The Week Ahead
FANtastic festive decorations are starting to pop up around the nursery, adorning the walls of the first-floor corridor bringing a smattering of vivid colour to the walls. The nursery Christmas tree this year has been designed to reflect Chinese and British winter themes. Pine, bamboo and plum blossom are known as the ‘three friends of winter’ in Chinese tradition. Twinkling tree lights and baubles are traditional British tree decorations. Our designer, Lorna worked with the children to embellish the tree with striking paper fans, using a simple yet eye-catching palette of bold and bright colours. There’s more to come, so keep your eye out as you watch this piece of art grow over the coming weeks.
Going up……going down……
The Hiba pupils are now forever present to guide the Hiba community around the nursery with the installation of our novel direction signs – the children themselves! Using the colour palette of the rainbow, Lorna worked with the children to bring digital images to life. These wonderful pieces of art can be found in the staircases, to brighten everyone’s day. It really does look like the children are jumping out of the art work!
![](https://static.wellingtoncollege.cn/images/HNS/2018/11/dgwetwtw-302x476.jpg)
Bug of the moment……introducing norovirus, a winter warrior!
Pretty, isn’t it? No matter how pretty, Norovirus, also called the ‘winter vomiting bug’, is a stomach bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea. It can be very unpleasant, but usually goes away in about 2 days. The symptoms start suddenly within 1 to 2 days of being infected and include:
- feeling sick (nausea)
- diarrhoea
- being sick (vomiting)
Sufferers may also have:
- a high temperature of 38°C or above
- a headache
- aching arms and legs
Should your child suffer, you can usually treat them at home but please do stay off nursery until clear of symptoms for 2 days. Washing your hands frequently with soap and water is the best way to stop this bug spreading – do bear in mind that alcohol hand gels
don't kill norovirus. Adapted from
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/norovirus/
Funky Friday is back
To brighten a chilly and grey winter’s day, we are bringing back monthly Funky Fridays, starting on Friday 7
th December. We started these last academic year following an outrageously uplifting appearance by Shonette Bason Wood, ex-primary school teacher and now world famous motivator, speaker and happiness promoter (
https://www.spreadthehappiness.co.uk) for no other reason than……
why not?
Funky Fridays are a great opportunity for the pupils (and staff) to do something different simply for the pleasure of being happy. As the festivities are staring in the nursery and the tree has gone up, I think the first Funky Friday should reflect the dramatic colour scheme of the Christmas tree – so come and be proud and bold in red, pink and gold. Glitter, as ever, is optional ?
A note on time keeping
Please be reminded that from
Monday 3rd December, EY3 and 4 pupils should be on site before 08:20, and EY1 and 2 on site before 08:30. We actively encourage arrival at the nursery from 08:00, affording all children the opportunity to make the transition from home to nursery before their busy day begins. Attendance will be monitored over the coming months as we track pupil progress to maximise the impact of the pupil’s presence at nursery on their learning and development.
What’s in a photograph?
I simply love this photograph and who wouldn’t. Four pupils actively engaged in exploring a book of maps together. I have this book at home, albeit the English version. I’ve always loved maps and have shared the love with my own children. This book is exceptionally visual and gives amazing facts about the landscapes, habitats and populations found around the world. The pupils here are sharing the experience together with Rainbow the book-loving unicorn. It is easy to see the level of respect afforded to Rainbow as the boys read to her and with her, treating her with kind hands and inclusive behaviour. In Miss Emily’s class, the children are actively encouraged to read with Rainbow which has supported pupils to build confidence in their reading (and looking) abilities, to choose reading over other activities in the classroom and to have someone to share the experience with when friends are busy doing something else. However, here for the four friends, they are happy to explore the visual world in front of them at their own pace and share the experience together, picking out their favourite facts and linking what they see to their own lives.
2019 – 2020 calendar is now published
Don’t forget……
I hope to see many of our Hiba families at the winter market on Saturday 1st December – come and get festive with friends and family whilst enjoying the spirit of a winter wonderland right here in the nursery.