Newsletter for week ending 26th October 2012

Cycling Safety Training
Congratulations to the following Year 6 children who have successfully passed their cycle safety training: Millie Birtles, Bryce Dobson, Benjamin Duke, Matthew Ellis, Orla Fernie, Molly Howard and Georgia Valentine. We hope to be able to organise another opportunity for a re-test and cycle sessions for Year 6’s and 5’s in the spring. We are very grateful to Mrs Scragg, Mrs Green, Mrs Ellis, Mrs Birtles and particularly to Mrs Leighfield, who no longer has a child at Stadhampton School, for providing this opportunity for us.

Swimming at Berinsfield
Swimming will begin for Class 3 pupils on Monday 5th November (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 and lifeguard costs by contributing £2 a week towards this. Thank you to the parents/carers of pupils in Class 2, who all paid last term. Cheques for swimming contributions should be made payable to Stadhampton Primary School, please.

Recorders
A reminder that recorders wll be starting on Monday 5th November for all pupils in Years 3-6 and that for hygiene reasons pupils should provide their own named recorder. Recorder and books are available from the school office; recorders are on sale for £6.50 and books for £3.80 each (the price we pay for them).

Archery Club
We are delighted to be able to trial an after-school archery club. The club will take place in the Hall on Tuesdays from 3.20 – 4.20pm. The club is limited to pupils aged 8 and over and there are strict restrictions on the maximum number of pupils who can take part. During Term 2 this club is being offered to pupils in Year 4 in the first instance; if there are places available these will be offered to Year 3 pupils who are already 8 years old (as Class 3 pupils are currently having Science Club on Tuesdays). We hope to be able to offer the archery club to Class 3 pupils in the New Year. The club will be run by an experienced local qualified archery instructor and further details will be circulated to ‘target’ groups when dates have been arranged.

After-School Clubs in Term 2
Letters about other After-School Clubs running next term were sent in book bags earlier this week. Please note that there will not be a multi-skills club specifically for pupils in Class 1 next term. There will, however, be a singing club for pupils on Class 1 after-school on Wednesdays. Details to follow. Mr Hopkins will again run an after –school multiskills club for pupils in Years 3-6 and if there are spaces available, this club may be opened up to Year 1 and 2 pupils. Please let Mrs Hopkins know if this is of interest so that she can keep you informed about whether there are spaces available.

Complimentary Meals for Reception Children
Following the success of previous years, Food with Thought are offering all Reception Class children a week’s free school lunches during the week of 19th – 23rd November 2012. Hopefully this will encourage them all to try a hot school meal this winter. Letters are in book bags, so please don’t forget to reply.



Missing Sweatshirt
Please could parents of Class 1 pupils check to see if by any chance they have Lawrence Wright’s sweatshirt which is named? An un-named one has been returned to school by Mr and Mrs Wright.

PTA News

Friday Cake Club
Last week's winner was Buddy Halliday. Thanks to Mrs Dickens for the cake. A reminder to Mrs Manzie who is on the rota for 9th November after half term.

If you would like to join the Friday Cake Club and want to pay in advance for next term, 7 weeks from 9th November to 22nd December, it will be £1.40 per child.

Halloween Disco
We're ready to party!

To keep children safe, they will need to be signed in and out of the disco by parents, via Class 1. Halloween bangles, at 50p for 2, will be available for sale outside Class 1.

Clothes Recycling
Thanks to everyone who brought in bags for recycling. There were 90 bags! Somebody donated a lovely large beige bear with a couple of patches on, and we would like to use it at the Winter Fair, would the previous owner of said bear please speak to Rowena or Diana.

Winter Fair
If you are having a clear out over the Half Term, please remember that we have Winter Fair coming up on 30 November. We will be looking for CDs, DVDs, toys, books etc, raffle prizes, sweets, chocolate and bottles for the tombolas. Items can be left in the PTA box in the hall.



LITTLE BEARS NEWS
Poppy Eliott will be running a creche (games, mini disco, chill out time) at Little Bears on Friday 26 October for siblings of children attending the PTA Halloween Disco. Open from 5.45 until 8pm. £5 per child (includes drink and snacks)

We are also holding a Stay & Play during half term for 2-5 year olds - Wednesday 31 October, 9-11.30am. Please speak to Debbie Bradford, pop into Little Bears or call to book or find out more. Little Bears telephone number is 01865 400033.

And finally a WANTED! Does anyone have a hoover they would like to donate to the Preschool, if so, please speak to the supervisor Gemma Austin.

We return to Preschool on Monday 5 November and our topic for the week will be Light & Dark.

DIARY DATES:
Wednesday 31st October One-day Holiday Course led by Mr Hopkins
Monday 5th November Return to school at 9.00am.
Tuesday 6th November NO Science Club today
Thursday 15th November School used as a Polling Station – closed to pupils
Monday 19th November Parents Evening: 3.30 – 4.30pm and 5.00-7.00pm Class 1
4.00 - 7.00pm – Reception, Class 2 and Class 3
Wednesday 21st November Parents Evening: 4.00 – 6.00pm – all classes
Friday 30th November Winter Fair 6-8pm
Tuesday 11th December Matinee and Evening performances of KS2 Christmas Production
Wednesday 12th December Matinee performance of FS/KS1 Christmas Production
Monday 17th December Wreath-making evening
Tuesday 18th December School Christmas Party pm
Wednesday 19th December Nativity Service in Church at 2.15pm. All welcome to join us.
Thursday 20th December Whole-school Christmas lunch
Friday 21st December
End of term assembly at 9.05am. All welcome to join us.
School finishes at 1.30pm.
Monday 7th January Staff INSET Day – no pupils!
Tuesday 8th January Pupils return to school for the start of Term 3

Stadhampton Bonfire and Firework Display -Monday 5th November 2012 -Stadhampton Village Green – Message from Sue White
Volunteers are needed to help at the Firework Display. We need ‘bucket shakers’ to collect donations from our many visitors. We provide the buckets and high ‘vis’ tabards for you to wear and would be extremely grateful for YOUR help. If this doesn’t appeal we can offer you a place serving customers in our refreshment tent. The evening starts at 5.30 p.m. We light the bonfire at 6.30 p.m. and the Firework Display begins at 7.00 p.m. If you can help in any way please contact Sue White, 01865 8908880 or e-mail Suzanne.white11@btinternet.com

Newsletter week ending 19th October 2012

Book Fair
We are holding a Children’s Book Fair in school from Tuesday 23rd October until Friday 26th October inclusive. The Book Fair will be open from 8.30 to 9.00am each morning and from 3.00 until 3.30pm each afternoon. Parents are welcome to come in during these times to browse for books with or without their children! The commission from sales at the fair enables us to buy books to update our individual class libraries and our non-fiction library. There are hundreds of exciting books to choose from with prices from just £1. A leaflet showing some examples of the books available and an order form was sent home in book bags earlier this week.

Website Additions
This week we have added a link which parents with young children may be interested to have a look at, to the Foundation Class page. The document is entitled ‘Families in the Foundation Years’ and the report was produced in July 2011 by the Department of Education. Some additions have also been added to the Calendar.

Food with Thought new Winter/Spring 2012 Menu
This week, each family should have received, via book bags, a copy of the new three–week Winter/Spring 2012 menu which begins on 5th November 2012. A copy has also been uploaded onto the school website (Parents section).

PTA NEWS

Plant Orders
Thanks to everyone who ordered plants - we raised £57.

Plant orders will be arriving in school on 22nd 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!

Clothes Recycling - 9am, Tuesday 23rd October
Last chance for a clear out over the weekend of all those unwanted old clothes, shoes, belts, bedding (no pillows or duvets), towels and cuddly toys.

To avoid congestion on Tuesday morning, please bring all bags in after school on Monday 22nd October. Please only bring them in on Tuesday morning if you are walking in.

Please be aware that on Monday there will be people collecting plants, dropping off clothes recycling bags, and Class 3's school trip bus will be due back at 3.15pm, so when parking please be considerate of pedestrians and the residents of Cratlands Close. Thank you.

Personalised Gifts - Thursday 25th October
You should have received a lovely looking coaster with a picture your child/children has drawn of themselves. You can place orders for any of the other items on the order sheet, and their picture will be printed on to it. There is no obligation to buy the coaster you have received.

If you wish to order further items - please ensure you return the order form, the original artwork and payment.
• If you just wish to purchase the coaster sent home - please return the order form and payment of £2.50
• If you do not wish to keep the coaster sent home - please ensure that you return the coaster
All orders, payment and original artowrk, and unwanted coasters need to be in by Thursday 25th October.

Friday Cake Club
Last week's winner was Ella Fulker. Thanks to Mrs Valentine (and Georgia!) for the cake.
A reminder to Mrs K Jones who is on the rota for 26th Oct.


Little Bears News
Next we are continuing with our theme of ‘Our Families’. We will be assembling our family tree too. We are also welcoming in Laila Burnell, Oliver Parkes and Ellie Payne to Little Bears.
Happy belated birthday to Mia Gravett who turned 4 and a happy birthday to Rafi Wilkinson who turns 4 next week.
Crèche tickets are still available from Gemma.


DIARY DATES:
Monday 22nd October Plant orders due to arrive
Tuesday 23rd October Bag2School Clothes Collection by 9.00am
Reception and Class 1 pupils Autumn Walk if not raining (if wet will be Weds 24th October)
Wednesday 24th October 9.00am ‘I Love Phonics’ workshop for parents of pupils in the Foundation Stage (Reception) and Class 1
Thursday 25th October French Day and After-School Café from 3.15-3.45pm.
After school football club for participating pupils who wish to attend
Friday 26th October School finishes at 3.15pm for half –term
Wednesday 31st October One-day Holiday Course led by Mr Hopkins
Monday 5th November Return to school at 9.00am.
Thursday 15th November School used as a Polling Station – closed to pupils
Monday 19th November Parents Evening: 3.30 – 4.30pm and 5.00-7.00pm Class 1
4.00 - 7.00pm – Reception, Class 2 and Class 3
Wednesday 21st November Parents Evening: 4.00 – 6.00pm – all classes
Tuesday 11th December Matinee and Evening performances of KS2 Christmas Production
Wednesday 12th December Matinee performance of FS/KS1 Christmas Production

Newsletter for week ending 12th October 2012

School Website
This week we have added the following items onto the new school website; some photographs taken of displays in classrooms, a list of useful reminders for pupils in Classes 1, 2 and 3 and some dates of events onto the calendar.

Bottles for the Greenhouse
A huge thank you to everyone for collecting clear plastic bottles for us to make a ‘green’ greenhouse with. Mrs Tombling and Mrs Birtles have reported that we have more than enough bottles now, so there is no need for them to be saved for school anymore.

Harvest Service
Thank you to parents for generously donating wonderful Harvest gifts and for coming along to our Harvest Service in school. We had many comments from parents and carers saying how much they had enjoyed the occasion, however, we also received one or two complaints from parents saing they were unable to hear pupils speaking due to background noise from the audience. May we respectfully suggest to parents that if they have a younger sibling with them who might be a little noisy that they seat themselves so that they can leave the hall and either go into Class 1 or the entrance area with the younger sibling, should the need arise. Hopefully this will enable the majority of parents to be able to hear what is being said. We are grateful to the parents who already do this, and thank all parents for their cooperation in this matter in the future.

Leaflet about Taking Holidays during Term Time from the OCC Attendance and Engagement Team
Each family should have received a leaflet this week from the Attendance and Engagement Team at the Local Authority about taking holidays during term time. The leaflet clarifies what are ‘exceptional circumstances’, what the Law says and issues that parents need to be aware of.

School Photographs
Each family should have now received proof sets of the photographs taken last week. If you wish to place an order, The School Photography Company will be collecting orders from school week beginning 22nd October. There is no requirement to return the proofs if you do not wish to place an order. Thank you.

PTA News
Christmas Cards - Monday 15th October
All designs, payment and orders need to be in by 9am on Monday 15th October.

Halloween Disco
Tickets are now on sale in the school hall every morning.

Friday Cake Club
Last week's winner was Ellie Wiggins. Thanks to Mrs Burnell for the cake.
A reminder to Mrs Dickens who is on the rota for 19th Oct.


French Day, Parent Presentation and After School Café – 25.10.2012
On Thursday 25th October we are planning to have a whole-school French Day organised by Madam Church. During the day pupils will take part in a number of activities that link French with their class topics this term. At 3pm pupils will give a short presentation to parents in the Hall, showcasing some of the work that has been carried out during the day and from 3.15 to 3.45pm pupils, parents and staff are invited to a French-themed café in the Hall. This will give parents an opportunity to meet Madam Church and all of us to sample some home-made French cuisine! Everyone is most welcome, but if you do intend to come it would be most helpful if you could let the office know so that we can cater appropriately.

After-school football club will still run on that day and pupils who normally attend are free to attend or may, of course, go to the French café instead!


Little Bears News
Next week we looking at families and making a big family tree. Can we remind all parents to please bring in their photo leaf please?
Tickets are still available for the crèche and ‘Stay and Play’ too.


DIARY DATES:
Tuesday 16th October Science Club begins for participating pupils
Wednesday 17th October Open Morning at Stadhampton School and Little Bears 9.00-11.30am.
Cycling Safety Test for participating pupils
Monday 22nd October Plant orders due to arrive
Tuesday 23rd October Bag2School Clothes Collection by 9.00am
Wednesday 31st October One-day Holiday Course led by Michael Hopkins
Monday 19th November Parents Evening: 3.30 – 4.30pm and 5.00-7.00pm Class 1
4.00 - 7.00pm – Reception, Class 2 and Class 3
Wednesday 21st November Parents Evening: 4.00 – 6.00pm – all classes
Friday 26th October School finishes at 3.15pm for half –term
Monday 5th November Return to school at 9.00am.
Thursday 15th November School used as a Polling Station – closed to pupils
Tuesday 11th December Matinee and Evening performances of KS2 Christmas Production
Wednesday 12th December Matinee performance of FS/KS1 Christmas Production

Newsletter for week ending 5th October 2012

Happy OCTOBER Birthday to: Edison Buckner, Wyatt Bullock, Benjamin Duke, Ella Fulker, Sophie Hector, Oliver Lowman, Lewis Payne, Marcin Skwarek and Ellie Walker.

During OCTOBER we are focusing on the core value of APPRECIATION

School Website
We have added several new items onto the new school website this week; our Key Achievements in 2011-2012 and an Equality Objectives Plan. We have made a small change to the Pupil Premium Report and added some information about the Governing Body.
Please have a look at it; www.stadhamptonschool.org
We would love to hear what you think of our new website and welcome suggestions for what else parents/carers would find useful to have online.
We hope that in the event of very bad weather and the possibility that the school will be closed that we will be able to add this information onto the school website early in the morning.

Swimming contributions
Thank you to the many families in Class 2 who have already made voluntary contributions towards the swimming costs this term.
Any further contributions from families who have not yet made a contribution, and are willing to do so, would be most welcome. Thank you.

PTA News
Wine and Nibbles Evening, incorporating the PTA Annual General Meeting (AGM) - 8th November 2012, 8pm, School Hall

Formal notice that the AGM of the Stadhampton Primary School PTA, will be held on the 8th November 2012. The evening will commence at 8.00pm with the PTA Annual General Meeting, followed by a Wine and Nibbles evening in the school hall. We anticipate that the AGM should last approximately 15 minutes.

The PTA plays a vital part in the school community and all parents, as members of the PTA, are invited to support the AGM. This is your chance to hear and see how the funds you have helped to raise last year have been used for the benefit of the children/students at our school.

The AGM is also an opportunity for you to elect the PTA Committee (Chair, Treasurer, Secretary), to represent the association throughout the forthcoming academic year. Nominations should be sent in advance of the AGM, for existing committee members willing to stand for re-election and for anyone wishing to stand as an Officer or Ordinary Committee Member, for the first time. Nomination forms are available in the PTA box in the School Office.

If you would like any further information about what is involved in being a Committee Member, please speak to Diana Woodwards.

We look forward to seeing you on 8 November 2012.

Friday Cake Club
Congratulations to last weeks winner - Benjamin West, who won the cake donated by Mrs Buckner.

A reminder to Mrs Valentine that she is on the rota for 13th October.

Christmas Cards - orders in by Monday 15th October

You may have seen some lovely Christmas card designs coming home with your child/children this week. If you wish you can add to this design (or even create another one!) but please refer to the guidance notes.

The first pack of 12 cards is £5.50, each additional pack of 12 cards is £4.50. You can order as many packs as you like.
A pack of 12 gift tags is £2.50 (and has to be with a card order).

All completed artwork, orders and payment, need to be in by the 15th October. Any queries please see Charlotte Hector or Rowena Dobson.


Little Bears News
Next week we will be talking about heathy eating . We will be making some exotic fruit kebabs and making heathy eating collage paper plates.

Little Bears would also like to say a huge thank you to Thea and Jenny Diment who donated lots of lovely toys to the Little Bears and also to thank the Eatons for donating some phones.

Little Bears Preschool will be running a creche during the PTA Halloween Disco on Friday 26 October. Parents can drop off siblings not attending the disco from 5.45pm onwards. £5 for the full two hours, which will include drinks and snacks.
Consent Forms & further details are available from the supervisor, Gemma Austin at Little Bears or you can email her at supervisor@little-bears.co.uk.

Halloween Stay & Play
Little Bears Preschool are having a Halloween Stay & Play session on Wednesday 31 October (same date as the SPS Sports course).
From 9 - 11.30am. Tickets £2.50 for Little Bears, £1 for any pals/siblings.
For more information speak to Debbie Bradford or Mel Gravett or visit Little Bears during school hours.


DIARY DATES:
Tuesday 16th October Science Club begins for participating pupils
Wednesday 17th October Open Morning at Stadhampton School and Little Bears 9.00-11.30am.
Cycling Safety Test for participating pupils
Tuesday 23rd October Bag2School Clothes Collection by 9.00am
Wednesday 31st October One-day Holiday Course led by Mr Hopkins
Monday 19th November Parents Evening: 3.30 – 4.30pm and 5.00-7.00pm Class 1
4.00 - 7.00pm – Reception, Class 2 and Class 3
Wednesday 21st November Parents Evening: 4.00 – 6.00pm – all classes
Friday 26th October School finishes at 3.15pm for half –term
Monday 5th November Return to school at 9.00am.
Thursday 15th November School used as a Polling Station – closed to pupils
Tuesday 11th December Matinee and Evening performances of KS2 Christmas Production
Wednesday 12th December Matinee performance of FS/KS1 Christmas Production