Charlton-on-Otmoor CE Primary School

Attendance for this week is 96.03%. 

It has been an exciting week at Charlton as we approach the Christmas break. On Tuesday, the children had a wonderful time experiencing the thrills and laughter of the pantomime. Members of staff at the theatre commented how immaculately behaved the pupils were and what a credit they were to the school. I would like to thank all the parents and grandparents who joined us for this special occasion, I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.

You may have noticed that the school website is undergoing a few changes. We have been working hard to simplify and modernise the site enabling all who visit to get a true reflection of the school. Over the next few months, we will be adding lots of information to the ‘Curriculum’ tab; please click on this to find out more about your child’s learning.

Today the whole school were rehearsing in St Mary’s church in preparation for next week’s carol services. The children sang beautifully and we are looking forward to perform in front of you in what I am sure will be a fantastic end to the term.

Please note that as of January, Mrs Buckley, Mrs Walters and Mrs Gaiford will be in charge of CAST. We say goodbye to Mrs Squire who has done an amazing job creating a space where the children can have fun. I am sure you will join me in thanking her for all she’s done for the children.

Today was Christmas Jumper Day and we raised £81.25 for Save the Children. Thank you all very much for your support. We had some lovely jumpers on show today (see picture below)!

Tomorrow is the Christmas Bazaar at school from 2.00pm to 4.00pm and the PTA and teachers have worked hard to create Father Christmas' grotto (see picture below) so come and join the fun.

On a final note I would like to thank the PTA for the amazing cook books which have been published. It has taken a lot of hard work and organisation to get these published in time for Christmas. The PTA work tirelessly for the school community and we are very appreciative of their support and work for the school and the community. 

Have a great weekend.

Mr Griffin

We are delighted to announce that Clive Goddard, children's author and illustrator will be leading the school Assembly next Friday from 2.00pm to 3.00pm.

Clive has illustrated 30 books for Scholastic (non fiction titles including the Horribly Famous series) as well as writing 4 award-winning comedy adventure novels for Key Stages 2 & 3 (Fintan Fedora the World’s Worst Explorer series).

Details about his work can be seen below:
http://www.clivegoddard.com/cartoons/Schools.html

If you want your child to buy one of his books, you can pre-order them at the office. You can pay by cash in a named envelope.

The choices are:
FF1 Fintan Fedora the World's Worst Explorer (set in Brazil) £6
FF2 Fintan Fedora & the Moon Dragon (set in China) £6
FF3 Fintan Fedora & the Diamond Mask (set in the Kalahari) £6
FF4 Fintan Fedora & the Vampire Wombat (set in Australia) £6
FFA Fintan Fedora's Jungle Fun Book (colouring & puzzles) £3

He also has a few Horribly Famous books left but not many.

Just a reminder that Yr 3/4 will start swimming on Thursday 9th January 2020 at 1.00pm. They will swim until the 13th February.

Please can you make sure that the children have their swimming kit and goggles if they need them. Thank you.

We have planned 2 great trips for the children in January and February.

Please go to your school life app to read Mrs Ellam's letter and register your children (FORMS/TRIPS/UJ/Junior Citizens & Sheldonian Concert) for them. Payment is now open on Parentpay.

CAN WE REMIND ALL YR5/6 CHILDREN THAT THEY WILL NEED THEIR INSTRUMENTS ON MONDAY FOR THE NATIVITY SERVICE.

A huge thank you to Mrs Hay who paid us a visit yesterday with a box full of crafts for the children to use.

This is a summary of the After School Clubs that will be offered from the first week back in January:

- Monday = Multisports with Mr Wells

- Tuesday = Yr 1/2 & KS2 Singing Club with Mrs Roberts

- There are no clubs for the moment on Wednesdays or Thursdays but the children can attend CAST.

- Friday= Street Dancing with Rattle & Roll (please see the letter below for registering with them). It is going ahead as we now have 12 pupils on the list.

- There is NO CAST on Friday as before.

As before, we will assume that the children attending the MultiSports & Singing clubs this term will continue to do so next term unless you notify us otherwise.

However, if your child wants to attend, please let the office know as soon as possible.

Thank you for your support.

CAST joined the children at Multisports on Monday and had a lot of fun on the bouncy castle.

Please can we remind everyone that the trophies need to be back at school on Monday morning. Thank you.

- 17th December = All school Christmas Lunch

- 16th December = Nativity Service at St Mary's Church at 2pm

- 18th December = Nativity Service at St Mary's Church at 6.30pm (mulled wine will be served from 6 pm)

- 19th December = 3.15pm till 5.00pm = CHRISTMAS SPECIAL Film Club

- 31st January 2020 = Yr 5/6 at the Oxfordshire Youth Orchestra Concert at the Sheldonian

- 10th February 2020 = Junior Citizens trip

- 8th/9th June 2020 = PGL Residential Trip to Liddington for the Yr5/6. The form is available on the School Life App under TRIPS. Parentpay is already available for payment. You cannot pay with Childcare Vouchers for this trip.

Please find below the menu with the modified options on Thursday of week 2.

Christmas Bazaar is tomorrow!  Come along for a great afternoon of fun.   Santa will be in his Grotto, lots of fun games and crafts for the children, jams, cakes, pre-loved items and Christmas crafts, refreshments etc for sale. The School choir will be singing carols.  

Thanks to everyone that has donated to this event with bottles, cakes, bric-a-brac, raffle prizes and offers of help on the day.  It’s not too late if you would like to donate a cake for the refreshment stall, please bring along on Saturday morning from 10.30am.

School Cookbook   If you have pre-ordered the cookbook it will be in bookbags tonight.  If you would like to purchase one, please leave name and payment (£7.50 each) at the office.   They will also be on sale at the Christmas Bazaar. Thanks to Alex Royer for all the amazing work and time you put in to produce the book, Orla Harbut for the artwork on the front cover and everyone who sent a recipe.

Internet Shopping   Just a reminder if you are online shopping this Christmas, think about signing up to the Easy fundraising scheme and Amazon smile both of which donate a percentage of your spend to the school
https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/charltononotmoor/

This is the last PTA News of the year and we would like to say a huge thankyou to everyone for supporting the events and initiatives of this term.  We’ve had our best ever Rags to Riches collection (another booked for next term), a Scary Disco, Bingo, Tuck Shop, Harvest Auction, School Cookbook and Christmas Bazaar.  We’ve used the money raised to purchase English resources, memory journals, reading records, subsidize school trips, specific items for each class such as the wonderful Igloo in room 3 and 4, and not forgetting the new skipping ropes.

The PTA is not just about raising money it is also about building a school community, being part of the local community and having fun.  If you have any ideas for events, fundraising ideas or how the money raised should be spent, let us know either through the office, email or speak to a committee member in the playground.
mailto:Charltonschoolassociation@gmail.com 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/149362305695629/

Upcoming Events, Save the Dates

Wednesday 18^th December from 6.00pm if you would like some mulled wine and 6.30 pm for the Nativity Service– at the Church
Thursday 19^th December – Festive Film Club

Please find some information below about the Oxfordshire County Music Service and what they have to offer to young people.

*  Tommy left school at lunchtime so is not on the picture.

Dear Parents

Please see the poster below. No diagnosis is needed to attend our events.

There are 2 events: 

An autism-friendly Santa's Grotto, Saturday 14th December. Booking essential.

and

A Christmas Pizza Dinner, Wednesday 11th December.

Bookings via

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--bicester/bicester-autism/

Message from the Bicester Autism Coordinators Team

Please see below the details of two Christmas activities we are holding in the library.

Both events are free.

The rhymetime is a drop in session but the Storytime and Craft has to be booked at the library as numbers are limited (Tel  01865 373067).