Newsletter for week ending 4th March 2016

Happy MARCH Birthday to: Dixi Burnell, Jem Burnell, Darcy Crook, Daniel Ellis, Cara Gravett, Alana Hyde, Hannah Lansley, Freddie Tarry and Benjamin Walker.

During MARCH we are focusing on the core value of TRUST

New School Website
Turn IT On, our IT support company, have recently transferred their website services to PrimarySite who are the UK’s leading primary school website provider. We have been working with PrimarySite to create a new school website and, once it is up and running, would appreciate any feedback on how you find it and suggestions for how we can make it even better! Please keep us informed of any access issues you have once the transition process has been completed, which we expect to be within the next few days. Thank you.

Staff Changes!
We look forward to welcoming a new teacher after Easter when Miss Mould will return to school after her wedding in the Easter Holidays as Mrs Humphries! A card is available for parents to sign if they would like to.

Work Viewing Evening
A reminder that Work Viewing Evening for parents/carers and pupils takes place between 3.15 and 6pm on Monday 21st March in each classroom. Teachers will be present from 3.30pm and will be available for brief conversations but there is no appointment system and privacy cannot be guaranteed. It is an opportunity to look at your child’s work with them and to share an understanding of their learning. We look forward to seeing you!

Science Day - Wednesday 9th March 2016
We are extremely excited to be holding a science day next week. Dr Sarah Bearchell will lead the day. In 2015 Dr Bearchell contributed to the science activities for the CBeebies Big Day Out at Weston Super Mare and has plans to work at the Big Bang Fair 2016 using the Mischievous Matter workshop. You can find out more about Dr Sarah Bearchell and the projects she is involved with at www.bearchell.co.uk
She will be carrying out workshops with all classes, showing a wide range of science based skills and fantastic, ‘hands-on’, experiments.
Both workshops below link with both the National Curriculum and the Foundation Stage Curriculum.
Mischievous Matter (Classes 2 & 3): This session explores the states of matter and how they change. Dry ice is used to help understand changes in a very visual way and then some experiments are conducted to explore the ideas further.
Cloud Factory-(Reception & Class 1): This is a fabulous sensory session which borrows elements from Mischievous Matter, tailored for younger children.
Parents and carers are welcome to watch a special show that the children will perform at 2.45pm. Children from each year group will be demonstrating what they have learnt throughout the day. Please come along and see what your child experienced.

Forest Schools Fundraising
Tickets are now available for the Supper Night on Friday 6th May from 7.30 to 11.30pm at the Village Hall at St John’s Church Stadhampton. Tickets cost £12.50 and include a buffet and desserts. Bring your own drinks! See attached flyer for more details and how to book.
We look forward to your support which will help to secure our continued Forest School provision.

Kitchen Sinks
Thank you to Kevin Bowerman for sourcing a kitchen sink for use at Forest School. We have had a couple of further offers, so many thanks to those families who have spoken to Mrs Hopkins already. We would be pleased to have those as well! We don’t need any more sinks at this stage, but this could well change, so please do let Mrs Hopkins or Melanie Gravett know if you are thinking of throwing one away in the future! Thank you.

Yonex
Thank you to the Yonex video team who have kindly donated some additional sports equipment to the school in return for the use of our sports field in their production of their Yonex Legends videos. You will be able to view the finished videos that feature our school grounds on http://legends.yonex.com/ once they are completed later in March. Thank you to Mrs Shortman for facilitating this opportunity.

PTA NEWS
Earth Hour on Saturday 19th March earth hour is held worldwide encouraging individuals, communities, households and businesses to turn off their non essential lights for 1 hour, from 8.30-9.30
(this can be done earlier for younger children) as a symbol for their commitment to the planet. It can be celebrated any way you like; maybe have a dinner party in candle light or go for a walk with lanterns. On Friday 18th March we will be putting envelopes into book-bags (1 per family) for your child or your family to be sponsored to turn all lights off for an hour, however your child/family may wish to make it longer than an hour or maybe turn off televisions, consoles or mobile phones. 10% of all sponsor money will be donated to WWF with all other sponsor money going towards the PTA. All envelopes to be handed into a box in the office from Monday 21st March. Thank you.

Easter Chocolate raffle - we will be holding another Easter egg raffle on the last week of term. I wanted to start asking for donations towards this, if you could donate an Easter egg or chocolates then that would be hugely appreciated. We had 28 Easter eggs last year, it would be great if we could have even more this year. Please put all donations into the PTA box in the hall or alternatively give to a committee member. A list of all committee members is on the notice board outside Class 1. Thank you.

Summer fete - we are very excited to be holding a summer fete this year and we would like to make it one to remember. Does your child attend a choir? dance group? Please speak to their teachers to see if they would be interested in performing. Parents have you any contacts through work etc to help with stalls or entertainment for the day? Any help is very much appreciated.

Facebook - did you know the PTA has a facebook page? it is a closed group, if you search Stadhampton primary school pta and ask to join then I can add you. it is for reminders, information and a just a point of call for parents.

School clean up day- a date has not been set for this yet but we are hoping to do it after the Easter holidays. Our aim is to tidy and improve the swimming pool area ready for the summer term. We will be asking for volunteers once a date has been set.

Friday Cake Club
Congratulations to Jude Bradley, the lucky winner of last week’s cake, kindly donated by Mrs Kenny. A reminder to Mrs Lansley that she is on the rota for 11th March.

DIARY DATES:
Monday 7 March Class 3 pupils attend French Theatre performance at ICC – coaches leave Stadhampton School at 9am. No costs involved for parents. Permission letter sent home last week.
Wednesday 9 March Whole –School Science Day (details above)
Thursday 10 March Year 5 Forest School session
Monday 14 March Governing Body meeting at 7pm
Friday 18 March Sport Relief – Dress as a clown for £1 and take part in a one mile fun run.
Monday 21 March Work Viewing Evening 3.15 to 6pm.
Wednesday 23 March Vision checks for Reception pupils
Thursday 24 March End of term assembly at 9.05am. Parents welcome to attend.
School finishes for pupils at 1.30pm. No after school clubs.
Monday 11 April Start of Term 5 for pupils and staff

Easter Holiday Sports Course at Stadhampton School
Michael Hopkins, a qualified PE teacher, will be leading an Easter Sports Course on Wednesday 30th March, Thursday 31st March and Friday 1st April at Stadhampton Primary School. 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 for the day and bookings can be made directly by e-mailing m.hopkins07@hotmail.com or via Mrs Hopkins in the school office. Early booking is
advised as the Christmas Sports Course was very popular.