In the news this week...

Thank you to everyone who made the PTA Christmas Quiz such a success on Sunday afternoon.

Another learning-filled week with more children visiting the Natural History Museum, singing and rehearsals for Nativity Plays and the Christmas Carol Service, to which you are all warmly invited at the end of term.

Report about our visit to the Natural History Museum by Finlay, Barney and Rafferty

We were at the Natural History Museum learning about evolution.

We all have a common ancestor. Our common ancestor was likely to have webbed fins, a spine and look a bit like a turtle merged with a crocodile. We have no idea what colour it was but the model we saw had been coloured green, we think it was likely to have been pinky purple and very shiny or a greenish grey.

We pretended to be fish that looked like blobs (our common ancestor). The teacher pretended to be a prehistoric predator. The smaller people were able to survive because they could hide in holes and spaces that the prehistoric predator could not reach to find them and eat them. The taller people also survived because they could run, swim and hold their breath for longer outside the water then go back when it was safe. However, the prehistoric prey who were not tall or short could not survive because they could not get away or hide. This is how evolution works.

We took part in a scavenger hunt with iPads. We scanned bar codes and searched for animals that began with each letter of the alphabet (A - Z).

My favourite part is the part where the dinosaur bones are shaped like they are going to eat you and on the side of the dinosaur bones is a model of a Tyrannosaurus Rex head even though it was very scary.

Report about our visit to the Natural History Museum by Joshua

Yesterday on 3^rd December we went to Oxford to the Natural History Museum. We went on a coach. It took about 45-50 minutes. We were going there to learn about how animals evolve and adapt over time. I found it interesting because we got to see the fossils and how old they were. One was 9.1 billion years old!

When we got there we got iPads to look for different areas. I found it hard because we had to respect that the public was there too. The lesson was different because there were only people from our class. The only person who we really did not know was the instructor aka teacher. Anyway, we got to touch and feel stuff we have never touched or felt before.

I learnt a lot from that man and the museum. It was a shame when we had to get back on the coach. I hope we get to do a trip like that again.

Snowflakes

If you would like to dedicate a snowflake to a loved one, the children will hang it on the Christmas Tree for you. Make your donation to Cancer Research online via this link to our Just Giving Page and email the school office with the name of the person to be remembered or your message and we will write it on the snowflake. Alternatively donations and messages can also be dropped into the school office during school hours (Monday to Friday 9am-3pm) or a snowflake can be collected for you to write your own message on until Thursday 18th December.

Cross Country on Friday 5th December has been cancelled. Parents of children attending should have received an email informing them of this.

Term 3 After School Activity Clubs

Booking will open Friday 5th December via Scopay and will close at midday on Wednesday 17th December.

Mondays - Multiskills for 6 weeks from 05.01.26 up to and including 09.02.26, for Key Stage 2 pupils with Mr Mawn

Tuesdays - Football for 6 weeks from 06.01.26 up to and including 10.02.26, for Key Stage 2 pupils run by Ignite

Wednesdays - Gymnastics and Dance for 6 weeks from 07.01.26 up to and including 11.02.26, for Year 2 - 6 pupils run by Ignite

Thursdays - Art Club for 6 weeks from 08.01.26 up to and including 12.02.26, for Key Stage 2 pupils with Ms Nightingale

Thursdays - Multiskills for 6 weeks from 08.01.26 up to and including 12.02.26, for Key Stage 1 pupils with The Activators

Fridays - Netball/Basketball for 6 weeks from 09.01.26 up to and including 13.02.26, for Key Stage 2 pupils run by Ignite

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. 

Thank you to everyone who attended the Christmas Quiz last Sunday. We hope you all had fun and picked up a couple of new festive jokes to amuse your friends and family!

Well done to the winning team ‘The Night Terrys Before Christmas’ and to Quiz Master Emma for mastering minding the quiz. 

The Night Terrys won a lovely goodie bag donated  by The Village Coffee Shop. 

In case you were wondering, the answers to last week's brain teasers are; Olaf and Issac Newton. I'm sure you can work out which one is which! 

Christmas Craft Bags 

Emma will be selling kids Christmas craft bags at school pick up on Wednesdays and Fridays for the next few weeks. 

For £7 you will get a mega bag of different craft items;

EITHER a Wooden Christmas Tree OR Snowman Dreamcatcher 

PLUS: colour-in cone decoration, scratch art decorations, card & envelope, small activity book, stencil (bauble or gingerbread man), Christmas stickers, assorted card and paper, pipe cleaners, lolly sticks, self-adhesive jewels and ribbon

The kids just need to add their imagination (plus pens, scissors & glue). Contents design/colour will vary per bag.

If you won't be there at school pick up then you can order a bag online using the link below: 

Craft bag order form

Or you can pay a visit to The Village Coffee Shop where the Craft Bags will also be available to buy.