Mrs Scarth's End of Term Letter - Autumn 2
Posted 19th December 2025
19th December 2025
Dear Parent/Carer
A message from our Chair of Governors – Jason Wurzal
Dear Parents and Carers,
As we come to the end of another successful term, I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the Governing Body, to thank you for your continued support for the school. Your encouragement and involvement play a vital role in the success of our pupils.
This term has been a very positive one. Our pupils have shown great enthusiasm in their new classes and taken pride in their achievements. I would also like to recognise the hard work and dedication of our fantastic staff and thank them for their commitment to providing a supportive and high-quality learning environment.
Finally, we have an opening for a parent governor and we'd be delighted if any of you are interested in joining the Governing Body. Please don't hesitate to contact me for further information at wurzalj@trust.rklt.co.uk
I wish everyone an enjoyable break.
Jason Wurzal
PTA Christmas Fundraising
Our dedicated PTA have made the final festive weeks at OJS even more special by working alongside Oatlands Infants PTA to organise the annual joint Christmas Fair. It was a huge turn-out and lovely to see families and friends from both school communities supporting this event and having a jolly time. Over £6000 was raised, to be shared between both schools- tremendous amount and a record! Thank you to the Infant School for hosting and both PTA groups for all their hard work in organising such a big event.
Our PTA Christmas shop had a great selection of gifts to choose from, in the OJS Studio last week, and I am sure that family and friends will not be disappointed! The total amount raised was a fantastic £900. Thank you to our wonderful PTA for giving their time to these events. It is always much appreciated.
Y3 Christmas Assemblies
A huge well done to all our Year 3 children who performed superbly – a lovely end of their first successful term with us, at Oatlands Junior school. It was lovely to see families in school, and I must congratulate you all on successfully joining in with The Twelve Days of Christmas.
Festive Fun!
The children have all enjoyed a festive end to this term, with lots of fun at their year group parties, singing Christmas songs and making beautiful Christmas crafts, which I’m sure will be memorable keepsakes.
Christmas Stories and Festive Singing with Mrs Scarth
It has been a joy escaping to the library with each class over the last two weeks, to read a selection of Christmas stories. Thanks to Mrs Sanderson for decorating the library with fairy lights, which added to the cosy feel of story time. The themes of joy, hope, peace and love threaded throughout each narrative, of which the children really engaged with, sharing their thoughtful and intelligent views. The children were in fine voice for the festive sing-song this week with me. Lots of helpers with actions to songs and smiles all round when singing our Christmas favourites – especially The Twelve Days of Christmas!
Panto trip
The whole school enjoyed the pantomime trip to Harrogate Theatre to watch ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’. The children and adults got involved in all the singing, cheering and booing – great audience participation! A special well done to Miss Ramsey who was called upon many times by the cast, to join in. A huge thank you to all the parents who helped and our community police officer, Paul Robinson-Ripley who ensured we were able to cross the main roads safely as a whole school on the walk to and from the theatre.
Recommended Reads
If any of you are looking for ideas for how to spend your Christmas book tokens, Miss Starrett and Mrs Wilkinson have picked out a few top reads you might like to look out for…
Happy Reading!
Internet safety support
Here is the Online Safety Newsletter for January 2026 and the leaflet from National Online Safety offering advice on What Parents/Carers Need to Know About Setting up Apps, Games and Software, should your child receive an electronic gift from Santa this year.
Spring Term at Oatlands Junior School
The Spring term curriculum overviews are also on the school website for each year group:
Spring Calendar
We always welcome parent/carer volunteers to help with any school trip or into school to read with children. If any of the topics for next term are of a particular interest to you, then please contact your child’s class teacher. It is always great to have parents enrich our curriculum, sharing their knowledge and skills associated with their profession or interests.
A reminder that our weekly news and information is shared through the school website. This is an accessible and convenient way of keeping up-to-date with school news.
Smartphone Free Childhood
Interest in the Oatlands Smartphone Free Childhood parents' group continues to grow at both the infant and junior schools. If you are interested in finding out more about Smartphone Free Childhood, follow the links to our Parenting in a Digital Age page and the Smartphone Free Childhood website.
Social Media
Our Instagram account is now live. Follow to find out more about all the exciting things that children at Oatlands Junior School get up to. We will continue to post news stories on our website, to give parents and carers a range of places to find out about children’s learning.
Follow at: Instagram
A polite reminder that our Instagram is for sharing celebrations and not a platform for parents/carers/followers to air complaints or negative comments about our school. Please do contact your child’s class teacher or me if there is something you are unhappy about, so that we can work together to resolve any issue. Thank you.
I look forward to welcoming all our children back to school for the start of Spring term, when we re-open on Tuesday 6th January 2026.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Yours sincerely
Mrs Estelle Scarth
Headteacher
