Dear parents and carers,
Christingle
We are looking forward to our Christingle service on Wednesday 4th December at 2.00pm in the church. This is a very atmospheric service when we think particularly about children who are less fortunate than ourselves. Your child will have brought home a Christingle collecting box in which they can put loose change and perhaps some of their pocket money to be given to the Children’s Society, a charity which works with homeless children. This will be collected at the Christingle service. Please note that this year we are not doing the toy collection.
Year 5/6 Girls’ Football
Well done to the Year 5/6 girls who took part in the Kidlington Partnership girls’ football tournament yesterday at West Kidlington. They all played superbly and came second in the event.
Cross Country Event
Congratulations to Emmy, Darcey, Millie, Charlotte, Anna, Alice, Ellie and Maurice who competed as the Year 5/6 girls cross country team and came first; they will now proceed to the next round. We also have some individual runners who qualified in the top ten. A huge well done to Rosie, Leo S, Leo TO, Marcel, Charlie G and Jonah who will also proceed to the next round on the 6th December at Sibford School. A letter with full details of the next round will be sent on Monday.
Pantomime
We are off to the pantomime next Thursday 5th Dec. All children in Key Stage 2 will need to bring a packed lunch which they will eat on their return. There will be no hot dinners on this day. Packed lunches have been ordered for all Key Stage 1 children. If your child is attending Nursery on this day, they will need to bring a packed lunch. There will still be strings lessons in the afternoon, so please send your child in with their instrument.
Children in Need
Thank you to everyone who donated to this worthy cause either via ParentPay or with cash. We raised £74.80 which will help children across the country.
Advent Calendars
Today, every child has received Fair Trade Advent Calendar with a 24-page Christmas story activity book (and chocolate!) from The Dr South’s Educational Foundation.
Christmas Music – Thursday 5th December
Next Thursday, the children who are learning string instruments at school will be performing two Christmas carols along with Mrs Halsey and the lunchtime choir. If you would like to watch your children perform, please come to Reception at 2.40pm and we will escort you to the Lin Cooper Practical Skills building.
Christmas Cooking (After School Club) – Monday 16th December
Clubs for the term finish on Friday 13th December. There will be extended after school cookery sessions through until 5pm on Monday 16th, where the children will make yule logs and on Tuesday 17th where the children will make Christmas sweets. These sessions are suitable for children in Years 1-6 only. General after school care will be available on all days if needed. The cookery sessions need to be booked in advance and will cost £10. These sessions will be limited to 15 places and need to be booked via an email to the office by Friday 6th December. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. There is no limit for general care, but please let the office know if you need after school care in the final week.
Christmas Bazaar
Mrs Halsey will be bringing in examples of suitable gifts for the Christmas shopping on Monday which you will be able to see before and after school. All gifts that are donated need to be individually wrapped in clear cellophane or grouped into a lucky bag ready for the children to buy. There is an item on ParentPay which will allow you to purchase tokens for the children to use to buy their shopping.
Three Parishes Christmas Market – Saturday 30th November
The Three Parishes Christmas Market is taking place on Saturday 30th November from 2-4pm at Islip Village Hall. This year the Friends of Dr South’s will have a craft stall at the market to raise money for the Sparkle Fund. Please come along and support the Three Parishes and the school.
Christmas Jumper Sale – Monday 2nd December
We will be holding a sale of pre-loved Christmas jumpers and accessories on Monday 2nd December in the school playground at 3.00pm and 4.30pm. We would be grateful for any donations of Christmas jumpers etc before this date. Please see Mel or Rebecca.
Christmas Disco – Friday 13th December
Save the date for the end of term Christmas Disco on Friday 13th December at the Village Hall from 3.30pm. More information is coming soon.
Lollipop Patrol
Please be aware that as Martin is unwell at the moment, he may not be available to cross children over the road at the beginning and the end of the day. If you have an older child who walks home by themselves, please let us know so we can cross them over the road at the end of the day.
This week we congratulated:
Willow Class: Charlie, for brilliant singing during our Nativity practices; Abigail, for great recognition of red words in Phonics;
Ash Class: Matilda, for keeping time beautifully in music lessons; Carey, for superb knowledge in RE lessons;
Oak Class: William C, for working independently and with great confidence in Maths; Marcel, for a beautiful dream story which used all the success criteria needed;
Beech Class: Anna, for good effort and resilience in Maths; Jacob, for listening to feedback from adults;
Cooking: Elena, for all round excellence in the kitchen.
Our Christian value for the term is peace. Ask your child about ways of resolving quarrels and arguments
Dates for the year
04/12/2024 2pm Christingle Service
05/12/2024 Pantomime trip – Sleeping Beauty
12/12/2024 Willow Nativity performance
17/12/2024 Beech Class trip to the Ashmolean
18/12/2024 Christmas lunch, Christmas jumper day and Christmas bazaar
19/12/2024 2.00pm Carol Service and Ash Class nativity
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 al