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NEWSLETTER

The class with the best attendance at 97.9% was REC.

The class with the best punctuality, with 2 lates all week, was REC.

Issue 23| Friday 21st March 2025

St John’s Highbury Vale CE Primary School

This week’s attendance

School total

94.7%

Reception

97.9%

Year 1

94.7%

Year 2

95%

Year 3

93.7%

Year 4

91.6%

Year 5

95.7%

Year 6

94.6%

‘I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me’

www.stjhv.islington.sch.uk

Lates this week

School total

38

Reception

2

Year 1

4

Year 2

12

Year 3

4

Year 4

10

Year 5

4

Year 6

3

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Rec: Campbell & Haru

Y1: Whole Class

Y2: Sam & Millen

Y3: Isaiah & Havi

Y4: Logan & Lucia

Y5: Eliza & Nozomi

Issue 23| Friday 21st March 2025

Y1: Isla

Y2: Frankie, Valerio & Aris

Y4: Isabella

‘I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me’

www.stjhv.islington.sch.uk

RED TEAM!!

Y1: Emily, Martha & Zachariah

Y3: Amy & Isaac

Y4: Jason & Ruby

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Issue 23| Friday 21st March 2025

Reception News

This week, we have been trying to save Fred!

Captain Patch, from The Night Pirates, stole our phonics helper and won’t give him back.

We have been writing letters to try to persuade the evil Captain to return Fred, as we need him to help us with our phonics.

‘I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me’

www.stjhv.islington.sch.uk

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Issue 23| Friday 21st March 2025

Year 1 News

In RE this term, Year 1 are trying to answer the big question, why might many Christians say that Easter is the most important festival?

This week, we discussed the events of the Last Supper and the significance of Jesus washing the disciples feet. We wrote what we thought the disciples might have said at the Last Supper, and then washed each others feet and discussed how this made us feel.

‘I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me’

www.stjhv.islington.sch.uk

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Issue 23| Friday 21st March 2025

Year 2 News

On Thursday (a beautifully sunny day), Year 2 went to Gillespie Park to complete some fieldwork as part of their geography topic. They identified plants and animals in the local area. They then completed a sampling activity using hula hoops. They recorded data using tally charts. Observations included: worms, beetles, squirrels, oak leaves, fern leaves, roots, shoots and parts of a plant that looked very similar to fuzzy caterpillars.

‘I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me’

www.stjhv.islington.sch.uk

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Issue 23| Friday 21st March 2025

Year 3 News

Last week, we had the pleasure of inviting our parents into our science lesson. We were investigating the best material to make a shadow puppet with. We looked at opaque, translucent and transparent materials then spent some time making our puppets. Then, we tested them in our very own shadow puppet theatre! Thank you to all of the parents who came along!

‘I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me’

www.stjhv.islington.sch.uk

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Issue 23| Friday 21st March 2025

Year 4 News

This week year 4 headed past the arches of Wembley stadium and to the breathtaking Mandir in Neasden. We spent time observing how Hindus worship and learning from our guide. Next week year 4 will observe a communion and discuss the similarities and differences between religions. After that we went for a picnic and a runaround in the park. The children were very respectful and were fantastic representatives of St John’s. Well done year 4, we’re very proud of you!

‘I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me’

www.stjhv.islington.sch.uk

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Issue 23| Friday 21st March 2025

Year 5 News

Year 5 have been focusing on visitors leaflets in writing lessons - inspired by our class text: Cosmic. In the current events of the book, the characters are facing an expedition in the Gobi Desert. The children did a fantastic job at researching interesting information about the Gobi Desert, transforming this factual information into beautiful visitors leaflets that aim to persuade people to go.

‘I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me’

www.stjhv.islington.sch.uk

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Issue 23| Friday 21st March 2025

Year 6 News

This week, Year 6 had their Reading Breakfast, and it was wonderful to see so many parents attending and enjoying a book alongside their children. In Year 6, we love reading and often talk about how it is the key to success. Reading supports learning across every subject—from understanding tricky maths problems, to writing creative stories, to learning about the world in science and history. It builds vocabulary, boosts imagination, and strengthens comprehension skills.

‘I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me’

www.stjhv.islington.sch.uk

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Issue 23| Friday 21st March 2025

Happy Birthday

‘I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me’

www.stjhv.islington.sch.uk

Best wishes to the following children who celebrated birthdays this week:

Y2

Lusia

Y5

Nathan

Y6

Holly

Lisa

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Issue 23| Friday 21st March 2025

Winners of the self-propelling car competition

‘I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me’

www.stjhv.islington.sch.uk

Rec - Ava

Y1 - Octavia

Y2 - Martin

Y3 - Chloe

Y4 - Leo

Y5 - Marnie

Y6 - Angel

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Issue 23| Friday 21st March 2025

SPOTLIGHT ON SEND

‘I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me’

www.stjhv.islington.sch.uk

Parent view:

‘One of the most challenging things about having a child with SEN is learning to navigate a system that is neuro-typical.

For my son sitting for long periods of time can be very difficult, his impulsive brain will often lead him to speaking out before thinking.

To teachers he may be viewed as misbehaving, or not listening, to his peers he may find it difficult to make lasting relationships.

He does not get the play dates or party invites, the awards from school or recognition, from trying so hard to conform. So instead he would make jokes and laugh as a distraction and hide behind a mask.

What is not seen is how caring and kind he is with an innate desire to just fit in and be accepted for him.’

Seeing Beyond the Mask: Understanding the Challenges of Children with SEND.

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Issue 23| Friday 21st March 2025

Any other news

‘I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me’

www.stjhv.islington.sch.uk

Whittington Health Charity, the dedicated charity for Whittington Health NHS Trust, are currently transforming their Children’s Ward to a place less medical, more magical. At Christmas, St John’s helped to raise money for this charity (see photo).

We have been invited to take part in an art competition amongst local schools and nurseries, with three winners being chosen to have their artwork displayed in Whittington children’s ward with a plaque detailing the winning school and nursery.

The theme for this competition is “art that transports you to the natural world” and the deadline for submission is 30 May 2025. Please bring entries into the school office.

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Issue 23| Friday 21st March 2025

Health Reminder

‘I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me’

www.stjhv.islington.sch.uk