{item_alt_tag}

 

 Friday 3rd March 2026

Dear Families,

JKPS has been buzzing with scientific discovery this week as we celebrated all things linked to science and scientists. From eggs dropped from tree houses to rocket balloons and spaghetti engineering challenges, our children have been fully immersed in hands‑on investigation as part of British Science Week. A huge thank‑you to the scientists within our school community who visited during the week, and to those who will be joining us in the coming weeks. There is no better inspiration than meeting a real scientist in person! Fun fact: our building once housed the King’s College London science laboratories—a wonderful legacy for inspiring today’s young learners. And finally, thank you to Ms Chantelle for leading the week with such energy and for sparking curiosity across the whole school.

Next week, we will be Neurodiversity Celebration Week. We will begin with whole‑school assemblies exploring what we mean by neurodiversity and how we can work together to build a truly neuro‑affirming school community. Throughout the week, children will take part in a range of activities, including Forest Sessions for all classes (thank you, Ms Katrin!) and a Silent Disco on Friday. We will also be inviting children, staff and our wider community to put themselves forward as Neurodiversity Champions, as part of our ongoing work to strengthen and promote inclusion across the school.

Schönes Wochenende!

Patrick 

Key messages:

Payments 

Thank you to all parents who have made their payment on time. A gentle reminder that childcare and tax free payments can only be used for clubs and afterschool childcare, not for uniforms and trips.

Parent/Carer–Teacher Meetings
Next week, we’ll be holding meetings for all classes in the top floor hall. Here’s what you can expect:

  • A short 10-minute catch-up with your child’s class teacher

  • An update on how your child is progressing this academic year

  • Suggestions on how you can support your child’s learning at home

To help everything run smoothly, please try to keep within the allotted time. If you’d like to discuss anything in more depth, you’re welcome to arrange a separate meeting with the teacher.

See the assembly pictures below for just some of the wonderful children who have earned certificates this week!

{item_alt_tag}

What's happening in and around school... and Science Week! 

It started with an assembly hosted by a couple of our resident astronauts... 

{item_alt_tag}

From Year 6... 

The Heart’s One-Way Street: Valve Power

Ever wondered why your blood doesn't just slosh around aimlessly? In this experiment, we’re building a working model of a heart chamber. Using simple materials, you’ll create a pressurized system to see how valves act as the body’s ultimate "security guards," ensuring blood flows in one direction and preventing dangerous backflow. It’s a literal look at the pressure your heart handles every single second!

Mix Your Own Blood: The Perfect Recipe

Blood is a lot more than just "red liquid." It is a complex cocktail of life-sustaining components. We’re putting on our lab coats to "brew" a batch of synthetic blood. The challenge? You’ll need to balance the proportions exactly right:

Plasma: The liquid base.

Red Blood Cells: The oxygen carriers.

White Blood Cells: The immune system's frontline.

Platelets: The tiny "plasterers" that stop leaks.

{item_alt_tag}
{item_alt_tag}

Year 5 electrical circuits and Year 3 balloon rockets!

{item_alt_tag}
{item_alt_tag}

This week in Science, Year 4 investigated the melting points of different solids as part of their learning about states of matter. They melted ice, butter and chocolate over bowls of hot water and observed how the materials changed from solids to liquids. They shared some excellent scientific reasoning, including predicting that chocolate might melt around body temperature because it melts in our hands, and wondering whether melted chocolate could be cooled to form new shapes. 

{item_alt_tag}

Meanwhile in Humanities, Year 4 became detectives as they tried to solve the mystery of who was buried at Sutton Hoo. Using the artefacts discovered in the burial mound, the children asked thoughtful and insightful questions to piece together clues about the person buried there.

They discussed items like golden coins, a purse clasp and an intricate belt buckle. Year 4 all agreed that the person buried there must have been a very wealthy Anglo-Saxon.

We won’t spoil the surprise, but be sure to ask a Year 4 child who they discovered was buried at Sutton Hoo!

{item_alt_tag}

Year 1 - Science Week

Year 1 have been incredible scientists, being curious, asking questions and conducting questionnaires! We were SO LUCKY to have two scientists visit and speak to us.

Scientist Daniela who taught us all about DNA and showed us how to extract DNA from a strawberry! Scientist Maria taught us all about immunology and vaccines.

In our classroom, we used magnets to experiment what materials are magnetic!

{item_alt_tag}

Year 1 became compass experts and directed each other using the points on a compass.

{item_alt_tag}

Year 2 went to Sunray Gardens to explore the trees!

{item_alt_tag}

Attendance

{item_alt_tag}

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.  

{item_alt_tag}

Friends Corner

We are already heading into the final two weeks of term, and it has flown by. We have some great events in the coming weeks to celebrate spring and be ready for summer!

Rockin' to a Different Tune Silent Disco - 20th March

To celebrate Neurodiversity Week the school is hosting a silent disco next Friday 20th March. With all children having a 30 minute session. After school the fun continues in the productive garden, with snacks, refreshments and silent disco tunes. Sign up to help here (shifts and cake donations needed): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/14g8rVf794UDmMmIxh8oD8nhrHHR3xQa0RxEy-j3NLI8/edit?usp=drivesdk

Pre-loved Uniform Sorting and Sale - 20th March

The hint of warmer weather also suggests we need to be ready for a change in clothes. There will be a pre-loved sale on Friday 20th March after school we have plenty of summer dresses and shorts. If you're having a clear out - please bring any old uniform in a saleable condition to school for the second hand sale. Come along, save some money and the planet, and raise some money for the Friends.

There is a lot of stock to prepare for the sale, volunteers to help sort and fold appreciated on the morning of Friday 20th March 9-11:30am. Sign up to help here (sorting in the morning, or selling in the afternoon): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1tPeHdLR68T4Qv78ImGlnyTacVTFs6hAL5TpcDsYTjPU/edit?usp=sharing 

Gardening Day - Sunday 22nd March

A bumper community gardening day - if you come to one this year, please come to this one. A chance to spend time outside with the whole family and help prepare the grounds for the summer. Jobs likely to include everything from weeding to woodchip, from painting to planting - there will be something for everyone to do. This is also a lovely opportunity for Early Years Children to get to know the bigger space.

There will be an activity for the children at around midday. Please make a note in your diaries & do a sun dance for the day!

Tea Towel Re-order - Deadline 11pm Tuesday 17th March 

We are doing a final limited run of the very popular class group tea towels, at £13/tea towel. If you missed out please pay here: https://www.fojkps.org/shop/p/jkps-tea-towels-2024-rd2aj-3chrw and send an e-mail to FoJKPS@gmail with your name and the year group you need.

Not Christmas Cards

Have you ever wished you could buy packs of birthday/occasion cards like you can christmas cards - so much better value! We will be using the company that provides the Christmas cards to provide the option of "Not Christmas Cards" for any other use. Children will be sent home with templates next week. To be returned to school by Thursday 26th March, allowing for ordering after Easter.

JKPS Caps

With dreams of sunshine in our mind, JKPS Caps are available from the Friends: https://www.fojkps.org/shop/p/kids-school-cap

Forward Look:

👕 20th March - Preloved Uniform Sale

🪩 20th March - Rockin' to a Different Tune Silent Disco

🌷 22nd March - Bumper Community Gardening Day

🎑 26th March - Deadline for "Not Christmas Card" drawings to be returned

🪇 (TBC) 13th June - International Day

⛺ 20th/21st June - Years 1, 2, 3, 5 & 6 camping

⛺ 3rd/4th/5th July - Year 4 camping

⛺ 4th/5th July - Reception camping

🍻 19th September - Oktoberfest

🏮 13th November - St Martin Lantern Walk

🎄 5th December - St Nikolaus Tag Fair

Key Dates

Key dates coming up:

 

Neurodiversity Celebration Week                                                         w/c 16th March

Parent/Carer Teacher Meetings                                              Wednesday 18th March

Persian New Year Assembly (Reception - Year 4)                     Thursday 19th March

Silent Disco                                                                                         Friday 20th March

EY Anti-Racism Workshops: Self Esteem and Belonging   Wednesday 18th March

Parent/Carer -Teacher Meetings                        From 1pm, Wednesday 18th March

Y1 Anti-Racism Workshops: Self Esteem and Belonging             Friday 20th March

Spring Term RockSteady Concerts      Wednesday 25th/ Thursday 26th March 

Spring Term ends                                                                    2pm Friday 27th March

Summer Term starts                                                  INSET day Monday 13th April 

 - Children's first day back Tuesday 14th April

JKPS Sports Day                                                                                 Thursday 11th June

More term dates are on our website, including dates for 2026-27

{item_alt_tag}