In the news this week...

After a week’s postponement due to Storm Claudia, Pudsey-themed orienteering took place throughout the school grounds last Friday. As always, there was tremendous fun and a good deal of excellent problem-solving and clue hunting. Once again, the older children supported their younger ‘Forest Buddies’, deploying huge reserves of patience and kindness to ensure that everyone could complete the course successfully.

Christmas Post Box reporters: Freddie, Rosie, Charlie and Ethan Y5

On Monday 1^st December there will be a new Christmas Card Post box outside the library. Please put all your Christmas cards inside the box and Year 5 will sort and organise them and deliver them to the correct classroom. 

So that we can get them to the right person and right place, please put the name, year group and class clearly on the envelope. If there is more than one person in the class with the same name please put the initial of their second name e.g. Bob A or Bob B.

Thank you!

The school is filled already with the sounds of EYFS and Key Stage 1 children practising for their Nativities. Tickets will be sent home in the next few days with additional information. Both Nativities will start at 9.30am this is to allow for the hall to be set up following Breakfast Club.

Year 4 went to a Rugby Festival at the Cooper School this morning. The intent was to build skill, learn something new and to have fun playing sport. We had five different skills- based rugby activities to develop technique followed by a practice match to put everything we had learnt into  action. One of our ex-pupils was a sports leader and took us for our warm -up stretches.

Judging for the Christmas Decoration Competition is scheduled for Friday, so just one more day for your wonderful and ingenious ideas… The entries so far are excellent!

Just a reminder we have children in school with serious allergies please do not send your child in with items containing nuts, this includes chocolate spread, peanut butter and products containing a chocolate filling like Nutella or chocolate bars containing nuts. We have had a few occasions recently where we have found items have been sent into school in packed lunches which contain nuts.

Message from OCC Admissions Team - 

We are writing to let you know that applications for Reception places for children starting school in September 2026 is now open. The deadline for applications is 15 January 2026.

We strongly encourage families to apply online via the following link: Reception applications | Oxfordshire County Council

Children born between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022, who are eligible to start school in September 2026.

 Key reminders for parents:

• Read the Starting School Guide on the website
• Apply on time – late applications won’t receive an offer on National Offer Day (16 April 2026)
• Update addresses – upload proof of address and inform current nursery/school (if there has been a change)
• Include sibling details where relevant
• List multiple preferences – up to four schools can be selected

Late applications are far less likely to secure a place at a preferred school, so it is important that parents apply on time.

Waddesdon Manor Christmas Project

As our children took part in Waddesdon Manor's Christmas Display project, Waddesdon have made avaliable a code for each child. 

Each code gives you a free child grounds ticket, and half price grounds entry for 2 accompanying adults and 2 extra children (there are ticket options for both members and non-members).  The code will not work when trying to book the house, as it is a grounds only offer. 

If you would like your child's single use code, please email the school office. 

This Sunday is the PTA Christmas Quiz – there’s still time to email us and reserve a table or you can just turn up on the day.  We will start the quiz at 2pm, which will be followed by carols from the Launton Village Players whilst you chat, eat, drink and play some of the games!  

Exciting news - the prize for the winning team is being kindly donated by The Village Coffee Shop. 

Here are some practice questions to get those brain cells working….

For the kids: What is the name of the snowman in Frozen?

And slightly harder for the adults (no cheating!!) – which famous scientist was born on Christmas Day in 1642?

Answers next week….