!!!Welcome!W e w o u l d l i k e t o w e l c o m e o u r n e w children to afternoon n u r s e r y - E l l i s L a n g l a n d s , M a i s i e Heron, Hannah Carter, and Charlotte Gordon and to Caitlin Goman who is joining us in the morning. We hope that they will have an enjoyable experience during their time in the nursery class. We also welcome their parents, whether you are familiar to us or new to Gullane Primary School. You are welcome to help out in the nursery or choose an activity to share with the children, once your child is settled. Please sign up on the calendar in the cloakroom.!Topic!This term the main topic we will be learning about is!• People Who Help Us - this is a big topic and

will last for the first four weeks. We will begin with hospitals, doctors, nurses and other hospital and health care staff. We are very thankful to Tom Gillingwater (Harriet’s dad) who has offered to come and talk to the children about his job as an anatomist. He has lots of resources to bring along, so we look forward to that! Mrs Bradley (Isla’s mum) has asked to come and talk to the children about being a doctor. Thank you also to Isla’s mum.!

• We will then go on to look at the Emergency services and will be getting another visit from PC Banks, his police companion and the police car! If anyone knows of any ambulance drivers, paramedics, fire fighters or other emergency workers who would be prepared to come and talk to the children, please let us know asap. Thank you.!

• The third week is quite short and we will find out about school workers, including the role of the headteacher, teachers, classroom assistants, auxiliary workers, the janitors, office staff, cooks, cleaners and playground supervisors - all important people in the school with a necessary role to play! Some of the staff will have a quick chat with the children and we will display their photos in the nursery. This will be good preparation for the children starting school in August. !

• The fourth week we will look at service industry jobs such as the catering trade etc.

We will also think about the role of librarians and possibly have a visit to our local library.!

Other Topics!• Food, Healthy Eating and Exercise!• Shops and Shopping (also related to

People Who Help Us)!• Minibeasts!Birthdays!We have a lot of birthdays coming up and we would like to clarify how we celebrate them. Each child gets to blow out the candles on a ‘pretend’ plaster of Paris cake! They get a Happy Birthday sticker and get sung Happy Birthday in English and French, followed by 4 or 5 claps, depending on their age. They also get to prepare small, iced birthday cakes for snack. If there is more than one birthday in the week, we choose a day when all the birthday children can help with the cakes. This will not necessarily be on their birthday, but cuts down on the number of cakes we bake. Similarly, if their birthday is at the weekend or a holiday, we will choose a suitable day, before or after, to celebrate. !A few people have asked if they can bring in cakes for birthdays. I am sure you will appreciate, if we let everyone do that, our philosophy of having a healthy snack would not be kept! By only making birthday cakes once a week (when there are birthdays) and always serving fruit or vege with them, we try to keep snack as healthy as possible. If you are planning to keep your child off for his/her birthday, could you let us know beforehand, or phone through in the morning, as we tend to prepare the snack table for baking early to get them done in time. Thank you for your understanding in this matter.!Show and Tell!The children love to bring things in to show others, but it has been getting out of hand

Nursery Newsletter!April 2014!

Summer TermWe are looking for any people to come

and talk with the children about their jobs (not just the above). It need only be a few minutes, but visual aids are good! If you can offer or know someone who can, please let us know. Thank you.

!!!lately! Please can you explain to the children that if they bring a toy to the nursery, it should be put in the home box in the cloakroom? If they want to show something, it should be connected to our topic (or the previous week’s topic) and brought in on a Monday. We would love to see anything they have made or drawn at home and would like them to have something prepared to say about the item. The only exception will be if it is their birthday and they have one thing they wish to show (but it should still be put in the home box and it will be returned there after carpet time). We are sure you will understand why we have to tighten up on the rules. If their toys go missing in the nursery, it is distressing for them and uses up staff time trying to find them. It may be easier not to bring toys at all? Children are inquisitive and like to look in the home box as they pass! We realise this can be difficult at times, so we leave it to you whether to bring things for the home box or leave them at home.!!Reminders !I. Can we please remind parents to sign

in AND sign out? It is still important to tell the member of staff at the door if someone else is picking up your child, but we would appreciate you also writing the name on the sign in/out sheet.!

II. Please can you check that all clothes and shoes are labelled? !

III. Also can you take home any old gym shoes as some children have two pairs of shoes in the cloakroom and it is getting a bit crowded! Thank you!!!

Data Forms !It is that time of year again when we ask you to check, amend, sign and date the forms concerning your contacts and personal details. If there are any changes in address, telephone, contacts etc it is very important you let us know. Would you please tell the member of staff on the door if you need to amend the form and you will

be invited to change it in the nursery, either at the beginning or end of the session. If not, you will be asked to sign and date the form in the cloakroom. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.!!Library (Preschool parents)!We are looking for a few volunteers to run the library on a Wednesday morning (first thing) or a different day if Wednesday is not suitable. You would get training on using the computer to check in and out books (it is very simple) and you are welcome to go as soon as you have finished - or join us to help in the nursery if you prefer. It will take about 30 minutes to get through all the children, though it gets quicker once you are familiar with the system! Let us know if you are interested, so we can show you the ropes and then sign yourself up for the days you can do. The more that volunteer, the less days you will have to do it, but please only commit to what you feel you can do. This will enable the staff to be freed up on library day. Many thanks.!!Dates for Your Diary (Preschoolers only)!15th May!Parents Induction Meeting for P1 (in school hall).!27th May !Short induction for nursery children to visit the Primary 1 area.!10th June!Longer induction for nursery children to visit their P1 classroom and meet their teacher.!12th June Nursery Sports!1st July Moving-On Ceremony 10:00-11:00!!We have a busy term ahead and hope that the children enjoy their time with us. Please speak to a member of staff about any matter that concerns you or to clarify information.!!The Nursery Team!Mrs Travers, Miss Mair, Mrs Carter, Mrs Gillies