Dear parents and carers,
Lockdown Drill – Wednesday 2nd December
A different kind of lockdown. From time to time we rehearse safety drills, and we need to go through what we do at school in different scenarios. We will present it to children as needing to shelter from a deer running around the playground but it is possible the older children may bring up other reasons we may need to take shelter; if you suspect your child will be anxious, do talk it through with them in advance.
Cross-country – Thursday 3rd December
Children from Years 1 to 6 will be taking part in a cross-country tournament against other schools. We will record our times running on the playing field, and then submit the results to find the winners once compared with the others. On this date, please send them to school in PE kit, along with studded boots (because of the mud) if you have them. We traditionally do very well with this, so we are hoping for great things!
Christingle – Friday 4th December
This will be part of our St Nicholas service next Friday. As part of this, the children have been invited to collect loose change in the collection box candle sent home last week and bring it back to school for the service. Children in Willow and Ash classes will hold their service in the school hall, and Oak and Beech classes will be able to have a brief service in the church. Many thanks to Rev Lucy for being so accommodating during this ever-changing time. (NB This is different from the Christingle being organised by the church for which you are having a Christingle bag delivered to your house!)
Willow Class Nativity – Wednesday 9th December
Willow class will be having their virtual nativity recorded on this date. In keeping with tradition, we are going to hold a Christmas raffle open to the whole school. To enable us to do this, we need your support. If you are able to donate a prize, please could you leave it with the office or with one of the Willow staff members before Monday 7th. Tickets will be on sale in the playground on Monday 7th in the morning and afternoon during drop off and pick up. Tickets will be £1 a strip, and there will be multiple prizes on offer, so please make sure you bring your spare change that day. We will do the draw on Wednesday 9th December and the winning tickets will be announced in the newsletter on Friday 11th December, so please keep your tickets safe. Winners can claim their prizes from the Willow classroom anytime from Monday 14th December. Thank you in advance for all your support, and Good Luck!
Flu Vaccination – Thursday 10th December
On this date all children from Reception upwards will be eligible to receive their flu nasal sprays at school. In order for your child to take part, you must register online and grant permission. So far, we have about 54% of children enrolled. Please make sure you have registered, even if you do not want your child to have the spray at school. The unique code is OX143888 and the enrolment site will close on Tuesday 8th December. https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/school-health-nurses/immunisations/
Ash Class Nativity – Tuesday 15th December
Parents of children in Ash Class should have been informed separately about this. We will film the nativity on this day, and this will be spliced with songs ready to go on the school website (password protected) for the end of term.
Children’s Bazaar – Wednesday 16th December
As we do each year, we are holding the children’s bazaar, but arrangements this year need to be slightly different. A separate letter will be sent regarding this, and gifts need to be in school by Friday 11th to enable them to be put into quarantine. If this is all new to you, do not panic; the letter will explain everything.
Christmas Dinner – Wednesday 16th December
We will hold the traditional Christmas dinner on this date in the two bubbles. All children are able to have a cooked dinner that day; you do not need to book in advance. The cost (£2.30) will be added to ParentPay on the day. We are also using the day as a Christmas jumper day in aid of Save the Children. If your child wishes to take part, they are invited to bring £1 (£2 per family) to donate. Please do not buy a jumper just for the occasion, but, if necessary, decorate one you already have with something suitably festive.
End of term – Thursday 17th December
We finish for Christmas at the usual time on Thursday 17th December (i.e. no early closure). The carol service will have been recorded during the final week, and we hope to release it in time for you to watch over the holidays. We restart on Tuesday 5th January.
Our Christian Value this term is Thankfulness. Ask your child about being thankful for the world around us. How does your child show care for the planet?
This week we congratulated:
Willow Class: Neil, for brilliant work in phonics;
Ash Class: Elizabeth, for great engagement in RE; Charlotte, for good work in problem solving;
Oak Class: Emilly V, for lovely independent writing; Emily DM, for great use of fronted adverbials in her descriptive writing;
Beech Class: Logan, for fantastic reading comprehension; Charlotte, for excellent detail in her pieces of art;
Cookery: Eleanor, for great listening, following instructions and using a knife and peeler really well.
Future events (w/b 30th November)
Cookery: Ash Class
Monday 30th Year 5 Forest School
Tuesday 1st Oak Class Group B Forest School
Thursday 3rd Cross country
Friday 4th Christingle service
Dates for the year
09/12/2020 Willow Class Nativity
10/12/2020 Reception to Year 6 flu immunisation
16/12/2020 Children’s bazaar, Christmas dinner and jumper day
17/12/2020 Carol service
End of term
18/12/2021 INSET Day – school closed
04/01/2021 INSET Day – school closed
05/01/2021 Start of term
12/02/2021 Soup Lunch and Talent Show – provisional
15/02/2021 Half term week
10/03/2021 Reception and Year 6 Heights and Weights measurement
31/03/2021 Stations of the Cross service – provisional
End of term
19/04/2021 Start of term
03/05/2021 Bank Holiday – school closed
10/05/2021 Year 6 SATS
28/05/2021 May Day – provisional
31/05/2021 Half term week
07/06/2021 Beech Class residential – very provisional
01/07/2021 Sports Day – provisional
07/07/2021 Ash/Willow production (afternoon) – provisional
15/07/2021 Oak/Beech production (evening) – provisional
21/07/2021 Leavers’ Service
End of term
22/07/2021 INSET Day – school closed
01/09/2021 INSET Day – school closed
02/09/2021 Start of term