10th - 14th January 2011

Well it has been a busy and exciting first full week back at school! We have started our new topic 'Fairy tales'. The children have helped me and Mrs B turn our role-play area into a castle. They have painted all the brick work for the outside of the castle and will be making shields and flags next week, but as you can see it is already looking fab!

In literacy we have been learning the stories of 'Sleeping Beauty' and 'Cinderella' and the children have enjoyed pretending to be fairy tale characters in the role-play area. The children have also made beautiful skirts for Cinderella, using tissue and coloured dye. Have a look below!

Pretty patterns!

Maria has made a beautiful skirt for her princess!

Cinderella wearing a beautiful tie-dye skirt!

Some of the boys decided to dress up as princesses too!

Welcome back!

Welcome back! I hope you've all had a wonderful Christmas and a well deserved rest! This week the children have been learning circus skills from the help of Steve and Jacqui. As some of you might have seen today, the children have put on a performance showing all the new skills they have learnt in the last few days. I have to say they all did absolutely brilliantly, so a big well done to reception class!

This term our topic is 'Fairy tales' and we will be reading lots of different fairy tales and doing topic related activities. Also, as you already know, later on in the month we will be going on a school trip to Warwick Castle. This term we will also be starting Phase 3 of Letters and Sounds in our phonics sessions. This means that the children will be taking new sound cards and tricky words home with them again. Please go through your child's sound cards and tricky words with them regularly. I would also like to remind you to listen to your child read every night. I know that this can be difficult with the busy lifestyles we all lead, but including it as part of your daily routine might make it easier.

Have a brilliant weekend,

Miss Houlihan x

Circus skills

Amelia balancing her feather

Macy having a go on the tightrope

Max on the pedal racers

James is plate spinning

Gracie can do some special tricks using the spinning plates

Lawrence dressed up as a clown

Annabel the Ringmaster

Don't they all look fantastic in their costumes?!

 

 

13th - 17th December

Last week we were busy getting ready for Christmas! Our role-play area was turned into Santa's Grotto and we had our own class Christmas tree that we could take turns to decorate everyday. We also baked some yummy mince pies, made Christmas cards and even did some sewing!

Have a look at what we have been up to!

Dressing up fun!

Sam M and Ben playing in Santa's Grotto

Harry E and Olivia

Charlie H

Harry L and Harry E decorating the salt dough Christmas tree decorations

Max is carefully sewing

The beautiful salt dough Christmas tree decorations

Mrs B with her table at the Christmas lunch

My table enjoying Christmas lunch!

I would like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas! I hope you have lots of yummy food and beautiful presents!

Kind wishes,

Miss Houlihan x

The Nativity!

The children performed The First Nativity to their friends and family on Friday 10th December. The children all did so well and I am so very proud of them! Well done reception class!

Take a look below at some of the children dressed in their nativity costumes.

The three kings (Ben, Lawrence and Harry L)

The angels (Ella, Amelia, Charlotte, Annabel, Ruby and Maria)

Angel Gabriel, Joseph, Mary and Donkey

 

(Josie, Connor, Taleesa and Eddie)

 

The shepherds and their sheep (Max, Sam M, Molly, Sam L and Ava)

 

 

 

The innkeeper and the star (Charlie H and Macy)

Rudolph and Santa (Harry E and Harry H)

For the past few weeks we have been busy getting ready for the nativity. The children are doing brilliantly and looking forward to performing it in front of their families on Friday.

Last week we were learning about post workers and how they help us. The role-play area was turned into a Post Office and the children enjoyed writing and delivering letters to each other.

James is busy wrapping parcels

Max is delivering a parcel in the post box

Ruby

Ava is weighing some of the parcels

When helping your child to practice their nativity lines, please encourage them to speak as loudly as possible.

Many thanks,

Miss Houlihan x

15th - 19th November

This week we celebrated Children in Need day and the children dressed up in fancy dress. We had lots of fun and the best bit was watching Mrs Hickey and Mrs Beasley dancing the YMCA with the other teachers. It was very funny and we got to join in! We raised lots of money for children in need! We said goodbye to Mrs Hickey on Friday as she goes on maternity leave and has her baby. Mrs Hickey has enjoyed the first term with the children and will miss them all!! Mrs Hickey hopes the children have lots of fun in the run up to Christmas and enjoy performing in their first nativity!

Love Mrs Hickey and Miss Houlihan x