PLEASE NOTE: The school will close at 1.30 pm on Friday 3^rd April for the Easter Holidays and will re-open on Monday 20^th April.

Please also note that on Thursday 4^th June 2009 Northbourne School will be closed to all children for one day because the building will be used as a Polling Station for the European and County Elections.

PINK AND PURPLE PRODUCTION

Pink and Purple Classes production, 'A Friend Like You', will be performed to parents on Wednesday 25^th March at 1.45 pm and 6.30 pm and on Thursday 26^th March at 6.30 pm. There will be a crèche at all performances for children under 5 years but could parents let their child's teacher know beforehand if they are going to take advantage of this facility. Tickets are on sale from the office.

TOY/BOOK SALE

We are very happy to announce that the toy and book sale held last Wednesday and Thursday raised £120 to be divided between our link school in Kalasapadu and the Yenzani childrens home. We are delighted with this and would like to thank you very much for your generous support of this event by donating items to sell and buying it all back again. The money raised will be very gratefully received and directly benefit the disadvantaged children in these institutions. We extend a special vote of thanks to the children of Mauve and Brown class who helped set up the sale, and especially to those who willingly stayed behind after school to sell the donated toys and books. Thank you.

SICKNESS AND TUMMY BUGS

Recent advice given to the school from the Oxfordshire County Council states that people should stay away from school or work until they have been free of symptoms for 48 hours. Exclusion from swimming should be for 2 weeks following last episode of diarrhoea. Children can swim following sickness only bugs. If your child has had diarrhoea during the term that he/she is swimming please let us know when you inform us of the absence so that they are not taken swimming. Those who handle food as part of their work should check with their employers and GP before returning.

TESCO VOUCHERS

The 2009 Tesco/RM voucher scheme for ICT equipment has begun. This year we are hoping to purchase equipment for a new ICT suite so please help us collect as many vouchers as possible! There are deposit boxes by Reception at school and also at Tesco Metro on Cockcroft Road.

TOKENS

We are currently collecting 2 sets of tokens:

Books For Schools tokens from the Times and Sunday Times

Nestle Box Tops for Books from Nestle cereals and other products.

The collection boxes for these are in reception - please help us increase our stock of library and classroom books by contributing, and please ask family, friends and colleagues for their spare tokens too!

TEASPOONS FOR LUNCHBOXES

We have recently had a number of children who have yoghurt and fromage frais in their lunchboxes but have no spoon to eat it with. The spoons in the hall for the school dinners are dessert spoon size and are often too big for these pots so please remember to put a spoon into the lunchbox!

GOSPEL CHOIR WORKSHOP AT ST PETER'S CHURCH ON GOOD FRIDAY

Following the recent Gospel Choir events, there will be a Gospel Choir Workshop at St Peter's Church between 10.00am and 12.00noon on Friday 10th April (the Friday of the Easter Bank Holiday Weekend). This will give an opportunity to learn some Gospel songs like 'Oh Happy Day', and everyone of any age is very welcome to attend. For more information call Father James on

01235 811995 or email gospelchoir@stpeters-didcot.org.uk.

FUNDRAISING FOR NORTHBOURNE

The PTA would like to thank those who have already registered with the online shopping fundraising website. Use the following unique link to register. It is completely free and easy to use: www.easyfundraising.org.uk/northbourneschThere are lots of well known high street stores participating from Next to M & S.

BRACELET

A bracelet was found after the PTA Disco. If you think it may belong to your child could you contact the school office. Many thanks.

TERM AND HOLIDAY DATES - 2008-9

TERM 4 23^rd February - 3^rd April 2009

April Holiday 6^th - 17^th April 2009

TERM 5 20^th April - 22^nd May 2009

May Day Holiday Monday 4^th May 2009

Late Spring Holiday 25^th - 29^th May 2009

TERM 6 1^st June - 17^th July 2009

European & County Elections 4^th June 2009