Newsletter for week ending 6th December 2013

Home to School Transport Meeting at ICC on Monday 2nd December
Thank you to the high number of parents/carers and school governors who attended the consultation meeting on Monday 2nd December at Icknield Community College to find out more about the OCC proposals. The strength of feeling was evident at the meeting as to the impact that these proposals would have on both Icknield CC and the partnership schools that form its catchment area. The panel explained that the plans are focussed on achieving the OCC cost savings required, however there were a number of concerns and questions raised about the assumptions that had been included in the financial modelling.

The current proposal is that pupils will only be entitled to free transport to your nearest school, which for the majority of Stadhampton unfortunately is not our catchment school. Of concern to many parents who attended the consultation meetings is that depending on where you live in the village your nearest school could be any one of four schools: The Oxford Academy, Wallingford, Wheatley Park and Icknield – which has obvious implications for our community.

It should be stressed that the proposals at this stage will not change our catchment school which remains as Icknield Community College. However, parents may find that, although they live in the catchment area for Icknield Community College, the fact that other schools are nearer means that they would be faced with a £600 bill (per pupil) for transport if these changes are voted through. We urge parents to individually respond to the consultation, as attached to our newsletter of 22.11.2013. The School and the Governing Body are in discussions with other members of the Partnership to discuss how we can collectively respond and will keep parents updated with respect to the action that we are taking.

Cars/vans in Cratlands Close
A resident of Cratlands Close has expressed her concern this week at how difficult it can be to cross the road safely in Cratlands Close when there are so many cars/vans parked on the kerbs. We have agreement from the landlord of The Crown pub for parents/carers to use their car park at the beginning and end of the school day to drop off or collect children from school. In the interest of safety for all pupils, it would be particularly helpful if those parents/carers who drive large vehicles especially vans, could park in The Crown pub if there is not a space available in the school car park rather than obstruct the pavements and hinder the visibility of those people attempting to cross the road safely with their children. In anticipation, we thank all parents/carers for their co-operation in this matter.

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. We will also do our best to put a message onto the school website if there is power!

Archery After School Club
We have been advised that Mr Chrisp will not be available to provide the after school archery club on Monday 9th December. Therefore the final session will take place on Monday 16th December. We apologise for the inconvenience this causes. Refunds will be issued for the missed session.

Contributions to the cost of the swimming transport
Thank you to those families in Class 3 who have already made contributions this term towards the cost of the swimming transport. The cost of the transport for 7 swimming sessions is £420 and to date we have received well below half of this cost from voluntary parental contributions. If any more parents would be willing to contribute to this cost it would be very much appreciated. If you are unsure whether you have paid or not please ask in the school office. Thank you.

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

Play tickets
Tickets are required for all performances of the KS1 and KS2 school plays. They are on sale now from the school office priced at £2 each. All monies raised this year will go towards buying some mini I-pads for each classroom to use. Once again we are very grateful to the PTA who will be supplying refreshments at the end of the KS2 evening performance.

KS2 Costume Reminder
Thank you to those people who have already brought their costumes into school. A reminder that all costumes need to be in school by Friday 6th December, prior to the dress rehearsal on Monday 9th December.

Forest School Disco- Thursday 19th December from 6.00-7.30pm
Tickets are now on sale for the Forest School disco priced at £3 each. There will also be a raffle held on the evening and we hope that children will be able to bring along some extra money to buy a raffle ticket or two. Raffle tickets will cost 50p each and we have about fifteen prizes so far!

School Christmas Party
We are very aware of just how much we have asked of parents and carers this year and therefore the school/PTA will pay for the cost of the party food for this year’s school Christmas party on the afternoon of Tuesday 17th December.
Traditionally, pupils bring party clothes to school to change into after lunch. We do not usually make a request for a financial donation for this event however, if any families would be willing to make a £1 donation towards Forest School this would be very much appreciated.

School Christmas Lunch
We hope all pupils will join us for a special Christmas lunch with napkins and crackers on Thursday 19th December. Children will make their own special place mat in school during the morning. During lunchtime we have Christmas music playing and the staff serve the children with their lunch -it is a really fun and festive occasion which we hope all children will partipate in. The cost is the same as for a normal school meal (£2) and payment can be made at any time before the day. Thank you.

PTA Message to Parents
Winter Fair:
Thank you very much to everyone who came and supported the Winter Fair last Friday; it was a great night and the total raised will be announced in next week’s newsletter once everything has been counted and verified; special thanks to the PTA team and volunteers who helped to ‘man’ the stalls and clear up on the night.

Wreath making evening -Tuesday 17th December
There are still places available for this great evening which also raises money for the PTA. Booking forms are available from the school office. Please do think about coming if you can.

Cake Club
Congratulations to Mya Khan who was the lucky winner of last week’s cake, kindly donated by Mrs Gravett. A reminder to Mrs Diment that she is on the rota for 13th December.


DIARY DATES:
Friday 6 December Singing Club performing at the Christmas Market at The Village Hall at St John’s Stadhampton at 4pm.
Tuesday 10 December KS2 (Classes 2 & 3) - both matinee and evening performances 1.45pm / 6.30pm. Tickets on sale now from the school office.
Wednesday 11 December FS/KS1 (Reception & Class 1) - matinee performance only 2.00 for 2.15pm start. Tickets on sale now from the school office.
Tuesday 17 December School Christmas Party – please donate £1 to our Forest School fund for your child to wear party clothes in the afternoon
Wednesday 18 December Nativity Service – The Village Hall at St John’s Church 2.15pm. Everyone welcome to join us for this event.
Thursday 19 December School Christmas lunch for all £2. Payment welcomed at any time now.
Disco for Forest School – tickets on sale now priced at £3 each. Raffle tickets 50p each.
Friday 20 December End of term assembly at 9.05am. Everyone welcome.
School finishes at 1.30pm – please note earlier break up time.
Monday 23 December One-day Sports Course at Stadhampton School for participating pupils. See notices in each classroom entrance area for more information and details of how to book.

LITTLE BEARS NEWS:
Next week our book of the week is the “Jolly Christmas Postman;” Little Bears post-box is in the main entrance of Little Bears and there will be a class list so we can start to post our Christmas letters. The Little Bears Nativity is on the 14th December so we will be practising all our songs ready for our performance at 2pm.

Community News:
• Flyer attached about an Allergy Support meeting
• Flyer attached about one day Sports Course here on Monday 23rd December