We hope that if you have not yet watched the various Christmas performances, you will soon have time to sit back and enjoy the Christmas cheer spread by your wonderful children!

While the holiday season is a time to slow down a bit, we do need to remain sharp and alert to minimising the spread of COVID-19 and being responsible in our actions. Please can all parents/carers ensure that they read the following important documents from Camden LA:

The care, courage and co-operation shared by our school community this term has continued to strengthen and unite us. The appreciation shared by parents and carers has supported us in keeping our direction fixed firmly forward. It truly has been such a joy to see children across the school flourish and thrive especially when, for some, the return to school in September brought its challenges.

We have to keep hope burning bright as we step into a new year, and to believe that time will come good and we will find our feet.

Wishing our families a very special Christmas. We very much look forward to welcoming you back on Monday 4th January 2021.

Holy Trinity & S. Silas Church Christmas Services:

Thursday 24th Christmas Eve: 6.00pm Mass of the Vigil at S. Silas
Friday 25th Christmas Day: – – 12 midnight SOLEMN MASS and Blessing of the Crib at S. Silas
– 9.30am Mass of the Dawn at Holy Trinity
– 11.00am SOLEMN MASS of the Day and Benediction at S. Silas
Saturday 26th S. Stephen 11.00am SOLEMN MASS at S. Silas (Sunday 27th Masses as usual)
Because of current rules about social distancing etc. there will sadly be no Carol Service for children on Christmas Eve.

Goodbye and good luck, Ms Godwin!

Today we say au revoir to Ms Godwin, who has been working with individuals, groups and classes across the school this term. It has been fantastic to have her back as a much-loved member of our school community, if only temporarily, and we wish her very well as she moves to pastures new in January. Fortunately she is not going far – she will be working at another Camden primary school – so hopefully we will still see her from time to time! Thank you, Ms Godwin, for all you have done. We will miss you!

Advent Calendars

Every school morning since 1st December, each class has opened another ‘door’ of a special character and wellbeing-themed advent calendar, prepared by our wonderful Year 6 Wellbeing Leaders and Head Girl/Boy Team. Each day they have had a new task to complete, based on the school’s ‘3Cs’ of caring, courage and co-operation. As today is the last day of term, however, it will obviously not be possible for them to open the doors between now and Christmas Eve, so the tasks for the rest of advent are below. Please encourage them to have a go at these.

Sat 19th Make a Christmas card for an important person in your life

Sun 20th     Be extra kind to your siblings and parents today

Mon 21st     Take extra care to recycle the correct items today

Tues 22nd   Be extra polite today. Say ‘please’, ‘thank you’ and ‘excuse me’

Wed 23rd   Challenge yourself to have a ‘screen free’ day

Thurs 24th Take time to think about people who aren’t as lucky as you are

Coach Steve’s Girls Football Class

Where: Fleet Primary School, Agincourt Rd, NW3 2QT

When: Every Tuesday (starting 5th January 2021)

Time: 5:30-6:30pm

Age: 6-10 years (Year 2 to Year 5)

Cost: 1st class is FREE! (£7.50 per class thereafter. Concession/sibling rates apply).

Please contact Coach Steve to book your child’s place and for more information. 

E: prorevolution.development@gmail.com

T: 07540713539

Art at HTSS

Ms Periton has updated our art blog with the fantastic art from Black History Month: https://www.holytrinitynw1.camden.sch.uk/art-room/

Photography Competition Winners

Huge congratulations to Lara in Y6 & Kayah in Y5 for their stunning photographs that earned them joint first place. Lara’s composition was of autumn trees with contrasting blue sky, while Kayah artistically captured the same scene at different times of the day. Their photos were closely followed by Aaron Q in Y4 who caught Holy Trinity School and the beautiful tree outside school in perfect harmony! All three received books as prizes to enable them to develop their photography skills further. Their entries are now featured on the Castlehaven youtube page as well.

PIP Christmas Fundraising

We would like to share thanks and appreciation to all parents that have supported the fundraising drive towards school iPads. Through PiP fundraising and donations via ParentPay, we are now able to purchase the remaining 38 iPads for our pupils. Our most recent events have raised the following:

£911 – tea towel fundraiser

£670  – wreath fundraiser

£173  – dress up day

£2414 – Parentpay donations, including Fantasy Football

£1207 – raffle. Enjoy watching the Christmas raffle draw here

Our sincerest thanks to all PiP reps for making this happen. Below are further fundraising incentives for future arts projects….

Easyfundraising – If you have not already signed up to this website, please make this your weekend task. Then every time you shop online with many major retailers, you will automatically raise money for the school.

Attendance and Punctuality

Whole school attendance this week was 95.21 which continues to be strong. Well done to Y1 for winning the bear for the third week with a perfect score! Y3 have also been impressive and continue to top the table in KS2. Y4 were also awarded the early bird for a third time too; they were joint winners with Y5.

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Attendance Bears:

Y1 – 99% Y6 – 98%

Early Birds: Rec & Y2/Y3

Wellbeing Top Tip of the week 7 – Helping Others

Find ways, big or small, to give back to others. Research shows that people who volunteer experience a boost in their mental health. Helping others can help to build self-confidence and a sense of purpose, and helps us to stay connected with others. Some examples of how to do this include supporting local businesses, offering to food shop for those who are vulnerable, or messaging friends, family or neighbours to check-in. The more we give, the happier we feel. 

Christian Value – Wisdom

Christmas is almost here! It’s a time of excitement and anticipation as we prepare to celebrate the hope that is found in the birth of Jesus. But where there is great joy and hope, there can also be sorrow and disappointment especially this year when seeing loved ones may not be so easy.

In our world today there are so many distractions that can shift our focus from the true meaning of Christmas. So it is necessary to take a moment to fill your heart with a peace that reminds you of the reason for the season and to prepare you to spread joy and glad tidings to those around you, even if it is from afar.

“God never gives someone a gift they are not capable of receiving. If he gives us the gift of Christmas it is because we all have the ability to understand and receive it.”

Pope Francis

Supporting the ETO

Look out for the English Touring Opera’s campaign video in particular which will be shared regularly. A reminder of where you can find their social media platforms:

Music

  • If you would like to take up an instrument in an individual or group lesson, please contact Camden Music
  • Recorder for Y3 will start again on Wednesday 6th January
  • Class bands for Y4, Y5 & Y6 will start again on Thursday 7th January
  • If you would like an additional one-to-one brass lesson, please contact Camden Music.

Community News

Castlehaven Community Centre is a hub of opportunities and events so please go to their website for details of what they have to offer including the projects below:

  • Activ8 Programme is a new after school club for children from 8-13 years old.
  • The Community Park and and Horticulture Hub runs various family events and activities.
  • C-19 Foodbank is currently running for people and families in need at Clarence Hall in the Clarence Way Estate.
  • Recent months have seen many changes at Littlehaven Nursery resulting in the provision being recognised as being ‘good’ by Ofsted. Some of our new Reception families speak highly of the nursery and about how much their children enjoyed it. They currently have nursery spaces so please contact them if you would like to find out more.
  • We also wanted to let you know that Littlehaven Nursery is currently running a breakfast club for children in Reception and Year 1

Term dates for 2020 – 2021

First day of autumn term Thursday 3rd September 2020
Half termMonday 26th – Friday 30th October
Last day of autumn term Friday 18th December
First day of spring termMonday 4th January 2021
Half term Monday 15th – Friday 19th February
Last day of spring termThursday 1st April
First day of summer termMonday 19th April
Half termMonday 31st May – Friday 4th June
Last day of summer termFriday 16th July