Friday, September 30, 2016

Newsletter for week ending 30 September 2016


 

 

Congratulations

Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Humphries on the safe arrival of their daughter, Elli Mia on 25th September! We understand that mother and baby are both doing very well.

 

Important Key Dates for Applications to Primary and Secondary Schools

Primary Applications

On-line and paper applications for children born between 1 September 2012 and 31 August 2013 are now being accepted. Link to the Starting School form: https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/sites/default/files/folders/documents/childreneducationandfamilies/educationandlearning/schools/admissionpolicies/CAFP17.pdf

The national closing date for on-time applications for primary schools is 15 January 2017.

Offer letters will be sent out by the LA using second class post and e-mails sent to those who applied on line on 17 April 2017.

 

Secondary Applications

On-line and paper applications for children born between 1 September 2005 and 31 August 2006 who will be transferring from Year 6 in primary school to Year 7 in secondary school are now being accepted. Link to the Moving On form:


The national closing date for on-time applications is 31 October 2016.

Offer letters will be sent out by the LA using second class post and e-mails to those who applied on-line on 1 March 2017.

 

MEERKAT Champion of the Week

We are delighted to share the names of our "MEERKAT Champion of the Week" award in each class for last week as follows;

Reception –Grace M

Class 1 – Laila B

Class 2 – Elizabeth M

Class 3 – Lizzie B

Well done to you all!

 

Open Morning – Tuesday 4th October 2016

A reminder that in conjunction with Little Bears, the school will be open to visitors from 9.00 to 11.45am for current families and the local community, as well as for the families now making their decisions about their choice of primary school for September 2017. Please do come along and see the school at work between these times if you are able, whether you are a prospective parent or an existing one!

 

Harvest Service and Gifts – Friday 30th September 2016

A huge thank you to everyone who provided Harvest gifts for our Harvest Assembly in school today. We know that the gifts will be much appreciated by The Porch Steppin’ Stone, a centre for homeless and vulnerable people in Oxford.

 

Pupil Premium Report

A report explaining how we spent our Pupil Premium funding in the last academic year was uploaded to our school website at the end of last week.

 

School Photographs

The School Photography Company will be in school on Tuesday 11 October and all pupils will have their photographs taken during the morning wearing their school uniform individually and also with any siblings in school. Year 6 pupils will also have an informal group photograph taken. Families are welcome to come into the Hall before school at 8.30am to have family groups photographed together if they so wish.

 

Parenting Books Reference Library

We have a small, but growing, collection of reference books that parents and carers are welcome to borrow. Titles include;

                        Raising Boys by Steve Biddulph (x1)

                        Raising Boys by Steve Biddulph (x1)

                        Detoxing Childhood by Sue Palmer (x2)

                        Help Your Child Love Reading by Alison David (x2)

                        The Danish Way of Parenting by Jessica Joelle Alexander and Iben Dissing Sandahl (x1)

 

There are many such books on the market and we only have a small selection but they have been selected on the basis of recommendation by professional colleagues and by their “readability”. We hope you find them useful.

 

The books are kept in a box in the entrance area, just outside the school office and we operate a simple honesty system, just fill in the key details in the notebook in the box so we can keep track of who has which book!

 

We are aware that some titles have been out on loan for some time and now ask that these books are returned to the system for others to ready. Thank you.

 

Swimming Contributions for Class 2

Thank you to the families who have already paid contributions towards the cost of the swimming transport for this term. Please ask in the school office if you are unsure whether you have paid or not for this term. Thank you.

 

PTA News

 

Official Notice of the PTA's Annual General Meeting (AGM) - Monday 10th October, 8pm in  Class 1.
The PTA plays a vital part in the school community and all parents, as members of the PTA, are invited to support the AGM. This is your chance to hear and see how the funds you have helped to raise last year have been used for the benefit of the children at our school.

 

The AGM is also an opportunity for you to elect the PTA Committee (Chair, Treasurer, Secretary), to represent the association throughout the forthcoming academic year. If you are interested in taking on one of these roles or joining the committee, please speak to Georgina Wiggins.

 

We have a small committee and really need people to come along and help plan events and to take on any of the roles outlined. I am stepping down from chair after 3 years but I am very much still part of the committee, there is huge support for anyone who takes on a role.

Please speak to any committee member for information, there is at least one committee member in each class.

 

Bags to school is on Thursday 17th November, bags will be going into book bags once we have received them. This is a great opportunity to have a clear out, a full list of what you can donate will be in the newsletter next week.

 

Thank you for your continued support of the PTA 

 

Friday Cake Club and Nut Allergy Reminder

Thank you to everyone who has offered to make or provide a cake as part of the Cake Club rota. We have a child in Class 1 with a serious nut allergy so please could everyone be aware of this when they make or buy a cake to donate. Thank you.

 

Congratulations to Freya Clapton, the lucky winner of last week's cake, kindly donated by Mrs Hutchence. A reminder to Mrs Holmes that she is on the rota for Friday 7th October.

 

DIARY DATES:
 
Sunday 2nd October
@ 9.30am Harvest Festival in church, to include breakfast.  The service will be especially suitable for families, everybody is very welcome.  
 
Tuesday 4th October
Open Morning– see posters around the school
Tuesday 11th October
School Photography Company in school taking individual photographs as well as sibling and family photographs
Thursday 20th October
Half term begins at 3.15 pm
Friday 21st October
Inset day for teaching staff
Monday 31st October
Pupils and staff return to school
(Advance notice for parents):
Monday 14th November
Parents Evening 3.45-7pm – appointment letters to follow
Wednesday 16th November
Parents Evening 3.45-5.30pm- appointment letters to follow
Tuesday 6th December
KS2 Christmas Matinee Performance
KS2 Christmas Evening Performance
Wednesday 7th December
KS1/FS Christmas Matinee Performance
Tuesday 13th December
Nativity & Carols afternoon in the Church
Wednesday 14th December
Whole School Christmas Lunch
Friday 16th December
End of Term Assembly

 

LITTLE BEARS NEWS:

Next week at Little Bears, we will be talking about eating healthily and learning all about keeping ourselves healthy. We will also be talking about where food comes from and how it grows. 

We will also be learning all about Harvest and making tractor pictures with shapes. Little Bears are having a cake sale on Thursday, 20th October, so please come along if you can.

  

Community News:

STADHAMPTON YOUTH CLUB

Stadhampton Youth Club is on every first and third Wednesday of each month. Dates are as follows:

October - Wednesday 5th and 19th 

November - Wednesday 2nd and 16th

December - Wednesday 7th

 

It is held in the community hall (St John's Church) in Stadhampton. 

Yrs 5 & 6 from 6.30pm to 7.30pm 

Yrs 7,8,9 from 7.45pm to 8.45pm. Subs £1.50. 

 

Tuck shop, games, music, all children welcome to come and join in the fun!

 

Advance Notice of a Christmas Sports Club:

Michael Hopkins, who is well-known to the school as a PE teacher will be leading a Christmas Sports Course on Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th December 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.

 

 

Autumn Water Festival

11am-4pm, Sunday 2nd October

Enjoy a family day out this Sunday by attending Earth Trust’s annual autumnal celebration of water and wetlands. There’ll be water rockets, apple pressing, natural dyeing, a chance to feed the pigs and many more aquatic crafts, games and activities. Poem Tree CafĂ© will be open, plus there’ll be a hog roast from Coopers Oxford Pork. It’s £6 per adult, £3 per child and £15 for a family of four. Book online and beat the queue (incurs a booking fee) or pay on the gate. We look forward to seeing you! More info at www.earthtrust.org.uk.

 

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Newsletter for week ending 23rd September 2016


 
Welcome
We are pleased to welcome Mrs Ali Eaton as a part-time Teaching Assistant in Class 3 this term.
 
Important Key Dates for Applications to Primary and Secondary Schools
Primary Applications
On-line and paper applications for children born between 1 September 2012 and 31 August 2013 are now being accepted. Link to the Starting School form: https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/sites/default/files/folders/documents/childreneducationandfamilies/educationandlearning/schools/admissionpolicies/CAFP17.pdf
The national closing date for on-time applications for primary schools is 15 January 2017.
Offer letters will be sent out by the LA using second class post and e-mails sent to those who applied on line on 17 April 2017.
 
Secondary Applications
On-line and paper applications for children born between 1 September 2005 and 31 August 2006 who will be transferring from Year 6 in primary school to Year 7 in secondary school are now being accepted. Link to the Moving On form:
The national closing date for on-time applications is 31 October 2016.
Offer letters will be sent out by the LA using second class post and e-mails to those who applied on-line on 1 March 2017.
 
Message from the Governing Body:
Codes of Conduct
Our updated Codes of Conduct are now available on the website. Every school is required to have Codes of Conduct to ensure governors, parents, staff and volunteers agree to behave in a professional manner at all times. The codes explain our expectations to ensure smooth working relationships for everyone. If you do have any queries regarding the codes please contact us.
 
Academy status
As many of you know Icknield Community College are pursing multi-academy trust status and they are waiting for feedback on their application. As a Governing Body we are committed to ensuring that we continue to monitor the situation regarding academy status and whether Stadhampton Primary should go down that route. This year the Governing Body will start to investigate and evaluate our options in more detail so that we can share these with you as parents. We are planning to hold a Parent Forum in November, date to be confirmed, so that we can start consultation with you as parents. Other critical stakeholder groups including teaching staff and the community will also be consulted. If you have any questions please contact me directly.
 
Vacancy for Parent Governor
Sadly Leanne Kenny, Parent Governor and Jenny Diment, Community Governor have stepped down from the Governing Body, both due to promotions at work which is great news for them however sad news for us. A huge thank you to both Leanne and Jenny for donating their time and expertise whilst serving as Governors, it really does make a difference. 
 
This means we have Governor vacancies and would be keen on hearing from parents who want to take a more active role in the strategic direction of the school. Parent Governors are critical to the effective running of the school; there is an expectation to attend approx 6 meetings a year with some work to be completed outside of these meetings. Governors are volunteers and focus on the school’s strategy and future as opposed to day to day running of the school. Governors do not get involved in the day to day management of teaching or teaching staff, deciding on the curriculum or any of the teaching or day to day management aspects of running a school; in many ways they are viewed as critical friends to challenge, support and steer the direction of the school. You do not need to be an expert at education, in fact skills such as analytical, evaluative, the ability to undertake research are important; legal, policy or business experience would be beneficial. 
 
If you would like to know more about the role of a Governor have a look at this weblink that explains the responsibilities, (http://www.nga.org.uk/Be-a-Governor.aspx) and (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/governance-handbook), alternatively contact the Chair, Sara Wright for an informal discussion. The role is particularly important this year as we review our approach to academy status.
If you wish to nominate yourself as a School Parent Governor, please obtain a form from Mrs Hopkins and return to school by 7th October.
Many thanks
Sara Wright, Chair of Governors
 
Volunteers in School
We are enormously appreciative of the many parents, carers and members of the wider community who volunteer to help in school. Recent statutory guidance from the Department for Education (DfE) regarding Safeguarding of pupils in all schools (“Keeping Children Safe in Education”, DfE 5th September 2016), has resulted in new protocols being drawn up with regards to volunteers in school. These documents have now been finalised and approved by the Governing Body and are now available as a ‘volunteer pack’ from the school office. We are aware that a number of regular parent volunteers have been waiting for these documents and we thank you for your patience. If you would like to volunteer, please contact the school office, or myself, or make it known to your child’s teacher who will then initiate the process. Volunteering can be on a regular basis (eg hearing readers) or on an occasional basis (eg accompanying off-site visits or Forest School sessions).
The documents in the pack do take some time to read and digest but they must be read and signed by yourself, the class teacher and the Headteacher prior to any volunteering. Thank you for your understanding.
 
MEERKAT Champion of the Week
We are delighted to share the names of our "MEERKAT Champion of the Week" award in each class for last week as follows;
Reception –William Webber
Class 1 – Jack Smith
Class 2 – Mya Khan
Class 3 – Ruby Clark
Well done to you all!
 
Open Morning – Tuesday 4th October 2016
In conjunction with Little Bears, the school will be open to visitors from 9.00 to 11.45am for current families and the local community, as well as for the families now making their decisions about their choice of primary school for September 2017. Please do come along and see the school at work between these times if you are able, whether you are a prospective parent or an existing one!
 
Harvest Service and Gifts – Friday 30th September 2016
A reminder that our annual Harvest Festival will take place in the Hall at 9.05am on Friday 30th September and families are most welcome to join us. Once again we will be supporting Stepping Stones, an organisation for homeless people in Oxford, with our Harvest Gifts. We hope that each child will be able to bring a small contribution into school before our service. All Harvest gifts bought into school will be taken to the village church and put on display for the Harvest Service there on Sunday 2nd October, before being taken on to Stepping Stones. Stepping Stones prefer to receive non-perishable items such as packets of pasta, tins of beans, bars of chocolate, packets of biscuits, tins of tomatoes, tins of spaghetti, etc rather than fresh produce. Thank you.
 
Food Standards Agency Visit
Congratulations to Mrs Sheridan and to Mrs Fulker, our school catering staff, for scoring the maximum hygiene rating of 5 stars during the visit by South Oxfordshire District Council Food Standards Agency on 21st September.
 
Great British Menu on 30th September
There will be a slight change to the usual school meals menu on 30th September when we are having a ‘Great British Menu’ for that day only. The choices will be British Battered Fish Fillet or Veggie Sausages, both served with chips, baked beans and peas; dessert will be either oaty flapjack or fruit wedges.
 
PTA News
 
Official Notice of the PTA's Annual General Meeting (AGM) - Monday 10th October, 8pm in the School Hall .

The PTA plays a vital part in the school community and all parents, as members of the PTA, are invited to support the AGM. This is your chance to hear and see how the funds you have helped to raise last year have been used for the benefit of the children at our school.
 
The AGM is also an opportunity for you to elect the PTA Committee (Chair, Treasurer, Secretary), to represent the association throughout the forthcoming academic year. If you are interested in taking on one of these roles or joining the committee, please speak to Georgina Wiggins.
 
We have a small committee and really need people to come along and help plan events and to take on any of the roles outlined. I am stepping down from being Chair after 3 years but I am very much still part of the committee, there is huge support for anyone who takes on a role.
 
Please speak to any committee member for information, there is at least one committee member in each class.
 
Friday Cake Club
Congratulations to Oliver Bourne, the lucky winner of last week's cake, kindly donated by Mrs Hackett. A reminder to Mrs Gravett that she is  on the rota for Friday 30th September.
 
 
DIARY DATES:
 
Friday 30th September
Harvest Assembly
Tuesday 4th October
Open Morning – now confirmed date – see posters around the school
Tuesday 11th October
School Photography Company in school taking individual photographs as well as sibling and family photographs
Thursday 20th October
Half term begins at 3.15 pm
Friday 21st October
Inset day for teaching staff
Monday 31st October
Pupils and staff return to school
(Advance notice for parents):
Monday 14th November
Parents Evening 3.45-7pm
Wednesday 16th November
Parents Evening 3.45-5.30pm
Tuesday 6th December
KS2 Christmas Matinee Performance
KS2 Christmas Evening Performance
Wednesday 7th December
KS1/FS Christmas Matinee Performance
Tuesday 13th December
Nativity & Carols afternoon in the Church
Wednesday 14th December
Whole School Christmas Lunch
Friday 16th December
End of Term Assembly
 
LITTLE BEARS NEWS:
The Little Bears are enjoying our topic ‘All about Me’. We will be continuing to look at our faces to make our self portraits. We will also be looking at hair colour and eye colour. 
We are also going to be talking about our favourite things and look forward to making collage pictures of our favourite things using cut outs from magazines. 
 
Community News:
 
Advance Notice of a Christmas Sports Club:
Michael Hopkins, who is well-known to the school as a PE teacher will be leading a Christmas Sports Course on Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th December 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.
 
NCT Nearly New Sale – see attached flyer
 
Oxford and Cambridge Singing School – see attached flyer

Thursday, September 15, 2016

School Newsletter week ending 16th September 2016


Newsletter for week ending 16th September 2016

 

Maths

Following the introduction of Abacus ActiveLearn as a curriculum resource during the last school year, we introduced Abacus Maths activities within class lessons and, on occasions, as class homework. The online ‘ActiveLearn’ activities have proved very popular with pupils - and their families! We are now introducing ‘ActiveLearn’ as a more frequent and regular feature for homework which will be set by the class teachers. In order to access the online ‘ActiveLearn’ activities, pupils will need their user name and password which were sent out last academic year. Pupils’ usernames remain the same, but the passwords have been reset for the new school year. The password has been allocated so that it can stay with your child as they move through the school and will be issued by each class teacher. Pupils have already been informed. Year 1 pupils will be new to this exciting venture and will receive a welcome letter with their child’s log in details this week – so please check their book-bags. Thank you.

 

MEERKAT Champion of the Week

We are delighted to share the names of our "MEERKAT Champion of the Week" award in each class as follows;

Reception – Jake M

Class 1 - Mim H

Class 2 - Daniel R

Class 3 - Ben W

Well done to you all!


I hope everyone has seen information about cuts to services in Oxfordshire; this will include our Children’s Centre, which will close in March 2017. There is a small group of parents who have set up a community initiative, with the intention of finding a way to maintain some services for families.  The voluntary group have committed to developing a strategy and identifying funding sources. They now need 5 minutes of your time to complete a survey.  https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/LS88SZ8

 

Roald Dahl’s 100th birthday

It was lovely to see so many children with their Roald Dahl book props and books on what would have been his 100th birthday.

The children had a great day in their classes involved in a variety of Roald Dahl related activities from maths to art!

All the children enjoyed guessing each other’s props! Some were not so easy to guess! Thank you to all parents/carers for your support and encouragement in making the day an enjoyable one.

 

Sale of School Uniform

We would like to thank Mrs Burnell for her kind offer of assisting school with the sale of school uniform items. It is very much appreciated.

 

 

Year 3 Home/School Agreements

Thank you to those parents of children in Year 3, who together with their child have already signed and returned their KS2 Home/School Agreement. This agreement reflects the changing expectations of pupils as they progress through the school. We look forward to receiving any that have not yet been signed and returned. Thank you.

 

After School Clubs in Term 1

At the time of writing this Newsletter, there are still some spaces remaining in our Afterschool Clubs:

Archery – 2 spaces (aged 8 or over)

Multisports – 4 spaces for pupils in  Years 1-6

Art – a few  spaces remaining for pupils in Years 1-6

Sign–up forms for these After School Clubs are available to print off from the school website.

 

Gardening Club

We would also like to remind Year 3-6 pupils that they are able to attend Gardening Club on Friday lunchtimes, kindly led by Mr & Mrs Burnell, if they so wish.

 

Primary School Entry Health Review

Thank you for the forms which have been completed and returned to school during this week. We hope that any remaining forms  can be completed and returned to school by Monday 19th September please.

 

Annual Flu Vaccination in School

Thank you for the forms which have been completed and returned to school during this week for pupils in Years 1, 2 and 3. These forms will be collected by the school health nurse in the next week or so, so please complete and return to school as soon as possible. Thank you.

 

PTA News

Official Notice of the PTA's Annual General Meeting (AGM) - Monday 10th October, 8pm in the School Hall .


The PTA plays a vital part in the school community and all parents, as members of the PTA, are invited to support the AGM. This is your chance to hear and see how the funds you have helped to raise last year have been used for the benefit of the children at our school.

 

The AGM is also an opportunity for you to elect the PTA Committee (Chair, Treasurer, Secretary), to represent the association throughout the forthcoming academic year. If you are interested in taking on one of these roles or joining the committee, please speak to Georgina Wiggins.

 

We have a small committee and really need people to come along and help plan events and to take on any of the roles outlined. I am stepping down from being Chair after 3 years but I am very much still part of the committee, there is huge support for anyone who takes on a role.

 

Please speak to any committee member for information, there is at least one committee member in each class.

 

 

 

Friday Cake Club

Congratulations to Jack Fulker, the lucky winner of last week's cake, kindly donated by Ewa Klorek. A reminder to Mrs Hutchence that she is on the rota for Friday 23rd September.

 

DIARY DATES:
 
Monday 19th September
GB Meeting at 7pm
Thursday 22nd September
Open Evening at Icknield Community College – 6 -8pm with the Headteacher’s Address at 7.30pm. Guided tours are also available during school hours; please telephone 01491 612691 if you would like an appointment.
Friday 30th September
Harvest Assembly (more details to follow)
Tuesday 4th October
Open Morning – now confirmed date
Tuesday 11th October
School Photography Company in school taking individual photographs as well as sibling and family photographs
Thursday 20th October
Half term begins at 3.15 pm
Friday 21st October
Inset day for teaching staff
Monday 31st October
Pupils and staff return to school
(Advance notice for parents):
Monday 14th November
Parents Evening 3.45-7pm
Wednesday 16th November
Parents Evening 3.45-5.30pm
Tuesday 6th December
KS2 Christmas Matinee Performance
KS2 Christmas Evening Performance
Wednesday 7th December
KS1/FS Christmas Matinee Performance
Tuesday 13th December
Nativity & Carols afternoon in the Church
Wednesday 14th December
Whole School Christmas Lunch
Friday 16th December
End of Term Assembly

 

LITTLE BEARS NEWS:

Continuing with our “All about Me” topic the Little Bears will be talking about our favourite things as well as making self portraits.

We will also continue to enjoy the lovely weather and the Little Bears have been enjoying some picking some apples from our trees. 

 

Community News:

 

Advance Notice of a Christmas Sports Club:

Michael Hopkins, who is well-known to the school as a PE teacher will be leading a Christmas Sports Course on Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th December 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.