Newsletter No 2 - 14th November 2008

Mrs Elaine Wilkin
We are pleased to welcome Mrs Wilkin as a new member of staff. Mrs Wilkin will be working as a teaching assistant in Class 3.

Book Fair in School from 17th – 21st November
The Book fair will be open to parents from 2.45pm on Monday afternoon and for pupils from 3.15pm to 3.45pm each afternoon next week. There will also be shopping opportunities from 8.45 to 9.00am on Tuesday through to Friday morning.

Emergency Closure Procedure – notification for all parents
If the weather is particularly bad or there are power cuts in the village and the decision is made to close the school, the information is given to parents through Fox FM and Radio Oxford. Parents are advised to tune into these local radio stations and listen for an announcement if there is a possibility that the school could be closed.

Notes of Harmony – Polish Visit to Stadhampton School
It was both a priviledge and a pleasure to welcome teachers and pupils from Szkola Podstawowa im. Trzech Braci, Hazlach (our Comenius partner school in Poland) to Stadhampton School earlier this week. Their visit included visiting a number of local events and places of interest – ranging from experiencing a fireworks evening, attending a Remembrance Sunday ceremony, flying kites (in the rain!), a tour of Oxford and spending a day in school. During their day in school we entertained our guests with a concert including singing, recorder playing, piano duets (prepared with thanks to Mrs Drake) and a “jian zi” demonstration. They had a tour of the School and Little Bears, experienced Maths and Literacy lessons (and were fascinated by our interactive whiteboards), a dance lesson and an ICT lesson. They also engaged in the teaching of our pupils not only by talking, playing and group-reading together but also by giving an art lesson (decoupage with Class 3) and a dance lesson (a Polonaise with Class 2). It was a particular pleasure to witness the rapport between pupils from both schools, demonstrating their natural interest in each other and ability to find ways of communicating despite any language barrier!
Pupils from both schools were fine young ambassadors and I am proud to have been in a position to be able to organise and facilitate this opportunity. I know our guests had, (I quote) “an amazing time” and would like to thank all who helped make this event such a success.

Out-of-School Childcare Meeting on Tuesday 18th November 6.30pm – 7.30pm
At a Department of Children, Schools and Families conference last week, the Children’s Minister, Beverley Hughes said, “It’s crucial that parents get the opportunity to shape services in their area. By speaking to their school staff and discussing the needs of their family and the wider community, parents can drive the provisions in their area and encourage schools to provide the full range of extended services.” We hope as many parents as possible from Stadhampton School and Little Bears will come to the Local Education Authority’s consultation meeting at school between 6.30 and 7.30pm next Tuesday.

School Council Monarch Painting Competition
This competition was kindly judged for us by the Polish teachers. The results are as follows:
Overall winner – Florence Amery
Class 1 Winner – Abby Wright Runner up – Owen Cove
Class 2 Winner – Georgia Valentine Runner up – Hannah Tombling
Class 3 Winner – Aimee Parkes Runner up – Jessica Tombling
Thank you to everyone who entered. All entrants received a prize.

Message from the PTA Committee
Clothes collection – final bags accepted first thing on Monday before the collection at 10.30am.

Children in Need
We collected £38.50 for Children in Need from pupils and staff who paid 50p to come to school dressed in our favourite colour!

Little Bears News
Little Bears enjoyed making cheese straws this week and had fun decorating Christmas baubles for a competition. They have also been raising funds for Children in Need by selling “Pudsey” biscuits and the total collected will be announced next week. If anyone has any unwanted Christmas decorations, shiny paper or junk modelling items, we would be pleased to receive them!

DIARY DATES:

Monday 17th November
Travelling Book Fair in school
Clothes Collection scheduled for 10am.
Tuesday 18th November
Parents Consultation Evening with LEA – 6.30-7.30pm. All welcome
Monday 24th November
Governors’ Meeting
Wednesday 26th November
Mobile Library
Tuesday 9th December
Dress rehearsal and Matinee performance of the Christmas Production
Wednesday 10th December
Evening performance of the Christmas Production