Dear parents and carers,
Harvest Festival
I hope you enjoyed today’s Harvest Festival service as much as I did. It was wonderful to see all the children participating in the service and sharing what they had prepared and learnt about this special time of the year. The school’s contributions are still on display in the church along with vegetables grown at the Jacobs’ Field by the children, so do have a look if you missed it. Thank you to Mrs Jaggard for decorating the church with the produce harvested from Jacobs Field.
Thank you for your generous donations which have been collected by the staff of the Food Bank in Bicester.
Hill End
All the children in Oak Class and the adults enjoyed a very successful trip to Hill End this week to extend their knowledge of the Stone Age. It was a joy to hear about what they had learnt about on their trip.
ParentPay
There are still quite a few outstanding payments for clubs and lunches on ParentPay, so please check your accounts to ensure all payments are up to date.
Flu Vaccinations
These vaccinations will take place on Monday 12th October. Please ensure your have completed the consent form, which was sent out early this week, to enable your child to receive this vaccination.
Phonics presentation
Do you want to find out more about how phonics is taught as a way of helping your child learn to read? There will be a short presentation in the Lin Cooper Practical Skills Building at 3.00pm and 6.00pm on Tuesday 13th October. This is most relevant for families of children in Ash and Willow classes, but is open to everybody. Please enter through the playground.
Friends of Dr South’s AGM – Tuesday 6 October
The FODS AGM will be taking place at 7.45pm next Tuesday (6 October) in the Lin Cooper Building. Please come along to find out about how FODS have supported the school and discuss fundraising plans for the coming year. Refreshments will be available. We are looking for new committee members, including Co-Secretary, Website Coordinator and Event Coordinators. If you are interested in any of these roles, please see Mel or Rebecca or email drsouthsfriends@gmail.com for more information.
Friends of Dr South’s 100 Club
Only 40 numbers still available for the FODS 100 Club! If you haven’t yet bought your number, get in quick before the first draw on Thursday 22 October. By taking part, you will be supporting the school community, whilst also having the chance to win. If we sell all 100 numbers, we will raise £750 for projects at school and there will be cash prizes of up to £37.50 each. Please see Mel, Rebecca or your class rep, or email drsouthsfriends@gmail.com, to buy a number. Thank you!
Year 3 and 4 Girl’s Football Tournament
Oak Class girls will be participating in a football tournament on Thursday 8th October at West Kidlington School. A letter with further details will be sent out on Monday.
Eco Council and School Council
We have set up an Eco Council and School Council and children from each year group will be representing their classmates at these meetings. We are looking forward to hearing the children’s ideas and thoughts on how they can create change for school and for the environment.
Beech Class Residential
We will be sending off numbers to Kilvrough on Monday morning so please ensure you have let us know whether your child would like a place by the end of this weekend.
This week we congratulated:
Willow Class: Corran, for excellent subitising skills in Maths; Anna, for being a great role model as she is always ready to learn on the carpet;
Ash Class: Alex, for modelling good behaviours in class and for excellent focus in phonics; Eva for being a super role model for others in the class and always noticing and helping others;
Oak Class: Thomas, for showing great creativity and concentration when writing independently in Literacy; Henry for showing fantastic enthusiasm and curiosity when learning about the Stone Age on our trip to Hill End;
Beech Class: Lincoln, for writing excellent original sentences in Literacy; Mav, for giving his best effort in every task and for showing excellent learning behaviours in all lessons.
Our Christian value for the term is courage. Ask your child about Emmeline Pankhurst
Dates for the year
We have a church service most terms which all families are welcome to attend.
Our May Day celebrations are at the end of May and this is a whole day event for families to attend if they wish.
Sports Day is for the whole school and begins at 9am and last until approximately 1pm. Parents are welcome to watch and enjoy a picnic lunch with their child after the races if they are able to.
Term 1
6/10/2026 FODS meeting
12/10/2026 Flu vaccinations
13/10/2026 Phonics Presentations 3.00pm and 6pm
19/10/2026 Parents consultations 3.30 -6pm
22/10/2026 Parents consultations 3.30pm – 6pm
26/10/2026 Half term week
Term 2
2/11/2026 Inset day – School closed
3/11/2026 Start of term
4/12/2026 Christingle Service – 2.15pm at the church
10/12/2026 Willow nativity performance 9.15am at school
18/12/2026 Christmas carol service 2pm at St Nicholas Church
18/12/2025 End of Term 2
Term 3
4/01/2027 Start of term
12/2/2027 Soup lunch and talent show – Village Hall from 1.00pm
15/2/2027 Half term week
Term 4
22/2/2027 Start of term
4/3/2027 World Book Day
15/ 3/2027 Parents consultations
18/3/2027 Parents consultations
25/3/2027 Easter service at church 2pm at St Nicholas Church
Term 5
12/4/2027 Start of term
26/4/2027 Beech Class Residential
3/5/2027 May Day School closed
28/5/2027 May Day celebrations 9.30 – 3pm approx.
31/5/2027 Half Term week
Term 6
7/6/2027 Inset – School Closed
8/6/2027 Start of Term
17/6/2027 Sports Day
1/7/2027 Key Stage 1 production 1.30pm in the village hall
8/7/2027 Key Stage 2 production 1.30pm and 6pm in the village hall.
19/7/2027 Leavers’ Service 1.30pm at St Nicholas Church
19/7/2027 End of Term
20/7/2027 Inset – School Closed
21/7/2027 Inset – School Closed
Don’t forget – you can always check term dates at: https://dr-souths.co.uk/term-dates/