SJSJ Newsletter 10.07.2026 - St John and St James Primary School

Wow, what a week!
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for our Multicultural Evening last Friday. It was so wonderful to see our school community come together in the sunshine to celebrate the rich diversity that makes SJSJ such a special place. The atmosphere was filled with warmth, pride and joy, and the spectacular fashion parade was a fitting finale to a truly memorable evening. I would also like to extend my thanks to all of our incredible staff who gave up their time to stay behind and help make the event such a success. Your enthusiasm, commitment and care for our children never go unnoticed. A special thank you also goes to our amazing office team for all of the planning and preparation behind the scenes. Events like these simply wouldn’t be possible without your hard work and dedication, and we are so grateful for everything you do.

This week, we also took 150 children on our very first trip to the seaside at Walton-on-the-Naze. For many of our children, this was their first ever visit to the beach, making the day even more special. From singing enthusiastically on the coach journey there, to thanking the drivers without being prompted, our children were wonderful ambassadors for SJSJ. They spent their time exploring the sand and sea, building sandcastles, making memories with their friends and enjoying experiences that we hope will stay with them for years to come. The journey home was certainly much quiete; we’re sure many of them slept very well that evening!

A huge thank you to everyone who has supported our fundraising efforts throughout the year. Your generosity helped make this trip possible, giving our children an experience they will remember for a lifetime. I would also like to say a huge thank you to our wonderful parent volunteers who gave up their time to join us on the trip. We simply couldn’t have done it without you, and your support, care and enthusiasm helped make the day such a success. Thank you for helping to create such a special memory for our children.

Today, you should also have received your child’s school report for this academic year. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did. It has been a privilege to read about the progress, achievements and personal growth of every child. I hope you take the opportunity to celebrate all that your child has accomplished this year. The children at SJSJ continue to amaze us with their kindness, resilience, enthusiasm and determination, and we are incredibly proud of each and every one of them.

I can’t quite believe that we are about to enter the final week of this academic year. It has been a year full of learning, new experiences and achievements, and I would like to thank all of our families for your continued support throughout. The partnership between home and school is so important, and together we have helped our children to flourish.

A reminder that our Leavers’ Service will take place in church on Wednesday at 9.15am. We look forward to celebrating this important milestone with our Year 6 pupils and their families as they prepare for the next exciting chapter of their journey, as well as celebrate the achievements of all of our pupils.

Finally, please be reminded that school will close at 12.00pm next Friday for the summer holidays.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Miss Gladstone

Rachel & Jo

Co-Headteachers

Welcome Back Miss Bienias

I have been delighted to return to school this week after a year of maternity leave. Being back has reminded me what a truly special place St John and St James’ is.

Over the past few days, I have had the pleasure of teaching several different classes and I have been incredibly impressed by our pupils’ focus, determination and enthusiasm for learning. Just as importantly, I have seen first-hand the kindness and care they show towards one another. Our children genuinely look out for their peers and this reflects our school vision, “Love Your Neighbour As Yourself,” in such a meaningful way.

Returning to SJSJ, it has been wonderful to see this vision lived out in every part of the school community. I am very much looking forward to reconnecting with more of our pupils and catching up with more parents and carers over the coming weeks.

Miss Bienias
Deputy Headteacher

Year 2 Writing Sample

This week, Year 2 has been writing powerful persuasive letters, encouraging people to recycle plastic. In their letters, they explain the importance of recycling and the devastating impact plastic is having on our planet. Have a read of Amaya’s brilliant letter…

I am writing this important letter to persuade you to stop throwing plastic away and instead, put it in a recycling bin!

Firstly, we must recycle plastic, as if we don’t, plastic will take hundreds of years to decompose, which will make harmful, smelly gases that increase global warming and that melts the North Pole. How would you feel if your home melted into pieces?

Free Swimming Lessons

Free swimming lessons for Year 5 & 6 Students in Hackney in the summer holidays 2026, which will take place at Britannia Leisure Centre or London Fields Lido.

Children must currently be in school year 5 or 6. They must be available to attend at least 80% of lessons in the two weeks at either Britannia Leisure Centre or London Fields Lido Lessons will be 30 minutes long and take place in the mornings.

Apply using this form https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=LRcezGhd4EK7xlruOG_8-44q-Lt2f-xJqp3vxRwpef9UQU1ON1ZQVlcyM0FNSDJDUUhHWEE3SEJZWi4u&route=shorturl

iRock Spaces – Now Available For September!

iRock are pleased to share that spaces in iRock bands are available now to book for September.

At iRock, children experience the excitement of being in a real band, learning instruments, playing songs they love and building confidence through music. Led by passionate and professional Band Coaches, the fun and inclusive in-school sessions help children develop teamwork, resilience and musical skills in a supportive environment.

Every term ends with a live concert performance for family and friends, giving children the chance to shine like real rockstars and celebrate everything they’ve achieved.

Full details on how to sign up can be found below:

You can also contact iRock at info@irockschool.com, or 0330 174 2655, if you have any questions.

Healthy Packed Lunch Reminder

As part of our commitment to promoting healthy lifestyles and supporting children’s wellbeing, we would like to remind families about our healthy packed lunch expectations. This guidance also applies to packed lunches provided for school trips.

If your child brings a packed lunch to school or on a trip, please ensure it contains a healthy and balanced selection of food that will help them stay focused and energised throughout the day.

Packed lunches should include:

At least one portion of fruit and one portion of vegetables
A healthy source of protein such as meat, fish, eggs, beans or hummus
A carbohydrate such as bread, pasta, rice or wraps
A dairy item such as yoghurt or cheese
Water only (milk is also provided in school)

Please be reminded that the following items should not be brought into school or on trips:

Crisps
Sweets or chocolate bars
Fizzy or sugary drinks, including juice drinks such as Capri-Sun and Fruit Shoot
Any nut products, including chocolate spreads containing nuts, as we are a nut-free school

Healthy alternatives could include:

Fresh fruit or vegetable sticks
Rice cakes or crackers
Cheese cubes or yoghurts
Wraps, pasta salads or sandwiches
Water in a reusable bottle

Thank you for your continued support in helping us encourage healthy habits for all children. Further information can be found on the school website.

Reminder: After School Club Collection Procedures

This is a gentle reminder that our After School Club finishes promptly at 5:00pm each day. If you wish to collect your child before 5:00pm, you must inform the school office in advance, so we can ensure your child is ready for collection. We have had an increase in parents arriving at different times between 4-5pm and this causing significant disruption.

For safeguarding reasons, we are unable to accommodate parents waiting in the school office until the club finishes. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in helping us maintain a safe and secure environment for all our pupils.

Thank you for your continued support.

End of Day Safeguarding Reminder

A reminder that all parents and carers must remain in the playground during pick-up times and are not permitted to enter the school building. This is a key part of our safeguarding procedures and is essential to keeping all children safe.

Parents and carers may request to speak with their child’s teacher outside in the playground; however, this may not always be possible due to other commitments, such as staff training or scheduled meetings. In these cases, appointments should be arranged through the school office.

We appreciate your cooperation in supporting our safeguarding expectations and helping to ensure clear communication while maintaining a safe environment for all.

Reminder: Outstanding ParentPay Balances

We would like to remind all parents and carers to please check ParentPay to ensure any outstanding balances are cleared. We understand that the festive period can be a costly time for families, and therefore reflected this in our extended payment deadline of 31st January for this term’s Breakfast Club, After School Club, and Wraparound Care.

If anyone needs support with accessing ParentPay, please come to the school office and speak to Miss Nifa, who will be happy to help.

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.

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.