Newsletter for week ending 4 July 2014

Happy JULY Birthday to: Jack Austin, Georgia Day, Archie Dickens, Mya Khan, Amy Matthews, Nate Moss-Black and Nathaniel Watkins.

During JULY we are focusing on the core value of COURAGE

Appointment of a new teacher for Class 3
After a very rigorous interview process, we are very pleased to announce the appointment of Miss Palvi Raval as the new teacher for Class 3, who will replace Miss Shah from 1st September. Miss Raval has considerable experience of teaching pupils in Years 5 and 6 and we look forward to working with her from September. She is hoping to be able to introduce herself to her new class during one of the ‘Moving Up’ days next week.

Goodbye to our Students
As they leave us this week, we thank Miss Parsons and Mr Kemp for their contribution to the school during their final teaching practice this term and wish them both every success in their future teaching careers.

Clarinet Concert
A reminder that there is a clarinet performance by pupils here on Tuesday 8th July starting at 2.45pm. Everyone welcome.

Moving Up Days
Each family should have received a letter today clarifying the arrangements for the ‘Moving Up’ days next week on Wednesday 9th, Thursday 10th and Friday 11th July. New pupils starting in September will come in to the Reception class, all other pupils will practise being the year above and Year 6 pupils who are moving on to Icknield Community College will be there for the three days.

Additions to the School Website
This week we have added a ‘SATs explained’ document and a ‘FAQs document’ to the ‘Links’ Section of the school website as a reference point for parents.

Daylight Theatre Performance
We look forward to our whole school annual end of year treat on Tuesday 15th July with a performance from the Daylight Theatre Company of Arthur’s Sword. There is no cost to pupils for this treat and we thank the PTA for paying half of the cost each year.

Commonwealth Sports Day on Wednesday 16th July
We have organised a very special day of PE for Wednesday 16th July when we welcome three of the management team from Oxford Active into school to lead some different PE activities for all pupils. Please could all pupils come to school wearing their school PE kit on that day instead of school uniform. Please bring a school sweatshirt if the weather is likely to be cold and at least one extra drink.

Bus Shelter Painting
Don’t forget to come down to the bus shelter in Stadhampton between 11am & 4pm on Saturday 5th or Sunday 6th July to have your handprints included in the new design. Everyone welcome!

Community Transport Fund Survey Results
Last week a survey (put together by a parent) was distributed to parents/carers of pupils in Years 5 and 6, asking what their intentions were regarding transportation of their children to secondary school in 2015/2016. Thank you to all parents who completed and returned forms. The results can now be made public.
Out of twenty five surveys that were sent out, nine responses were returned. Seven respondents kept open the option of either applying for a concessionary seat on the Council-provided school bus (should one be available), or would possibly arrange their own transport to Icknield Community College. Eight respondents expressed an interest in the possible option of using community transport should it become available and in attending a meeting to discuss future plans. However, only two of these respondents indicated that they would be willing to help establish a management committee to develop the plans and build a business case needed to apply for community transport funding from Oxford County Council. One response indicated that none of the options would apply to them in 2015/2016.
None of the nine responses indicated that they would consider sending their child to The Oxford Academy, therefore not wanting to take up the offer of free transport from OCC.
As there appears to be some interest in the possible option of community transport wanting to be used, the next stage would be to give all parents of pupils at the school (including those with children in Reception upwards), the opportunity to meet to discuss the real level of support in the village more generally for community transport.
An important question that needs answering is whether there is sufficient interest from other parents, and members of the community, to consider establishing a management committee.
As the Primary School and its Governors have made clear that it is not their responsibility to provide transport to secondary schools, Mrs Sarah Madry (a parent of a Year 5 pupil) has volunteered to chair an initial meeting of parents, to answer some of these questions and decide if there is a way forward in the future.
The meeting will be held in the School Hall at 7.30pm on Thursday 10 July and all parents of pupils at Stadhampton Primary School are welcome.

PTA NEWS:
Sports Night Friday 11th July - tickets are available from Claire Walker every day outside Class 1. Tickets are priced at £2.50 each for either a burger, sausage or veggie sausage. The cut off day for getting your tickets is next Wednesday 9th July, so be quick!!!!!

End of School Disco Thursday 17th July - tickets are £3 each and you should receive letters via book bags shortly with further details. Please return permission slips along with your money to the office as soon as possible. We are not issuing tickets for the disco, as names of all those attending will be listed and you will be asked to sign your child/children in and out on the night. If any parent is available to help on the night please see Sue Bowerman or Anna Harries.

Parent Survey – one final plea! If you haven't done so already, then please access the link below to answer some questions about the PTA and our fundraising. It really only take a few minutes and will really help focus our fundraising efforts during the next school year. The survey will be closed at the end of term and feedback on the results will follow in September.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5PKFLCJ

Please note clicking on the link may not work on certain devices, e.g. iPad and iPhone, so you may need to copy and paste or type the details into your browser. Please let Georgina Wiggins or Melanie Gravett know if you have any problems accessing the survey.

Thank you for your continued support of the PTA. Our next meeting is Tuesday 9th September 8pm at The Crown.

Cake Club
Congratulations to Naomi Woodwards, the lucky winner of last week’s cake kindly donated by Mrs Buckner. A reminder to Mrs Wiggins that she is on the rota for 11 July. If anyone would like to offer to donate a cake from September please let Rowena Dobson know. We have a few volunteers from PTA members, but it would be good to have some others on the list too.

DIARY DATES:
Tuesday 8 July Clarinet Concert for parents
Wednesday – Friday 9, 10, 11 July ‘Moving –up days’ for all pupils. Reception pupils due to join in September 2014 also invited into school for 3 days.
Sports Evening – Friday 11 July-6pm for 6.30pm start. All welcome.
Friday 18 July End of school year assembly at 9.05am.
School finishes at 1.30pm for the summer break.
Monday 11 – Friday 15 August Summer Sports Course at Stadhampton School. Please see posters on each classroom door and in the entrance foyer for details of how to book.
1st, 2nd September Staff INSET Days
Wednesday 3 September Start of Term 1 for all new and returning pupils

LITTLE BEARS NEWS:
Next week we are finishing our Circus topic with our own unique circus, finishing our ‘circus shape’ clowns and practising walking in our extra large "Clown shoes".

We hope the new Reception class enjoy their transition days on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, Little Bears will also be welcoming some new little ones in on the same days with a mini "All about me" topic.

On Friday 11th July it will be the primary schools sports day and as usual Little Bears are invited to run some races, hope you can join us to cheer them on.

Summer Event and 10th Birthday Celebration - on Friday 18th July from 1.30pm until 4.30pm at Little Bears Garden

We will have lots of activities for the children, a children's entertainer, refreshments, a BBQ and lots lots more……
On the same day it will be our sports day and leavers ceremony, also located in the garden from 10.45am followed by a picnic.
Please come and join the fun if you can.
We hope to see you there!

Community News:
• Flyer attached for Icknield Sports Fair on Thursday 11th September 2014