Newsletter for week ending 30th November 2012

Annual Questionnaire for Parents and Carers,
A reminder that the deadline for returning completed forms is Friday 7th 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.

Winter Fair and Car Parking - Friday 30th November
The netball court will be opened up for use as a car park for the Winter Fair. We hope this will alleviate congestion in the school car park and in Cratlands Close. We respectfully remind families who need to drive to the event to be mindful of the needs of the residents of Cratlands Close and avoid blocking driveway access or parking on the pavement.

Maths Booklets
‘Support your child at home’ Maths booklets for pupils in Years 1 to 6 were sent home via book bags earlier this week. These booklets, which are year group specific, provide ideas for home-based activities that can help support your child’s learning in school. Pupils in Year 2 should have also received a second leaflet entitled ‘Helping your child with maths’, which gives ideas to use at home and also outlines some of the key methods currently used in mathematical calculations. This leaflet is routinely given to families of Year 2 pupils but can be a helpful reference from Year 2 up to Year 6. If any families of older children have misplaced their copy and would like another one, please ask your child’s class teacher. We hope you find these booklets helpful. Children in Reception received a separate leaflet earlier in the school year and haven’t been forgotten!

Tickets for the Christmas Performances
Tickets will be available from Monday onwards from the school office for the three Christmas performances priced at £2 each:
• Reception and Class 1’s production will be held on Wednesday 12th December, 2pm for a 2.15pm performance. 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 matinee production will be held on Tuesday 11th December, 1.30pm for a 1.40pm performance. 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 evening production will also be held on Tuesday 11th December 6pm for a 6.30pm performance. 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.
This year, the money raised through selling tickets for the school Christmas productions will be donated to Footsteps Foundation, a local charity based in Dorchester which offers intensive rehabilitation for children and young adults with neurological disorders. Refreshments will be served by the PTA after the evening performance on Tuesday 11th December, with any profits they make going to PTA funds!

School Christmas Lunch
Once a year, Mrs Shortman takes on the mammoth task of cooking a Christmas lunch for the whole school. We ask that all pupils and staff have a school dinner that day. This year the date is Thursday 20th December. We try to make it a special occasion with serviettes and crackers, each child makes their own place mat (in school) and the staff serve the children with their lunch. The cost is £2 (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 17th 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.

The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal
Thank you to everyone who donated to our Poppy Appeal. We raised £39.05.

Footsteps road-safety awareness leaflets
Footsteps guides for parents have been sent home, via book bags, for all pupils in Years 1 and 2. These booklets, which are distributed on behalf of the Footsteps initiative, are designed to help parents help their children develop their road-safety awareness.

PTA NEWS
Winter Fair
We're all ready for a great evening and looking forward to seeing you there. Come and visit Santa for £2, have a go on the chocolate tombola for 30p, the toy tombola, have your nails painted for £1, and lots more.

Friday Cake Club
Last week’s lucky winner of the cake was Hannah Lansley, kindly donated by Mrs Holmes. Thomas Cove and Ellie Wiggins both had their names pulled first, but very kindly said to dip again as they had won before! A reminder to Mrs Woodwards that she is on the rota for 7th December.


LITTLE BEARS NEWS
Next week we will be looking at the Jewish festival of lights Hanukkah. We are going to make a large Menorah and play with some Dreidels as well as looking at Hebrew writing.

DIARY DATES:
Friday 30 November TONIGHT! Winter Fair 6-8pm
Sunday 2 December Christingle Service at St John’s Church, Stadhampton at 9.30am
Wednesday 5 December Mobile Library
Tuesday 11 December Matinee and evening performances of KS2 Christmas Production
Wednesday 12 December Matinee performance of FS/KS1 Christmas Production at 2.15pm. The Oxford Mail may take a photograph of this performance for their Christmas feature. Please let us know if you have any objections.
Monday 17th December Wreath-making evening
Tuesday 18th December School Christmas Party pm
Wednesday 19th December Nativity Service in Church at 2.15pm. Reception children will be actively involved in this service. 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