Dear parents

What a fantastic and eventful period it's been at Grange Park Primary! We've seen incredible spirit, celebrated our diverse community, and continued to create memorable experiences for our pupils.

This week saw a mixed bag with Sports Day. We were incredibly fortunate with the weather for Nursery, Reception, Year 1, 3 and 6 , managing to escape very high temperatures and rain! It was such a great event – many children said it was the highlight of their year, and our Year 6s, in their last Sports Day, definitely made the most of it! It was fantastic to see the older children helping out, and all the children had great fun with the activities like hurdles, space hoppers, and the three-legged race. It was also wonderful to see the children just dancing to the music, and their personalities truly shone through with the activities.  

Unfortunately, we had to postpone the Year 2, 4, and 5 Sports Day to Thursday 3 July , at 2 pm. We really didn't want to, as we know the children, staff, and parents were looking forward to it. However, when the heavens started pouring over Grange Park just before Sports Day, we had no choice, as the field and all the equipment became soaking wet, which would have been a health and safety hazard. We hope you all understand, and we'll try again next week—fingers crossed!

We were incredibly proud of our success as a Google Reference School last week! Our pupils were the real stars, showcasing to other schools across the UK and Ireland how Chromebooks and Google tools have transformed their learning and creativity. They even got an exclusive tour of the Google offices, sparking dreams of future tech careers! 

In exciting news, our very own Google innovator, Ernest Pawlowski is at the ISTE conference in Texas! This global event is a fantastic chance for him to explore the latest education technology and teaching strategies,  He's eager to bring back fresh ideas to make learning even more engaging for our pupils. 

Another huge success was our vibrant World Cultural Day on Thursday 19 June. The school was a riot of colour and celebration as children learned about and proudly shared their own cultures. Many parents told us how the day sparked wonderful conversations about their heritage at home, truly embodying our vision to ensure all children feel seen and celebrated. It was a testament to our diverse and inclusive community!

Another highlight this week was the Stay and Play sessions for Reception, and last week for Nursery. The children absolutely loved them and truly didn't want to leave! We think the new Reception children were just so thrilled to be able to play in that large sandpit – we're so excited for them to be joining us next year!

Looking ahead, please note we anticipate another heatwave early next week. To help children stay comfortable, non-uniform (loose clothing) with closed-toe shoes will be permitted on Monday and Tuesday.

And don't forget our much-anticipated Summer Fayre on Sunday 6 July, from 12 pm to 4 pm! It's set to be an exciting day with a KS2 football tournament (sign up via Arbor), a Dance Showcase for Y1-Y6 (details about timings have been sent out), and plenty of fun. You can grab your wristbands in advance at https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/shop/summer-fayre-wristband-presale. Also, remember to ask your employer about Matched Funding – your volunteer time could double the funds raised for the school, as GPPSA is a registered charity!

Finally, for extended fun, remember to sign up for the Extend Holiday Club, open to new Reception children too, and featuring a week of Forest School! Find out more click here.  We can't wait to see you at the Summer Fayre and continue this fantastic term!

With my very best wishes

Tijen Hassan

Headteacher 

Please click here to view term dates for 2025 - 2026

Please click here to view term dates for 2024 - 2025

This week, the Grange Park Eco Ambassadors went to the Firs Farm Wetland Centre to learn about how wetland areas clean the water that flows through them. The young activists also planted a herb garden for use at the cafe on site. The visit was organised by the Friends of Firs Farm, whose trustee Toni Guiver said “We were very excited to get the children involved in this important project and look forward to more involvement from Grange Park and other local schools.”  For the last three years, Grange Park Primary School has been working hard to lessen its environmental impact as a local institution.  The children at the school have earned an Eco-Schools Green Flag award, an international accreditation, recognising their amazing work in making the school more environmentally friendly and raising eco-awareness in the community. 

Last week was a truly proud moment for Grange Park Primary as we showcased our success as a Google Reference School to a gathering of other leading Google Reference Schools from across the UK and Ireland. Our incredible pupils were undoubtedly the real stars of the show. They eloquently demonstrated how Chromebooks and the suite of Google tools have utterly transformed their learning and unleashed their creativity across every subject. Witnessing their confidence and expertise in explaining their digital work was truly inspiring for all attendees.

A highlight for our pupils was an exclusive tour of the Google offices. This incredible experience not only offered them a fascinating glimpse into the world of cutting-edge technology but also profoundly impacted them, sparking dreams and aspirations for future careers in tech. Beyond the glitz of Google, our presentation also focused on the practical benefits of our digital integration. We shared how these tools enable us to use real-time assessment for more agile teaching approaches, tailored directly to the children's needs. Furthermore, the pupils themselves proudly showcased how accessibility tools like voice typing and speech-to-text preserve their self-esteem, ensuring all learners can express themselves confidently.

The impact of our Google Reference School status extends beyond the classroom. We were delighted that some of our parents also joined us at the event, where they shared invaluable insights into how Google Classroom helps them feel more involved with their children's learning. This fosters a stronger partnership between home and school, ensuring parents are better informed and connected to their child's educational journey. Our recognition as a Google Reference School is a testament to our whole school community's commitment to leveraging technology for a truly enhanced and empowering educational experience.

At the end of last half term we  celebrated our ‘Always Stars’. ‘Always Star’ children are children who ALWAYS show that they follow the Big 3, they are ALWAYS respectful, resilient and show responsibility and they ALWAYS try their very best, taking on challenges with a growth mindset and never giving  up. Here are the Always Stars’ for the first half of the summer term.

The Junior Travel Ambassadors and Year 6 MP’s recently took part in the second round of the Junior Roadwatch scheme, run in collaboration with our local police officers. As part of this important initiative, the children had the opportunity to actively participate in promoting road safety in the community. Armed with a speed detection device, the pupils monitored the speed of passing vehicles outside the school gates. When a driver was found exceeding the speed limit, the children, accompanied by officers, engaged in conversations with the motorists. They explained the dangers of speeding near a school and how their actions can directly impact the safety of young pedestrians.

This hands-on experience gave the children real insight into the work of the police and the importance of community responsibility. In addition to their roadside duties, the pupils were invited into the police van, where they explored its various features, including the radio systems, sirens, and safety equipment. The Junior Roadwatch scheme continues to be an empowering experience for our young leaders, reinforcing key messages around road safety, citizenship, and working together to make our streets safer for everyone.

Order a fruit and veg bag, delivered weekly to Grange Park Primary!

Reduce food miles and enjoy fresh fruit and veg with a weekly bag from Enfield Veg Co. We offer 9 different bag options, with a range of fresh, seasonal fruit and veg, plus a selection of extra items each week - from bread and eggs to salad and greens, with over half your veg grown here at Forty Hall Farm. Enjoy a flexible delivery service with no monthly subscription - book holidays and make changes to your order whenever you need. Prices start from just £7 per week, sign up at enfieldveg.co.uk

As you are aware, we are excited to be hosting our Grange Park Dance Showcase at the Summer Fayre on Sunday 6th July 2025. In regards to the day, please find below further information regarding times, drop off locations and colour themes for each year group.

Pupils of each class are to arrive prior to or at the time below. They will need to arrive at their allocated Year 3 classroom (located at the middle playground) to meet their teacher for the scheduled rehearsal time. Please take time to look at the timetable carefully.

Clothing and footwear for the dance: On the day pupils are asked to wear the following colours to represent their dance themes. These are: Year 1 - Pupils are invited to wear brown, yellow, grey and green for their theme ‘The Zoo’, Year 2 - Pupils are invited to wear blue for their theme ‘Water’, Year 3 - Pupils are invited to wear Egyptian clothing for their theme ‘Egypt’, Year 4 - Pupils are invited to wear black for their theme ‘Cats’, Year 5 - Pupils are invited to wear red and black for their theme ‘The Carnival’ and Year 6 - Pupils are invited to wear non uniform. Pupils will also be asked to wear plimsolls or comfortable trainers for the performance.

Transition to Secondary School - Parent Workshop

A huge thank you to all the Year 6 parents who took the time to attend our recent Transition to Secondary School workshop hosted by Ebru Hassan from the Local Authority. We really appreciate your engagement and hope you found the session helpful in preparing for this important next step in your child’s journey. If you were unable to attend, or would like to revisit the information, you can find the slides we shared at the link below:

Secondary School transition Enhanced Powerpoint

In addition, here is a brochure of workshops and activities that 11-19 year olds can attend during the holidays. Thank you again for your ongoing support. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions.

If you are eligible for pupil premium funding, HAF vouchers will automatically be sent to you so that you can participate in activities during the term break. Your vouchers have been sent on 26th June. 

Our GPPSA Summer Fayre is just one (1) week away.  We cannot wait to welcome you and your families to our bright and cheery, fun-filled Summer Fayre on the 6th of July between 12pm to 4pm.  Entry fee is £1 per person.

This year we have organised a variety of inflatable games to ensure the fun doesn’t stop. We’ve got Bungee Run, 100ft Assault course, Wrecking Ball, Childrens Bumper Carz, bungee trampoline and much, much more.  Children have access to unlimited rides on all the inflatables (subject to their age/height) when they purchase a wristband. 

Wristband pre-sales have begun, and can be purchased at https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/shop/summer-fayre-wristband-presale The pre-sale cost of wristbands are £15 per child, and on the day of the Fayre, the wristbands will cost £20 per child. 

We’ll be selling hot and cold food and beverages throughout the fayre at various stalls, so do come hungry. 😁 As this is a fundraising event, we kindly ask our school community to donate the following items to make our Fayre a success.

Donations requested for collection week: 

• Jars of Sweets (no chocolate or nuts please)

• Bottles of soft drink, wines and spirits

• Pre-loved uniform (in good condition)

• Pre-loved good condition Teddy’s & Toys (NO BOOKS please)

• Unwanted gifts

• Raffle prizes

• Cakes (home made or store bought (no nuts)

Raffle Prizes: 

Received a gift or voucher you cannot use? Then consider donating them as a raffle prize.  Perhaps your business could sponsor a prize (product or service) for the raffle.  We will happily promote your company and your contribution on our social media pages. 

Pre-loved Uniforms: 

We love our planet and our wallets, so please donate your clean, good condition, pre-loved GP Uniforms (we accept all ages, especially for Upper years Y5 & Y6).

Another opportunity to help our fundraising initiatives is to become a Summer Fayre sponsor.  

Main Sponsors

Perhaps you want your small business logo on our banners, signages and leaflets leading up to the Summer Fayre.  Then consider being a Main Sponsor for £500.

Stall Sponsors

For only £100 you could advertise your small business or company at one of our many stalls.  In addition, we would use our social media page to promote your sponsorship.

Prize Sponsors

If you run a small business or work for a company that can donate prizes or services, we will use our social media platform to thank you and promote your brand/business. 

Match Funding

Your employer may have a Match Funding Scheme, i.e. employers match money raised by you for your chosen charity.  

Fun fact: Grange Park Primary School Association (GPPSA) is a registered charity focused on fundraising educational initiatives for Grange Park school students.

Ask your HR or payroll team if they offer Matched funding and we could double the funds raised for the school if you volunteer on a stall, even if it’s just for an hour. The GPPSA can provide you with a letter detailing the event, the date and the funds raised on your stall.

This half term, our Reception children had lots of fun planting their very own cress seeds as part of our ‘Living and Growing’ topic. Using cup/yoghurt pots and cotton wool, each child carefully sprinkled their seeds and gave them a little drink of water. The children are now excited to watch their cress heads grow. It’s been a fantastic hands-on activity and it’s been lots of fun too!

Year 3 has been experimenting on how to make objects move in different ways using force. They explored how they could push, pull or twist to make different objects move. They used balls, straws, spinners and pieces of paper.

Year 5 had a fantastic and enriching day at Walton on the Naze as part of their geography topic on coasts and erosion. The trip provided an exciting opportunity for children to witness the real-life impact of coastal erosion on the landscape. As they walked along the beach and cliff paths, the children observed how natural forces such as wind, waves and tides shape and change the coastline over time. They were particularly engaged in identifying and discussing the various coastal defence systems in place, including sea walls, groynes and revetments. These structures sparked thoughtful conversations about how people try to manage and reduce erosion to protect homes, habitats and land from being lost to the sea.

The highlight of the day was standing at the top of the cliffs and looking out across the North Sea, imagining how the coastline might change in years to come. The children asked insightful questions and recorded their observations, which they will use back in class to support further learning and project work. It was a thoroughly enjoyable and educational visit that brought classroom learning to life and deepened the children's understanding of geography in action.