NORTHBOURNE NEWS
Issue No: Seventeen
Date: 15th January 2010
SNOW…PART 2…
We would like to apologise for having to close at such short notice on Wednesday this week. At the start of the morning, it seemed that we would be able to open as normal; as the snow continued, however, the roads became increasingly dangerous and almost all members of staff ended up stuck in heavy traffic, unable to reach school. In addition, it was not possible to keep paths clear of snow around the site. Thank you to everyone for being supportive and understanding over this decision.
We will continue to use the school website (address above) for information about school closure and for other urgent information. I hope that this has been useful during the ongoing bad weather; it has been good to hear from some parents that the updates we have posted recently, such as the one about the Key Stage 2 athletics tournament cancellation, have been helpful.
In addition to our own website, we will use the following methods of communication in case of further problems caused by the ongoing bad weather.
* 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.
CLUBS - AMENDMENT
A reminder that all clubs which have not yet done so will start next week (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.
Choir and homework club will also re-start, although these were missing from the newsletter last week (these details are now included below). Please note that until February half term, choir will run on Friday instead of Wednesday. Although running club was included last week, this will not take place this term but will instead re-start in the summer. Apologies for any confusion caused.
Tag Rugby Tuesday Office (run by specialist sports coaches) 3.00 – 4.00 pm Year 2 to Yr 6
Netball Tuesday Miss Hill 3.00 – 4.00 pm Year 4, 5, and 6
Swimming Tuesday Miss Tierney and Mrs Reynolds 3.30 – 4.00 pm See Mrs Reynolds
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
Homework Thursday Mr Woods 3.00 – 3.45 pm
Football Friday Mr Woods 3.00 – 4.15 pm Year 5 and 6
Choir Friday Miss Holloway 3.00 – 4.00 pm Y2 upwards
DROPPING CHILDREN OFF AT SCHOOL
A reminder that, for everyone’s safety, the zigzag lines outside the school should not be parked on when dropping children off.
LOST SHOES
A child from this school has lost a nearly new pair of black, size 13 shoes. If found, please return to the school office. Thank you.
LOLLIPOP LADY
Please note that there will be no lollipop lady outside our school on 18th January.
COMPUTER ACCESS
On 11th January, the government launched a scheme called Home Access. This is aimed at ensuring all families have access to a computer and the internet at home. The scheme will operate on a first-come, first-served basis and to start with the funding is available for those families who claimed free school meals in 2009. For further information, please call the Home Access Grant helpline on 0333 200 1004 or speak to Mr. Shaughnessy for further information.
BULLYING NEWS
During anti-bullying week, all pupils were asked their views about bullying in school and how it should be dealt with. Discussions were held with the school council and every pupil filled in a questionnaire to give their ideas. From this, we have produced a draft version of a new anti-bullying policy, included on the white sheet with this newsletter and posted on our website. We would really welcome any comments on this new policy; please jot any thoughts, additions or amendments onto the sheet to show your views, and pass them back to Mr. Shaughnessy before Monday 25th January. We will then read through all of your thoughts and make any changes to the policy, before posting it on our website. Hopefully, this will help give all of us a clear idea of how any incidents of bullying are dealt with at Northbourne.
YEAR 5 RESIDENTIAL
Thank you to the year 5 parents and children who have expressed their interest in a residential visit. As there seems to be a number of pupils who would like to take part in such a trip, we will investigate possible options and keep you informed of our progress with this.
KEY STAGE ONE AND OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS NEED YOUR HELP!
The key stage one team are hoping to set up a hide to watch birds over the next couple of weeks. If you have a bird table, birdseed, lard, binoculars, bird books etc that you no longer require please pass them to us. We will be sparing a thought for our wildlife by making lard and seed feeders encouraging children to take part in making a real difference to their environment.
If like us, you love birds and want to help them, then the Big Garden Birdwatch is your chance to do something that really counts. On January 30-31st counting birds for an hour over the weekend can help build up a snapshot picture of the number of birds in each region (http://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch). Previous results have shown that some of our birds are disappearing in scary numbers.
Also – KS1 have a shed that needs constructing could you put it up for us? Please see one of the teachers.
WEBSITE
As well as snow updates, our website currently has news on a competition to win tickets to see Aladdin at the Civic Hall and a new basketball club starting at Willowbrook leisure centre. Make sure you have a browse!
