Dear parents and carers,
St Nicholas Service – Friday 5th December
Everybody is warmly invited to our St Nicholas service at 2.00pm on Friday 5th December in the church. This is a service led by Beech Class. As part of this service, we also collect good quality used toys for us to pass on to a women’s refuge in time for Christmas. If you have an as-new toy to pass on, please wrap it up, and stick a label on saying for what age and child it would be suitable to pass onto. It would also be good to receive gift packs of suitable items for the women themselves – toiletries and small luxuries work well.
Art Week
We have had a fantastic week creating lots of beautiful pieces based around the theme of trees. We will be holding an exhibition in the Lin Cooper Practical Skills Building on Friday 5th December at 3pm ( or as soon as we come back from Church), so please do come and see the wonderful work your children have produced this week. A huge thank you goes to Nico Venables (who has run the Art Week) for teaching the children many new skills and being an inspiration all week long.
Christmas Jumper Sale – Monday 1 December, 3.00pm
FODS will be holding a sale of pre-loved Christmas jumpers and accessories in the school playground on Monday from 3.00pm. We would love some additional donations — please see Mel or Rebecca at drop-off on Monday if you have any Christmas jumpers or accessories you are happy to pass on. Thank you!
Craft Stall at the Three Parishes Christmas Fair – Saturday 6 December
FODS will have a craft stall at the Three Parishes Christmas Fair next Saturday (6 December), from 2.00–4.00pm. We’ll be selling Christmas decorations and other handmade items. Do come along and support both the Three Parishes and our school!
End-of-Term Disco – Friday 12 December, 3.30–5.00pm
We will be organising a children’s disco at the Village Hall on Friday 12 December from 3.30–5.00pm. Tickets cost £3.50 per child and will soon be available on Parent Pay; the price includes a hot dog, crisps and a drink. A cash bar will also be available for adults. Please note that all children must be supervised by an adult throughout the event. We hope to see lots of you there! As always, we rely on volunteers to make this event possible. If you are able to help — with setting up the hall, serving food and drinks, or clearing up afterwards — please let Mel, Rebecca or your class rep know. Thank you.
Applications for places in Reception
The application process for Reception places for children starting school in September 2026 is now open. The deadline for applications is 15 January 2026. Even if you have a child already at the school, this also applies for younger siblings. Families need to apply online via the following link: Reception applications | Oxfordshire County Council
There is a Starting School Guide on the website. National Offer Day is 16th April 2026.
Advent Calendars
Your child should have brought home an Advent calendar this week. These have been provided by The Dr South’s Educational Foundation and include a 24-page Christmas story activity book (and chocolate!) for each child. Many thanks to the FODS for organising these calendars for the children.
This week we congratulated:
Willow Class : Freya, for being really enthusiastic about our art sessions this week; Laurie, for great concentration when practicing letter formation independently;
Ash Class: James, for making excellent suggestions for games to pay in the playground; Arvin, for being inspired by a class mate to have a go at climbing to the top of the wall bars and achieving it;
Oak Class: Reggie, for showing creativity during art week, creating a beautiful landscape using water colours and leaves; Brodie, for working hard by writing a well-structured narrative in Literacy and having a good look at his plan at all times;
Beech Class: Marcel, for excellent effort and achievement in his Maths assessment; Chloe, for always having a cheerful attitude and demonstrating beautiful behaviour.
Our Christian value for the term is generosity. Ask your child about the ways in which people can donate to charities
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 2
5/12/2025 Cross Country finals at Sibford School
5/12/2025 St Nicholas Service – 2pm at the church
5/12/2025 Art Exhibition in the Lin Cooper Practical Skills Building 3pm ( or straight after church)
10/122025 Christmas dinner and Christmas jumper day
11/12/2025 Willow nativity performance 9.30am at school
12/12/2025 Pantomime trip
12/12/2025 FODS Christmas disco
16/12/2025 Christmas bazaar
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
13/3/2026 – World Book Day
16/3/2026 – Parents consultations
19/3/2026 – 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
Don’t forget – you can always check term dates at: https://dr-souths.co.uk/term-dates/