Newsletter for week ending 31 January 2014

40th Anniversary of the School
Stadhampton Primary School was built on the present site in 1974 and this year will celebrate its 40th Birthday! We will mark the occasion later in the year.

School Transport Policy Proposals – Message from Sue Moon
“The crucial vote on the controversial Home to School Transport Policy proposals takes place at County Hall on Tuesday. We have all worked our socks off to see that the Cabinet vote 'NO' and this work will continue right up the Cabinet meet at 1pm.

The Oxon School Bus Action Group would like to take this opportunity to thank all schools for the ways in which you have supported our campaign, whether that was by forwarding our messages to parents, signing the petition or responding to the consultation. Opposition to these plans has overwhelmed the Council in a way that is unprecedented for this type of consultation. That's something we should all be proud of, regardless of the outcome.

There is one more thing you can do. I have enclosed a leaflet advertising our protest at County Hall at midday on Tuesday. Please could you forward this to your parents, staff and governors. We need to have as many people as possible along to this to show OCC how strongly we all feel.

Thanks again for your support”

Sue Moon
Co-ordinator, Oxon School Bus Action Group
07787177546

Chinese New Year – Friday 31st January
We have been celebrating Chinese New Year, which this year is the Year of the Horse, in school with Chinese stories, music and decoration-making. On Friday we will hold our annual ‘Jian-zi’ tournament, which is a form of ‘keepy-uppy’ with a Chinese shuttlecock–style toy, and the overall winner will be revealed next week!

Sainsbury’s Active Kids Scheme
We are pleased to take part again in the Sainsbury’s Active Kids scheme again this year. Please collect vouchers for us and post them into the collecting box on top of the piano in the school hall.
The scheme coincides with changes to the National Curriculum, which from September will see all pupils between the ages of 5 and 14 taught cookery in school, and has been extended to include new cookery and toolkits. Active Kids will continue to invest in sports equipment.

Day for Change – Friday 7th February
A reminder that we will be taking part in the UNICEF Day for Change on Friday 7th February. It would be nice if all pupils were able to bring in some change so that they can participate in some of the activities taking place during the school day.
In 2014, Day for Change is all about education. Going to school gives children the chance of a brighter future, but about 68 million children around the world still don't have access to education.

Story-telling Fortnight – Monday 3rd - Friday 14th March 2014
Story-telling is an important element in spoken and written language, linking closely with Talk for Writing initiatives. As a way of furthering events for World Book Day on 6th March, we plan to have a Story-telling fortnight between Monday 3rd and Friday 14th March. During this fortnight we would like to invite any parents who would be willing to tell a suitable children’s short story, poem or rhyme in their child’s class. We would like to extend this to include stories, poems or rhymes in languages other than English and several parents who have fluency in other languages have already agreed to do this. Please don’t be shy! If you would be willing to take up our invitation, please contact your child’s class teacher. It is anticipated that first thing in the morning or at the end of the afternoon would be convenient times. Thank you in anticipation!

Optional Visit to Hazlach, Poland in May 2014
Details relating to this visit have been sent this week via bookbags, to families of pupils in Class 3. If you didn’t receive this information and would like to, please contact Mrs Turner.

Head Lice
A parent has kindly let us know that she has treated her child for head lice this week. Please could all parents check and treat their child’s/children’s hair this weekend if necessary.

PTA News
Kids Bingo night - Friday 7th March
Tickets will be on sale from Monday and will be priced the same as last year at £3. Please purchase your tickets from the school office but be quick as there are only a limited number available! Please also include the permission slips which were put into book bags today. This is always a fun event which the children really enjoy.
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Quiz evening- Friday 21st March
The PTA is very excited about this adult only event - watch out for posters and letters in book bags next week.
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Saturday fun club
We have decided to postpone this until after half term. This is something we wish to run once every 4-5 weeks, so if any parent has a craft, hobby etc they would be willing to share at the club please see a PTA member. We hope it will be popular with the children and adults alike so watch this space!

Thank you for your continued support.

Cake Club
Congratulations to Elizabeth Marshall, who won the cake last week, kindly donated by Mrs Freeman. A reminder to Mrs Ellis that she is on the rota for 7 February. We do not have anyone on the rota for donating a cake from 7 March onwards, so please see Rowena Dobson to have your name included. It would be a shame if we had to stop this very popular weekly event due to lack of cakes, particularly as so many families have paid for their entry until the end of the school year. Thank you.

DIARY DATES:
Tuesday 4 February Class 2 visit to Roald Dahl Museum
Friday 7 February UNICEF Day for Change – please bring in your loose change!
Friday 14 February Break up for the February Holiday at 3.15pm
Monday 24 February Start of Term 4

LITTLE BEARS NEWS:
Next week at Little Bears we will be continuing with the ‘Opposites’ theme and talking about happy and sad and our feelings.

Icknield Community College HMI Letter
A letter will be forwarded to parents later today from ICC following their recent follow-up visit from Ofsted.