News From St Mary's Playgroup
December 2009 | February 2010 | March 2010 | April 2010 | News Archives
December 2009
During November the children learnt about Diwali, the Hindu festival of Light and sampled some traditional Indian food including mango chutney, poppadoms and naan breads. We also continued learning about Autumn and the children did leaf rubbings and planted crocus bulbs.
This month the children are getting very excited about Christmas and we shall be rehearsing for our Nativity Tableaux which is on 17th December. Another highlight is our Christmas party on 18th December which will include a visit from a very special person!
Our craft activities will have a sparkly and glittery theme with the children making cards, snowmen and robins and also writing their letter to Santa. They will also make mince pies and other delicious Christmas qoodies.
The playgroup received a visit from Ofsted on 8th October 2009 and we received an excellent report which reflects the hard work and commitment of the staff, committee and parents. Thank you all. The report can be viewed via our website at www. stmarysplaygroup.co.uk.
We would like to extend a special thank you to Mark Hardiman Carpentry Ltd for all his help at playgroup over the last year and also for sponsoring a race at the recent Frog Race Night.
Finally St. Mary's staff and committee would like to thank all those who have supported the playgroup over the last year and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year.
lf you are interested in your child joining us at playgroup please come along to our open morning on 3rd December where you can see a playgroup session first hand and ask any questions.
If you would like to come along or for more information, please contact Paula on 01666 503777 or email. or please visit our website at www. stmarysplaygroup.co.uk.
St Mary's Baby and Toddler Group
St Mary's Baby and Toddler Group, run by Emma, is held on Monday mornings between 9:30 and 11:30 at Christ Church. The session includes toys, craft activities and songs for the babies and toddlers and that ever important tea/coffee and chat for their carers.
This month we have a special Christmas craft session on 7th December and we are looking forward to our Christmas Party on 14th December. Please come along.
All are welcome, from new born babies to toddlers. Please come along.
February 2010
We have been following the children's current interest in the police. The children will be making police helmets and after we transform our home corner, they will be spending some time in jail!
As Spring is on the way, the children will be exploring nature - growing runner beans and cress and making gardens on a plate using pasta and peas to create snails and worms!
With Easter approaching, we will be playing Humpty Dumpty games and making marble rolling eggs and Easter cards. There will be more opportunity for the children to enjoy baking by making pizzas and Easter cakes and biscuits.
The Playgroup recently held another successful Parents Evening. These evenings give parents a specific opportunity to speak to their child’s key worker on a one to one basis to discuss their child’s folder and the activities their child enjoys at Playgroup.
If you would like to come along or for more information, please contact Paula on 01666 503777 or email. or please visit our website at www. stmarysplaygroup.co.uk.
St Mary's Baby and Toddler Group
St Mary's Baby and Toddler Group, run by Emma, is held on Monday mornings between 9:30 and 11:30 at Christ Church. The session includes toys, craft activities and songs for the babies and toddlers and that ever important tea/coffee and chat for parents and carers. All are welcome, from new born babies to toddlers. Please come along.
March 2010
This term we start to prepare our pre-school children for the excitement and changes that they will experience later this year when they start at their new primary schools. In our pre-school sessions, they will be talking about school and advancing their knowledge of numbers and letters through exploring themselves (including measuring and weighing each other) and the world around them. The children have started their visits to St. Mary’s Primary School to get a taste of what life in a ‘big school’ will be like.
The staff, committee and parents at St. Mary’s Playgroup would like to say a huge thank you to Dyson, Cattle Country Adventure Park, The Priory, The Tetbury Tailor, Tetbury Fish & Chip Shop, Capelli Hair Design and The Co-op for the prizes they have donated to our Easter raffle which raised funds for St. Mary’s Playgroup. We would also like to thank all those who bought tickets and in doing so kindly supported St Mary’s Playgroup.
A huge thank you also to everyone who donated items to our Bag2School collection. We raised £84.00 for playgroup funds and have another collection date booked for 1st July.
Don’t forget to let us have your Tesco Vouchers for Schools; we’ve started collecting!
If you would like to come along or for more information, please contact Paula on 01666 503777 or email. or please visit our website at www. stmarysplaygroup.co.uk.
St Mary's Baby and Toddler Group
St Mary's Baby and Toddler Group, run by Emma, is held on Monday mornings between 9:30 and 11:30 at Christ Church. The session includes toys, craft activities and songs for the babies and toddlers and that ever important tea/coffee and chat for parents and carers. All are welcome, from new born babies to toddlers. Please come along.
April 2010
Colour is the main theme for the first half of the term and the children will be getting creative (and messy!) by painting with potatoes, string and their hands. They will be blowing paint and discovering what new colours they can make by mixing paints. The topic for the second half of the term is 'The Farm' and the children will be enjoying farm games and stories as well as making pig masks and chickens on sticks.
The children always enjoy visitors to playgroup and recently they have enjoyed a visit from Clemency and her Music Monsters. Thank you Clemency for another enjoyable session filled with singing, dancing and instruments.
The preschool children have been enjoying their Monday sessions. They are getting more used to the idea of 'big' school by spending some time visiting St Mary’s School for pre-school sessions and craft afternoons.
We would like to say a big thank you to Bovis for their very generous donation of £500 towards updating our 'home corner'. The children spend hours of fun in the home corner pretending to cook, clean, shop and socialise whilst learning to share and work together and develop a better understanding of their environment.
Once again, we would like to extend our huge thanks to all who donated prizes to our Easter raffle which raised £400 for playgroup funds. Many thanks to Dyson, Cattle Country Adventure Park, The Priory, The Tetbury Tailor, Tetbury Fish & Chip Shop, Capelli Hair Design, Leigh Hibbs Photography, City Plumbing of Gloucester and The Co-op. Thank you also to all who bought tickets and supported St Mary’s Playgroup.
This month the playgroup is hosting another evening of fun and frog frolics at Dolphins Hall at our Frog Racing Night (not with real frogs!) on Saturday 22nd May. Doors open at 7.30pm and racing will begin at 8.00pm culminating in a grand final. You can own a frog, jockey a frog, or simply bet on a frog and be entertained. Nibbles will be provided but please bring your own drinks! Tickets are available at £5 each and can be obtained through the playgroup or on the door on the night. The evening will be run by the Cotswold Frog Racing team and is being held in aid of playgroup funds.