Hello everyone....

Hello everyone.... We hope you have all had a great weekend and enjoyed bonfire night with your families.  Last week we had a great week exploring pumpkins in lots of different ways. We enjoyed listening to the story of Pumpkin soup along with some other pumpkin stories. On Tuesday we went to the gardens and picked our own pumpkins and bought them back in the wheelbarrow. We then cut them up and made pumpkin soup and pumpkin chips for snack. On Wednesday we painted our salt dough hedgehogs we made before half term and we also did some pumpkin experiments with vinegar and bicarbonate of soda. It was great fun. On Thursday we made some pumpkins using shaving foam, paint and a fork for a painting technique. We also played hide and seek with the pumpkins. Chloe hid them around outside and we found them.  On Friday we had bonfire snack and had yummy hotdogs and we toasted marshmallows over the campfire. In the afternoon we had hot chocolate outside on the logs for snack. We also played a rolling game with the small pumpkins.  On Tuesday a small group had PE with Mr Treble and we balanced bean bags on our heads and our feet. we practiced sliding them across the floor to see how far we could get them to go. We also watched the Fireman Sam's firework safety video on Thursday. Throughout the week we have enjoyed using the hammers to bang golf tees into the pumpkins. We have been busy constructing marble runs with our friends. Also we have enjoyed exploring and constructing with the geomag. In the playdough we have been making cakes with worms and spiders. Some great counting. We have been exploring the insides of pumpkins using spoons, tweezers and magnifying glasses. We have also enjoyed role playing in the pretend bonfire area. We also introduced Rose the resourceful spider. How can you help your children establish Resourcefulness at home? Resourcefulness is all about being an independent and imaginative learner, being ready to learn in different ways and using all of the resources available to help you. The skills for life long learning that we are aiming to instil are those of Questioning - being curious, going deeper; Making Links - looking for ideas and concepts that connect together and are meaningful; Imagining - using your minds eye to help you learn; Reasoning - thinking methodically and Capitalising - making the best of resources available. You can do this through play and day to day activities at home by: •Encourage questions. •Demonstrate making links between different ideas. •Keep imagination alive and celebrate and value a love of adventure. •Help children to find ways of using resources such as reference books, dictionaries, the Internet. At Jennie jigsaw time we talked about what things we are good at. We all came up with some great ideas.  Some photos of the week... This week we will be exploring fireworks in particular the colours and sounds through a variety of activities. Also we will be sharing the story of Owl Babies and Spinderella and have some exciting activities planned to support this. On Tuesday we have got our trip to the woods which is very exciting.  Home learning - Can you have a go at putting on your own shoes? - Can you create a firework picture? -Can you recall the story of Owl babies to your families? Please do share photos and WOW of your home learning.  Notices  If you great to meet you either on Tuesday or Thursday for parents evening and to share with you how your child has settles into pre-school Year 2, all about their learning and next steps. If you were unable to attend one of these session, please let me know a time which is good for you. On Tuesday if your child is going to the woods, please could they wear their wellies to school.  On Friday it is Children in Need day and children are welcome to wear something spotty or sporty. A suggested donation of £1 per a child can be bought in on the day. The parent information session can be viewed using the following link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTjInLbjk5U If you have any question please do come and ask.  Applying for Reception Place to start in September 2022 You can apply for a reception place from 1 September 2021. The closing date for applications is 15 January 2022. https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/education-and-training/schools-and-learning/apply-for-a-school-place/starting-school-for-the-first-time   If you would like your child to have a Christmas Dinner on Wednesday 15th December and they don't normally have a hot lunch, please email Caroline @ preschool@princeofwales.dorset.sch.uk for a code to login to the Local food links page. Please see letter for more details. You can order your child's Christmas cards they have made at https://www.myschoolart.co.uk This has been kindly organised by POWSA as a fundraising event.  Please find information below about a useful advice line for parents and carers of 0-5years.

ParentLine is a new confidential text messaging service for parents and carers of 0-5 year olds in Dorset to seek advice via text message from our Health Visiting team about their child’s health.  Parents and carers can seek advice about a range of issues such as breastfeeding, bottle feeding, weaning, sleep, toileting, minor illness, behaviour, parenting and more. ParentLine will run 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding weekends and bank holidays) with a ParentLine Practitioner responding to messages within one working day. If a text is sent outside these hours the parent/carer will receive an automated message with advice on where to get help if they require it urgently. This new messaging service is being provided in addition to the current Health Visiting service offer. Text 07312 277162 for confidential advice and support from a member of the Health Visiting team ParentLine is not an emergency service, for urgent medical attention contact your GP, 111 or 999. Please bring any WOW's for our WOW board you have and if you need some WOW slips, please pick some up from the notice board outside. Please do come and see myself or a member of team if you have any questions. Here's to an amazing week.  Julia, Karen, Helen, Colleen, Sharon, Chloe, Zoe, Lauren