This week at Gainsborough…
Summer 1…
Gainsborough Climate Action Plan
We have been working on developing a climate action plan alongside EcoSchools Hackney and UCL Climate Action Unit. The action plan addresses actions we can take to be more sustainable and reduce our carbon foot print as a school under the following pillars:
Biodiversity
Decarbonisation
Adaptation and Resilience
Climate education and Green Careers
If any families would like to be more involved, have ideas to share with us or work in a career linked to reducing our global footprint, please speak to Ms Clark. We are excited to continue our sustainability journey, watch this space!
East London Waterworks Park Workshop
ELWP is a charity campaigning to buy the 14-acre Thames Water depot on Lea Bridge Road and turn it into a community-owned, biodiverse park with wild swimming ponds and community spaces – bringing the East London community together to learn how to live in harmony with nature. https://www.elwp.org.uk/Home.htm They visited Year 4 this week to discuss with them what they would like to see in the space. Thank you to the volunteers who came, who listened and who will feed our views back into a potentially life changing project. Thank you.
Reader of the Week
Each week we will award one child from Years 1-6 with a new book, as the Reader of the Week. The award is for commitment, reading progress, engagement or sharing their love for reading. Please support your child with reading at home! After all, reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.
Year 1 Milan
Year 2 Andulem
Year 3 Iram
Year 4 Jacinta
Year 5 Daniel
Year 6 Nanette
Most Improved Writer of the Week
Each week we will award one child from Years 1-6 as most improved writer of the week. The award is for those who have shown a significant improvement in handwriting or writing throughout the week.
Year 1 Redd
Year 2 Riley
Year 3 Derek
Year 4 Chelsea
Year 5 Mia
Year 6 Sodbayar
Golds!
Each week we celebrate an amazing achievement from each class. Children are celebrated in assembly, receive a gold certificate and their name in the newsletter. Please celebrate their learning at home too!
Nursery Ducks
Lorenzo was awarded a Gainsborough Gold award for working hard to follow instructions, great turn taking and being a good friend. Well done Lorenzo!
Nursery Geese
Success was awarded a Gainsborough Gold award for trying her best and always helping the adults at school. Well done Success!
Nursery Swans
Winston was awarded a Gainsborough Gold award for always trying his best and completing good turn taking with his friends. Well done Winston!
Reception Doves
Annabelle was awarded a Gainsborough Gold award for using her sounds in her writing and for creating some fantastic art work. Well done Anabelle!
Year 1 Wrens
Kimberly was awarded a Gainsborough Gold award for excellent work in phonics lessons and being a superstar. Well done Kimberly!
Year 2- Owls
Jenson was awarded a Gainsborough Gold award for excellent work in fractions this week in maths. Well done Jenson!
Year 3 – Hummingbirds
John was awarded a Gainsborough Gold award for working incredibly hard in writing and producing some great similes and dialogue. Well done John!
Year 4- Herons
Melisa was awarded a Gainsborough Gold award for settling in to Year 4 brilliantly and showing a great, positive attitude in her first week at Gainsborough. We are very happy to have you!
Year 5 – Skylarks
Year 5 Skylarks were awarded a Gainsborough Gold award for preforming a fantastic class assembly. They learnt a new song and performed incredibly well. Well done Skylarks!
Year 6 – Magpies
Martin-Anthony was awarded a Gainsborough Gold award for his continued hard work and improvements in writing. His use of grammar and sophisticated sentence structure have lead to huge improvements. Well done Martin-Anthony!
Coming up at Gainsborough…
Year 6 SAT’s
Please see below an open letter to our Year 6 pupils. Please wish them well this week as they embark on 4 days of rigorous testing!
Dear Year 6 children,
Throughout this year you have shown courage, resilience, and kindness — we couldn’t be prouder of each and every one of you, of the progress you have made in your learning.
On Monday, you’ll be stepping into an important moment in your school journey: your Year 6 SATs.
Although next week might have its tricky moments, we encourage you to approach it with the same positive spirit and determination you’ve shown so often in lessons and around the school. You’ve shown time and time again how brilliant you are. So next week, stay positive, be brave, and most importantly — be yourself.
All of the Year 6 staff and I have seen how incredibly hard you’ve worked this year. Your books show your effort and progress so clearly, especially over these past few weeks as you’ve prepared for these assessments. As we’ve always said, all we ask is that you show up, try your best, and be proud of what you’ve achieved — that’s more than enough.
Please remember that your results will only show a small part of who you are. There are so many wonderful things about you that can’t be measured by any test. These exams won’t tell us how many smiles you’ve shared, the kindness you’ve shown to others, or the countless ways you make a difference just by being yourself. You are talented, thoughtful, trustworthy and caring — and you make your families and teachers so incredibly proud.
To help you feel your best next week, here are a few simple things you can do:
• Try to get plenty of sleep each night so you feel rested and ready.
• Come along to our free breakfast club at 8am to start your day well.
• Arrive at school in good time so you can settle in calmly before your tests.
• Talk to someone — family, friends or staff — if you have any worries. We are all here to listen and support you.
And most importantly… enjoy your weekend! Spend time doing the things you love and relaxing.
We are already so proud of everything you have achieved this year and all the hard work you’ve put in. We can’t wait to see you on Monday — you’re going to do brilliantly.
Best wishes and good luck!
Ms Muganga and Ms Clark
School Uniform
School uniform at Gainsborough is compulsory. All children will be reminded if they in school and not in school uniform, that the school expects them to wear:
White polo shirts/ shirts
Navy jumpers/ cardigans
Grey trousers/ skirt/ shorts
Black shoes/ trainers
We will also be reminding children that their school PE kit should be work on PE kit days:
White t shirt
Navy shorts/ trousers
Black trainers
Navy jumper/ cardigan
Thank you to all the parents who have received this message positively and ensured their children are in school uniform, and to those who do it everyday! We are well aware that sometimes, some things don’t go to plan and if you cannot ensure your child is in uniform please let us know and we can help you.
Wear Stripes for World Bee Day
We will be wearing stripes, on Friday 16th May, to raise awareness of the importance of bees to our eco system. Children in Years 1 and 2 should watch the following video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmBUq103u-M to support their homework, children in Years 3 4 5 6 should watch this link to complete a report on why bees are essential to a healthy planet https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/ztj88hv#zmggg7h.
Hackney 1k Run – Hackney Schools Challenge
Families in Years 1 -6 will have received emails outlining the singing up process for the Hackney Schools Challenge. It is on Saturday 17th May at 10am on the Marshes. School groups run the 1 k race together and it is a great event. Please come along. Scan the QR code emailed to you, or email admin@gainsborough.hackney.sch.uk to sign up.
Gardening Volunteers
We need your help keeping our plants under control! At this time of year we need all hands on deck to ensure our plants are watered, trimmed and the weeds are kept at bay. We struggle to do this currently. We would like families to volunteer to garden with on a Friday when Ana, our Circular Food Economy lead, is with us. The gardening sessions would run for families and children from 3.30-4.30pm, there will be free ice lollies on offer for those who lend a hand!
