Parent Evenings – these will take place in the school hall for all classes on Tuesday 10th February and Wednesday 11th February between 3.30pm – 6.30pm. Appointment sheets will be available in the Foyer to sign up for an appointment with your child’s teacher from Monday 2nd February. 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.
Travelling Book Fair – this will be held after school in the hall, during week commencing 9th February. Parents and children are invited to visit the Fair from 3.15pm – 3.45pm Monday to Friday. Books purchased at the Fair will earn the school commission which can then be spent on books and resources for the children’s classes.
Uniform –many jumpers and cardigans (with labels) have gone missing over the last few weeks. Please could parents check their child’s uniform labels this weekend and return any uniform that may have been taken home accidently.
Healthy snacks – please may we remind parents that children in Key Stage 1 are entitled to a piece of fruit/veg each day via the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme. Key Stage 2 children may also bring in a healthy snack from home eg. fruit/veg, bread sticks but no sugary items or anything that may contain nuts.
Elms Sport Camp – this will take place at Woodcote Primary School during the February half term and all other holidays until October 2015. Leaflets are available in the Foyer.
Absences – if your child is unwell please inform the school office or class teacher by 9.30am. After this time your child’s absence may be marked as ‘unauthorised’.
Please ensure that once your child has returned from time off sick, you complete and return, a ‘Notification of Absence Due to Illness’ form available in the Foyer.
Half Term Holiday – the school finishes at 3.15pm on Friday 13th February for a week’s holiday. School resumes on Monday 23rd February.
Threadworms
Please read the following information and treat, if necessary, to try and reduce the infection rate at schools. If you think you or your child may have threadworms, you can usually treat the infection yourself with medication available at pharmacies without prescription.
You only usually need to see your GP if you think you have threadworms and you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you think your child has threadworms and they are under two years old. This is because the treatment recommended in these circumstances is usually different to what is recommended for most people.
How are threadworms spread?
Threadworms lay their eggs around an infected person’s anus (bottom), usually at night. Along with the eggs, the worm also secretes a mucus that causes itching. If the eggs get stuck on the person’s fingertips when they scratch, they can be transferred to their mouth or onto surfaces and clothes. Other people who touch an infected surface can then transfer the eggs to their mouth.
Threadworm eggs can survive for up to three weeks before hatching. If the eggs hatch around the anus, the newly born worms can re-enter the bowel. Eggs that have been swallowed will hatch inside the intestine. After two weeks, the worms reach adult size and begin to reproduce, starting the cycle again.
Treating threadworms
If you or your child has threadworms, everyone in your household will need to be treated because the risk of the infection spreading is high. This includes people without any symptoms of a threadworm infection.
For most people, treatment will involve a single dose of a medication called mebendazole to kill the worms. Another dose can be taken after two weeks, if necessary.
During treatment and for a few weeks afterwards, it is also important to follow strict hygiene measures to avoid spreading the threadworm eggs.
This involves things such as regularly vacuuming your house and thoroughly washing your bathroom and kitchen.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, hygiene measures are usually recommended without medication. This is also often the case for young children.
Preventing threadworms
It is not always possible to prevent a threadworm infection, but you can significantly reduce your risk by always maintaining good hygiene and encouraging children to do the same.
Children should wash their hands regularly, particularly after going to the toilet and before mealtimes. Kitchen and bathroom surfaces should be kept clean. If your child is infected, encouraging them not to scratch the affected area around their anus or vagina will help prevent re-infection and reduce the risk of the infection spreading to other people.
Young Voices Event at O2 Arena – Next Friday 30th January, the Year 5 & Year 6 children are leaving school at 9.30am to travel by coach to the O2 Arena. The parent’s coach will leave Woodcote Primary School at 3pm promptly. Mrs Mason will be travelling on this coach with the parents, therefore the school office will be unmanned from 3pm. A member of staff will have the mobile school phone, for urgent calls only, between 3pm-3.30pm. Thank you for your understanding.
Elms Sport Camp – information regarding this holiday sports camp is attached and you may receive a paper copy as well. It will take place at Woodcote Primary School during the February half term and all other holidays until October 2015.
Term Dates – the new term dates for September 2015 to July 2016 are attached. Please note that 3 other INSET days are to be confirmed.
Absences – please ensure that once your child has returned from time off sick, you complete and return, to the school office, a ‘Notification of Absence Due to Illness’ form available in the Foyer.
Dear Parents and Carers,
We are writing to invite you to a Family Reading Workshop for parents and carers of pupils in Oak and Hornbeam Class. It will be a morning event on Thursday 22nd January 2015 (starting at 9am and finishing at about 11:45).
It will be a fun and interesting morning where you will find out how we teach reading at Woodcote Primary School and give you ideas about the things you can do at home. It does not matter how confident you are at reading and writing.
If you are interested in coming please pick up a letter from the school office and complete the attendance slip by next Wednesday.
Do feel free to talk to us if you have any questions or comments.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs Donnai and Miss Beesley
The Cabin side gate is a coded secure gate that is only accessed by entering a unique number. A timer unit has been allowing the gate to be open at the start and end of the school day. However this has now been removed to give greater security and access is only by using the code or ringing the bell for the Cabin staff to remotely open the gate.
If your child has been using this gate for access please ask them to use the school’s main entrance from now onward.
Dear Parents,
The school council have organised a cinema evening on Friday 16th January. Children are invited to arrive at Willow Year 6 Classroom at the end of the school day and will need to be collected at 6pm after the film. Please note that children not yet 5 years old will have to be accompanied by a parent or other appropriate adult during the film.
The chosen film will be ‘Rio 2’ which has a ‘U’ rating. A drink and popcorn will be provided. The cost per child is £2.50 and the money raised will go to the school. There will be no entry unless payment is received in advance.
If your child would like to stay and watch the film on Friday please complete the slip below, indicating whether your child can have a drink and popcorn, then return it to the school office with your payment in cash, by Thursday 15th January. (No cheques please)
Thank you from the School Council.
Woodcote Primary School
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Cinema Evening
Willow Year 6 Classroom on Friday 16th January from 3.20pm – 6pm.
I give my permission for my child …………………………..……Class Name……………………… to come to watch ‘Rio 2’ at Woodcote Primary School, Willow Classroom on the above day.
My child is allowed to have a drink of water or fruit squash (please indicate preference) and popcorn (yes / no).
Name of person to collect your child at 6pm…………………………………………………………..
Emergency contact number of person collecting your child…………………………………………..
Does your child have an epi pen/inhaler in school? yes / no
Cost of cinema evening: £2.50
For Oak Class Parents:
My child is under 5. The name of the adult attending with them is……………………………………
Signed……………………………………………………Name Printed……………………………………………
Dear Parents,
Happy New Year to you all. We are delighted to share with you the OFSTED report, received as a result of the inspection that took place at Woodcote Primary School on 10th & 11th December 2014. The report will be posted on the OFSTED website on Monday 12th January.
A paper copy of the report is available from the Foyer if required. If anyone would like an opportunity to discuss the contents of report with the Headteacher, please contact the school office to make an appointment.
Thank you for your continued support.
Woodcote Primary School Staff.
Happy New Year. Welcome back – to a New Year and a new term. We also welcome Mrs Helen Pearson, our new Year 2 Teacher, Mrs Rebecca Mayell, a Teacher who will be working with children across the school this term, and Mrs Rachel Hall who has started with Oak Class this week as their new Teaching Assistant.
OFSTED Report – we are all delighted with our grading of ‘Good’ from OFSTED. A copy of the report was emailed out to you on Tuesday this week. A number of paper copies are available in the Foyer to read. Thank you to the parents who sent in their congratulations and support.
Swimming lessons – Beech Class will have swimming lessons at the Oratory Prep School pool, starting from next Friday. Ash and Rowan Classes will walk up to the newly opened Oratory Sports Centre pool as from Thursday next week. Please remember to send your children with a waterproof coat and sensible shoes.
After School Pottery – This will start on Monday afternoon from 3.20-4.20pm. Please coordinate with Sarah Rushbrook, the pottery teacher. There are a few places left so if you wish to book a place please collect details from the foyer or email Sarah Rushbrook directly at sarahrushbrookc@btinternet.com as soon as possible.
Music for Schools – Alan Summers came in this week to demonstrate the range of instruments on offer for tuition with Music for Schools. If your child is interested in lessons please register by Tuesday 13th January to www.mfsf.org.uk or for more information to alan@mfsf.org.uk
School Closures – in the event of bad weather, usually snow, there is the possibility that the school would have to close. Every effort would be made to keep the school open but if insufficient members of staff can make it into work, then there would not be the appropriate numbers to safely look after the children.
Please look out for information about potential closures on our school website, the Oxfordshire County Council Schools website (https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/public-site/schools) and the following radio stations: Heart FM (102.9) Radio Oxford (95.2) and Jack FM (106.8).
Please also check if Langtree Secondary School is due to close, as this affects whether hot dinners will be provided to Woodcote Primary School. If Langtree close there will be no dinners provided and it would be necessary for you to provide your child with a home packed lunch. Their website is www.langtreeschool.com
Judo – Iinkai Judo is due to restart on Thursday 15th January at 8am in the school hall. Details sent out in an attachment with the Newsletter on 12th December or collect information from the office.
Cinema Evening – The school council have organised a cinema evening on Friday 16th January. Children are invited to arrive at Willow Year 6 Classroom at the end of the school day and will need to be collected at 6pm after the film. The chosen film will be ‘Rio 2’ which has a ‘U’ rating. A drink and popcorn will be provided. The cost per child is £2.50 and the money raised will go to the school. A letter will be sent to you next week asking for your permission, emergency contact numbers, details of who will be collecting your child and information about any dietary issues.