Value of the month ‘Respect’
Staff appointments – as you may have been aware, this week we have had a series of interviews for staff across the key stages. We are very pleased to confirm that Mrs Lesley Crockett will now be staying as a permanent member of the Teaching Staff in Year 5. Sadly Mr Odell is leaving us today after completing his Teacher Training. We thank him for all his hard work and wish him well in his Teaching career.
Mrs Helen Pearson has been appointed as the new Year 2 Teacher as from January 2015. Mrs Rebecca Mayell was due to start in this post however she is now expecting her first child and would be leaving at Easter. To ensure continuity in Year 2, Mrs Helen Pearson will take the class through to the end of the academic year. Mrs Mayell will have a Teaching role in a different capacity for the Spring Term.
New Teaching Assistants have been appointed and we will confirm details after half term once their current schools have announced the news.
Absences – after half term we would like parents to follow up any child absences, due to illness, with a letter to their class teacher detailing the reason for absence or completion of a ‘sickness form’ available from the Foyer. These letters will be added to the Absence File which County expect us to hold.
Open morning – on Tuesday 18th November 2014, between 9.30am – 11.30am, school will be happy to show round any prospective parents for children moving up from Pre-school to Foundation Stage. Please let the office know if you, or anyone you know of, would be interested in visiting us that day.
St Leonard’s Fair – on Saturday 8th November 1.30 – 4pm. Entrance is only 20p. There will be a variety of stalls, attractions, refreshments and some Christmas bargains. There is a colouring competition – sheets to collect from the school Foyer and return entries to: 6, Wayside Green or 2, The Close, Woodcote by 2nd November.
Shoe Box Appeal – Operation Christmas child is looking for your donation of filled shoe boxes again this year. A leaflet is available in the Foyer and we have some spare shoe boxes if you would like to make a donation. All decorated and filled boxes to be brought to the school office by Friday 7th November 2014.
Starting School – if you have a child born between 1 September 2010 and 31 August 2011, you need to apply for a primary school place now. The closing date for applications is 15 January 2015. Applications can be done online
at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/admissions For help or information please call 01865 815 175.
Secondary School – Year 6 parents are reminded to complete their child’s Secondary School applications by 31st October 2014. Applications should be submitted online
at: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/secondaryadmissions.
Half term – school ends at 3.15pm today for the half term holiday. School resumes on Monday 3 November and we hope you have an enjoyable break.
Harvest Festival – a huge ‘thank you’ to all involved with the Harvest Festival Celebrations at St.Leonard’s Church on Friday last week, with Oak Class, and this Wednesday with the rest of the school. The children behaved admirably and we have had several messages of thanks from local residence for the Harvest boxes that the Year 6 children helped prepare and deliver. Thank you to all the staff and parents for their contributions and support.
St Leonard’s Fair – on Saturday 8th November 1.30 – 4pm. Entrance is only 20p. There will be a variety of stalls, attractions, refreshments and some Christmas bargains. There is a colouring competition – sheets to collect from the school Foyer and return entries to: 6, Wayside Green or 2, The Close, Woodcote by 2nd November.
Parent Evenings – these 10 minute appointments will take place in the school hall next Tuesday & Wednesday (Ash on Thursday in the Head’s office). Please let the Teachers know if you have to cancel or postpone your appointment.
Shoe Box Appeal – Operation Christmas child is looking for your donation of filled shoe boxes again this year. A leaflet is available in the Foyer and we have some spare shoe boxes if you would like to make a donation. All decorated and filled boxes to be brought to the school office by Friday 7th November 2014.
Starting School – if you have a child born between 1 September 2010 and 31 August 2011, you need to apply for a primary school place now. The closing date for applications is 15 January 2015. Applications can be done online at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/admissions For help or information please call 01865 815 175.
Secondary School – Year 6 parents are reminded to complete their child’s Secondary School applications by 31st October 2014. Applications should be submitted online at: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/secondaryadmissions.
School Dinners – Aspens catering company have asked that parents please remember to pre-order their children’s meals. Over the last couple of weeks many parents have forgotten to order meals. Administrative time is then taken up by Aspens staff and the school office staff having to amend lists, update accounts and contact parents. Please call Aspens on 01491 682 783 by 9am in the morning to order meals only if you have forgotten that day and cannot access their website.
Bicycle – there is a bike parked in the bike rack at the front of school that has been there for some time. Please note that it will be disposed of at half term if not claimed. The bike is grey with a ‘Mongoose’ logo. It has 2 flat tyres.
Half term – school ends at 3.15pm on Friday next week for the half term holiday. School resumes on Monday 3 November and we hope you have an enjoyable break.
Harvest Festival – Years 1 to 6 will be celebrating Harvest Festival at church on Wednesday 15thOctober. Parents are welcome. If possible please bring a Harvest donation of fresh, tinned or dried produce in a bag or box to the classroom. These will be taken to display at church. If any parents would be able to help with distributing the produce during the afternoon we would be very grateful.
Parent Evenings – Appointment sheets are available in the Foyer to sign up for an appointment with your child’s teacher for week commencing 20th October.
Medicines – Oxfordshire County Council policy on medication in schools dictates that only prescription medicines can be administered to your children by staff. The medicine must have the prescription label still attached and a medical form must be completed and returned to the school office. Please do not send any medication to school with your child for them to ‘self administer’.
Payments – please note that the office staff cannot be held responsible for any lose money left on the desks. Please put all payments in a sealed envelope (an old one reused is fine). The envelope should be clearly labeled with your child’s name and the amount being enclosed. Spare envelopes are available in the office.
Parenting Classes – these are being offered to all parents by the Didcot Early Intervention Service. The programme aims to give parents tools with which they can improve communication with their children. The course will take place in Wallingford each Tuesday from 4th Nov – 16thDec at 6.30pm-8pm. Please see the office for more details.
Year 6 Parents – Langtree Secondary School invites you to their Open Evening on Tuesday 7thOctober from 6.30pm. There are also two open mornings by appointment only on Friday 10thOctober and Thursday 16 October. All Year 6 applications for Secondary School places should be made online by 31 October 2014 at: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/secondaryadmissions
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. Please do not bring fresh produce for this service. 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. Thank you for all of the boxes we have received so far.
Parent Evenings – these will take place in the school hall for all classes on Tues. 21st October and for all except Ash Class on Wed. 22nd October from 3.30pm – 6.30pm. Ash Class will have its second evening on Thurs. 23rd October. Mrs Welsh will send out further details. Appointment boards will be available in the Foyer to sign up for an appointment with your child’s teacher from Thurs.9th October. Please note that the appointment is for 10 minutes however if you realise that you may need longer please make a separate
appointment with the class teacher so as not to delay other parents.
Uniform – please can you check your child’s uniform to see if they have inadvertently picked up another child’s sweatshirt or cardigan. There are many sweatshirts and cardigans missing at the moment. Usually if your child’s uniform is labeled it is returned directly to their classroom therefore please label all uniform clearly.
Bridge Club – the lunchtime bridge club run by Mrs Carol Quinton, has now moved from Tuesdays to Wednesdays at 12.25pm – 12.55pm. This club is open to Year 3 children and above. New members welcome.
Reminder – dogs must not be brought onto our school site. Oxfordshire County Council has a very clear policy that states no dogs are allowed on school grounds at any time. Only Guide Dogs for the blind are the exception.
Newsletters – these are now being sent electronically to those parents with an email address in KS 1. If you would like to add or amend an email address please let the school office know. The office will be adding the KS 2 email addresses in due course. There will always be an up to date copy of the Newsletter available to read in the Foyer.