Newsletter for week ending 13 March 2015

Question & Answer Session with the Governing Body on Tuesday 17 March, 8pm, School Hall
A reminder that the Governing Body would like to invite all parents and carers to an informal Q&A session on Tuesday 17 March at 8pm in the school hall. This is a chance for parents and carers to find out more about what the school governors do, how they are involved with the operation of the school and to find out more about the school’s priorities.

There will be a short presentation followed by an open Q&A session. However, parents and carers are welcome to submit questions anonymously via the school office should they wish to do so.

As the aim of the session is to provide information about the work of the Governing Body and to address any questions about the overall governance of the school, neither Mrs Turner nor any of the teaching staff will be attending. Should a parent wish to talk about their child with a member of the teaching staff they should make an appointment in the usual way. Please note we will not be able to answer any questions specific to individual children.

The Chair of the Governors, Jason Hector, and the chair of the Finance Committee, Paul Gravett, as well as other members of the governing body will all be available to answer questions.

We hope you will welcome the opportunity to find out more and hope to see you on the 17th March.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Jason Hector & Paul Gravett

Work Viewing Evening on Monday 23rd March
Mid-Year Summary Reports will be sent to parents during week commencing 16th March. A reminder that there is an opportunity to see your child’s /children’s work between 3.15 and 6pm on Monday 23rd March. Teachers will be in their classrooms from 3.30 to 6pm for a brief informal discussion if required. Appointments are not made for this evening.

Reporting a Pupil Absence
We are aware that not all reports of pupil absence using the link on the school website were getting through to us and parents should have received a ‘bounce back’ notification. We have now set up a new e-mail address which this link automatically goes to and have tested it to check that it works!
If your child is going to be absent from school please either telephone on 01865 890370, or e-mail via the link on the school website or e-mail directly pupilabsence@stadhampton.oxon.sch.uk
Thank you.

Cycle Safety Training
We are very grateful to Mrs Cove, Mrs Green and Miss Moss-Black (Helen) for offering to provide cycle safety training in the summer term for any Year 6 pupils who would like to have a go. Please could those pupils confirm with Mrs Hopkins whether they would like to do this, by Monday next week. In order for pupils to put their names forward it is essential that they have an appropriately sized roadworthy cycle and a cycle helmet which conforms to British Standards and fits correctly. The training sessions will take place on 15th & 22nd May, 5th, 19th & 26th June and the test will be on 3rd July in the afternoon.

Class 3 Swimming at Berinsfield on Monday 23rd March
Mrs Boddy, the lead swimming coach at Berinsfield, has requested that all pupils in Class 3 bring a pair of old pyjamas (or a T-shirt, leggings or thin tracksuit trousers) to swimming on Monday 23rd March as part of their personal lifesaving/rescue activities. Pupils will still need to bring their usual swimming kit. Old, thin pyjamas are best as they don’t absorb too much water – fleece style pyjamas or onesies are not suitable. Thank you.

PTA NEWS:
Kids’ Bingo Night is on Friday 20th March from 5.30-7pm. Please return the consent forms along with £3.00 to the school office no later than Thursday 19th March. No tickets are being issued; if you are able to help please speak to a PTA committee member.

Fish and Chips supper and disco/karaoke night is on Saturday 21st March at 7.30pm in The Crown, Stadhampton. Tickets are priced at £7 each which includes an enormous fish and chip supper, plus a disco, Karaoke, an alcohol raffle and much more; all funds go to the PTA. This promises to be a fantastic night for everyone. Tickets are available from Georgina Wiggins and from The Crown.

We are holding an Easter Egg Raffle the day before we break up for Easter and are asking for donations of Easter eggs from parents. Please put all donations into the PTA box in the school hall. Thank you.

Do you have any wine bottles, beer or spirits taking up room in the cupboard? We are in need of donations to the raffle at the fish and chip supper night. Please give to a committee member or leave in the school office for us to collect. Thank you.

Thank you for your continued support of the PTA.


Friday Cake Club
Congratulations to Lizzie Bowerman, the lucky winner of last week's cake, kindly donated by Mrs Payne. A reminder to Rachel Moritz that she is on the rota for 20 March.

DIARY DATES:
Friday 13 March Red Nose Day
Monday 16 March Governing Body meeting at 7pm
Tuesday 17 March Compton Verney visit for Classes 2 and 3. Letters sent in bookbags this week.
Parents’ Forum meeting at 8pm. Everyone welcome.
Thursday 19 March Thames Valley Police in school at lunchtime to chat informally with pupils during their outside playtime
Monday 23 March Work Viewing Evening 3.15-6pm
Friday 27 March End of term assembly. Everyone welcome to attend.
School finishes at 1.30pm for the Easter break
Monday 13 April Pupils return to school for the start of Term 5
Vision screening for Reception pupils

LITTLE BEARS NEWS:
Next week at Little Bears we will be continuing to look at our book ‘6-Dinner Sid’ and discussing our own pets. What do we do to look after them, where do we take them if they are ill and what do we feed them? Little Bears would like to say a big thank you to the Hector family for donating lots of brilliant games and puzzles to the children.
Dates to remember:
Easter cake sale on Thursday 26th March at 12pm & 3pm onwards on the Little Bears patio
Friday 27th March Easter Bonnet parade.

Community News
Michael Hopkins will be leading an 3-day Easter Sports Course at Stadhampton School on Monday 30 March, Tuesday 31 March & Wednesday 1 April. The course runs from 9-3pm each day and is open to all pupils (not necessarily just Stadhampton School) aged 4-11. The cost is £10 per day and bookings can be made directly by e-mailing m.hopkins07@hotmail.com or via Mrs Hopkins in the school office. These sports courses are very popular and early booking is advised.

Stadhampton Youth Club Continues..
Wednesday 18th March is the next sessions which continue on the first and third Wednesdays of the month @Village Hall at St Johns.
Sessions run as follows - make sure you're attending at the correct times!
18.30 – 19.30 – School Years 5 & 6 (approx. ages 9 to 11)
19.45 – 20.45 – School Years 7 & 8 (approx. ages 11 to 13)
Subs £1.50/week
Before attending, a Membership Form, signed by a parent, needs to be completed and handed to the Club Leader (available on the door or by emailing the address below).

We’d love feedback from the young people coming along to the sessions as well as parents/carers and there will an opportunity to feedback confidentially your thoughts (suggestion box at Youth Club) or by email.

Of course we need more volunteers; both adults and older youngsters, from the local community to ensure these sessions can continue to run.
stadhamptonyouthclub@gmail.com

Brookes Science Bazaar
Free fun for the family- Headington Campus, Gipsy Lane, OX3 OBP- 11am – 4pm on Saturday 21st March. No parking available for this event. No booking required – just drop into Reception!