Cygnus - Reflect and Review

Dear Reception families

In Drawing Club this week, we read the story ‘Maps: from Anna to Zane’ by Vivian French. The story introduces maps to the children in the form of an invitation from one child to another for a playdate. Zane draws a map to help Anna make her way to his flat. The children had a go at map drawing in our ‘I wonder’ session of the Drawing Club.

In art, the children searched for circles in the school playground, field and the Reception garden. We made some simple sketchbooks. Each child has brought one home. We have challenged them to find circles they see on their travels this weekend. Their discoveries can be recorded by drawing in their sketchbook or sticking in a picture of what they saw. There is a golden house point (worth 25 house points) for the best sketchbook returned to class by the end of term.

We learned about the Jewish festival of Hanukkah this week. After we heard the story of the Maccabees and the miracle of the oil in the temple we played dreidel games together. For those who have never played, you spin a 4 sided spinner (the dreidel) and either win no coins, half or all of 10 coins. If you spin the fourth side you have to put one back. The children were quick to learn the rules and count out the coins they won.

Mathematics classes focused on pattern and composition this week. We used the Numberblocks stampoline episode to look at patterns of the numbers four and five. The children printed shapes on paper with paint to practice the patterns. 

A reminder of 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

We continue to work on achieving confidence with word blending before we start reading. 

We continue working on the Nativity and the children are enjoying the Christmas music. Please continue to practise the songs at home. 

Everyone should now have costume instructions and headband templates (if needed for an animal part in the play). Lines (if your child has them) have also been sent home this week.  Full information is available on the Greenhouse app under School News dated 19th November.

Please bring in Nativity costumes by Monday. 

This week we started our kindness advent calendar. We have encouraged the children to extend their kind acts to home too. Do please let us know if they have achieved any acts of kindness on (or off) the list. 

Next week we will be exploring where our food comes from and foods from around the world. Mrs P will be bringing some Greek flatbreads to share. If you’d like to consider bringing a dish on Thursday next week please contact us via the Early years email: earlyyears@nhps.org.uk 

Food must not contain pork or beef please. 

Our personal, social and emotional development focus will be conflict resolution.

Next week at a glance

Coming soon: 

3rd December- Christmas Dinner and Jumper Day

9th December - Cygnus/Delphinus Nativity, 2pm

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

19th December - End of Term, 1pm finish time

Notices:  

Last forest school date this term: 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. Please also bring a hat, scarf and gloves for the colder 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.

Please encourage the children to be as independent as possible with putting socks and shoes, jumpers and coats on and taking them off. The children need to be able to change their own shoes through the day and need shoes they can manage themselves independently.

Best wishes

The Reception Team