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Friday 6th December 2024

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Dear Families,

The festive season has certainly arrived and we're incredibly excited about the Winter Fair tomorrow. In the build up we've had wreath making, Gingerbread House making, and the children have been making gifts to sell at the fair too - coming together to raise money for our EY outdoor space. 

And earlier today, Reception bounced into school to find present bags hanging on their pegs! St Nicholas had been. The children were so excited to open their gift bag and see what was inside, pure magic!

Following the festive spirit, see the message below about the Shoe Box Gift Drive we're running again this year. Please do start bringing your donations in. 

And if you're not quite in the mood yet, sing along to one of the festive songs the children have been singing in their German lessons - see links below in the Deutschecke.

Patrick 

Key messages:

RockSteady Concerts: if your child has been learning with RockSteady this term their concerts are on Wednesday or Thursday next week. Concerts start at 9:30am and will be in the top floor hall. There is no need for tickets for these events. (Your child will perform on the day they usually have their lesson and you will have been contacted directly by RockSteady. 

We have noticed that a number of children are bring in snacks with high sugar or high salt content. Please ensure any morning or after-school snacks are healthy - fruits, vegetables or sandwiches. Children should not bring in crisps or sugary items. Do not include items with nuts or sesame seeds. 

Last week, Reception took part in African drumming workshops, focusing on rhythm, tempo and different pitches of sound that could be made.

Thank you to  West African dance and drumming group, Wuntanara, the children loved it.

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Christmas Shoe Box Gift Drive

At JKPS, we recognise that the Christmas period is a time of giving and part of that is giving to our community. As we did last year, we will be collecting donations and shoe boxes to donate to children at another Southwark school (Keyworth Primary) which serves a local population of high deprivation. The initiative was extremely well received last year and made a real difference to some of their pupils. So we are asking for your help.

If you could donate any of the following, we would be extremely grateful:
Winter gloves, socks or hats (new/ unused)
Books (for reading or activities, primary age)
Small games (e.g. Card games, or top trumps)
Small toys (unused)
Children's stationery (pens, colouring pencils etc.)
Wrapping paper/ ribbon/ sticky tape
And, of course, shoe boxes

Donations can be left in the office from tomorrow and throughout next week.
Festive thanks!
🎄🎁🎄🎁🎄🎁🎄🎁

A writing journey...

This week, as part of our weekly staff training session the teachers all got together and looked at and learned from the writing journey for children at Judith Kerr. And what a journey it is, from mark-making to creative writing it's wonderful to see the progress they make. it is also a really useful exercise to support and develop pedagogy for writing across the school. 

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Sports News

The JKPS Tigers (girls) played their first game of the season in the Lambeth and Southwark Primary School League last Saturday at Dulwich Sports Ground. After a close and attritional first half, with both teams going close to scoring, the Tigers came out strong in the second half and struck after a brilliant, sweeping move that started with the goalkeeper and ended with a deft strike that beat the opposing goalie. The Tigers then managed the game really well to hold on to the lead and the game ended 1-0 to the JKPS Tigers. A great start and well done girls!

Attendance

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School attendance is mandatory for all students of compulsory school age. Whilst we understand that it isn't always possible to reach 100% attendance, we are fully committed to ensuring the highest levels of attendance to ensure we enable every student to meet their potential.  

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Deutschecke

Get in the mood for the festivities and sing along to one of our favourite German Christmas songs...

In der Weihnachtsbäckerei

Oh Tannenbaum

Schneeflöckchen, Weißröckchen

Kling Glöckchen - klingelingeling

Year 5 had loads of fun this morning in their Movement Safari & Body Percussion Workshop (in German and English). They explored their motor and language skills through movement, music, and rhythm. During the “Movement Safari,” they mimicked animals, each representing a movement exercise to enhance balance, dexterity, and coordination.

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Friends Corner

It’s our annual Winter Fair tomorrow! We’ll be there whatever the weather (we have gazebos and we’re not afraid to use them), so please come and enjoy some festive food and drink, and buy some crafts, wreaths or second-hand toys from the Reception and Year 6 stands. There will be music from the school choir, our Year 3 recorder players and a chance for everyone to sing a carol or two. 

There are still a couple of spots left to fill on the sign-up zone so please do consider putting your name down if you can help. (For cake donations - please remember no nuts or seeds!)

There’s also still time to buy tickets for our bumper Winter Fair Raffle. There are some excellent prizes, with more now added from local businesses Proud Sow and Porters. Funds raised from both the fair and raffle will go towards improvements to the Early Years outdoors space.

And finally, thanks to all who came to our annual wreath workshop last Friday, it was a lovely evening with some amazing creations made. Many thanks to Shivali and team for organising and running it, the event raised £950 to go towards improvements to the Early Years outdoor space.

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Key Dates

Reception Christmas Production                            9:30am, Tuesday, 10th December

Nursery Christmas Production                               2:30am, Tuesday, 10th December

Year 6 Citizenship Scheme Transition Workshop                Tuesday 10th December

Rocksteady Concerts (see Rocksteady comms) 9:30am Weds 11th/Thurs 12th Dec.

KS1 (Year 1 and Year 2 combined) Christmas Production (9:30am and 2:30pm)                Tuesday, 17th December

Christmas Lunch for the children and Christmas Jumper Day  Thursday 19th December                     

Winter Festive Disco                            Across the morning of Friday 20th December 

Autumn Term ends                                                      2pm, Friday 20th December  

Click here for all this academic year's term dates

Please note dates for Academic Year 2025-26 are also now available. 

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