Friday, January 25, 2013

Newsletter for week ending 25 January 2013




Weather Watch
Thank you for keeping up-to-date with our school website regarding the impact of the recent snow on access to school and school opening hours. The weather is expected to become milder again but please continue to keep tuned into the local radio and check the website during any future spells of adverse weather.


Advance Notice of School Closure for County Council Elections
We have received notification this week from South Oxfordshire District Council that the school premises will be required for use as a polling station on Thursday 2 May 2013. This means that unfortunately the school will be closed to pupils on that day. We hope that once the conversions have been made to the Church, that elections will be able to be held there rather than necessating the need to close the school. I realise that this enforced closure is near to SATs week for Year 6 pupils but preparation for SATs takes place over a long period of time and Year 6 pupils will be provided with a task to help keep them ‘fine-tuned’.

School Council Election
Last week Class 1, 2 and 3 voted for their new School Council representatives. Congratulations to Jake Day, Hannah Tombling, Ruby Dallimore, Marcin Skwarek, Betsy Elliot, Oliver Lowman, Ella Lavene, James Lowman, Benjamin West and Lizzie Bowerman who were all elected.

Class 3’s competing at the Watlington Partnership Indoor Athletics – Report by Jake D and Hannah T
“We all thoroughly enjoyed the indoor athletics event at Icknield. The races were all very intense and we were lucky enough to win several. Due to our hard work and determination we came 2nd out of 6 teams. We congratulate the winners, Watlington Primary. One of the pupils who participated said “It was really well organised and I enjoyed it so much, we did really well to come 2nd.”
Congratulations to Class 3 – we’re proud of you!

PTA News

Friday Cake Club
The winner of last week’s cake was Ella Lavene, kindly donated by Mrs Gravett. A reminder to Mrs Diment that she is on the rota for 1st February.

Children's Bingo and Hotdog Night - Friday 22nd February 2013, 5.30 until 7pm
It's back, tickets for this hugely popular event will be on sale next week. Tickets are limited to 50 and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Please look out for the permission slip in book bags this weekend and hand them in with payment to Rowena or Diana in the School Hall, to get your tickets.

We need some items that can be given as prizes for lines and full houses, if anyone has any unwanted 'good as new' toys or gifts, please put them in the red PTA box in the School Hall. Thank you.

Adult's Boogie Bingo - Friday 8th March, 7.30pm
It's bingo with a twist (and shout) - instead of shouting out numbers we play snippets of songs. Cross songs off your boogie bingo card as you hear them (if you don't know them someone else will), and complete for prizes for lines and full houses. As if that wasn't enough fun, play your boogie card to hear your favourite song in full and have a boogie!!

LITTLE BEARS NEWS:
Continuing with our Elmer the Patch Work Elephant we will be looking at the book ‘Elmer on Stilts’. The children will be practising their balancing skills on stilts and making footprint pictures.


DIARY DATES:
Monday 28 January Swimming Gala for selected pupils only
Meeting of the Governing Body at 7pm.
Friday 1 February UNICEF Day for Change – please start saving small change!
Tuesday 5 February Class 2 visit to Sulgrave Manor. Letter sent out this week in book bags.
Friday 8 February Break up for the February Holiday at 3.15pm
Monday 18 February Return to school for the start of Term 4
Tuesday 19 February Reception pupils eye checks
Monday 25 February – Friday 1 March Class 3 Residential Visit to Woodlands Outdoor Education Centre accompanied by Miss Shah, Mrs Scragg and Mr Hazeldine.
Extra swimming opportunity at Abbey Sports Centre for Class 2 pupils on Monday 25 February.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Newsletter for week ending 18 January 2013


Snow
In the event that the forecast of heavy snow materialises tomorrow, please listen to the local radio and look at the school website for the latest information.

Appointment of a new Parent Governor
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs Samantha Robinson as a new parent governor with effect from 14 January 2013. No other parent/carer put their name forward, so there was no requirement to hold a ballot.

‘Active Maths’
Following the positive impact of ‘Big Writing’ and ‘Talk for Writing’ on pupil progress in Literacy last year, we are now developing our Maths provision to mirror key aspects of our Literacy provision. This includes the introduction of ‘Active Maths’, a series of maths activities and investigations to be carried out at home. This will enable families to engage in aspects of maths that are being taught in each class, in a similar way to the way that ‘Talk for Writing’ links with the teaching of English in each class. An ‘Active Maths’ information sheet has been sent home, via bookbags, earlier this week.

Termly Outline Plans

Termly Outline Plans giving parents and carers an overview of the key areas of teaching and learning being covered in each class during Terms 3 and 4, have been sent home, via book bags, earlier this week. We are in the process of uploading these onto the Parents Section of the School Website.

PTA News

Friday Cake Club
Wow, the cake club is proving very popular - thank you to everyone who has joined this term. The winner of the first cake of the year was Billy Bowerman, with the cake donated by Mrs Gravett.

A reminder to Mrs Hector that she is on the rota for the 25 January.
Upcoming Events
Keep an eye out for details on the following exciting events being planned:

Children's Bingo & Hot Dog Night
Grown Up's 'Boogie Bingo' (It's bingo with music instead of numbers!)
Easter Chocolate Raffle - Wednesday 27th March, after school

LITTLE BEARS NEWS:
Next week we are looking at the book “Elmer and the Lost Teddy.” We will be having a lost teddy hunt in the garden, talking about friendship and baking some Elmer Elephant biscuits.


DIARY DATES:
Wednesday 23 January Mobile Library visits the school
Monday 28 January Swimming Gala for selected pupils
Meeting of the Governing Body at 7pm.
Friday 1 February UNICEF Day for Change – please start saving small change!
Tuesday 5 February Class 2 visit to Sulgrave Manor. Letter to follow.
Friday 8 February Break up for the February Holiday at 3.15pm
Monday 18 February Return to school for the start of Term 4
Monday 25 February – Friday 1 March Class 3 Residential Visit to Woodlands Outdoor Education Centre accompanied by Miss Shah, Mrs Scragg and Mr Hazeldine.



Thursday, January 10, 2013

Newsletter for week ending 11 January 2013



Welcome back to everyone and Happy New Year!

We are pleased to welcome Eliza Gardner into our Reception class this term.

Happy JANUARY Birthday to: Elizabeth Bowerman, Bronte Buckner, Owen Cove, Thomas Cove, Myles Dobson, Matthew Ellis, Megan Green, Isabella Kenny, Tia Khan, Benjamin West and Thomas West.

During JANUARY we are focusing on the core value of FRIENDSHIP

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.

Advice for Parents/Carers from the Thames Valley Health Protection Unit
Thames Valley Health Protection Unit (TVHPU) have received reports of outbreaks of flu-like illness affecting children in schools. Some of these have been confirmed as being caused by a seasonal flu virus called Influenza B. Similar reports have been received by the Health Protection Agency from other parts of the country.
In order to minimise the spread of the virus, children, staff and visitors with flu-like symptoms (such as a raised temperature, a cough, runny nose, muscle and joint pains or headache) should not attend school until their symptoms have cleared up.
Reducing the spread of infection can be helped by remembering 'Catch It, Bin It, Kill It':
• Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a disposable paper tissue when possible;
• Dispose of dirty tissues promptly and carefully;
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water and clean hard surfaces (such as door handles) frequently using a normal cleaning product to kill the virus.

Most cases of flu can be managed at home and further advice can be found at NHS Direct (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/ or telephone 0845 4647) but if you are concerned about any aspect of your child's health seek advice from your GP as rarely other severe illnesses could appear with similar flu like symptoms
Your GP may have invited your child for flu vaccination this year if they fall under one of the nationally identified risk groups already [chronic heart, lung disease; metabolic disorders (including severe asthma and diabetes); kidney problems or a lowered immune system due to treatment or disease]. If you believe your child falls into one of these categories and has not been able to attend an appointment previously for seasonal flu vaccination, please contact your GP. Children in these risk groups should also seek medical advice promptly if they develop signs of flu-like illness.
If you are the parents of a child who qualifies for flu vaccine due to an underlying medical condition but who has not be vaccinated AND you have been in contact with someone with flu, then you may need to get advice from your child's doctor about the need to use anti-viral medication to reduce the risk of transmitting infection.
If you need further advice about a specific incident or outbreak, you can also contact TVHPU at 0845 279 9879 or email tvhpu@hpa.org.uk.

PTA News

Friday Cake Club
Joshua Hursey won the cake donated by Mrs Payne on the 14th December. The last 'Cake' of the term was donated by Mrs Bowerman and won by Josh Matthews. Since September we have raised an amazing £160 - thanks to everyone for joining the club, and another thank you to all our cake donators!

The Friday Cake Club is running again this year, so make sure you see Rowena Dobson on Friday morning to be in with a chance of winning, or pay in advance at any time if you prefer. £1 per child up to half term or £2 per child up to Easter.

A reminder to Mrs Perring that she is on the cake donation rota for the 18th January.

LITTLE BEARS NEWS:
Next week we are looking at the book ‘Elmer in the Snow’. We will also be finding out about season change and talking about dangers and how we keep ourselves safe.


DIARY DATES:
Monday 14 January First swimming session for Class 2 pupils
Year 5 pupils go to ICC for a Technology lesson
Friday 18 January Year 5/6 take part in Sports Hall Activities at ICC. Letter sent home this week.
Wednesday 23 January Mobile Library visits the school
Monday 28 January Swimming Gala for selected pupils
Meeting of the Governing Body at 7pm.
Friday 1 February UNICEF Day for Change – please start saving loose change!
Tuesday 5 February Class 2 visit to Sulgrave Manor. Letter to follow.
Friday 8 February Break up for the February Holiday at 3.15pm
Monday 18 February Return to school for the start of Term 4
Monday 25 February – Friday 1 March Class 3 Residential Visit to Woodlands Outdoor Education Centre accompanied by Miss Shah, Mrs Scragg and Mr Hazeldine.


Attachment:
What’s on at the Children’s Centre in January and February 2013