Newsletter for week ending 8th January 2016

Welcome back to everyone! On behalf of all members of staff I would like to thank you for your many festive expressions of gratitude. We were very appreciative and moved by the thoughtful generosity of families. Such expressions of generosity and sharing are a reflection of the ‘extended family’ which many visitors commend the school for. Thank you again. We all wish you a Happy New Year!

Happy JANUARY Birthday to: Elizabeth Bowerman, Thomas Cove, Myles Dobson, Oliver Eaton, Anna Fegyveres-Nagy, Peter Fegyveres-Nagy, Megan Green, Aisulu Goddard, Isabella Kenny, Tia Khan, Leo Thornhill, Benjamin West, Thomas West and Honor White.

During JANUARY we are focusing on the core value of HAPPINESS

Department for International Development Competition Winner!
During 2015 we took part in a Global Learning Programme initiative, part-sponsored by the Department for International Development (DFID). In December we were invited to enter DFID’s Christmas Card competition expressing Friendship around the world - the top three winning designs being made into electronic Christmas cards to be sent around the world by DFID ministers and officials. We, of course, responded positively to this invitation and the outcome was that one of our pupils created one of the winning designs! Many congratulations to Olivia Kenny who was one of the three winners! Olivia has a certificate from the Department for International Development in recognition of her achievement and a personal letter of congratulation from Justine Greening, the Secretary of State for International Development. Olivia’s design depicted people holding hands around the world and was turned into an official DFID electronic Christmas card. Well done Olivia!

Radio Oxford Socks Appeal
A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to our collection for the Radio Oxford Socks Appeal, an appeal for pairs of unused socks to be distributed at Christmas to the homeless people of Oxfordshire. Our box of socks was overflowing! The socks were safely delivered to the Radio Oxford office and we have received a telephone call thanking us. The socks we collected were of such variety in colour and design that we were inspired to have a display of sock designs created by all of our pupils. The colourful and intriguing display is in the hall – please come and look at it!

Forest School Sessions
A reminder that the dates for Forest School sessions for Terms 3 and 4 are on the school website for parents to refer to (Parents/Forest Schools).

Weighing and Measuring of Reception and Year 6 Pupils
A reminder that families of pupils in Reception and Year 6 received a letter via book bags (in an envelope) about the National Childhood Measuring Programme (NCMP) at the end of last term. The school nurse will be in school on Tuesday 26th January to do what is required. If you have any concerns please contact Denise Manger on 07887 774207 from the School Health Team directly.

ELLI Project
The Elli Project has started and has been received with both interest and engagement from all pupils. The next character we plan to introduce is ‘Plan Ahead Owl’ who will make an appearance on Monday 11th January. Do ask your child(ren) about what Owl wanted to plan and how he managed to overcome all obstacles!

Swimming Contributions
Thank you to the parents who have already kindly paid a ‘voluntary contribution’ towards the cost of the swimming transport to Berinsfield for this term. Any further contributions for pupils in Class 2 would be most welcome (5 visits starting on Monday 11th January @£2 per visit. Cheques for swimming contributions to be made payable to Stadhampton Primary School please). Thank you.

Multisports on Thursday 24 March 2016
We have realised that we break up at 1.30pm for Easter on Thursday 24 March, so there will be no after school club on that day. Refunds of £2 are available from the school office for those families who have already paid for the club on that day. Apologies for any inconvenience.

PTA News
Our next PTA meeting is Tuesday 12th January 8pm at The Crown. New members always welcome! We will be discussing all the events planned for this year, so please come along if you can.

Friday Cake Club
Congratulations to Thomas Eaton, the lucky winner of the last before Christmas, kindly donated by Mrs Burnell. A reminder to Mrs White that she is on the rota on 15 January.

DIARY DATES:
Monday 11 January Swimming begins for Class 2 pupils
Tuesday 12 January EYFS Forest School sessions start
Thursday 14 January Year 4 Forest School
Friday 15 January Guitar lessons begin again for participating pupils
Thursday 21 January Year 3 Forest School
Tuesday 26 January Reception & Year 6 pupils NCMP with the school nurse
Wednesday 27 January Mobile Library visit
Thursday 28 January Year 3 Forest School


Community News
As you may know, a number of village groups - cricket club, fireworks committee, football club and youth club - have joined forces to raise funds to renovate the pavilion.

Before the renovation can start, we need to clear the pavilion area. A date of 17 Jan 16 has been set for this.

We'd be grateful for as many hands as possible to help please.

Do come along if you can!

Many thanks,

SCC, SFC, SFWC & SYC