Newsletter for week ending 16 January 2015

Term dates
The term and holiday dates for the new academic year beginning on 1st September 2015 have now been agreed and uploaded onto the school website for your information. An electronic copy of them is also attached to this newsletter.


Swimming at the Abbey Sports Centre
Unfortunately swimming sessions could not start at the Abbey Sport s Centre on Monday 12th January as the refurbished pool had not reached the correct temperature. Many parents have already paid in advance for this cost and this refund will be carried forward to the next set of sessions for those pupils. We expect the swimming pool to be fully operational by 19th January when Class 2 are due to swim again. For those parents who have not yet made a ‘voluntary contribution’, we are very grateful to receive a 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. Thank you.

Autism Talk for Parents
Margaret King, Autism Advisory Teacher, will be giving a talk for parents on Thursday 29th January at 9.00am. It is hoped that as many people as possible will attend this information opportunity. Please check book bags for letters with further information. Children in Years 1-6 will receive talks by Margaret King on Thursday 12th February.

Message from Food with Thought
The launch of Universal Infant Free School Meals for all Key Stage 1 children has been very successful across the county. Uptake is good and many more children are now benefiting from a nutritious, healthy meal in school. One of our aims at Food with Thought is to work with schools in increasing the school meal update for Key Stage 2 children.
With this in mind, we at Food with Thought will be providing a complimentary school meal for all Key Stage 2 children during the week commencing Monday 26th January. (Years 3 & 4 on Monday 26th January and Years 5 & 6 on Tuesday 27th January).

PLEASE COMPLETE THE REPLY SLIP ON THE FORM SENT HOME EARLIER THIS WEEK IN BOOK BAGS TO LET US KNOW WHETHER YOUR CHILD WILL BE TAKING UP THE OFFER OF A FREE MEAL OR NOT. Thank you.

UNICEF Day for Change – Friday 6th February 2015
Each year we support Unicef Day for Change which this year is focusing on protecting children caught in emergencies, such as the recent Phillipines typhoon and the Syria conflict. Whenever or wherever disaster strikes, Unicef responds rapidly to deliver life-saving food, medicine and water so children in danger get the help they need. During the week leading up to Friday 6th February our pupils will learn, and reflect, on what life is like for children caught up in such emergencies and will be encouraged to bring in any spare change on Friday 6th February to form our collection for Day for Change. To quote Unicef, “your fundraising efforts and donations will make a huge difference to the most vulnerable children around the world”. We will be happy to collect all contributions! Thank you.

PTA NEWS:
Thank you to everyone who attended the PTA meeting on Tuesday evening, we have some great events planned over the next few months.

Our next PTA meeting is on Tuesday 24th February.

Thank you for your continued support of the PTA

Friday Cake Club
Congratulations to Charlie Ball, the lucky winner of last week’s cake, kindly donated by Mrs O’Brien. A reminder to Mrs Ellis that she is on the rota for Friday 23 January.

DIARY DATES:
Monday 12 January Swimming sessions begin for Class 2 pupils
Tuesday 13 January Science Club begins for participating pupils
Thursday 15 January Year 1 Forest School session
Tuesday 20 January Booster maths sessions begin for participating pupils
Thursday 22 January Year 2 Forest School session
Thursday 29 January Year 3 Forest School session
Monday 2 February Governing Body meeting at 7pm
Wednesday 4 February Reception and Year 6 pupils see the school nurse for weighing and measuring (letters distributed before the Christmas Holiday)

LITTLE BEARS NEWS:
The Little Bears are enjoying our topic ‘Elmer the Patchwork Elephant’ making and designing their own patchwork elephants and colouring by numbers. Next week we hope to make a life size collaged Elmer the Elephant! We will also be experimenting with marbling inks and looking at our own reflections to make some self portraits.
Little Bears would like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to the Dickens family for donating a much loved book and also the Moss-Black family for some wonderful puzzles, toys and books - thank you from all of us.