Newsletter No 7 - 16th December 2011

Glitches in the system
We have been made aware that one or two families have not been receiving e-mailed newsletters recently. We apologise for this and have already rectified this with the familes we know of who have had this problem. We had a new admin computer installed recently and the distribution groups for e-mails appear not to have copied over completely in the upgrade to Microsoft Office 2010 and Windows 7. If you have not been receiving the newsletter electronically or know of a family who has not been, please tell us. Our newsletters are usually sent out weekly and we will let you know if there is not going to be one for any reason. Newsletters are also uploaded onto the school blog each week and there is a link to this on the school website www.stadhampton.oxon.sch.uk
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School Nativity Service
Thank you to all families who were able to join us for this service. It is always a special occasion and this year we received many comments on how wonderful the singing was – not to mention how angelic Reception pupils looked!


Pupil Premium Funding
Under the Government “Pupil Premium”, if your child is from a Service Family or you are entitled to free school meals, the school would be able to claim for additional funding.
• If either parent is a member of the Armed Services, please could you let Mrs Hopkins (School Business Manager) know as soon as possible.
• If you or your partner receive Income Support, Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Child Tax Credit (but not Working Tax Credit) your child may be eligible for a free school meal. Please let Mrs Hopkins know as soon as possible if you think you may be eligible. Even if you do not wish your child to receive their free school meal allocation, the funding the school will be able to claim will benefit your child.


PTA Message -Thanks for your support
So far this year we have raised the fantastic total of £2053.29. With these funds we have paid for the swimming pool liner to be replaced and the food for the children's Christmas party.

To continue the fund raising next year we have a Quiz night in February, a Pizza and Bingo evening for the children in March, and more exciting events.

January Sales!
When you've all recovered from the Christmas festivities and start bagging those bargains in the Sales, don't forgot to help raise money for us by doing any on line bargain shopping through the www.thegivingmachine.co.uk.

Thank you and a Happy Christmas from the PTA.


Science Club for Year 5 and Year 6 pupils
We are delighted to be able to offer a free Science club to pupils in Years 5 and 6, in the first instance. Through our links with Science Oxford we have secured the services of Mr Heath-Whyte, a local STEM Ambassador (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths Ambassador).
Mrs Turner will be working with Mr Heath-Whyte during the sessions, however, due to the practical nature of the club places will be limited to 12 pupils. Year 5 and 6 pupils have received a letter about this today. The topics planned to be covered during the sessions include melting and dissolving, electromagnetism, bridge building, heat-sensitive pigments and exploring the properties of a new material!

Christmas Crib Service
The Christmas Crib Service will take place at 5pm on Christmas Eve in Stadhampton Church.

School Meals
The price of a school meal will remain at £2.10 per day in January. We return to school on Week One of the 4-week menu. We would be grateful if money for school meals could be paid on the first day of the week please. Cheques for school meals should be made payable to Oxfordshire County Council with Stadhampton School written on the back. Thank you.

Swimming at Berinsfield
Swimming will begin for Class 2 pupils on Monday 16th January as the Partnership Swimming Gala is on Monday 9th January. They will have 5 sessions (16th, 23rd, 30th January, 6th & 20th February). Class 3 swimming sessions will begin on Monday 27th February. They will also have 5 sessions. We hope that all parents are willing to make a “voluntary donation” of £1 per pupil for each swimming session towards the cost of the transport. Cheques for swimming donations should be made payable to Stadhampton Primary School please.

Learning Platform
Some photographs from the Christmas productions have been uploaded onto the Learning Platform:
https://www.klp.rm.com/establishments/9312455/School%20Play%20Photographs/Forms/AllItems.aspx
If you are unsure of your access details to the Learning Platform please let Mrs Hopkins know.


Little Bears News
Happy Christmas! We look forward to seeing everyone again on Wednesday the 4th January.


DIARY DATES:

Tuesday 3rd January INSET Day – Only teachers & Mrs Hopkins in school
Wednesday 4th January Pupils return to school
Monday 9th January Partnership Swimming Gala for participating pupils
Tuesday 10th January Final after school cookery club for Year 5 pupils (owed from Term 2). Science Club for Class 3 pupils (5 weeks).
Thursday 12th January After school Football Club starts for 11 weeks for participating pupils
Friday 13th January Guitar lessons restart for participating pupils
Tuesday 17th January After-school cookery course begins for participating Year 4 pupils
Wednesday 25th January After school Netball & Multisports start for 9 weeks for participating pupils
Monday 30th January After school Hockey Club starts for 8 weeks for participating pupils



Happy Christmas to all of you from everyone at Stadhampton School!

Newsletter No 6 - 9th December 2011

Christmas Productions
I am sure you will all join me in congratulating pupils on two wonderful Christmas productions this year. The costumes, scenery, acting and singing were all fantastic and a treat to watch and many hidden talents emerged! Thank you also to parents who helped pupils with learning their lines, contributing props and costumes. We were pleased to raise £254 from ticket sales for the Stadhampton Community Building Fund.

School Christmas Lunch
Once a year, we ask that all pupils and staff sit down together for a Christmas lunch and that no-one has a packed lunch on Tuesday 13th December. The cost is £2.10 (the same price as a normal school meal) and the menu will be roast turkey and all the trimmings or cheese and vegetable goujons with vegetarian sausages. Cheques for school meals should be made payable to OCC with Stadhampton School written on the back of the cheque please.

Maths Challenge
This November ten Class 3 pupils took part in the “Primary Maths Challenge”, which is a national maths-problem solving test, set up by the Mathematical Association. Well done to Rhiannon, Florence, Maisie, Ewan, Matt and Megan who all received a Bronze award for their attainment. Jake, Annabel and Joe all received a great score resulting in a Silver award. Finally congratulations to Ella-Mae who received the highest award – Gold!


Little Bears News
Children are welcome to bring in Christmas themed books, dvd's or music and any game they would like to share. We will be making and baking lots of yummy treats next week. Forest schools will go ahead as usual on Friday finishing at 3.00pm.
The Little Bears team would like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and hope that you all enjoy the break. We look forward to seeing everyone again on Wednesday the 4th January.

Also Happy Birthday to Elizabeth, Jess and Emily who all have birthdays in December.


DIARY DATES:


Monday 12th December PTA wreath making evening
Tuesday 13th December Whole-school Christmas Lunch
Whole School Party - 1.45pm in the Hall. Children may bring party clothes to change into after lunch if they wish.
Wednesday 14th December Whole school Nativity Service at 2.15pm at St John’s Church
Friday 16th December End of Term Assembly at 9.05am, in the Hall
School finishes at 1.30pm

Tuesday 3rd January INSET Day – teachers only in school
Wednesday 4th January Pupils return to school

Newsletter No 5 - 2nd December 2011

Happy DECEMBER Birthday to Mikka Haskins-Hall and Ewan Madry.


During DECEMBER we are focusing on the core value of LOVE


Parent Questionnaire from the Governing Body
A reminder that the deadline for returning completed forms is Friday 9th December. Thank you to the families who have already completed and returned the annual parents questionnaire, recently distributed by the Governing Body, back to the school office. The Governing Body are keen to hear your views of how well the school is meeting your expectations. The questionnaire is confidential. Thank you.

Afterschool Clubs
Hockey, Netball and Multisports after-school clubs have now finished for this term. Premier Sports will be continuing to run their after-school football club on Thursday 8th and 15th December.

School Council
The School Council are delighted to announce that their Toy Tombola at the Winter Fair last Friday raised £110.91.Thank you to everyone who donated items.

School Christmas Lunch
Once a year, we ask that all pupils and staff sit down together for a Christmas lunch and that no-one has a packed lunch on that day. The date this year is Tuesday 13th December – the same day as the Christmas parties. We try to make it special with serviettes and crackers and the children make their own place mat (in school) and the staff serve the children with their lunch rather than pupils queue to collect their lunch. The cost is £2.10 (the same price as a normal school meal) and the menu will be roast turkey and all the trimmings or cheese and vegetable goujons with vegetarian sausages. There is no requirement to pay for the meal before Monday 12th December, although you may do so if you wish. Cheques for school meals are made payable to OCC with Stadhampton School written on the back of the cheque please.

PTA News
Winter Fair
The Winter Fair raised an amazing £1236.89. That's a fantastic amount of money to add to our funds, and the PTA would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported the Fair, either by coming along and spending money, or through their help and donations. It was a brilliant evening and everyone had a great time and enjoyed themselves.

Wreath Evening
Advent has started, and it's now a countdown to Christmas. Here's your chance to get ready for the festivities and be creative at the same time. There are still some places available on the 12 Dec to come along and make your own wreath for just £20. If you can't make it on the evening then you can always order a wreath to be made for you. Please speak to Fiona Stewart to book your space or order a wreath.

School Play Bar
The PTA bar will be open to sell mulled wine, wine and beer, after the evening performance of the play on 6th December.

Waitrose Tokens
A reminder to please collect your Waitrose tokens and either drop them into school (container on top of the piano) or Waitrose at Thame.

The Giving Machine
Apparently this week is predicted to be the peak period for people doing their Christmas shopping online. Please remember to shop via the Giving machine, and raise money without having to spend anything extra. Here's how:
1. www.thegivingmachine.co.uk
2. enter Stadhampton (school search box)
3. choose our School and save
4. enter your details and create your account
5. click on your shops logo to go shopping as normal

Little Bears News
Next week we will be reading the book “The Smallest Reindeer” and looking at variations in size. We will also be making reindeer decorations and reindeer food for the big night.


DIARY DATES:


Monday 5th December KS2 children and Little Bears will form the audience of the Class R/KS1 dress rehearsal
Tuesday 6th December Class R/KS1 children and Little Bears will form the audience of the KS2 dress rehearsal

Tuesday 6th December
Class R & Class 1 Performance 2.30pm, in the Hall All welcome, but tickets will be required
Class 2 & Class 3 Performance 6.30pm, in the Hall (Ticket only – no babies or young children please at this performance)

Wednesday 7th December Class 2 & Class 3 Performance 1.45pm, in the Hall All welcome, but tickets will be required

Monday 12th December PTA wreath making evening
Tuesday 13th December Whole-school Christmas Lunch
Whole School Party - 1.45pm in the Hall. Children may bring party clothes to change into after lunch if they wish.
Wednesday 14th December Whole school Nativity Service at 2.15pm at St John’s Church
Friday 16th December End of Term Assembly at 9.05am, in the Hall
School finishes at 1.30pm

Tuesday 3rd January INSET Day – teachers only in school
Wednesday 4th January Pupils return to school

Newsletter No 4 - 25th November 2011

Message from Jason Hector, Chair of Governors
Dear all,

Earlier this week families should have received our annual parents questionnaire. The governors and staff of Stadhampton Primary School are proud of the school’s achievements and in order to ensure that we continue to provide the high standards of teaching and support to pupils we would be grateful if you could provide feedback to us by completing the annual parents questionnaire. We are keen to hear all views whether you are a new parent or carer to the school or not, we want to know how well the school is meeting your expectations. The questionnaire is of course confidential. We would be grateful if you could return completed forms to the school office by Friday 9th December. Thank you.

Parking in Cratlands Close for the Winter Fair at 6pm this evening
We would respectfully remind parents to be mindful of the residents of Cratlands Close and not block access to their driveways when they park for the Winter Fair on Friday evening. We are hopeful that we shall be able to have the netball court also open for additional parking and will ask staff and the PTA to park there in order to free up spaces for parents and other visitors in the car park.

School Open as usual
We are now able to confirm that we will be open as usual on Wednesday 30th November.

Sally Evans – Oxford Brookes University Student
We say “farewell” to Miss Evans this week as she reaches the end of her 4-week placement with us. However, we look forward to welcoming her back to work with us again in February and March next year.

Children in Need
Thank you to everyone who contributed to our school collection for Children in Need by wearing “something spotty,” purchasing a Pudsey key ring and/or participating in the School Council competition. We are delighted to let you know that we raised £148.40.

PTA News
A huge thank you for the items which have been brought into school for the Winter Fair this evening and for the return of sold raffle tickets. We look forward to seeing you all there!

Clothes Recycling: Thanks to everyone who brought in items for the clothes recycling collection. We will let you know the amount raised towards PTA funds when we have received the cheque from Bag2School. The next clothes collection will be in the spring next year - perfect for the annual
Spring clean!

Waitrose Tokens: From Thursday next week (1st December) you will able to support our school by dropping your green tokens into our collection box in Waitrose at Thame. The more tokens we can get, the bigger our share of the money from Waitrose will be to spend on some new outdoor equipment for Class 1. (This also means we have more money from our own fundraising activities to spend on other things). So please tell everyone you know who shops in Waitrose to support our school. If you shop in a Waitrose other than Thame (eg. Wallingford), please bring the tokens into school to put into the collection box on the piano. Thank you.

Wreath-Making Evening: It is not too late to book your place at the Wreath-making Evening on 12th December in the school hall. Forms are available from the school office, if you would like to either come along on the evening, or order a wreath to be made for you. Alternatively, speak to Fiona Stewart outside school.

School Play Bar: Just to remind you that we will once again be running a bar, selling mulled wine, wine and beer, after the evening performance of the play on 6 December. Please do stay and join us for a drink.

Little Bears News
Next week we will be going on a nature walk around our grounds looking for a stick man.
We will also be making a nature table and collecting lots of natural materials for our table. Please do bring anything in from home to put on our nature table too.

DIARY DATES:


Monday 5th December KS2 children and Little Bears will form the audience of the Class R/KS1 dress rehearsal
Tuesday 6th December Class R/KS1 children and Little Bears will form the audience of the KS2 dress rehearsal

Tuesday 6th December
Class R & Class 1 Performance 2.30pm, in the Hall All welcome, but tickets will be required
Class 2 & Class 3 Performance 6.30pm, in the Hall (Ticket only – no babies or young children please at this performance)

Wednesday 7th December Class 2 & Class 3 Performance 1.45pm, in the Hall All welcome, but tickets will be required

Monday 12th December PTA wreath making evening
Tuesday 13th December Whole School Party - 1.45pm in the Hall. Children may bring party clothes to change into after lunch if they wish.
Wednesday 14th December Whole school Nativity Service at 2.15pm at St John’s Church
Friday 16th December End of Term Assembly at 9.05am, in the Hall
School finishes at 1.30pm

Tuesday 3rd January INSET Day – teachers only in school
Wednesday 4th January Pupils return to school

Newsletter No 3 - 18th November 2011

Children in Need
Thank you to everyone who contributed to our school collection for Children in Need by wearing “something spotty” and/or purchasing a Pudsey key ring. We shall let you know how much was collected once all donations have been received.

Industrial Action on 30th November 2011
As you will be aware from the media, the combined Teacher and School Leadership Trade Unions will be taking Industrial Action on 30th November 2011. The action ( a one day strike) will result in class or whole school closures across the country. Although staff are not legally required to give more than two days notice of their intention to strike, having talked to the staff about this issue, I believe that there will be sufficient staff in school on 30th November to keep the school open. If this situation changes I will, of course, let you know.

Netball & Rugby Tournament Reports
Rugby Report by Marcin and Ella:
“On Friday 11th November, eight Year 4’s played at the Partnership Rugby Tournament. Our first match was against RAF Benson 1 and we won 25-0; our second was against Ewelme and we won 15-10; our third was against Lewknor and we won 15-10; our fourth was against Chalgrove and we lost 15-20; our fifth was against RAF Benson 2 and we won 45-0; our sixth was against Watlington and we lost 10-20; our last match was against Watlington in the final but unfortunately we lost 20-15. We came second and we enjoyed taking part”.

Netball Report by Rhiannon and Megan:
“All the Years 6’s participated in the Partnership Netball Tournament on Friday 11th November. Unfortunately we didn’t win but we tried our hardest and we came 3rd out of five teams. The tournament was at Icknield Community College and was a fun experience!”

Outdoor Clothing
We have been fortunate to have had the benefit of unusually warm weather this autumn however, with the forecast of colder weather we would like to remind families that all children should now bring a coat into school each day to keep warm during outdoor playtimes and class activities.
We have also had the benefit of a relatively mud free playing field this autumn, but with the approach of the ‘muddy season’ we would like to remind families that wellies should be brought in for playing on the grass (trainers are still required for the climbing equipment). We also suggest that pupils who like to play football at lunchtime bring in an old pair of tracksuit/jogging – style trousers to play in so that school trousers remain clean!

University of Oxford Research Study
Thank you to all Year 5 pupils who were involved in the children’s writing research study carried out by researchers from the University of Oxford Department of Education over the last few weeks. The researchers have finished working with our pupils for the moment and now need to analyse their findings. We expect to hear from them again early in the New Year regarding working with Year 4 pupils and any other follow-up work.

School Productions
Parents are respectfully reminded that they may take photographs or record videos of school productions as long as it is on the understanding that it is for personal use only. Mrs Turner will ask before each performance begins if any parents object to photographs or videos being taken and if there are objections then, unfortunately, it will not be possible to allow them to be taken.

Whilst we welcome younger than school-age siblings to the matinee performances we would like to remind parents with young children that sometimes it is difficult to hear what our pupils are saying over the background noises coming from the audience. This can affect the experiences of others in the audience so we therefore suggest that, if necessary, parents retreat into Class 2’s classroom. We thank parents in advance for their co-operation in this matter.

Sun Dome
On Friday 25th November Class 3 will receive a visit from the Sun Dome courtesy of the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy (CCFE). The Sun Dome is a portable, inflatable dome (which will take up much of the hall space) and will be used to introduce the science occurring in the sun and also how scientists are using these processes to create fusion electricity for the future.

Class 3 will learn through interactive role play as well as watching movies inside the dome. This links with Class 3’s current science topic “The Earth and Beyond.”

School Closures
If the weather is particularly bad and there is a possibility that the school might be closed, parents are advised to listen to the following local radio stations for announcements;-

BBC Radio Oxford - VHF/FM 95.2
Heart FM (Thames Valley) – VHF/FM 102.6
Jack FM – VHF/FM 106.8

We will also try out best to post a message onto the school website www.stadhampton.oxon.sch.uk

PTA News
"Phil the Bag" - We are still gratefully accepting any good quality items for our Winter Fair - how about you "Phil a bag" over the weekend with any of the following: chocolates, sweets, biscuits, cakes, mince pies, books, CDs & DVDs, beauty products, toys or bottles, unwanted gifts or any other items that may be suitable for the raffle - and put it in our red box in the hall on Monday.

Winter Fair : Don't forget to return your raffle tickets and payment to the school office by next Thursday. Can anyone spare half an hour to run a stall on the night? We're looking for a few more volunteers to help us - please speak to Diana, Rowena or Charlotte if you can help.

Wreath-making Evening: If you fancy making your own wreath for Christmas, or having one made for you - then book your space early to avoid disappointment. Booking forms have been sent home in book bags - if you have not received one please see Fiona Stewart.

Summer Fete June 2012: We are still looking for a volunteer who would be able to join the Summer Fete organising committee on behalf of the school. You would need to be able to attend 6 meetings prior to the fete, and would act as the link between the Fete committee and the PTA. Please speak to Diana to find out more.

Little Bears News
Next week the tiger is coming to tea!!
We will be making tiger masks and having a tea party, we will also be making a big tin of tiger food.

DIARY DATES:
Friday 25th November Sun Dome – Class 3
Winter Fair – 6pm start

Monday 5th December KS2 children and Little Bears will form the audience of the Class R/KS1 dress rehearsal
Tuesday 6th December Class R/KS1 children and Little Bears will form the audience of the KS2 dress rehearsal

Tuesday 6th December
Class R & Class 1 Performance 2.30pm, in the Hall All welcome, but tickets will be required
Class 2 & Class 3 Performance 6.30pm, in the Hall (Ticket only – no babies or young children please at this performance)

Wednesday 7th December Class 2 & Class 3 Performance 1.45pm, in the Hall All welcome, but tickets will be required

Monday 12th December PTA wreath making evening
Tuesday 13th December Whole School Party - 1.45pm in the Hall. Children may bring party clothes to change into after lunch if they wish.
Wednesday 14th December Whole school Nativity Service at 2.15pm at St John’s Church
Friday 16th December End of Term Assembly at 9.05am, in the Hall
School finishes at 1.30pm

Tuesday 3rd January INSET Day – teachers only in school
Wednesday 4th January Pupils return to school

Newsletter No 2 - 11th November 2011

Holiday Course at Stadhampton School
Booking forms are now available from the school office for the Holiday Course at Stadhampton School for school-aged pupils (from any school) from Monday 19th to Friday 23rd December inclusive. The course will run each day from 9-3pm.

Book Fair
Thank you to everyone who purchased books and stationery items from the school Book Fair last week. Sales at the Book Fair totalled £470, which meant that we were able to take books to the value of £222 for the class libraries. Thank you to everyone who made a purchase.

Music For Youth Schools Prom, Royal Albert Hall, 09.11.11
On Wednesday 9th, Miss Mould and I accompanied eleven very excited, if not just a little anxious, Year 6 pupils to the Royal Albert Hall in London. We formed part of the choir for the Oxfordshire Massed Ensemble singing a specially commissioned work called ‘Oxonia’ written and conducted by Dr John Traill, the current composer in residence at the University of Oxford. This followed a number of rehearsals in Oxford and the performance at the Royal Albert Hall was, quite simply, stunning. We also watched and listened to a range of performances by other youth groups from across the country. It was an incredible and inspirational experience in an awe-inspiring location and all our Year 6 pupils – Maisie, Olivia, Ayisha, Matt, Ewan, Chloe H, Chloe S, Megan, Ella Mae, Rhiannon and Florence - were a pleasure to take and a tribute to our school and community.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the families of all Year 6 pupils for their support at the Royal Albert Hall itself and throughout the lead-up to it. I have no doubt that for all of us who went it is an experience that we will never forget, but I shall leave the final comment to two of the Year 6 pupils themselves!

The Royal Albert Hall – Chloe H & Olivia
“The Royal Albert Hall was an amazing experience! At first we were all very nervous but in the end we sang our best and loudest! Lots and lots of people were there and they cheered their loudest. The whole Royal Albert Hall was so fantastic and everyone loved the balloons and the fireworks at the end! “

Saturday Science Clubs at Science Oxford
You may like to know that Science Oxford is holding a series of Saturday Science Clubs aimed at primary age children. These include;

‘Who Dunnit?!’ 12th November (8-11 year olds)
‘Light & Shadows’ 19th November (5-7 year olds)
‘Catapult Crazy’ 26th November (8-11 year olds)
‘K-nex Rides’ 3rd December (8-11 year olds)
‘Christmas Special’ 10th December (8-11 year olds)

For further details please check their website www.scienceoxford.com or telephone 01865 728953.

Tickets for the Christmas Performances
Tickets are now available for the three Christmas performances from the school office priced at £1 each:
• Reception and Class 1’s production will be held on Tuesday 6th December at 2.30pm. Everyone is welcome to attend this performance and a maximum of 3 tickets per family are available. Tickets are not required for younger siblings.
• Class 2 and Class 3’s production will be held on Tuesday 6th December at 6.30pm. A maximum of 3 tickets per family are available for this performance. We respectfully request that parents do not bring children who are under school age to this performance please.
• Class 2 and Class 3’s final performance will be held on Wednesday 7th December at 1.45pm. Everyone is welcome to attend this performance and a maximum of 3 tickets per family are available. Tickets are not required for younger siblings.
The money raised through selling tickets for the school Christmas productions, this year, will be donated to the Stadhampton Community Building Project. Refreshments will be served by the PTA after the evening performance on Tuesday 6th December, with any profits they make going to PTA funds!

P.T.A. News
Cake Sale
Many thanks to everyone who donated cakes for the cake sale last Friday - we had some amazing spooky Halloween cakes and sparkly firework cakes! We raised £86 to add to our
funds, and I'm sure everyone enjoyed eating the cakes!

Winter Fair
Santa's grotto - has anyone got a gazebo that we can borrow for the evening of the Winter Fair, it needs to be less than 3m tall to fit under the canopy by Class 1. If you can help please speak to Diana, Rowena or Charlotte. We did borrow one from someone at school last year, but can’t remember who – we’d be very grateful if we could borrow it again!

We've got some great prizes for the raffle, including a family portrait session, Cotswold Wildlife Park tickets, I-Kids voucher. To be in with a chance of winning get your raffle tickets in by Thursday 23rd November. You can either take them to the school office, or give them to Rowena.

If you have any donations for the Winter Fair such as CDs, DVDs, books, toys, sweets, chocolate, bottles, toiletries etc, please put them in the PTA ‘Donations Box’ in the school hall, or give them to Rowena.

Clothes Recycling
Don’t forget to bring in your black sacks on Wednesday 16 November by 9am.

Wreath Evening
Look out for information about the Wreath Evening on 12th December in book bags this Friday. You don’t have to attend – you can just order a wreath if you prefer. Cost for either is £20 and a minimum of £13 will go to the PTA funds.

Little Bears News
Next week we are exploring colour, mixing and investigating what happens when you mix certain colours. Please bring anything from home that is topic related.
We have started collecting for our Christmas raffle so all donations would be gratefully received.


DIARY DATES:
Monday 14th November Foundation Class & Class 1 visit the Oxford Museum of Natural History
Parents’ Evening
Wednesday 16th November PTA Clothes Recycling Collection at 9am
Parents’ Evening
Friday 25th November Winter Fair – 6pm start

Monday 5th December KS2 children and Little Bears will form the audience of the Class R/KS1 dress rehearsal
Tuesday 6th December Class R/KS1 children and Little Bears will form the audience of the KS2 dress rehearsal

Tuesday 6th December
Class R & Class 1 Performance 2.30pm, in the Hall All welcome, but tickets will be required
Class 2 & Class 3 Performance 6.30pm, in the Hall (Ticket only – no babies or young children please at this performance)

Wednesday 7th December Class 2 & Class 3 Performance 1.45pm, in the Hall All welcome, but tickets will be required

Monday 12th December PTA wreath making
Tuesday 13th December Whole School Party - 1.45pm in the Hall. Children may bring party clothes to change into after lunch if they wish.
Wednesday 14th December Whole school Nativity Service at 2.15pm at St John’s Church
Friday 16th December End of Term Assembly at 9.05am, in the Hall
School finishes at 1.30pm

Tuesday 3rd January INSET Day – teachers only in school
Wednesday 4th January Pupils return to school

Newsletter No 1 - 4th November 2011

During NOVEMBER we are focusing on the core value of UNITY


Happy NOVEMBER Birthday to: Juliana Browning, Beau Burnell, Jacob Day, Amy Freeman, Max Jones, Max Lansley, Lola Odell and Ella Perring.

We are pleased to welcome Tiffany Bullock to Stadhampton School. Tiffany has joined Class 2 as a new Year 4 pupil. We are also pleased to welcome Miss Sally Evans, a PGCE student from Oxford Brookes University, who joins us for a 4-week placement mainly based in Class 1.

Holiday Course at Stadhampton School
Booking forms are now available from the school office for the Holiday Course at Stadhampton School for school-aged pupils (from any school) from Monday 19th to Friday 23rd December inclusive. The course will run each day from 9-3pm.

Free Booktime Book Packs
Pupils in the Reception class have been given a free Booktime book pack this week, courtesy of Booktrust and Pearson, to encourage a lifelong love of reading.

Book Fair
Thank you to everyone who has purchased books and stationery items from the school Book Fair this week. We shall let you know in next week’s newsletter the value of the books that the school was able to choose for class libraries by way of commission.

New School Meals Menu
A copy of the Winter/Spring School Meals Menu has been uploaded onto the Learning Platform and the school website.

Parents’ Consultation Evenings
Slips giving details of the date and time of consultations have been put in book bags today.

Woodstock Museum Trip – Report by Ella, Lola and Abby
“On Wednesday 2nd November Class 2 went on a school trip to the Woodstock Museum to find out about the Romans. First we had a presentation in which we dressed up as rich and poor Roman people. We split up into two groups and went off to do different activities. We were able to touch real old Roman artefacts. We also visited the Roman gallery to do rubbings and drawings of some of the artefacts. It was a really great day.”

School Council and Children in Need “Show your spots, let’s raise lots!”
Friday 18th November is “Children in Need” day and this year the School Council are planning the findraising for this charity. Pupils can pay £1 to wear non-uniform but should wear “something spotty” eg. spotty socks! The School Council have also organised a competition which is open to all pupils; it is “Design a form of transport for Pudsey Bear.” Children need to design a form of transport for Pudsey Bear to travel in to help children everywhere. This can simply be a picture (eg. drawing, painting, diagram, collage) or could be an actual working model! Entrants are responsible for supplying their own Pudsey – this could be an existing miniature Pudsey, a dressed-up teddy, a model or a pcture. There will be a prize for one entry in each of the four classes. Entries will be judged by the School Council, on their originality and attractiveness. The competition will cost 50p to enter and all entries should be brought in on Friday 18th November. Good luck!


P.T.A. News
Winter Fair: It's full steam ahead for the Winter Fair on Friday 25 November. Every family should have received raffle tickets in the book bags this week, please speak to Diana Woodwards or Rowena Dobson if you have not received yours, or would like more to sell on to family and friends.

We would also be grateful for any donations of the following:
• Anything to do with chocolates & sweets for the ever popular chocolate tombola!
• Bottles & jars for the Bottle Tombola
• Books, DVD's and CD's
• Good condition/new toys for School Council Toy Tombola
• Suitable items for the Craft stall
• Small items like pencils, erasers, stickers etc for a lucky dip
• Good quality gifts/items for the raffle
• Cakes & biscuits to compliment our bar and drinks
• Your time - we will need help with running the stalls on the night, please let us know if you can spare half an hour to run a stall.
You can put any donations in our red PTA box in the school hall, or give them to a PTA committee member.

Clothes Recycling: All bags need to be in school by 9am on 16 November.

The Giving Machine: Here's a really easy way to help raise funds for the School whilst you are doing your online Christmas shopping, and it won't cost you anything.
6 easy steps that take less than 5 minutes:-
1. www.thegivingmachine.co.uk
2. enter Stadhampton (where it says search for school)
3. choose our school & save.
4. enter your details & create your account
5. bookmark this website as a favourite
6. now go shopping as you normally do by clicking on the logo for your shop.
Shops include, Amazon, ebay, Boots, Next, John Lewis, Argos, play.com, Boden... and there's another 346 shops on the list! It even tells you how much they will donate, based on your spend.
How does it work - shops on the list pay The Giving Machine for directing shoppers to them, they then send this to the school as a cash donation.

So far we have received £71 from the Giving Machine, and that is with just 6 people using it - just think how much more we could get to spend on the children if more of us used it when buying our Christmas presents, and you can even get the rest of your family and friends to use it as well!
The Stadhampton Village Summer Fete is coming back next year, and the PTA have a fantastic opportunity to be involved in the Fete and raise funds for our school. Is there anybody out there who would like to get involved with this? For a no obligation chat please speak to Diana Woodwards.

Little Bears News
Next week Little Bears are reading “One Winter’s Day” and “The Old Man’s Mitten”. They will also be looking at animal footprints and their own footprints.


DIARY DATES:
Sunday 6th November Final Year 6 rehearsal for Youth Proms 2-4.30pm
Wednesday 9th November Year 6 pupils performing at the Royal Albert Hall!
Mobile Library
Monday 14th November Foundation Class & Class 1 visit the Oxford Museum of Natural History
Parents’ Evening
Wednesday 16th November PTA Clothes Recycling Collection
Parents’ Evening
Friday 25th November Winter Fair

Monday 5th December KS2 children and Little Bears will form the audience of the Class R/KS1 dress rehearsal
Tuesday 6th December Class R/KS1 children and Little Bears will form the audience of the KS2 dress rehearsal

Tuesday 6th December
Class R & Class 1 Performance 2.30pm, in the Hall All welcome,but tickets will be required
Class 2 & Class 3 Performance 6.30pm, in the Hall (Ticket only – no babies or young children please at this performance)

Wednesday 7th December Class 2 & Class 3 Performance 1.45pm, in the Hall All welcome,but tickets will be required

Monday 12th December PTA wreath making
Tuesday 13th December Whole School Party
1.45pm in the Hall
Wednesday 14th December Whole school Nativity Service
2.15pm at St John’s Church
Friday 16th December End of Term Assembly
9.05am, in the Hall
School finishes at 1.30pm

Tuesday 3rd January INSET Day – teachers only in school
Wednesday 4th January Pupils return to school

Newsletter No 7 - 20th October 2011

Message from Jason Hector, Chair of Governors:
Dear all,
We have uploaded the School Profile reporting on the academic year 2010 - 2011 onto the school website for parents to read. The 2005 Education Act introduced the school profile, a short focused document that is produced annually and is a report of the activities and achievements of Stadhampton Primary School and its pupils by the Governing Body of the school. This report is for parents of children at Stadhampton Primary School and other interested parties from the local community. If you have any questions regarding the contents or would like the school to provide you with a copy, please contact the school at your convenience.

Swimming at Berinsfield
Swimming will begin for Class 3 pupils on 31st October (the first day back at school after the October Holiday). They will have 7 sessions. As always, we hope that parents will be willing to help with the transport costs and contribute £1 a week towards this cost. Cheques for swimming contributions should be made payable to Stadhampton Primary School, please.

Recorder Lessons
A reminder that recorder lessons, for all pupils in Years 3 to 6, will start on Monday 31st October. Recorders are available from the school office for £6.50 if any pupil still needs one.

Christmas Performances and other Christmas – related dates
With the ‘Pantomime season’ fast approaching, we thought you would like to know the arrangements for our various Christmas productions and other events. These are as follows:-


Tuesday 6th December
Class R & Class 1 Performance 2.30pm, in the Hall All welcome,but tickets will be required
Class 2 & Class 3 Performance 6.30pm, in the Hall (Ticket only – no babies or young children please at this performance)
Wednesday 7th December Class 2 & Class 3 Performance 1.45pm, in the Hall All welcome,but tickets will be required
KS2 children and Little Bears will form the audience of the Class R/KS1 dress rehearsal during the morning of Monday 5th December.
Class R/KS1 children and Little Bears will form the audience of the KS2 dress rehearsal during the morning of Tuesday 6th December.
Arrangements for tickets will be confirmed after the October Holiday.


Tuesday 13th December Whole School Party 1.45pm, in the Hall

Wednesday 14th December Whole school Nativity Service 2.15pm, at St John’s Church

Friday 16th December End of Term Assembly 9.05am, in the Hall


Holiday Course at Stadhampton School
Advance information for parents: Michael Hopkins, on behalf of Premier Sports Group, will be once again leading a Holiday Course again at Stadhampton School for school-aged pupils (from any school) from Monday 19th to Friday 23rd December inclusive. The course will run each day from 9-3pm. Premier Sports Group have confirmed that the cost of the course will be £6 a day. Booking forms are now available from the school office.

New Menu for School Meals
Each family should have received a copy of the new school meals menu which begins on 31st October (Week 1) via book bags. The menu will now operate on a 4-weekly cycle and the week beginning dates are at the top of the each week number. The price of a school meal remains at £2.10 a day and cheques for school meals should be made payable to Oxfordshire County Council with Stadhampton School written on the back of the cheque, please.


Food with Thought are pleased to offer children in the Foundation Stage class four weeks of school lunches for £1 a day between 31st October and 25th November. Letters to explain this scheme to parents in the Foundation Stage have been put into book bags this week. Parents may wish to sign up for meals for all 4 weeks in one go which is absolutely fine.


P.T.A. News
We need to raise £1620 for the new swimming pool liner so that the children will be able to use the pool again next year. We also need to raise funds each year to continue to support the cost of all pupils learning French and visits from Daylight Theatre, etc. We've got some exciting events planned, so please support us in raising funds.

The first of these events is a Halloween/Bonfire Night themed Cake Sale in the School Hall on Friday 4 November from 3.15pm, and we would love to receive your donations of cakes (either themed or not) on the Friday morning. There will be a token gift for all those who bring along a themed decorated homemade cake or cakes, so get your imaginations going over the half term break and bring in something exciting! Please remember to include your name with the cake so we know who to give the gift to. Shop-bought cakes won’t be eligible for a gift, but will still be very welcome. If you have any questions, please speak to a member of the PTA.

Coming soon - Our school Winter Fair on 25th November, and yes Father Christmas will be making an early visit! We will be collecting donations of sweets, chocolates, bottles, CDs, DVDs, books etc and prizes for the Raffle after half term, so if you are having a clear out during the holidays please think of the Winter Fair.


There will also be a Wreath Making evening in early December - your chance to make or buy a lovely wreath. Keep an eye out for further info.


Don’t forget the Clothes Recycling collection which will be on Wednesday 16 November, so please fill those bags over half term with any unwanted clothes, shoes, bedding (not duvets or pillows) and bags.


Finally, thanks to everyone who ordered Christmas cards - we have raised the fantastic total of £130.

Little Bears News
Little Bears return 31st October to a day of activities and dressing up for Halloween. Our topic will be “books” and our first book will be “Room on the Broom”.

Friday 4th November – Little Bears Photographs.


DIARY DATES:


Friday 21st October Little Bears open as usual
INSET Day at Stadhampton School – only teaching staff in school
Monday 31st October Term 2 begins at 9.00am for all pupils
Book Fair begins from 3.00 – 3.30pm
Tuesday 1st November PTA meeting in the hall at 8pm
Wednesday 2nd November Class 2 visit to Woodstock Museum
Year 5 visit to Icknield Community College for Wider World lesson
Friday 4th November PTA Halloween and Bonfire Cake Sale at 3.15pm in the Hall
Sunday 6th November Final Year 6 rehearsal for Youth Proms 2-5pm
Wednesday 9th November Year 6 pupils performing at the Royal Albert Hall!
Mobile Library
Monday 14th November Foundation Class & Class 1 visit the Oxford Museum of Natural History
Parents’ Evening
Wednesday 16th November PTA Clothes Recycling Collection
Parents’ Evening
Friday 25th November Winter Fair



Attachments to this newsletter:
• What next – Children’s Centre news update
• October Half-Term events at the Children’s Centre
• November & December events at the Children’s Centre

Newsletter No 6 - 14th October 2011

Open Morning
Thank you to everyone who came along to Open Morning this week. We were very pleased to show so many visitors around the school!

Parents Consultation Evenings
The dates for our Parents consultation Evenings have now been set for Monday 14th and Wednesday 16th November. Further details and reply slips have been sent home via book bags this week.

School Photographs
If you have not already returned orders for photographs to the school office, please do so by 9am tomorrow morning, as the orders are being collected then.

Plastic bottles needed!
School gardening club has an exciting new project to build a full-size plastic bottle greenhouse, using as many recycled materials as possible. Our plan is to complete construction over the autumn-winter period so that the children can begin to raise plants from seed under protection in the spring. As well as providing a new opportunity for our keen young gardeners, we hope that those pupils interested in design and technology and recycling will also want to get involved. Our basic building materials are 1,500 clear 2 litre plastic drinks bottles (rinsed out with lids and labels removed where possible please) and 140 6 foot garden canes. And this is where we need your help, please could you (and your friends and family) send in any empty water, cola, lemonade, squash bottles etc and any spare garden canes so that we can start to build the walls. We will be putting up a small display in school so that you can see photos of a finished greenhouse, the type of bottles required and other materials we will need to complete the job, together with an idea of what the children would like to grow in their greenhouse and veg patch next year. Thank you for your help.

P.T.A. News
Please remember to return your Christmas card orders and payment to the school office no later than Monday 17th October.

The “Bag2School” clothes recycling bags have been handed out in bookbags this week. The date for collection will be Wednesday 16th November at 9.00am. Extra bags can be obtained from the school office but black bin bags are also welcome.

Thank you to everyone who order plants to help raise extra funds for the P.T.A. we have received payment from cd Bell for £98.00.

Home/School Agreement
Although the deadline for returning the Home/School Agreement was the 14th October we realise that some families may have misplaced the document and we have put another copy into those bookbags this week. If you would like to discuss any aspect of this agreement then please speak to Mrs Turner.


Little Bears News
Little Bears is open as usual on Friday 21st October (it is just the school which is closed).
Next week we would love to go on a Farm visit to the Crazy Bear – we can’t go unless we get lots of helping hands, so please put your name on our helper list if you can. Don’t forget the Pie Sale on Thursday 20th October.

DIARY DATES:

Monday 17th October Last day for completed order forms and artwork for Christmas Cards
Tuesday 18th October Year 6 rehearsal for Youth Proms
Thursday 20th October Little Bears Pie Sale
Stadhampton School Term 1 ends at 3.15pm
Friday 21st October Little Bears open as usual
INSET Day at Stadhampton School – only teaching staff in school
Monday 31st October Term 2 begins at 9.00am for all pupils
Book Fair begins from 3.00 – 3.30pm
Tuesday 1st November PTA meeting in the hall at 8pm
Wednesday 2nd November Class 2 visit to Woodstock Museum
Year 5 visit to Icknield Community College for Wider World lesson
Sunday 6th November Final Year 6 rehearsal for Youth Proms 2-5pm
Wednesday 9th November Year 6 pupils performing at the Royal Albert Hall!
Mobile Library
Monday 14th November Foundation Class & Class 1 visit the Oxford Museum of Natural History
Parents’ Evening
Wednesday 16th November PTA Clothes Recycling Collection
Parents’ Evening

Newsletter No 5 - 7th October 2011

Happy OCTOBER Birthday to: Wyatt Bullock, Benjamin Duke, Sophie Hector, Oliver Lowman, Marcin Skwarek and Ellie Walker.

During OCTOBER we are focusing on RESPONSIBILITY

Old Ink Cartridges
We shall be sending off our collection of used ink cartridges shortly. If you have any used cartridges that you intend to put in the box, we would be grateful if they could be added to our collection as soon as possible, please. Thank you.

P.T.A. News
Look out for the “Bag2school” blue recycling bags in your child’s book bags next week! You can help the P.T.A. raise extra funds by collecting any clean, good quality adult and children’s clothes, shoes, belts, bags, bedding, towels or soft toys. The date of our next collection is at the school on Wednesday 16th November at 9.00am. Extra blue bags can be obtained via the school office, but black bin bags are also welcome.

Plant orders will be arriving in school on Thursday 13th October and will be ready for pick up after school at 3.15pm. Can we remind parents who are bringing cars, to allow other parents/carers to vacate the car park first before picking up their order from in front of the school. Thank you!

Watch out for your children's Christmas Card masterpieces coming home in book bags this week. If you wish you can add to this design (or even create another one!) but please refer to the guidance notes. You may place an order for as many packs of cards as you like. A pack of 12 cards costs just £5.50, additional packs cost £4.50. A pack of 12 gift tags costs £2.50 (and have to be with a card order). To ensure you get your cards, please return artwork, orders and payment to the school office by 14th October. Any queries please see Charlotte Hector or Rowena Dobson.


Little Bears News
Can everyone please remember to bring a stamped addressed envelope in to Little Bears next week. We wil also be talking about the Emergency Services. Don’t forget our Pie Sale on 20th October!

DIARY DATES:

Wednesday 12th October Open Morning at Stadhampton School and Little Bears. Please come and see us at work!
Thursday 20th October Little Bears Pie Sale
Term 1 ends at 3.15pm
Friday 21st October INSET Day - for teaching staff only
Monday 31st October Term 2 begins at 9.00am for all pupils
Book Fair begins from 3.00 – 3.30pm
Wednesday 16th November PTA Clothes Recycling Collection

Newsletter No 4 - 30th September 2011

Home/School Agreement
Each family should have received a copy of the Home/School Agreement form to sign. Thank you to the families who have already signed and returned this form to school. We hope to receive all forms back by 14th October. If you have any concerns or questions about signing this form, please contact me to discuss further.

Book Fair
We shall be holding a Book Fair in the school hall from the afternoon of Monday 31st October until the morning of Friday 4th November. We shall have the latest range of top quality reading books for sale as well as stationery items, which pupils will hopefully enjoy. Once takings have exceeded £100 the school receives commission on any other books sold and this is “spent” on buying new books for each classroom library. The Book Fair will be open each morning from 8.30am and then again in the afternoon from 3pm until 3.30pm. We would be happy for parents to stay on, after the children have gone into class for registration at 9am, if they would like to browse for Christmas presents. Leaflets have been sent home this week showing a selection of the books which will be available.

PTA News
We are meeting on the 4th October, in the School Hall, at 8pm, to discuss our calender of events. This is your chance to input into what the PTA do - what ideas have you got for fundraising, what would you like to see the PTA organise? Please feel free to come along and join us, or talk to any of
the PTA committee outside school.

The deadline for plant orders is on 3rd October. Please ensure you have your order form and money into the school office before then. Plants will be delivered to the school on Thursday 13th October.

Just think - there are less than a 100 days to Christmas! As in previous years, all the children will be designing personalised Christmas cards for you to order and use. Full details will be in book bags this week. All orders and payment will need to be in by 16th October, so be prepared to see Christmas card designs coming home soon and get your orders in!

Please remember to keep any green Waitrose charity tokens for our school collection in December. You can either put them in the collection box in the school hall now, or keep them until December to put in our collection box at the Thame store.

Recorders
Recorder lessons for all pupils in Year 3 to Year 6 will recommence on Monday 31st October. These lessons form part of the KS2 music curriculum and usually take place on Monday afternoons. Because of some changes to our Class curriculum timetables, recorder lessons will normally take place during Terms 2, 4 and 6 (i.e. the second half of each long term). For hygiene reasons pupils are asked to provide their own, named recorder – these can be bought from any good music shop, but, for convenience, we also have a stock in school and these are available at a cost of £6.50 each. Pupils in Year 3 may also benefit from having a copy of Recorder Book 1 which is also available from the school office at a cost of £3.50. Cheques for the payment of either item should be made payable to OCC.

Chiltern Edge Cross CountryFlyer attached to this newsletter for anyone who might be interested in these events.

Little Bears News
Next week we will be looking at travelling by sea. We hope to make a large yellow submarine so boxes would be greatfully received.
Has anyone got any Brio train track and/or trains that they would be willing to donate to Little Bears?


DIARY DATES:

Monday 3rd October Meeting of the School Governing Body at 7pm
Deadline for PTA plant orders
Tuesday 4th October PTA Meeting in the Hall at 8pm
Wednesday 5th October Mobile Library visit
Friday 7th October Harvest Festival in school at 9.05am. Please bring a small Harvest Gift.
Wednesday 12th October Open Morning at Stadhampton School and Little Bears. Please come and see us at work!
Thursday 20th October Little Bears Pie Sale
Term 1 ends at 3.15pm
Friday 21st October INSET Day for teaching staff only
Monday 31st October Term 2 begins at 9.00am for all pupils
Wednesday 16th November PTA Clothes Recycling Collection

Newsletter No 3 - 23rd February 2011

Starting School
Parents with a child born between 1st September 2007 and 31st August 2008 must apply for a school place for entry in the academic year beginning September 2012. The closing date for applications is 16th January 2012. You may apply on-line at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/admissions or by completing a paper CAP form available in the “Starting School” booklet, which is available from the school office, if you have not already received one from the Local Authority.

Year 6 Secondary School Applications
Families of Year 6 pupils should have received a letter from the Admissions Team at Oxfordshire County Council explaining the process for applying for a place at their chosen secondary school. If Year 6 parents have NOT received this letter, please ask Mrs Hopkins for a booklet which contains the application form. The closing date for on-time applications is 31st October.

Boiler replacement works and impact on car park
The safety fencing securing the area set aside for the workmen impacts on the number of spaces available in the school car park. We ask that parents try to find alternatives to parking in the car park, especially at the end of the school day, unless unavoidable. The taxis transporting Stadhampton School pupils and Mr Cuddy, our cleaner-in-charge should be the only cars/vans parking by the kerb alongside the front door. We thank parents for their understanding and co-operation in this matter.

End of day collection
Thank you to all parents for waiting in our enclosed outside area when picking up your child(ren). This system works well with Reception parents walking round the school (when the lock is taken off the gate.) The area outside Class 1 is now less busy and so it is easier for the small children to see their parents and get through the gate. When the weather changes, please do still stay outside the gate so that all children in the school can pass easily through Class 1’s outside/covered area.

Work Party
We are most grateful to the Dad’s who helped to prepare and seed the old climbing frame area on Monday evening.

Parent support hearing readers in Classes 1,2 and 3
Thank you to the parents who have responded to the requests from class teachers to help hear pupils read in school. We realise that time is precious and your support is much appreciated. We would still welcome further offers of help – if you would like to volunteer, please speak to your child’s class teacher. It is especially helpful if parents are able to commit to a time slot on a regular basis, even if it is only for a 6-week period for example.

Music for Youth Schools’ Prom, Royal Albert Hall, 9th November 2011
We are delighted that Stadhampton School is one of the 34 schools selected to represent Oxfordshire in the Music for Youth Schools’ Prom at the Royal Albert Hall, London, on 9th November this year. We are only able to take one year-group to this prestigious event and, on this occasion, our Year 6 pupils will have this priviledge. A choral work, called “Oxonia” has been composed specifically for the event by Dr John Traill, composer in residence at the University of Oxford and the pupils have already started rehearsing with other Oxfordshire schools. This is the first time that Stadhampton School pupils have been involved in this event and it is very exciting for all involved – it sounds tremendous!

Information leaflets for pupils
This week we have sent home, via bookbags, two leaflets for parents of pupils in Classes 1, 2 and 3. These are: “Supporting your child at home in Mathematics” to provide information and ideas linked with the maths your child will be learning in their current year group and a “Big Writing” information sheet outlining a fresh approach in Literacy which we are adopting to continue to raise the profile and standard of writing. From time to time this initiative will involve “Talking Homework” for you to discuss together at home. The themes for discussion will be sent home via bookbags prior to each class’s Big Writing session. We do hope you will enjoy being involved in this initiative.

Harvest Gifts
We hope that each child will be able to bring in a small Harvest Gift for our Harvest Service on Friday 7th October. This will take place in the Hall at 9.05am and families are most welcome to join us. After the Harvest Service in the village church on Sunday 9th October, the gifts will be taken to The Porch, a centre in Oxford for homeless people. The Porch prefer to receive items such as packets of pasta, tins of beans, bars of chocolate, packets of biscuits, tins of tomatoes, tins of spaghetti, etc rather than fresh produce. Thank you.

Thank you to the P.T.A.
The P.T.A. works extremely hard to support this school socially and financially and their generous contributions make a huge difference to the provision of “extra” opportunities and facilities for all pupils at Stadhampton School. At the recent P.T.A. AGM there was an election of officers and there have been some changes. We would like to take this opportunity to say a big “thank you” to Mrs Madry (Chair) and Mr White (Treasurer) both of whom have stood down as officers, for their hard work and tireless support of the school. Congratulations to the new Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. We look forward to working with you.

P.T.A. News – final message from Mrs Madry
Thank you to those parents who came to the A.G.M on Tuesday 20th September. The P.T.A. is very pleased to announce that a new constitution has now been put in place according to NCPTA recommendations. We are also pleased to announce that the key officer roles have been filled by Diana Woodwards – Chair, Charlotte Hector - Treasurer and Rowena Dobson – Secretary. We wish them lots of luck for the year ahead in their task of continuing to raise extra funds for the children.
We have arranged another meeting for Tuesday 4th October 8.00pm in the School Hall where we will be planning the first fundraising events of the year. Please come along if you can and help support us - your P.T.A. needs you!
Some of the P.T.A. fundraising events that are already underway that we would like to remind you of are:

• The CD/video/computer games collection has now reached over 100 items!! Please keep bringing them into school.
• Please note our next clothes recycling collection will be on Wednesday 16th November at 9.00am. (Not the 4th as previously advertised – sorry our mistake!) Look out for the recycling bags in book bags the week beginning Monday 10th October.
(All details of the two above fundraisers can be found on our fact sheet sent home at the start of term)
• Mrs Tracy Perring will be offering parents the opportunity to purchase certain items of school uniform from the Uniform Shop on Thursday afternoons in Little Bears from 3.15 to 3.30pm. Please make a note that the shop will close promptly at 3.30! A small proceed from sales goes towards P.T.A. funds.
• Hopefully all families should have received a form inside book bags giving you the opportunity to order plants through the P.T.A. Please can we remind everyone who wishes to make a purchase to return your form and money back to the school office by Monday 3rd October. Thank You! We can now confirm that the delivery date for orders arriving at school will be Thursday 13th October.
• Finally, the P.T.A. is pleased to announce that in December, we have been chosen to be one of Waitrose’s charities lucky enough to receive a share of £1,000 that the supermarket generously donates each month. The Thame Branch of Waitrose has said that our collection box will be in store throughout December when shoppers can place their green tokens in it to help support us. Shoppers can collect green tokens at the checkout before they leave the store. The more tokens we get, the larger our share of the £1,000! If you shop at Waitrose please think of the children at the school. Start collecting your green tokens now and take them to the Thame branch in December to put in our collection box and help us receive a share of £1,000. Alternatively, if you don’t shop in Thame please drop your tokens into the school at your convenience and we will do the honours for you! There is a labelled collection box in the school hall.
• P.T.A. WARNING! – We would like to let parents/carers know that we will be offering the opportunity for you to purchase Christmas cards made by your children in October – Watch this space for more info to follow!

Little Bears News
Next week at Little Bears we will be looking at the shape of road signs and what they mean, talking about road safety and making lots of large vehicles with junk modeling. So look out all those old shoe boxes, milk tops, yogurt pots etc for this. On the 20th October we will be having a Pie Sale after school so please pop in or if you like to get baking all pie contributions will be gratefully received.

DIARY DATES:

Thursday 29th September Icknield Community College Open Evening
Monday 3rd October Meeting of the School Governing Body at 7pm
Wednesday 5th October Mobile Library visit
Friday 7th October Harvest Festival in school at 9.05am.
Wednesday 12th October Open Morning at Stadhampton School and Little Bears
Thursday 20th October Little Bears Pie Sale
Term 1 ends at 3.15pm
Friday 21st October INSET Day for teaching staff only
Monday 31st October Term 2 begins at 9.00am for all pupils
Wednesday 16th November PTA Clothes Recycling

Newsletter No 2 - 16th September 2011

Work Party Required! Can you help please?
We are most grateful to Mr Khan for a donation of top soil which will be delivered onto the area behind the new climbing frame this morning. We already have some grass seed kindly donated by Mr and Mrs Birtles and Mr and Mrs Pattisson and would really appreciate any help parents could give us by raking the top soil and sowing the seed. If anyone could spare an hour or so on Monday evening at 6.30pm, please come along with a rake! Thank you.

Class Topics/Areas of Study
An outline of the topics/areas of study for each class for Terms 1 and 2 was sent home earlier this week via book bags.

Privacy Notices for New Pupils
In order to comply with Data Protection, we are required by law to issue privacy notices to parents of new pupils so that they can be aware that the school and Local Authority hold confidential records about pupils. The information sheet which explains what we hold and why we need to hold it has been sent home to parents via book bags this week.

Open Morning at Stadhampton School and Little Bears
Stadhampton Primary School and Little Bears Pre-School will be holding a joint Open Morning on Wednesday 12th October between 9.00am and 11.30am. Parents and other visitors are most welcome to come along and see the school at work during this time.

PTA News
The PTA would like to welcome and say hello to all new families to the school. We hope you have received our fact sheet inside book bags which explains who we are and what we do. We will keep you informed of all the exciting fundraising events that we have planned over the year in this newsletter each week, so please keep your eyes open for dates and ways in which you can support us. Our AGM will be held in the school hall at 8pm on Tuesday 20th September. Please do try to come along and join the team to help raise some extra funds for the school and its pupils. We will give a report on the AGM in next week’s newsletter, so please watch this space!

Harvest Gifts
We hope that each child will be able to bring in a small Harvest Gift for our Harvest Service on Friday 7th October. This will take place in the Hall at 9.05am and families are most welcome to join us. After the Harvest Service in the village church on Sunday 9th October, the gifts will be taken to The Porch, a centre in Oxford for homeless people. The Porch prefer to receive items such as packets of pasta, tins of beans, bars of chocolate, packets of biscuits, tins of tomatoes, tins of spaghetti, etc rather than fresh produce. Thank you.

School Council
Congratulations to the following pupils who were elected by the pupils on to the School Council for Terms 1 & 2:
Year 6: Ewan Madry and Olivia Dallimore; Year 5: Bryce Dobson and Millie Birtles; Year 4: Rhys Brown and Amy Matthews; Year 3: Alfie Howard and Amy Freeman; Year 2: James Lowman and Tia Khan.

Little Bears News
Next week Little Bears are going to be looking at railways and steam. They will be doing lots of activities which involve trains. We would be pleased to see any items or books which you have relating to this topic.


DIARY DATES:

Wednesday 21st September School photographs for all pupils. Pupils will be photographed individually and with other siblings in school automatically. If any families would like a family photograph taken or photos taken with younger siblings, please come into the Hall at 8.45am.
Year 5 pupils go to ICC for a PE lesson. Please take PE kit and trainers with you.
Friday 23rd September Year 5 & 6 and their parents assembly with Mr Hunter, Head of Icknield Community College at 2.45pm
Thursday 29th September Icknield Community College Open Evening
Monday 3rd October Meeting of the School Governing Body at 7pm
Wednesday 5th October Mobile Library visit
Friday 7th October Harvest Festival in school at 9.05am.
Wednesday 12th October Open Morning at Stadhampton School and Little Bears
Thursday 20th October Term 1 ends at 3.15pm
Friday 21st October INSET Day for teaching staff only
Monday 31st October Term 2 begins at 9.00am for all pupils
Friday 4th November PTA Clothes Recycling


Attachments to this newsletter:
• Oxfordshire Early Intervention Hub Open Day
• Open Evening at Icknield Community College

Newsletter No 1 - 9th September 2011

Welcome to the start of a new school year!
We are pleased to welcome the following new children into the Foundation Stage Class: William Bowerman, Wyatt Bullock, Beau Burnell, William Eaton, Lorenzo Elliott, Gene Green, Charlie Hackett, Mikka Haskins-Hall, Isabel Hector, Isabel Homes, Isabella Kenny, Isobel Macleod, Jemima O’Brien and Samuel Sundberg. We are also pleased to welcome Amy Matthews back to Stadhampton School (in Class 2.)

Happy belated AUGUST Birthday to: Amelia Birtles, Rhys Brown, Cora White and Abigail Wright.

Happy SEPTEMBER Birthday to: Charlie Austin, Isabella Dickens, Bryce Dobson, Phoebe Hindmarch, Alfie Howard, Annabel Roe, Chloe Scragg and Lawrence Wright.

During the month of SEPTEMBER we are focusing on the core value of CO-OPERATION


School Meals
A reminder that the cost of a school meal has increased to £2.10 per day. Cheques for school meals should be made payable to Oxfordshire County Council with Stadhampton Primary School written on the back of the cheque please and sent into the office on Monday morning (or whichever day of the week the school begins on after a school holiday). Thank you.

Swimming at Berinsfield
Class 2 pupils will be swimming at the Abbey Sports Centre in Berinsfield, starting on Monday 12th September. They will have 6 sessions. As always, we appreciate a “voluntary contribution” of £1, per child, per session towards the transport costs. Cheques for swimming should be made payable to Stadhampton Primary School, please. All pupils must have a swimming hat.

Composting Bin
The Gardening Club would love to have another composting bin if anyone should happen to have one that they would be willing to donate.

PTA Clothes Recycling
Advanced warning – we will be collecting unwanted clothes, shoes, towels, curtains, bedding (no duvets or pillows), in black bags for the next recycling collection on 4th November. More details of this, and other PTA fundraising events, will follow shortly.

Year 5 and 6 Assembly with Mr Hunter
Mr Hunter, the new Head of Icknield Community College will be taking an assembly for Year 5 and 6 pupils and any parents of those pupils who are able to attend at Stadhampton School on Friday 23rd September at 2.45pm. Please do come along if you can as there will be an opportunity at the end to ask Mr Hunter any questions you may have about life at ICC.

Message from Chalgrove and Watlington Children’s Centre
A new “Promoting Positive Behaviours” course at Chalgrove & Watlington Children’s Centre – (Chalgrove Site) will begin on Tuesday 27th September from 9.15am – 11.30am. For more information please contact either Jane Bellars, Home School Community Link Worker: -07719 735573 or Denise Hooper, Children’s Centre Support Worker: 07948 348632.

Guitar Lessons at Stadhampton School
Guitar lessons for participating pupils will begin again on Friday 23rd September. The lessons are between 12 and 1 and open to pupils in Years 3-6. Please contact the school office if you would like further details of the costs involved and an application form.

Little Bears News
Little Bears are pleased to welcome the following new children this week: Jack, Lexi, Toby, Olivia, Casey, Rudi, Chloe, Nat, Nate and Emily. We are enjoying getting to know the children and their parents.
We are also starting out topic work for this term which is about transport by making some collage buses.
Please remember to send in a piece of fruit or vegetable for our morning snack and also wellies now that the weather is turning.


DIARY DATES:

Monday 12th September After-school hockey club begins for participating pupils
Tuesday 13th September After –school cookery club begins for participating pupils
Wednesday 14th September After-school netball and multi-skills clubs begin for participating pupils
Thursday 15th September After-school football club begins for participating pupils
Wednesday 21st September School photographs for all pupils. Pupils will be photographed individually and with other siblings in school automatically. If any families would like a family photograph taken or photos taken with younger siblings, please come into the Hall at 8.45am.
Thursday 29th September Icknield Community College Open Evening
Friday 4th November PTA Clothes Recycling

Newsletter No 7 - 22nd July 2011

We would like to say goodbye and good luck to our Year 6 leavers; Alice Madry, Amy Akers, Chloe Brown, Benedict Diment, Ben Drake, Tom Leighfield, Andrew Oakley, Pola Onopiuk and Amber Tomkins, who are all transferring to Icknield Community College. We wish them all every success in the future.

New School Prospectus
Our updated school prospectus for the new academic year beginning in September has been uploaded onto the school website. It contains lots of information and some lovely new pictures, please take the time to have a look at it during the summer break.

Premier Sports Holiday Course at Stadhampton School
The holiday course will take place at Stadhampton School from 25th – 29th July for those pupils who have already booked a place. It is also possible to register and pay on the day. If the weather is good the course will be mainly outdoors but it will take place indoors if the weather is wet.

School Meals
Reminder school meals will increase to £2.10 per day when we return in September. Cheques for school meals should be made payable to Oxfordshire County Council with Stadhampton Primary School written on the back of the cheque please.

Swimming at Berinsfield Pool
Class 2 will start their swimming sessions at the Abbey Sports Centre in Berinsfield on Monday 12th September. They will have 6 sessions. For families new to these swimming sessions, pupils need to bring their own swimming trunks or costume, a swimming hat and a towel on Monday mornings. As always,we appreciate a “voluntary contribution” of £1, per child, per session towards the transport costs. Cheques for swimming should be made payable to Stadhampton Primary School, please.

School Grounds Working Party
Many thanks to the group of volunteer dads who provided our own version of Groundforce earlier this week. They helped clear the ground where the old climbing frame was, in preparation for seeding with grass.

School Council Talent Show
On Thursday 20th July Stadhampton School held a talent show, which featured acts from all year groups! Acts included some impressive piano playing, singing and dancing and even some comedy! Mrs Wilkin, Mrs Shortman and Naomi Manzie kindly judged the acts and declared Ella Perring the winner, due to her lovely rendition of “Part of their World.” Georgia Valentine and Millie Birtles came second with their gymnastics/dance act. Thank you to all school council members this school year who were all involved in the development and organisation of the final show.

P.T.A.
We were fortunate that the rain held off for Sports Night last Friday! A HUGE THANK YOU to Mr Gerring for sourcing the most delicious sausages and burgers for the BBQ; Shirley Bateman, Denise Shortman and Nikki Howlett for cooking and serving them; And finally Alan Manzie and Joy Hopkins for serving drinks and refreshments at the bar. A very good time was had by all and next year the P.T.A. will try and make sure the bar doesn’t run out of alcohol quite so quickly!
The best news has to be that we made a staggering £661.56 profit towards P.T.A. funds on the night, which is a truly fantastic way to end the school year.


Thank you to everyone who purchased food and refreshments for our final event of the year – it makes the effort all worth while!

As this is the last newsletter of the school year, the P.T.A. would like to thank all families, relations, members of the community, staff and friends who have supported us. Without your help and backing our school would not be able to give the pupils those very special extras that make their time at Stadhampton School a really positive experience. This year has resulted in being a truly fantastic one for the children with the new play equipment being installed well before the year sixes leave for secondary school.
The P.T.A. is very pleased to announce we have donated over £8,000 towards the school this year, £5,000 of which went towards the play equipment. Other purchases have included contributions towards French lessons for all pupils, visits by the Daylight Theatre Company, contributions to school trips for pupils to museums, new benches and drape posts around the mosaic and some new rugby shirts for the children to wear on sports events when visiting other schools.
This means our fundraising has to begin again with great enthusiasm next September and we hope you will all continue to support us to help provide some more wonderful experiences for the children – you make it possible, so on behalf of the all the pupils – THANK YOU.


Little Bears News
Little Bears newsletter which contains dates parents need to know about for September, as well as goodbyes to our leavers and welcome to our new pupils are available from Little Bears if you have not received an electronic copy.



DIARY DATES:

25th – 29th July Holiday course run by Premier Sports Group


Monday 5th & Tuesday 6th September Teacher INSET Days
Wednesday 7th September Pupils return to school
Wednesday 21st September School photographs



We wish everyone a great summer break!

Newsletter No 6 - 15th July 2011

Absence in this school year
Thank you to all parents for their support in trying to reduce the number of days pupils are absent from school. Absence figures relate to both sickness and holidays taken during term-time. In the present academic year, which is almost at an end, we have managed to reduce our absence figures from 3.3% to 3.2%. Our target for the academic year beginning in September is to reduce absence to 3% in total.

Fruit and Vegetables for breaktime
Just a general reminder that all pupils are welcome to have some fruit or vegetable at morning break. Pupils in Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 (Class 1) currently have fruit already available at school through a government funded scheme. Unfortunately this does not extend to pupils in Years 3-6 but pupils are welcome to bring their own in from home and keep it in their lunch bag or their drawer. As a health issue we request that other forms of snacks at breaktime (ie chewy bars/biscuits) are avoided.

Class 3 involvement in reading research for the University of Oxford PhD
Year 5 and Year 6 pupils were recently due to work with a PhD student from the University of Oxford. Unfortunately this has not been able to go ahead at this time due to reasons out of our control. There are plans for this to take place with Year 6 pupils next year.

Cycling Safely Training
Congratulations to the following pupils who have successfully passed their cycle training test: Alice Madry, Amy Akers, Andrew Oakley, Chloe Brown, Benedict Diment, Tom Leighfield, Ben Drake, Amber Tomkins and Pola Onopiuk. We are extremely grateful to Eileen Birtles, Sarah Green, Elaine Leighfield, Lisa Scragg and Emma Vale for giving up their time to provide pupils with their training.

Tuesday 19th July
All pupils are going to be treated to a day off timetable next Tuesday. There will be a morning of PE/outdoor activities after assembly followed by a Daylight Theatre performance of Robin Hood in the afternoon. Please ensure that all pupils have PE kit and plimsolls or trainers in school.

Premier Sports Holiday Course at Stadhampton School
Booking forms are now available for the sports course being held at Stadhampton School from 25th – 29th July from the school office. Please note that the cost of the course is now £6 a day for 9-3pm.

P.T.A.
Thank you so much to all families who have purchased food tickets in advance of tonight’s sports night. If the rain can hold off until at least 8.00pm then it should promise to be a great, fun filled evening! The P.T.A. would like to remind everyone to bring their food tickets along tonight to claim their burgers or hotdogs please. You will need them for proof of purchase and it will help us to give you the correct orders. Thank you! We look forward to seeing you on the school field from 6.00pm, when the bar should be open and the food ready to serve from this time onwards. Races will start promptly at 6.30pm.

Our collection of CD’s, DVD’s and computer games has grown to 70 plus! Thanks go to everyone who has already donated. Keep collecting over the holidays and the P.T.A. will remind you again in the new school year to bring any items into school to help raise extra funds and to get a free football kit for the school.

This is a plea from the P.T.A. to all strong, willing volunteers, who would like to do “their bit” for their child’s school! We have now managed to clear the site where the old equipment used to stand and are desperately in need of just a few more helping hands to rake, clear roots and weeds and make good the ground for sowing some grass seed. Bob Stewart has very kindly offered to lead a working party of willing volunteers for a couple of hours on Saturday 16th July from 10am–12pm. In the interest of health and safety, it would be easier if pupils were not on the school site at this time.

Chalgrove and Watlington Children’s Centre
“Promoting positive behaviour in children 0-12 years” at the Chalgrove Site on Tuesday 27th September 9.15-11.30am. For more information contact Jane Bellars on 07719 736673.

New After-School Club at Stadhampton School
Mrs Shortman has kindly offered to run an after-school cooking club from September 2011. The opportunity will be offered to a year group at a time and will run for 5 weeks. Places will be limited to ten pupils, offered on a first come-first served basis. The cost for the 5 sessions will be £20 in total which will also cover the cost of the ingredients. The emphasis of the club is to have fun and share in the enjoyment of preparing, cooking and presenting good home-made food whilst learning the importance of food and personal hygiene, basic knife skills, i.e. chopping, slicing and peeling. Pupils will learn some simple cooking techniques relating to pastries, cakes, soups and sauces.

Year 6 pupils will have the first opportunity, so look out for the letters in the first week of September.

Banbury Museum Visit – Report by Alice
“On Wednesday 11th July Class 3 went to Banbury Museum. When we first got there we went in to a room and talked about the Civil War. After that we all went upstairs and looked at the Civil War artefacts and then did some acting. It was quite strange pretending to be people back in those times! We then had lunch and had one last look around the museum before we left.”


Little Bears News
We are busy practicing for our sports day on Friday 22nd July at 11am. All parents are reminded to bring something to sit on and a picnic. We are also looking forward to having our reward from Elmer the Elephant!


DIARY DATES:

Wednesday 20th July Mobile Library. All books to be returned please.
Friday 22nd July End of school year assembly at 9.05am in hall. All welcome.
Term 6 ends at 1.30pm
25th – 29th July Holiday course run by Premier Sports Group


Monday 5th & Tuesday 6th September Teacher INSET Days
Wednesday 7th September Pupils return to school
Wednesday 21st September School photographs

Newsletter No 5 - 8th July 2011

Three Transition Days
It has been a pleasure to welcome our new Foundation stage pupils into school for three days this week. We look forward to them joining us full-time in September. All other pupils enjoyed spending three days this week practising being the year group that they will be in September.

Welcome to Charlie Austin
We were pleased to welcome Charlie Austin this week into Class 1. Charlie has now permanently transferred to Stadhampton School.

Home/School Agreement Consultation
A reminder that any responses to our recent letter regarding the Home/School Agreement should be returned to the office by Monday 11th July.

New Play Equipment and suitable footwear
Please could all pupils have trainers in school every day, both for outdoor PE and for accessing the new play equipment. Neither sandals nor wellies are suitable for wearing on the climbing equipment and we don’t want anyone to miss out! Thank you.

Premier Sports Holiday Course at Stadhampton School
Booking forms are now available for the sports course being held at Stadhampton School from 25th – 29th July from the school office. Please note that the cost of the course is now £6 a day for 9-3pm.

P.T.A. News
With only three weeks left of the school year the P.T.A. are looking forward to a very well earned rest. But before we put our feet up with a glass of something cold and refreshing, we are putting the final plans in place for the Sports Night next Friday 15th July 6.00pm onwards, on the school field. Today (Friday 8th) is your last chance to purchase food tickets for Hot dogs and Burgers, both at £2.00 each. You can still buy tickets from Joy Hopkins in the school office during today and Sarah Madry will be at the school gates with tickets from 3.00–3.30pm. (Cheques made payable to Stadhampton Primary School P.T.A. please.) There will be a Bar at the sports night selling alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and all proceeds from the Bar and the BBQ will go towards P.T.A. funds. Do please support us for our last event of the year where we can all meet up and socialise, whilst cheering on our children in the races.

Our CD/DVD/computer game collection is off to a brilliant start - we already have over 50 items! This means that we are well on the way of reaching our goal to obtain 250 discs to claim a free five-a-side football kit for the school and raise extra funds for the P.T.A. at the same time. To receive payment from musicMagpie (who will give the P.T.A. 50p per item) we need to collect CDs and DVDs that have their original notes and sleeves as well as a bar code on the reverse. Unfortunately we can’t send CDs or DVDs that have been given free in newspapers or magazines as these do not have a barcode. Also musicMagpie will only take CD albums, not singles. Computer games discs must be compatible with Playstation3, Xbox and Xbox360 consoles. WE CAN NOT SEND VHS VIDEOS! Please look through your CD and DVD collection, raid the unwanted computer games, ask relatives, neighbours and friends as well and bring any unwanted films, music and games into school and place in the red P.T.A. box in the hall. You can keep collecting over the summer holidays and bring them to school in September. If each family donates just five CDs, DVDs or computer games, we will raise £150.00 towards P.T.A. funds and get the free kit too! Thank you for giving.

Calling all Dads! - This is a plea from the P.T.A. to all strong, willing fathers, who would like to do “their bit” for their child’s school! As you know, the School and P.T.A. have managed to achieve their goal of replacing the old play equipment with some fantastic new apparatus that has made a huge difference to the children’s playtime. With the help of Ian Burnell (thank you!) we have now managed to clear the site where the old equipment used to stand and are desperately in need of just a few more helping hands to rake, clear roots and weeds and make good the ground for sowing some grass seed. Bob Stewart has very kindly offered to lead a working party of willing volunteers for a couple of hours on Saturday 16th July from 10am–12pm. We would also be very grateful for some volunteers to clean up the picnic benches and maybe give them a new coat of wood preserver. If you fancy helping and are free on the above date, please could you contact the school office for more information. Thank You!

Rounders Tournament
Well done to our rounders team who played really well at the recent tournament. Here is a tournament report by one of the pupils:

Report by Ella Mae (Year 5)
On the 6th July a group of 9 pupils from Stadhampton School participated in a rounders tournament at Icknield Community College. We played 4 matches and got through to the final. In the first rounds we won two games and lost one. In the end we lost to RAF Benson in the final by only half a rounder!

Healthy Snack Competition
Pupils will be bringing home today a poster about a healthy snack competition which will take place on Friday 15th July.

Little Bears News
We are looking forward next week to our “Dino Cave” and “Dino Dig” in the garden. We can’t wait to hear how our Little Bears got on in Reception Class this week! Happy Birthday to Archie Dickens and Freya Clapton who both turned 3 and to Mya Khan who will be 3 soon.



DIARY DATES:


Wednesday 13th July Class 3 visit to Banbury Museum
Friday 15th July Sports evening (weather permitting)
Wednesday 20th July Mobile Library. All books to be returned please.
Friday 22nd July End of school year assembly at 9.05am in hall. All welcome.
Term 6 ends at 1.30pm
25th – 29th July Holiday course run by Premier Sports Group



Monday 5th & Tuesday 6th September Teacher INSET Days
Wednesday 7th September Pupils return to school
Wednesday 21st September School photographs

Newsletter No 4 - 1st July 2011

Happy JULY Birthday to: Georgia Day, Benjamin Drake, Ayisha Hall and Andrew Oakley.

During July we are focusing on the core value of FREEDOM

School Meal Price Increase
We have been advised that the price of a school meal will rise to £2.10 per day from 1st September. We should remind everyone that school meals need to be ordered and paid for, please, on the first morning of the school week or in advance for the term. Cheques for school meals should be made payable to Oxfordshire County Council with Stadhampton School written on the back of the cheque. The school’s financial accounting package (SAP), requires payment for school meals to be kept entirely separate from payments for swimming, after-school clubs or trips. Thank you to all parents for their co-operation in this matter.

Premier Sports Holiday Course at Stadhampton School
Booking forms are now available for the sports course being held at Stadhampton School from 25th – 29th July from the school office. Please note that the cost of the course is now £6 a day for 9-3pm.

Samba Drumming Workshops
On Friday 24th June you may have heard the unmistakeable sounds of Notting Hill Carnival emenating from school. All pupils participated in a series of Samba drumming workshops which, as the weather was dry, we were able to hold in our new outdoor classroom. Pupils thoroughly enjoyed this event and a number of parents were able to come to the short presentation at the end of the afternoon. This event was funded by Extended Services to tie in with the Watlington Partnership of Schools link with schools in Argentina. The drumming was much louder than any of us had anticipated and I apologise if the noise inconvenienced anyone – it will not be a regular event!

Partnership Tennis Tournament – Report by Class 3
On Monday 27th June, 9 pupils from Stadhampton School attended the Icknield Partnership Tennis Tournament. The final was all Stadhampton pupils with Andrew and Tom finishing as runners-up and the winners were Ben and Benedict. Congratulations to all who took part.

Big Science Event
Yet again Stadhampton School pupils have reached the final of the Oxfordshire Big Science Event. This is an annual event which, this year, involved over 3000 children in Oxfordshire. Pupils work in small groups over a period of a few months to independently conduct a science investigation of their own design. Then they need to create a poster displaying all their findings. These are then judged in school against a detailed criteria and then the school winners are judged by a representative from Science Oxford. Here is a report from our team:
“On 30th June 2011 Chloe Hindmarch, Chloe Scragg, Matty Green and Ewan Madry went to the Big Science Event final. Out of 3000 children across Oxfordshire who entered, only ten groups got to the final. We didn’t win but we enjoyed the day anyway. We also learnt a lot.”

P.E. Kits in School
Please could all pupils have their PE kits in school every day. As Sports Evening approaches we will be taking advantage of additional opportunities to practice! Also pupils in Reception will need to have their PE kit in on Thursday as they will be taking part in a Premier Sports
led PE session as part of their Transition Day. Thank you.

Thank you
We are very grateful to Mr Burnell and to Mr Leighfield for their recent help with our on-going school grounds improvements.

P.T.A. News
A reminder that food tickets are available from the school office for Sports Evening on 15th July and are on sale until Friday 8th July. Please note: We will not be able to offer any tickets for sale after Friday the 8th July. You can purchase a Hot dog or a burger for the very reasonable price of £2.00 each and there is no limit as to how many you may wish to buy. This is the perfect way to end the school year – so order your food now and don’t miss out!

The P.T.A. is hoping that you will be able to support our last fundraising venture of the school year by donating any unwanted CDs and DVDs. If we can manage to collect a minimum of 250 discs, we can claim a free five-a-side football kit for the school! The P.T.A. has worked out if each family donates just five CDs or DVDs we will reach our goal easily and also raise £150.00 towards P.T.A. funds. If we exceed this amount the P.T.A. will obviously receive more money – plus the free kit!
To receive payment we need to collect CDs and DVDs that have their original notes and sleeves as well as a bar code on the reverse. Unfortunately we can’t send CDs or DVDs that have been given free in newspapers or magazines as these do not have a barcode. Also musicMagpie will only take CD albums, not singles.

Many thanks once again to all who entered cakes for The Great Stadhampton Bake Off 2011, it was a lovely event and the standard of the entries was extremely high! Extra special thanks must go to Miss Mould and Mrs Leiper for their help with refreshments and to former pupils Conall Fernie and Jessica Tombling for their help in setting up and clearing up after the event.

We are delighted to announce that the PTA will be producing a booklet with cake recipes and pictures very shortly so you and your families can try baking some of the entries yourselves over the summer holidays. There are still some Tupperware cake boxes left so if you are missing one please get in touch with Eimer Fernie or Diana Woodwards.

If you’re shopping online please remember to consider using The Giving Machine, the more money spent through The Giving Machine the more money the school receives! Their retailer list is huge and includes names such as, M&S, Early Learning Centre, Boots, Carphone Warehouse, Clarks, Matalan and Debenhams, link is below. You can set The Giving Machine as your homepage or add it to your bookmarks by clicking in the top right hand corner on their website.
http://www.thegivingmachine.co.uk/

Little Bears News
Little Bears Pre-school will be holding their hugely popular Strawberry Fair once again on THURSDAY 7 JULY from 3pm onwards. There will be lots to do - tombola, lucky dip, craft stalls and more, plus lots to eat and drink as well as goodies to win.
Please join us and support Little Bears in the process - we're fundraising towards improvements for our garden area too!

DIARY DATES:
Wednesday 6th July, Thursday 7th July, Friday 8th July Transition days for all pupils. Reception Class mini-topic will be “All About Me”, Class 1 mini-topic will be “The Seaside”, Class 2 mini-topic will be “Cats” and Class 3 mini-topic will be “Pinocchio.”
Wednesday 13th June Class 3 visit to Banbury Museum
Friday 15th July Sports evening (weather permitting)
Wednesday 20th July Mobile Library
Friday 22nd July End of school year assembly at 9.05am in hall. All welcome.
Term 6 ends at 1.30pm
25th – 29th July Holiday course run by Premier Sports Group

Monday 5th & Tuesday 6th September Teacher INSET Days
Wednesday 7th September Pupils return to school
Wednesday 21st September School photographs