Newsletter No 2 dated 12th September 2008

Joe Johnson
Many of you will already have heard the very sad news that Joe Johnson, a former headteacher of Stadhampton Primary School from 1980 to 1989, died earlier this week. Joe had just retired as headteacher of Sandhills Primary School, Oxford. Our thoughts and deepest sympathy are with his family.


Admission to Primary Schools in September 2009
Booklets are now available from the school office if you have not yet received one from the LEA.

Moving On Booklet
The booklet entitled “Moving On” was distributed to all Year 6 pupils earlier this week. There is a co-ordinated admissions process in Oxfordshire with exchange of information between LAs. This means that you can apply for a place at any maintained secondary school using the application form available in the booklet or from the OCC website on www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/admissions You will also find information regarding deadline dates within the booklet.

Year 6 Assembly for Pupils and Parents
Richard Hudson, Headteacher of Icknield Community College will be visiting our school on Wednesday 24th September at 2.45pm to give a short assembly to Year 6 pupils and their parents about life at Icknield Community College. The assembly should finish by 3.15pm.

Open Morning
Stadhampton Primary School and Little Bears Pre-School would be pleased to welcome you to our joint Open Morning on Wednesday 15th October 2008.

“The Elements” textile wall-hangings
Many thanks for all the contributions of material, etc for our wall-hangings. It is not too late to bring in any more items you may have at home. We are looking forward to working with Alison Pullen next week when each class will make a start on their wall-hanging. Class 1’s will represent “earth”, Class 2’s “water” and Class 3’s “fire”.

Reading Information Evening and “Favourite Story Fortnight” 29.09.08 to 10.10.08
To link with the National Year of Reading and Children’s Book week (06-10.10.08) we are holding two events in school this term.
1. On Wednesday 24th September we are holding a Reading Information Evening for parents from 6.00-7.30pm. The session will be led by Nilifer Khan, a Literacy Consultant with Oxfordshire Education Authority, and the focus is to provide parents with information and advice to best support reading with children at home.
2. From Monday 29th September to Friday 10th October we are holding a “Favourite Story Fortnight” event and we need your help to make it a success! We are inviting parents/ grandparents/governors and members of staff to come into school and read their favourite children’s story (or an extract from) for a 5-10 minute time slot at the beginning or end of each day during that fortnight. Please contact class teachers to book an appropriate time and be prepared to reveal your chosen story – to avoid repetition!

Parents’ reading group sessions for Class 3 pupils will begin again on Wednesday 17th September at 2.40pm. We hope that the parents who were involved in this previously will be able to continue. Please let Mrs Sutton know if this is no longer possible.

Recorders
A reminder that all pupils from Years 3-6 have recorder lessons and, for Health and Safety reasons, need their own recorder. These, along with recorder books, can be bought from the school office. Recorders cost £6.50, Book One is £3.50 and Book 2 is £3. Recorder lessons usually take place on Monday afternoons and will start on Monday 22nd September.

After School Clubs
We have been very fortunate to have had Roseanne Butler, Marc Oakley and Nathan Manzie run some of our after school clubs over the last year. As this year is an important exam year for them they now need to focus on their studies and are unable to continue. We thank them for all their hard work and wish them well. Our good fortune continues and we have new junior sports leaders- Tom Howlett and Naomi Manzie who along with other ex-pupils are willing to run after school clubs during Terms 1 and 2 under the supervision of school staff. This will mean that we are able to offer Netball Club for Year 3-6 pupils and Multi-skills Club for Year 1 and Year 2 pupils on a Wednesday afternoon from 3.15pm to 4pm. In addition, Mrs Lisa Scragg (who has the appropriate checks/qualifications) has kindly offered to run a Hockey Club for Year 3-6 pupils on a Monday afternoon from 3.15pm to 4pm.
Please note that these clubs will run for 10 weeks (5 weeks either side of the October Holiday) and will start the week beginning Monday 22nd September. Due to former commitments, Mrs Scragg is only able to offer 8 weeks of club –see letter for details.
The Premier Sports after school Football Club for participating Year 3-6 pupils started this week, from 3.15pm to 4.15pm and runs until 18th December.
We are also negotiating the provision of an after-school Rugby Club in Terms 3 and 4. Further details to follow.

Named clothing for Class 1 pupils
Please could all parents of Class 1 pupils ensure that their PE kit and school uniform are clearly marked with their child’s name. We do try to ensure that pupils go home in their own clothing after a PE session but when there is a large quantity of unmarked clothing it can be difficult!

Message from the PTA Committee
Tickets are now on sale in the school office for the Music quiz on Friday 3rd October. Please do come along and show your support for the first PTA event of this academic year.

Little Bears News
This week Little Bears have continued settling in their new members, enjoyed icing biscuits and making space pictures. Tickets for the Ball are now sold out. We would appreciate any donations of newspapers.

DIARY DATES:
Mon/Tues 15th/16th September Alison Pullen – textile artist in school working with pupils
Class 2 swimming session
Tuesday 16th September PTA meeting in school at 8pm. All welcome
Wednesday 17th September Mobile Library visit
Monday 22nd September Governors’ Meeting at 7.30pm
Wednesday 24th September Year 6 (and their parents) assembly at 2.45pm with Richard Hudson
Reading Information Evening for Parents from 6.00-7.30pm
Friday 3rd October School Harvest Service in Church at 9.30am. All welcome
PTA Music Quiz
Monday 6th October Children’s Book week and start of Favourite Story Fortnight
Wednesday 15th October School and Little Bears Open Morning from 9.00am until 11.30am. All welcome