Newsletter for week ending 25 November 2016

 

 

Message from the Governing Body

Thank you to everyone who came along to the Parent’s Forum on Tuesday; we had a really constructive and useful debate. For those unable to attend, the slides will be available on the school website next week.

 

Children In Need Collection

We are pleased to let you know that a total of £111 was donated by pupils and staff for Children in Need. Thank you to everyone for contributing to this excellent result. We very much enjoyed seeing some amazing costumes and hearing about what pupils would like to be when they grow up! These include footballers, gymnasts and other sports-related professions, a range of scientists, vets, doctors and nurses, a paramedic, a dentist, an inventor, a younger version of 007 (004!), a teacher, various artists, a film director and explorer and a palaeontologist –the future is bright!

 

Poppy Appeal

We are pleased to let you know that a total of £109.29 was collected by everyone at Stadhampton School. 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 – Harvey K

Class 1 – Ellie P

Class 2 – Freya C

Class 3 – Lawrence W

Well done to you all!

 

Fire Officer Visit

On Friday 11^th November, pupils in Class 2 and 3 had class talks by Fire Fighter Reading from the Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service. She spoke about fire safety, the importance of smoke detectors and the key message “Get out, Stay out, Call 999” in the event of a fire. Her talk included a short film demonstrating the importance of every household having an escape plan so that all family members know what to do if the unthinkable happened and a fire breaks out at home. Visit www.365alive.co.uk for guidance on how to make an escape plan and what to do in an emergency.

 

Class 2’s Trip to Dorchester Abbey

“On Tuesday 15^th November 2016 Class 2 went to Dorchester Abbey to see the Narnia exhibition and find out about evacuees in World War Two. First we went through the wardrobe with warm fur coats and we saw the story of Narnia.

Later on we went outside and we dug the weeds out of the ground and turned the soil over. Then we went on a really long walk to the Pill Box and when Mrs McCready blew the horn everybody screamed because it was like an air raid warning! Also when Mrs McCready blew the horn we had to run and hide under a tree.”

Jem, Ben and Archie

School Health Nurse Newsletter

Please find a Newsletter for Winter 2016 from the Primary School Health Team attached to this school newsletter.

 

Cratlands Close – Driving & Parking

We have received a complaint this week about the speed at which some parents drive down Cratlands Close. This resulted in at least one person being drenched on one of the very wet days we had at the start of the week. The safety of children is paramount importance to us all. We would remind parents to please exercise particular caution about their driving speed when they are in close proximity to the school, as well as being extra vigilant in and on the approaches to the school car park. Thank you.

 

Cratlands close will be particularly busy for the Christmas Bazaar tomorrow and on Tuesday 6 December for the evening performance of the KS2 school play. We will open up the netball court to provide additional parking for both events, but would also like to respectfully remind parents to please show consideration to the residents of Cratlands Close and not park in a way that obstructs access to their property. Thank you for your assistance in this matter.

PTA News

Winter Fair – THIS FRIDAY - 6pm until 8pm, School Hall

A final reminder that the Winter Fair is taking place this Friday.  Please send in any last minute donations by Friday morning – we still need chocolate and sweets and any bottles, particularly non-alcoholic ones, which children might like to win (bubble bath, non-alcoholic drinks etc).

 

Please also bring any donations of cakes and biscuits to school on Friday, either at the beginning or end of the school day.

 

Finally, any remaining raffle tickets need to be returned to the office as soon as possible.

 

Looking forward to seeing everyone on Friday evening!

 

Christmas Cards

If you ordered Christmas cards from Cauliflower cards, they arrived in school this week and have been handed out to the children or put in bookbags.  If you were expecting to receive some and haven’t, please speak to Melanie Gravett or Claire Cowlard.

 

Thanks to Claire for taking care of it all.

 

Friday Cake Club

Congratulations to Olivia Kenny, the lucky winner of last week's cake, kindly donated by Mrs Dickens. A reminder to Mrs Saunders that she is on the rota for Friday 2nd December.

 

Christmas Play Tickets

This year we are raising funds from ticket sales to help us continue to be able to provide Forest School sessions for all pupils. Tickets are now on sale for the following performances:

 

KS2 Matinee (Classes 2 & 3 pupils) of ‘Sleeping Beauty – The Ugly Truth’	Tuesday 6 December 2.15pm start	Two tickets per pupil available @£2 per ticket. Younger siblings welcome at this performance. There will be a further 12 tickets available if one or two families would like to purchase an additional ticket.
KS2 Evening Performance of ‘‘Sleeping Beauty – The Ugly Truth’	Tuesday 6 December 6.30pm start	Two tickets per pupil available @£2 per ticket. Adults only please at this performance as it will be recorded by the school. There will be a further 12 tickets available if one or two families would like to purchase an additional ticket.
KS1 & Foundation Stage Performance (Reception & Class 1 pupils) of ‘Bethlehem’	Wednesday 7 December 2.15 pm start	Two tickets per pupil available @£2 per ticket. There will be a further 25 tickets available if any families would like a third ticket on a ‘first come first served’ basis. Younger siblings welcome at this performance.

All pupils in school will attend Dress Rehearsals of the play that they are not in so that they have an opportunity to see the ‘other’ play. Little Bears Pre-School will be invited to attend both Dress Rehearsals.

 

In order to avoid making the Monday morning queue outside the office even longer, tickets may be purchased any morning or afternoon next week from Mrs Hopkins or Mrs Scragg.

 

Emergency Closure Procedures
If the weather is particularly bad or there are power cuts in the village and the decision is made to close the school, the information is given to parents through BBC Radio Oxford, Jack FM and Heart FM. Parents are advised to tune into these local radio stations and also check their websites if there is a possibility that the school could be closed. We will also do our best to put a message onto the school website if there is power!

 

DIARY DATES:
Tuesday 6 December	KS2 Christmas Matinee Performance at 2pm. Entrance by ticket only. Tickets on sale from Monday 28 November. KS2 Christmas Evening Performance at 6.30pm. Entrance by ticket only.
Wednesday 7 December	KS1/FS Christmas Matinee Performance at 2.15pm. Entrance by ticket only.
Tuesday 13 December	Nativity & Carols afternoon in the Church at 2pm. Everyone welcome.
Wednesday 14 December	Whole School Christmas Lunch –see menu in the entrance foyer and next to the serving hatch
Friday 16 December	End of Term Assembly at 9.05am. Everyone welcome. 1.30pm finish
Tuesday 3 January	INSET Day for teaching staff
Wednesday 4 January	Pupils return to school for the start of the Spring Term 2017

 

LITTLE BEARS NEWS:

The Little Bears are looking forward to their “Stick Man” walk tomorrow. We are hoping for some sunshine to enjoy on the way. Little Bears will also be making their own stick man next week and have started rehearsals for our nativity which is on the 10^th December.

 

Community News:

 

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 19^th and Tuesday 20^th 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.

 

 

Newsletter for week ending 18 November 2016

 

 

 

Thank you to Miss Ravel and Year 6 pupils for leading an Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial at 10.45 on 11th November. The children were a real credit to the school as they led us in a very moving ceremony.

Reverend Caroline

 

Thank you to the Year 5 pupils who rose to the occasion and led our Act of Remembrance in school at 11:00am last Friday. After the Acts of Remembrance at the church and in school, we all gathered at our Garden of Remembrance and Reflection and Rev. Caroline blessed the garden – a poignant moment for all involved. Thank you to Rev. Caroline and to the children for all their deeply thoughtful contributions made to our prayer flags and other elements of our garden.

 

Children In Need Day – Tomorrow!

A final reminder that tomorrow will be Children in Need Day. We are asking for a donation of £1 (for Children in Need) to come to school dressed up as what you want to be when you are older instead of wearing your school uniform. Children will be expected to be able to explain why they are dressed as they are. Please put your £1 to put into the Pudsey collection character in your class! We will let you know what we raised in next week’s newsletter. 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 – Danny H

Class 1 – Aisulu G

Class 2 – Ella F

Class 3 – Izzy K

Well done to you all!

 

Anti-Bullying Week 14-18 November 2016

At Stadhampton School we embrace and promote anti-bullying strategies throughout the school year. Anti-Bullying week provides an opportunity for us to focus more closely on bullying-related issues and this week we have raised pupils’ awareness of these issues through assemblies and class lessons.

 

As a follow-up, and in line with many Oxfordshire schools, next week pupils in Years 4, 5 and 6 will have the opportunity to complete an anti-bullying survey compiled for schools by Oxfordshire County Council. The survey will be carried out online and in individual privacy with a teacher facilitating. Entries will be anonymous, however the outcomes of the survey will be collated to help us to identify any trends within our own school and enable us to compare Stadhampton School outcomes with outcomes for Oxfordshire schools as a whole.

 

Message from the School Health Nurse for Parents of Pupils in Years 1, 2 and 3

We have now delivered the flu vaccination in 50% of our schools. We will be coming into school on Thursday 1^st December to deliver the nasal flu vaccination to children in Years 1, 2 and 3 who have returned their consent forms with parental consent for the vaccination and have no contraindications. Children returning their consent forms late may not be immunised in the school session.

 

Recent episodes of wheezing in the last 3 days and/or steroids treatment in the last 2 weeks would mean that these children were not fit enough to have the vaccination, and we are relying on the parents/carers to tell school staff, so that vaccination can be delayed until it will be most effective for these children who are at high risk of becoming very unwell if they contract flu. Children not vaccinated on the day as either absent or unwell, or who have returned their consent forms too late, will be invited to the School Health Nurses catch up sessions later in the year. Only children who are at high risk from flu due to one or more medical conditions are able to have this vaccination at their GP surgeries.

 

The link to the ‘Flu Heroes’ video is below to show the children before the vaccination sessions. It runs for 1.38 minutes and has been very helpful in preparing the children and reassuring them that the vaccination is a quick and painless spray up their nose https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jHWwm8NQUw

 

PE Kit in school

Please can all pupils have their PE kit in school each day. With the colder weather, long joggers are appropriate now for outside. If any families have any old school PE kit that no longer fits, Mrs Manzie would be pleased to receive any small pairs of shorts and T-shirts for use as spares.

 

Forest School dates for the Spring Term 2017

The Forest School dates for pupils in Years 1-6 for January 2017 through to Easter have been added to the school website this week. Parents will need to note dates so that their children can bring in suitable clothing for their Forest School session at the appropriate time. Thank you.

PTA News

Bags2School

Thank you to everyone who brought in bags for the Bags2School recycling this week.  We will let you know how much was raised as soon as we know.

 

Winter Fair – Friday 25^th November – 6pm until 8pm, School Hall

The Winter Fair is fast approaching – donations still needed!

 

In particular, we need:

Bottles – any shapes and sizes - alcohol, sauces, bubble bath, soft drinks

Sweets and Chocolates – bars, big bags, little bags, variety packs, lollies, tubs of sweets or chocolates

Jingle Jars – jars filled with small gifts, eg hair bands, toys, bouncy balls, sweets, erasers, pencils etc etc.  Jars wrapped and marked whether suitable for girls, boys or either.  Please make sure jars are clean before being filled.  Empty jars would also be useful.

Hampers – any luxury food or drink items suitable for a hamper, eg chocolates, biscuits, hot chocolate, coffee, chutneys

 

You should have now received tickets for the raffle, which will be drawn at the Winter Fair.  Each family should have £5 worth of tickets should you wish to buy them – please let Melanie Gravett or Charlotte Hector know if you did not receive them. 

 

If anyone requires additional tickets to sell to family, friends, neighbours, colleagues or anyone else you can think of, then please speak to Charlotte or Melanie as soon as possible.

 

CAKES AND BISCUITS - finally, we will have a cake stall at the Fair so donations of cakes and biscuits are also needed on the day.  Please bring donations to the hall on Friday 25^th either at the beginning or end of the school day.

  

Wreath Evening – Tuesday 13^th December

Tickets are for our Wreath Making Evening on Tuesday 13^th December are now sold out.  Thank you to everyone who has bought a ticket.

  

The next PTA meeting is on Thursday 12^th January at 8pm at The Crown in Stadhampton.  Please do come along if you can – all welcome!

 

Friday Cake Club

Congratulations to Austin Mason-Fowler & Benjamin West who were the lucky winners of last weeks cakes, kindly donated by Mrs Austin. A reminder to Mrs Lansley that she is on the rota for Nov 25th.

 

DIARY DATES:
Tuesday 22 November	Parents Forum with the Governing Body, 7pm start in the school hall. Everyone welcome!
Tuesday 6 December	KS2 Christmas Matinee Performance KS2 Christmas Evening Performance
Wednesday 7 December	KS1/FS Christmas Matinee Performance
Tuesday 13 December	Nativity & Carols afternoon in the Church
Wednesday 14 December	Whole School Christmas Lunch
Friday 16 December	End of Term Assembly at 9.05am 1.30pm finish
Tuesday 3 January	INSET Day for teaching staff
Wednesday 4 January	Pupils return to school for the start of the Spring Term 2017

 

LITTLE BEARS NEWS:

The Little Bears are looking forward to their ‘Stick Man’ walk on Friday 25th November followed by some Stick Man themed treats!

The Little Bears will also be making their own stick men using tissue rolls. 

 

Community News:

 

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 19^th and Tuesday 20^th 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.

 

 

Newsletter for week ending 11 November 2016

 

 

WheelPower Assembly

On Tuesday morning we were fortunate to have two representatives, Chris and Harriet, from the WheelPower charity take our assembly. Chris brought along a Paralympic torch and told us the history behind the Paralympic Games. He also spoke about how the charity support and encourage disabled people to get involved in sport. Harriet, who represented Team GB at London 2012, told us how taking up a sport had helped her when she was first in a wheelchair, she plays a number of sports and has won several competitions.  

Mrs Stafford

 

“On Tuesday 8^th November there were some very special visitors from WheelPower in school. The two people were called Chris and Harriet. They told us about the Paralympics and how even if you are injured you can still play sport. Harriet had an injury from the age of eight and she has a massive passion for sport, especially archery. We saw some pictures of her with a bow and arrow in her wheelchair. People like Harriet need special wheelchairs and these cost a lot of money – her wheelchair cost £3000! There are different kinds of wheelchairs for different sports, for example; skiing, rugby, basketball and racing. They also brought the Paralympic torch from 2012 and we all got to have a close look at it.”

Report by Mia G and Peter F-N

 

School Photographs Collection

Orders for school photographs are being collected from school on Monday 21^st November, so if you would like to place an order please ensure your forms are returned to the school office by the collection date. 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 for before the Half Term holiday as follows;

Reception – Orla V

Class 1 – Honor W

Class 2 – Casey P

Class 3 – May H

Well done to you all!

 

BT e-mails

We have had difficulties since last Friday sending e-mails to BT e-mail addresses. We have been able to receive the e-mails but have not been able to reply or send e-mails to those addresses. We now have a simple solution that seems to have worked to address this:

Go to the Settings tab.

Select Mail.

Select Safe Senders.

Type in the address that is being blocked (office.2455@stadhampton.oxon.sch.uk) & click Add. If everyone with a BT e-mail address could do this please we will hopefully be able to communicate again!

Thank you.

 

Garden of Remembrance and Reflection

As part of our garden area we commissioned a mosaic made by a local mosaic artist. The mosaic has now been completed and we have it on display in school until we install it in the garden area. It is, quite simply, stunning. It is made of broken china and stained glass set on a circular base. The mosaic needs to be seen to be fully appreciated and you are welcome to see it on display in the school hall. In the meantime we hope this small photo gives you an idea of the artistic work which depicts poppies, a crescent moon and night sky and discreetly includes the words “Per ardua ad astra” (“Through adversity to the stars”), the RAF motto. The mosaic artist says she put her soul into making the mosaic and wrote a poem for the children, a copy if which is attached to this newsletter. In the poem she refers to the garden being a “Cosmic Garden”, as this is what the moon and night sky features made her think of.

Over the last week all pupils have pegged up their “prayer flag” and on Friday 11^th November, following our Act of Remembrance, we plan for Reverend Caroline to bless the garden. It is gradually developing into a real area of calm and refuge. We are still awaiting some log seating but have installed a poppy-shaped bird bath and some wind chimes which the children voted for by listening to an online recording of a selection of wind chimes. The overwhelming number of votes was for the “Earth” chimes which give out peaceful, earthy tones – we hope they add an extra dimension to the garden for all to enjoy.

 

Children in Need Day

On Friday the 18^th of November 2016 it will be Children in Need Day. This year the School Council thought it would be fun for children to dress up as ‘what you want to be when you’re older’ for example P.E teacher, ballet dancer, doctor, scientist etc. We are asking for a donation of £1 (for Children in Need) to come to school dressed up as what you want to be when you are older instead of wearing your school uniform. Children will be expected to be able to explain why they are dressed as they are. There will be a Pudsey collection character in each class .

You can still bring in your well-behaved Pudsey toys!

School Council

 

PTA News

Bags2School – Thursday 17^th November – 9am

Last weekend for a clear out - please don’t forget your Bags2School bags next Thursday 17^th November.  All bags need to be at school by 9am!

 

Winter Fair – Friday 25^th November – 6pm until 8pm, School Hall

The Winter Fair will soon be here – donations of anything from the list below will be greatly appreciated!

 

Bottles – any shapes and sizes - alcohol, sauces, bubble bath, soft drinks

Bottle Bags – empty bottle or gift bags

Sweets and Chocolates – bars, big bags, little bags, variety packs, lollies, tubs of sweets or chocolates

Jingle Jars – jars filled with small gifts, eg hair bands, toys, bouncy balls, sweets, erasers, pencils etc etc.  Jars wrapped and marked whether suitable for girls, boys or either.  Please make sure jars are clean before being filled.  Empty jars would also be useful.

Lucky Dip – anything suitable for lucky dip prizes, eg small ‘party bag’ type gifts

Toys – good quality, new or nearly new toys

Raffle prizes – anything suitable for a raffle prize. 

Hampers – any luxury food or drink items suitable for a hamper, eg chocolates, biscuits, hot chocolate, coffee, chutneys

 

You should have now received tickets for the raffle, which will be drawn at the Winter Fair.  Each family should have £5 worth of tickets should you wish to buy them – please let Melanie Gravett or Charlotte Hector know if you did not receive them. 

 

If anyone requires additional tickets to sell to family, friends, neighbours, colleagues or anyone else you can think of, then please speak to Charlotte or Melanie as soon as possible.

 

Wreath Evening – Tuesday 13^th December – 7.30pm, School Hall

Tickets are still available for our Wreath Making Evening on Tuesday 13^th December at 7.30pm in the School Hall.  Tickets are £15 each and include all materials needed to make a festive wreath. Mulled wine and mince pies will also be provided, you will just need to bring secateurs and gloves.

 

If you would like to buy a ticket, please see Georgina Wiggins as soon as possible as places are limited.

 

The next PTA meeting is on Thursday 12^th January at 8pm at The Crown in Stadhampton.  Please do come along if you can – all welcome!

 

Friday Cake Club

Congratulations to Jake Martins, the lucky winner of last week's cake, kindly donated by Ms Moss-Black. A reminder to Mrs Cove that she is on the rota for Friday 18th November.

 

DIARY DATES:
Monday 14 November	Parents Evening 3.45-7pm
Wednesday 16 November	Parents Evening 3.45-5.30pm
Tuesday 22 November	Parents Forum with the Governing Body, 7pm start in the school hall
Tuesday 6 December	KS2 Christmas Matinee Performance KS2 Christmas Evening Performance
Wednesday 7 December	KS1/FS Christmas Matinee Performance
Tuesday 13 December	Nativity & Carols afternoon in the Church
Wednesday 14 December	Whole School Christmas Lunch
Friday 16 December	End of Term Assembly & 1.30pm finish

 

LITTLE BEARS NEWS:

The Little Bears are really enjoying our topic for this term which is "Stick Man". We have been putting the stick family in size order and collaging our very own big stick man. 

We are also excited to be planning a sponsored "stick man hunt" for 25th November. 

 

 

Community News:

 

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 19^th and Tuesday 20^th 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.

 

Sing-a-longa FROZEN at St Johns - this Saturday, 2pm. Fundraising for pathway lighting - please come along to enjoy the fun and support the church hall. Thank you. Contact frozenatstjohns@gmail.com for tickets. Thank you. 

 

 

Stadhampton Church and Village Hall wins Oxford Preservation Trust Award

A few weeks ago we had heard the news that the project that modified the village church so that it could also be used as a village hall had been shortlisted in this year’s Oxford Preservation Trust Awards.  A small group representing the Project Team were invited to the awards ceremony last week on the 1^st November.  Our vicar, the Reverend Caroline King; Architect - Anna Dulnikowska-Przystalska from Wallingford Architecture Ltd; Churchwarden – Stephen Dawson and I went along in some trepidation I have to say, especially when we saw the quality of the other entries.  However to our surprise and delight when it came to the Small Project category, they called out our name as the winners and the church/village hall was awarded one of their prestigious plaques. This will be put in place shortly so we will all be able to take pride in it every time we see it.  The judging panel felt the church had been very sensitively modified, creating a warm and welcoming environment that could be used by all for many years to come. They were thrilled to know how many new village groups had started up and were now using the building. 

Ann Stead

Chair of Project Team

 

Attachments:

1. Poem
2. Charity Art Auction on Saturday 19 November at the Village Hall at St John’s Stadhampton – see attached flyer for more details
3. Oxfordshire Pentathlon Club Flyer