Happy Christmas!

Dear Parents

It was a very busy last week at Oakwood!

It was really wonderful to see so many of you at the two Christmas performances and I was very proud of our talented singers, dancers, actors and technicians!

I hope the performances got you in the Christmas mood!

We had a really lovely Christmas dinner – roast turkey, stuffing, chipolatas and all the trimmings. Thank you to our amazing kitchen and lunchtime staff for producing fantastic fare for us!

And on Friday morning, we had our Carol Service. This is always a very magical occasion and we were joined by the team from Lordshill Church, who led us in celebration.

As we come to the end of 2011, I would like to wish you all a very Happy Christmas on behalf of everyone at the school. Enjoy spending time with family and friends and we’ll see you in 2012! School reopens for pupils on Tuesday 3 January 2012.

Best wishes
from all at Oakwood Junior School

It's Pantomime Season!

Oh, no it isn't!
Oh, yes it is!


Who would have thought neglectful parents, evil goblins, spooky talking trees and child-boiling witches would make for fun Christmas entertainment?

Well, when the panto is in town, good always triumphs over evil and Y4 and Y6's performance of Hansel and Gretel was no exception, as you can see from the photos below...



If you missed the amazing rehearsal videos at the start of the performance, catch a glimpse of them below...





And if you want to keep a careful check on what the Robbers got during their Tango, the evidence is clear:



Well done Years 4 and 6!!!

Bah Humbug!

It was nearly an end to all Christmas celebrations at Oakwood tonight as Mr Humbug took over.

He wanted to clear the place of tinsel, streamers, glitter, stars and anything even remotely fun or festive.

Only the intervention of four ghosts could help and Years 3 and 5 managed to convert him into a jolly, Yuletide-loving headteacher with the widest seasonal smile on his previously glum face.



Indeed! Mr Humbug Sees The Light!


Well done to everyone involved and thanks for getting us into the Christmas Spirit!*

*Please Note: The Christmas Spirit in Mr Humbug's hipflask was purely for dramatic purposes only!

Stand and Deliver!

As part of their Victorian topic, Year 6 have been studying the works of Alfred Noyes, a famous Victorian poet.

His most famous ballad was The Highwayman and the children have learned it off by heart as part of our whole-school work on oral storytelling.

You can watch their performance of it below. (The story is not for the faint-hearted. Have your smelling salts at the ready...!)



If you're interested, you can read the ballad yourself...

Oscar joins the cubs for Christmas!

I went to the cub carol service tonight. The service was at Avenue St Andrew Church, The Avenue.

All the cub groups in Southampton were invited, so there were a lot of children.

We saw a familiar face, it was Chris, who told us the story of the shepherds. He got 4 cub leaders to dress up, they looked really silly.

Each cub was asked to bring along a toy that they no longer wanted to the service. All the toys were placed under a Christmas tree in the church. They will then be collected by SCRATCH who will give them to children in Southampton who wouldn't normally get any presents. Chris said last year they gave presents to more than 17,000 children and this year it could be even more. Helping other people is part of the cub promise which is why everyone was asked to bring something.

Lots of Christmas carols were sung and afterwards the cubs had a party in the church hall, it was really noisy, but lots of fun.

Getting Christmassy at the OSA Fair!

A fantastic time was had by all at the OSA Christmas Fair!

As usual, there was lots to do, many things to buy, things to eat and drink and lots to win...

Santa and his helper Elf gave their usual sleigh rides around the playground, and even a slight drizzle didn't put them off. (Santa is used to inclement weather!) The reindeer were in training, so the sleigh was pulled for one evening only by a magnificent white horse.



Thanks to all the children helpers, visitors, stall holders, staff and the committee of the OSA - a grand total of £3334 was raised, which will be split between the two schools.

In the junior school, we use the money to pay for our M&M performances - the next of which is Cinderella on 4 January 2012!

Thank you all!

Christmas Production Podcasting in Year 5

Years 3 and 5 would like to bring this exciting event to your attention! Mr Humbug Sees The Light!




Script written by Louis, Alice, Nathan and Jacob.
Presented by Cheyanne, Sophie and Kezia.

Winter Time

Mr Barrett has finished sweeping up leaves and it is getting much colder. We have been making snowflakes, robins and snowmen using materials from our environment...

Year 6 Victorian Day

A great day was had by all in Year 6 yesterday when the clock turned back over a hundred years at Oakwood.

As the school bell rang,the children stood in line ready for the early morning drill before registration in the school hall. Knees trembled as children gingerly placed their hands on their desks for inspection of fingernails. Unfortunately not all passed the test. One insolent child even dared to come to school with a dirty face.

Following instruction in the 3Rs, children filed out to prepare for the afternoon fayre. As a result of many weeks of hard child labour parents, and other children throughout the school, were able to share the fun of the day, while partaking in home made refreshments. Year 6 would like to thank everyone who helped us to raise an AMAZING £313 4s 6d