Newsletter No 5

Happy JULY Birthday to: Mair Amery, Alex Birtles, Benjamin Drake, Hannah Gibbs, Ayisha Hall, George Howlett, Andrew Oakley, Aimee Parkes and Peter Roe.

During JULY we are focusing on the core value of COURAGE

Newsletters on the Blog!
Our school newsletter is now available online in the form of a Blog! You can access it either via the 'Newsletter' link on the website, or directly at the Blog address below. The Blog will be updated weekly with the Newsletter, as well as with other letters. There is also an RSS Feed now available from the Blog so that you can get the Newsletter delivered directly to your desktop.
You can see the Newsletter Blog here: http://stadhamptonprimaryschool.blogspot.com/

Cycling Test
Congratulations to the following children who passed their cycling test last Friday: Lucia Amico, Tom Amico, Porsche Hall, Cameron Vale, Katie Barcoe, Katy Brigden, Daniel Green and Hannah Gibbs. Thank you also to Mrs Brigden, Mrs Scragg, Mrs Leighfield and Mrs Vale for giving up many afternoons in order to supervise pupils.

School Meals Price Increase
We have been advised by Food with Thought, our catering company, that the price of a school meal will increase to £1.95 from 1st September 2008, with a possible further increase due in December 2008.

School Council Event - Sponsored Run
We are delighted to announce that the final total raised by the School Council Sponsored Run was £702.36. The School Council is currently debating how this money should be spent.

Sports Evening-Detailed Arrangements
Many parents are familiar with the usual format of Sports Evening but I am aware that we have a number of new parents who may be less familiar with the format. We assume that all pupils will take part in Sports Evening on Friday 18th July and would be grateful if parents could let us know by Friday 11th July if their children will not be taking part so that the logistics of team arrangements can be finalised. As we also ask that children wear a T-shirt in their team’s colours (red, yellow or green) it is also helpful to be able to give families as much notice as possible in order to source a T-shirt in the appropriate colour! All pupils need to bring a bottle of water/squash with them, which they will be able to drink, between races. Parents and other relatives are welcome and are reminded to bring something to sit on. Parents are asked not to congregate at the finishing line for obvious safety reasons as well as blocking the view of the judges awarding the stickers. No football or ball games by older brothers or sisters please, whilst the races are on! The bar will be open from 6pm and will be available throughout the evening. Races begin promptly at 6.30pm. (Pupils need to arrive by 6.15pm). As in previous years, please could you purchase tickets for hot dogs (£2) and burgers (£2) in advance, so that we have a good idea of what sort of quantities to have available. (Hot dogs and burgers will be best quality meat from Newitts of Thame). Pre-ordered barbecue food will be available from about 7pm onwards for those not participating in the races! This will hopefully help to avoid a massive queue at the end! Finally, a reminder that smoking is not permitted on County Council property.

Swimming in the School Pool
May I please remind parents that pupils are not allowed to wear baggy swimming trunks for swimming at Berinsfield or in the school pool, as they constitute a health and safety hazard.

Extended Services
Thank you for the responses received so far to the extended services questionnaire we sent out recently. 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.
Also, please find attached to this newsletter details of the Watlington Partnership Summer Holidays Childcare and Activities programme of events.

Daylight Theatre Company
We are fortunate to have been able to book the Daylight Theatre Company again this year on Tuesday 22nd July as an end of term treat for all pupils. Parents and other relatives or family friends are invited to come along to watch their performance of The Fairy’s Tale at 2pm. There will be an admission charge of £1, which will help offset the costs of the day. Children aged 3 and over are also welcome to come along to this performance.

Message from the PTA Committee
Many of you may have heard of Easy2Name, the company that make sewn labels, stickers, bag tags etc, but did you know that by using them you could help raise money for our PTA. Attached to the newsletter is an order form with our code for fundraising (yellow sticker bottom right). The PTA will receive 20% of our total group order every 6 months when you quote this code online, by post or telephone. Some of their products are displayed on the PTA noticeboard outside the office if anyone would like to see samples.
The total money in from the Chiltern Chase so far is a whopping £1,073, including a group sponsorship pot of nearly £200, so a big thank you to everyone concerned. (This figure includes £167.50 for Little Bears).

If any sponsorship is still outstanding, please could we have it in by next Wednesday 9th July so that we can draw a line and announce the winner of the 'Up and Running' prize. Also thanks to everyone who bought plants from Mrs.Pattisson after the planned plant stall for the car boot sale was rained off - a total of £110 was raised.

Little Bears News
This week Little Bears made potato salad and enjoyed their lovely walk along the footpath which runs along the back of the school. On the walk they saw donkeys, horses and cattle and enjoyed playing on a fallen tree. They also had fun this week making obstacle courses in our wonderful grounds.

DIARY DATES:
Weds 9th July Year 6 pupils transferring to ICC visit for Induction Day
(New Class Taster Day at Stadhampton School)
Mobile Library
Last day for Multisports and Netball Club
Tuesday 15th July Class 1 and Class 3 pupils visit Cadbury’s World
Friday 18th July Sports Evening – 6.15pm for pupils
Tuesday 22nd July Daylight Theatre performance of The Fairy’s Tale at 2pm – visitors welcome
Wednesday 23rd July End of Year assembly at 9.00 am. All welcome
School finishes at 1.30pm

Wednesday 3rd September Pupils return to school
Thursday 11th September Our School Photographer will be visiting on Thursday 11th September - please note change of date