Newsletter No 6 / 16th October 2009

As next week is only a short “school week”, this will be the final newsletter of Term 1.

Open Morning
It was a pleasure to welcome so many visitors to our school on Open Morning. Thank you to those who were able to come along.

Year 6 Pupils
A reminder that parents of Year 6 pupils should now be applying for a secondary school place, if they have not done so already. “Moving On” booklets were issued to all pupils as well as letters sent home from the Local Authority. The deadline for applications is Monday 2nd November.

Swimming at Berinsfield
A reminder that pupils in Class 3 will start their swimming sessions at Berinsfield, on Monday 2nd November. They will have 7 sessions and we hope that parents will, as usual, contribute a £1 “voluntary contribution” per child, per session, towards the transport costs.

School Meals
School meals currently cost £2 a day and should be paid on Monday morning please, for the week ahead. Although most cheques written for school are now made payable to Stadhampton Primary School, it is particularly helpful if cheques are not combined for school meals, school trips, after school club, etc. Thank you.

School Prospectus 2009-10
The School Prospectus for 2009-10 is now available on our website and via the Learning Platform.

Music Workshops run by OCC Music Service
Each family should have received a paper “flyer” about a range of music workshop opportunities available through the OCC Music Service. This information is also on display in the front entrance area.

Little Bears News
This week Little Bears enjoyed making apple and carrot soup. They have also been enjoying the lovely sunshine with lots of outdoor play and we were pleased to see some new faces at our Open Morning this week. Little Bears is holding a Produce Sale after school on Wednesday 21st October (3.15pm) and would be very pleased to receive donations of items to sell – suggestions are cakes, jams, chutneys, eggs, etc. They also hope that you will come along to see what it is on offer to buy!

DIARY DATES:
Saturday 17th October
Primary Cross Country Races at Chiltern Edge School. 9.30 for 10am start. Years 3, 4, 5, and 6 pupils. Also on Saturday 14th November and Saturday 5th December. These are open events which families can turn up to.
Tuesday 20th October
Class 1 & Class 2 pupils on school trips.
Wednesday 21st October
School finishes at 3.15pm for the October Holiday. After school sports clubs and after school fun club still operate as normal today.
Monday 2nd November
Return to school after the October Holiday. Swimming starts for Class 3 pupils.
Tuesday 17th November
Parents’ Evening (from 3.30pm)
Friday 20th November
Children in Need
Wednesday 25th November
Family Poetry Workshop 3.15-4.15pm. No after school SPORTS Clubs, - After School Fun Club in the portacabin will run as normal with Mrs Howlett and Mrs Hopkins bringing pupils over to/from school for the poetry workshop.

Newsletter No 5 / 9th October

School Photographs
Proofs of school photographs were sent home in book bags earlier this week. Please could orders be returned to school by next Friday (16th October).

National Poetry Day
On Thursday 8th October we celebrated National Poetry Day in each class by sharing and writing a number of poems on the theme of Heroes and Heroines. These included famous footballers and “superheroes”. A variety of poetry styles were explored and used, including acrostic poems, rhyming couplets and shape poems.

Turkish Dance Workshop
Each class will have a Turkish Dance workshop led by a professional dancer from the Education Group on Tuesday 10th November. We will be presenting a parents’ performance at 3pm in the Hall – all welcome!

PTA NEWS:
Last chance to buy tickets for the Music Quiz – Tickets are selling really well for the Music Quiz to be held at school next Friday (16th) so don’t forget to buy your ticket and order your fish & chip supper before Wednesday 14th Oct.
PTA Meeting – Tuesday 13th October at Sara Wright’s house (Glenveagh House, School Lane) starting at 7.45pm.
All welcome for a glass of wine or two, especially new parents to the school to find out what we do (apart from drink wine).

Little Bears News
This week Little Bears have been making bread, talking about Harvest and how farmers collect their crops. They also enjoyed making lovely pictures of squirrels and hedgehogs. There is an Under 8’s Halloween Party at Little Bears on 31st October from 4-6pm with games, competitions and prizes awarded for the best costume. Entrance is free but parents must also stay for the whole party.

DIARY DATES:
Tuesday 13th October PTA Meeting at 7.45pm (Glenveagh House)
Wednesday 14th October Open Morning in School and at Little Bears – All welcome – 9.00-11.30am
Friday 16th October PTA Music Quiz
Tuesday 20th October Class 1 & Class 2 pupils on school trips. (See letters sent home today).
Wednesday 21st October School finishes at 3.15pm for the October Holiday. After school sports clubs and after
school fun club still operate as normal today.
Monday 2nd November Return to school after the October Holiday. Swimming starts for Class 3 pupils.
Wednesday 25th November Family Poetry Workshop 3.15-.4.15pm. No after school SPORTS Clubs, - After School
Fun Club in the portacabin will run as normal with Mrs Howlett and Mrs Hopkins
bringing pupils over to/from school for the poetry workshop.

Newsletter No 5 / 2nd October 2009

Happy OCTOBER Birthday to: Benjamin Duke, Sophie Hector, Oliver Lowman and Marcin Skwarek.

We are focusing on the core value of RESPONSIBILITY in the month of October

School Closure on Wednesday 30th September
Following a break in the water supply to Stadhampton and a number of surrounding villages, we had no option but to close the school on Health and Safety grounds. Unfortunately the situation was not apparent until just before the beginning of the school day, and, consequently, we were unable to give any notice of the situation. I apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Swine Flu Action Plan
All families should have received yesterday a letter about our Swine Flu Action Plan.

Year 6 Assembly for Parents and Pupils with Mr Hudson, Headteacher of Icknield Community College
As the school had to close on Wednesday the 30th September, we have rearranged the assembly for Year 6 pupils and their parents to now take place at 9.00am on Wednesday 7th October. It is envisaged that this will last for about half an hour and we hope that as many parents as possible will be able to attend. If any Year 5 parents would also like to attend, they would be most welcome.

Harvest Gifts
Thank you to everyone who donated such a wonderful array of Harvest gifts. They will be taken to the church today to form part of the village Harvest Service on Sunday.

Supporting your child at home with Mathematics
This week, every child should have brought home a booklet relating to the Mathematics they will be learning about in their particular year-group. These booklets were introduced last year, following our Maths Evenings for parents, and as all pupils have moved up a year-group, it is an appropriate time of year to distribute the ‘sequels’. If, for any reason, you have not received one please contact your child’s class teacher.

Icknield Community College Open Evening
Icknield Community College in Watlington will be holding their Open Evening on Thursday 8th October between 6 and 8 pm. Please do go along, if possible.

After School Fun Club
Thank you for the donations which have been sent in so far for the fundraising stall which the After School Fun Club would like to have at this year’s school Christmas Bazaar. We would be pleased to collect a few more items such as any unwanted birthday and Christmas presents suitable for our “Gifts Stall”. Small toiletry items would also be most welcome, which pupils would enjoy making up into gift baskets.

Presentation of our Comenius Project at the British Council, London
On Thursday 1st October I gave a presentation on our ‘Notes of Harmony’ Comenius Project to a large audience of delegates at the British Council in London. I was invited to do this as the British Council, who manage Comenius Projects in the UK on behalf of the European Union, have recognized the “excellent progress” of our project. This could not be achieved without the full co-operation and participation of staff, governors, PTA, our partner schools and of course, our pupils. Thank you all, it is wonderful to have our project acknowledged in this way and to know that a small school can take a lead in educational developments.

PTA NEWS:
Christmas Cards – The proof for your child’s personalised Christmas card is now ready and you will have received your proof and order form this week. The cards are £5 for a pack of 10. Orders must be made by 9th October as we have to do a bulk order for everyone at the same time within a very tight 10 day turnaround. Please ensure you return your order forms to school by this date as late orders cannot be accepted or will incur a significant charge to individual parents by the printing company. If anyone has not received their card proof please contact Charlotte Hector. Don’t forget to ask the grandparents if they would like some cards!

Clothes Recycling – the collection date has now been confirmed as Friday 20th November.

Music Quiz – tickets are selling well for the 16th October Quiz. Please buy your tickets that include a fish and chip supper from Mrs Hopkins at school.

Little Bears News
This week Little Bears enjoyed making flapjack. They have also been on a nature trail finding leaves and have made some lovely pictures. Children also enjoyed weeding the garden in the lovely sunshine this week and have planted some bulbs. A highlight of the week was joining Class 1 for a “Harvest Song” in the school’s Harvest Service.

DIARY DATES:
Wednesday 14th October Open Morning in School and at Little Bears – All welcome – 9.00-11.30am
Wednesday 21st October School finishes at 3.15pm for the October Holiday. After school sports clubs and after school fun club still operate as normal today.
Monday 2nd November Return to school after the October Holiday. Swimming starts for Class 3 pupils.
Wednesday 25th November Family Poetry Workshop 3.15-.4.15pm. No after school SPORTS Clubs, - After School Fun Club in the portacabin will run as normal with Mrs Howlett and Mrs Hopkins bringing pupils over to/from school for the poetry workshop.

Newsletter no 4 / 25th September 2009

Harvest Gifts
This year our Harvest Festival Service will be held in school at 9.00am on Friday 2nd October. Everyone is welcome to attend. Please bring any non-perishable Harvest gifts, eg dried pasta, tinned beans, tinned vegetables, soups, biscuits, chocolate, etc you may have to offer into school on the day. These will be then taken to St John the Baptist Church, where they will form part of the Harvest Service on Sunday 4th October. After the village service, Reverend Nigel will arrange for our gifts to be taken to The Porch, the centre in Oxford for homeless people.

Year 6 Assembly
We look forward to welcoming Richard Hudson, Headteacher of Icknield Community College into school on Wednesday 30th September at 2.30pm. Mr Hudson will lead an assembly for Year 6 pupils and their parents and will be pleased to answer any questions that parents and pupils may have about moving up to secondary school.

Privacy Notice
In previous years in order to meet the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998, we needed to issue a Fair Processing Notice summarising the information held about pupils, why it is held, and the third parties to whom it may be passed on. The notice has been renamed and is now called a Privacy Notice and a copy is attached to this newsletter.

New French Book Available
Madame Brookes had a new book “Berthe Va au Supermarche” published last week. An order form is attached to this newsletter should anyone wish to purchase a copy (priced at £4.50).

Little Bears News
This week Little Bears had fun making fruit salad – chopping fruit up and choosing their favourites. They also enjoyed going on a nature hunt to find leaves, sticks and seeds to make pictures out of. They have also been practising their “cutting” skills.

DIARY DATES:
Friday 2nd October Harvest Festival in school – 9.05am – All welcome!
Wednesday 14th October Open Morning in School and at Little Bears – All welcome – 9.00-11.30am
Wednesday 21st October School finishes at 3.15pm for the October Holiday. After school sports clubs and after school fun club still operate as normal today.
Monday 2nd November Return to school after the October Holiday. Swimming starts for Class 3 pupils.
Wednesday 25th November Family Poetry Workshop 3.15-.4.15pm. No after school SPORTS Clubs, - After School Fun Club in the portacabin will run as normal with Mrs Howlett and Mrs Hopkins bringing pupils over to/from school for the poetry workshop.

Newsletter No 3 / 18th September 2009

After School Fun Club
The After School Fun Club would like to have a stall at the Christmas Bazaar in order to raise some extra funds to buy some new equipment specifically for the after school club. We would really appreciate any donations of suitable items for Christmas presents – have you any unwanted birthday or last year’s Christmas presents that you would be willing to recycle?
We would like to thank Mrs Lansley for kindly designing this fantastic logo specifically for us!

PTA Newsletter
Welcome back after a lovely summer break. I do hope you are all fighting fit and ready to join in the fund-raising for the School. We are a small but active group of fairly normal parents who volunteer their services to raise money to enable the school to have French lessons, pay for computers, maintain the swimming pool, have treats such as theatre group visits and other worthy causes.
We need your help throughout the year so be prepared to help at events, sell tickets and join in the social nights such as the forthcoming Music Quiz. This year, as we have lost a number of very active members, we will be directly approaching you to help run stalls at the Christmas Bazaar and to help out on the Bar.
All parents (including Dads!) are welcome to come along to the meetings. The next one will be held at Sara Wright’s house on Tuesday 13th October at 7.45pm with plenty of flowing wine to keep us all sane.

Christmas Cards – your child may have mentioned that this week they have been drawing Christmas Cards. You may think this is quite early however this year we have arranged for each child to have a unique Christmas Card drawn by them and sold as individual cards, i.e., only their picture showing, not the whole class. The timetable is very tight to ensure you are able to receive your personalised cards by the end of October/early November. Be prepared for a quick turnaround on your card approval and order; more information to follow.

Music Quiz – Friday 16th October. This popular Music Quiz will be held again in School. Arrive by 7pm with the quiz kick off at 7.30pm. Entrance fee is £2 with optional Fish & Chip supper at £4.50. The evening is great fun with everyone welcome (over 18s only). Why not get a team together and improve your chances of winning. Tickets can be purchased from Mrs Hopkins at School until Thursday 15th October.

Clothes Recycling – we are planning another clothes recycling in November – date to be confirmed.

Little Bears News
This week Little Bears have enjoyed picking apples from their tree and then making apple crumble, hand-painting and talking about our 5 senses. They have also made pictures of skeletons from straws. They would really appreciate donations of any suitable items for junk modelling.

Lost Property
Andrew Oakley has lost a school sweatshirt. It is named as either Andrew Oakley or Marc Oakley. Please could everyone check at home to see if it has inadvertently got into the wrong bag? Thank you.

Watlington Partnership Information Sheet
Each family should have received earlier this week a paper copy of the current extended services activities available currently within the Watlington Partnership of Schools.

School Photographs on Tuesday 22nd September
A reminder that the annual visit by the school photographer will take place next Tuesday morning. Each pupil will be photographed individually as well as with other siblings in school. If anyone would like any family photographs taken or photographs taken with younger siblings, please come to the school hall at 8.40am so that these can be completed first.

DIARY DATES:
Tuesday 22nd September School Photographs!
Friday 2nd October Harvest Festival in school – 9.05am – All welcome!
Wednesday 14th October Open Morning in School and at Little Bears – All welcome – 9.00-11.30am
Wednesday 21st October School finishes at 3.15pm for the October Holiday. After school sports clubs and after school fun club still operate as normal today.
Monday 2nd November Return to school after the October Holiday
Wednesday 25th November Family Poetry Workshop 3.15-.4.15pm. No after school SPORTS Clubs, - After School Fun Club in the portacabin will run as normal with Mrs Howlett and Mrs Hopkins bringing pupils over to/from school for the poetry workshop.

Newsletter No 2 / 11th September 2009

Nit Alert!
We have been advised by a parent of a child in Class 1 that she has treated her child for nits. We are grateful for this information and ask that all families please check their child(ren)’s hair this weekend for nits and treat if necessary, in order to eradicate this problem quickly.

After School Fun Club
A reminder that there are currently places available on Mondays, Tuesday and Wednesdays at the after school fun club, run by Mrs Howlett and Mrs Hopkins until 5pm each day in the portacabin. The cost is £5 per session for payment received in advance and £6 if paid on the day. A registration form needs to be completed (if it hasn’t been already) and this club is open to all pupils aged 3 or over.

Recorders
Recorder lessons will begin again on Monday 21st September for all pupils in Years 3-6. For hygiene reasons pupils need their own recorder. These are available from the school office for £6.50 each or can be bought from a music shop such as Blackwells in Oxford. Recorder books are also available to purchase from the office at £3.50 each.

Roald Dahl Day
On Monday 14th September we shall be celebrating Roald Dahl Day in school with some fun stories and activities. A number of associated activities have been uploaded onto the Learning Platform for pupils and their parents to access. Each family should now have a unique user name and password which will allow them to access the Learning Platform from their home computer.

Staff Advert for the Chalgrove and Watlington Children’s Centre
Chalgrove & Watlington Children’s Centre are looking for ‘bank staff’ for the Childrens Centre. The play workers will be working with young children & their families in the Centre at Chalgrove, Watlington & surrounding villages on an adhoc basis to cover staff holiday & training. Their focus will be ‘stay & play’ sessions, holiday activities & crèche work. They will need to have (or working towards) a recognised level 2 or 3 qualification relevant to early years.
Pay £14,587 - £18,937 per annum (pro rata) equates to £8.53 - £8.81 per hour. Either term time or holiday time -days flexible. Please contact centre manager Helen Rints on 07504 958334 or Helen.Rints@Oxfordshire.gov.uk for further details or an informal chat.

Cooker for Sale
During the summer break, a new larger cooker was installed in the kitchen in order to better cater for the growing number of school meals that Mrs Shortman makes for us each day. The old cooker has now been removed from the kitchen and is available to purchase for a small donation to school funds.

Little Bears News
This week Little Bears have been looking at themselves in the mirror and then painting pictures of what they see! They also enjoyed making sandwiches, playing outside in the warm sunshine and settling back into routines.

DIARY DATES:
Wednesday 16th September Mobile Library
Tuesday 22nd September Advanced Warning – School Photographs!
Friday 2nd October Harvest Festival in school – 9.05am – All welcome!
Wednesday 14th October Open Morning in School and at Little Bears – All welcome – 9.00-11.30am
Wednesday 25th November Family Poetry Workshop 3.15-.4.15pm. No after school SPORTS Clubs, - After School Fun Club in the portacabin will run as normal with Mrs Howlett and Mrs Hopkins bringing pupils over to/from school for the poetry workshop.

Newsletter No 1 / 4th September 2009

Welcome back to a new school year!
We are pleased to welcome the following new children into Class 1: Leo Bloomfield Brown, Darcy Crook, Alexandra Robinson and Olivia Shannon. We also welcome Orla Fernie into Class 2 and Conall Fernie into Class 3.

We are also pleased to welcome Miss Hema Shah as our new Class 3 teacher and Mrs Tracy Leiper as a new Teaching Assistant.

Happy SEPTEMBER Birthday to: Bryce Dobson, Alice Madry, Annabel Roe, Chloe and Robbie Scragg.

Swimming at Berinsfield
Swimming will begin for Class 2 pupils (Years 3 & 4) on Monday 7th September. They will have 7 sessions (not 6 which we originally said on the final July newsletter - apologies). As always, we appreciate a contribution of £1 per pupil, per swimming session towards the cost of the transport.

After School Sports Clubs
Pupils in Years 1 and 2 should have received today details of the Multisports Club which will begin on Wednesday 9th September for 10 weeks (excluding Wednesday 25th November).
Pupils in Years 3-6 should have received today details of the Netball Club which will begin on Wednesday 9th September for 10 weeks (excluding Wednesday 25th November).
Pupils in Years 3-6 should have received details of the Hockey Club which will begin on Monday 7th September for 12 weeks.
The letter offering Football Club (run by Premier Sports Group) to pupils in Years 3-6 beginning on Thursday 10th September was sent to families at the end of last term. If anyone would like another copy of this letter, please let Mrs Hopkins know.

After School Fun Club
A reminder that there are currently places available on Mondays, Tuesday and Wednesdays at the after school fun club, run by Mrs Howlett and Mrs Hopkins until 5pm each day in the portacabin. The cost is £5 per session for payment received in advance and £6 if paid on the day. A registration form needs to be completed (if it hasn’t been already) and this club is open to all pupils aged 3 or over.

Little Bears News
We are pleased to welcome everyone back and also our new pupils this term: Elizabeth Bowerman, Beau Burnell, Isabel Hector, Sam Reilly and Will Eaton. We are also pleased to welcome Debbie Bradford as a new member of staff.

DIARY DATES:
Wednesday 16th September Mobile Library
Tuesday 22nd September Advanced Warning – School Photographs!
Wednesday 25th November Family Poetry Workshop 3.15-.4.15pm