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 Friday 17th April 2026

Dear Families,

Welcome back to the Summer Term! The sun has been shining this week, the grass is green once again, and the garden is looking fantastic. With so much to look forward to over the coming weeks, the children returned with a real spring in their step.

On Monday, during our staff INSET day, we kickstarted the term with a presentation from the Southwark Groundwork Team, focusing on how we can continue to build and strengthen our wellbeing work across the school. With ambition for all as our guiding theme, teachers spent time considering strategies to support children in reaching their end-of-term goals, while our support staff received valuable training from our Southwark SEND consultant. There was a real sense of positive energy across the school, underpinned by a shared ambition to achieve the very best for all of our children.

Schönes Wochenende!

Patrick 

Key messages:

Thank you to those parent and carers who attended Wednesday's coffee morning discussing Relationships and Sex Education (RSE). This was ahead of it being the focus of our RSHE sessions this term. In case you missed it, you can download the slides here.

Please note, Sports Day comes earlier this year on Thursday, 11th June. As per last year, parents and carers are very welcome to attend and join their child for the picnic lunch. The Friends of JKPS will also be reaching out for volunteers later in the month. 

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☀️ GARDENING DAY this SUNDAY, 19th April, 11am-3pm. Please feel very welcome to join us and spend some enjoyable hours outside! ☀️

🪻 12noon Kids Activity: The kids help planting some lavender plants into the planters in their playground 🪻

🪴 Do come along, any 1/2 hour helps, and there is plenty to do 🪴

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Look out for activities to do with the family at this year's Dulwich Festival. This year's programme is packed with free and ticketed events for all ages, with over 80 events and 160 Artists’ Open Houses to explore.

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What's happening in and around school 

Following on from British Science Week, KS1 were delighted to welcome scientists from Queen Mary’s University on Thursday. The visit began with an engaging assembly, before Year 2 pulled on their lab coats and gloves to take part in a series of hands‑on investigations. Pupils extracted DNA from a strawberry, peeled back the layers of an onion under a microscope, and observed what happens to an egg when placed in acid. A huge thank you to Inês and her incredible team for delivering such an inspirational session, filled with awe, wonder and curiosity.

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Measuring Experts! Year 1 have been using nonstandard units to measure classroom objects!

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Meanwhile, Year 6 have been getting creative with their revision of how to measure angles. 

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Year 1 enjoyed their Forest School session today with Ms Katrin (big shout and thank you for such a thoughtful session!). 

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Year 4 kicked off their learning about sound with an exciting investigation into how sound travels. The children explored how vibrations create sound.  As part of their learning, they discovered how people listened to music in the past by learning about vinyl records and how they were used before the rise of CDs and digital streaming. They also used tuning forks lowered into water to observe vibrations in action.

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Grow a sunflower for Dulwich this summer 🌻

The Dulwich Society is inviting residents across East Dulwich, West Dulwich, North Dulwich and Dulwich Village to grow a sunflower this summer.

Sunflowers are easy to grow and suitable for gardens, pots or balconies. Free sunflower seeds will be available on Saturday 25 April, between 10:00 and 13:00, from four distribution points across Dulwich:

  • East Dulwich — Ben Oakley Gallery, 20 North Cross Road
  • West Dulwich — just outside The Dulwich Trader
  • North Dulwich — West 16th Café, Half Moon Lane
  • Dulwich Village — Dulwich Square

Why not plant a sunflower at home this summer and help bring a little extra sunshine to Dulwich?

Tag your blooms using #GoldenDulwich 🌻

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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Friends Corner

Welcome back, and we hope everyone had a lovely Easter break. We're looking forward to a fun filled Summer term, and hoping for the sunshine to continue all term.

Gardening Days

The productive garden is looking beautiful, and the blossom is out. There is a gardening day this weekend: Sunday 19th April 11am-3pm. Enjoy the outside space and even 30 mins helps.

On 28th June we will have a "transition special" and particularly encourage current Reception children and their families to join as an opportunity for the current reception year to get used to the larger space where they will play from September.

On 12th July we will particularly welcome incoming Reception parents whose children start in September to meet the school community and get involved.

Everyone is welcome at all sessions.

Volunteers Wanted

Everything the Friends does is reliant on volunteers. We have some regular events (Oktoberfest, etc.) but always open to more ideas. The Gingerbread House Workshop and Silent Disco already have the makings of classics.

Fundraising - As we are developing plans for a MUGA, we would love to particularly hear from anyone interested in running a sports related fundraiser. We know fun runs/colour runs are very successful in other schools, and also a great way for kids to get active. Please get in touch via your class rep or e-mail: FoJKPS@gmail.com

Planning Permissions - FoJKPS is looking for a parent volunteer with planning or town planning experience to help with the potential upcoming outdoor development projects. If you can assist, or know someone who can, please get in touch: FoJKPS@gmail.com

First Aid

We are planning two adult first aid courses, and supporting courses for the kids in school too. These will cover the basics, and aim to increase confidence to act in an emergency.

Dates for the diary: Evenings of 18th May and 4th June. Booking details to follow.

Final Preloved Uniform Sale of the Year: Friday 8th May

Using a garment twice as many times before disposal can mitigate up to 49% of associated carbon emissions. Save money, save the planet and and raise some money for the Friends by wearing second hand.

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

Oktoberfest is Back - 19th September!

Preparations have already started for Oktoberfest, the most important fundraising of the school year for JKPS. With a push on capital works towards the ambition of the MUGA, we hope 2026 will be a bumper year. Please put the date in our diary, and if you would like to get more involved, please reach out to your class rep or e-mail FoJKPS@gmail.com

Forward Look:

🌸 19th April - Gardening Day (11am-3pm)

📆 6th May - Online at 8pm, Friends AGM

👕 8th May - Preloved Uniform Sale

⚕️ 18th May (evening) - First Aid Training for Adults

🐛 23rd May - Gardening Day (11am-3pm)

⚕️ 4th June (evening) - First Aid Training for Adults

🪇 (TBC) 13th June - International Day

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

🌳 28th June - Gardening Day (11am-3pm) Reception Transition Special

⛺ 3rd/4th/5th July - Year 4 camping

⛺ 4th/5th July - Reception camping

🪏 12th July - Gardening Day (11am-3pm) New Families Special

🍻 19th September - Oktoberfest

🏮 13th November - St Martin Lantern Walk

🎄 5th December - St Nikolaus Tag Fair

Key Dates

Key dates coming up:

Y4 Swimming starts - letter to follow next week                            Monday 20th April

Y2 Anti-Racism Workshops: Self Esteem and Belonging  Wednesday 22nd April

Y1 ZH Class to Pizza Express                                                             Tuesday 28th April

Y1 MY Class to Pizza Express                                                        Wednesay 29th April

Year 4 Sound Workshop                                                                Wednesay 29th April

Bank Holiday Monday                                                                                 4th May

Year 6 SATs Week                                                                                          w/c 11th May

School Photographs                                                                                     w/c 18th May

Year 3/4 Instruments/Choir Performance for Parents/Carers Wednesday 20th May

Year 5/6 Instruments/ Choir Performance for Parents/Carers     Friday 22nd May

Half-Term                                                          Monday 25th May - Friday 29th May

JKPS Sports Day                                                                                  Thursday 11th June

Year 6 Residential                                                                                       w/c 29th June 

Year 5 Bikeability                                                           w/c 29th June and w/c 6th June

Year 6 Graduation                                                                              Thursday 16th July

End of Summer Term at 2pm                                                              Friday 17th July

 

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