Newsletter No 4

Chair of Governors
At our Governors’ Meeting this week, Steve Brigden confirmed his intention to leave the Governing Body at the end of Term 6. Mr Brigden has been a member of the Governing Body for 9 years and Chair since September 2004. I am sure all parents will join me in thanking Mr Brigden for his tireless commitment to the school during this time. His final duty will be to present the certificates at our end of year assembly on Wednesday 23rd July.

The Governing Body are pleased to announce that Carl Mannering will take over as the new Chair of Governors from 24th July 2008.

Class Arrangements for next academic year
Next year our class arrangements will be as follows:
· Class 1 (Reception/Year 1) with Mrs Manzie – initially approximately 13 pupils rising to approximately 23 pupils in January 2009
· Class 2 (Years 2 & 3) with Mrs Garrard and Mrs Turner – approximately 22 pupils
· Class 3 (Years 4, 5 & 6) with Mrs Sutton – approximately 24 pupils.

One of the advantages of being a small school is that, where appropriate, we can apply a “flexible” approach to our class structure. Following careful consideration and assessment of pupil progress this may mean that, in English and/or Maths, the needs of a small number of pupils are best met by learning alongside pupils who are not in the same year group. For a very few pupils this may, inevitably involve movement between classes for these subjects. Progress is, of course, carefully monitored and reviewed.

On Wednesday 9th July most of our current Year 6 pupils will be visiting Icknield Community College for the day. (Please remember to take PE kit). All other pupils at Stadhampton School will effectively move up a year group that day for a “taster day” in the classes they will be in September (i.e. current Year 1 pupils will be in Class 2 and current Year 3 pupils in Class 3).

Oxfordshire Design a Meal Competition
Congratulations to Hannah Gibbs in Year 6 who was the runner-up in her age group in the final of the Design a Meal Competition held in Oxford this week.
Hannah reports: “I had great fun at the competition final. We each had a section in the kitchen, our own stove, fridge and oven. We were each assigned to a “buddy” to help us out a bit. You would have been happy to eat any of the meals in a 5-star restaurant! I came 2nd in my category. There were 2 categories, and Carl (aged 12) won the training day at Le Manoir!”

School Council Event - Sponsored Run
We would be grateful to receive any further School Council sponsorship money on Monday so that the final total raised can be announced and decisions made as to what it will be spent on.

Extended Services
Thank you for the responses received so far to the extended services questionnaire sent out with last week’s newsletter. We would be grateful if all parents/carers could take a few minutes to complete the questionnaire so that we can ascertain whether parents would support a breakfast club/after school club/holiday playscheme at Stadhampton School. We can only proceed with this possibility if there is sufficient interest.

Message from the PTA Committee
Please could any outstanding “Chiltern Chase” sponsorship money be now sent into school as soon as possible so that the total raised can be confirmed.

Sports Evening – Friday 18th July
The usual PTA tradition of doing a BBQ and bar at the Sports Day event will take place again this year (weather permitting). If you think you will fancy a snack after watching all that sport, all we ask is that you buy tickets for your sausages and burgers in advance so that we do not over order. Tickets are on sale via Mrs Hopkins at School – please give an envelope with your name on and the correct amount of money in, stating how many sausages & burgers you wish to buy to. Hot dogs are £2 and Burgers are £2. Food will not be available to purchase on the day if it has not been pre-ordered. Drinks and crisps however will be available to purchase on the day. Tickets for food are on sale from 1st July – last date for purchasing tickets is 16th July.

School Uniform
Mrs Howlett has asked us to let everyone know that the delivery of uniform, which had been on order for a while, has now arrived and available to purchase!

Little Bears News
This week Little Bears have been busy making sandwiches and colouring in pictures of the seaside. Thank you to everyone who came along and supported our Mini Fair last Saturday. We are pleased to announce that this event raised £400. Tickets are now on sale for the Autumn Ball and are available through Nikki or Sharon. A £25 deposit per ticket is required at the time of ordering.

DIARY DATES:
Weds 9th July - Year 6 pupils visit ICC for Induction Day (New Class Taster Day at Stadhampton School) Mobile Library
Friday 18th July - Sports Evening