Hagbourne Fun Run – 4^th May

East Hagbourne’s annual Fun Run and Walk takes place this year on Monday 4^th May. Starting in East Hagbourne, the 4.5 mile route goes through West Hagbourne, Upton and Blewbury before returning to East Hagbourne.

There are cups for the first man and woman, first veteran man and woman, first U16 boy and girl and first U12 boy and girl. All children who complete the course also get a certificate.

As well as being a Fun Run, the event also raises money for Cancer Research – Over the years it has raised over £20,000.

The run starts at 11am from the Hagbourne Village Hall. Registration for runners and walkers is from 9:30am on the day. Entry is £2.50 for adults and 50p for Under 16s.

Refreshments are available throughout the morning. It is a great event for all the family.

More information and sponsorship forms are available from Andrew Tyler on 07710 0883448 or andrewstyler@yahoo.co.uk.

For all parents, the importance and value of a good, local school is perhaps immeasurable. Your child will spend many years there and gain the basis for both secondary school and life thereafter. As many in Upton will be aware, the teachers and support staff at Blewbury School have been working exceptionally hard to maintain and improve our local school. I am very pleased to report that this dedication has enabled the school to achieve not only a “good” Ofsted rating, but one with significant “outstanding” elements. I believe the best way to summarise the report is to let it speak for itself:

“The school provides an exceptional curriculum” which “captures pupils’ enthusiasm for learning and their thirst for knowledge.”

“….teaching and learning are of consistently good quality and some lessons are outstanding.”

“Teachers… invariably set interesting and challenging activities that are well matched to pupils’ interests and learning needs”

“The curriculum is exceptionally well enriched by a wide range of visits that support learning, including residential visits for all Key Stage 2 pupils, and also by visitors to the school.”

“Pupils in all year groups are eager to learn, enjoy coming to school and behave exceptionally well.”

“Pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development are outstanding.”

“Pupils are proud of their contribution to the school and to the lives of others through membership of the influential school council and eco-councils” and “thrive on the many opportunities that they have to take responsibility”.

“Parents were unanimous in saying that their children enjoy school and this is reflected in the exceptionally high levels of attendance.”

“The school emphasis on the international dimension is a great strength…..” “The outstanding emphasis on global development has enabled the pupils to have a highly developed sense of the importance of global understanding.”

“There is a good emphasis on the arts, particularly music, which successfully encourages pupils to develop their specific talents and interests.”

On behalf of us all, I would like to thank Marion Mills (Head Teacher), all the teachers, support staff, children, parents and wider community for the work they do to help develop and maintain the great school we have. Thankyou!

Andrea Brown, Parent & School Governor

The full Ofsted report can be accessed via the school website: http://oxfordshire.schooljotter.com/blewbury

Please make purchases through www.buy.at/blewburyschool and help boost our funds!

For all parents, the importance and value of a good, local school is perhaps immeasurable. Your child will spend many years there and gain the basis for both secondary school and life thereafter. As many in Upton will be aware, the teachers and support staff at Blewbury School have been working exceptionally hard to maintain and improve our local school. I am very pleased to report that this dedication has enabled the school to achieve not only a “good” Ofsted rating, but one with significant “outstanding” elements. I believe the best way to summarise the report is to let it speak for itself:

“The school provides an exceptional curriculum” which “captures pupils’ enthusiasm for learning and their thirst for knowledge.”

“….teaching and learning are of consistently good quality and some lessons are outstanding.”

“Teachers… invariably set interesting and challenging activities that are well matched to pupils’ interests and learning needs”

“The curriculum is exceptionally well enriched by a wide range of visits that support learning, including residential visits for all Key Stage 2 pupils, and also by visitors to the school.”

“Pupils in all year groups are eager to learn, enjoy coming to school and behave exceptionally well.”

“Pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development are outstanding.”

“Pupils are proud of their contribution to the school and to the lives of others through membership of the influential school council and eco-councils” and “thrive on the many opportunities that they have to take responsibility”.

“Parents were unanimous in saying that their children enjoy school and this is reflected in the exceptionally high levels of attendance.”

“The school emphasis on the international dimension is a great strength…..” “The outstanding emphasis on global development has enabled the pupils to have a highly developed sense of the importance of global understanding.”

“There is a good emphasis on the arts, particularly music, which successfully encourages pupils to develop their specific talents and interests.”

On behalf of us all, I would like to thank Marion Mills (Head Teacher), all the teachers, support staff, children, parents and wider community for the work they do to help develop and maintain the great school we have. Thankyou!

Andrea Brown, Parent & School Governor

The full Ofsted report can be accessed via the school website: http://oxfordshire.schooljotter.com/blewbury

Please make purchases through www.buy.at/blewburyschool and help boost our funds!

Volunteers supporting people with life threatening and terminal illness

Would you like to make a difference in 2009?

Being diagnosed with a serious illness can be one of the most overwhelming experiences anyone can face, as it involves not only coping with the symptoms of the illness, but a huge adjustment in lifestyle and often social isolation.

Having a regular visitor, someone outside the immediate family, who will listen, can offer emotional support and be willing to accompany the ill person on their ‘journey’ can be invaluable.

We are currently looking for new befriending volunteers and we offer free training, expenses and on-going support.

Our next Befriending trainings start in Oxford in May/June and October 2009.

If you can offer 2-3 hours a week to befriend someone living in your area, are warm, compassionate and emotionally mature please contact us on 01865 791781 or email: enquiries@oxonbefriending.net for a Befriending information pack and application form.

We also run an Advocacy service and will be running training for Volunteer Advocates in April. For Advocacy enquiries, please ask for Jan Penrose or email: jan.penrose@oxonbefriending.net

Woodlands Medical Centre, Didcot have arranged a talk by Professor David Matthews, Churchill Hospital Oxford on ‘Managing Diabetes’ it is aimed at helping patients and their carers manage their diabetes condition and will cover:

· What is diabetes?

· How does it affect you?

· Keeping control

· How to manage diabetes when you are ill

· Healthy eating

The talk will be on Monday 20^th April 2009 at 7pm in the ‘CORNERSTONE’ Arts Centre DIDCOT

There is no charge but places are limited so please book your place(s) by ringing or leaving a message with your name and telephone number on 01235 750524

Didcot’s first, multi-million pound arts centre opened with the promise of a rich variety of live performances throughout the year and beyond.

Work on Cornerstone, in Station Road, next to the Orchard Centre, started in 2006. The venue can seat up to 278 people in its auditorium. There is also exhibition space and a cafe bar and restaurant.

A one day course on the restoration of old houses will be held at Blewbury on Saturday May 10th.

Continue Reading Old House Restoration

A service has been set up at Wantage to safety test your Electric Blanket free of charge.

Continue Reading Electric Blanket Testing

Keen recyclers in Oxfordshire are now able to dispose of unwanted electrical items from their homes in an environmentally friendly way.

Continue Reading Recycling electrical goods

A Thames Valley Police open day will be held this Saturday, 11 August, between 10am and 4pm, at the Museum – which is within the grounds of Thames Valley Police Training Centre at Sulhamstead near Reading.

The event is being held to help promote greater understanding of the work of the various departments and specialist roles that make up Thames Valley Police. Activities and events will include guided tours of the dog section and a chance to solve a murder mystery game.

There will be an opportunity to look round the museum, where exhibits include items from the Great Train Robbery of 1963, uniforms, equipment, medals, photographs and scenes of crime evidence.

Officers from some of the Force’s specialist departments will be there. Roads Policing officers will be in attendance as will members of the Specialist Search and Recovery team, Counter Terrorism Wing (CTW), the Mounted section (with their horses) and the Firearms team. The CTW and dog section will both be doing displays.

People will get the chance to see a film, produced with help from students at St Birinus School, Didcot, to let young people know about the dangers of replica firearms, followed by a talk from a Firearms officer. There will also be Irish dancing from the newly-formed Thames Valley Police Emerald Society, a jazz band, classic police cars, a police ‘Tardis’ and tractor rides around the site. Chief Constable Sara Thornton, will be opening the event.

Parking at the site is limited and will be available on a first come first served basis. There is a £1 charge for adults, kids go free.