Newsletter for week ending 10 May 2013

Helping Children with Reading
A reminder that there is a talk by Amanda King, a literacy consultant working with Oxfordshire schools, on helping children with reading at 2.15pm on Monday 13 May. All parents and carers are welcome to attend.

School Website Updates
Recent uploads to the school website include a Benchmarking Report under the Governors section. This analysis enables the Governing Body to assess how this school is performing in comparison with other similar schools by considering how effectively we deploy our resources to achieve results. Also recently added are Term Dates for 2013/14 (Parents Section). In addition we have repaired the previously problematic link on After School Clubs in Term 5 and added pictures of the ‘green’ greenhouse and Woodlands visit in the Events Section.

Year 6 Visit to Dorchester Abbey - Report by Benjamin and Hannah
“When we were at Dorchester Abbey we did a “Singing Playground” workshop. This was really good fun and now we can teach our friends singing games in the playground! The Abbey was huge and our voices echoed around it. When we started singing we were surprised at how loud we were. Our instructors were full of energy. The audience helped us during the performance as our parents had to participate in singing too! We really enjoyed doing lots of hand gestures and ‘grooving!”

Sponsored Bike Ride
Mr Short is taking part in a sponsored bike ride on 12 May. He will be riding the Thames Bridges for the Stroke Association (33 miles) and has a 'JustGiving' website which parents/carers might want to have a look at:
http://www.justgiving.com/Simon-Short1

Holiday Course at Stadhampton School
Following on from the success of the Easter Holiday Course, Michael Hopkins will be leading a holiday course at Stadhampton School for one week in the main summer holidays, between 12th and 16th August. Details of the course are attached to this newsletter.

PTA News
Friday Cake Club
Amy Freeman was the lucky winner of last week’s cake, kindly donated by Mrs Drake. A reminder to Miss Gardner that she is on the rota for Friday 17 May.

Clothes Recycling - Tues 14th May, 9am
Last chance for a clear-out of all your unwanted clothes, bags, shoes, cuddly toys, bedding (not pillows or duvets). Ideally, please bring bags on the morning of 14th, but if you have to bring them the night before, please leave them in the covered area outside Class 1.

Plant Orders
Thank you to everyone who ordered plants - we raised £102.36. Plants will be delivered on Tuesday 14th May, so please collect your orders at the end of the day.


Summer Fair & Bus Extravaganza - Sat 15th June, 2 - 4.30pm
Make a note in your diary, we're holding a bus-themed, fun-filled family fair with lots of competitions, games and stalls. The bus will also be 'officially' opened, and this is your chance to see the new bus library. Watch this space for more exciting details.

We will be collecting toys, games, books etc, for one of our stalls, and if you have any unwanted/chipped crockery we plan to have a ‘China Shy’ on the day too. See a member of the PTA for more details.


LITTLE BEARS NEWS:
Next week we will be enjoying the song “10 currant buns”. We will be making some play buns to act out the song and making a bakers shop.
On Tuesday the 14th it's Bags2school day so time for a clear out maybe?
Huge thank you goes to the Wilkinsons who donated a bike to the Little Bears.



DIARY DATES:
Monday 13th – Friday 17th May SATs week. Please avoid making dentist appointments etc this week. This involves all pupils in Years 2-6.
Monday 13th May 2.15-3.15 “Helping Children with Reading” talk for parents led by Mandy King
Tuesday 14th May Clothes Recycling Collection
Friday 24th May Break up at 3.15 for May Holiday
Monday 3rd June Return to school for the start of Term 6.
Thursday 6th June Year 5’s visit to ICC for Science lesson
Wednesday 12th June Mobile Library
Tuesday 18th June Year 5’s visit to ICC for a PE lesson. Please remember to take trainers/plimsolls and PE kit.