Welcome

FROM THE HEAD

Mrs Emma Károlyi, Head Looking back at the academic year, what a year this has been! We have navigated through a global pandemic, keeping everyone safe along the way, and have had to react swiftly to every guidance update. It has been a real team effort. Our first term this year was an extremely successful one at school but, due to the national lockdown, the teaching in the Lent Term was transformed once again into an online platform, enabling our pupils all over the world to access all academic lessons live and engage with their teachers every day. Our priority during this time was to keep our sense of community alive and real. The last weeks of the Summer Term brought us all a little more normality, although still very much within the safety limitations and routines which have become so familiar. Everyone at the school is immensely proud of all that the pupils have achieved this year, but also in the way that they have shown courage, adaptability and resilience throughout. Despite the disruptions, the children have been able to enjoy many of the usual events and activities alongside the academic lessons, all led by my dedicated staff team.

This latest edition of The Chronicle encapsulates our lovely school, along with achievements and special events that have taken place over the course of this last year. It captures the spirit and demonstrates the exuberance, creativity, vibrancy, commitment to excellence and fun that is an accurate reflection of daily life at Junior King’s and also online. Our pupils are nurtured as individuals and are encouraged to discover their particular special strengths, interests and talents, and we offer breadth and depth in all learning, while instilling a positive ethos and ‘can do’ attitude.

We enjoy real diversity in our school and have a strong sense of community. We have a committed team of staff who work with energy and dedication, inspiring all our pupils, day and boarders, with a life-long love of learning. Our pupils are the finest role models for our school, of which they clearly feel proud to be part. The Friends of Junior King’s committee builds strong family links through their social functions and networking, and every family is welcomed into our supportive community. We are proud to be a community that embraces and unites people across nations, that promotes a spirit of tolerance and understanding in order to build a better society tomorrow with the young people of today.

Our philosophy at Junior King’s is that every child matters, and we believe that happy children will achieve their full potential, flourish and develop, supported by our high-quality, experienced and caring teaching, pastoral and support staff team. We combine tradition with a modern outlook, the local with the international and high academic standards with meeting the needs of all learners.

A true Junior King’s pupil is one who is kind and caring, who values relationships and conducts themselves with others, showing genuine support and encouragement for others’ joys and achievements as well as disappointments. We prepare our pupils to be well-rounded individuals who are prepared for life beyond prep school. Our values of responsibility, readiness, respectfulness, and resilience are at the centre of all that we offer as a school. By instilling these values early, our pupils make our school and the world, a far better place.

FROM THE HEAD BOY AND GIRL

Adapted from their Speech Day Reports

This year has been odd by anyone’s standards. We have had to learn to exist with masks, hand sanitising, social distancing and some poignant pandemic statistics. Who would have thought that we would be facing a global crisis in 2020/2021. Although, perhaps the historians amongst us should have predicted it, because if you look back in history, pandemics have been present in 1720, 1820, 1920 and now 2020? Makes you wonder. Yet, we should focus on the positives. This year has also demonstrated adaptability and the four Rs of the Junior King’s ethos. Resilience, Respect, Readiness and Responsibility can be found amongst us all here today and you should be proud that you have got through this unpredictable and sometimes stressful year. What I think must be noted is the leadership and support we have had from all of the staff and fellow students during this time. The sense of community that has been built when we have managed to be face‑to‑face, even though we are socially distanced with masks, and even online, has been tremendous!

As I think back on my time here at JKS, I am filled with joyous memories and much nostalgia. Through drama, dance, music, academic studies, creativity and sport, I have learnt so much about myself and the world as a whole. I can honestly say that every day of my time here, I have learnt something. The immense number of opportunities I have received are amazing and my advice to anyone would be to take those opportunities; just do it. There will be little to lose, but so much to gain. But finally, the academic year ends once again and we are filled with relief, a bit of sadness and perhaps excitement for the next year. I personally have been in many speech days, but I did not think I would stand up and talk in one. This is a very bitter‑sweet type speech as it is an honour to talk in front of you all, but I know that it will be the last. Thank you to all the staff and pupils for their continued support and I look forward to new possibilities arising in the future. I wish everyone success in all that you do at JKS. Have a great summer.

Theo, Head Boy This year has been quite different from others. The school has endured periods of isolation within different year groups, as well as national lockdowns. Without the enthusiasm and hard work that each individual pupil put in, online and at school, I doubt that we would have got through to the end of this year in one piece; but we made it. This year has been tough, but has taught us a lot about appreciating what we have and how to have hope of getting to the other side. We have been more fortunate than last year, as at least this year we have spent more of it at school, enjoying the company of our friends and not searching through our calendars to see what lesson is up next. One of my highlights in Pre‑Prep were the fish. I can remember sitting next to the tank on my first day at JKS, when I was a bit worried and unsure about changing schools. Watching the fish swimming peacefully around was rather therapeutic and I became calm quite quickly. I also remember the tortoise we were allowed to feed cucumber. The peacefulness of the animals helped to make us feel more relaxed and even helped us to focus more. I have been at this school for over eight years. During this time, I have learnt how to read and write, how to be part of a team and how to persevere. Although this year has brought various difficulties, there have been many great times as well. We have managed to enjoy sporting fixtures and most of us have been able to return to school after isolations and lockdowns.

There have been so many wonderful opportunities at JKS, that without them, I would never have found my love for music and the Arts. Many people have found comfort in these during lockdowns. I believe that you can cross the river without a bridge, but it might take some time to do so. This means that it does not matter if it takes a while, you may even learn some things along the way. Our time at Junior King’s is one to remember. I would like to thank every teacher. There would be no school without its pupils, and there would be no school without its teachers. Everyone plays a role in creating a school, and how you play that role depends on who you are uniquely. Pani, Head Girl