Dear parents and carers,
ONCE A YEAR WE SEND A PAPER COPY OF THE NEWSLETTER TO CHECK THAT E-MAIL ADDRESSES ARE UP TO DATE. IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED THIS IN PAPER FORMAT AND NOT E-MAIL, PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE SO WE CAN MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE CORRECT DETAILS.
Please also examine the details on the data checking form and return it to the office with any amendments listed. Please return the form even if nothing has changed and ensure that you have signed it.
Parent Consultations
Parent consultations will be taking place on Monday 20th October and Thursday 23rd October. Monday’s appointments are in person and Thursday is a mixture of in person until 5pm and then Teams until 6pm apart from Willow where all appointments are in person. Please email the office with your preferred slot and day and we do our best to accommodate all preferences. Confirmation of your date and time will be sent out via email next Friday. If you have requested an appointment via Teams, you will need to login with your child’s login, so if you do not have these details, please contact us beforehand so we can issue them for you. If you are unable to attend on either of these days, please speak to your class teacher to arrange an alternative appointment.
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 14th October. This is most relevant for families of children in Ash and Willow classes, but is open to everybody. Please enter through the playground.
Oak Class Girls’ Football Tournament
Huge congratulations to the girls of Oak Class who attended a football tournament at West Kidlington yesterday and reached the cup final. They were narrowly defeated by Edward Feild school in a very close final where they lost by only one goal. The staff were exceptionally proud of how well they played as a team. Special thanks to Mrs Riseley and Miss Walsh and Mrs Plant for taking the girls to this event and for training the girls in their lunch time sessions.
Forest School
Just a little reminder that there will be no Forest School sessions this week for either Year 6 or Year 4.
After School Club
When you collect your children form After School Club, please collect them from the main door at the front entrance of the Lin Cooper building. Members of staff will bring the children out to the playground for you to collect. If you are collecting before 4.30pm, please come in via the main front door of the Lin Cooper building.
Secondary School Applications
Applications can now be submitted for children to transfer from Year 6 to Year 7 at secondary school for 2026/27. Parents/carers can visit the secondary school webpages for all relevant information and to apply online at: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/secondaryadmissions
The deadline for receipt of completed applications is 31 October and National Offer day is 2nd March 2026
Messages from the Friends of Dr South’s
Christmas cards
Children brought home order forms last week for the Christmas cards they’ve been designing at school. The deadline for placing orders is Thursday, 16th October. A proportion of the cost of each item bought will go to the Friends of Dr South’s, supporting our fundraising efforts this year. Thank you for helping us make this festive initiative a success!
100 Club
Thank you to everyone who has supported the school by purchasing 100 Club numbers! We’ve now sold 85 numbers and hope to sell the remaining numbers by the end of next week. If you would like to buy a number – or another one – please email tfods100club@gmail.com. If all 100 numbers are sold, the first prize each month will be £37.50!
Pre-loved uniform
We’ve completed a thorough sort of second-hand uniform. If you have any good-quality, pre-loved uniform you would like to donate, we would be delighted to receive it – jumpers/cardigans and polo shirts with the school crest are particularly in demand. If you need any more uniform, please speak to Rebecca Welsford or Kate Shandro.
Party Kit
Did you know that Friends of Dr South’s offer a re-usable party kit for hire – perfect for children’s parties? The kit includes 36 bowls, plates, and cups, as well as large jugs, serving bowls, and platters, and costs just £12.50 per party. Even better – if you return the kit within 24 hours, you don’t need to wash it up! To book the party kit, please speak to Rebecca Welsford or your class rep.
This week we congratulated:
Willow Class: Edward, for painting a brilliant rocket; Gabby, for great enthusiasm for writing this week;
Ash Class: Isla, for orally constructing her sentences before writing them independently; Hannah, for making great links when using number bonds in Maths;
Oak Class: Carey, for showing great imagination and stamina when writing a diary entry about visiting a gladiator arena; Finley, for taking ownership of his learning by being rigorous in his maths marking and striving to always do his best.
Beech Class: Leo, for his enthusiasm and can-do attitude all week ; Elizabeth, for an exceptional entry to the 500 words competition.
Our Christian value for the term is friendship. Ask your child about the story of Pumpkin Soup
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
14/10/2025 Phonics Presentations 3pm and 6pm in the Lin Cooper building
20/10/2025 – Parents consultations 3.30 -6pm
23/10/2025 – Parents consultations 3.30pm – 6pm
27/10/2025 – Half term week
Term 2
3/11/2025 – Inset day – School closed
4/11/2025 – Start of term
12/11/2025- Individual photos
14/11/2025 – FODS meeting at 8.45am in the Lin Cooper Practical Skills building
28/11/2025 – Christmas Wreath Making/Crafts & Children’s Film Night
5/12/2025 – St Nicholas Service – 2pm at the church
11/12/2025 – Willow nativity performance 9am at school
12/12/2025 – Pantomime trip
12/12/2025 – FODS Christmas disco
17/12/2025 – Christmas carol service 2pm at St Nicholas Church
18/12/2025 – Inset day – school closed
Term 3
5/01/2026 – Start of term
22/01/2026 – FODS meeting at 7.45pm
13/2/2026 – Soup lunch and talent show – Village Hall from 1.00pm
16/2/2026 – Half term week
Term 4
2/3/2026 – Beech Class Residential to Yenworthy
5/3/2026 – World book Day – we may move this to the following week to allow Beech children to participate.
9/3/2026 – Parents consultations
12/3/2026 – Parents consultations
21/3/2026 – FODS Quiz Night
27/3/2026 – Easter service at church 2pm at St Nicholas Church
Term 5
13/4/2026 – Start of term
4/5/2026 – May Day School closed
22/5/2026 – May Day celebrations 9.30 – 3pm approx.
25/5/2026 – Half Term week
Term 6
1/6/2026 – Start of Term
18/6/2026 – Sports Day
1/7/2026 – Ash and Willow production 1.30pm in village hall
9/7/2026 – KS2 production 1.30pm and 6pm in village hall
14/7/2026 – Ash Class picnic for parents at Jacob’s Field from 11am approx.
17/7/2026 – Leavers’ Service 1.30pm at St Nicholas Church
17/7/2026 – FODS End of Year Party
17/7/2026 – End of Term