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. We have also sent home your child’s attendance details for last year.
There is also a letter setting out the Internet code of conduct that should be followed both in and out of school and we would be grateful if you could read this and discuss with your child.
Bronze Games Mark Award
Over the summer holidays, the school was awarded the Bronze 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.
Strings lessons for Key Stage Two
All children in Years 3, 4 and 5 have begun their strings lessons which will continue throughout the year. All the children were given a letter yesterday which gave details on how to care for their instrument and we also included a musical instrument loan agreement which needs to be completed and returned to school as soon as possible. Music sessions will be every Thursday, so we ask the children to bring their instruments in on a Thursday for their lesson and then take their instruments home again in order to practise.
Primary School Health Newsletter
This link will take you to the latest edition of the Primary School newsletter which contains lots of information and links to key services provided by the School Health Nursing Team. This also includes key information on the new attendance regulations that will be followed by all primary schools. Please take time to read this document.
Term 1: Primary School Health Nursing Newsletter (cloud.microsoft)
Clubs
These have all now been processed. Please make sure you log onto ParentPay and clear the debt. If you have any concerns over money issues, please do contact the office in confidence.
Uniform Sale
The Friends of Dr South’s will be selling second-hand uniform after school on Friday 27th September from 3pm onwards. Come along and grab a bargain! We are grateful to receive any uniform that you would like to pass on.
Last week’s BBQ
We would like to thank everyone who came and supported the BBQ last week. It was a lovely occasion and great to see so many families there. We hope that this event, which raised approximately £200 for the school, will now become an annual event.
100 Club
Thank you to everyone who has already purchased a number for the 100 Club. There are still numbers available. If you would like to purchase a number (or an additional number!) please see Mel, Rebecca or talk to the school office. Thank you.
Secondary School Applications
Applications can now be submitted for children to transfer from Year 6 to Year 7 at secondary school for 2025/26. 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 3 March 2025.
Flu Vaccinations
These vaccinations will take place on Monday 7th October. If you wish your child to be vaccinated, you need to submit the consent form by Thursday 3rd October, as the link will close after this date. Our school code is OX143888. https://www.oxfordhealthimms.co.uk/Forms/Flu.
Please complete the form even if you are refusing the vaccination.
If you have already submitted your child’s consent form you do not need to take any further action.
This week we congratulated:
Willow Class: Charlie, for a great first week in Willow Class; Hazel, for brilliant recall of phonics;
Ash Class: Aria, for thoughtful development in her art drawings of an apple; Taswar, for excellent contributions to class discussions;
Oak Class: Finley, for showing mastery of his times tables and for welcoming a challenge; Aaron, for great perseverance in maths and for paying close attention to his work;
Beech Class: Aidan, for careful and considered explanations in lessons; Zachary, for demonstrating great leadership skills especially in PE;
Cookery: Darcey, for good understanding of how vitamins and minerals help our bodies.
Our Christian value for the term is courage. Ask your child about the story of the Gruffalo’s child
Dates for the year
03/10/2024 Harvest Festival – 2pm
7/10/2024 Flu vaccinations
07/10/2024 Bikabililty Year 5
15/10/2024 Oak Class Stone Age to Iron Age workshop
21/10/2024 Parents consultations
24/10/2024 Parents consultations
28/10/2024 Half term week
04/11/2024 INSET Day – school closed
04/12/2024 2pm Christingle Service this date has moved from the 5/12
12/12/2024 Willow Nativity performance
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/