Weekly Notice to Parents - Week of 11th February 2013
Nativity DVDs
Joanna Machell’ s mother informs me that the production of the Nativity DVDs are nearing completion. If
you would like to sign up for one or more copies (@ £5) please add your name to the list on the notice
board (or email your request to roden-sunshine@tiscali.co.uk)
Half term
Next week (18-22nd Feb)is half term for term-time registered children. If you would like to take the
chance to book your child in for any extra sessions during the week do just email (rodensunshine@tiscali.co.uk) or ring 01494 880607.
Miss Leah and her snake
This Tuesday Miss Leah is kindly bringing in her pet snake to show to the children to celebrate Chinese
New Year - ‘The Year of the Snake’
No Parent news next weekend
We are not planning to send an email out next weekend
Flowers
We are noticing the slightly longer days now that we are past January, and are looking forward to the
arrival of Spring. If you have any spring flowers such as daffodils (not snow drops as they are
poisonous) that you could donate to nursery the children love to arrange them in vases.
Sainsbury’s Active Kids vouchers
The scheme has already begun and we are again collecting so please do bring in any vouchers you may
collect or are given by friends, family and work colleagues. Thank you
News from the 3-5 room
Shadow puppets
What a lovely time the children had last week using our shadow puppets to tell the Chinese New Year
story. I have had a number of requests for a resume of the story which is as follows:
The gods of China decided that the 12 most important animals would take turns to have a year named after them,
but the animals fought over who should be first. To settle the argument, the gods decided that the animals should
have a race across the river. The 1st one across would have the 1st year named after them. The animals jumped
into the water. The ox was leading but the rat, which was sitting on the ox’s back, jumped on to the riverbank first.
The rat became the 1st animal, followed by the ox, tiger, hare, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, cockerel,
dog and lastly the pig.
Story-telling and Harp
The children were wonderfully engaged with their second chance to hear the stories of and dance to the
playing of France Ellul and his harp last Friday morning.
This Week
We will be concentrating on helping children explore concepts around disability, showing how people
deal with their disabilities to live happy and full lives. Some of the activities include:
 Monday – Miss Beth will be doing some songs using the sign language called Makaton. Do feel
free to come in on Monday morning at 11.45am or Wednesday afternoon at 3.45pm to join in!
 Tuesday afternoon – Miss Beth is doing a blind trail walk in the garden
 Thursday – 11.30-12.00 – a visit from a representative of hearing dogs association plus dog.
 During the week we will be helping the children make up their own stories using small world play
using disability models.
 We have some very nice books sensitively helping children understand the concept of disability.
If you have any contact with disabled people who would like to come in and talk to the children about
how they manage their disability we would love to hear from you! And again if you have any stories on
this subject please do let your child bring them in (named please for ease of return).
Fair Trade Products
A little advance notification of our topic after half term – It happens to be Fair Trade
fortnight which fits wonderfully into our Global Citizenship project. Fairtrade is about
better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for
farmers and workers in the developing world. In preparation for our focus please will you
look out and bring in any empty fair trade packaging.
Forest School after half term
A reminder that forest school sessions change after half term and we plan to go out on:
 Tuesday afternoons and
 Friday mornings
We would also like to make one further change. As you know we cancel forest school on VERY cold
days but there are other times when we are faced with a dilemma if a child arrives at nursery fit enough
to be at nursery but unable to come out to Forest School due to a medical condition (usually a cold or
recovery from an illness). As we need all our staff to ensure the safety of the group at Forest School, this
has sometimes put the trip in jeopardy. At other times the child has had to go home and miss the
session.
We do not have the same problem at our other nurseries as we are supported by a number of volunteer
adults who accompany us to forest school, therefore enabling some children to stay at nursery in the
company of a member of staff.
I would like to instigate this same system at Wheeler End. So I am looking out for volunteer adults (can
be other relatives eg grand parents) to accompany the group to forest school on Tuesday afternoons
and Friday mornings. I realize that a number of parents are busy at work whilst their child is with us, but I
know that if we all take just one turn in a term we will cover our needs. In return for your support we will
aim to find you an extra session that your child can attend free of charge.
I have put a sign-up sheet on the notice board at nursery of all the anticipated dates and would be most
grateful if you could add your name to the list.
Weekly news for Toddlers:
Last week we did lots of glueing, artwork and dancing, and particularly popular was making noisy
shakers and drumming, (though not so much with Miss Bubbles who didn’t appreciate all the noice
accompanying her cooking!)
. This week our Chinese New Year celebrations are continuing with a visit from Jorja's dad, Ashley, who
is going to do some juggling with the children at around 9am on Monday. Then on Tuesday at 10am we
are expecting a visit from two corn snakes with Miss Leah. We are hoping to make some Chinese butter
cookies this week, paint a dragon and make the traditional red envelopes that are given to children
during celebrations.
Weekly news for babies:
This week we will be focusing on Chinese New Year. The children will be making and decorating their
very own Chinese lucky bags to bring home. As it is ‘The year of the Snake’ we will also be colouring in
and making lots of snake pictures and crafts to decorate our classroom. We will have Chinese themed
messy play this week, using noodles and bean sprouts in our messy tray. Please can you ensure that
your child has spare clothes with them in their bags!
We are hoping to go for a walk on Wednesday morning this week, so please make sure your child has
suitable outdoor clothing and footwear with them.
Just a little reminder that both the baby and toddler rooms are shoe-free zones, so please take off both
your own and your child's shoes before entering the classroom. Alternatively there are some shoe
covers for adults located in the foyer outside the kitchen.