Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
School Photo Orders – please return your child’s photograph orders to the school office in their sealed Tempest envelope by Friday 3rd October. The orders will be sent off on Monday 6thOctober. Any late orders may be sent by parents directly to Tempest however there is an additional charge.
Morning registration –the Key Stage 2 children have been coming into their classrooms each morning once the gate opens at 8.40am. The Key Stage 1 teachers would now like to trial the same system for their children. From now on please drop your children off to their classrooms. The Teachers will still be available to speak with but to encourage independence, please resist entering the class with your children unless you need to see the staff.All children should be in their classrooms for registration by 8.50am. There will no longer be a bell rung.
New Clubs – thank you for your interest in these clubs. The cookery and computer clubs were very heavily over-subscribed. The early morning KS2 Rugby Club did not have the interest and will not be running. Instead this club with Mrs Bodeker will be offered to the Key Stage 1 children for a Tuesday morning at 8am-8.40am. For all the clubs on offer, the teachers will let you know which children have been allocated spaces and when the club is due to start.
Aspen Lunches – there have been many occasions over the past couple of weeks where parents have ordered dinners online but the children have not taken the meals and brought in a home packed lunch instead. This is happening most frequently with the Key Stage 1 meals. Whilst the meals are free of charge to KS1, please consider the food wastage and the confusion for staff that occurs when your child does not appear to take their ordered meal over in the canteen. Please delete your child’s online order if it is not required for any reason ie. illness, school trip or change of mind.
Messy Church – St. Leonard’s Church invites you to join their ‘Messy Church’ on Sunday 28thSeptember from 2.30pm – 4.30pm in the Woodcote Village Hall. There will be family fun with crafts & games, a lively 15 minute service and then tea and cakes to finish. Admissions are by donation. Please note that all children must be accompanied by an adult.
Harvest Festival – Oak Class will be celebrating Harvest Festival at St. Leonard’s Church with the Pre-schools at 10am – 10.30am on Friday 10th October. Harvest offerings may be brought into school on that morning for display at church. The rest of Key Stage 1 (Hornbeam & Beech) and Key Stage 2 classes will celebrate Harvest Festival at church the following week, on Wednesday 15th October.
Harvest Boxes – after Harvest Festival, the harvest offerings are boxed up and distributed to the elderly residents of the village. If you know of anyone that would appreciate a box of harvest produce please let the office know. Also if you have any empty shoe boxes that we can decorate for the distribution of the harvest produce, please bring them in. Sandra Farmer has very kindly agreed to decorate them.
School Photos – On Tuesday 23rd September the photographer will be in school to take photographs of all the children. If you have pre-school children that you would like to include the photos please bring them to the school hall between 8.30am – 9am. Please be aware that the photographer is under time pressure to complete all school photographs by 11.30am and will therefore start on the school classes at 9am.
Please note that children in Maple and Willow class will have swimming first thing in the morning so may like to bring a brush or comb to be ready for their photos later that morning.
New Clubs – we have had a huge response to the new clubs being offered by many Woodcote Primary School staff. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis although your child should not expect to join all the clubs as we would like to offer them to as many children as possible across the school.
Judo Club – this club restarts on Thursday 25th September. It runs from 8am – 8.45am in the school hall. If you would like more information please contact Iinkai Judo and Self Defence Club on 0118 988 5822 or email info@iinkai-judo.co.uk
Piano Lessons – please note that the piano teacher is changing her teaching day for next week only, from Wednesday to Thursday 25th September (9am-11.30). Please remember to bring in your piano books.
Returning to school – please be aware that once children are dismissed at the end of the day into the care of their parents or other adults, they should not be returning into the school to use the toilets or any other facilities. The school is expected to keep a register during the school day of all the pupils and staff, as part of the schools emergency evacuation procedure. In the event of a fire after 3.15pm we would expect only staff, After School Club members, children in after school clubs and any registered visitors to be on site. Staff will remind children to visit the toilet before they leave school at 3.15pm.
FOWPS AGM- Tuesday 23rd September 7.30pm in the annexe (Beech and Ash Classroom). All are welcome.
After School Club AGM – this will be held in the school hall at 6.30pm on Wednesday 15th October 2014. All are welcome.
Newsletters – over the next few months parents will start to receive this Weekly Newsletter by email. (Oak Class parents are already receiving it this way.) Ultimately we would expect to be sending it out to all parents along with any other letters that can be sent
electronically. There will always be a copy of the Newsletter to view in the Foyer. If a permission slip needs to be signed and returned, there will be copies available in the office for those who are unable to print out at home. Please let the office know if you have recently changed your email address.
Please indicate in the table below if your child is interested in any of the proposed clubs to be held at school this term and beyond. Places are limited so please do not request places in more than 3 clubs. You will be informed shortly in which club/s your child has been allocated a place.
Please return this form to the school office by Monday 22nd September 2014. Thank you.
Club Name and staff member Proposed times
Please sign that you give permission for your child/children to attend the chosen clubs if places are allocated.
Parent name………………………………………………………………….Signature…………………………………………..
Date ………………………………………………………
WPS Clubs.
I am delighted to have the opportunity to take a choir from Woodcote Primary School to join the Young Voices event at the London O2 Arena in January 2015.
The event will take place on Friday January 30th 2015. We will travel down to the O2 by coach in the morning and have a rehearsal during the afternoon. In the evening there will be a concert which parents and friends are invited to attend. This is an amazing event – something that the children will remember for the rest of their lives.Initially we are offering this to years 5 & 6 pupils on a first come first served basis. It is a very late night and we are likely to be back at school for about 11.30pm.
If you would like to book a place for your child we would like to know by Friday at the latest. We require no money at this stage – just the expected number in our choir so that we can inform the 02. Could you please fill in the slip to also let us know if you do not want your child to take part, then we won’t need to call you on Friday to check!
Things you may wish to know now
I know that all the children are excited about the event and would like to take part. Being part of a massed choir of thousands gives a very special feeling and will be an experience never to be forgotten.
Please fill in the slip below and return to the school office via the post box by Friday 19th September, if your child will be taking part. No payment is required at this stage. We need to pass this information on to the O2 as soon as possible. We will send out a further letter to those who are attending, regarding payment, merchandise and audience tickets etc.
We would also consider arranging a parents’ coach for the evening performance if this helps. We can discuss this at a later stage.
Kind regards,
Liz Hunt
Headteacher
Young Voice O2 Arena Trip January 30th 2015
Child’s Name___________________________________
I would like my child to take part in the O2 Young Voices trip in January 2015 and understand there will be a cost of £16 for coach travel payable at a later stage.
I would not like my child to take part in the trip to the O2 arena in January.
Signed ________________________
Please return to the school office by Friday 19th September
School Photos – On Tuesday 23rd September the photographer will be in school to take photographs of all the children. If you have pre-school children that you would like to include the photos please bring them to the school hall between 8.30am – 9am. Please be aware that the photographer is under time pressure to complete all school photographs by 11.30am and will therefore start on the school classes at 9am.
Music – Pupils signing up for lessons with MJMusic Services over the next few weeks will be offered a free piano tuition book and diary and 1 free piano lesson per term for the first 3 terms. To obtain a form please email the piano service MJmusicservices@aol.com and send it to the address given (not to school please).
There are also spaces available for guitar lessons this term. If your child is interested in having these lessons (Tuesdays from 1pm) please ask for the details in the office.
New Clubs – many Woodcote Primary School staff have offered to organize a variety of clubs for the children this term. There will be information about these clubs coming out on Monday. Some of the many clubs on offer are: football, rugby, netball, cookery, computing, recorder, choir and book club. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis although your child should not expect to join all the clubs as we would like to offer them to as many children as possible across the school.
Bridge Club – Mrs Carol Quinton(an external volunteer) runs a Bridge Club for the children in Year 3 and above on a Tuesday lunch time from approximately 12.25pm-12.55pm. There is no charge for this club. If your child is interested please let Mrs Mason in the office know as there are only limited spaces.
Dinners – the new online Aspens dinner ordering has been in place for just over a week now and seems to be working well. There has been huge uptake of the new Universal Free school meal initiative for the Key Stage 1 children. We are now serving up to 120 dinners daily. This is double our original numbers. In order to speed up the serving process, please could parents ensure that their child’s class is entered onto their account as the ‘class name’ ie, Oak, Hornbeam, Beech, Ash, Rowan, Maple or Willow. Please remember to cancel or amend any orders by 9am. The school office is happy to help if you have any queries.
No Nut Policy – may we please remind you that we have a no nuts policy in school, as there are several children with severe nut allergies. Please ensure all snacks are free of nuts.
Illness reporting – if your child is not able to attend school due to illness, please call the school office by 9.30am and if possible, inform the staff in their class if you are dropping off another child. Please note that any sickness or diarrhea must be reported and 2 clear days taken off school to prevent infection of others.
School Cross Country Races – as part of the Primary Partnership schools in this area, and those in the Gillotts, Henley area, a series of Cross Country events have been organized for children to take part in. The first race date is: Saturday 27th September at Greys Court, Henley. The start times are: 9am for Year 1, 9.15am for Year 2, 9.30am for Year 3, 9.45am for Year 4, 10am for Year 5 & 10.15am for Year 6. There will be separate races for boys and girls. If your child wishes to participate, please let Mrs Mason in the office know by 19th September and we will add your name to a participants list. The entrance fee, for those on our list, will be paid for from our Sports funding 2014/15. The organisers ask that you do not arrive before 8.30am.
Welcome back to the start of the new year. It is lovely to see everyone again and hear the children’s news. Welcome particularly to the new starters in Foundation Stage and pupils who have joined us across the school in various classes. Our new staff are already feeling like experienced members of the team, blending well with the mix and bringing new vibrancy and ideas to the fold. It has been a lovely start to the year and we are all looking forward to the excitement ahead.
You will notice that over the holidays two new windows have been replaced in the Annex block, the two classrooms have been painted and the old library area cleared. We will continue the updating of this building over the coming couple of years – there is much to do! The doors outside Oak and Hornbeam have had the layers of peeling paint removed and new coats applied, smartening up the outside. Willow class has also had a new coat of paint. Many new display boards have been put up in Oak, Hornbeam, Beech and Ash classes, the railings have been removed from outside the corner of the hall to make room for access when our new door arrives and this weekend various dips in the playground are due to be filled.
A few early dates for your diaries:
New Arrangements for Early Morning Drop-off:
As from next week, KS2 children (Ash, Rowan, Maple and Willow) are asked to enter school as soon as they are on site after 8.40. Early work will be set in the classroom and these children are welcome through the door immediately. Parents can be assured that children will not be allowed to exit the building once they have arrived and therefore, if you need to leave early, do not worry. KS2 teachers will still be available at the entrances if you need to speak with them. At this stage of the year, KS1 children will still be met on the playground by the teachers.
I hope you all have a great term and look forward to meeting you all at some point during the coming weeks.
Kind regards,
Liz Hunt
