Newsletter for week ending 21st December 2012

Footsteps Foundation Assembly
On Tuesday 18th December we presented Ms Claire Morley, a representative of Footsteps Foundation, with a cheque for the magnificent sum of £420.00, the total collected from the sale of tickets for our Christmas productions this year. Ms Morley was delighted to receive our donation and thanked the pupils for this significant contribution. She gave talks to all pupils about the work of the Foundation, illustrated by a Powerpoint presentation showing the Footsteps Centre in action, giving the pupils opportunities to ask questions about their work and to handle some examples of the equipment used. Our pupils were fascinated to find out more about the work of the Footsteps Foundation and were very pleased to realise that our donation will help enable other children to have an opportunity to develop their mobility, independence and confidence.

Here is a viewpoint from two of our pupils:- “Ms Morley gave a fantastic presentation about the Footsteps Foundation in Dorchester. She told us about ‘the spider’ which helps the kids strengthen their leg and arm muscles which can help them to walk.” Benjamin Duke and Owen Cove

Thank you
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to parents and carers, the PTA, our Governing Body and all other members of the local community who have given us so much support in so many different ways over the last term. The lead-up to Christmas is always a particularly busy time of year and we would like to thank everyone involved for their support in helping to make all our Christmas events so successful.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all pupils and staff for their hard work and commitment to all our events. The Christmas season may be a very busy time of year for us but it is also a very special one!

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! Thank you to Mr Manzie for organising the sound system.

Transatlantic Thoughts
No-one can have escaped the tragic news of the horrific events at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, USA, last Friday. As a close-knit school community, out thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues of those who were so brutally killed.
On Monday we held a short period of reflection during which I shared the following prayer:-

This is our school,
Let peace dwell here.
Let the rooms be full of contentment,
Let love abide here.
Love of one another,
Love of mankind,
Love of life itself
and love of God.
Let us remember
That many hands build a house,
So many hearts make a school!


Swimming at Berinsfield
Swimming will begin for Class 2 pupils on Monday 14th January. They will have 3 more sessions on January 21st (not 28th as it is the Swimming Gala) followed by the 4th and 18th February. As always, we hope that parents will be willing to help with the transport costs to Berinsfield with a contribution of £2 per swimming session. Thank you to the parents/carers of pupils in Class 3, who made a contribution last term. Cheques for swimming contributions should be made payable to Stadhampton Primary School, please.

After School Sports Clubs
Please see the School Website for reminders of the after-school clubs available in Term 3. Letters went home in book bags at the end of last week. Archery after-school club is now full.

School Meals
A reminder that school meals cost £2 per day. Cheques for school meals should be made payable to Oxfordshire County Council please with Stadhampton Primary School written on the back of the cheque. In order to reduce administration time spent on school meals we appreciate receiving orders and payments for school meals on the first morning of each school week. Thank you.

LITTLE BEARS NEWS:
We would like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas; enjoy the rest and festivities. Thank you to everyone who has donated equipment and time to Little Bears over the year. It is very much appreciated by all of the team and the Little Bears.
We return on Tuesday the 8th January to the topic Elmer the Elephant.


DIARY DATES:
Friday 21st December End of year assembly at 9.05am. All parents/carers welcome.
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
Monday 14th January First swimming session for Class 2 pupils
Monday 28th January Swimming Gala for selected pupils


Happy Christmas from everyone at Stadhampton School!

Newsletter for week ending 14th December 2012

Christmas Productions
I am sure you will all join me in congratulating all of our pupils and staff on two wonderful Christmas productions this year. The costumes, scenery, acting and singing were all fantastic; 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 are delighted to have raised £420 from ticket sales for the Foosteps Foundation. A representative from the Footsteps Foundation will be visiting school on Tuesday 18th December when we shall hand over our collection from the sale of tickets. During this visit we will have assemblies for the Foundation Stage/KS1 and KS2 children so that all pupils have a better understanding of the work of the Footsteps Foundation.
A photographer from the Oxford Mail took photographs of the cast of “Whoops a Daisy Angel” on Wednesday afternoon, which we believe will be included in their Nativity Supplement on Tuesday 18th December.

Reverend Caroline, a new school governor, sent this message which I would like to share with you all:
“I wanted to say how much I enjoyed today’s production, it really was of the highest quality, please pass on my congratulations and admiration to all involved. While I was in the White Hart in Dorchester I met a mother and her child who were using Footsteps, they were full of praise for the charity. Having spoken to her it was wonderful to realise that such a superb production was helping a local charity to do great things.”

Health and Safety: Vehicles accessing the school car park and Cratlands Close
At the start of this term, in the newsletter dated 7th September, we reminded parents/carers of the need to exercise caution when driving in the school car park and in Cratlands Close. We would like to reiterate this message again by respectfully reminding all car drivers that the speed limit within the car park is 5mph. Cars and children are not a good combination and both the school car park and the approach along Cratlands Close are potentially hazardous areas. We must also remind parents/carers to hold tightly onto young children so that they do not accidently run into the path of a car. All pupils should be met at the pedestrian gate. The thought of an accident involving any of our pupils, or their younger siblings, would be devastating to the whole school community and something we must endeavour to ensure never happens.

Enrichment Afternoon Sports Coach Provision
There have been some recent changes to the arrangements for our Thursday afternoon (Enrichment Afternoon) sports coaching sessions for pupils in Years 1 - 6. Until July we had used a company called Premier Sports Group to provide our specialist sports coaches. When this contract finished we took the opportunity to pursue and sample suitable alternative long-term provision, whilst Mr Michael Hopkins, a qualified sports coach already well-known to the school, provided our specialist sports coaching. Unfortunately, due to his academic commitments, the current short-term arrangement with Mr Hopkins finishes at the end of this term. We are grateful to Mr Hopkins for his contributions to our PE provision and wish him well in his studies and future career. We are pleased to inform parents that from January 2013 our specialist sports coach provision will be with a company called Oxford Active.

After School Sports Clubs
Mr Hopkins will continue to provide a Multisports Club on Wednesdays afternoons where the focus each week is on a different activity, such as javelin throwing, cricket, football, dodgeball, basketball, orienteering, dance, tennis etc and this will continue after Christmas. Between January and Easter, the Thursday after-school club will be run by Oxford Active and will be dance-based in both Terms 3 and 4. There will also be limited netball and tag rugby clubs run by students at Icknield Community College as there were this term and Archery sessions will also be available for a limited number of pupils in Class 3. Letters detailing all after school clubs for next term will be in book bags at the end of this week.

Thank you to Mr Roe
On behalf of all staff, parents and fellow governors, we would like to thank Mr Roe for his hard work and commitment to the school since his appointment as a parent governor in October 2007. During this time Mr Roe has been a real asset to the Governing Body leading projects such as the installation of the new BioMass boiler. He has also been the chair of the finance committee, which is an important role involving working closely with the school to manage the budget.

Messages from the Chair of Governors:
1. Parent Governor Vacancy
Dear Parent/Carer
Following the resignation of Mr Roe, from 1st January 2013 we will have one parent governor vacancy at Stadhampton Primary School for which we now invite nominations. For any who are unfamiliar with the role of a parent governor, here are some details of what parent governors do and who can serve as a parent governor:
The governing body consists of parent governors, staff governors, community governors and LA appointed governors, responsible for the strategic direction of the School, primarily through:
• setting aims and objectives for the School;
• adopting policies for achieving those aims and objectives; and
• setting targets and monitoring their implementation
Our school has four parent governors. Parent governors have all the same powers and duties as other governors and serve a similar four year term of office.

The full governing body meets every term, usually on a Monday evening. In addition every governor is encouraged to become actively involved in one aspect of the school such as Finance, Health and Safety, Safeguarding, Special Needs or a link to a curriculum subject such as Literacy, Maths, ICT or Science.
To be eligible to stand for election as a parent governor you have to have parental responsibility for a pupil at the school. Having "parental responsibility" is not limited to biological parents, but will include you if you are a step-parent, foster parent, grandparent bringing up the child, or permanent partner of the child's biological parent. A few people cannot be school governors; those who have been made bankrupt or who have been in prison for certain offences may not serve for at least three years afterwards. School staff members are ineligible to stand as parent governors if they are employed for more than 500 hours per year. If you have any doubts as to your eligibility on any of these grounds, please contact the school office for further advice. Your child must be on the school roll at the time the election is held. However, parent governors do not have to resign if their children leave the school before their term of office has expired.
You do not need any educational experience or expertise, just a keen interest in the school and a desire to help it reach its full potential. While recognising that this is a role that requires commitment and energy, it is also very worthwhile and fulfilling work and vital to help guide the school both now and in the future. Governors work as a close team and support each other as much as possible. There is also fully funded training provided by OCC Governor Services to support all areas of governors’ work and all governors are encouraged to undertake basic induction training.
I do hope you will consider becoming a parent governor. If you need any further information or wish to put your name forward please contact Joy Hopkins, Business Manager on 01865 890370 or by e-mail to office.2455@stadhampton.oxon.sch.uk in the first instance. The closing date for applications is 3.15pm on Wednesday 9th January 2013.

2. Summary Results from the Parent Questionnaire:
• The responses we have received from you have been very positive, with 92% of all responses in Agree or Strongly Agree – a good indication that the school is meeting your children’s needs in an effective manner.
• Just over half of the responses (51%) Strongly Agree with the statements
• All 45 responses to the questions either Strongly Agreed or Agreed with the statements:
o There is a good standard of behaviour at this school
o My child feels safe at this school
• All bar one parent (44 out of 45 responses) either Strongly Agreed or Agreed with the statements:
o This school ensures my child is well looked after
o I would recommend this school to another parent
o My child is taught well at this school
o This school helps my child to develop skills in communication, reading, writing and mathematics
• There were no (0%) Strongly Disagree responses to any of the statements
• The proportion of all of the responses that were Disagree's has increased to 5% this year (2% in 2011, 0% in 2010)
• The results of the questionnaire and possible actions to address the opportunities for improvement you have identified will be discussed at the next Governing Body meeting and during a staff meeting in the New Year. The feedback will inform our choice of priorities for the next year.

PTA News
We raised £72.30 at the Bar following the wonderful performance of Alice the Musical this week. Thank you.

Wreath Making Evening - Monday 17th December
There are still some spaces left, let Diana Woodwards or Rowena Dobson know if you or your friends would like to come along and have a fun time catching up with friends and making a wreath at the same time. If you aren't able to come and would love a wreath we are taking orders.

Friday Cake Club
• Amy Matthews was the lucky winner of the cake last week, kindly donated by Mrs Woodwards.
• A reminder for Mrs Bowerman that she is on the rota for 21 December, the last one of the year.
• Mrs Gravett is on the rota for Friday 11 January, the first Friday Cake Club of 2013.

• You are welcome to pay in advance at any time - £1 per child for 5 weeks up to February Half Term, or £2 per child up to Easter - just see Rowena Dobson.


Website Additions

1. By the end of today we hope to have uploaded Maths Target information for each year group
within the section for each Class. Parents have already had a paper copy of these.
2. Photographs of both Christmas productions.


LITTLE BEARS NEWS:

Little Bears are holding their annual festive event on Saturday 15th December at 2pm. This year we are doing a traditional nativity. Everyone is welcome to come along – there will be lots of stalls too – cakes, tombola, jewellery, pound in a bucket for a Crazy Bear Tea for Two, homemade hot water bottles and salt dough. We hope to see you there.
Next week we are putting the finishing touches to the Christmas surprises the children have been busy making. We will also be enjoying lots of Christmas-themed activities from ‘Hunt for Santa in the Garden’ to making snow! We will also be attending the School Nativity Service at the church on Wednesday.



DIARY DATES:

Monday 17th December Wreath-making evening
Tuesday 18th December School Christmas Party pm. Pupils are welcome to bring party clothes to change into at lunchtime. School will provide all of the food and drinks.
Wednesday 19th December Nativity Service in Church at 2.15pm. Everyone is welcome to join us for this service.
Thursday 20th December Whole-school Christmas lunch - £2 per person. Thank you to everyone who has already paid for this.
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



Attachment:
• Panto at Chalgrove and Watlington Children’s Centre on 21st December.

Newsletter for week ending 7th December 2012

Happy DECEMBER Birthday to: Elizabeth Marshall

During DECEMBER we are focusing on the core value of LOVE

Maths Challenge
Eleven members of Class 3 recently took part in the 2012 Primary Maths Challenge. This is a challenge test set by the Mathematical Association and is a national annual event. The questions are all rather tricky and require logic as well as mathematical knowledge! All children who took part did very well. Six children received awards for their performance - well done to Benjamin Duke and Georgia Valentine who received a Bronze award, Orla Fernie and Owen Cove both received a Silver award and congratulations to Annabel Roe and Jake Day who both got Silver awards last year and achieved Gold awards this year!
A pupil’s viewpoint: “When I was given the P.M.C. sheet my heart was pounding with nerves! I looked around me and I was the only Year 5 in the test. Some of the questions were easy(ish) but most of the questions were hard! After I was awarded Silver I was really glad I did it.”

Emergency Closure Procedures
If the weather is particularly bad or there are power cuts in the village and the decision is made to close the school, the information is given to parents through BBC Radio Oxford, Jack FM and Heart FM. Parents are advised to tune into these local radio stations and also check their websites if there is a possibility that the school could be closed. If it is possible we will also do our best to put a message onto the school website.

Thank you
Thank you to parents and carers for their support with providing costumes for the school Christmas productions. We look forward to sharing the performances with parents next week. Thank you also to all the staff who have been extremely busy recently designing and making costumes, masks and scenery for what promises to be great Christmas productions. Please remember to buy your tickets so that we know if we have any spares to offer for sale to the parents who have said they would like extra tickets if possible.

Thank you
Thank you also to Mr and Mrs Tuckwell who have very kindly supplied us with a beautiful Christmas tree again this year.

School Christmas Party
We are very aware of just how much we have asked of parents and carers this year and therefore the school will be pleased to provide the party food for this year’s school Christmas party on the afternoon of Tuesday 18th December. Children may bring party clothes to change into after lunch if they wish.

School Christmas Lunch
A reminder that we hope all pupils will join us for a special Christmas lunch with napkins and crackers on Thursday 20th December. Children will make their own special place mat in school during the morning (and one’s for staff too!). We have Christmas music playing and the staff serve the children with their lunch and it is a really fun and festive occasion which we hope all children will partipate in. The cost is £2 per child and the money may be sent into the office at any time to pay for it. Thank you.

PTA News:
Winter Fair
Thanks to everyone who supported us with; donations, helping set up, running a stall, clearing up.... it was greatly appreciated, and I am pleased to say we raised a fantastic £892.

We still have some unclaimed raffle prizes.
• Crazy Bear Chicken Dinner - orange ticket no 302
• Horseriding session - orange ticket no 319
• i-kids family session - orange ticket no 317
To claim your prize please see Mrs Hopkins in the School Office.

A full list of all the prize winners can be found on the PTA board outside Mrs Hopkins office.

Wreath Evening - Monday 17th November
Come and have a fun and creative evening, there are still spaces left for you to come along and create a beautiful Christmas wreath. Book your space with Diana Woodwards or Rowena Dobson.

Friday Cake Club
Congratulations to Will Parkes for winning the cake last week, kindly donated by Mrs Hursey. A reminder to Mrs Payne that she is on the rota for 14 December.

LITTLE BEARS NEWS
Next week we will be having our last rehearsals before the big play on Saturday. If anyone would like to join us for rehearsals who can't make it on the day please see your key person.
Little Bears are still collecting for our tombola and would appreciate any donations.

DIARY DATES:
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. 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