They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old… We will remember them.

Laurence Binyon

A huge thank you to Year 6 for leading such a thoughtful collective worship this week. They helped our whole school community pause and reflect during this poignant time of year, remembering those who gave their lives for our freedom, those who contributed to the war effort at home and abroad, and the families who lost loved ones.

Autumn Colours in Gardening Club

This week, Garden Club made the most of the beautiful autumn colours around us! The children collected fallen leaves in wonderful shades of red, orange, yellow and green and used their creativity to make some fantastic natural artwork. Working together, they carefully arranged leaves, stones and other natural materials into beautiful patterns and designs. It was lovely to see their imagination, teamwork and appreciation for the changing seasons. A wonderful time full of autumn creativity!

Parent Governor Election

We currently have a vacancy for a Parent Governor on our governing board. We will share further details next week regarding what the role involves, along with information on how to apply and how the election process will work.

Attendance & Punctuality

Our attendance for this first week back has been a strong 97% which is great! We look forward to maintaining this high standard and of children making the most of every day of learning!

A huge well done to two classes with a super 100% this week – Reception & Y4!

Y2 & Y5 were awarded the early birds for being at school on time.

A reminder that research consistently shows that attendance dropping below 90% significantly reduces a child’s academic success. Primary school provides the vital foundation for all future learning—the core developmental milestones missed through occasional days off simply cannot be replaced. We appreciate your continued support in helping your children arrive on time and ready to learn every day.

Dates for this half term

  • Parent/teacher meetings – Tuesday 10th, Wednesday 11th and Thursday 12th November (information about sign-up will be sent out by the school office before the October half-term. Meetings will be after school).
  • Parent/teacher/SENDCO review meetings (for children with EHCPs/ENGs) – w.c. 16th and 23rd November (information about sign-up will be sent out by the school office before the October half-term. Meetings will be after school).
  • Primary School Assembly Bangers at Holy Trinity – Thursday 19th November – Come along for a fun evening singing all your assembly favourites from ‘Give me oil in my lamp’ to ‘If I were a butterfly!’
  • HTSS Christmas Fair – Friday 4th December
  • Christmas Nativity and Musical Performances:
    • Infants: Tuesday 8th December 10am & 2:30pm
    • Juniors: Wednesday 9th at 2:15pm & Thursday 10th December at 2:15pm & 6pm.
  • Christmas Cabaret with Fr Philip – Friday 11th December an evening of song with our parish priest in aid of the organ appeal.

PiP Fundraising

We continue to have another big target of at least £13,000 for the 2026/27 year ahead so planning has already started!
•⁠  ⁠We’d love new members to the PiP organising committee and the wider PiP group who help with events. It’s fun and a great way to support the community. Get in touch with your year group PiP rep.
•⁠  Regular Giving is the easiest way to support the school and creates really valuable reliable income. £5 per month adds up to a big impact so please consider setting up a monthly donation via this link.

Christian Vision
At the heart of our school are high expectations and depth in faith that inspire us to grow, flourish and work together to achieve our full potential. It is our intention that we all develop our fullest sense of self, both individually and collectively.

Toward love and good deeds
Hebrews 10: 24

When we talk to the children about what it means to be wise, it is natural for them to relate this being clever or getting top marks in their work. We want our children to know and understand that wisdom is actually a bit different. It is not so much about what is in our heads but is instead much more about how we treat each other every day. In Proverbs 3:13, we are reminded of this value: “Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding.” When King Solomon was a young leader in the Bible, he was offered anything he wanted. He didn’t ask for money or power—he simply asked for a “wise and understanding heart” (1 Kings 3:9) – exactly what we want for all those at our school.

A wise heart starts with care – noticing when a friend is having a tough day on the playground, picking up on how our words might affect others, and choosing kindness, even when we are busy. It also takes courage. Real wisdom is not about playing it safe all the time; it is having the nerve to try something hard, to speak up for someone who needs help, or to admit when we have got something wrong so we can learn from it next time. Finally, wisdom relies on co-operation – none of us has all the answers on our own. We do our best learning and growing when we listen to one another, share ideas, and pull in the same direction.

NEWS FROM HOLY TRINITY CHURCH

Confirmation and First Holy Communion Class will begin next week on a Wednesday lunchtime. If you would like to register your child for this please email Fr Felix at frfelixtrimbos@gmail.com

Primary School Assembly Bangers: Join us for a musical evening to remember your Primary School Assembly favourite songs. Sing! Dance! Remember! 

Thursday 19th November 7.30pm (until around 9pm) in Holy Trinity Church Hall. Refreshments will be served. 

Tickets £10 available on the door or at https://givealittle.co/c/DeDIAcqkKvhqfUrFKLQWS

Christingles for Christ the King: Sunday 22nd November 9.30am at Holy Trinity Church. Come along and receive a wonderful Christingle and celebrate Christ the King. There will also be candles available to sponsor in memory of a loved one. Music will be provided by our wonderful Holy Trinity Choir.

Christmas Cracker with Fr Philip. A cabaret evening of song and stories from Fr Philip with a festive twist. Friday 11th December 7.30pm (until around 9pm)  in Holy Trinity Church Hall. Refreshments will be served. 

Tickets £10 available on the door or at https://givealittle.co/c/DeDIAcqkKvhqfUrFKLQWS

Holy Trinity Choir: We are looking to recruit new members for this fun group who sing once a month at Holy Trinity Church, as well as at the amazing Carol Service. No previous experience necessary.

Youth Alpha; For children in Year 5 and Year 6 (and above) – Tuesdays at 4.30pm in the Hall. The sessions explore faith and include games and cooking, they last around 1 hour. For more information contact Fr Felix at frfelixtrimbos@gmail.com

Save the Holy Trinity Organ: The Holy Trinity pipe organ is in urgent need of restoration. This will cost around £45000. The church receives no outside funding and so we are looking to raise money to restore this instrument which has introduced generations of Holy Trinity Pupils to the wonders of organ music. You can ‘sponsor a pipe’ for £20  here:  https://givealittle.co/c/45Dru2yGkwbNywapN3IHu3   

OPAL update

It has been a wonderful half term of OPAL! Thank you for sending your children in with waterproof clothing, especially over the past few rainy days. We have spare waterproofs and wellies in school if children ever forget their wet weather gear, but urge parents to air on the side of caution and send coats etc in each day.

The children have loved continuing with their play despite the change of seasons, with children continuing to dance on the stage, beautiful Autumn leaf patterns being created, and worms and snails spotted and cared for in the planters. All children also have access to sheltered areas, including under the railway arch and canopied areas.

As we move through Autumn and into Winter next term, we will adapt our play offer to support the changing weather and temperature. Items such as cardboard boxes, arts and crafts, soft toys and dress up will be temporarily replaced with more robust, waterproof gear including den making materials, more sports equipment and plastic small world play. 

Why we play outside in most weathers at our OPAL school:

You might wonder why we often still head outside when it’s raining! A very common belief is that playing in the rain or cold causes children to catch a cold and get ill. However, medical science shows that colds are caused by viruses, not by rain or cool air.

In fact, spending time in fresh outdoor air helps protect children from germs that spread easily in enclosed, heated classrooms. Playing outdoors in the rain builds physical balance, releases pent up energy, boosts mood, supports sleep, and helps develop healthy immune systems.

As long as children have waterproof coats and suitable footwear, rainy days offer fantastic opportunities for play and learning. Please ensure your child brings a warm, waterproof jacket to school every day so they can comfortably join in. Children are also allowed to bring in wellies and spare pairs of socks. A reminder that we have spare waterproof jackets, wellies and dungarees in school in a range of sizes too.

Need further convincing? Read this article – https://ltl.org.uk/myth-busting-bad-weather-outdoor-learning/

Donations Drive:

We continue to welcome donations from families. If you are planning on a pre-holiday season clear out and have any of the following items spare, please pop them in sealed/tied bags in the blue OPAL donations bin outside the church hall. Thank you!

  • Plastic small world toys e.g. cars, trains, animals  
  • Nature resources e.g. magnifying glasses, plastic buckets 
  • Plastic or metal mud kitchen resources e.g. bowls, plates, cups 

If you are interested in reading more about our approach to play, you can access our play policy here.

If you are able to donate any amount to the fund, big or small, please click here. If you have any second hand bikes or scooters for older children (Y3-Y6) in good condition that you’d like to donate, please leave them by the blue OPAL donations bin outside the church hall. Many thanks for supporting our children’s wonderful play!

The Holy Trinity Way

In school, our strapline for positive behaviour is ‘strong on boundaries, big on heart.’ Over the next few weeks, we will be sharing some in-school strategies with you that might be helpful for at home too.

Behaviour tips for the half term break

Half term can be a time to reconnect as a family, to spend time with friends, to rest and recover, and to experience new things. Whatever you have planned for the break, here are some top tips on how to support behaviour and wellbeing during this time:

Maintain sleep routines: as much as possible, try to stick to a regular bedtime routine, especially during the final few days of the break. Large shifts in sleep patterns can make those first few school mornings much harder for children.

Keep reading: encourage your child to read every day. Reading to them also has huge value, regardless of their age or what they like to read – whether that’s storybooks, non-fiction, comics, or magazines.

Get outdoors: wrap up warm and aim to spend time outside each day. Physical activity and connecting with nature are fantastic for regulating mood, burning off energy, and supporting sleep.

Have a lovely half term!

Occasional Places

On occasion we have spaces in which to welcome new children and families to our school. You are the ones that know us best, so if you know of any family looking for a school place, please do advise them to contact the school office to find out if we have any places. They are also very welcome to visit.

Class Pages

Class teachers have updated class pages with information about the new school year. Please click on the links below to visit your child’s class page. Keep an eye on the class blog for photos too.

Camden Scouts:

Whether you’re interested in signing up your child for Camden Scouts, or volunteering as an adult leader, we’d love to hear from you! Get in touch at this link.

– Where: Holy Trinity and St Silas Church Hall

– When: Mondays from 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM for Squirrels and Beavers (Reception, Y1, Y2, Y3) and 5:45 PM – 7:00 PM for Cubs and Scouts (Y4, Y5, Y6).

Camden Music Service

From Y1 onwards, you can sign your child up to learn an instrument in school. For more information and to download the Camden Music Service application form, please click here.

Coach Steve’s Camps

Camden Sports Activities for Half Term

Church & Community Centre Calendar and Events

Half-term free and low-cost sports and physical activities (Deborah Bush, Deborah.Bush@camden.gov.uk)

Find free and low-cost sports and physical activities during half-term week (26 to 30 October) for children of all ages, including Kids Swim for a Quid, free Girls Get Moving Monday, free Active Wednesday, Arsenal in the Community free football sessions, Multi-Sports Camp and Mini-Gymnastics Camp. Find and more and book places, email sportsdevelopment@camden.gov.uk, or call 020 7974 8754.

Pirate Castle’s canoeing and kayaking – youth programme and school holiday scheme (Kal Webb, kal@thepiratecastle.org)

Term-time Pirate Club youth paddlesport sessions run weekly throughout the year, apart from during school holidays when their Holiday Schemes take place. All Pirate Club sessions are progressive and led by Paddle UK coaches and instructors. From absolute beginners to more experienced paddlers, there’s no better way for children aged 8 and above to have safe, adventurous fun, let off steam and learn new skills on the Regent’s Canal in the heart of Camden Town. Find out more.

With a focus on adventurous fun, discovery and learning, Pirate Castle’s School Holiday Schemes provide affordable opportunities for 8 to 17 year-olds to experience kayaking, canoeing and canal boating on the Regent’s Canal in a safe, supportive and stimulating environment that welcomes everyone. Gain skills, have lots of laughs, make friends and explore Camden’s waterways. Suitable for children with mild to moderate additional support needs. Find out more.

D/deaf accessible Family Festival at the British Library on 17 October (Lilu Dewan, Lilu.Dewan@camden.gov.uk)

Enjoy an exciting free, fun day inspired by books and stories at Family Festival: Stories, Sign and Shine on Saturday 17 October, from 12noon to 4pm at the British Library, 96 Euston Road, NW1 2DB. Come and enjoy many wonderful and interactive family learning activities, performances and workshops based on the International Year of Reading. It will be a fun and creative day celebrating the joy of sharing stories and exploring together, with activities signed in British Sign Language. For more details, please visit the British Library’s website.

Family Kitchen at Home

For families with children aged between 2-11 years old. A four week healthy cooking programme for families providing opportunities for further cooking techniques and to cook and eat healthy meals together. Families who register will get £30 food e-vouchers towards ingredients for the recipes. To register your interest, please click here

Family support

We highly recommend the free counselling service for parents through Camden. You can find out more and register your interest via this leaflet.

Supporting your neuro diverse child

Emotional Wellbeing Website for Young People and Families

NCL Waiting Room was produced with the help and input of young people, families and professionals. It aims to be a ‘one-stop shop’ for information on specialist mental health services, community groups, emotional wellbeing and self-care resources.

It allows young people and their parents or carers to search for, filter and share resources based on their needs and preferences.

You can visit the website here and try out the Support Hub resource navigation feature here.

Other Community Initiatives

Learn to cycle this term: https://www.bikeability.org.uk/

Camden Library

Camden Library Activities
We highly recommend these. Click here for the catalogue.

Term dates for 2026 – 2027

First day of autumn term 1Friday 4th September (INSET days Wednesday 2nd & Thursday 3rd)
Half termMonday 26th October to Friday 30th October
First day of autumn term 2Monday 2nd November
Last day of autumn term 2Friday 18th December
INSET DAYMonday 4th January 2027
First day of spring term 1Tuesday 5th January
Half termMonday 15th – Friday 19th February
First day of spring term 2Monday 22nd February
Last day of spring term 2Thursday 25th March
INSET DAYMonday 12th April
First day of summer term 1Tuesday 13th April
Half termMonday 31st May – Friday 4th June
INSET DAYMonday 7th June
First day of summer term 2Tuesday 8nd June
Last day of summer term 2Wednesday 21st July