Dear parents and carers,
Welcome back! We hope you had a refreshing break, and that you and the children are ready for the term ahead. It has been lovely to welcome the children back and our new children and families have received a great welcome from the school community. You will see from the dates at the end of the newsletter that there is a lot planned! Thank you from all of us for the very kind gifts presented at the end of last term; they were all much appreciated. We are extremely grateful for everyone who donated to the collection for the staff to have a meal and have used this to book our Christmas night out.
Class meetings
All parents are invited to meet the staff next week and to find out about what their child will be learning this term. Please enter via the school office. These will be held as follows:
Monday 8th September at 2.45pm – Willow Class
Tuesday 9th September at 3.00pm – Beech Class
Wednesday 10th September at 3.00pm – Oak Class
Thursday 11th September at 3pm – Ash Class
Do not worry if you are not able to attend as all the information covered will be circulated after the meeting.
FODS Welcome Back BBQ – Saturday 13 September
The Friends of Dr South’s invite all families to our start-of-year barbecue at the Village Hall on Saturday 13 September, 3:30–5:30pm. We’ll be serving freshly barbecued sausages and burgers (including vegetarian and vegan options). Drinks and ice creams will be available to purchase on the day. Please pre-order your burgers and hotdogs (£2.50 each) via ParentPay by 5pm on Thursday 11 September so we can make sure there’s plenty for everyone.
As always, these events rely on parent volunteers. If you can help on the day — whether on the BBQ, at the bar, or in another role — please contact Rebecca, Mel, or your Class Rep. We look forward to seeing you there!
Preloved Uniform
Thank you to everyone who has donated uniform. We are now at maximum capacity for pre-loved uniform. We are hoping to have a big sort through soon and after that we hope we will be able to accept more, but for the time being we cannot accept any more donations of uniform. If you still need uniform, please speak to either Mel or Rebecca or your class rep.
Cookery
This starts next week for children in Beech Class. We ask for a contribution of £5 per child for the term for all children from Year 1 upwards; this is available for payment on ParentPay at your convenience
Forest School
This does NOT start next week. Families of children in Years 6 and 4 will receive letters next week alerting them to the start date during the following week.
Road Closure
We have received a notice from the council of a road closure on the B4027 at the Noke end which will come into effect on the 6th September until the 8th September which means you may have issues getting into the village on Monday morning and afternoon if the works are not completed by then.
Lunches
Please remember if you send your child with a packed lunch that we have children with severe allergies, so please ensure that you do not send any nuts or kiwi in your child’s lunchbox. Please ensure all grapes are cut up and that cherries have the stones removed in order to avoid choking hazards.
If you wish to order school lunches, the menu can be found on the website. 2025-03-28-Lunchtime-Menu-April.pdf
Swimming
Beech Class will have their first swimming session on Friday 12th September. Please ensure they have the correct kit and if you child needs goggles, please ensure that you have consented to this on ParentPay.
Clubs
All clubs have now been loaded onto ParentPay ready for payment. There are still spaces in after school and lunch clubs, except for cookery which has limited spaces, so please let the office know if you wish to enrol your child in a club. All clubs will begin on Monday 8th September.
Music lessons
Music lessons will begin next week for Oak class on Thursday afternoons, so Year 4 will need to bring their cellos in on Thursday. Year 3 will be issued with a violin on Thursday ready for their first lesson and then they will bring these home to practise their new skills.
Shoeboxes
Ash Class children will be using shoeboxes next term as part of an art project. If you have bought new shoes and have a spare shoe box, please could you hand these to Mrs Sellars.
This week we congratulated:
Willow Class: Talulah, for producing a lovely painting of lots of spiders; Lucy, for great listening and super tidying;
Ash Class: Brenley, for always approaching everything with a positive attitude, listening carefully and trying his best; Thea, for showing great empathy for Year 1 children and for being a great role model for Ash Class;
Oak Class: Amber, for showing a great attitude to learning by raising her hand and sharing her ideas during Maths; Lucas, for showing a positive approach to learning and praising and building on other people’s ideas in Science;
Beech Class: Lea, for settling into her new class so well and showing a positive attitude to her learning; Jackson, for always being sensible and always being ready to learn in every lesson.
Our Christian value for the term is friendship. This week we have been thinking about how we nurture our friends at school.
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
3/9/2025 – Start of term
8/9/2025 – Willow meeting for parents 2.45pm
9/9/2025 – Beech meeting for parents 3pm
10/9/2025 – Oak meeting for parents 3pm
11/9/2025 – Ash meeting for parents 3pm
13/9/2025 – FODS BBQ
18/9/2025 – Beech Class trip to the Ashmolean
23/9/2025 – FODS meeting 8pm in the Lin Cooper building
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