Newsletter for week
ending 9th September 2016
This first Newsletter of the academic year contains a wealth of
information and we apologise for the fact that it is unusually long!
We are pleased to welcome the following new
Reception children to Stadhampton School: Imogen
Hamlet, Danny Hyde, Chloe Kamali, Harvey Khan, Jake Martins, Riley Mason-Cook,
Austin Mason-Fowler, Grace Monahan, Harry Tomson, Orla Valentine, Joel Venner,
Jamie Waters, William Webber and Rosie Wiggins. We are also pleased to welcome Keegan Denton who has joined Class 1.
Welcome back to everyone
else at the start of this new academic year!
We are pleased to welcome Mrs Nichola Stafford who
will be teaching the Foundation Stage (Reception) in this new academic year.
Happy AUGUST Birthday to: Adam
Bourne, Jude Bradley and Morgan Denton
Happy SEPTEMBER Birthday to:
Isabella Dickens, Dexter Elliott, George Evelyn, Austin Mason- Fowler, Harry
Price and Lawrence Wright.
During SEPTEMBER we are focusing on the core value
of RESPECT
Calendar Terminology
Some
years ago Oxfordshire County Council decided to divide the school year into six
terms. As from September 2016, they have
reverted back to three terms; “Autumn” (September to December), “Spring”
(January to Easter) and “Summer” (Easter to July). We will now be referring to Autumn, Spring
and Summer terms in all future documentation.
British Council
International School Award
We
would like to share with you a very positive start to the new school
year!
We are
delighted to inform you that Stadhampton Primary School has
been successful in gaining Reaccreditation of the International School Award and is accredited for three years from 1
September 2016 to 31 August 2019. The application is approved
through the British Council who, in their report conclusions, stated: “It is clear that you have
continued to develop and embed the international dimension into your school
since your last accreditation and that you have adopted an approach where
international issues and themes are explored through philosophy, cross
curricular topics, special events and assemblies. You have sought opportunities
for collaborative projects and professional development with schools and
trainers in other countries using a number of established programmes. This was
recognised by your School Improvement Partner who commented that you,
"Embrace diversity and promote international education through meaningful
links with partner schools in other countries." You have also ensured that
the international dimension of your school is emphasised within your School
Improvement Plan, School Vision and Prospectus. You have described a wide range
of international activities carried out in the last year which include
opportunities for collaboration with partner schools, language learning,
professional development and consideration of global themes and issues.”
Class Overviews
Curriculum overviews for each class for the Autumn
term (2016-2017) have now been uploaded onto the school website and can be found
under the “This Term” section of the Class pages. Please read these, not only do they provide
information about the class curriculum for the term, they also provide
important information about group work and homework!
In addition to the above information, class teachers
will be sending out reminders for both “Active Maths” and “Talk Homework” in
readiness for “Big Writing” sessions in
class. Children in Reception will have received in their welcome packs literacy
and numeracy leaflets which are designed to provide additional information for
parents. Children in Year 1 will also be
coming home this week with a leaflet entitled “Helping Your Child With
Maths”. We hope these will be useful and
if anyone would like to receive further copies of the maths leaflet please ask
Mrs Manzie or visit the Class 1 section of the school website.
School Curriculum
Roald
Dahl’s 100th Birthday – To
celebrate Roald Dahl’s 100th birthday on Tuesday 13th
September, children are asked to bring in a prop related to one of Roald Dahl’s
books. Children are also invited to
bring in their favourite Roald Dahl book. All classes will be participating in
Roald Dahl related activities during the course of the day.
ELLI Project
After its success last year, we will be continuing
with our “ELLI” Project this school year. To recap, it features ‘Ellie the
Elephant’ and ‘Toucan’ as key characters. The project consists of a set of
practical approaches, strategies and activities designed to foster greater
energy for learning in individuals and learning communities. There are seven
learning dimensions, each represented by an animal character, which we will be
reintroducing as the year progresses. We hope that you will support us and help
your child by discussing each new dimension and character when it is introduced.
Please see your child’s teacher if you have any queries. Reception children will
shortly receive a letter about the ELLI project in their book bags.
Class 1 and Mrs Manzie relaunched the project this
week in an assembly on Thursday. The new character introduced was ‘Teamwork
Bee.’
“MEERKAT” Champion of the
Week
“MEERKAT”
is an acronym for the following traits we aim to foster at Stadhampton Primary
School.
Motivated
Enthusiastic
Engaged
Resourceful
Knowledgeable
Attentive
Talkative (at the right
time!)
Each
week class teachers will recognize the efforts made by pupils in their learning
by presenting one pupil in their class with the “MEERKAT Champion of the Week”
award. The champion is custodian of the soft toy class meerkat for the week and
they have their photo taken together. The champion is awarded a certificate
along with the photo to take home. We
hope you will celebrate their achievements with us!
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. Pupils in Classes 2 and 3 pay for their
school lunches unless they are entitled to a Free School Meal (see below for
criteria). 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 and a copy is also displayed in the entrance foyer.
Thank
you for your co-operation in this matter.
Free School Meals
Under the current criteria, children who
receive, or whose parents receive, one or more of the following support
payments are entitled to receive free school meals (FSM) and eligible for 2
year old funding.
·
Income Support
·
income-based Jobseekers Allowance
·
income-related Employment and Support Allowance
·
support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
·
the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
·
Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax
Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
·
Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying
for Working Tax Credit
·
Universal Credit
Children who get any of the above benefits in
their own right (ie they get benefits payments directly, instead of through a
parent or guardian) can also get free school meals.
Children under the compulsory school age who are
in full time education may also be able to get free school meals.
If you believe that you are entitled to claim
for Free School Meals (even if your child does not want to have them at the
moment), please let Mrs Hopkins (School Business Manager) know, in confidence, so
that the school can apply for the appropriate additional pupil premium.
Swimming at Berinsfield
Swimming began for Class 2 pupils on Monday 5th September.
They have a total of 7 sessions. The cost of the swimming transport to
Berinsfield is £70 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 to the parents who have already kindly made this
‘voluntary contribution’. It is much appreciated.
Pupils need a one piece
swimming costume (girls) or close fitting trunks (boys) and a hat (all) 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.
Outdoor Developments
Over the summer holidays
we have made further improvements to the facilities in our school grounds by
creating a second hard surface play area – fitting all pupils in school on the
netball court when the grass was muddy was a real challenge! The soil removed in preparation for the new
tarmac area has been used to landscape part of the grassed area to provide
features for children to use once the grass seed has grown. We have funded this through some of the
Government’s school sports funding.
Sale of School Uniform
It would be very helpful
if a current member of the PTA, or someone who is stepping down from the PTA,
or a person interested in joining the PTA or an existing parent volunteer would
be willing to take on the sales of school uniform on behalf of the school. The
role is busier when the new Reception pupils want to buy school uniform and at
the start of the new school year when families usually order what they need,
but outside of those times the need to do anything is only occasional. If you
might be willing to help the school in this way, please have a word with Mrs
Hopkins who can supply further details about what is involved. Thank you.
Forest Schools Permission Letters – Action Required by all
parents/carers
Each child should have brought home on Tuesday a letter about
Forest Schools. In order for your child
to attend Forest School sessions, there is a requirement for parents to please
complete and return to the school office or the class teacher, the Forest
School Consent Form and the Emergency contacts/allergies form so that all
children may attend the Forest School sessions (double sided form). The dates for sessions in Terms 1 and 2 for
year groups 1-6 was also attached to the letter (and is also on the school
website) so that parents know when their
children will need to bring in appropriate clothing/footwear for their child’s
Forest School sessions.
After
School Clubs in Term 1
Details of the After School Clubs available this term were
given out on Tuesday this week. Reception pupils are not able to attend After
School Clubs this term as they are just settling into school.
School
Prospectus 2016-2017
The new 2016-2017 School Prospectus has now been uploaded
onto the school website. Please do take the time to review this reference
document as it contains useful updates on the school curriculum, term dates and
lots of other valuable information.
Primary
School Entry Health Review
Reception pupils will receive this week a letter from Oxford
Health NHS to introduce them to the school health nursing service in
Oxfordshire.
Annual
Flu Vaccination in School
Pupils in Years 1, 2 and 3 will have their annual flu vaccination
in school delivered by the school health nurse on Thursday 1st
December. Each child should have received this week a letter from the Oxford
Health NHS which has all the details about this and a form which needs to be
completed and returned to school whether you consent to the vaccination or wish
to refuse it. These forms will be collected by the school health nurse in the
next couple of weeks.
Guitars
Guitar lessons will begin during
week commencing 19th September. Please contact the Mr Payne, the
guitar teacher directly at goguitarmail@yahoo.co.uk
if you would like your child to learn to play the guitar. Details of costs are
available from the school office.
PTA News
Welcome back after
the summer holidays, we are looking forward to having a fantastic year of
fundraising. To keep up to date with everything that's going on please visit
our Facebook group, search Stadhampton Primary school PTA and ask to join, we
can then add you on. We use this group for reminders of events, giving advice
and encourage parents to use it as a port of call.
We will be setting
a date for the AGM and we encourage parents to please attend. The positions of
Chair, Secretary and Treasurer need to be filled in order for the PTA to keep
operating, if you are interested or would like more information please speak to
a committee member.
We look forward to
a great fundraising year!
Friday Cake
Club
Please find attached to this Newsletter the new Cake Club
rota. A reminder to Mrs Hackett that she is on the rota for 16th
February.
|
DIARY DATES:
|
|
|
Monday 12th September
|
Archery
After School Club begins
|
|
Tuesday 13th September
|
Forest
School for Reception Pupils
|
|
Wednesday 14th September
|
Art
After School Club begins
|
|
Thursday 15th September
|
Year
1 Forest School Session and Multisports After School Club begins
|
|
Monday 19th September
|
GB
Meeting 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 (to be confirmed)
|
|
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
|
LITTLE
BEARS NEWS:
Little
Bears hope everyone has had a wonderful summer break. We are looking forward to
a brand new term with lots of exciting activities - our topic this term is
"All about Me" which we will enjoy as we get to know all our new
Little Bears.
Our
apple and pear trees are absolutely full of fruit ready to be picked. If anyone
would like to pop over after school please do come and help yourselves.
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. 
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