Newsletter for week ending 4th September 2015

A warm welcome to our new Reception pupils and welcome back to everyone else for the start of this new academic year.

Happy AUGUST Birthday to: Adam Bourne, Jude Bradley and Morgan Denton

Happy SEPTEMBER Birthday to: Charlie Austin, Isabella Dickens, Dexter Elliott, George Evelyn, Phoebe Hindmarch, Harry Price, Harvey Saunders, Phoebe Watkins and Lawrence Wright.

We are pleased to welcome the following new Reception children to Stadhampton School: Adam Bourne, Dixi Burnell, Thomas Eaton, Anna Fegyveres-Nagy, Jack Fulker, Aisulu Goddard, Cara Gravett, Maya Jacobs, Natalia Kozlowska, Weronika Kozlowska, Oliver Parkes, Ellie Payne, Harry Price, Frankie Smith, Frederick Tarry and Leo Thornhill.

During SEPTEMBER we are focusing on the core value of CO-OPERATION

School Meals
A reminder that the cost of a school meal is £2.10 per day. In order to reduce administration time we politely request that orders for school meals are paid for on a Monday morning please (or the first morning of the school week). Money should be sent in an envelope and handed in at the school office by either the pupil or the parent on their way into school. Parents are most welcome to pay in advance for meals if they prefer. Pupils in Reception and Years 1 and 2 (Class 1) are entitled to a Universal Infant Free School Meal (UIFSM) if they so wish. The class teacher will ask each child each morning whether they are having a school meal or a packed lunch. The school meals menu may be found on the school website or please follow this link: http://www.stadhampton.oxon.sch.uk/images/FwT_Bronze_Summer_Menu_V1_06-15.pdf
Thank you for your co-operation in this matter.

Swimming at Berinsfield
Swimming will begin for Class 2 pupils on Monday 7th September. They will have a total of 7 sessions. The cost of the swimming transport to Berinsfield is £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. Thank you.
Pupils need a one piece swimming costume and a hat (boys as well) and a towel. They don’t need shampoo or shower gel etc. If your child needs to wear goggles for a medical reason, please ask Mrs Turner for a form to complete. Thank you.

Celebrating Roald Dahl’s Birthday – Friday 11th September
As it is Roald Dahl’s birthday on 13th September we thought this would be a lovely opportunity to celebrate this wonderful authors’ life. Roald Dahl’s favourite colour was yellow and he always used yellow pencils with a pink rubber! We would therefore like all children and adults on Friday 11th September to bring something yellow to school or wear a yellow accessory. Normal school uniform still required!

Spanish Club
We are pleased to announce the launch of a new Spanish Club on Wednesday lunchtimes between 12.30 and 1pm for pupils in Class 3 initially, starting next week. Mrs Gonzalez will be teaching the children some basic Spanish words and phrases including numbers, colours, greetings and songs. Please ask your child/ren to confirm their place with Mrs Gonzalez or with Mrs Hopkins if they wish to attend. Numbers are limited to approximately 15 pupils.

Gardening Club
Gardening Club will begin again for interested pupils in Classes 2 and 3. We are grateful to Mrs Burnell for running the club again between 12.30 and 1pm on Friday lunchtimes starting next week. Please ask your child/ren to let Mrs Hopkins know if they would like to attend this club. Numbers are limited to approximately 15 pupils.

After-School Multisports and Dance Clubs
Places are still available for the Multisports Club on Thursdays from 3.15pm to 4.15pm for pupils in Years 1-6 (£14 for 7 sessions) and also for the Dance Club on Tuesdays from 3.15 to 4.15pm for pupils in Years 1-6 (£27 for 6 sessions).

Skipping Workshop
As we like to be a healthy school, we are looking forward to holding a whole-school skipping workshop on Wednesday 16th September led by Lizzie Cox, a national skipping and games coach, from ‘Skipping Workshops’. There will be lots of fun challenges, demonstrations and activities taking place throughout the day. Parents are invited to join us at 2.45pm to see a skipping presentation by pupils.

Guitar Lessons
Guitar lessons for pupils who have already begun guitar lessons at Stadhampton School will start again week beginning 14th September. Lessons will be either with Mr Payne or a different tutor (not Mr Evans). Guitar lessons are available for pupils in Years 3-6. If you would like details of costs etc please contact Mr Payne directly via goguitarmail@yahoo.co.uk or telephone him on 07921 087816.

Forest School Dates 2015/16 – Terms 1 & 2
Letters about Forest School sessions for Years 1-6 will be sent home in book bags this week. All parents will need to complete and return the permission slip on the letter before their child will be able to attend a Forest School session.

All sessions will take place in the morning and the planned dates for each year group are given below.

Forest School Leader: Mrs Poppy Elliott
Assistant Leader: Mrs Melanie Gravett
School Staff: Mrs Sarah Singleton *

Date Year Group
Thursday 10 Sept 2015 Year 1
Thursday 17 Sept Year 1
Thursday 24 Sept Year 2
Thursday 1 Oct Year 2
Thursday 8 Oct Year 3
Thursday 15 Oct Year 3
Thursday 22nd Oct Year 4
Thursday 29th Oct Half Term
Thursday 5th Nov Year 4
Thursday 12th Nov Year 6
Thursday 19th Nov Year 6
Thursday 26th Nov Year 5
Thursday 3rd Dec Year 5
Thursday 10th Dec No Forest School
Thursday 17th Dec No Forest School

* As a member of staff at Stadhampton School, Mrs Singleton is in overall charge of the group. On any occasion she is unable to attend, another member of staff will take her place.

Reception pupils have a separate letter detailing the arrangements for their Forest School sessions which begin on Tuesday 8th September. Please complete and return the permission slip to school on Monday morning so that your child may be able to attend the first session.

PTA News
The first PTA meeting of the new academic year will be held on Tuesday 8th September 8pm at the school. Please do come along if you are interested in getting involved in PTA events.

Friday Cake Club
Congratulations to Oliver Eaton, the lucky winner of the cake on the last week before the summer, kindly donated by Mrs Kenny. A reminder to Mrs Ellis that she is on the rota for 11 September.
You can now pay for the whole of the school year if you wish. It's £7 per child if paid up front, which gives you 4 weeks free! You can still pay 20p a week if you prefer. See Rowena Dobson. Volunteers for cake donations also welcome.

DIARY DATES:
Tuesday 8 September Forest School – Reception pupils
Clarinet lessons begin for Year 5 pupils and participating Year 6 pupils
Thursday 10 September Forest School – Year 1 pupils
Friday 11 September Bring something yellow to school or wear a yellow accessory
Tuesday 15 September Forest School – Reception pupils
Wednesday 16 September Skipping Workshop
Tuesday 22 September Forest School – Reception pupils
Thursday 24 September Forest School – Year 2 pupils
Monday 28 September GB Meeting at 7pm
Tuesday 29 September Forest School – Reception pupils
Thursday 1 October Forest School – Year 2 pupils
Friday 2 October Harvest Festival in school (more details to follow)

LITTLE BEARS NEWS:
Little Bears would like to welcome everyone back to a new term and also a big welcome to all our new Little Bears. This term our topic will be transport. We will be making hot air balloons and trains whilst also learning about all different types of transport.