NORTHBOURNE NEWS
Issue No: Sixteen
Date: 8th January 2010
LET IT SNOW…
We would like to say thank you to everyone for your patience during the bad weather conditions this week. Whilst we try our hardest to keep the school open and running as normal at all times, our first priority has to be the safety of children using the site and staff on their journeys to school. On Wednesday and Thursday this week, it was not possible to ensure that school could be used safely. Opening with altered hours today allowed staff who live further away to use public transport and gave extra time to clear the site of snow; whilst we appreciate that these different hours may have still caused problems for working parents, we felt it important to get the school open again.
More snow is forecast for the weekend. When weather conditions cause problems, the decision about whether to close is made as soon as possible. Information on closure or any changes to hours is shown in a number of places:
* The school website front page (address above);
* On the Local Authority website (type ‘Oxfordshire school closures’ into your search engine;
* On the radio stations BBC Radio Oxford, Heart FM and Jack FM;
* On the webpages of all of the above radio stations.
These methods of communication will be used throughout the winter in case of further problems caused by the ongoing bad weather. Whilst the cold weather continues, it would be helpful for all children to bring spare, warm clothes and a full set of outdoor clothes (including scarf, gloves, hat and sensible outdoor shoes, such as wellies) with them each day. We would like to thank you again for your continued patience and co-operation, and hope to get school back to normal as soon as possible.
CLASS ASSEMBLIES
We love to see parents, grandparents and other relatives at our class assemblies, which are held on Fridays throughout the year. Last term, we tried starting these at 9:15 to make them more convenient for parents to attend and, following a positive response, we will continue to hold these at this new time. Please come and share our work at 9:15 on the following dates:
21st January Wrens (please note that this is a Thursday)
29th January Robins
We will send dates for further class assemblies after February half term.
CLASS NEWS
Class newsletters will be sent out during the next week. These contain information about the term specific to each class, such as PE days and information related to the curriculum. Please look for these in book bags or on our website, where they will also be posted.
CLUBS
The following clubs will be running this term, starting the week beginning 18th January. Please speak to the member of staff running the club to obtain a permission slip if you are interested in your child taking part.
Year 3-6 Tag Rugby is run by qualified sports coaches who work in school with upper KS2 pupils during some PE lessons within school time. Places are limited, and there is a cost of £3 per session, payable in advance for the full course. If advance payment creates a problem, please arrange an appointment to speak to Mrs Burr or Mr Shaughnessy. Please speak to a member of office staff for more information, and to collect a letter and permission slip. This club will run for 11 weeks starting 12th January and finishing 30th March.
Tag Rugby Tuesday Office (run by specialist sports coaches) 3.00 – 4.00 pm Year 1 to Yr 4
Netball Tuesday Miss Hill 3.00 – 4.00 pm Year 4, 5, and 6
Swimming Tuesday Miss Tierney/Mrs Reynolds 3.30 – 4.00 pm See Mrs Reynolds
(starts 12th January and must be able to swim 1 length)
International Tuesday Miss Yolland 3.00 – 3.45 pm All
KS1 ICT Wednesday Mrs McIntyre 3.00 – 3.45 pm KS1
Astronomy Thursday Mr Collett 3.00 – 4.00 pm All
Running Thursday Mrs Holdcroft 3.00 – 3.45 pm Year 2 to 6
Football Friday Mr Woods 3.00 – 4.15 pm Year 5 and 6
YEAR 3 AND 4 RESIDENTIAL
We are pleased to have found a new destination for our Y3 and 4 residential. For many years, children in these year groups had the opportunity to visit Chiltern Study Centre for 2 nights. However, the youth hostel which we used was sold and closed down 3 years ago, and it has proved hard to find a suitable alternative.
However, we have provisionally booked for pupils in these year groups to have the chance to take part in a residential visit to St. Briavels Castle in the Wye Valley on 8th and 9th July. The visit will link to the curriculum topic of invaders and settlers, and will include exciting activities including taking part in a castle siege, archery, eating at a medieval banquet and, of course, sleeping in a castle. We have secured 30 places and the cost will be approximately £55 per pupil (depending on the number of places we fill). Letters will be sent out shortly and places will be given on a first-come, first-served basis with priority given to pupils in year 4.
We are aware that pupils in year 5 have not had the opportunity to take part in a residential visit, and are currently looking into the possibility of organising a one-off visit for children in this year group. Whilst we are aware that it is difficult to make a decision without having a rough cost, it would be helpful for us to have an indication of the numbers of children who would be interested in taking part in this. Please let Mr. Shaughnessy or a class teacher know your views on this possibility.
GUITAR LESSONS
Please note that guitar lessons will re-start on Wednesday 13th January.
