t’s been an extremely warm week for us all but thank you to everyone for equipping their child with a hat, sun cream and a water bottle. This weather is set to continue next week so please continue with these protective measures.
School uniform
We have noticed that some children are wearing colourful trainers. We appreciate that little feet grow – especially at this time of year and families do not want to purchase new school shoes so although we have noticed, we have not asked any family to purchase the correct footwear. However, when your child returns in September, the expectation will be to have the correct shoes. Also, we have noticed that there are girls wearing thick grey tights with summer dresses. Please ensure white socks are worn with the school dress. I had two children with tights and leggings underneath a summer dress the other day and they were very uncomfortable.
Y6 Winchcombe visit
The children experienced an amazing trip to Winchombe railway yesterday. Although warm, they had an excellent time and the public were witness to the war songs they all sang on the train. I was also given a sneak preview of a beautiful song for the Year 6 upcoming show – just beautiful! Tickets for the theatre will be on sale soon.
Reception and All Things Wild
The children in Reception had an amazing day out this week to All Things Wild. They saw lots of animals and had a wonderful experience riding on a tractor round the dinosaur field! They cooled down in the afternoon with an ice cream.
New classes for September 2025-2026
Headteacher
Mrs McQueen
Deputy headteacher
Mrs Taylor
EYFS team
Mrs English (teacher Monday and Tuesday) Mrs Keyzor (teacher Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) EYFS practitioners to be confirmed
Year 1
Mrs Brunt (teacher) Mrs Austin (TA)
Year 2
Mrs Townsend (teacher) Miss MacDonald (TA)
Year 3
Mrs Eaglestone and Miss Thorsby (teachers) Mrs Hicks (TA)
If your child is being referred to CAMHS, is in the process of an EHCNA or is being supported through the school team MHST or takes part in Big Feelings this could be the workshop for you!
Please join us for a CAMHS Mental Health Support Team (MHST) Parent Workshop – Introducing ‘The Brief Incredible Years: Empowering parents to manage and understand their child’s behaviour. Part 1 & 2.
Save the date: Part 1: Tuesday 17 June 2025 from 3.00pm – 4.30pm Part 2: Tuesday 1 July 2025 from 3.00pm – 4.30pm
The workshop ‘Brief Incredible Years’ is based on the book ‘The Incredible Years’ by Caroline Webster-Stratton. This program focuses on positive parenting strategies that support emotional and social development in children. The book is available for purchase (though not required for the workshop), or through Audible and some schools may lend copies. This is a parent-only workshop.
Please let the office know if you would like to attend so that we organise staff to look after your children.
Sports Day Magic
Thank you to everyone that contributed to Wednesday’s Sports Day. The weather was beautiful and everyone had an amazing time. The children showed amazing team spirit and determination! Mrs Eaglestone added up the house points and they are as follows: – 1st place St Andrews with 2019 points – 2nd place St Patrick 1955 points – 3rd place St George 1913 points – 4th place St David 1895 points
These points will be added to the yearly total. There’s not a lot in it so keep trying hard to get as many merits as you can.
Please see the programme, at the end of this newsletter, from The Branch. They support and signpost a variety of children and adults in our community. If you are in need of support, please reach out, either through school or popping along to The Branch directly (it is just along from Sainbury’s). Emma Kennedy is available on a Monday morning from 8.30am in school. You will catch her at the school gates.
Parent Workshops at St Mary’s – creche available
Please join us for a CAMHS Mental Health Support Team (MHST) Parent Workshop – Introducing ‘The Brief Incredible Years: Empowering parents to manage and understand their child’s behaviour. Part 1 & 2.
Save the date: Part 1: Tuesday 17 June 2025 3.00pm – 4:30pm Part 2: Tuesday 1 July 2025 3.00pm – 4:30pm
The workshop ‘Brief Incredible Years’ is based on the book ‘The Incredible Years’ by Caroline Webster-Stratton. This program focuses on positive parenting strategies that support emotional and social development in children. The book is available for purchase (though not required for the workshop), or through Audible and some schools may lend copies. This is a parent-only workshop.
Please let the office know if you would like to attend so that we organise staff to look after your children.
St Mary’s Unplugged – 24 hours
A child told me the other day that he had so many sponsors. I responded with a very well done. The child told me that his parents and family didn’t think he could survive without technology for 24 hours. He said to me, ‘I can do anything I tell myself, even giving up my Xbox!’
Our FIRST platinum award winner!
Well done Ethan – 500 merits!
Multiplication and Maths End of Term Reward
Do you want your child to enjoy ice-cream and a bouncy castle treat for learning their multiplication tables? An afternoon of fun is on offer at St. Mary’s.
By the end of next term, your child will receive this reward if they:
Reception – know doubles to 10 (1+1, 2+2, 3+3 etc)
Y1 – can count in 2s, 5s and 10s
Y2 – can multiply by 2, 5 and 10
Y3 – know their 2,3,4,5,8 x tables in under 6 seconds
Y4, Y5 and Y6 – know ALL of their tables to 12 x 12 in under 6 seconds
If your child has already received a certificate, their name will already be on the treat list. If you are concerned that your child has SEN but you have been trying hard at home regularly, this will also be recognised by the class teacher as they will have had the data for TTRockstars across the year.
Year 4 in action
Year 4 have been looking at still life in art (Cezanne). They arranged their own still life, photographed it, drew it and now onto painting.
School Photos
You will have received some beautiful class photos this week. We were very lucky with the weather and were able to take them outside. Please do purchase a lovely reminder.
Piano Lessons – 9 pupils have already signed up!
Piano lessons are now available with a music teacher during school hours or lunch breaks, with rotating times each week so children do not miss the same class regularly. A fun and flexible way to build confidence and learn piano-perfect for beginners. Lessons are 20 minutes long and cost £12.50.
If your child would be interested in this, please leave a message at the office for Mrs English.
Sports day is next Wednesday 11 June 2025
All parents are welcome to attend from 9.30am until 12.30pm.
Every child will compete in some sporting events to gain house points before doing two individual races which will start about 11.00am.
At 12.00 noon you are invited to eat lunch with your child on the field so please bring your blankets and your picnics!
The Friends have kindly arranged for some refreshments to be available for purchasing throughout the morning. We would prefer card payments for this or small change.
I look forward to seeing lots of you there and we may even get time for Parents races!
Please make sure your child has full PE kit in school on Wednesday that includes trainers and their coloured house T-shirt and a water bottle. If it is set to be hot, please apply sun cream before school and provide a sun hat.
We were visited by our local MP today to discuss our plans for the new nursery. Mr. Woodcock was very impressed with our school and development ideas. If you know anyone coming to the area or considering a school for their child we would be more than happy to show them around St. Mary’s.
School Photos
We thought we’d try something different today so class photos were taken outside, on the school field. We have such beautiful school grounds. I’m sure they will look lovely when they are produced.
Piano Lessons
Piano lessons are now available with a music teacher during school hours or lunch breaks, with rotating times each week so children do not miss the same class regularly. A fun and flexible way to build confidence and learn piano-perfect for beginners. Lessons are 20 minutes long and cost £12.50.
If your child would be interested in this, please leave a message at the office for Mrs English.
iRock Thursday 10 July at 9.30am
We are inviting parents and carers of those children that have just started their iRock sessions to come along to a small concert, where the children would like to show you what they have been learning. If any other parents were thinking of signing their child up for next year, please join us too.
Multiplication and Maths End of Term Reward
Do you want your child to enjoy ice-cream and a bouncy castle treat for learning their multiplication tables? An afternoon of fun is on offer at St. Mary’s.
By the end of next term, your child will receive this reward if they:
Reception – know doubles to 10 (1+1, 2+2, 3+3 etc)
Y1 – can count in 2s, 5s and 10s
Y2 – can multiply by 2, 5 and 10
Y3 – know their 2,3,4,5,8 x tables in under 6 seconds
Y4, Y5 and Y6 – know ALL of their tables to 12 x 12 in under 6 seconds.
If your child has already received a certificate, their name will already be on the treat list. If you are concerned that your child has SEN but you have been trying hard at home regularly, this will also be recognised by the class teacher as they will have had the data for TTRockstars across the year.
St Mary’s Unplugged – 24 hours
A child told me the other day that he had so many sponsors. I responded with a very well done. The child told me that his parents and family didn’t think he could survive without technology for 24 hours. He said to me, ‘I can do anything I tell myself, even giving up my Xbox!’
So, who else is taking up the challenge? It doesn’t have to be a lot of money but the fact you complete the challenge is so important.
Athletics achievements
Our athletics team were fantastic on Wednesday. They all competed in the 75m sprint, 300m run, long jump and howler throw.
We unfortunately didn’t win overall but we had some amazing performances, notably from Annabel, Ellie, Alfie Lee and Ethan for coming first in their long jump event! Every child in our team managed to come 1st, 2nd or 3rd in at least one event!
Mr Buzzard and Mrs Eaglestone were very proud. Thank you for representing St Mary’s so brilliantly!
Attendance
Thank you to all those parents who supported us this week in bringing their child to school on time. Even with all of the mayhem at the beginning of the week, the lates this week has reduced significantly. If you received a letter last week, we will be monitoring this on a weekly basis.
Class with overall best attendance
EYFS – 99.05%
Overall school attendance
95.14%
Unauthorised attendance
2.62%
Staff changes
Miss Gardner will be leaving us at the end of the summer term to fulfil her dream of being able to walk to work. I would like to thank Miss Gardner for her lovely whole school events at the Church and her fabulous face painting on VE day. We wish her all the best with her new adventure.
With Miss Gardner leaving us, we will be recruiting for a new class teacher. Please find more information on the DFE and OCC jobs website.
We are also recruiting 3 teaching assistants. We are able to offer two permanent and one temporary contract. If you or anyone you know is interested in this position, please contact me for an informal chat. You would be joining a happy, motivated team who work hard to give the children of St Mary’s the best every day.
Once the recruitment of all staff has been made, classes and their teaching assistants will be announced.
School Lunches
Thank you to those parents and carers who completed the school lunch questionnaire last week. We listened very carefully to your responses. The process of school and packed lunches have not changed for a number of years. The school has also been subsidising those families who pay for their meals for many years too. However, this has had a detrimental effect on the choice of meals on offer. I stated in a previous letter that we will be increasing our charges from September. We have just been informed that our current provider will now make this change after half term. However, we feel this is too short notice and will continue to subsidise this increase as well.
From September, we will be looking at a different company, who will provide us with a range of choices that you will be able to pre-book. The increased choice, quality and ease of booking will come at an increased cost and we will unfortunately be unable to subsidise this.
We will keep you informed about all of this next term and thank you for your continued support.
Parent Workshops at St Mary’s – creche available
Please join us for a CAMHS Mental Health Support Team (MHST) Parent Workshop – Introducing ‘The Brief Incredible Years: Empowering parents to manage and understand their child’s behaviour. Part 1 & 2.
Save the date: Part 1: Tuesday 17 June 2025 from 3.00pm – 4:30pm Part 2: Tuesday 1 July 2025 from 3.00pm – 4:30pm
The workshop ‘Brief Incredible Years’ is based on the book ‘The Incredible Years’ by Caroline WebsterStratton. This program focuses on positive parenting strategies that support emotional and social development in children. The book is available for purchase (though not required for the workshop), or through Audible and some schools may lend copies. This is a parent-only workshop.
Please let the office know if you would like to attend so that we organise staff to look after your children.
Harry Baker, a World Cup and Paralympian footballer spoke to the children about the ups and downs in his career. His story was inspirational and showed the realities of football at the highest level. Harry talked about scoring goals for England and how proud he was to represent his country. Having cerebral palsy, he had never dreamed of such a fantastic career. However, he did talk to the children about his attitude to failure at certain times in his profession and his initial lack of resilience to overcoming set backs and not being chosen for the squad for an Olympic games. His self-reflection throughout his presentation was extraordinary and you could have heard a pin drop in the hall as everyone was listening so hard! Follow your dreams and make the impossible something possible for you. He even took the time to sign autographs for all the children in Year 6.
Library Visits
The children in all year groups are again having the opportunity to visit the library and take out some ‘free’ books. Mrs Keyzor needed a shopping trolley for all the books that Acorn class borrowed yesterday.
World Book Week next week
Next week is World Book Week and there will be a variety of activities taking place for the children. On Friday 7March 2025, the children can come to dressed in their favourite PJs and bring with them their favourite book and a teddy. We will also be having a special lunchtime menu on Thursday 6 March 2025, which is displayed at the end of this letter.
Attendance
We have all been working hard on our attendance this term. To help us to support you and your child, please ensure that when make contact by either phone, email or ParentMail that you detail your child’s absence. Unfortunately, writing ‘stomach’ or ‘unwell’ does not help us to understand your child’s illness, especially if they have multiple absences.
Class with overall best attendance
98.86% – EYFS – Mrs Taylor’s class
Overall School attendance
96.30%
Lates
17 lates / 10 children
Unauthorised absence
0.41%
Dates for your diary
Monday 10 March 2025
Parents Evening – 3.30pm to 5.30pm
Tuesday 11 March 2025
Year 5 Singing Workshop at Chipping Norton School from 2.00pm – Music Festival
Wednesday 12 March 2025
Parents Evening – 3.30pm to 6.30pm
EYFS – visit Pizza Express in Banbury – cooking session
Wednesday 19 March 2025
Year 6 and EYFS – Height and Weight National Measurement programme
Thursday 20 March 2025
NSPCC Workshop – Years 2, 5 and 6
Tuesday 25 March 2025
Individual School Photos
Friday 4 April 2025
End of term – finish at 2.00pm for the Easter break until Monday 21 April 2025.
Tuesday 22 April 2025
INSET DAY – school closed for pupils
Wednesday 23 April 2025
Summer term begins – 8.25am
World book day lunchtime menu
Horrid Henry’s Greedy Crispy Bun – Crispy Chicken Burger served with Lettuce and Mayo in a fresh Bread Bap.
BFG Human Bean Burger – Homemade Bean Burger with Mayo and Lettuce served in a fresh Bread Bap.
Gruffalo’s Terrible Tusks Potato Wedges.
Jack’s Magic Beans.
Peter Rabbit’s Carrots and Baked Beans.
Dessert – Oompa Loompa Bar, a Chocolate drizzled Shortbread.
