https://www.alexandraprimaryschool.co.uk Friday 13th February 2026 Issue No. 27

Message from the Headteacher

As we reach the end of this half term, I would like to thank everyone for their continued support. Despite almost continuous rain over recent weeks, it has been a positive and productive half term across the school. We have enjoyed a number of special events, a wide range of trips and visits and our Y5 Reading Ambassadors met the Queen at the Library for Primaries event!

Thank you to all parents and carers who attended Parents’ Evening. These meetings are such an important opportunity to strengthen the partnership between home and school. If you have not yet done so, please take a few minutes to complete our parent survey. Your views are invaluable in helping us continue to improve.

After a number of unavoidable delays and the project extending six months beyond its original completion date, I am delighted to share that our resourced provision, RISE House, will officially open after the half term break. This is a significant milestone for our school community and we look forward to welcoming pupils into this new, purpose-designed space.

Thank you again for your ongoing support. I wish you all a restful and enjoyable half term break. We return on Monday 23rd February.

What's been happening this week?

Fun with Numbers - NSPCC Number Day

Alexandra School was taken over by numbers on Friday last week on our Dress in Digits Day. What a great day we had, surrounded by numbers. Our day started with our assembly when we came to the conclusion that maths really is all around us!

Then, we had fun in our classes all day: number stories, number games, TT Rockstars ...... And we raised money for a good cause as well - the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children). Thank you to everyone that donated we raised a total of £168.13 for the NSPCC.

Well done, Alexandra!

Year 5 Children Celebrated Numbers Day

This week, our Year 5 students celebrated Numbers Day with a fun and creative activity! They used their understanding of symmetry to draw beautiful, intricate insects, connecting to our topic on the Amazon Rainforest.

The children designed one half of an insect, traced it, then flipped the paper to create a perfect mirror image. They added their own unique touches, resulting in stunning symmetrical insect art.

It was wonderful to see their creativity and learn about nature at the same time!

Year 2’s Amazing Adventure to Railway Fields!

Year 2 had an exciting adventure when we hopped on the bus and travelled to Railway Fields to explore the wonderful woodland outdoors! As soon as we arrived, we were ready to become nature explorers.

We learned all about food chains and discovered how plants and animals depend on each other to survive. Did you know that even the tiniest creature plays an important role? We also explored microhabitats, carefully searching under logs and leaves to see who might be hiding there.

On our woodland walk, we spotted lots of fascinating animals including a bright red robin, wriggly worms, speedy centipedes, and tiny woodlice. We talked about how these creatures survive in their habitats and why Railway Fields is the perfect home for them.

It was a day full of discovery, learning, and fresh air. Year 2 were fantastic explorers and made wonderful memories.

What an unforgettable experience!

Libraries for Primaries

Some of our Reading Ambassadors had the wonderful honour of meeting Queen Camilla this week as part of the National Year of Reading and Libraries for Primaries, a celebration led by the Literacy Trust. During the visit, we asked Her Majesty why she loves reading so much, and she shared with our children that her father was incredibly passionate about books — something that inspired her own lifelong love of reading.

The excitement didn’t stop there! The children also enjoyed a special library session with author Tola Okogwu and had the chance to meet well-known authors Chris Smith and Ramzee.

It was truly a memorable day, filled with stories, inspiration and a shared celebration of the joy of reading.

Year 3 Argentina Class Assembly

Year 3 Argentina class delighted families and staff with a wonderful Spring Assembly, sharing their learning from across the curriculum. The children began by introducing key musical vocabulary and then performed confidently on their ukuleles with our music teacher, Mr Ken.

They brought their writing to life through an entertaining performance inspired by Flat Stanley, using expressive acting, rich vocabulary and humour. They shared important messages about healthy eating, the power of kind words, and the value of privacy and respect.

In the final scenes, the children linked their science learning to an inspiring message about global warming and how we can all help protect our planet through Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. The assembly ended with the song I Am the Earth and the powerful reminder: There is no Planet B — we can all make a difference.

Well done, Year 3 Argentina Class!

Children's Mental Health Week

We've been focusing on a crucial aspect of our children's wellbeing during Children's Mental Health Week. Our whole-school assembly focused on the powerful theme of 'This is My Place', exploring the concept of belonging.

We challenged our children to reflect deeply on where they feel they truly belong and how our Alexandra values can support and strengthen this sense of connection.

Since the week's inception in 2015, Children's Mental Health Week has been a vital platform giving voice to children and young people, raising awareness about their mental health and emotions.

Our assembly encouraged children to understand that belonging isn't just about physical space, but about feeling valued, understood and supported. We explored how our school community can create environments where every child feels they have a meaningful place, not just within our school walls, but in their broader world.

As we continue to prioritise mental health and wellbeing, we remain dedicated to creating supportive systems that help our children feel connected, understood and empowered.

Year 5 Puerto Rico Class Assembly

The children in Year 5 Puerto Rico class showcased their fantastic learning over the last term in their recent assembly. One of our children beautifully articulated their experience, saying, "What an amazing journey we've been on since September and it's only half way through the year." These words perfectly capture the passion and dedication our children are demonstrating.

The class has been particularly focused on environmental awareness, sharing powerful photos from their recent protest against the destruction of the rainforest. They even incorporated a tribute to Greta Thunberg in their presentation, highlighting the importance of young voices in environmental advocacy.

The assembly concluded with a performance of the song 'I am the world', which reflected their deep commitment to protecting our planet's precious ecosystems. Watching our children engage so thoughtfully with complex global challenges fills us with pride.

These moments remind us that learning extends far beyond traditional classroom boundaries. Our children are not just learning about the world – they are actively thinking about how they can make a difference.

Standing Up for Our Planet

Our Year 5 Puerto Rico class have been using their voices to stand up for the planet!

As part of their Geography learning about the Earth, sustainability and the importance of protecting our environment, the children organised a peaceful protest in our local area to raise awareness about climate change and saving the Amazon rainforest.

Inspired by environmental activist Greta Thunberg, the class explored how small actions can make a big difference and spoke passionately about the need to care for our world. They created thoughtful posters, shared important messages with the community and showed real courage in speaking up for what they believe in.

Safer Internet Day 2026

This year's Safer Internet Day 2026 has been a fantastic opportunity for our school community to come together and explore the critical aspects of online safety.

Our whole-school assembly brought together children from across year groups to discuss the importance of responsible and safe internet use. In our classrooms, we've been running engaging and interactive activities designed to raise awareness about internet safety.

We also hosted a parent workshop focused on supporting families in keeping children safe online. This session provided practical strategies, resources and guidance to help parents navigate the complex digital landscape.

We believe that by working together, children, teachers, and parents, we can create a safer, more informed digital environment for our young learners.

Henri Matisse

In Year 2, they have been continuing our artistic adventure with the incredible Henri Matisse!

They have been exploring his colourful collage work and learning how he used bold shapes and bright colours to create eye-catching masterpieces.

In their recent lesson, they became artists just like Matisse by tearing paper to design vibrant sunset backgrounds. They chose warm, pastel colours to create a magical evening sky. Linking to their wider learning, They then added Arctic animals using colourful tissue paper, layering and arranging the pieces to bring them to life.

They were so proud of our creativity and finished the session with beautiful masterpieces!

Swimming in Year 5

Year 5 Venezuela Class have been having a fantastic time swimming every week!

The children are excited to learn new skills and have made amazing progress. Many children have gone from non-swimmers to swimming distances of 5 metres, 10 metres and even 25 metres!

They have shown great resilience and determination and we're very proud of their achievements.

Keep up the great work, Venezuela Class!

No Pens Day

No Pen's Day 2026! This day was designed to shine a spotlight on our children's speaking and listening skills.

The day was filled with creativity, with our children fully immersed in communication activities that challenged them to express themselves verbally. What made the day particularly fun was the introduction of our "pen police" – a playful approach that ensured everyone was fully engaged in the spirit of the day.

Our pen police roamed the classrooms, making sure that no pens were being used and that our children were actively participating in verbal communication. It was a fantastic way to encourage our children to develop their oracy skills, think on their feet and communicate confidently.

By creating an environment that values speaking and listening just as much as writing, we're preparing our children for future success.

More New Books

A big thank you to Pickled Pepper Books in Crouch End for delivering a wonderful collection of beautiful new titles for our school library. Our Reading Ambassadors were thrilled to unbox these diverse and exciting books, and their enthusiasm said it all! We’re so grateful for the support in helping us grow a library that reflects and inspires all of our readers.

We can’t wait to see these stories enjoyed across the school.

Amazing Mythical Creatures

Year 5 have been busy drawing amazing mythical creatures for a fun competition in preparation for our upcoming author visit for World Book Day.

Vicki Psarias-Broadbent will be visiting us in school to talk about her new book, Greek Myths, Folktales, and Legends. This can currently be purchased from the school office. The children enjoyed naming their creatures and imagining their special powers and weaknesses. KS2 children still have time to enter, so keep creating!

After half term, we'll be launching a writing competition where children can craft their own Greek myth. Watch this space for more exciting news!

EYFS and KS1 Parents

We are delighted to share some exciting news for World Book Day this year. EYFS and KS1 pupils will have the wonderful opportunity to meet Fatima Ordinola, an international author and illustrator.

On World Book Day, children will take part in a lively and inspiring session with Fatima, bringing stories to life through her beautiful illustrations and storytelling.

Parents are invited to pre-order a copy of Fatima’s book for £7.99, which will be personally signed and dedicated to your child by the author — a very special keepsake.

Please place your order by 10am on Monday 23rd February to ensure the book arrives in time for the event.

Order here:

https://www.pickledpepperbooks.co.uk/collections/fatima-ordinola-alexandra-primary-school-thursday-5th-march

KS2 Parents

KS2 pupils will enjoy an exciting World Book Day assembly with Vicki Psarias-Broadbent, who will captivate children by retelling powerful stories from her new book Greek Myths, Folktales and Legends.

Vicki is an award-winning filmmaker, content creator and author, working across print, digital and television. Her dynamic storytelling will immerse children in thrilling myths and legends, making World Book Day a truly memorable experience.

Parents can pre-order a copy of the book for £7.99, which will be personally signed and dedicated to your child.

Please ensure orders are placed by 10am on Friday 13th February so books arrive in time for the event.

Order here:

https://www.pickledpepperbooks.co.uk/products/vicki-psarias-broadbent-greek-myths-folktales-and-legends-thursday-5th-march-world-book-day-2026

EYFS and KS1 Parents

KS2 Parents

Developing Experts in Science

This week Y2 have been busy exploring our new Developing Experts curriculum. Our new topic is 'Living Things and their Habitats'. The children were comparing the differences between things that were 'living' 'once-living (dead)' and 'non-living (never alive).

We went out into our playground to see if we could label different things with the correct headings. We were tasked with explaining why we labelled something in a certain way, which helps us practice our reasoning skills. The scientific skills we worked on this week were: observing closely, sorting and classifying and using tables to organise data.

We can't wait to explore more of our new topic!

Valentines Day Celebration

This week, our wonderful Playground Champions took the lead in brightening up the hall for lunchtime and led some activties in the playground. They created thoughtful decorations that celebrate Valentines day and made links to our school value of Kindness, helping to make the space feel welcoming and cheerful for everyone.

Their creativity and teamwork have made a real difference, and the hall had a positive, caring atmosphere they help to build every day. We are incredibly proud of their initiative and the way they model kindness in action.

Attendance Matters

Best Attendance for this week:

EYFS – No class has met our school target of 96%

KS1 – Well done Colombia Class 96.43%

LKS2 – Well done Bolivia Class 98.33%

UKS2 – Well done Puerto Rico Class 100%

RISE House – Has met our school target of 96%

Let us know when your child is unwell

Please contact us daily if your child is off ill or for another reason.

Call us on 0208 888 9771 (option 1) or

Email us at: attendance@alexprimary.haringey.sch.uk

Holidays during Term times

Taking children on holiday during term time in the UK is not technically a criminal offense, but it is illegal to remove them from school without permission, often leading to fines and potential prosecution.

Parents have no legal right to time off for holidays, and taking them can result in fines of £80–£160 per parent, per child, or potential court prosecution.

Taking children on holiday during term time in England it is unauthorised and against Department for Education (DfE) regulations.

Alexandra Primary School is working with Haringey Local Authority Education Welfare Service (EWS) regarding all matters of attendance.

The amount of penalty notices to be paid is:

The first time a penalty notice is issued the amount will be £80 per parent, per child paid within 21 days. This increases to £160 per parent, per child if paid after 21, until day 28.

The second time a penalty notice is issued (within 3 years) the amount will be £160 per parent, per child within 28 days.

Any non-payment of the penalty notice will be referred to the Magistrates’ Court.

Any further period of absence (within 3 years) a penalty notice will not be issued, and the case may be referred to the Magistrates’ Court under s. 444 of the Education Act (1996) or alternative legal interventions considered.