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