PRESCHOOL NEWSLETTER

TERM 1

MARCH 2018

Dear Parents,

This year we have started the first term with a focus on WELLBEING

and BELONGING, two TE WHARIKI strands whose goals are

particularly focused on making sure all children feel safe and they

are protected from harm. Connecting links between preschool and

home are extended and children develop a feeling of belonging,

becoming familiar and comfortable with regular routines and activities

and know the boundaries of acceptable behaviour. These goals fit

well with welcoming both returning children and new children and their

families and making Pre-School a place where everyone has the right

to participate in the programme, learn and develop through enjoying

and exploring and playing with developmentally appropriate activities.

COMMUNICATION

Language

Our little munchkins had a

great learning start this

term as they were

engaged in story sessions,

songs, games, puzzles and

other activities.

Some of the fun filled

activities revolved around

themes, topics and games

like traffic signals,

musical chairs, start-

freeze, telephone

conversations, months-in-

a-year, days-in-a-week,

etc. Way to go children!

Art

During these early years, children are learning to communicate their experiences in many ways. They are

developing increasing competence in symbolic, abstract, imaginative and creative thinking.

EXPLORATION

Dramatic Play When Children engaged in pretend play they actively experiment

with the social and emotional role of life. Through cooperative

play they learn how to take turns, share responsibilities and

creatively solve the problem. Children develop self-esteem when

they discover, they can be anything just by pretending.

This term children did a role play of the staff in a hospital.

They enjoyed dressing up as doctor, Nurse and patient They

also learned about the instruments used by a doctor.

Kitchen set is always one of the favourite toys in

Preschool. This time they set up a restaurant and dressed up

as a chef, waiter and customer.

Play

Getting familiar with the counting system and

mathematical symbols and concepts, such as numbers,

length, weight, shape, and pattern, for meaningful

experiences. It increases familiarity with numbers and

their uses by exploring and observing the use of

numbers in activities that have meaning and purpose

for children.

Play

Children learn through

play-by doing, by

asking questions, by

interacting with

others, by setting up

theories or ideas about

how things work and

trying them out, and by

the purposeful use of

resources.

Play

Children played games like ‘fire in the mountain’

in which they had to stand in groups of the

number being called out. They also had fun with

snap cubes making towers of ten.

Cooking

Cooking activity is a favourite activity for our children. They love to wash, chop and squeeze the fruits

and vegetables.

This term they learned to make orange juice using a hand-juicer. This helped them gain a good grasp on

the orange and learnt to squeeze it with all their might to squeeze out the maximum juice from it. They

added a little sugar and learnt to stir. The children served had some of the juice and served it to

teachers on the tray! It was absolutely refreshing on that hot sunny day.

On the table: bread, butter, cheese, tomato, onion and cucumber slices, cheese, salt and pepper and

ketchup, jam was placed. They were free to choose the combination they preferred and make their own

sandwich.

Before the term ended we took the children to J.P PARK. Children played

around the merry go round and they were helping each other in climbing

the jungle gym. Park connects children with nature and each other.

Children do visit a park close to school once a week and every time there

is something new to explore and discover.

BELONGING

Holi Celebration This term Holi -the festival of colours was played with

organic colours in preschool.

The children were not aware that they would be playing

holi in school. It came to them as a pleasant surprise.

They were thrilled to see the colours and had a great

time throwing colours on each other.

We wish the children and parents happy summer vacation. We look forward to

seeing the little ones back on 28th May, Monday and listening to all that they

did over the summer.