Pre School Newsletter
Navan Educate Together Pre School
Newsletter
25 October 2011
Dear Parents,
With the mid-term break fast approaching, we would like to take this opportunity to bring you up-to-date on some of the activities that we have been doing with the children over the past few weeks, and our plans to celebrate the end of our first half term!
National Road Safety Week and ‘Beep Beep’ Day
As the week of 10th October was National Road Safety Week, we centred our activities around a number of simple road safety themes such as stopping and looking around before you cross the road and the importance of holding hands with a grown up, and talked to the children about the meanings of traffic signals such as traffic lights. (The RSA has produced a lovely series of books for pre-school-age children on these road safety themes which we used, called ‘Simon and Friends‘). The highlight of the week for the children was the Friday, which was national ‘Beep Beep Day’. All the children got to wear hi-visibility vests kindly provided by Meath County Childcare Committee and we set up a ‘road’ in the school yard, complete with homemade zebra crossings, traffic lights and lollipop signs. The children had great fun taking turns playing the ‘motorists’ driving on the push-along cars and trikes, the lollipop people, the pedestrians and the traffic lights, whilst at the same time reinforcing important road safety messages.
Firefighter’s Visit
Last Monday the children were surprised and delighted to receive a visit by a real live firefighter! A parent of children attending NETNS, he was kind enough to come in and visit the children on his way home from night shift. They were thrilled to see him dressed up in his fire-fighting gear, and to take turns trying on his helmet and gloves. They asked him lots of questions and seemed really interested to hear about his work.
We would be delighted to welcome any other parents who could spare ten minutes to come in and talk to the children about their jobs, as part of our ongoing theme ‘jobs in the community’.
Japanese Culture Day
Last Friday the children were treated to a great experience of Japanese culture by Ciara Cunniffe, who has been doing work experience with us. Ciara talked to the children about different aspects of Japanese life and culture whilst showing them lovely photos reflecting these, and other objects, such as intricate figures made from origami, a beautiful Japanese fan and parasol, and of course the sticky rice and sushi, served on authentic Japanese plates and bowls, which the children had great fun trying to eat with chopsticks! Many thanks to Ciara for such an interesting presentation, and for the effort she put into it, right down to having all of the children’s names beautifully written for them in Japanese script!
As part of her course Ciara has to give parental feedback on her presentation. She would be very grateful if you could return the questionnaires that went home with the children on Friday. Thank-you to those of you who have already done so.
Maths Week
As part of National Maths Week last week, NETNS held a maths fair in the main hall in which children from all classes - including the pre-school - set up demonstrations of different aspects of the maths curriculum that they have been studying. The preschool children were proud to demonstrate their matching activities, peg boards, broad stairs and pink tower to the older children, and also spent a wonderful hour going around the different tables, exploring the different activities that each class had set up.
Establishment of NETNS Full Daycare Service
October also saw the establishment of our full daycare service, in which children from the pre-school can stay on until the main school closing time of 2:40p.m. Run by Ciara Cunniffe and Gabi O’Niell, the children undertake a timetabled programme of both indoor and outdoor (when the weather allows!) activities which are, where appropriate, linked into the pre-school’s planning. They are also provided with a hot lunch, a healthy snack later on, and an opportunity to rest and have a period of quiet time. The service is proving to be a great success with those children and parents who are availing of it. For more information on this please talk to either Pauline, Rebecca, Ciara or Gabi.
Fundraising Day and Mid-Term Celebrations
On this coming Friday 28th October the school is holding a 'Fantastic Fund Raising Friday' in aid of Educate Together, which the school would be delighted if the pre-school children participate in. There will be a Massive Monster Tuck Shop at which the children will be able to purchase yummy home-baked goodies (parents, if you would like to send in some home-baked treats, they would be very gratefully received!), and face painting for E1. All staff, parents and children are encouraged to come in dressed as their favourite super-hero, cartoon character, princess etc, with a prize for the best costume. We also intend to have our own little mid-term party within the pre-school with lots of fun and games.
We hope that the children have enjoyed their first half-term with us, and look forward to welcoming you all back on Monday 7th November.
Kind regards,
Pauline Colreavy
Rebecca Love
NETNS Pre School Team
