Dear parents and carers,
We have reached the end of another exciting term and school will now be closed until Monday 13th April. Thank you for all the support you give to the school and on behalf of all the staff we would like to wish you all a very happy Easter.
Easter Service
Well done to Oak Class who led our Easter service at church so beautifully today; I was extremely proud of them all. It was lovely to see so many families and friends at the service and it was a great way to end the term. Thank you to all the staff for helping prepare the children for this service
Science Week
This has been a huge hit with the children and they have enjoyed visits from Oxford Science, Sublime Science and the Space Team. Huge thanks go to Natalie Doig, Adam Griffiths, Kat Challis and Katherine Brimblecombe who all came to talk to the children about their work.
Special thanks go to our Science co-ordinator, Mrs Cornish, for organising this week and for being brave enough to wear the astronaut outfit during yesterday’s assembly about space. Congratulations to the science poster competition winners who were : Lucy in Willow, Antonina in Ash, Alex in Oak and Chloe in Beech. These entries will now be sent off to a national competition.
Staffing
Today we said goodbye to Mrs Collett as she begins her maternity leave. She will be very sorely missed by the children and staff. On behalf of us all at Dr South’s, we wish Mr and Mrs Collett many happy days ahead. We will let you know when the little one arrives.
Parent Questionnaires
Please find attached a link to complete the parent questionnaire that we send out each year. It is also possible to complete a paper version if you prefer. We really value your feedback so please do take the time to complete this. Please contact the office for a paper copy or if you have trouble accessing the online version.
Parent Questionnaire 2025/26 – Fill in form
Clubs
The booking form for clubs will be sent out over the holidays so please keep your eye open for this email. Please send back your completed forms before the end of the holidays.
New School Lunch Menu
There will be a new school lunch menu which comes into effect after the Easter holidays. This can be found on the school website.
Dr South’s Quiz – Thank you!
A huge thank you to everyone who helped make Dr South’s Quiz Night last weekend such a success. Together, we raised more than £1600, which is a fantastic contribution to our annual fundraising. Special thanks go to our quizmaster, Jim Gilmore, and to everyone who set questions, cooked, baked, ran the bar and worked tirelessly in the kitchen.
Spring Clothing Drive – Thank you!
Thank you to the volunteers that help set-up and pack-up, selling items and of course those who donated items! A big shout out to Lynne Bustin for her time and efforts to, again, to tidy and organise the clothing in the shed – thank you! If you haven’t volunteered at any of the FODS events this year, a clothing drive is a great way to begin, especially if you have a little one in tow. By volunteering your time, you’re helping us reduce textile waste, providing affordable options for families, and raising vital funds; it’s a chance to make a sustainable difference with a minimal time commitment.
Islip Big Bike Ride – 3 May 2026
The Big Bike Ride is now less than six weeks away. We hope lots of you will join this fantastic community event, which is raising money for both the Friends of Dr South’s and St Nicholas Church, Islip. There are rides to suit all ages and abilities — from 50 metres to 70 miles. For more information, or to book places, please see islipbigbikeride.com.
We will need lots of help on the day, including making chilli, serving food, and marshalling the children’s rides in the village. If you are able to help, or have any questions, please get in touch with Rebecca at rebecca.welsford@islipbigbikeride.com.
Eggs-ceptional ways to raise with easyfundraising!
There’s no better time to treat yourself or some-bunny else than Easter! Whether it’s of the chocolate variety or something that will last a little longer, chick out what fantastic donations our retailers are offering. You can raise FREE donations for Friends of Dr South’s School – Islip EVERY time you shop online. Just use easyfundraising! Over 8,000 brands will donate, including all the big names like Waitrose, eBay, John Lewis & Partners, Argos, ASOS, Expedia, M&S, Just Eat, Uswitch and many more!
This week we congratulated:
Willow Class : Harper, for excellent listening on the carpet this week; Elliot, for excellent work on his phonics this week;
Ash Class: George, for showing huge enthusiasm and focus during Science Week; Arvin, for showing great kindness to others;
Oak Class: Lilly, for show great resilience and concentration when working hard to create beautiful poems and Anglo-Saxon narratives; Finley, for showing deep interest and appreciation during Science Week by asking great questions and sharing wonderful ideas;
Beech Class: Leo, for amazing participation and enthusiasm during Science Week; Fred, for excellent engagement and amazing ideas during Science Week.
Our Christian value for the term is Compassion. Ask your children about the Easter Story
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 5
13/4/2026 – Start of term
20/2/2026 – Oak trip to Banbury Museum
25/4/2026 London Mini Marathon
28/4/2026 Oak Class residential to Youlbury
29/4/2026 Oak Class residential to Youlbury
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
Don’t forget – you can always check term dates at: https://dr-souths.co.uk/term-dates/