Summer Term Issue 37: 10th July 2026
Flourishing in the love of God, love of life, love of learning
Dear Families,
We are all very much hoping for slightly cooler temperatures next week – as I am sure many of you are too!
Despite the heat, the children and staff have been absolutely fantastic. Everyone has worked incredibly hard to keep learning, stay positive and help make the children as comfortable as possible throughout the hot weather.
Although we were disappointed to have to cancel the Year 1–6 Sports Day today, the children still enjoyed a special afternoon together with a picnic on the green, ice poles and fruit skewers. It was lovely to see them making the most of the day and enjoying some well-deserved treats with their friends.
Thank you for the many supportive comments and kind words we have received this week. We know that periods of extreme heat can be frustrating and tiring for everyone, and we are very grateful for the understanding and encouragement shown by our families.
A quick note that there has been a slight delay to the children's reports. These will now be sent home early next week. Thank you for your patience.
As we move into the final full week of the academic year, we have lots to celebrate. Each class has achieved so much this year, and we are looking forward to recognising the children's hard work, progress and successes together.
Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support. I hope you all have a lovely weekend and enjoy a chance to relax before the final busy week of term.
Best wishes,
Alli
Reception
This week in Reception, we have been practising listening to and retelling superhero stories and writing our own mini superhero tales. The children have loved mixing and matching the hero- the problem and their super skill that will save the day!
In maths we have been finding out all about double numbers, using our dingers and matching them up- using loose parts and cubes to test out which numbers are doubles, and using rekenreks to make and test doubles with our partners. We practised putting all the doubles on a number-line and spotted the pattern they make.
At the Reception Sports Day on Wednesday we all had great fun at Goose Green, with all the fun races set up by Mr Evans and ably demonstrated and supported by a terrific team of year five helpers. Thank you all! Thank you too, to all the family and friends who came along and cheered us through the challenges and made a guard of honour on our way back to school!
Year 1
We have had another great week in Year One!
In RE, we thought about how we can look after what Christians consider to be God's creation. We wrote a list of five ways to help care for our world - many of us suggested cycling, picking up litter, and joining the school's Eco Team.
In Maths, we began our new unit on time. We learnt how to read the time on an analogue clock, identifying o'clock and half past by looking carefully at the long minute hand and the short hour hand.
In English, we learnt about possessive apostrophes. We then used our new knowledge to describe the Yeti's guitar and the Bird's suitcase from Yeti and the Bird.
To finish the week, we enjoyed a lovely picnic lunch at Goose Green!
Year 2
Last Friday, Year 2 enjoyed an exciting Great Fire of London trip into the heart of the city. Our day began at the Tower of London, where the children took part in an engaging Great Fire workshop and deepened their understanding of this important historical event.
We then visited Pudding Lane, the site where the Great Fire began, and saw the Monument and Thomas Farriner’s bakery. Along the way, the children were also excited to spot some of London’s famous landmarks, including Tower Bridge and The Shard, which linked perfectly to our History learning this term.
Later, we visited St Paul’s Cathedral, where the children explored its history and designed their own churches inspired by Sir Christopher Wren’s famous building.
The children were a credit to the school throughout the day and had a fantastic time bringing their learning to life. Thank you to all of our volunteer helpers and staff who joined us and helped make the trip such a memorable experience. We had an amazing day!
Year 3
In Science this week, Year 3 explored how sounds can change. We investigated the difference between pitch (how high or low a sound is) and volume (how loud or quiet a sound is). The children carried out exciting investigations using decibel meters to measure the loudness of different items. Whilst conducting the investigation, children explored how if we change the pitch of an item, it can impact the volume. They compared their results, made predictions, and discussed how sound levels can affect our hearing. It was wonderful to see the children working scientifically by observing, measuring, recording data, and drawing thoughtful conclusions from their investigations.
Year 4
This week, the Year 4 children were extremely lucky to take part in an African drumming session, while the Year 6 pupils enjoyed their exciting beach trip.
During the drumming workshop, the children learned different rhythms and discovered how to create a variety of sounds through fun and interactive games. They had so much fun and are already looking forward to having more lessons when they reach Year 6!
In other news, the children have been emailing a giant, trying to convince him to be a little kinder. In maths, we have been investigating symmetry within shapes and exploring how lines of symmetry can help us identify and create symmetrical patterns.
Year 5
This week has flown by in year 5 as we near to the end of a very busy and full year. We have finally finished the two chapter books (Children of the Benin Kingdom and Fly Me Home) we’ve been reading as a class and reflected on the major themes of the stories and the characters’ journeys. The children led their PE lesson with amazing yoga moves outside under the shed and they are looking forward to sports day activities next week and watching the year 6 play!
Year 6
What a brilliant week for Year 6!
The children did an amazing job organising a World Cup Own Clothes Day and Bake Sale to help raise money for their school production. They showed fantastic teamwork and enthusiasm, and we're delighted to say they raised over £350 – what an achievement!
To top off a great week, Year 6 enjoyed a trip to the beach, making the most of the sun, sand and sea. There was plenty of fun, laughter and unforgettable memories made together.
Well done, Year 6 – we're so proud of you!
Music this week…
This week in Music, Children in Stik class (Reception) were learning about dynamics.
To demonstrate how musicians and composers use contrasting dynamics for effect, we listened to Bjork’s song, It’s Oh So Quiet. You can listen to this with your children by clicking on the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLF-_Z8TK1k
PLEASE SEE DETAILS OF SUMMER MUSIC WORKSHOPS AND COURSES BELOW
London Benedetti Sessions
The Benedetti Sessions are 3-day workshops for school age string players, string teachers and primary classes taking place several times a year across the UK. They are high energy and high inspiration and by taking part, you will meet and work with some of the greatest music educators
www.benedettifoundation.org/benedetti-sessions
Kinetika Bloco: Junior Summer School
2025 marks 25 years of incredible people and big, bold music! Even more excitingly, it’s the 10th anniversary of our Junior Summer School—a whole decade of inspiring and nurturing young talent aged 8-13. And what better way to kick off the summer-long celebration of these milestones than with Junior Summer School? As the first in our series of summer schools, Junior Bloco sets the stage for an unforgettable season. Join 140 young people as they dive into Dance, Brass, Woodwind, Steel Pans, and Drums, coming together to create an electrifying carnival performance in just 5 days! *Steel Pan section is full - you can join the waiting list, but your place is not guaranteed.*
Dates:
Monday 28th July - Friday 1st August 2025
Time:
10am - 4pm
Venue:
Hitherfield Primary School & Children's Centre
Leigham vale Streatham, SW16 2JQ
Ages:
Young people aged 8-13 years
Cost:
Suggested donation of £15
(Free places available for those who need it)
https://kinetikabloco.co.uk/join-us#senior-summer-school
Dulwich Youth Orchestra Summer Course
String Ensemble
Wind Band
Senior Orchestra
Great Orchestra
Wed 22nd - Sun 26th July, 9am - 1pm
Ages 7 - 18
Grades 2 - 8+
Alleyn’s
School
SE22 8S
Sports Update - Netball
On Monday, our Year 6 children, along with some of our Year 5s, took part in a netball competition. I know I always say this, but honestly, the way they have levelled up their skills has been amazing—especially the Year 5s. Their improvement, confidence and teamwork were fantastic to see.
I am delighted to say that SJSC1 won the tournament, while SJSC2 finished in 3rd place out of 6 teams. We are incredibly proud of all the children for their effort, determination and excellent sportsmanship throughout the competition. Well done to everyone who took part!
I would also like to say a huge thank you to our coaches, Ali and Lou, for the time and dedication they have given to training the teams throughout the year. They spent the entire morning umpiring in the sunshine before heading off to do their actual jobs! Their commitment and enthusiasm have played a huge part in the children’s success. And thank you Ali for the 3 years of coaching you have given to the children, you will be hugely missed.
A special thank you also goes to Veronica, who, as always, supported the tournament with her many talents and helped ensure everything ran smoothly. Your support is always greatly appreciated.
Miss Evans
Sports Update - Football
On Tuesday, Coach Nathan's football team played a friendly match against The Belham. We started with a girls' game, and I was blown away by the progress they have made, both in their football skills and in their confidence. The girls played with determination, worked well as a team, and showed great resilience throughout the match. It was fantastic to see how much they have developed and how much they are enjoying the game.
This game was followed by the boys' match, where the team lost 3–0. However, the scoreline did not reflect the skill, determination, and camaraderie they showed throughout the game. The boys worked tirelessly for one another, displayed excellent teamwork, and never gave up despite facing a strong opposition. Their positive attitude and sportsmanship were a credit to the school, and they should be very proud of their performance.
Mr Evans
Friends of SJSC
Drum roll please…..we have counted all the tokens and can now announce that we raised an incredible £7,200 from our Summer Fair and Raffle!!!! That’s 10% up on last year’s profit and the money raised will go a long way to help our school. Thank you to everyone who supported the fair, it couldn’t happen without you.
We are looking ahead to September and organising our annual International Evening (afternoon). It is a fun, family-friendly event after school that celebrates the many cultures in our school community. If you would like to volunteer to help out please message Briony on 07900 921 370.
A reminder our Climate Resilience Fundraiser is still running. There is no obligation, but if you are able to contribute to help our school investigate and purchase measures that will help the school better cope with the extreme weathers from climate change, please do so here: https://st-johns-and-st-clements-ptfa.square.site/
Thanks of your support.
Stars of the Week
Well done to all of our stars who have demonstrated our school values brilliantly this week!
Enjoy the weekend!