The Friends of JKPS are hosting the traditional German celebration of Sankt Martin's Day on Friday 10th November from 4.30pm to 5:30pm. JKPS children and their families are invited to gather around a bonfire with their lanterns. We will provide refreshments and a bite to eat for the kids and will be singing some traditional German Sankt Martin songs.

For those of you not familiar with the tradition of St Martin's, it came about in honour of the benevolence of a Roman knight, Martin of Tours, who shared his cloak with a beggar on a cold evening; the tradition reinforces the idea of empathy and sharing. Children will be familiar with this story from school discussions. 

Songs

If you would like to practise singing at home with your child in the week leading up to the event the songs listed below are the ones we will sing:

Ich geh mit meiner Laterne, Laterne, Laterne, Sankt Martin and Durch die Straßen auf und nieder.

If you play an instrument and would like to accompany the singing, please let your class rep know!

Lanterns

Reception children will be making lanterns at school.  All other years can make their lanterns at home or purchase a paper lantern on Thursday 9th November, at pick-up time from the Friends. All children can collect a lantern stick and LED tea light to put in their lantern at the start of the event for free. If you would like to make your own lantern, there are many ways that are all easy and fun. Here are some tutorials you may wish to follow: Tutorial One Tutorial Two Tutorial Three.

Refreshments

We will serve warm spiced apple juice along with a small raisin bun for all children for free. 

Charity

The JKPS Beaver and Cub Scouts are holding a coat drive for the month of November in coordination with WrapUp London.  New and used coats are being collected at school for the entire month of November.  Last year we took over 70 warm winter coats to be distributed, and it was a great way to tie together the story Sankt Martin and the practice of charity.