Newsletter for week ending 26 September 2014

Year 5 and 6 Assembly with Mr Hunter
A reminder that Mr Hunter, Headteacher of Icknield Community College and Miss Walkley, Progress Manager for Year 6 and Year 7 pupils, will lead a class assembly at Stadhampton School at 9.00am on Monday 29th September. Parents/carers of Class 3 pupils are warmly encouraged to attend.

Additions to the School Website:

School Prospectus
We have compiled a new School Prospectus for this academic year which has now been uploaded onto the school website. We hope that families will take the time to have a look at it and find it an interesting and useful reference document. It contains a plethora of information about uniform, jewellery, medical matters, absence from school, term dates for this academic year and much, much more. We have also provided information about what pupils study in each subject and at each Key Stage, as well as lots of pictures of recent school trips and events.

Calendar of Events
We have also updated the calendar section of the school website this week as a reminder for parents.

40th Anniversary Celebration
On Tuesday pupils and staff, along with representatives from the Governing Body and PTA committee, celebrated the 40th anniversary of the school being opened on this site. We sang ‘Happy Birthday’ and everyone thoroughly enjoyed a piece of cake, beautifully made for us by Shirley Bateman, outside in the September sunshine and all pupils took home a special balloon. Our celebrations continue next week with an aerial photograph of the school being taken with all pupils and staff forming a ‘40’ shape in the school grounds. More details on this next week, but our understanding is that families will be able to purchase a copy of this if they would like to.

Harvest Gifts
Our annual Harvest Festival will take place in the Hall at 9.05am on Friday 3rd October and families are most welcome to join us. Once again we will be supporting Stepping Stones, an organisation for homeless people in Oxford, with our Harvest Gifts. We hope that each child will be able to bring a small contribution into school before our service. All Harvest gifts bought into school will be taken to the village church and put on display for the Harvest Service there on Sunday 5th October, before being taken on to Stepping Stones. Stepping Stones prefer to receive non-perishable items such as packets of pasta, tins of beans, bars of chocolate, packets of biscuits, tins of tomatoes, tins of spaghetti, etc rather than fresh produce. Thank you.


PTA NEWS:
Official Notice of the PTA's Annual General Meeting (AGM) - Tuesday 21st October, 8pm in the School Hall .
The PTA plays a vital part in the school community and all parents, as members of the PTA, are invited to support the AGM. This is your chance to hear and see how the funds you have helped to raise last year have been used for the benefit of the children at our school.

The AGM is also an opportunity for you to elect the PTA Committee (Chair, Treasurer, Secretary), to represent the association throughout the forthcoming academic year. If you are interested in taking on one of these roles or joining the committee, please speak to Georgina Wiggins or Melanie Gravett. Or if you just want to come to the meeting to find out a bit more, everyone is welcome.
School Spruce Up Day - Saturday 11th October from 10am – as you may know, the PTA held a Spring Cleaning Day earlier this year, where friends and family of children at the school spent a few hours doing some jobs around the grounds. The school looks great after its mini facelift but there are still a few things which need doing before the Winter months arrive.

Please start asking family and friends if they would be willing to spare a few hours for painting, weeding, planting and doing general maintenance of the school grounds on Saturday 11th October from 10am. Tea, coffee and bacon butties will be provided!

Clothes Recycling - Tuesday 14th October – Bag2School recycling bags have been put into book bags this week so get sorting through your wardrobes for your unwanted adult and/or children’s clothes, paired shoes, cuddly toys, bags, scarves, hats.

Bag2School is a free fundraising scheme that works in partnership with schools and businesses to help us raise money from your donations. It specialises in collecting unwanted textiles in good condition which are then sold to export markets worldwide where they are sorted and then sold to the general public. The PTA receives funds for every kilo of clothes collected, so please have a good clear out ready for collection day!

Old School Disco Night - Saturday 15th November - 8pm
One for the adults - more details to come.


Winter Fair - Friday 28th November
Each week we will be counting down to the Winter Fair and will be asking for different donations, so as it's not such a big rush for everyone nearer the time. Please put all donations in the PTA box in the hall.

WINTER FAIR COUNTDOWN 9 WEEKS - WANTED THIS WEEK
TINS, BOTTLES, GIFT SETS
(please make sure they are in date)

Did you know the PTA has a Facebook page?
It is a closed group in which only parents of the school can access. If you would like to join, please search Stadhampton Primary School PTA and we can add you as a member. Any problems please see Georgina Wiggins.

Friday Cake Club
Congratulations to Jude Bradley, the lucky winner of last week’s cake, kindly donated by Mrs Walker. A reminder to Mrs Wiggins that she is on the rota for 3rd October.


DIARY DATES:
3 October 2014 Harvest Festival in school at 9.05am
8 October2014 Mobile Library
15 October 2015 Open Morning from 9.00 to 11.30am. Please come and see the school at work
20 October 2014 Book Fair arrives in school
12 November 2014 Mobile Library
17 November 2014 & 19 November Parents’ Consultation Evening from 4-7pm on 17 November and 4-6pm on 19 November (more details to follow nearer the time, but advance warning of the dates available for meeting with teachers)
Tuesday 9 December KS2 Christmas Play performances at 1.45pm & 6.30pm (times to be confirmed)
Wednesday 10 December KS1 & FS Christmas Play performance at 2.15pm (times to be confirmed)
Mobile Library
Monday 22 December & Tuesday 23 December Two day Christmas Sports Course at Stadhampton School led by Michael Hopkins and supported by Jordan Piper. Please see attached flyer for details.


LITTLE BEARS NEWS:
Little Bears will be continuing with the topic "All about me" by looking and talking about the five senses. We will be talking about all our favourite things to eat and do with our families including talking about what our favourite colours are. We will also making self portraits.

Community News:
• Flyer from Icknield Community College about a Cover Supervisor vacancy

Newsletter for week ending 19 September 2014

There is a lot of important administrative information in this week’s newsletter as well as other, more newsy items. Please keep reading!

Starting School in Reception in September 2015
Parents of children born between 01.09.2010 and 31.08.2011 must make an application for their child to start in Reception in September 2015. The majority of parents are expected to complete this process on-line at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/primaryadmissions
Please contact Mrs Hopkins if you need assistance with this process or if you have any difficulties or queries. The closing date for on-time applications is 15 January 2015.

Transfer from Primary to Secondary School in September 2015
Parents of pupils in Year 6 should already have been sent a letter to explain the application process by the Local Authority. Please apply on-line at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/secondaryadmissions
If you have not received a letter please let Mrs Hopkins know. The closing date for on-time secondary school applications is 31st October 2014. Parents will receive their offer of a school place on 2nd March 2015.

Application for Free School Meals
We would like to make you aware of the ‘Free School Meals’ scheme which operates in our school.

Pupils whose parents/carers receive the following support payments are entitled to free school meals (assuming parent does not receive Working Tax Credit):

 Income Support (IS) – proof of entitlement is in the form of a DWP Award Notice or FF260 form
 Income Based Jobseekers Allowance (IBJSA) – proof of entitlement is in the form of a DWP Award Notice
 Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 – proof of entitlement is in the form of a Home Office letter, which includes their NASS number.
 State Pension Credit – proof of entitlement is assessed by the ‘Pension Credit M1000 Award Notice’.
 Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) has been introduced to replace both Incapacity Benefit and Income Support
o ESA(IR) will be an eligible benefit for free school meals - Proof of entitlement is a letter or a statement from the Department of Work and Pensions/Job Centre Plus Awards Notice
o ESA (C) recipients are NOT eligible for free school meals
 Child Tax Credit with an annual income “as assessed by the Inland Revenue” that does not exceed £16,190 (the parents/guardians must not have Working Tax Credit). – proof of entitlement is assessed by the ‘TC602 Award Notice’ by viewing the information inside the box on the first page:-

Should you feel you might qualify, please contact Mrs Hopkins, Business Manager, in confidence, for an application form and return this with your proof of entitlement. We ask that you do this even if your child does not want to have a school meal at the present time so that the school can benefit from additional Pupil Premium funding. Thank you.

School Photographs
A final reminder that The School Photography Company will be in school on Thursday 25 September and all pupils will have their photographs taken during the morning wearing their school uniform individually and also with any siblings in school. Year 6 pupils will also have an informal group photograph taken. Families are welcome to come into the Hall before school at 8.30am to have family groups photographed together if they so wish.
Year 2 pupils who have a Forest School session that morning should come to school in school uniform please and then change into their Forest School clothes once they have had their photograph taken. Thank you.

Year 5 and 6 Assembly with Mr Hunter
Mr Hunter, Headteacher of Icknield Community College and Miss Walkley, Progress Manager for Year 6 and Year 7 pupils will lead a class assembly at Stadhampton School at 9.00am on Monday 29th September. Parents/carers of Class 3 pupils are also warmly encouraged to attend if they can. It is envisaged that the assembly will last for no longer than 30 minutes.

Nut Allergy
Some ‘new’ families to Stadhampton School received a leaflet last week entitled ‘Pack a Healthy Lunchbox’. This generic leaflet mentions that nuts are a healthy snack and peanut butter is suggested as a suitable sandwich filling. We would like to take this opportunity to remind parents/carers that we currently have a pupil in school who has a severe nut allergy and therefore we politely request that pupils do not bring peanut butter sandwiches, cereal bars containing nuts, etc into school. Thank you.

Book Sale by Clair Lansley
Clair Lansley will be holding a Book Sale in the School Hall on Wednesday 24 September from 3.15pm. There will be a selection of new and nearly new children’s books at reduced prices and a percentage of the profits will be donated to the PTA.

School Book Fair
We are holding a Children’s Book Fair in school from Monday 20 October until Thursday 23 October inclusive. The Book Fair will be open from 8.30 to 9.00am each morning (starting on Tuesday 21 October) and from 3.00 until 3.30pm each afternoon (starting on Monday 20 October). Parents are welcome to come in during these times to browse for books with or without their children! The commission from sales at the fair enables us to buy books to update our individual class libraries and our non-fiction library. There are hundreds of exciting books to choose from with prices from just £1. A leaflet showing some examples of the books available and an order form was put into book bags earlier this week.

Primary School Cross Country Races
The school does not enter a team for Primary School Cross Country Races but parents are most welcome to take their children to enter these events if they wish as individuals. The cost is £2 per event payable on the day. Please note that dogs are not permitted at these events. The dates and details of the events are listed below:

Saturday 27th September Greys Court 9.00am start for Yr1
9.15am start for Yr2
9.30am start for Yr3
9.45am start for Yr4
10.00am start for Yr5
10.15am start for Yr6

Please do not arrive before 8.30am, and arrange to share lifts if possible. Arrival should be staggered to coincide with start times for each year group. There will be separate races for boys and girls.

Saturday 11th October Chiltern Edge 10.00am start
Saturday 08th November Chiltern Edge 10.00am start
Saturday 13th December Chiltern Edge 10.00am start

PTA NEWS:
Thank you to everyone who came to our first meeting of the year on Tuesday. We are planning some great events for the forthcoming year so please watch this space! Please find below details of a couple of events planned before half term, in particular the AGM.

Official notice of the PTA's Annual General Meeting (AGM) - Tuesday 21st October, 8pm in the School Hall.
The PTA plays a vital part in the school community and all parents, as members of the PTA, are invited to support the AGM. This is your chance to hear and see how the funds you helped to raise last year have been used for the benefit of the children at our school.
The AGM is also an opportunity for you to elect the PTA Committee (Chair, Treasurer, Secretary), to represent the association throughout the forthcoming academic year. If you are interested in taking on one of these roles or joining the committee, please speak to Georgina Wiggins or Melanie Gravett. If you just want to come to the meeting to find out a bit more, everyone is most welcome.

We look forward to seeing you on 21st October.

School Spruce Up Day - Saturday 11th October from 10am – as you may know, the PTA held a Spring Cleaning Day earlier this year, where friends and family of children at the school spent a few hours doing some jobs around the grounds. The school looks great after its mini facelift but there are still a few things which need doing before the Winter months arrive.

Please start asking family and friends if they would be willing to spare a few hours for painting, weeding, planting and doing general maintenance of the school grounds on Saturday 11th October from 10am. Tea, coffee and bacon butties will be provided!
Clothes Recycling - Tuesday 14th October – Bag2School recycling bags will be put into book bags as soon as we receive them so get sorting through your wardrobes for your unwanted adult and/or children’s clothes, paired shoes, cuddly toys, bags, scarves, hats.
Bag2School is a free fundraising scheme that works in partnership with schools and businesses to help us raise money from your donations. It specialises in collecting unwanted textiles in good condition which are then sold to export markets worldwide. The PTA receives funds for every kilo of clothes collected, so please have a good clear out ready for collection day!

Finally, if you know of anyone who could run an 80s night disco for us in November (for the adults!) and has all the equipment, please speak to Georgina Wiggins or Melanie Gravett.

Friday Cake Club
Congratulations to Cianna Browning, the lucky winner of this year’s first cake, kindly donated by Mrs Bowerman. A reminder to Mrs Fulker that she is on the rota for 26 September.

Attached is a copy of the rota so far for this year. If you have kindly volunteered, please see attached to see which date you have been allocated, and let Rowena Dobson know if you would prefer another date. The rota is also displayed in the noticeboard in the ‘waiting area.’

DIARY DATES:
Monday 22 September Governing Body meeting at 7pm
Tuesday 23 September 40th Birthday Celebration of the school being on this site with pupils, staff, members of the PTA committee and governors.
Thursday 25 September School Photographs
3 October 2014 Harvest Festival in school at 9.05am
8 October2014 Mobile Library
15 October 2015 Open Morning from 9.00 to 11.30am. Please come and see the school at work
20 October 2014 Book Fair arrives in school
12 November 2014 Mobile Library
17 November 2014 & 19 November Parents’ Consultation Evening from 4-7pm on 17 November and 4-6pm on 19 November (more details to follow nearer the time, but advance warning of the dates available for meeting with teachers)
Tuesday 9 December KS2 Christmas Play performances at 1.45pm & 6.30pm (times to be confirmed)
Wednesday 10 December KS1 & FS Christmas Play performance at 2.15pm (times to be confirmed)
Mobile Library
Monday 22 December & Tuesday 23 December Two day Christmas Sports Course at Stadhampton School led by Michael Hopkins and supported by Jordan Piper. Please see attached flyer for details.

LITTLE BEARS NEWS:
Next week at Little Bears we will be looking at families and homes around the world. We will also be looking at maps of the world, different types of houses, and talking about our own families and houses.


• Rota attached for Cake Club

Newsletter for week ending 12 September 2014

National Curriculum Update
Further to last week’s newsletter we are able to share with parents the key changes to the National Curriculum from this term – see Appendix 1 at the end of this newsletter.

Home/School Agreements
If you have recently been sent home a Home/School Agreement form to sign, we would be grateful if it could be completed and returned to school by Monday 15th September. Thank you.

Topics/Areas of Study
Termly Outline Plans giving parents and carers an overview of the key areas of teaching and learning in each class have been uploaded onto the school website. If anyone would like a paper copy please ask in the school office for one.

After School Clubs this term
Places are still available as follows:
Archery – 1 space (aged 8 or over)
Multisports – 7 spaces (Year 1 – Year 6)
Animation/Cinematography 5 spaces (Years 3-6)
Please let Mrs Hopkins know if you would like to participate in any of these after school clubs. Details of dates, times and cost are on the school website.

Swimming at Berinsfield
Thank you to the many families who have already paid their swimming contributions towards the transport costs for this term. It is very much appreciated. We are very grateful for contributions towards the cost of the swimming transport either on a termly (£14) or weekly (£2) basis. Thank you.

Guitar Tuition
Thank you to Mr Payne and Mr Evans for demonstrating the guitar at our school assembly on Tuesday. Guitar tuition forms are available from the school office for pupils in Class 2 or 3 who may be interested in learning to play and would like to know details of costs, etc.

School Photographs
A reminder that The School Photography Company will be in school on Thursday 25 September and all pupils will have their photographs taken during the morning wearing their school uniform. Each child will be photographed individually and also with any siblings in school. Families are welcome to come into the Hall before school at 8.30am to have family groups photographed together if they so wish.
Year 2 pupils who have a Forest School session that morning should come to school in school uniform please and then change into their Forest School clothes once they have had their photograph taken. Thank you.

Food Hygiene Visit
Many congratulations to Mrs Sheridan, our school cook on coping with the extra uptake of Universal Free School Meals for pupils in the Foundation Stage, Year 1 and Year 2 AND for scoring 5 (Very Good) on the Food Standards Agency Hygiene Rating Scheme, when an Environmental Health Officer from South Office District Council, paid us an unexpected visit yesterday.

PTA NEWS:
Thank you to all those who came to the coffee morning on Wednesday. It was great to welcome along parents new to the school, as well as catch up with some who have been around a bit longer!

If you were unable to make the coffee morning and / or would like any more information about what the PTA involves, then please feel free to speak to any member of the PTA. A list of members is on the noticeboard outside Class 1. If you prefer, please e-mail stadhamptonpta@gmail.com and we will get back to you.

Our first meeting is on Tuesday 16th September at 8pm in The Crown, Stadhampton. Please do come along if you would like to get involved or find out more. Everyone welcome.

Friday Cake Club
There was no Cake Club last week, so no winner. A reminder to Mrs Claire Walker that she is on the rota for the cake on 19th September.

DIARY DATES:
Thursday 18 September Open Evening at Icknield Community College 6pm to 8pm with Headteacher’s Address at 7.30pm
Monday 22nd September Governing Body meeting at 7pm
Thursday 25th September School Photographs
3 October 2014 Harvest Festival in school at 9.05am
8 October2014 Mobile Library
20 October 2014 Book Fair arrives in school
12 November 2014 Mobile Library
17 November 2014 & 19 November Parents’ Consultation Evening from 4-7pm on 17 November and 4-6pm on 19 November (more details to follow nearer the time, but advance warning of the dates available for meeting with teachers)
Tuesday 9 December KS2 Christmas Play performances at 1.45pm & 6.30pm (times to be confirmed)
Wednesday 10 December KS1 & FS Christmas Play performance at 2.15pm (times to be confirmed)
Mobile Library
Monday 22 December & Tuesday 23 December Two day Christmas Sports Course at Stadhampton School led by Michael Hopkins and supported by Jordan Piper. Please see attached flyer for details.



Two-Day Christmas Sports Course at Stadhampton School
Following on from the successful Sports Courses held here at Easter and in August, we are pleased to announce that Michael Hopkins will lead a two-day sports course here on Monday 22nd & Tuesday 23rd December. Bookings may be made directly with Mr Hopkins or via the school office.

LITTLE BEARS NEWS:
Continuing with our all about me topic we will be looking at "How I've grown". We will be making our own baby clinic in the home corner and making a height chart showing the difference in heights. We will also be talking about the healthy foods we need to eat in order to grow and will be making a healthy eating collage.

Community News:
Village Show
Saturday 13th September 2014
Village Hall at St John’s
Exhibits to be set up between 10.00 -11.30 a.m.
OPEN FOR PUBLIC VIEWING
2.00 p.m. – 4.30 p.m.
Entry 50p Exhibitors free
DELICIOUS TEAS
RAFFLE
EVERYONE WELCOME!

• Flyers from Chalgrove Children’s Centre (3) attached
• Flyer from Icknield Community College about their Open Evening


Appendix 1 - Changes to the National Curriculum

You will probably be aware that the National Curriculum has been updated for September 2014.

The curriculum for pupils at Stadhampton School comprises of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum for pupils in our Reception class and the National Curriculum for pupils in Years 1 to 6. The EYFS curriculum remains largely unchanged for this year. The situation for pupils in KS1 and KS2 is a little complicated; pupils in Year 2 and Year 6 will still need to be taught the appropriate objectives of the previous curriculum in English, Maths and Science as this year their end of year assessments and national tests will be based on the ‘old’ curriculum. Consequently, 2014-15 will be a year of transition from the former curriculum to the new curriculum. In September 2015 all pupils in Years 1 to 6 will be taught the objectives of the new curriculum and end of year assessments for pupils in Years 2 and 6 will be aligned with the new curriculum.

The most significant changes to the curriculum are outlined below – the most notable are the changes in expectations in maths with knowledge included earlier than in the previous curriculum. For example, Year 2 pupils learning 2, 5 and 10 times tables and Year 6 pupils learning simple algebra.

Literacy: The key change is less of a focus on genre and more focus on quality writing. New content or emphasis relates to year-by-year objectives for Y1 and Y2; required spelling & grammar objectives
& wordlists; priority for phonics in both key stages; focus on reading for pleasure; reciting poetry;
clearer expectations regarding transcription.

Mathematics: There are some significant changes in expectation in the maths curriculum, with knowledge included earlier than currently. New content or emphasis relates to data handling not included in Y1; there is no use of calculators except near the end of KS2; yearly objectives set with larger numbers earlier; tables to 12x12 by end of Y4; earlier introduction of formal written methods; earlier introduction of standard units of measurement; focus on fractions; Roman numerals; Binary in Y6.

Detailed examples are:
Multiplication tables: Y2: 2, 5 & 10 times tables; Y3: 3, 4 & 8 times tables; Y4: all tables up to 12x12
Standard written methods: Y3: Column addition and subtraction; Y4: Standard column multiplication ; Y5: Short division; Y6: Long division.
Fractions: Y1: Half and quarter; Y2: ¾ and 1/3. Find ½ of a number; Y3: Add and order simple fractions Y4: Add + Subtract fractions; Y5: Use mixed numbers; Y6: Add & Multiply fractions
Algebra Y6: Simple formulae, finding missing numbers, etc.

Science: The key change is that there is less content at KS1: Medicines, light, sound, electricity, and magnetism all shift to KS2 programmes of study. New content or emphasis relates to yearly objectives with continued emphasis on working scientifically at each key stage; Evolution in Y6.

ICT: The key change is the subject changes to “Computing” and computer science and is largely based around the old ‘Control’ elements, e.g. understand what algorithms are, how they are implemented as programs on digital devices, and that programs execute by following precise and unambiguous instructions”; E-safety mentioned at every Key Stage.

There are some lesser changes to the content of our foundation subjects; although some of the learning objectives for each year-group have changed most of our topic titles remain unchanged. Full details of all the changes can be found on the internet at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-curriculum

At Stadhampton School we will continue to provide an integrated curriculum, making links between subjects where appropriate. The implementation of the new curriculum has provided us with an opportunity to revise, refresh and reinvigorate our own curriculum.

We are currently working on developing an easily digestible visual representation of our curriculum and expect to be able to present this to you later in the school year.

Newsletter for week ending 5 September 2014

This is an unusually long newsletter – plenty to read!

We are pleased to welcome Miss Palvi Raval as our new Class 3 teacher and Miss Sophie Peet who returns to us for two weeks as part of her teacher training.

We are pleased to welcome the following new pupils into Stadhampton School this term: Jude Bradley, Cianna Browning, Laila Burnell, Wyatt Bullock, Bobby Byrne, Ruby Clark, Morgan Denton, Thomas Dover, Dexter Elliott, Alice Hindmarch, Zac Holmes, Miriam Hutchence, Jake Jones, Oliver Lemon, Alana Malley, Ivy Odell, Jack Smith, Harry Ventham, Honor White and Freddie Woodward-Watts.

Happy SEPTEMBER Birthday to: Charlie Austin, Isabella Dickens, Dexter Elliott, George Evelyn, Phobe Hindmarch, Alfie Howard, Phoebe Watkins and Lawrence Wright.

During September we will be focusing on the core value of RESPECT

What are core values? As a school community we focus on a core value each month, on a rolling two-year cycle. These core values are based on key principles and fundamental convictions which act as general guides to behaviour, enduring beliefs as to what is worthwhile, ideas for which one strives, standards by which particular beliefs and actions are judged to be good or desirable. Examples are respect, co-operation, caring, love, peace, friendship, honesty and freedom.
Our approach to values education is a holistic one and underpins our school ethos. Monthly values are integrated into our curriculum through assemblies, classwork and informal discussions and notable pupil engagement is often acknowledged in our weekly ‘Well-Done’ assemblies.

National Curriculum Update
As many of you will be aware through reports in the Press, a revised National Curriculum comes into effect, for the majority of year-groups from September 2014. We have updated our school curriculum accordingly and, as there is already much to digest in this week’s newsletter, we will give further details of the changes in next week’s newsletter.

School Meal Price Increase
A reminder that the cost of a school meal increased on 1st September 2014 to £2.10 a day or £10.50 per week. Cheques for school meals should be made payable to OCC, with Stadhampton School written on the back of the cheque please and sent into school on the first morning of the school week. Thank you.

All pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are now entitled to a free school meal if they would like to have one.

Swimming at Berinsfield
Swimming will begin for Class 2 pupils on Monday 8th September. They will have a total of 7 sessions. The cost of the swimming transport to Berinsfield has increased to £65 per visit, so we are particularly grateful to receive contributions of £2 per swimming session from parents towards this cost. Cheques for swimming contributions should be made payable to Stadhampton Primary School please (£14 for this term’s sessions).
For families new to school swimming at Berinsfield, pupils in Classes 2 and 3 attend swimming lessons at the Abbey Pool, Berinsfield on Monday afternoons with each class going in turn for a block of approximately 6-7 weeks. Pupils are taught by swimming coaches employed by the Local Authority. Transport is by coach and pupils are accompanied by two adults from Stadhampton School – currently this is normally Mrs Shortman and Mrs Turner.
Swimming forms a compulsory part of the PE curriculum and is not an option. However, if any pupil is unable to go swimming as a result of a medical, or other, condition parents and carers are requested to inform Mrs Turner in writing. Such pupils will still travel with the class to Berinsfield and do some other curriculum-related work under supervision.
Boys need to take with them tight-fitting swimming trunks (not long baggy trunks), girls need a one-piece swimming costume, and everyone needs a towel and a swimming hat (any colour). Pupils shower before and after swimming, however shower gel, shampoo, talc, etc are not required.
Goggles are allowed to be worn, if necessary, but parents and carers must complete the appropriate form which is available from Mrs Turner. Thank you.

PE Kit Reminder
From Monday, could all pupils ensure that they have their PE kit available in school each day please.

Gardening Club – Friday lunchtimes
We are grateful to Mr and Mrs Burnell for continuing to run a gardening club on Friday lunchtimes. Please could any pupils from Classes 2 and 3 who would like to attend the club give their names to Mrs Hopkins. The club will start on Friday 12th September. If any other parents would like to offer their help at this club, it would be very much appreciated!

After School Clubs this term
We have uploaded the dates and times of the after school clubs running in Term 1 to the school website. There are still several spaces available for Multisports (Years 1-6) and Animation/Cinematography workshops (now open to Years 2-6) and just one space for after school Archery club (over 8’s only). The costs are £14 for Multisports for 7 weeks (cheques made payable to OCC), £24 for Animation/Cinematography for 6 weeks (cheques made payable to Stadhampton Primary School), £15 for Archery for 5 weeks (cheques made payable to Stadhampton Primary School please). Please ask Mrs Hopkins for a form if you would like to participate in any after school clubs.
N.B. We have received notification today from Mr Chrisp, the archery instructor, that he is unable to start the archery club now until 22nd September. Families who had already paid £18 for the 6 weeks will have £3 refunded as the club will now only run for 5 weeks.

Forest Schools
We are pleased to be able to continue forest school sessions for all the children at Stadhampton Primary School. The sessions will be on Thursday mornings and one year group at a time will go with Mr Short, Poppy Elliott and Mel Gravett. One of the key ideas of forest schools is to allow children to experience how the environment around them changes over time. To achieve this, we have timetabled staggered two week blocks for each class. Although this is more complicated than doing a six-week block for each year group, it has the advantage of each year group getting a range of weather and woodland conditions – autumn, winter, spring and summer.

If any parents would be interested in volunteering to help at sessions, please let us know. You would not be agreeing to an ongoing commitment; the aim is to develop a rosta of volunteers who can help when required, or when particular activities are planned that require higher adult:child ratios, such as having camp fires or tool use.

Furthermore, if anyone has old wellies, waterproofs or warm jumpers that they could donate to the school as standby or extra resources for the colder months, we would very much appreciate them.

This is the proposed timetable:
11 September Year 2 (SS on training)
18 September Year 1
25 September Year 2
2 October Year 1
9 October Year 3 (SS on training)
16 October Year 4
23 October Year 3
6 November Year 4
13 November Year 5
20 November Year 6
27 November Year 5
4 December Year 6
11 December Year 1
18 December Year 2

School Photographs
The School Photography Company will be in school on Thursday 25 September and all pupils will have their photographs taken during the morning wearing their school uniform. Each child will be photographed individually and also with any siblings in school. Families are welcome to come into the Hall before school at 8.30am to have family groups photographed together if they so wish.

Within a week or two, proof photographs will arrive at school and parents will decide whether or not they wish to purchase them. If you do not wish to purchase the photographs you do not need to return the proof pack back to school. If you do wish to purchase photographs please follow the instructions on the proof pack. The school simply collects the orders ready for the School Photography Company to collect from the School Office on a given date (this will be advised in the newsletter when known).

Piano Tuition
Mrs Trudy Drake will be offering piano lessons during the school day on Wednesday or Thursday afternoons for any child in Class 2 or 3. (You may be aware that Mrs Drake already provides piano tuition in school and the local area). If you are interested in your child/ren learning to play the piano in school, please contact Mrs Drake directly (mob. 07918188519) for more details. There are several places available at the moment.

Guitar Tuition
Guitar lessons begin for participating pupils on Friday 19 September. A new beginners group will be set up and Mr Payne will attend a school assembly one day next week to demonstrate the guitar and also explain the procedure for having guitar lessons for any interested pupils.

PTA NEWS:
Welcome back everyone, and a warm welcome to all new families from the PTA. As usual we will keep you informed of any PTA news via the newsletter, so please keep a look out for dates and information on how you can support us.

Coffee Morning – Wednesday 10th September, from 9.15am The Crown, Stadhampton
Please join PTA members for coffee at The Crown in Stadhampton on Wednesday 10th September from 9.15am. This is a chance for parents and carers to meet members of the PTA, find out a bit more about what we do and how you can support us and the events we organise. In particular, we would like to welcome parents of any children new to the school, but also extend the invitation to parents who have been around a bit longer and would like to get involved or provide (constructive!) feedback on PTA events run during the last year. It's a chance for everyone to catch up after the holidays - we hope lots of you can make it and hope to see you there.

PTA Meeting - Tuesday 16th September, 8pm, The Crown, Stadhampton
An invitation to come along to our first meeting of the year and help us plan our year of fundraising activities. We would love to welcome any new people to our small and friendly team, so please come and join us.

Friday Cake Club
Congratulations to Leo Burnell, the lucky winner of the last cake before the summer, kindly donated by Mrs Sarah Green. She also donated 5 ‘bonus’ cakes, which were won by Naomi Woodwards, Edison Buckner, Georgia Day, Max Jones & Daniel Ellis.

Cake Club will start again on Friday 12 September. A reminder to Mrs Bowerman that she is on the rota for the first cake.

DIARY DATES:
Sunday 7 September Parish Praise – 9.30am short family service in Church followed by refreshments
Monday 22nd September Governing Body meeting at 7pm
Thursday 25th September School Photographs

LITTLE BEARS NEWS:
Welcome back to Term 1. We hope you had a restful summer. This term our topic is "All About Me" and over the first few weeks we will be welcoming and getting to know our new Little Bears.
Over the summer we were lucky enough to have a new summer house which is going to be used as an outdoor classroom. We would like to say a huge thank you for supporting us with our fundraising efforts which enabled us to buy this.

Community News:
Village Show
Saturday 13th September 2014
Village Hall at St John’s
Exhibits to be set up between 10.00 -11.30 a.m.
OPEN FOR PUBLIC VIEWING
2.00 p.m. – 4.30 p.m.
Entry 50p Exhibitors free
DELICIOUS TEAS
RAFFLE
EVERYONE WELCOME!
There is still time to enter! You will find a copy of the Show Schedule in the centre of the September Village Voice if you have mislaid the original. Please take your entry form, together with the fees to Cheryl Wilson at the White House, Thame Road, Stadhampton as soon as possible and NO later than 7.00 p.m. on Wednesday 10th September 2014. Please ‘phone 890 880 if you need further details.

• Flyer attached from Chalgrove Children’s Centre