The Playway monthly news - November

Hello Parents,

Month of November encourages us to reflect on our achievements and gives room for adjustments. As parents, caregivers and educators we need to do self reflections on regular basis. They answer many questions we raise like where did we do our best, where did we go wrong, where can we do better, what can make a change, who do we have to talk to and how do we achieve our goals and so on.
At the playway we have many positive outcomes to be happy about and many areas to develop. And much more to achieve with careful and achievable short and long term plans.
A BIG Welcome to Adhithri, Dimitri and little Aakash who just joined us. We are very pleased to welcome you to our family of the playway nursery. The children here are positive thinkers and curious independent learners. They are caring and loving. We enjoy every minute we spend with them giving our full focus and expertise to build their self esteem and personality which is the foundation for a very successful and a lasting career of education.

Happy, Happy Birthdays

Dimitri celebrated his 2nd Birthday on 3rd October and Raisa is getting ready to celebrate hers on the 23rd November. We wish them every happiness and loads of fun throughout.

Welcome Aunty Harshini
Ms.Harshini Wijewardene is a qualified Nursery Assistant Teacher who comes from St Bridget’s Convent. She is in the process of getting trained at the playway further. She is fast to learn and has made some very impressive goals in life where teaching young children is concerned. We are very pleased to welcome Harshini to the playway as the successful candidate.
September and October were months full of events where the children at the playway were truly engaged. The Cookery Days, Visit to the hospital, Visitors at the playway, Festivals and Dress up Parades to mention a few.

Thank you Mrs. Wijesinghe, Apoorva’s mummy for coming forward to organize the trip to the Asiri Surgical where the children had a super experience with the friendly doctors.

Thank you Mr. Indu, for enabling us to have a visitor from the Cinnamon Gardens Police Station. The officer who visited us was so… friendly and interactive with the young learner.

A Garbage Collector, Mr. Gnanasiri was met by the children at the playway. They were thrilled to see his cart and other equipment which help him keep our city clean.

Thank you Mrs. Cader and aunty Amaal, for presenting interesting facts about the Festival of Ramadan and presenting children with gifts and sweets.
Cookery day was a big success due to the support of the parents who sent ingredients for the icing of the cake and a special thank you to Mrs. Heenagama, Sanithu’s mum for providing us with two lovely butter cakes for the event.

Our Visit to the Russian Centre Library: Thank you Aunty Amitha for the story you read and for showing us the 15,000 books in the shelves.
Post office; We organized a post office in order to let the children have a first- hand experience at a post office where the children could post their first ever letter to their parents. Hope both parents and the children were thrilled to receive the letter from the “post man’.

Thank you Dr. Vasanthi Ramanayake for your presentation and advice on First Aid at Home. It was well attended and was highly commended by the parents who participated. Hope you will visit the playway again.

Deevali Celebrations: A big thank you to Mrs.Pushparaj, little Adhithri’s mom, Mrs. Rahul, Karan’s mom and Mrs. Heenagama, Sanithu’s mom for providing children with sweets and fire crackers for the event. A BIG thank you to Yoga for enthusiastically arranging everything needed for the occasion. Thank you parents for sending the children dressed up for the occasion.

The Fantastic Dress up Parade was an event not to forget. Thank you parents for being so… creative!!! The children surely had a great experience. I am very proud to note that the children at the playway were truly having a great sense of confidence and do not know what the stage fright is. They are incredible! Dear parents we appreciate your involvement in the event. Hope to see more of you especially daddies’ attendance in such events in the future.

The Movie: Finding Nemo; Thank you, Aunty Chandi for screening the movie and helping us in a number of ways in organizing the event.

Current Theme: Moving from Place to Place.

This topic is a favorite one for preschoolers. The theme deals with transportation and how it has changed from time to time. It will help the children to explore how people travel and the changes that have taken place through the time. They will be exposed to many art and craft activities. Vocabulary will be strengthened and the numbers, colors and shapes will be introduced through the theme. Pictures, Flash cards, models, stories, books, songs and DVDs are some of the recourses we can use to teach the young about the world but I strongly believe that the real life experiences are the best resources. Therefore I am in the process of exploring the possibilities of achieving it through many different ways.
If you are a resource person please come forward and enjoy yourself by getting involved with the activities. If you have any contacts with people who have old cars, jeeps or extra ordinary vehicles it would be a great opportunity for the preschooler to explore how it had been in the past.

Dear Mummy/Daddy,

Please help me mark a smile on the smiley face sheet if I liked the book I borrowed from the playway Book Corner. If I did not like it I can mark it as a sad face. And If I could not read the book with you I should keep it blank so that aunties will know that I need the book back for another day.
Please don’t forget!!!
Thank you


Here are some important dates for your diary

12th Nov. (Wed) Poya Holiday
14th Nov. (Fri) “Car Wash”
19th Nov. (Wed) Bike and Trike Day
21st Nov. (Fri) Trip to Bolgoda for a picnic and a swim.
02nd Dec (Tues) Sing with Me Mummy and Daddy

Please keep the dates in mind and in your diary.
Log on to http://theplaywaynursery-srilanka.blogspot.com/ for updates

Have a Nice November
Neelika Edirisinghe
Director, the playway nursery

The Playway Monthly News

Dear Parent,

Hope you had a wonderful vacation with your family!
I had a great experience with a series of professional development conferences. The slelta, Sri Lanka English Language Teachers’ Association where I serve as the Editor of their Young Learners’ Special Interest Group (Y L SIG) had the 5th International Conference at the National Institute of Education, Sri Lanka with the cooperation from the Ministry of Education Sri Lanka. I had the privilege of meeting most prominent and eminent International Educationists and experience the most modern educational findings. This was a Four Day Conference.

Subsequently, I was invited by the British Council, Colombo for the Hornby Regional in-house School for Teachers of English at Villa Ocean View, Wadduwa. The conference there was on Bilingual Education and the importance of Bilingualism. I shall provide you with some vital information on this within the next month. We developed materials for English Language in the Bilingual Classroom. It was a five day Conference where we had a quality experience studying about learners within the range of 0-18 years and their needs with many professionals in the field.

Apart from all these the lectures at the University of Sri Jayawardenapura went on as usual in the week- ends bringing the final year exams closer. It is great to attend all these professional development activities as they are filled with knowledge and expertise; I have no doubt will help me develop my own skills to teach your children.

While you rested over the holiday, playway has enjoyed a makeover. It now opens its doors with freshly painted interiors and more space. There are a few more features to add up during the near future. I trust that these developments will only help our children at playway be confident true learners.

Our Current Theme: Help! Help!!
We are inquiring into the topic to find out “Who helps us”.
There are many activities lined up to make children enjoy the theme while learning the most important skills through them. It is an interesting topic where language, number, social skills, art and craft, music and movement can be developed. We shall take a closer look at the people who help us without getting any reward for their work.
Parents, If you are a resource person on this topic you could also talk to us and arrange a time to share your experience or resources with the children at the playway.
Many Happy Returns to all who celebrated their Birthdays during the vacations and Happy, Happy Birthday to Jaana and Apoorva who are celebrating their B’days in September!!!
Dates for your Diary will be sent with a memo next week. We are striving this semester to fill it with fun activities to keep the children happy, active and true learners throughout.
Have an Awesome August and a Super September!

Neelika Edirisinghe,
Director, the playway nursery

I’m Happy You’re My Dad By Joanna Fuchs

I feel safe when you are with me;
You show me fun things to do;
You make my life much better;
The best father I know is you.
I’m happy you’re my Dad
and so I want to say
I love you, Dad

Thank you so… much for your continuous support and participation. As you know we strive to give your child the best possible experience through out the year. Let’s recall a few events that took place in the month of June at the playway.
The teddy bear tea party: was a tremendous success where children were enjoying a real tea party atmosphere. We witnessed some children sharing their goodies with their teddy showing us how they practice what they learn at the playway. The morning was filled with activities that included songs and stories about teddy bears and bears. The teddies the children brought from home were used as props and resource to teach other skills and areas apart from the emotional side.
Daddy’s day celebrations: thank you so… much for sending the children dressed as their daddies. Didn’t they feel very important and proud? Also “Thank you, DADDIES who were available to be with the children on that wonderful Friday morning”.
A special BIG thank you to Mr. Sudharsha Wijesinghe for coming well prepared for a wonderful story for our children at the playway. The children were truly delighted to have you.
Cookery: the squarely sandwiches, the children made were scrumptious!! The objective was to introduce square in a more interesting way but the most interesting that happened was that the sandwiches made children very… hungry! (They all enjoyed their own sandwiches! )We think it is a good idea to have more cookery days!!! What do you think?

Our current theme: Animals and Their Babies!
We have been working merrily on the current theme. The children have been responding very well.
The mini theme for the month of July is “What a Colourful World!” We are hoping to take the children into a wonderful world of colours. Our aim is to let the children play and experiment with colours to discover many differences in colours and combinations. We are hoping to work closely with nature, who teaches us many wonderful things about colours. If you are a resource person please let me know whether you could also be a part of our programme. Please let the children experiment and explore when ever they feel like with colours. Be it with brushes or with their hands or fingers or any other source for, discovery is a very vital part in true learning.
A special announcement: We are sad to note that Mr. Ustinov, The Director Russian Center Colombo is retiring. Mr. and Mrs. Ustinov are leaving to Russia. The children of the playway will see them to wish them good luck today! We are delighted to welcome Mr. Ayrath Akhmetov and his wife who are currently in Sri Lanka to be with us.


Happy, Happy Birthday Hope Karan had a wonderful birthday with all his friends and all your friendly aunts at the Russian Centre. Thank you for the yummy food Karan! We all enjoyed!!!

Book Pool: We are extremely happy to note that our “Book a Home Programme” is doing extremely well. The response from the children and the parents is great. The aim is to arouse the curiosity and the love for books. A book read aloud by mummy or daddy can develop pre reading ability and is recommended highly. Your child/ children are in their best years where Language absorption is concerned. Please read as many books to them as possible. And also you could set an example by reading for your enjoyment at their presence.
I am positive that you are having a wealth of books at home and would love to share with the children at the playway. Please send a favorite book of your child to be shared. So far the books I send home have come back in their original state therefore I trust that the books that are going home will be safe. Please send a book once a week and take a book home daily. We shall take an account on the books and RETURN THEM SAFE AT THE END OF EACH WEEK.

Chocolate Break: It is wonderful to see children enjoying their fruits at the fruit break. The idea is to promote the fruit intake. It does not matter how much fruit is taken at the beginning as far as the attitude towards fruit is changed for good. There fore we have to have patience and give them time to appreciate fruit. Now as the researchers have found out, chocolates are good for children. Let‘s give our children a good time once in two weeks when we celebrate chocolates. Please send a small chocolate of your choice to be given to your child at snack. Let’s start this new break from Wednesday the 2nd July. Please let me know if your child is allergic to any kind of chocolates in writing. (Very important)
Await Parent Teacher Conference; we at the playway strongly believe the bond between the parents and the teachers is vital. There fore we believe in Parent Teacher Conferences. For your conveneiance the time slots will be posted and you could sign in for a time that is best suited for you. We will be available for your quaries.
Parent Conference 15th Tuesday from 12.30 – 1.30pm
16th Wednesday from 12.30 - 1.30pm
Please keep a day free.
Closing date for summer is the 25th July and the reports will go home on the 25th July.
Have a joyous June

Neelika Edirisinghe
Director,
the playway nursery

the playway Monthly News

Hello Parents,

Hope you all had a Wonderful New Year Break!

A heartfelt thank you to all our wonderful parents and grandparents for supporting our Avurudhu Festival. We were thrilled to witness our little ones enjoying the simple event. The photographs are uploaded to the blog. Please surf through. They are simply great!!!

We had a lovely holiday ourselves and are now geared to work with much enthusiasm with more energy and loads of activities. Hope our little ones could not wait to come to play. Believe me! We were counting our fingers too!!!
We greatly regret that we had to postpone the date of re opening for this quarter. It was due to the ongoing-constructions at the Russian Centre. The place was not child friendly. The workers were working round the clock to finish the scheduled work. But were unable due to Avurudhu holidays they too had.
We’ve moved… on temporary basis we have moved to a large up-stair room enabling children to have school. Parents please come upstairs to Room Number 05 and have a look at our new classroom.


Happy, Happy Birthday! Little Ananya and Maria are celebrating their birthdays in May! Congratulations Ananya and Maria. Hope you will have a wonderful time with your friends on your birthday.



Our Current Theme: Animals and Their Babies! Our main objective is to introduce animals and their young through this theme. But many more skills like Language, Number, Personal and Social Education, Basic Science and Social studies, Art and Crafts can also be easily in co-operated with the same. A line of activities are ready. We have taken great care in planning them for your child to give him/her a basic and a balanced understanding about the world around him/her.
This theme is loved by young children world over for children and animals are attached to each other naturally. Please expose your child to the wonderful world of animals through every available source. They will learn to care the nature and help stop prevailing disaster.
Dear Mums and Dads, Please look for pictures of animals and their babies in magazines and news papers for we are collecting them for your child’s animal scrap book. Hurry and send them to us at least 5 pictures for a child. It is better if you could go through magazines and news papers along with your child for cut-outs.

Neelika Edirisinghe
Director
the playway nursery,
Colombo 07

Our Commitment to Excellence

We are dedicated to providing you and your child/children with high quality care and education. We are equipped with Early Childhood Education qualifications and participate in ongoing training to further develop our skills and knowledge.
We follow the latest teaching methodology (the playway-through play-activity based learning) and carefully chosen material to enhance the learning experience.
We ensure the highest security for the learners and a stress free environment.

Developmental Learning Program
The playway offers a wide range of developmentally appropriate programs for children. We aim to provide a total learning environment where children are free to observe, question, experiment and explore. It is important for children to experience being wet, dirty, noisy and messy. Children should learn independence by knowing where to find things and being able to get things for themselves. They should learn to respect themselves, and respect the needs and feelings of others. They should feel that they are an important part of the group.
By experimenting children can come to their own conclusions. Even if the conclusion is not correct, the process by which they have come to the answer has inestimable value to their future education. A child who has learnt to solve his own problems with peers or others, whether social, emotional, physical or cognitive is on the way to becoming a functioning human being. This is the goal of good education.
Our programs are evaluated on a short and long term basis. Our philosophy and policies have a strong influence on our programs and have been developed in conjunction with parents/educationists and with my own experience being with children and the international exposure I have gained.
An understanding of global cultures is an important part of the daily program. Pictures, puzzles, manipulative equipment, books, dolls, dress up clothes, decorations, music and friends are incorporated to develop an awareness of the variety of cultures which exist in our society.

Our Philosophy

•We shall provide the children with a warm, friendly and inviting atmosphere where they will feel secure and be happy in their new environment.

•We shall provide caring teachers who show genuine love and concern for the children in their care.

•The environment will cater for the needs of all children and encourage the healthy development of physical, emotional, intellectual and social skills.

•We shall provide safe and well-supervised learning areas.

•We shall respect the rights and opinions of parents and the community and encourage parent participation and a broad interest in the community.

•Throughout the day children will be exposed to small group, whole group and individual learning experiences, which will be developed from the needs and interests of each child.

•We shall provide opportunities for the children to explore language, music and movement, science and the arts, to help them make sense of their world.

•All children will be given adequate time for meals, rest and relaxation because above all the young children need to grow both physically and mentally.

•We shall encourage children to value and respect each other’s differences while promoting the development of a positive self-esteem.

•We shall create a learning environment, which will encourage children to interact, take on roles and develop relationships with others through play.

•We shall encourage children to be respectful, sensitive and thoughtful towards their natural environment.

A Truly Child Centered Nursery School

As a truly child centered nursery school, our play areas are designed to focus on each child’s individual needs, and are well equipped and age appropriate.
Our main aim is to give your child a stress-free, safe, comfortable and a stimulating atmosphere where learning takes place naturally.
We follow a structured schedule, but activities are time negotiable to best entertain a child’s needs. You will be informed of the activities lined up for the month through a news letter. Also the yearly plan is designed and posted for the interested parents to go through.
We plan the day with different play stations for the children to choose from, encouraging the children to explore the available play opportunities and be independent learners.
The children who come under our care will be developed as persons who are critical thinkers and caring world citizens with a high degree of self esteem and creativity.
Medium of communication is mainly English but would encourage to converse with each other in their mother tongue whenever the child has the need.
We have a thematic approach thus the activities lined up are in cooperated with the ongoing theme. The current theme is “Who am I?” The children are encouraged to inquire about themselves. (Why they are alike and different!!)
Our vision is to promote children’s natural curiosity and understanding about their surroundings.
We ensure well equipped learning stations with highly motivated and qualified teachers promoting child centered education at the playway nursery.

It is necessary to create an understanding between parents and children, parents and teachers and teachers and children, as the ultimate foundation for learning is the partnerships and connections children make in early childhood. The home and nursery need to have a strong connection. Your co-operation in this regard is integral.
Our program consists of various learning experiences, which will help to develop children psychologically, emotionally, physically and cognitively.
We divide our mornings for discussions, (circle time), Free painting and various types of art and craft sessions (for creativity), Introduction to manipulative toys, Threading, (for eye-hand coordination), Action songs, Rhymes and Music, Constructive Play, Imaginary Play, Sand and Water Play (pre mathematical skills, language and social skills are developed in these areas), Outdoor Play for gross motor skills, social and emotional development.
At the quiet area: Story time plays a vital part at our nursery, where children spend time looking at age appropriate books and listening to stories read aloud.
Listening to stories at the earliest age give the children the opportunity for imagination and character build up. Lots of discussions, estimations, predictions take place before and after each successful story cultivating confidence in little children and a love for literature at a very early stage.
At the home corner: Role Play is strongly recommended for Early Childhood Learners for social, emotional and language development.
At the messy meda-midula: As an integral part of our program we let our children have a messy play experience with a lot of encouragement to be messy and have fun at the same time. Here we introduce them to play dough, clay, dry & wet sand, corn flour mixtures and different types of grains.
We believe: As we believe the environment makes a great deal of teaching material for the early learner we choose to work closely with the environment in teaching be it number, language, art and craft or motor skills at our nursery school. (We make use of re-usable and recyclable material as we care for the environment.)
We encourage children to bring in healthy snacks for their snack time. We introduce the fruit break twice a week making sure everyone brings a fruit for their snack.
After snack it will be outdoor play, where children will be supervised by the teachers closely and carefully.

Neelika Edirisinghe,
Director, the playway

Important News for Under-Fives!!!

The Russian Centre in Colombo has focused on Early Childhood education as their latest addition to the range of educational activities offered at the centre.
The playway nursery, truly a child centered, activity based, English medium preschool with the latest methodology on Early Childhood Education is now open for ADMISSIONS daily from 8.30 am - 12 noon at the Russian centre in Colombo.
The nursery is directed by a professional with a high degree of commitment and international exposure and is ready to cater to the high demand of quality Early Childhood Education in Sri Lanka.
The play areas are equipped with the highest quality materials and are air conditioned. The spacious, safe, caring and love filled environment is just what young children need to acquire their learning skills during their best years, the early childhood.