Saturday, July 24, 2010

the playway News in Awesome August !

 Hello Parents

Welcome back everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful summer break!! The staff and I are refreshed and looking forward for a busy, challenging yet a rewarding semester with your child.
I‘d love to take this opportunity to thank so many individuals and groups of people who helped us through our first semester which was full of different types of events and lovely memories. Thank you every one who came forward to support the playway each time we were in need.

Flash back

January: the playway celebrated her second birthday- the playway reached her full capacity as she turned two years! Our vision is to be the most sought after nursery in the island and continue to be so

February:
Independence Day of Sri Lanka which brought all of us together in a colourful parade, the prerahera (procession) – Each of us felt unique and was proud be a part of the Sri Lankan community.

March:
Field Trip to the Zoo- the playwayers and parents together with teachers had a busy day at the zoo

April: Sinhala and Hindu New Year celebrations- was extremely memorable

May: Mummy’s Day Celebrations- was full of warm feelings and art and craft activities
Meal for Dinosaurs - the playwayers dressed as herbivores and carnivores and sat in two different tables to have different types of meals cooked for the two types of dinosaurs
Vesak Celebrations- the playway became colourful with Vesak lanterns the playwayers made. Hirantha from the Russian Centre showed the children how to make a lantern

June: World Environment Celebrations at the playway-the playwayers became aware that the earth gets sad when humans pollute intentionally and continuously. The children actively participated in the activities offered showing great interest in saving the earth
Dino Projects- the parents and the playwayers showed that they are true dino- lovers
Daddy’s Day Celebrations- Mr. Cader, little Amaan’s dad gave the playwayers a warm fatherly touch by reading , drawing and being with them
Sports Day at the front garden- Both colourful and eventful- Everyone was a winner!
Parent Conference- both parents and teachers were overwhelmed by the positive observations

Special Announcements:
We are delighted to welcome Ms Farina Suleiman who joins the nursery group as a teacher. Ms Suleiman has completed her education in the UK and is currently residing in Sri Lanka with her family.

The photographs taken by the official photographer, Mr. Nishendra at the Dino dance can be purchased individually from him on request. He will be visiting the Russian Centre with the photographs on weekdays and the photographs will be displayed on a bulletin board at the entrance.

July: Summer Time Dino Dance
The Summer Time Dino Dance was Spectacular…


Thank you: Thank you so… much parents and grandparents for your continuous support for your child/ grand child’s progress. Thank you taking time off and being there for them and encouraging them. Thank you for providing them with materials at request and for visiting the playway on many invitations. It is encouraging for us to have a committed circle of parents/grandparents who are willing to help the children around the year.

Feed Back: We are honestly proud as a team to get positive feedback from the parents throughout the year. The parent conferences in June2010 was a time we actually got time to sit and talk with each and every one of you for longer period of time on various matters that matter with your child’s progress through the year. We thank the parents who promptly sent us the completed feedback forms with a high degree of positive remarks. However; some of them have not come back to us. Please fill and send them back as fast as you can as your comments are very important for us to grow as a team. Please take a few minutes of your schedule for this purpose and treat that as one of the priorities as a parent. We are waiting…
As discussing about pre reading skills, at the parents’ conference became the most popular topic I thought giving more insight into the same would be appropriate in this edition.

Stages of Reading: Pre-reading Skills
© Heather Goldsmith

It's important to recognize each of the different stages of reading kids go through. You will have a better sense of which stage your child is at right now. This will enable you to see the process they need to undergo before they accomplish all of the relevant reading stages. This particular article will deal with the first stage of reading, one often not associated with the act of reading itself, but vital in teaching reading skills needed in further stages. It might be easier to consider this stage as a pre-reading stage. Certain skills are established that have nothing to do with words or knowing their alphabet.
This is when, usually from birth to three years of age, you spend time with your children. You take time out to read to them, showing them picture books, reading them simple and short tales, cuddling together, talking about what you read and see, answering questions. It's a stage of togetherness and any parent should make the most of it. During this time you can establish good habits and routines, such as story time before bed, which can help in later years when the habit of independent reading is establishing. Your child will also begin to associate books with comfort and contact with you. It will become something they look forward to. If you start with books before they are able to read one word, one of the first few words they utter will quite possibly be book.
This is also a time to get down on the floor with them and play act, build blocks, fit shapes together, tickle and giggle, draw and paint, play with balls and many other activities that delight and excite children. While not immediately related to reading or books, these activities are vital in teaching them skills for life, not just in preparation for reading. The coordination needed from kicking a ball, or placing a block will go a long way towards helping them manipulate pages of a thick card book. They gain understanding from these activities which make sense when they begin to decipher and work out pictures and stories.
Some of the best books to start with for children in this stage are wordless picture books. This give the parent and child an opportunity to discover what is happening in the story together. Even a chance to make new stories up on each reading. When a child is very small the sound of your voice is enough, but soon they'll begin to see the pictures and curiosity will bloom. Take advantage of their questions and no matter how many times they point out the teddy or the dog, appear interested. They are establishing a naming and identifying skill needed in early reading.

Our Current Theme: Dip and Dive into Deep Water: The children will be exposed to the colourful and interesting facts about water, water plants and animals with this topic of inquiry. The children will be exploring about their favourite sea water and river water characters and the threats that shadow them. Mean time the children will learn songs, stories and a few dramatic movements on the theme and will develop their stock of vocabulary with related words.
Furthermore the number, language, basic science, PSE, PE and Art and Craft activities also be integrated with the topic bringing about an oceanic life into the classroom.

Mini Theme: (Introductory - Sinhala) Gamaralage Kotuwa ( Farmer’s Yard) On a popular request from the parents of the nursery group the children will be exposed to Sinhala language through the mini theme Gamaralage Kotuwa ( Farmer’s Yard). The underlying idea is to introduce the Sri Lankan day to day words and materials to the children in a more creative way. The stock of vocabulary will be developed through the same and will give a touch of locality to the children. The children will be introduced to the Sinhala alphabet and numerals and continue to develop this area through this approach.

Dates for Your Diary:
Monday, 02 Play begins for children at the playway- new semester starts
Friday, 06 Show and Tell- Bring objects/ pictures related to sea, river, fish or water animals/plants
Friday, 13 Swim like fish day
Wednesday, 18 Cookery Day
Tuesday, 24 Nikini Poya. No play. Poya Holiday
Friday, 27 Field Trip to Water World, Biyagama, Sri Lanka

Have an Awesome August,
Neelika Edirisinghe,
Director the playway