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Friday 6th November 2026
Core Purpose
Core Purpose
Helping Everyone Grow and Flourish
IDENTITY INTEGRITY ASPIRATION
Weekly Update
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome back to a fantastic second half of the autumn term! It has been an absolute joy welcoming our children back through the school gates this week. They have returned after the half-term break full of energy, smiles, and an exceptional readiness to learn. Walking through the corridors over the last few days, I have been incredibly impressed by how quickly everyone has settled back into their routines.
Our focus this term continues to be living out our school's core values every single day, and I am delighted to report that our pupils are doing exactly that. Everywhere I look, I see children showcasing our identity of being kind, safe and respectful. Whether it is a Year 6 pupil helping a younger child on the playground, children showing integrity by making good choices in the corridors, or the high aspirations our students are demonstrating in their new topic work, the true spirit of our school community is shining brightly.
Speaking of our school identity, we also welcomed the school photographer this week! The children looked incredibly smart for their school photos, truly embodying our core value of identity and pride in their uniform. Having a neat, complete uniform is a powerful reflection of the high standards we set for ourselves, and seeing the children present themselves with such dignity was a very proud moment for all of our staff. Thank you for your continued support in ensuring they look their best each day.
Looking ahead, we have some very important events in our diary. This coming weekend marks Remembrance Sunday, a time for our nation to pause, reflect, and honour those who have served and sacrificed for our freedoms. To mark this occasion as a school community, we will be holding a special Remembrance assembly next Wednesday. This will give our children a meaningful opportunity to show their respect, learn about the historical significance of the poppy, and take part in a shared moment of reflection.
Next week also brings one of our most anticipated annual charity events: Children in Need Day. On Friday, we will be supporting this fantastic cause with a special focus on well-being. To celebrate, children are invited to come to school wearing sporting attire or activewear and will be taking part in a fun Pudsey Run, an initiative designed to look after both their physical and mental health. We know that staying active is vital for a healthy mind, and combining this with raising money for children across the UK is a wonderful way to put our value of kindness into action.
Thank you for your ongoing partnership, which makes our school such a vibrant and supportive place to learn. I wish you all a wonderful, peaceful weekend ahead.
Take care,
Mr Fielder
Headteacher
Safeguarding - Online Safety
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Children in Need
On Friday 13th November it is Children in Need Day. The theme is 'Run Pudsey'
On this day pupils will come into school wearing their PE kits and can add a themed Children in Need accessory to this such as Pudsey boppers/spotty socks/beanies/badges etc - no onesies please.
On the day in the afternoon each class will 'run a mile' approximately and then spend the rest of their time playing and running around as a class.
We will have a star guest that will join both the infants and juniors on that day too when they run their mile.
It would be great to see as many children as possible on this fun day.
Anti-Bullying Week and Odd Socks Day 2026
This year, Anti-Bullying Week will take place from Monday 16th – Friday 20th November. The theme for 2026 is "Break the Silence" and throughout the week, we will be completing activities promoting anti-bullying in line with UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools and the Anti-Bullying Alliance.
On Monday 16th November, it is Odd Socks Day and we will be inviting children and staff to wear and show off their odd socks to highlight the fact that we are all unique and to raise awareness for this cause. Children should still wear school uniform or PE kit (if it is a PE day) and wear their odd socks with pride!
Thank you JOPSPA, Mr Moule and the British Gas team for making out KS1 outside area amazing!
The children of Years 1 and 2 would love to say a massive thank you to Mr Moule and his British Gas team for all their help in the Summer holidays preparing our KS1 outside area for its new furniture and equipment paid for by the JOPSPA team thanks to your wonderful support and donations as parents. The children have been loving their new areas and resources this term and we are grateful to everyone who supported with this!
Parent Committee
This week I held the first parent committee meeting with representatives from each year group coming together to share ideas, give feedback and discuss how we can make James Oglethorpe an even better place! The new team are fantastic and I am very excited to be working with them to improve communication between the school and parents. Your views are incredibly important to us as a school so if you have any ideas or suggestions which you would like to pass on to your year group rep, I know they would be happy to bring them to the next meeting in January. Similarly, from time to time, they may ask your views on key issues and if you are able to respond to their short polls that will really help myself and the rest of the leadership team. Here are the names of your year group reps:
Reception - Vicky Cox
Year 1 - Jemma Roper
Year 2 - Suman Sharma
Year 3 - Julia Pomeroy
Year 4 - Michelle Cutter
Year 5 - Naomi Caffull
Year 6 - Rachel Fletcher
Article 30 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) protects a child’s right to learn and practice their own language, culture, and religion.
During October we are celebrating Black History Month. This article highlights the fundamental right of Black and minority ethnic groups to proudly celebrate their heritage, honour historical contributions, and remain fully protected from discrimination. At JOPS we will also be celebrating this on our upcoming Proud to Be Day!
Attendance
Attendance
At The James Oglethorpe Primary School
EVERY LESSON COUNTS
Overall Attendance: 93.1%
HH: 95.8%
1C: 99.2%
2K: 97.3%
3G: 94%
4M: 98%
5N: 92.1%
6L: 99.2%
Lost Property
Lost Property
We are accumulating a large pile of lost property without name tags. Please take a look through and take home any items belonging to you. Thank you.
BOOK OF THE WEEK
Michael Morpurgo’s Poppy Field is a poignant, beautifully illustrated generational tale that explores how a Belgian family is shaped by WWI. Weaving history with John McCrae's poem, it offers young readers an accessible, deeply moving look at the origin of the remembrance poppy.
REMEMBRANCE POPPIES
At JOPS we support the Royal British Legion every year with the sale of poppies. There are boxes in classes (one per year group)
Pupils can bring in a donation to place in the collection boxes.
Monday 9th November they will be in the Office.
There’s also a box in the office with poppy related items children can choose with a donation.
As always we thank you for your support.
Christmas Land 2026
Christmas Land is organised by Mind in Havering, Barking & Dagenham, and money raised supports the charity’s local mental health services.
Dates: 27th November 2026 – 2nd January 2027
Location: Harrow Lodge Park, Hornchurch, RM11 1JU
Tickets: Christmas Lights Walkway from £5.50 per person
Santa’s Grotto: £8 per child, including a wrapped Christmas gift
SEN-friendly session: 7th December, with reduced visitor numbers and lower music levels
The attraction is wheelchair and buggy friendly, making it an enjoyable festive outing for families. Dogs are not permitted (unless Guide dog or therapy dog) and no under 14's without an adult.
To find out more or book tickets, please visit www.christmasland.co.uk.
JOPSPA NEWS
SCHOOL DISCO IS LIVE ON PTA EVENTS TO BOOK
✨ Autumn Term Disco with LilReds Entertainment
🗓️ Tuesday 17th November
⏰ 3:15- 4:15pm Infants
⏰ 3:10- 4:10pm Juniors
💷 £5.50 per ticket
🪩 As well as an hour of fun, dancing & excitement, every child will get a neon glow in the dark accessory to use and keep, plus unlimited squash refills.
There will also be an optional additional tuck shop for Juniors, which will be cash on the day.
🎄 Our Annual Festive Wreath-Making Workshop is Back! 🥂 LAST CALL - LIMITED SPACES LEFT!
Join us and the talented team from Bliss Flowers for a fun, creative workshop where you'll craft your very own stunning Christmas wreath to take home.
✨ Ticket includes: All materials, expert guidance from Bliss Flowers, and a complimentary glass of bubbles on arrival.
🗓️ Choose your session:
• Saturday 21st November: 1:00pm – 3:30pm
• Wednesday 25th November: 7:00pm – 9:30pm
🎟️ Book your tickets here: www.pta-events.co.uk/jops-pa
All proceeds go directly to supporting James Oglethorpe Primary School.
🎟️ Raffle on the night: We’ll also be running a fantastic raffle at both sessions — cash only, so don't forget to bring along some money to grab your lucky tickets!
💙 A GREAT & EASY WAY TO FUNDRAISE FOR OUR SCHOOL! 💙
Did you know we have our very own JOPSPA Blue Bin? ♻️👕👟📍 You’ll find it at the staff overflow car park after the office entrance, before the Juniors entrance.
It’s a really easy way to support the school while having a clear-out at home! Bags of clothes, paired shoes and other suitable items can be dropped off at school drop-off or pick-up.
📦 Have a larger amount to donate?
Just grab one of the JOPSPA team and we’ll be happy to help organise it for you.
Every donation makes a difference, and we’re delighted to say that so far we’ve raised £800 for the school! 🎉💙 So next time you’re having a wardrobe clear-out, don’t throw it away — pop it in the JOPSPA Blue Bin! 🧥👚👟
Thank you for your continued support! 💙
Havering Street Tag
JOPS are currently in 2nd place in the Havering Street Tag League. Half term is the perfect opportunity to get out and about, walking or cycling, being physically active and earning points for our school. It is not too late to download the app and join in!
Parking Notice
Due to ongoing parking complaints from residents of Ashvale Gardens and neighbouring roads, please be mindful that residents need access to their driveway's at all times. Therefore, please do not block the entrance to any driveway on any road. Please drive with safety and care. If you witness illegal or unsafe driving, we have been advised by local police to please report via the following website:
Report a road traffic incident | Metropolitan Police
The more reports there are, the more likely there will be increased enforcement presence. Thank you.
Welcome to the Year Group Slides 2026-27
Can be found on our website at: James Oglethorpe Primary School - Welcome to the Year
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