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Friday 17th October 2025

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Dear Families,

What a spectacular end to the week with Year 4's brilliant assembly celebrating their learning about Brixton! They shared so much with us about our local community and its rich history — from the arrival of the Windrush Generation, their hopes and dreams, to the often horrific challenges they faced and their incredible legacy. As Year 4 reminded us: Black History is British History — and Brixton is its heartbeat. Read more below.

A big well done to everyone who cycled to school this week!
It was fantastic to see so many families, including some new faces, giving cycling a go. We hope it becomes a regular part of your school journey.

Kindness is one of our core values — and something we practise every day at JKPS. Next week is National Kindness Week, and just like last year, we’ll be setting a special Kindness Challenge for everyone to take part in. We’ll launch Kindness Week during Monday morning’s assemblies — stay tuned!

Finally, Happy Diwali To all those in our community celebrating this beautiful Festival of Light in the coming days, we wish you happiness, peace and togetherness. (Click here to find out more about what Diwali means and how it is celebrated.)

Schönes Wochenende!

Patrick 

Key messages:

9.15am - 10.00am 4th November On the first Tuesday back after half-term, the Southwark NEST team are delivery a parent/carer workshop on: parenting and ADHD. All are welcome.

Late collections: please ensure children are collected on time after after-school clubs. Clubs finish at 4:20pm and all children should be collected by 4:30pm. Late collections will likely incur a fine. 

Data Collection Form: Please check your MCAS details under Data Collection Form and ensure that you have provided at least 3 emergency contact phone numbers along with your child's GP information. 

Congratulations to the children pictured below for being so exemplary in their modelling of our core values. 

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Well done to the boys football team who delivered an outstanding performance in last Saturday’s cup match. They outplayed local rivals Rosendale, the Lambeth and Southwark champions (and a school twice our size) and were very unlucky to lose on penalties.
Many thanks to Coach Leo for his hard work with the team.  A promising league season awaits!

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A request from  Y3 mum Sophie Scott, vocal confidence coach and trainee psychotherapist: Sophie's currently looking for a family to participate in Infant Observations. This is a vital experience for professionals working therapeutically with children, and a rewarding one for families who take part. An overview of the process and some FAQs are shared here. Do get in touch if you or someone you know might be interested, and please feel free to share the information with others! Sophie can be contacted at Sophie@indialogue.co or on 07779663670.

What's happening in school 

It was Ruby Bridge's Class' turn to visit Dulwich Picture Gallery this week. Whilst there was a last minute change in plans to their workshop, they clearly made the most of the visit, including exploring the artworks on display. 

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This week has been Cycle To School Week

Eco Reps have presented to their classes about the benefits of cycling! And more children and their families have trialled cycling or being active on their commute to school! We have also had incredible Cycle to School Week poster entries for the competition!

Thank you at Bon Velo on Half-Moon Lane, who have donated a permanent pump for the school - this is to help keep children, parents, carers and staff who cycle safe...No one wants a deflated tire! 

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Reception, last week, received a letter written from Anansi the spider.. as part of theirliteracy hook to introduce the story! 

They had to write lists about spider facts which were very exciting! 

Did you know?... Anansi is one of the most important characters of West African, African American and West Indian folklore.

Black History Month

Thank you so much to Year 4 for the inspiring, emotive and hugely informative assembly today. Their assembly celebrated their learning about Brixton. They spoke about local heroes like Olive Morris and Sam King and about the discrimination faced by the Windrush generation when they arrived in London. The children showed how Black food, music, and art have shaped Brixton’s identity and how this rich culture continues to bring people together. They sung Electric Avenue and London Is the Place for Me by Lord Kitchener, celebrating the strength, creativity, and legacy of the community. 

Did you know that Sam King's house is on Warmington Road, this is just behind Budgens opposite the school!

As Alvar (Y6) said - 'its was perfect, but could have been a bit longer... I loved the reggae and inclusiveness of Brixton!'

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Safeguarding - well done to all for the fire drill today

Well done to all the children and staff for such a well exectued fire drill today. The children were calm and sensible leaving the building, and extremely patient whilst waiting to return. They should be proud of themselves. 

On Thursday, some of the staff also had Evac Training in case there is ever need to assist someone out of the building in an emergency. Well done to the Y1 children who helped with the traiining!

Attendance - our best yet this week!

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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

It has been a very busy half term as we head into the final week we're all very grateful for the work of the staff team. The Friends work with the Staff team and particularly the SLT to support the school's priorities, particularly where we are additional to statutory funding. Over this half term we have been renovating the library (see below), finishing off the sensory room, and are pleased to support the anti-racism workshops underway across the school.
Planning
The Friends are in full swing and planning for the year ahead:
📅 Dates are available: https://www.fojkps.org/events

🎉 If there is an event you are interested in running for the Friends, or something else you'd like to get involved in, please always get in touch

Member of the Friends Committee
Are you interested in getting more involved in the Friends? We're looking for one/two (co-)Secretary to join our organising committee and be a trustee of the charity. We're particularly looking for someone who loves organising stuff who can help us stay on track.
Library Renovation Volunteers Needed
A huge thank you to Anna Geldart (year 2 parent) who has been leading the charge in the library. We are on the home straight for our library renovation project and we’d love some volunteers to help us get it over the line before the half term holidays. Time to release your inner librarian!
If you have a spare hour (or even 30 minutes) next Tuesday or Friday morning, please sign up here https://legacy.signup.zone/SydgXgdkCKJjHJfy6
No special skills or heavy lifting required! Thank you!
Sponsorship and LinkedIn
A huge thank you to the businesses in our community who have already supported the Friends, in particular at Oktoberfest. If you know anyone who might be interested in supporting a school event through sponsorship please get in touch.
We have also started a LinkedIn Group for the Friends of JKPS so we can see the skills and experience in our community as we work as the Friends to support JKPS. Please join here: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13226102/
St Martin Lantern Parade
The traditional St Martin Lantern Parade is on Friday 14 November. This German, Austrian and Swiss tradition is a magical early evening celebrating our JKPS community spirit with lots of lights, music and a warm drink.  And back by popular demand is a proper parade. Please sign up to help out here: https://legacy.signup.zone/99XZS8rTN4A8MGMHX
The early years will be having a lantern workshop in school before the event. Everybody else is invited to craft their own lantern at home and there will be paper lanterns on sale on the day as well.
Christmas Cards
The Christmas Card Templates have been distributed in school. Please return completed templates to Mary/Jodie in the office by Wednesday 22nd Oct. (Note - it has been shared on the whatsapp groups which years are doing them in school, and which at home).

Let's talk about our kids and their tech

We have Ruth Smith coming in to lead a discussion on the parent challenges of smartphones, social media and screentime in a non-judgemental way, and give practical advice on how to achieve a healthier technology balance. There will be drinks from the bar for a small donation. Come along Tuesday 18th November at 7:30pm.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

As we head to the end of the half term, the lost property will be cleared out over the course of next week. Please take time to check for anything that belongs to your child.

Anything labelled has a far higher chance of being returned! You can buy labels through a company that will donate a small amount to the Friends, details here (scroll down): https://www.fojkps.org/donate 

Please donate your pre-loved uniform. Particularly fleeces, and jumpers/cardigans size 28/30. We are also pleased to accept crocs/similar and Christmas Jumpers. Please ensure everything you donate is saleable.

Do you no longer want your sports day medal lying around the house. In the spirit of reduce/reuse/recycle. Please return to the office so it can be re-used next year.

Forward Look:

🌠 Wednesday 22nd October - Return Christmas Card templates

🍂 Sunday 9th November - Gardening Day

🏮 Friday 14th November - Sankt Martin's Lantern Parade

💻 Tuesday 18th November - "Let's talk about our kids and their tech"

🫚 Friday 28th November - Gingerbread House Workshop (back by popular demand)

🪾 Saturday 29th November - Gardening Day

🎁 Friday 5th December - Wreath Making

🎄Saturday 6th December - Christmas Trees and Sankt Nikolaus Tag Winter Fair

🎁 We are also planning tea towels this term - watch this space!

🏂 Date TBD (after Christmas) - Secondhand Ski Clothes Sale

Key Dates

Black History Month: 1st - 31st October

Year 4 Trips to Dulwich Picture Gallery                                    Thursday 22nd October

Half Term   Monday 27th October - Friday 31st October                                             

Year 6 Bikeability - KH Class                                                             w/c 3rd November  

Parent/Carer workshop: parenting and ADHD (Southwark NEST) 9:15am Tuesday 4th November

Anti-Racism: Self Esteem & Belonging Workshop for Years 3 & 4 - 12th/ 19th November

Anti-Racism: The Power of Unity & Solidarity for Years 5 & 6 - 26th/27th November

Anti-Racism: Racial Identity Awareness - workshops for parents/carers, staff and children - dates TBC

Sankt Martin Parade                                                      4:30pm Friday 14th November

Year 6 Trip To Black Cultural Archives                                   Monday 17th November

Year 1 visit to London Transport Museum                      Wednesday 19th November

Rock Steady Concerts   Wednesday 10th (am/pm), Thursday 11th December (am)

NEST Parent coffee morning - Mental Health Toolkits: Everday habits for your and your child - 9am Monday 8th December

The NEST pupil workshops - Growing healthy relationships through conflict and connection - Monday 8th December 

EYFS Christmas Performance                                                    Tuesday 9th December

KS1 Christmas Production                                                        Tuesday 16th December

Winter Wonderland Morning                                                      Friday 19th December 

Autumn Term ends                                                          2pm Friday 19th December

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