OXLEY PRIMARY SCHOOL
Thorpe Road, Shepshed, Loughborough, Leics, LE12 9LU
Telephone: 01509 502483 Fax: 01509 505536
Website: www.oxley-shepshed.leics.sch.uk
Email: [email protected]
Head Teacher: Mr Jason Gilman
23rd September 2016
Dear Parents/Carers
Headteacher’s Newsletter 3
The Bears and Bees classes have been superstars since they started their full-time schooling last week.
They have settled in really quickly and I have been particularly impressed to see how well they have been
eating at lunch times. Already, many of them are using knives and forks to eat their school lunches, so thank
you to all the parents who have been working with their children at home to learn how to use their cutlery!
Elections
The school has been gripped by election fever this week, as the children in each of the houses (Beech, Oak
Willow, Maple) have been electing their new House Captains. Children in Year 5 who decided to put
themselves forward had to give a short talk or presentation to the children in their House, as well as
answering their questions. Finally, the children voted, using tokens, for their preferred candidate. I am
pleased to let you know that the following children were elected as the new House Captains:
● Gracie H for Maple House
● Ethan S for Beech House
● Ellie-Sue N for Willow House
● Mia G for Oak House
Congratulations to those four children. I am looking forward to meeting with them at the start of each week
to discuss their ideas for Top Tribe as well as other new initiatives they might suggest. I also want to express
my thanks to all of the Year 5 children who were brave enough to put themselves forward and speak in front
of all those people. That took a lot of courage. Consequently, they all earned a Green Card award. Next
week, the children will be voting for their Vice Captains, from candidates in Year 4.
Data and permission forms
Thank you to everyone who has already completed and returned these important forms. If you have not yet
done so, please return your forms to the school as soon as possible. It is essential that we have up-to-date
emergency contact information as well as permission for your children to participate in visits to the local area
and access to computing facilities in school.
New Roof
This has been finished, about a month ahead of schedule. That is almost unheard of in my experience of
building work!
Lottery Funding for the School Hall
I am delighted to be able to announce that we have been successful in applying for a Lottery grant towards
installation of noise reducing equipment in the hall. I was not sure that we would be successful, as we had
received funding towards our Tyre Park in 2014. Anyone who has spent more than a few minutes in the hall
will have noticed how much the sounds reverberate around the room. This has been particularly unpleasant
at lunchtimes, as well as affecting PE lessons, after-school clubs and affecting some of our pupils with
additional needs and sensory difficulties. The PFA have also agreed to contribute towards the cost of the
installation, too. I am in the process of organising an official “opening ceremony” to mark the occasion when
the equipment is in place and the hall is a more pleasant environment to be. I will let you know when I have a
date and time organised.
We are an “I can” School.
Website
There have been some important updates to the website recently. New and updated policies are in the Key
Documents section; new photos are being uploaded to the Gallery and the list of after-school clubs is in the
Learning Zone.
Harry Mott
During the summer holidays, Harry Mott took part in an amazing sports competition called the Transplant
Games. These games are an annual event for former transplant patients, such as Harry, to showcase their
talents, develop their fitness and spend time with others who have been through similar experiences. Harry
was proud to tell me about his achievements and I was so impressed, I wanted to put something in the
newsletter. The Games took place in Birmingham this year. Harry showed me the three medals had had
won: a Bronze for the Obstacle event; Silver for the Ball Throw (where he threw it over 19 metres) and a Silver
for the 50m dash (only 1/8th of a second behind the winner). You will see a picture of Harry with his medals
on the Photo Page.
Harvest
This year, as we mark the changes of the seasons and the harvest, we are once again collecting donations
of food for the Shepshed Food Bank. Hopefully, you will have received a copy of the flyer with details of what
is happening this year. We have decided to keep our Harvest celebrations relatively low-key this year, with
separate assemblies for the Reception / KS1 children and KS2 children. Over the past two years, when we
have been collecting food for the Food Bank, I have been delighted with your generosity; I do hope that you
will be able to give generously once again this year. For the school, we place a high priority on helping the
children to understand that there are people less fortunate than themselves, often living in their own
community, and that they can play their part to help others.
BeSKiLD Trust Y2 Sports
Last week, all the children in Year 2 took part in a fun morning of sports at Belton Primary School, along with
children from the other schools in our Trust (St Botolphs, Belton, Long Whatton, Kegworth and Diseworth). It
was a fantastic opportunity for the children to meet new friends and compete in teams in a range of different
challenges. When they returned to school, the children were bursting to tell me all about what they had
done. They were also a real credit to the school with their positive attitudes and support for each other. You
will see some pictures from the event on the photo page accompanying this letter, as well as on the school
website.
Dates for your diary
● Wednesday 5th October, 9:00 - Reception and KS1 Harvest assembly. Parents welcome to join us.
● Thursday 6th October, 9:00 - KS2 Harvest assembly. Parents welcome to join us.
● Week beginning 10th October - Parents’ Evenings. Most late appointments on Wednesday 12th.
● Friday 14th October - last day of this half term
● Monday 24th October - school re-opens.
● Friday 16th December - last day of term.
● Tuesday 3rd January 2017 - first day of new term. Please note this date - the previous newsletter
had the incorrect date.
Other INSET days when school will be closed:
● Monday 20th February 2017
● Monday 24th April 2017
● Monday 5th June 2017
Finally, I would like to wish everyone a great weekend.
Yours sincerely
Jason Gilman
Headteacher
We are an “I can” School.