Cygnus - Reflect and Review

Dear Reception families

What a sparkly start to the term! This week we have explored the history of the November the 5th celebrations. We are no longer legally obliged to celebrate of course, though it was a law to do so until 1859! The day now offers communities an opportunity to connect and work and celebrate together.

We read Little Glow, a book by Katie Shaota and Harry Woodgate which introduced the children to the many different ways light and fireworks are used to celebrate across the world. In the Drawing club the children helped a quiet little firework find his voice and supportive friends and Fireman Sam helped us talk with the children about firework safety. Our vocabulary included: loud, quiet, anxiety, friend, calm, belong, happy, Bonfire Night, celebration, safety, safe, hot, fire, burn, gloves, sparkler, firework, bonfire, dark, bucket, firefighter.

Mathematics classes focused on the rules of counting. The rhyme ‘Five little peas in a peapod pressed’ helped the children review the order of counting and the final number we say indicating the ‘altogether number’. 

Now we have introduced all the alphabet sounds, our focus in class is on sound blending to make words. Please keep practising sounds and word building with the children at home. You can use any of the single alphabet sounds now to make words. Try spelling things while getting ready for school or when out and about. Stick with 2-3 sound words for now to build the children's confidence. 

This is the link to saying the pure sounds for Set 1: Read Write Inc.: How to say the set one, set two and set three sounds

In art we created fireworks using pastels and the children learned about the ways the pastels could be used to create different effects on their pictures. 

Next week

Our personal, social and emotional development focus will be kindness and making and sustaining friendships. 

It is National Antibullying Week and International Kindness Day on Friday.  

Next week at a glance

Coming soon: 

8th November - School Open Day 10-12

13th November - Draco and Corvus HSA Cake Sale 

14th November - Coffee Van at drop off

3rd December-  Christmas Dinner and Jumper Day

9th December, 2pm - Cygnus/Delphinus Nativity

12th December - Christmas Service at St Peter and Paul's (2-6 only)

12th December - HSA Christmas Bazaar after school details to follow

15th December - Reading Passports Returned to School

19th December - End of Term 1pm finish time

Notices:  

We now have an important date for your diaries. The Nativity this year will be performed together with Year 1 class (Delphinus) and will be on Tuesday 9th December at 2-3pm.

We will be in touch in the coming weeks about songs and lines to practice. 

Forest school dates this term: Friday 21st November and Friday 5th December. 

Remember that parent volunteers are welcome. If you would like to join  us for one of the forest school days please email the school office.

Please ensure that any emails to inform the school of changes to pick up arrangements for the children go to the school office: office@nhps.org.uk and not the Early Years email account. Thank you. 

Please make sure the children have a waterproof coat every day. We have outdoor play as often as possible and we need to be ready for changes in the weather. 

Children also need a pair of indoor shoes/plimsoles to change into to come into the classroom and a spare set of clothes, including pants and socks, for any accidents.

Wishing you all a great weekend.

Best wishes

The Reception Team