Another Term Has Passed Before Our Eyes and Yet Again, We Have Much to Be Proud Of

16th December 2016

Dear Parents

Another term has passed before our eyes and yet again, we have much to be proud of.

The school year started in September with our fullest Reception in many, many years. It is wonderful to see all our youngest members establishing themselves so well and fitting into school life.

A big reason behind the younger children feeling so welcome and involved has undoubtedly been from our Year 5 and 6 play leaders running games and clubs for them at lunch and playtimes. Besides academia, we’re passionate about fully developing our children in all aspects and these leadership and organizational skills are essential for our older children as they transition out of primary school. For the younger children, learning how they fit in with wider groups, developing their social skills and learning how to workand playwell together is equally important and something the school continues to take very seriously.

We continue to have an enriching curriculum, with an Ancient Greek Day, trips to York Chocolate Story, Magna and Flamingoland, all of which are a creative way of bringing the learning and topics to life in a way that is memorable to the children.

Sport also continues to feature highly and we’re thrilled at the excellent performances the children continue to deliver, with special mentions for those involved in Inter-school Hockey and Cross Country. We’re certainly maintaining our reputation for sporting prowess!

A school our size must be constantly creative in raising additional resources, so we can continue to give the children a wide range of opportunities to learn, grow and stretch themselves. With the continued squeeze from the Government in terms of what we receive directly, fundraising is a vital part in every school. We’re thrilled with the role FOGOS plays in this area, in organising fun events which the children (and parents!) enjoy, and which raise hundreds of pounds to support the school in a variety of different ways.

Just this term alone, FOGOS volunteers helped at one of Great Ouseburn’s big events, the Beer Festival, where the school received a donation as a result. A Halloween zombie run was arranged, keeping the children fit, whilst having fun and raising money. And just yesterday we had the wonderful Christmas event in school after the Nativity. We had children decorating biscuits, making reindeer food, singing songs, a rather large elf on the run….and all of this was painstakingly arranged and pulled together by the FOGOS team. Bravo to all! We appreciate you very, very much.

All of this achieved since September! I continue to be very proud of all the teaching team, the DEN team, the governing board, the playground supervisors and MrsTuley in the kitchen, the cleaners, Sarah our Fairy OfficeMother, everyone who contributes voluntarily to helping the school, the parents who support all the various events with charity donations and fabulous costumes…..thank you to everyone who plays their part in our community school. You are hugely appreciated.

But the biggest pride is reserved for the children and what better example could you find than yesterday’s wonderful Nativity play. Learning lines, where to stand, new songs to sing and acting your heart out to a full church audience should never be underestimated! They did just brilliantly. It was a delight to watch and to feel the Christmas season truly begin.

Here’s to a fun, noisy, loud, wonderfully happy Christmas for everyone.

Best wishes for the season,

Jenny Flintoft

Chair of Governors