Dear parents and carers,
Welcome back for our second term. The Christmas term is always very busy, so do check out the dates on the bottom of each newsletter.
Staffing
This week we send huge congratulations to Miss Talboys who got married during half term and is now Mrs Collett. We wish Mr and Mrs Collett many happy years ahead.
Christmas Trees
Following glowing feedback over the past ten years, the FODS are once again selling Christmas trees. We are selling premium Nordmann Fir non-drop Christmas trees at exceptionally good value. Trees will be available to pick up in Islip on 30th November and Sunday 1st December. Orders need to be placed by Sunday 24th November. Order online here: https://www.tfods.org/order-your-christmas-tree.
Christmas Cards
The Friends of Dr South’s have arranged for the children to design Christmas cards which you have the option of purchasing, ready to send at Christmas. The children have created their designs, and these have been sent home for you to look at and order from home. Orders need to be placed online by following the instructions on the letter. The closing date to order your cards is Friday 22nd November.
Remembrance
We will be making an Act of Remembrance on Monday 11th November which will begin at 10.50am. This will be in the playground and parents are welcome to join us if they wish.
Lollipop Patrol
Please be aware that as Martin is unwell at the moment, he may not be available to cross children over the road at the beginning and the end of the day. If you have an older child who walks home by themselves, please let us know so we can cross them over the road at the end of the day.
Photographs
Individual and group photographs will be taken on Tuesday morning. Please make sure your child is looking extra smart. If you would like a family group including younger siblings not at school, please contact Chrissy Robertson in the school office on Monday to arrange this.
Reading Rewards
In order to encourage all children to read at home, we have introduced a new reading reward system for all the children across the school. If your child reads for 25 nights, they will receive a sticker and a raffle ticket. Once a month, we will pull out a raffle ticket and the lucky winner will receive a book. All children will receive a small prize for reading for 25 nights. Then, they work towards their 50 nights sticker which earns another ticket and another small prize. This continues in multiples of 25. The first draws will take place next week for September and October and we will then hold a draw at the end of each month. We are waiting for delivery of the small prizes which will be given out as your child achieves their 25-night sticker. Please help your children to complete their reading diary and sign it once they have read. The ideal scenario is for each child to read for at least 10 minutes each evening. If you need any other information about this initiative, please speak to your class teacher.
Children in Need
Next Friday is Children in Need. This year, instead of a non-uniform day, we would like the children to wear normal uniform but with odd socks and they may also have messy hair if they wish (but no hair dye please). We suggest a donation of £1 per child, £2 per family, either by bringing cash on the day or through ParentPay: Children In Need 2024
Yoga after school club
There are still some places in our after-school Yoga club on a Monday. If you would like to sign your child up, please contact the office.
This week we congratulated:
Willow Class: Gabby, for looking after things in our classroom; Joseph, for his eagerness to write independently this week;
Ash Class: Thea, for contributing well in class discussions in Maths; Ferris, for increased confidence and for a stunning drawing of a stained-glass window;
Oak Class: Gaby, for embracing Roald Dahl’s language in literacy and being a star at ‘gobble funk’; Leo S, for displaying a positive attitude to his learning and sharing his ideas with the class;
Beech Class: Maurice, for fantastic effort in Literacy this week; Jonah, for using good rhyming language in Literacy;
Cooking: Betsy, for working hard on knowing her good groups.
Our Christian value for the term is peace. Ask your child about poetry in peaceful places.
Dates for the year
11/11/2024 Remembrance service
12/11/2024 Individual school photos
15/11/2024 Children in Need
22/11/2024 Beech Class Assembly
29/11/2024 FODS wreath making and film night
04/12/2024 2pm Christingle Service
05/12/2024 Pantomime trip – Sleeping Beauty
12/12/2024 Willow Nativity performance
17/12/2024 Beech Class trip to the Ashmolean
18/12/2024 Christmas lunch, Christmas jumper day and Christmas bazaar
19/12/2024 2.00pm Carol Service and Ash Class nativity
19/12/2024 End of term
20/12/2024 INSET Day – school closed
06/01/2025 Start of term
14/02/2025 Soup Lunch and Talent Show
17/02/2025 Half term week
26/02/2025 Junior Citizen Trip Beech Class
03/03/2025 Parent Consultations
04/03/2025 Parent Consultations
06/03/2025 World Book Day
14/03/2025 Red Nose Day
04/04/2025 2pm Easter Service
04/04/2025 End of term
21/4/2025 Bank holiday – school closed
22/04/2025 Start of term
05/05/2025 Early May Bank Holiday – school closed
23/05/2025 May Day celebrations
26/05/2025 Half term week
19/06/2025 Sports Day
03/07/2025 Oak and Beech production, 1.30pm and 6.00pm
07/07/2025 Beech Residential
09/07/2025 Ash and Willow production, 2.00pm
18/07/2025 Leavers’ Service
18/07/2025 End of term
21/07/2025 INSET Day – school closed
22/07/2025 INSET Day – school closed
Don’t forget – you can always check term dates at: https://dr-souths.co.uk/term-dates/