BC Newsletter Template (Yvonne)

Another week of Christmas Magic has flown by, where Burdett-Coutts pupils have enjoyed a range of Christmas celebration events, including the PTA Winter Fair, Choir Performances at the Mayors Parlour and participation in a filmed Church Service to be screened in the New Year (we will let you know when), and finally a Carol Service at Norton House.  Our week concluded with a whole school Christingle Service in church🕯 – phew what a month!🎄

We would like to say a HUGE well done to all the children for an Amazing Autumn term in school.  You have all worked incredibly hard academically, socially and participating in school trips and wider school events.  You have demonstrated determination and resilience with your studies, trying your best at all times; represented your school with your manners, kindness and respect for other when engaging in community events and projects in and out of school.  We are all very proud of you – and you should be too!

We also extend a HUGE  thank you to our wonderful  parents and carers. Your ongoing support with your children and their education, ensuring that they are in school each day, on time and ready for learning and always showing such positivity towards school life is very much appreciated.

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas 🎄and Happy Holidays over this festive period.  Take care of each other, stay safe, enjoy time with family and friends, and make time for some much deserved rest🙂

A special message of thanks to those who work in and support our school:

I would like to once again thank the amazing staff at Burdett-Coutts! You are ‘simply the best’ and give so much to ensuring our pupils have access to most amazing opportunities and rich learning we can give.  You have gone above and beyond all term, however, still finding that extra sparkle ✨that you gave to all the wonderful events we have hosted and presented this festive season🎄. On behalf of the School Governors, Trustees and myself, I thank you for all you do, for your continued dedication, love and care for our pupils, families and wider school community.  Please do enjoy a well deserved rest of the holiday season and enjoy many moments of joy and laughter with family and friends.

Wishing you all a healthy and happy New Year🎉;  we  look forward to seeing you all return to school at 08:40am on Tuesday 7th January 2025.

Christmas Carols at the Abbey Community Centre:

On Friday 13th December, the Club Choir visited the café at the Abbey
Community Centre (now called The Wash House) in Great Smith Street. The children sang a programme of traditional carols mixed with songs from our Keystage Two Nativity Performance. About eight or nine children sang solos. This annual visit by our choir has been made every year for at least twenty years!

Christmas Carols at the Mayors Parlour – a splendid outing!

On Tuesday 17th December, the Choir Club had a very busy day. In the morning at the invitation of Bi-Borough Music Hub, twelve children visited the Mayor’sParlour, on the nineteenth floor of Westminster City Hall. We sang carols before and after the Christmas meeting of the Loop Live council group. The panoramic views of Westminster from the café at the top of this very tall building are amazing, and the children spent the interval identifying various London landmarks including the roof of our own school!

Lights, Camera, Action….. Choir Participate in filming session at St. Stephens Church:

In the afternoon of Tuesday 17th December, the Choir Club attended a filming session in St. Stephen’s Church with Graham Buckle. An Epiphany Service was being recorded for broadcasting in early January. The children sang We Three Kings of Orient are, and the television producer was extremely complimentary, announcing himself
to be satisfied with our work after only two takes!

Christmas Carols at Norton House:

On Wednesday 18th December, the Choir Club, with Year Six, visited Norton House, a local Care Home, which is a few minutes’ walk from school. We sang a programme of traditional carols, and songs from our show (Sheik, Rattle and Roll) to the residents, who were very pleased and welcoming. This was another occasion when several children sang solos in public.

Winter Fair – an afternoon of Christmas cheer, laughter and music!

A HUGE thank you to our extraordinary school PTA (Friends of Burdett-Coutts), for once again hosting and providing another hugely successful school fund-raising event!  I know many of you have dedicated many hours in preparing for this event, and wow could you tell! A wonderful range of games, food, music and entertainment for all, including a very busy🎄Santa’s Grotto – Wow those elves where kept busy supporting Santa 🎁

Thank you so much to all the parents, carers and other visitors who attended and supported this event.  You helped to raise the magical amount of £1096.10 from this event👏👏

Christingle Service:

Please see key dates below for school services resuming following the Christmas Holiday Period.

• Tuesday 7th January 2025 – School reopens to all pupils at 08:40
• Tuesday 7th January 2025 – Breakfast begins starts 07:45
• Tuesday 7th January 2025 – After School Clubs starts 15:30 – 18:00

Extended School Day Clubs (15:30 – 16:30)

These will resume week beginning 20th January 2025.  Club menus will go home on Tuesday 14th January, and  sign ups will take place on Tuesday 14th and Wednesday 15th January.

Booster and Intervention Club letters will be sent home on Tuesday 14th January, with morning and afternoon lessons starting week beginning 20th January 2025.

Please ensure that all children wear a jacket to school, and have a hat. Gloves and scarves are optional, but are highly recommended as it starts to get much colder.

All pupils should now be wearing their full winter uniform and no longer in their summer uniform options, including PE uniform.

Please ensure all items of clothing including jumpers and sweaters are named!

Many thanks for your continued support.

Year 2 has had a wonderful Autumn term, full of learning, creativity, and special moments. We explored exciting stories like The Lonely Beast and The Great Fire of London, which inspired our imaginations and deepened our knowledge. Trips to the Tower of London and King’s Gallery brought History and Art to life, with highlights including sketching royal portraits and using oil pastels to create our own masterpieces. The festive season was magical, with Christmas Display Day, where we represented Eight Maids A-Milking, Christmas Jumper Day, and a delightful Christmas Lunch. We also collaborated with Year 1 and EYFS for a heartwarming Nativity Play, spreading joy through our songs and performances. Adding to the excitement, a mischievous classroom elf visited us this week, making each day a little more special. We’ve also grown as a class, showing small acts of kindness and collaboration—such as including others in games, encouraging friends to persevere through mistakes, and brightening days with cheerful greetings, like saying, “Good morning, I hope you have a great day!”  We ended the term with a cosy afternoon of hot chocolate, reflecting on the year and sharing our wishes for the year ahead. 

Thank you to all the parents for your unwavering support throughout the term. We’re incredibly proud of the children’s progress and look forward to more adventures in the new year.

Wishing everyone happy holidays and a wonderful New Year!
Miss Jorquera & Miss Polly