Welcome Back

School Photos

World Diabetes Day – Friday 14th November

Joseph, our WAMHS clinician, will be hosting a special assembly for World Diabetes Day on Tuesday 18th November at 3.00pm which all parents are invited to attend.

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!

Supporting Maths At Home – Parent Workshop

Reading Champions

Forest School At SJSJ

At St John & St James’ C of E Primary School, we are delighted to share that our children will now take part in one termly Forest School session, as part of our Science Curriculum.

Forest School is a child-centred and inspirational approach to learning that takes place in the natural environment. It provides opportunities for children to explore, discover and learn through hands-on experiences, while developing curiosity, confidence and care for the world around them. Every session will encourage teamwork, reflection and creativity, helping children grow as independent learners and thoughtful members of our community.

Our Forest School lessons reflects our vision: “We learn together, journey together and pray together.” In the forest, children learn together through shared discovery, journey together as they explore God’s creation, and pray together as they reflect on gratitude and respect for the natural world. Each session is guided by our Christian value of love, inspired by the Bible verse “Love your neighbour as yourself” (Matthew 22), reminding us to care for both people and the planet.

Sessions will take place in the Springfield Community School Forest Area, a safe and dedicated space for outdoor exploration. Activities were planned using The National Curriculum Outdoors, Forest School Association principles, and our Science Curriculum, ensuring learning is purposeful, inclusive and linked to the National Curriculum and Wellbeing Curriculum.

Children from Years 1 to 6 will investigate real scientific ideas in nature, such as exploring which objects float or sink, observing how seeds germinate, investigating forces and friction, natural insulators and conductors of electricity and exploring how light reflects off different surfaces.

Each session will end with a calm reflection circle, where children share discoveries, ask questions and give opportunities for them to thank God for the beauty of creation. Teachers will capture moments of learning through Seesaw and the newsletter, allowing families to share in the children’s excitement and learning journey.

We aim to have Forest School become an enriching part of our curriculum. It will help our children develop a lifelong love of nature, a deep respect for one another, and an understanding of how faith and learning come together outdoors.

SEND Coffee Mornings

Parent Homework Consultation Questionnaire

This week, you should all have received our Parent Homework Consultation Questionnaire.

We really value your feedback and would like to encourage as many parents and carers as possible to complete it.

Your responses will help us to review our approach to homework and ensure it supports children’s learning effectively. The more feedback we receive, the better we can understand what works well and where we can improve.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to share your thoughts — your input truly helps shape our school’s future direction.

Calling all young artists in Hackney!

Family Fridays

SJSJ PTA – Christmas 2025

Call for Carol Singers

All voices are welcome – big or small! We’re putting together a group of singers for the Highbury & Islington Christmas Carols on Friday 19th December (time TBC, likely 3pm or later).

Last year we raised £704.21 in just 1.5 hours – let’s make the magic even bigger this year!

Christmas Raffle – Prize Donations Wanted

We’re now collecting prizes for our Christmas Raffle – from generous gifts to little treats (perfect for creating our famous hampers).

If you can help with donations, singing, or volunteering, please speak to a PTA member or email stjohnandstjamespta@gmail.com.

Weekly Prayer

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.

Reminders

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

Parent Training Programmes Added To The Padlet

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: