Newsletter for week ending 24 October 2014

Parent Governor Vacancy
Unfortunately we did not receive any applications from parents/carers for the parent governor vacancy by the deadline of Monday 20th October. We have, therefore, decided to extend the closing date for applications to Monday 3rd November at 3.15pm and warmly encourage interested parents to put their names forward.

Food With Thought
Food with Thought have asked us to let parents know that after the October Holiday we will continue on Week 3 of the current menu. The new menu is apparently held up at the printers and should be in place to start from week commencing 10th November 2014.

Cloakroom Renovations
Please could parents and students ensure that everything is removed from the classroom cloakrooms at the end of today as work is taking place during half-term to replace toilets and flooring. Any items not collected will be put into the lost property box in the school hall in the short term. Thank you.

Swimming at Berinsfield Pool
Swimming lessons at the Abbey Sports Centre will begin on Monday 3rd November for Class 3 pupils. They will have 7 sessions in total on Monday 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th November and Monday 1st, 8th, 15th December. As always, we are very grateful to receive a ‘voluntary contribution’ from parents/carers of £2 per week towards the cost of the transport to Berinsfield. Cheques for swimming contributions should be made payable to Stadhampton Primary School please.

Recorder Lessons
A reminder that recorder lessons for all pupils in Years 3-6 take place on Mondays in terms 2, 4 and 6. Lessons will start on Monday 3rd November and, for hygiene reasons, pupils are expected to provide their own recorder. Pupils also need their own recorder book. Recorders are on sale from the school office priced at £6.50 and Recorder Book 1 and 2 are also available priced at £4.50 each.

Year 5 visit to Icknield Community College – 28.11.14
For a number of years Year 5 pupils have had the opportunity to have a series of ‘taster lessons’, spreading over the school year, at Icknield Community College. This year the arrangements have changed and Year 5 pupils will have a whole day visit to ICC on Friday 28th November.
Further details will be made available from ICC after half term and this information will be circulated when we receive it. We understand that pupils will be travelling (free of charge) between Stadhampton and ICC on the current school bus, accompanied by a member of staff from Stadhampton School. The pickup/drop off point is on the green at the entrance to School Lane and pick up time is 08.00am. Pupils will be expected to wear Stadhampton School uniform and take a packed lunch and their P.E. kit.


PTA NEWS:
AGM - thank you to everyone who attended our AGM on Tuesday evening. The committee reappointed Georgina Wiggins (chair), Melanie Gravett (secretary) and Charlotte Hector (treasurer). We have had a great fundraising year and details of funds raised and the items on which these funds were spent will be circulated to parents after half term.

Disco Night - Saturday 15th November, 8pm until midnight - the PTA are extremely excited to be hosting this event - a chance for all of us to let our hair down and have some fun! A night of 70/80/90/00 club classics, fancy dress optional, but high heels (not stilettoes as this will damage the hall floor) and big hair is essential, with a fantastic DJ, fully licensed bar, nibbles and prizes for best dressed. We are hoping for a fantastic fun filled evening. This is an-open-to-everyone event, so please invite your friends and family members over the age of 18. Tickets are limited and are on sale from Georgina Wiggins, priced at £5 each.

Winter Fair - Friday 28th November 6-8pm - each week we will be asking for different donations so we can avoid a rush for everyone nearer the time.

WINTER FAIR COUNTDOWN 5 WEEKS! THIS WEEK' S WANTED DONATIONS ARE EMPTY JAM JARS, TINS AND GOOD CONDITION TOYS!
(PLEASE NOTE THERE WILL NOT BE A WHITE ELEPHANT STALL THIS YEAR, SO PLEASE ONLY DONATE THOSE ITEMS REQUESTED).

We are looking for volunteers to help out at the Winter Fair so please see a PTA member if you are able to help.

Christmas Cards - As in previous years, the PTA has registered with Cauliflower Cards so that parents will have the opportunity to buy Christmas cards printed using artwork created by their children. We are hoping the children will be able to start their artwork this week at school and have the chance to add to it or finish it off during half term. Please look out for your child¹s artwork and forms in book bags! Orders and payments should be returned to school by Monday 10th November at the latest.
Thank you.

Our next meeting is on Tuesday 11th November at The Crown 8pm.

Friday Cake Club
Congratulations to Emily Drake, the lucky winner of last week’s cakes, kindly donated by Mrs Manzie. A reminder to Anna Harries that she is on the rota for 14 November.

DIARY DATES:
31 October 2014 Halloween event in Church from 2-5pm. £3. Tickets available from Sue Bowerman.
3 November 2014 Pupils and staff return to school for the start of Term 2
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
Tuesday 9 December KS2 Christmas Play performances at 1.45pm & 6.30pm
Wednesday 10 December KS1 & FS Christmas Play performance at 2.15pm
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:
Everyone one at Little Bears hopes you have a restful half term break. We return on Monday 3rd November to the topic ‘Light and Dark’ and look forward to celebrating bonfire night and Diwali.
Please come along to our cake sale on Friday from 3.15pm on the patio.

Newsletter for week ending 17 October 2014

Spruce Up Day
A huge thank you to the team of volunteers who kindly gave up their time on Saturday to help spruce up the school grounds. Your efforts were very much appreciated and the school grounds look much better as a result of your hard work. Thank you again to everyone who helped.

Parent Governor Vacancy
A reminder that we have a vacancy for a parent governor and we warmly encourage parents to put their names forward. Please do think about getting involved and begin by writing a few words about yourself and why you would like to be a governor at Stadhampton School. The closing date for applications is the end of business on Monday 20 October 2014. Please contact Mrs Hopkins, in the first instance, if you would like any further information about putting your name forward.

Book Fair
A final reminder that we are holding a Children’s Book Fair in school from Monday 20 October until Friday 24 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).

Message from Reverend Caroline
On behalf of St John the Baptist church I would like to thank you for all the wonderful produce you gave for Harvest Festival. It looked superb in church for our harvest weekend. Following Harvest Festival the produce went to The Porch Stepping Stones. You can learn more of the work of The Porch here (www.theporch.org.uk). They are always hugely appreciative of the produce we give them to provide practical support for homeless and vulnerably housed people in Oxford. Their focus is upon support and nurture, along with challenge. They concentrate on housing, health, wellbeing, education and employment and provide healthy food, practical help, companionship, learning skills, work related skills and opportunities for development.

School Photographs
Thank you to those families who have already returned their order forms for school photographs. The orders will be collected on Monday 20th October, so please ensure that any further orders are returned to the school office by then. Thank you.

Recorder Lessons
A reminder that recorder lessons for all pupils in Years 3-6 take place on Mondays in terms 2, 4 and 6. Lessons will start on Monday 3rd November and, for hygiene reasons, pupils are expected to provide their own recorder. Most pupils already have a recorder but they are available from the school office if required. Recorder books are also available from the school office. Please speak to Mrs Hopkins for further information. Thank you.

PTA NEWS:
Friday Cake Club
Congratulations to Alice Hindmarch, the lucky winner of last week’s cake, kindly donated by Mr & Mrs Holmes. A reminder to Mrs Hector who is on the rota for 24 October, and Mrs Gravett who is down for 7 November, the first Friday after half term.


DIARY DATES:
20 October 2014 Book Fair arrives in school
24 October 2014 Break up for October Holiday at 3.15pm
31 October 2014 Halloween event in Church from 2-5pm. £3. Tickets available from Sue Bowerman.
3 November 2014 Pupils and staff return to school for the start of Term 2
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
Tuesday 9 December KS2 Christmas Play performances at 1.45pm & 6.30pm
Wednesday 10 December KS1 & FS Christmas Play performance at 2.15pm
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 making self-portraits of ourselves. If anyone has any balls of wool or paper plates they would like to donate, it would be very much appreciated. Little Bears are having a cake sale on Friday 24th October. Pop across at 3pm for a Friday treat.

Community News
• Flyer attached about a free parental support evening at Chilworth House Upper School on Tuesday 18 November from 6 to 8pm.

Newsletter for week ending 10 October 2014

Reception Pupils
We are pleased to welcome Harry Waters into our Foundation Stage Class. We hope that Harry will enjoy being part of Stadhampton School.

Parent’s Consultation Evenings, November 2014
Our Parents Consultation Evenings are on Monday 17th November (4-7pm) and Wednesday 19th November (4-6pm). Earlier this week, every child should have brought home via book bags a letter giving details of how to make an appointment. If you have not received a copy, please ask for one at the school office. Thank you.

Book Fair
We are holding a Children’s Book Fair in school from Monday 20 October until Friday 24 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, housed on the bus. 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 a couple of weeks ago. We look forward to seeing you at the Fair!

After School Clubs in Term 2
We are pleased to be able to offer the following after school clubs in Term 2.


AFTER SCHOOL CLUB
YEAR GROUP
DAY
DATES
TIME

TOTAL COST
LED BY

Art

Years 1 – 6

Tuesdays

November – 4th, 11th, 18th & 25th
December – 2nd

3.15 – 4.30pm
£30 for 5 sessions

Kaz Trinder
Little Masters Art Club

Zumba

Years 1 – 6
Wednesday
November – 12th, 19th& 26th
December – 3rd

3.15 – 4.15pm
£10 for
4 sessions
Yohann Adam

Multi-Sports
Years 1 - 6
Thursdays
November – 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th
December – 4th, 11th & 18th
3.15 – 4.15pm
£14 for
7 sessions
Oxford Active
Jordan Newman


Lunch-Clubs in Term 2
Pupils in Classes 2 and 3 will be able to put their names down to participate in a lunchtime Singing Club led by Miss Mould. More details to follow.
Lunchtime gardening club led by Mrs Burnell will continue on Friday lunchtimes for interested pupils in Classes 2 and 3.

International Links
This year the staff, pupils and community of our partner school in Hazlach, Poland, celebrate the 120th anniversary of their school. Last weekend Mrs Turner attended a special ceremony at the school to mark the occasion. They are aware that this year is also the 40th anniversary of Stadhampton School and this was acknowledged during the ceremony. A message from Agnieszka Pilch, the headteacher, is attached to this newsletter.

School Photographs
Proof photographs have arrived and should have come home this week so that parents can 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, but to ensure that orders are processed quickly, it is advisable to return them promptly). Thank you.

PTA NEWS:
Spruce up day tomorrow! - from 10am-4pm we will be at the school painting, weeding and having a general tidy up. We would really appreciate any help from parents, even if it is for an hour. So, please, if you or any family or friends can come along it will make such a difference.
>
Clothes Recycling - Tuesday 14th October - if you need any more bags there are plenty of spare ones in the PTA box in the school hall. A last chance this weekend to have a look through your wardrobes. Items
accepted are clothes, paired shoes, cuddly toys, bags, scarves and hats.

Please note the bags will be collected at 9am on the morning of the 14th, so please get them to school in good time. Or, if you prefer, you will be able to leave your bags under cover outside class 1 from 3.15pm on the afternoon of Monday 13th.

PTA Annual General Meeting (AGM)- Tuesday 21st October 8pm, School Hall. Everybody welcome. Please do come along if you can to find out more about what the PTA do or just to show your support for our fundraising efforts.

Disco Night- Saturday 15th November, 8pm until midnight - the PTA are extremely excited to be hosting this event - a chance for all of us to let our hair down and have some fun! A night of 70/80/90/00 club classics, fancy dress optional (but high heels and big hair is essential!), with a fantastic DJ, fully licensed bar, nibbles and prizes for best dressed. We are hoping for a fantastic fun filled evening. This is an-open-to-everyone event, so please invite your friends and family members over the age of 18. Tickets are limited and are on sale from Monday from Georgina Wiggins, priced at £5 each.
>
Winter Fair- Friday 28th November 6-8pm - each week we will be asking for different donations so it will not be so much of a rush for everyone nearer the time.
>
WINTER FAIR COUNTDOWN 7 WEEKS! THIS WEEK'S WANTED DONATIONS
>
BOTTLES, GOOD CONDITION TOYS, GIFT SETS ( please note we are not having a white elephant stall this year)
>
Thank you for your continued support of the PTA.

Friday Cake Club
Congratulations to Thomas Cove, the lucky winner of last week’s cake, kindly donated by Mrs Wiggins. A reminder to Mrs Manzie that she is on the rota for 17 October.

DIARY DATES:
14 October 2014 Clothes Recycling collection at 9am
15 October 2014 Open Morning from 9.00 to 11.30am. Please come and see the school at work
20 October 2014 Book Fair arrives in school
24 October 2014 Break up for October Holiday at 3.15pm
3 November Pupils and staff return to school for the start of Term 2
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
Tuesday 9 December KS2 Christmas Play performances at 1.45pm & 6.30pm
Wednesday 10 December KS1 & FS Christmas Play performance at 2.15pm
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 the Little Bears will be exploring the topic "our feelings” We will talk about what makes us happy, sad, excited and proud. We will also be making pictures of different facial expressions, enjoying lots of musical movement and learning new friendship songs as well as talking about "preschool rules".
On the 24th October, Little Bears will be holding a cake sale. All donations will be very gratefully received or pop along to buy a yummy Friday treat!

Newsletter for week ending 3 October 2014

Happy OCTOBER Birthday to: Wyatt Bullock, Laila Burnell, Ella Fulker, Mia Gravett, Sophie Hector, Jake Jones, Oliver Lowman, Lewis Payne, Harvey Saunders and Ellie Walker.

During OCTOBER we are focusing on the core value of APPRECIATION

Vacancy for a Parent Governor at Stadhampton Primary School
We have had a vacancy on the Governing body for a Community Governor for a number of months which we have been unable to fill. At the Governing Body meeting held at school on Monday 22nd September, it was agreed that Mrs Sara Wright would transfer from being a Parent Governor to a Community Governor. This means that we now have a vacancy for a parent governor and we warmly encourage parents to put their names forward. Lord Nash says that “The significance of governing bodies’ role has in the past been under-valued. Governing bodies are the key strategic decision makers and vision setters in every school and academy. They are also a key part of the overall system for school accountability. Governing bodies have a vital role to play in driving up school and pupil performance and ensuring that resources are used well to give every child the best possible education. People who become school governors make a positive contribution by giving time and bringing their experience to help with school improvement.”

There are a number of regulations which prevent persons from applying to be a parent governor such as someone who is subject to a bankruptcy restriction order, is already a governor at another school, has been given a prison sentence of five years or more, etc. Please check with Mrs Hopkins if you need clarification about whether you could apply to be a parent governor.

In the event of more than one parent putting their name forward, nominees will be asked to write a short description (75-100 words) of themselves for inclusion with a Ballot Paper.
A Ballot Paper will be sent to all parents and others with parental responsibility for registered pupils. One vote per parent is allowed regardless of how many children they have in school. Candidates cannot withdraw from election after ballot papers have been circulated.
Please do think about taking on the role and begin by writing a few words about yourself and why you would like to be a governor at Stadhampton School. The closing date for applications is the end of business on Monday 20 October 2014.

40th Anniversary Celebration
As part of our ongoing celebration of the school being on this site for 40 years, we all stood outside in the shape of a ‘40’ on Tuesday and had an aerial photograph taken. We look forward to sharing this with you when it arrives!


Harvest Festival in school tomorrow
A reminder that we shall be having our Harvest Service in school tomorrow morning at 9.05am. Parents/carers are most welcome to join us for this service. We hope that each child will be able to bring a small ‘Harvest Gift’ into school which, after our service, will be taken to the village church and put on display for the Harvest Service there on Sunday 5th October. After the village service, the gifts will be taken to Stepping Stones, a centre in Oxford for homeless people. 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 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 – we only have a week until the day so please recruit as many helpers as you can for painting, weeding, planting and doing general maintenance of the school grounds. Tea, coffee and bacon butties will be provided!

Clothes Recycling - Tuesday 14th October – you should have received your clothes recycling bag in book bags last week, so please get sorting through your wardrobes for your unwanted adult and/or children’s clothes, paired shoes, cuddly toys, bags, scarves, hats. If you need additional bags, please see Claire Walker or you can use a normal black bin bag.

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 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 8 WEEKS - WANTED THIS WEEK ARE:
SWEETS, EMPTY JARS, BOTTLE BAGS

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 Benjamin Walker, the lucky winner of last week’s cake, kindly donated by Mrs Fulker. A reminder to Mr Holmes that he is on the rota for Friday 10th October.

DIARY DATES:
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:
Continuing with our theme of ‘All about Me’ we will be talking about the five senses and enjoying some taste tests. We are also going to talk about our bones and make some ‘funny bones’ pictures.