Dear parents and carers,
Our emails are fixed so normal communications should be restored! Thank you so much for your patience over the last week.
Friends of Dr South’s – Welcome BBQ
It was wonderful to see so many families at the Welcome BBQ last weekend. Despite the downpour, it was a fantastic event that raised around £240—a great start to this year’s fundraising!
Friends of Dr South’s – First meeting of the year
The first meeting of the Friends of Dr South’s will be held on Tuesday 23 September at 7.45pm in the Lin Cooper Building. This meeting will provide an opportunity to:
- learn about FODS’s objectives for the coming year
• hear details of the events we are organising
• contribute your own ideas and suggestions
Refreshments will be served, and all are warmly invited to attend.
This is an ideal opportunity for new parents to find out about how they become involved with the FODS and we look forward to seeing lots of you there.
Trainers
Please could you ensure that your child has a pair of trainers that they can change into for PE lessons and for girls’ or boys’ football clubs. These will get muddy and the children will need to change back into their ordinary school shoes after these sessions.
Free table
We have a large table with a round top that we no longer need. It is in excellent condition and available immediately. If you would like more details, please contact the school office.
Residential Meeting.
There will be a residential meeting for Beech Class parents on Thursday 25th September at 3.15pm in the hall and at 6pm on Teams. This will give all the details of this year’s residential to Yenworthy.
Trip to the Ashmolean
Beech Class thoroughly enjoyed their trip to the Ashmolean Museum this week and extended their knowledge of Ancient Egypt through the workshops they attended.
Oak Class Boys Football
Well done to the two teams from Oak Class who attended the Kidlington partnership boys’ football tournament at West Kidlington this week. They all played extremely well and we received some lovely feedback from Mr Gough on how well-mannered and positive all the boys were.
Family afternoon
This afternoon, we enjoyed a session where all the children were introduced to their school family. Each family has children from every year group and this system gives the children an opportunity to get know children in different year groups as well as the opportunity to nurture and inspire each other throughout the year. Today we enjoyed yoga, parachute games and playdoh in our school families and we will run family afternoons throughout the year, so that the children continue to build these links with their school family.
Silver Games Mark Award
Over the summer holidays, the school was awarded the Silver Games Mark Award. This is a government award that rewards schools for their commitment to the development of competition across their school and in the community. We would like to thank Mrs Sellars for her hard work on the PE curriculum and for arranging competitions within school and within the Kidlington Partnership, and to all the children who have attended extra curricula sports clubs and events as these activities are crucial in order to achieve the award.
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
This week we congratulated:
Willow Class: Freya, for a great first week in Willow Class; Jack, for great enthusiasm in Phonics;
Ash Class: Kit, for making great links in Maths with his numbers within 20; Nina, for always trying her best and for being an excellent role model for younger children;
Oak Class: Jimmy, for settling in beautifully as a new member of our school and for mastering new routines so well; Lincoln, for showing an incredible attitude to his learning, sharing wonderful ideas and for always going the extra mile;
Beech Class: Mav, for great listening and perseverance in his swimming lessons; Maurice, for showing a positive attitude to all lessons this week.
Our Christian value for the term is friendship. Ask your child about the story of the friends who went above and beyond to help the paralysed man reach Jesus.
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
23/9/2025 – FODS meeting 8pm in the Lin Cooper building
25/9/2025 – Residential meeting Year 5/6 3.15pm in the hall and 6pm on Teams
30/9/2025 – Oak Trip to Chedworth Roman Villa
2/10/2025 – Harvest Festival 2pm at St Nicholas Church
6/10/2025 – Flu vaccinations
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
5/12/2025 – St Nicholas Service – 2pm at the church
11/12/2025 – Willow nativity performance 9am at school
12/12/2025 – Pantomime trip
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
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
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 – End of Term