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.