Newsletter No 4 / 20th March 2009

Thank you to Mr and Mrs Birtles who have very generously provided each family with a bunch of daffodils for Mothering Sunday, again this year.

Maths Evening held on Tuesday 17th March
We were pleased to welcome 10 parents/grandparents to our second Maths Information Evening for Parents on Tuesday evening. The session was, once again, led by Jane Liddle, an LEA advisor, who presented an animated insight into the progression of multiplication and division strategies currently taught in primary schools and gave parents ideas on how to best support their children at home. Copies of a useful booklet entitled “Helping your child with Maths” were distributed at this meeting and further copies are available in school for anyone who was unable to attend. They will be accessible via class teachers, by request, or at the Work Viewing Evening on Monday 23rd March.

Mid Year Summary Reports
This year we have introduced an additional means of updating parents on pupil progress halfway through the academic year. All pupils should have brought home a Mid-Year Summary Report sheet on Wednesday. This is a single sheet indicating each pupil’s progress towards key targets for their year group in English, maths and science. We hope this information is helpful to you.

Work Viewing Evening – Monday 23rd March
A reminder that parents are invited to view their own child/ren’s work and class displays with, or without, their child/ren any time between 3.30 and 6pm on Monday 23rd March. Teaching staff will be available for brief consultations, if required, in the classrooms during this time, but on this occasion there is no appointment system. Access will be available via classroom external doors or through the front door.

Learning Platform
We are in the process of developing the Oxfordshire Learning Platform for use in our school. This is a county wide, web-based application which is being rolled out to every Oxfordshire school in phases. We are in Phase 3; this is one of the early phases. The fact that we are part of an early phase demonstrates our forward thinking about the role of computers in school. When it is fully “up and running”, the Learning Platform will be an efficient form of communication between school and home as well as a fun and exciting teaching and learning vehicle. We will be introducing the Learning Platform to the school in stages, because of its complex nature. To start the introduction, Class 3 will be using the Learning Platform for classwork and homework activities after the Easter Holidays. We will keep you updated about developments in the weekly newsletter.
We would like to be able to send school newsletters by e-mail to as many parents as possible so that we can communicate more efficiently, reduce costs and also have consideration for the environment. It would be very helpful if parents could e-mail the school office at office.2455@stadhampton.oxon.sch.uk with “Newsletter” in the subject line and your e-mail address in the body so that this could be implemented as soon as possible. Parents who already receive their newsletter electronically do not need to resend this information. Thank you.

After –School Football Tournament report by Joshua Drake and Robbie Scragg
On Wednesday 18th March 7 keen footballers walked on to the pitch. Their manager was Mrs Manzie and supporters were Mr Pattisson, Mrs Roe and Mrs Perring. We thank them for taking and encouraging us. We won 2 matches, drew 2 matches and lost 1. We beat Watlington B 2-0, RAF Benson 1-0, then drew to Watlington A 1-1 and Chalgrove B 1-1, then lost to the overall winners, Chalgrove A 2-0. We came 3rd out of 6 and we were the smallest school there.

Comic Relief
Thank you for your support of Comic Relief. All 50 red noses were sold, there was a huge take up of school dinners that day (with several lucky prize winners!) enabling Food with Thought to donate a further £8.50 and the school collection raised an additional £45.55. “Writing Something Funny for Money” in school inspired some very amusing stories, jokes and poems and wearing red noses throughout the day was an interesting experience – especially during registration! This year, for the first time, it was possible for schools to choose how the money we raised will be spent by Comic Relief. In a whole-school assembly pupils voted overwhelmingly to support children in Africa who don’t live at home. Thank you.

Advance Notice
The Booster Maths Class will not take place on Tuesday 31st March because of the School Council Cake Sale.

School Council Cake Sale
A reminder that the School Council Cake Sale will take place in the hall immediately after school on Tuesday 31st March. Cakes of all shapes and sizes will be welcome - please bring them in on the morning of Tuesday 31st.

Fun Activity Easter Pages
Don’t forget next week is the last chance to take part in the School Council Easter Activity. Easter Activity pages are available from Mrs Sutton in Class 3 from Monday to Friday of next week and cost 80p. Please note that the competition closing date is Friday 27th March.

PTA News
Thank you for the raffle tickets which have been sold and returned to school this week.

Little Bears News
This week Little Bears have enjoyed playing outside in the sunshine. They have also been making more things for their treasure hunt and would appreciate a couple more shoe boxes, if possible. Children enjoyed making “spring” pictures on the computer and painting pictures of daffodils. They have also had fun making pasta necklaces and trying to find rectangle shapes in the Little Bears classroom.

DIARY DATES:

Monday 23rd March After-school work viewing opportunity for parents 3.30-6pm
Monday 30th March Comenius visitors in school
Tuesday 31st March School Council Cake Sale 3.15pm
No Booster Maths Class today
Friday 3rd April End of Term Assembly at 9.05am. All welcome. PTA Easter Raffle Draw.
School finishes at 1.30pm.
Friday 24th April Black bags clothes collection
Thursday 4th June School closed for Parliamentary and County Council Elections