Autumn Term Issue 8: 25th October 2024
Dear families
As we wrap up this half term, I want to take a moment to reflect on what a fantastic start we've had to the academic year. It feels like our new reception children and their families have already become cherished members of our community, and so much has happened since September.
This term has been filled with inspiring trips, our Harvest Festival, Black History Month celebrations, our first parent evening, parent cafes, we welcomed Ofsted, and best of all witnessed the incredible learning and play happening every day. Today, our staff spent time during inset discussing how our children flourish and we celebrated their academic and personal successes—it was a truly uplifting way to conclude the term.
Wishing you all a wonderful break! We look forward to welcoming everyone back to school on Monday, 4th November.
Alli
Upcoming Diary Dates
Reception
This week Reception have been so creative! We have written our own versions of Where the Wild Things Are, thinking about the beginning middle and end of the story.
We have been looking at patterns in Maths, and spotting patterns in our lives as well as building our own AB patterns with classroom resources, singing and using found percussion!
Stik class have been doing body percussion with Ms McGregor in their music lesson and Himid Class have been finding out about cave painting and experimenting with charcoal In art with Ms Hanif Banks.
It has been an amazing first half term, we are so proud of all the children and the progress they have made. Today we talked about what is great about being in Reception - there is too much to mention. Have a lovely half term; keep practising phonics and word building every day… loads more new sounds to learn after half term.
Year 1
Year 1 stepped up their seasons learning this week and learnt which months were in which seasons. We each had a month and sorted ourselves into the seasons. We swapped over months each time to practise. In Geography, we explored what keys are used for and practiced making our own keys on maps of the local area.
Year 2
The Year 2’s had lots of fun learning about Learie Constantine for Black History Month. We engaged in a variety of activities learning about his history and how inspirational he was. The children made wanted posters writing interesting facts about Learie and completed a timeline ordering his life events. Everyone was super excited to present their amazing work in the Black History Exhibition.
Year 3
This week in Year 3, children went on a Geography field trip to explore how the local area can have a positive or negative impact upon our emotional wellbeing. We were able to look at the traffic and conducted a traffic and shop survey to see how busy East Dulwich is. We also explored the wildlife in East Dulwich, completing a tree identification chart, observed littler and conducted a wildlife hunt. Finally, we strolled down Grove vale and went to Dulwich Hamlet to explore the impact this has on the community. A wonderful day out and the children thoroughly enjoyed getting to grips with the amazing things that are just on our doorstep.
Year 4
This week in PSHE, Year 4 explored what it takes to be successful in a group activity. We began by discussing a scenario where a team faced challenges and was unable to succeed. After analysing what went wrong, students worked in groups to create a poster with encouraging suggestions for how the team could improve. Key words we focused on included: communication, democracy, empathy, teamwork and understanding consequences. Check out our creative posters!
Year 5
This week in Year 5, we have finished our first chapter book of the year - The Polar Bear Explorers’ Club which we have been gripped by from the start. For home reading, lots of children are keen to read some of the other books in the series: Explorers on Witch Mountain and Explorers on Black Ice Bridge. We have also been busy presenting our redesigned land use of Peckham and our research on places of worship in the borough.
Year 6
In PE over the past 8 weeks, we have been practicing our football skills. We focused on improving our passing, dribbling, attacking and defending techniques. Everyone worked hard to develop not only these skills and apply them in game situations, but also their sportsmanship – thinking more about how to be a good teammate. We used positive reinforcement to encourage others and boost everyone’s resilience when learning new skills and games.
Football rounders was a blast! We had a great time combining football skills with the traditional rounders game. It was a fun and active way to practice teamwork.
Finally, a big shout out and special thanks to our amazing Sports Leads who have been teaching PE lessons around the school. Their enthusiasm and expertise have made a huge difference to our PE program.
News from the Art Studio…
This week in the art studio Year 1 completed their colour wheel project.
It’s been amazing to hear them talk abouthow to use primary colours to mix secondary colours, and how the colour wheel is laid out.
The feirce lions have such individual characters they really make the colour wheels come to life!
Music this week…
This week, children at SJSC have been celebrating the music of West Africa. Whilst KS1 children were looking at instruments such as The Balafon and The Kora, some KS2 children had their turn at using tuned and untuned percussion to accompany Rosewood Gratitude, a piece of music inspired by music from this part of the world.
In addition, Reception, Year 4 and Year 6 children were looking at the music of Ella Fitzgerald especially her amazing ability to scat.
Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington "It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)"
We had an impromptu Keyboard performance in KS2 Assembly on Wednesday. Thank you and a huge well done to all children who participated.
Finally, a big thank you to wonderful pop choir for being so fantastic as they sang in the playground on Wednesday afternoon. You put a smile on the faces of everyone who came to watch.
School Council
Year 4 has been hard at work organising this year's school council elections!
This project was undertaken based upon their learning about Modern Parliament, linked to the Big Idea of ‘democracy’.
Each class cast their votes and we were excited to announce that there are two representatives from each class who were revealed during Monday's whole school assembly.
Black History Month Exhibit
This month at SJSC we have been celebrating Black History Month. This year, every year group has learnt about a Black British activist who has campaigned for change in Britain. The children have learnt an incredible amount about their figure and the impact that they have in Britain. The children loved seeing all the work celebrated in our Black History Month exhibition on Tuesday. If you missed it, here are some of the highlights:
Friends of SJSC
As we gear up for our Christmas Fair, we are looking for volunteers to have an advertising board outside their home from w/c 11th November for a couple of weeks. The school earns £15 for each board, Truepennys do it all, it’s a very slick operation and they take them down very promptly after the fair is over.
Please fill out this form to register:
https://forms.gle/cjjKRLyyy393x9G1A
You don’t have to be an SJSC family to register - so please send on to your neighbours and friends in the local area.
Thank you for your continued support.
Sports Update
On Thursday, some of our children took part in a multi-sports events. Well done to all who participated.
Today, a selection of KS2 girls took part in a fun festival aimed at involving more girls in sport.
During the day, the girls took part in dance, lacrosse, trampolining, football and multiskills. It was a wonderful day full of trying new sports and developing a love if physical exercises.
Amazing Athletes
Last week some of the children who attend after school judo club travelled to Belgium to take part in an international tournament.
The children really did themselves and SJSC proud in both their achievements and their attitudes. Well done team!
Stars of the Week
This half term we have focussed on our value of COMMUNITY. Well done to the children who were nominated as class members who have demonstrated fantastic community spirit.
Well done to our reading champions- children who have been celebrated this half term for their wonderful efforts in reading.
News from the Governors…
From Miranda Wightman, Chair of Governors
It has been a busy start to term! Welcome to all our new children and families who have joined the school, it has been lovely seeing how well all our new reception children have settled into school, and meeting parents at some of the parent cafes. We are really pleased with how well the Ofsted inspection went, it was an intensive couple of days for everyone and we are so proud of the results. Our focus as governors over this term has been setting the priorities for the year and we have already been reflecting on the Ofsted outcomes and what impact that has on our direction.
This term we have two vacancies, for a parent governor and a foundation governor for St Johns. We would like to thanks Louisa O'Riordan and Namukale Chintu for all they have contributed to the governing body during their time on the board. Elections will be held next term for the parent governor vacancy so if you are interested please look out for the details on that. If you would like more information about what it means to be a parent governor then Hannah, Simon and Chris who are all governors with children at school will be happy to chat with you.
The governing Body of St Johns and St Clements School provides strategic direction to the school. Our governors are all volunteers from the local community, as parents, staff, or from local churches who work collectively to achieve this. We have three Full Governing Body Meetings a year, in Autumn, Spring and Summer term. Our main responsibilities include monitoring and evaluating progress, approving the school budget, appointing key staff, and helping to set the school’s key aims and strategies, The Head teacher is responsible for the day to day running of the school but ultimately governors hold the Head Teacher to account in the performance of the school. We have a number of smaller committees that meet regularly throughout the year. Simon Rutland chairs the Finance and Resources Committee and Hannah Hickman chairs the Curriculum and Community committee.
The governing body is made up of:
Head Teacher - Alli Crank Incumbent St Johns - Gill O'Neill
Incumbent St Clements - vacant Foundation St Johns - Miranda Wightman (Chair of GB)
Foundation St Johns - Namukale Chintu (term ends in November) Foundation St Clements - Leonie Saywell
Foundation St Clements- Fiona Robertson SDBE - Simon Rutland* (Co Deputy Chair of Governors)
Parent - Hannah Hickman* Parent - vacant
Staff - Theo Evans Local Authority - Chris Gonde* (Co Deputy Chair of Governors)
*indicates governors with children at SJSC
Peter & The Wolf - Family Concert
Join us for Prokofiev's symphonic tale for children, Peter and the Wolf, performed by
a woodwind quintet, including some of our wonderful tutors. This 30-minute event will include a 15 minute performance and 15 minutes of musical games and discussion, including introductions of the instruments and animals. We look forward to seeing you at this fantastic introduction to classical music.
See you after Half Term!