The children have continued with their topic on ‘Above the Atmosphere’ this week, building on their knowledge and understanding and extending their vocabulary about the moon, stars and planets.

The first part of this week was spent creating a little bit of love for someone special. Giving love and being loved is a basic need for all of us and I have gone into more detail about this at the end of this bulletin.

This week, the focus in the nursery has been on Chinese New Year. Also known as the Spring Festival in China, this year the date marks the end of the Year of the Ox and the start of the Year of the Tiger. 

Mud, mud, glorious mud! That is the song which came to mind this week. The visits to the Junior Boys site for Forest School has consisted of lots of fun in the Thicket especially when Mr P took them to a different part where there was a slope. Children and teachers were challenged to climb up and down the muddy slope, (from the photos, children definitely fared better than the staff.)

It's almost the end of this term and what a term it has been! We’ve celebrated different festivals like Diwali, the Chinese Moon Festival and Hanukkah. These gave us the opportunity to investigate, create, explore, question… the list goes on! Our newly refurbished Nursery School has been a pleasure to work in during this term too and the children have really enjoyed our free flow to the outside enclosed garden space. In January we are set to welcome our first two year olds to the Nursery. The amazing space which has been specifically created for them to play and thrive in is readily awaiting them. We know that Miss Carree and Mrs Pemberton can not wait to see them all. 

This week the children have been learning about the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that lasts for eight nights and usually occurs in December. In 164 BC, the Jewish reclaimed their land and rebuilt, cleaned and rededicated their temple. The oil that they found to light the temple was only a small amount but they managed to make it last for eight nights. To celebrate these eight nights, people light candles on a branched candlestick called a Menorah which is why it is also known as the Festival of Lights.