maintaining our school’s standards.
Online Safety Guides Added To The Padlet
ParentZone is an online resource designed to support parents to increase their knowledge and awareness of an ever changing online world. Being a parent in a connected world can feel overwhelming, but with ParentZone, you are not alone.They are here to help with articles, videos and our Tech Shock podcast, all designed to give you the confidence to support your child online.
Please visit – https://parentzone.org.uk/guides or please see the St John and St James SEND Support Padlet, with resources and signposting available to
all parents.
Parent Training Programmes Added To The Padlet
Throughout the Autumn term, there are a range of Parent Programmes across Hackney available for you to sign up to and access in person and online.
To explore the available courses and sign up, please visit the SJSJ Padlet, where you’ll find links and further information.
Each programme includes contact details for self-referral. If you need any assistance, please contact Mr Watson or the school office.
Keeping Our Children Safe at Home and In School
Safeguarding is EVERYONE’S responsibility. Our attitude is, it could happen here.
At St John & St James we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect ALL staff, volunteers and visitors to the school to share this commitment.
If you have any concerns about the safety of a child, please speak immediately to our Designated Safeguarding Lead, Joshua Watson.
If Mr Watson is not available, you can always speak to one of our school’s Deputy Safeguarding Leads:
