Headteacher Blog
15 November 2024
On Monday at 11am children from Years 1 to 6 ended their morning break in time to take part in the two-minute silence for Remembrance Day. Then, in assembly on Tuesday, Mrs Osborne talked to the children about Armistice Day and the meaning behind it. During the week all classes have learnt about the meaning behind Remembrance Poppies and considered what could make someone a hero.
Also on Tuesday we took part in Odd Socks Day as part of the work taking place this week during Anti Bullynig Week. We discussed with the children how special it is that everyone is different and how this should be celebrated. We discussed how the day should be seen as an opportunity for people to express themselves and celebrate their individuality and what makes us all unique!
On Wednesday afternoon a group of out Year 5 and 6 boys footballers took part in three friendly seven a side matches against Goodwyns. The boys all worked extremely well as a team, despite so many of them needing their shoe laces retied, and finished the matches 6-0, 3-1 and 1-1, two wins and a draw was a great result. Congratulations to all the boys who took part and a massive thank you to Mr King for managing the team during the afternoon.
As part of Anti Bullying week it's a good time to focus on the importance of mental health and wellbeing for us and our children. We have partnered with a mum at the school, Karen Lazarus, who is a Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapist and Hypno4Children practitioner working with children from age 5 through to adulthood. Cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy uses relaxation and simple suggestion to help change the way people think and behave. In the past Karen has worked with both adults and children to help them with managing fears and phobias, grief, habit reversal, hypnobirthing , anxiety and relaxation. Please get in touch with her at karen@therapy24.co.uk if you would like any more information. For all sessions that are booked with reference to Etz Chaim, Karen will kindly be donating 10% back to the school PTA.
On Thursday the new traversing equipment was unveiled in the playground. The children were all so excited to get on to the equipment and discover the best ways to travel and move across the frames. Thank you to all those who helped with the fundraising for this and donated to our Just Giving campaign, the smiles on the children's faces has been a joy to see, in one Year 4 child's words "It is the best thing ever!"
Congratulations to the following children for coming to my tea party today for showing educational excellence in class this week:
Ido M, Teddy K, Sam T, Max K, Noa S, Tommy G and Oli S.
Shabbat shalom,
Mrs Martin
11 September 2024
We began the week by coming together as a school and spending time together as a community looking forwards to a brighter future and praying for Peace. We began with Havdallah to mark the end of the week and the end of a year which we hope never to be repeated. We then focussed on looking forwards positively and praying for the situation in Israel to end.
On Monday the children in Reception to Year 3 were visited by Mrs Mason, the author of the book JoJo's Jump. JoJo is a young pony who is growing up quickly in the sunny countryside. The time has now come for her to put her best hoof forward and try her first jump. With the support of her friends, she is reminded to believe in herself. Mrs Mason shared the story with the children and spent time discussing the importance of perseverance and resilience in order to achieve new things.
On Wednesday we welcomed a large group of parents to our first Prospective Parents tour. We spoke to the parents about our school and all that we have to offer and showed them around the school in order for them to see the school in action. It was wonderful to hear from our visitors how calm each class felt and how happy all our children are. We have three more Prospective parent event coming up between now and December, please share this information with anyone you know who is looking for a Reception place for September 2025.
Yesterday was World Mental Health Day, the theme of which this year was Workplace Mental Health. Despite this not being relevant to our children we made sure the children all took time to pause, to breathe, to ground themselves and just take a moment out from their busy school day to stop.
Congratulations to the following children for showing Educational Excellence in class this week and for being invited to my tea party:
Daniel F, Mimi R, Mia C, Lulu B, Roco B, Tamar R-D, Orli T.
Finally, I would like to wish you all a Shabbat Shalom and well over the fast.
Mrs Martin
27 September 2024
At the start of the week, the school felt strangely quiet without the usual lively presence of Year 6, who were away on their residential. The class had a fantastic time working together on different activities and challenges and have definitely come back as a stronger 'team'. A big thank you to Mrs. Cohen, Miss Zairi, and Miss Roberts for helping the children have a few days away that they will never forget.
As always, there has been a lot going on in school this week. As I walk around, the sound of a shofar blast, or two, is never far away. We are starting to get excited for Rosh Hashana next week and the beginning of a busy Tishrei. We are also looking forward to having Rabbi Schochet join us on Tuesday morning to help us prepare for the upcoming Chaggim.
This week in assembly, Miss Genn announced the new library monitors for this term. It was wonderful to see how many children were eager to take on the role, which emphasizes the value not only the staff but also the children place on reading.
Thursday morning began in an unusual way, with a drone visiting the school! All the children from Year 1 to 6 went outside to see the photographic drone in action and help create a fantastic image of our school community. We look forward to sharing the final video with you soon. A special thank you to Mr. Alexander for coming in to shoot the footage.
Thank you to everyone who supported our Macmillan coffee morning today. It was wonderful to contribute to such a worthwhile charity and have the opportunity to start the school day chatting with our lovely parents. We managed to raise around £100, which I'm sure the Macmillan team will put to good use.
Congratulations to the following children for demonstrating Educational Excellence this week and joining me at my tea party: Ace R, Grayson G, Lyla V, Poppy-Rae S, Tammy C, Gideon K, and Sonny C.
Wishing you all Shabbat Shalom,
Mrs Martin
20 September 2024
This week has been another fantastic one, with a real buzz of activity throughout the school! It was wonderful to see so many of you at our final three Meet the Teacher sessions. We hope you found them informative and enjoyed meeting your child's new teacher(s).
Reception has settled into school so quickly that it feels like they’ve always been here. Year 1 spent time thinking about where they live and were surprised to discover that so many of them live in Mill Hill. Year 2 continued their Science learning about plants, focusing on the life cycle of a seed. Why not ask them if they remember the two jobs of a plant’s roots?
Year 3 explored electrical circuits and now understand why a break in the circuit stops the bulb from working. Year 4 have been practicing partitioning four-digit numbers, with some children even managing to partition their numbers in less obvious ways.
In Year 5, the children wrote diary entries as characters from their class text, with many accepting the challenge of including a simile in their writing. Year 6 continued their studies of The Americas, learning about its location and how the different countries vary.
We were fortunate to welcome Rabbi Zeidman to our Kabbalat Shabbat and Oneg services today. He introduced the children to a fantastic Ellul/Tishrei challenge, which we hope they have come home excited to share with you.
Congratulations to the following children for demonstrating Educational Excellence in school this week and for being invited to my tea party: Coby V, Willow N, Caio F, Bella E, Maya M, Oliver O and Lior D.
Finally, I want to wish our Year 6 students a fantastic residential trip, filled with opportunities to challenge and surprise themselves, as well as time to bond with their classmates.
Shabbat shalom,
Mrs Martin
13 September 2024
I would like to extend a warm welcome to all our new families joining us in Reception and throughout the school at Etz Chaim. I also want to warmly welcome back those returning for another exciting school year.
We’ve had a wonderful start to the term, with the children settling in beautifully and quickly getting to know their new teachers and staff. It has been a delight to see them return with such positive attitudes, eager to show their new teachers how special and amazing they are. Educational Excellence is one of our core values, and I have already been incredibly impressed by the children’s work across the school, as well as their admirable 'have a go' attitude.
So far, we’ve held four of our “Meet the Teacher” sessions this week, and we look forward to the final three next week. During these sessions, you will have the chance to meet your child’s new teacher(s) and hear more about what they’ll be doing throughout the year. The PowerPoint presentations used during the meetings will be sent to all parents by the end of next week.
I’d also like to remind you that the Yearly Overview for each class is available on our website, and the Half Termly Curriculum Overviews will be uploaded to SeeSaw each half term. Please refer to these resources throughout the year to stay informed about what your child is learning in school. If you have any further questions, please feel free to message your child’s class teacher via SeeSaw or email.
Lastly, I was thrilled to host my first Headteacher’s Tea Party today, where I celebrated the Educational Excellence of specific children and heard about some of the wonderful things they’ve been doing both in and out of school over the summer and since the new term began. Congratulations to the following children, who were selected by their teachers to join me for tea today: Summer R, Rafi M, Nili W, Uri L, Dylan M, Ezra K, and Katie A.
Shabbat Shalom,
Mrs Martin
11 July 2024
This week began with two very exciting workshops for the whole school. On Monday ALife ran sessions for the whole school on living a healthy life. The children looked at a variety of things such as healthy eating, the importance of brushing their teeth and considering which items in the home are safe and not safe for children to use. It was interesting to see the different perspectives and viewpoints the children had on some of these things. On Tuesday JabBoxing spent the day in school working with each class on basic boxing techniques and manoeuvres. We are looking forward to the circus skills workshop taking place next Monday as the final session in our sports weeks showing children that there are a variety of ways to stay healthy, keep fit and keep moving.
On Wednesday morning, all the children spent time in their new classrooms with their new teacher. It was wonderful to see some of our new Reception children during this time as well. As I walked around the school during this session, it was clear to see the excitement the children have for September.
There have been numerous events that different classes have taken part in across the week. Year 1 met up with the Year 1 class from Goodwyns on Monday and spent time with the friends they had been writing to, strengthening their new friendships. On Tuesday Year 4 and 5 took place in an urban wildlife workshop in the park. On Thursday Year 5 got to experience a day at a secondary school by spending the day at JFS rather than coming her. It gave them a little insight into the differences between primary and secondary school. On Friday Year 2 had a fantastic time taking part in Bushcraft activities in the woods. They learnt how to build shelters, make a bonfire and make their own bow and arrow. On Thursday, Year 6 entertained parents with their wonderful show "Barbie." Congratulations to all the children for their hard work and impressive performance! A huge thank you to Mrs Osborne and Mrs Gishen for writing and directing a fantastic show as well as to Mrs Hart and her colleague Becky for helping with rehearsals leading up to the big day.
Wishing you all Shabbat Shalom,
Mrs Martin
5 July 2024
I would like to begin my blog today by saying a massive thank you to the PTA for the most wonderful Fun Day that took place last weekend. It was wonderful to see so many families coming together at school to have fun and raise funds for the school. I know how long a day it was for those who ran and organised the event and we are extremely grateful to them for all their hard work and dedication to the school and the Fun Day. Thank you to everyone who came and supported the event which raised an incredible £6000 for the school.
Our Year 5 class has spent the entire year diligently learning and preparing for the prestigious Etgar Quiz, which took place at Wembley this week. Through a combination of engaging lessons, interactive activities, and group study sessions, our children have deepened their knowledge of Judaism and honed their skills across a wide range of topics. This comprehensive preparation has not only enriched their academic understanding but also fostered teamwork and a love for learning. As the quiz day approached, the excitement and anticipation were palpable, and we are incredibly proud of their hard work and dedication. Our team finished in the top 10 this year which is a fantastic achievement, congratulations to the whole class.
This week we had the first of our sports workshops in school. The children in Reception to Year 5 were fortunate enough to take part in a cricket training session from a coach from Middlesex Cricket Club. he showed the children how to hold and use a cricket bat and helped them to develop their bowling and fielding skills. He was also very good at convincing the adults to join in with his games.
Barnet Libraries are happy to announce that their Marvellous Makers, Summer Reading Challenge 2024 is launching on Saturday 6 July. It’s a great way to keep children reading over the summer holidays. Our local libraries have free resources and activities available to offer them support throughout the summer and beyond so they are worth going to visit over the holidays.
The Etz Chaim Parents and Grandparents Triathlon is taking place this weekend to raise some much needed funds for the school. The triathlon will include a 60km bike ride, a 10km walk and a dip in the Hampstead ponds! Not only will this raise much needed funds for the school but it will also show the children the power of collective action and moving your body! If your children are upset that they cannot take part please contact members of the PTA to find out more about the mini-marathon on 14 July. Please support and give generously using the link below! When you donate please put "Tri" as the reference.
On Thursday Year 6 spent the day planning, writing and producing a play on Road Safety which they proudly performed to Year 3, 4 and 5 at the end of the school day. The class learnt some important lessons on staying safe whilst walking by the road and also about writing and performing. It was incredible to think that the whole thing was done in just one day.
Finally, congratulations to the following children for showing education excellence in school this week:
Emily F, Sam T, Summer J, Maya M, Eden S and Sadie K.
Wishing you all Shabbat Shalom,
Mrs Martin
28 June 2024
As always it has been another busy week in school. We have enjoyed the sun shining down on us, although we all agreed that the temperatures in the middle of the week were just a little bit too high for a school day!
On Sunday I went to the Maccabi Fun Run to watch a number of adults and children in our school community run to support our school as well as other charities close to our hearts. I would like to wish a massive congratulations to everyone who took part in the run and thank you all for helping to raise much needed funds for our school.
Well done to everyone who took part in the Maccabi Fun Run on Sunday! It was wonderful to see so many of our families at the event. Your participation and enthusiasm were truly inspiring, and it's wonderful to see our school community come together for such a great cause. Your efforts have not only supported our school but also contributed to other important charities close to our hearts. Thank you all for your hard work and dedication in raising much-needed funds. Congratulations on a fantastic achievement!
Congratulations to Years 3 to 6 for their outstanding performance on sports day! It was incredible to see everyone working together seamlessly during the field events and displaying remarkable determination in the races. Your enthusiasm, sportsmanship, and skill truly shone through, from the swift runners to the impressive bean bag balancers. A special thank you to the PTA for ensuring everyone stayed hydrated with the extra water.
Well done to Year 1 and Year 2 for their fantastic performance at the Israeli Dance Festival yesterday! Your energy, enthusiasm, and hard work were evident in every step and movement. It was a joy to watch you all showcase your talent and celebrate Israeli culture through dance. Thank you for your dedication and for making the festival a memorable and enjoyable event for everyone. Congratulations on a job well done!
We look forward to seeing everyone at the Fun Day this weekend! It's set to be a fantastic event filled with exciting activities, games, and opportunities to connect with our school community. Your presence and participation will make the day even more special. Let's come together for a day of fun, laughter, and making wonderful memories. Thank you in advance to the PTA and the fun day committee for their hard work before, during and after the event to help ensure everyone has the best time. See you there!
Congratulations to the following children for showing educational excellence in class this week and for coming to my tea party:
Celine R, Indi H, Myla R, Harry F, Louie N, Sonny C and Sofia C.
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend and Shabbat Shalom,
Mrs Martin
21 June 2024
We are really looking forward to the Maccabi Community Fun Run this Sunday. Good luck to all the runners showing their support to Etz Chaim by running 1K, 5K or 10K to raise valuable funds for the school. There will also be a variety of fun activities, food and market stalls for everyone to enjoy on the day.
In school this week Reception have been getting ready for their Aleph Bet party which takes place next week. They have been rehearsing hard and trying to remember to say their words and sing the songs with volume! I have tried to stay away from rehearsals in order to not spoil the surprise next week.
Year 6 have also been preparing for their end of year show taking place in a few weeks. They all have a lot of words and lyrics to learn and are throwing themselves in to the process with gusto. Amazingly, they also need reminding to project their voices whilst on stag to allow the audience to hear what they are saying.
On Monday the Year 6 maths quiz club team took part in the quiz semi final. Once again, they worked extremely hard as a team to answer the 40 maths questions that really did increase in difficulty. Congratulations to Daniel, Daniel, Leah and Koby for giving the quiz their all and finishing in 20th place overall.
On Tuesday morning Year 1 delivered a fantastic assembly detailing all the wonderful things they have learnt so far this year. It i always wonderful to see and hear what they have been doing and to see the excitement on their faces. At the same time as the assembly, Reception were fortunate enough to take part in a Mezuza craft activity run by Seed. The children worked with their adult to decorate a test tube in order to make their very own mezuza. It was wonderful to see how proud the children were of their final product and how much they had enjoyed making them. Also on Tuesday, Year 4 went on a trip to the Cutty Sark and Maritime Museum. They had a wonderful day exploring the ship and looking at the way people travelled in the past. They should now be experts on train and boat travel so feel free to ask them any questions on this!
Thank you to everyone that sent their children to school yesterday in their own cloths and sent in a gift for the fun day tombola. The PTA were blown away by the donations and we are now more excited than ever for the event. Please contact the PTA directly if you have not purchased your fun day tickets yet.
On Thursday after school a group of adults and children gathered in the hall to watch England play in the Euros. Despite the game not being the most action packed the atmosphere in the hall was fantastic and it was wonderful to see families coming together to enjoy supporting our England footballers communally.
Congratulations to the following children for showing educational excellence in class this week and for being invited to my tea party:
Eva Y, Ella I, Walter B, Eden I, Ido C, Mason M and Ava M.
Wishing you all a lovely, hopefully sunny, restful weekend and Shabbat Shalom.
Mrs Martin