News - March April

Hello Parents

Doesn’t this rhyme ring in your mind?

“Ding dong bell

Pussy’s in the well

Who put her in?

Little Tommy Lyn.

Oh! what a naughty boy is he

To put the pussy in…

Who pulled her out?

Little Tommy Stout,

What a good boy is he

To pull the pussy out…

                                                                      

(Observation: children are delighted to hear that the pussy is out and is happy and dry)

(Author unknown)

The original version of this rhyme does not have the parts that are highlighted, but the latest ones do have these two important lines… This is the beauty of the nursery rhymes. A teacher could use the nursery rhymes to teach skills other than what is said in them.

The teacher has the liberty to use them to teach new ideas, new vocabulary, add new words, delete if desired  and make up new versions to suit the age and level of the learner.

The irony is that many favourite rhymes have hidden meanings. If you closely analyze them, you will find that they are full of sarcasm and political irony.  However, children love nursery rhymes for other reasons: the melody, the rhyming words, the characters found in them and sounds the children hear.

Nursery rhymes are musical melodies for infants, toddlers and young children. They make a foundation for imagination, reading and creative writing. Everyone grew up with a set of rhymes like Wee Willy Winckey, Hickory Dickory, Goosy Goosey Gander and lot more. Don’t they ring in your mind? Don’t they take you to your childhood?

 All these and many more have a deep influence on the life of children. These invoke different set of feelings and attitude in different personalities. While listening to these, children grow up and form their own beliefs and dreams based on their understanding. As adults we must encourage them to visualize the images without trying to block them with reality and real life situations. Imagination is the KEY to creative writing.
Also as a preschool educator, story book writer and curriculum developer, I make the nursery rhymes a tool to teach number, language, PSE, Basic Science, art & craft, shapes and colours, and of course music. I firmly believe that the repeat ion of words and patterns have a lot to make the young learner eager to read.

Here are some of the most significant advantages of nursery rhymes: By Jennie Gandhi

• Teaching rhymes helps children learn to communicate properly with the correct pronunciation and speech.
• These invoke children to express their feelings in a better way through different gestures and facial expressions.
• These help children love music and develop their senses to appreciate different forms of music.
• Rhythm is an important component of nursery rhymes that help a great deal in the development of memory and auditory skills.
• Soft words and soothing tune captivates toddler’s attention that helps expand their imaginations.
• These help to easily register every word and rhythm in the child’s unadulterated brain.
• Listening is an important skill that makes them smarter and understanding in the long run.
• Through the poems and verses children can paint imaginary pictures that help to activate awareness.
• Children have a better understanding of humor through these rhymes.
• Different rhymes have different concept that offer different opportunities to develop vocabulary based on the concepts.
• Also helps a great deal in developing children’s motor skills and co-ordination.
• These verses can be beautifully transformed to skill-developing games for better learning.
• These rhymes are an integral part of cultural heritage and hence are used to inculcate values and traditional beliefs within children.
• Last but not the least; it is the best source of entertainment for toddlers.

Thus Our Current Theme is “The Rhymes that Ring in Minds”              

Welcome: We are delighted to welcome Weihan to our play circle. It makes us very happy to see the playway family grow steadily and healthily, where the children have a first class experience through their early years.

Also we warmly welcome Ms Zeinab Nalir who joins us from mid February expanding our staff to six. She is a product of St Bridget’s Convent, Colombo. She has a Diploma in Preschool and Sub Primary Education from Ladies’ College, Department of Vocational Studies, Colombo. She is keen, caring and energetic.

March April Birthdays:  Many Happy Returns Everyone

02 March	Yeshara
15 March	Aunt Anagi
17 March	Evan
19 March	Yousuf
25 March	Kehathi
28 March	Weihan
06 April	Chithayu
14 April	Aunt Farina
22 April	Ishaq
29April	Amirkhan

We wish you the best of Luck! Hope all of you will have super Birthdays with loads of FUN and Surprises!!

Special notes for the parents…

• Please read all the notes that are sent to you regarding your child/ children and the playway.
• Please send pictures that start with the phonic sound “n”, “ h”, & “m” for the children who are under 4 years of age ( 1+ , 2+  &  3+) When you collect these pictures please make sure you get your child to help find them in magazines or news papers because it will be a learning experience to your young one.
• If your child is 4+ Please send pictures of three letter words such as cat, bat, mat or net, pet, vet. Please send as many as possible as the children have started to read three letter words and this activity will boost their “reading with meaning”.
• We hope to send home your child’s face towels every Friday afternoon to be laundered and brought back on Monday mornings. Please make sure you collect them and wash and iron and bring back on Monday mornings. Please make sure the names and loops are intact. If needed please replace the old towels with fresh ones.
• We need wet wipes and couple of extra diapers for all the infants & toddlers. Please make sure your child’s supply is labeled & handed over to the teacher in charge. 
• Please encourage your child to be independent and happy to walk, whenever possible and safe to do so. Do not post their name at the entrance to the playway or keep their bags for them. The main idea in these activities is to make them independent and autonomous learners.

Have a Merry March & Awesome April,

 Neelika Edirisinghe,

Director, the playway nursery

the playway WelcomesFebruary

In Sri Lanka, the month of February arouses fresh thoughts, because it marks the re-gain of Independence from the British Empire.

63 years ago we were not independent to think or express. Today we are… BUT, how many of us do?

Your children at the playway are free and privileged. Our duty towards them is to make them independent thinkers, explorers, risk takers and autonomous learners!!! And build their self esteem.

Through our topic of Inquiry, we give immense opportunity for the children to learn about themselves, their place of birth and their peers. They learn the differences and the similarities. They learn to respect and respond.

Please help your child (1+ to 3) to find a (current)  photograph of him/ her,  family, grandparents, home, pet (s), and a photograph of their infancy. For the children who are 3+  please send a current photo, his/ her favourite out fit and a pair of sneakers to the playway for their activities.

*Please send these items by February 09 2011. Your cooperation in this regard is truly appreciated.    

                                          

FebruaryBirthdays

Congratulations February borns!!!                     

Amani celebrates her 3^rd birthday on February 06, while little Michelle her second birthday on February 09.   Also, Aken, his 3^rd birthday on February 15.

We wish Amani, Michelle and Aken loads of FUN and every happiness  throughout the coming years. Happy, Happy Birthdays children!!!

Dates for your Diary…

February 14,Monday	The playway falls in LOVE with Sri Lanka
February 16 Wednesday	No Play ( Holy Prophet’s Birthday)
February 17, Thursday	No Play (Navam Poya)
February 18, Friday	?
February 22, Tuesday	Send your child’s favourite toy (Show & Tell)
February 25,Friday	Mirror Day ( Send a hand mirror to the playway)
February 28, Monday	Celebrating  “ME”

 Have a Fabulous Feb,  Neelika Edirisinghe, Director the playway

Hello and Welcome!

“We will open the book.  Its pages are blank.  We are going to put words on them ourselves.  The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day”.  ~ Edith Lovejoy Pierce.

As Pierce has said it is all about how we are going to write Our Story!!! Isn’t it so? Stay wide awake and work with genuine effort. Love what you do and it will make the difference!!!

Welcome everyone back to the playway! Hope you all had a very pleasant & relaxed holiday! the playway staff and I had a super holiday, and are geared with fresh hopes and knowledge to face the challenges and demands of the day!

Thank you everyone for being with the playway at her teething and all through out! This year the playway celebrates her third anniversary!

We at the playway, hope to enhance the facilities and services to the children under our care, their families and the community as our goal is to improve every aspect of our services.

A very special and a warm welcome to little Amelia and Thehara who join the playway this semester to fill the vacancies arose when Apoorva and Mikayla left. Welcome Amelia and Thehara! Hope you will enjoy being part of our exiting play circle.

Thank you everyone who donated toys and clothes for the needy children at the Bearwell Estate crèche. The children there were truly delighted to have received the toys and the clothes. The happy smiles shown here will give you an idea what it was all about…

Happy Birthday(s)

January 07: the playway is three years old now, Congratulations and Best Wishes from all of us at the playway

January 10: Many happy returns of the day Amaan and Amelia! Congratulations, you both are 3 years old now!

January 19: Thehara, Hope you will have loads of FUN and many happy returns of this day. Guess what…? Thehara will be two years old soooooon…

Our Current Theme : “ Me, Myself & I”

This dynamic theme is an all time favourite with under-fives. As a tradition at the playway we start the calendar year by finding out who we are, what our strengths & weaknesses are. The children will explore who they are, their strengths and what similarities and differences they have compared to their peers.

We shall first focus on the child as an individual then move on to some of the physical attributes of the human body. Thus we will give the children the opportunity to develop their investigation skills and gain awareness of who they are and how their bodies work!

Also, the emotional side of the children’s nature will be focused to when we discuss about the feelings and needs of each others. The theme will also give an enhanced idea on the health and hygiene.

The language arts, number and number concepts art and craft, music, PSE, PE and basic science will be integrated with the theme by focusing on the contextualized Language instruction method.

Please assist your child to find the materials he/she would want to make their booklets about them. The notes indicating what is needed will be sent soon…

Overseas Leave: I shall be leaving to Hyderabad to attend an International Conference on teaching English to Young Learners: The British Council and the EFL-U (English and Foreign Languages University) are co-hosting a three-day conference on ‘Starting, Stimulating and Sustaining English Language Teacher Education and Development’ for the English Language Teacher Educators from 22-24 January 2011 in Hyderabad, India. The event is being supported by the ELTAI (English Language Teachers’ Association of India) and the IATEFL’s Young Learner Teenagers Special Interest Group (YLT SIG) and Teacher Training and Education Special Interest Group (TTEd SIG).

Ms Amaal Junaid, a former teacher at the playway will substitute me for the 3 school days January 21, 24, and 25. The work is planned in advanced to have a smooth run of the nursery. Please email me at neelika.e@gmail.com if you have any inquiries while I am away. I shall try my best to be in touch!!!

Dates for your Diary

January, 17	Topic of Inquiry (Me, Myself & I) starts…
January, 19	Poya holiday~ No play
January ,28	Cookery Day
February, 03	National Day Celebrations
February, 04	Public Holiday~ No play
February, 18	Celebrating “ME”

Have a Joyous January and a Fabulous February,

Neelika Edirisinghe,

Director, the playway nursery

Happy Birthday the playway

Congratulations!

the playway celebrates her 3rd birthday today...

It's time to party..

Hello Parents

It’s November. It’s time to reflect on self again! It’s time we sit and think how the year has progressed: whether we have achieved our goals, have had a quality time with our family and friends or being responsible towards the community we live in. It’s also time to reflect the impact we have on the environment: how we dump refuse on it, how much we ask from and how little we give in return!!

Think about your children and minimize the negative impact you have on the nature all times!!!

“Dump no garbage just anywhere

Block no drain with polythene or ware

Cut no trees; please grow more in your lands that are bare

Help your child to learn from you pair”

Author: Neelika Edirisinghe ‘2010

Welcome: We are delighted to welcome little Michelle, Max & Aniq to our play circle. It makes us very happy to see the playway family grow steadily and healthily, where the children have a first class experience through the year.

Also we warmly welcome Ms Anagi Seneviratne who joins us from mid October to strengthen our team further. She is a product of Holy Family Convent, Kurunegala. She has a Diploma in Montessori Method of Education from Havelock Garden’s Training Center, Colombo. She is a very proud mum of two adorable daughters.

November & December Birthdays:  Pretty little Raisa celebrates her fourth birthday on November, 23, while Ms Navanjana celebrates her 21^st birthday on November, 13. Congratulations!!!

And in December two pretty girls, Ruwanya & Vasilisa celebrate their 3^rd birthdays together on December, 06 while little Aditya celebrates his fourth birthday on December 19. Hope all of you will have super Birthdays with loads of FUN and Surprises!!

 Flash Back

Celebrating Grands at the playway: the playaway celebrated the grands in a grand way! Both children and grandparents played & sang together, enjoying every minute of the day. the playway  kitchen band was the highlight of the day. The staff witnessed the happy grandparents enjoying the tea party, the grandchildren have organized as the final event for the day! Cookery, fresh fruit salad… Children and the teachers got together to collect, count, sort, wash, peel, cut, chop, mash, mix and stir the fruit to make the BIGGEST fruit salad that was enjoyed by the playwayers on October 15, at the playway. Thank you for your contributions parents.

My favourite food (brunch) at the playway: Oops only a few parents had taken a note to prepare the child’s favourite brunch  on  October 20.

Field Trip to Nuga Gama- Cinnamon Grand, Colombo: This event was simply loved by all the children and the adults alike who attended. We missed the ones who didn’t make it. Please log on to the playway blog site for the pictures taken at the site. A special write up on the day out will be out on the blog as soon as I get a chance to sit and write…

Deevali Celebrations at the playway… Let’s dance to Rhythm of  Kaawadi : The parents should surely envy the ones who witnessed the cute dancers that day. Please do not worry. We shall invite you for another spectacular Kaawadi Dance before we break for this year. Please keep the Kaawadi tool the children were bought safely for later use. Thank you Ms Rammogan, Aditya’s mum for serving the playwayers with traditional home made cuisine. It was scrumptious!!! Thank you Yoga for all the arrangements you did with such enthusiasm

Our Current Theme: “My Healthy Mind in My Healthy Body”- the connection of food, mind and body: The topic of inquiry will continue till the end of November with lined up activities to enhance the children’s enthusiasm on the food they eat.

A very special note for the parents…

Please read all the notes that are sent to you regarding your child/ children and the playway. In many cases the parents request me to explain the same thing I have clearly explained ( taking a lot of interest and time) on notes sent home on daily basis.

I would love to talk to you regarding anything at any length on appointment, but at the cost of your child’s programme. It is very important that children are not disturbed inside the playway. We cordially request the parents to refrain from coming in and talking to children uninvited. Once you pick your child you are kindly requested to take him /her away considering about the others at play. This message comes to you because we care for your child’s precious time with us!!!

Charity begins at the playway :

It’s time again to clean up your cupboards. Please go through the nearly new clothes, books, toys and other basic necessities that you are no more interested in having in your cupboards. We are planning to distribute them among needy children in the crèches in the estate sector this Christmas.  

Dates for your Diary: Please refer to this on daily basis…

November 17	Public & Bank holiday, no play
November, 26	Project Day “ This is how I Like to Eat to Grow Strong and Healthy”– Nursery Group
December 3,	Cookery
December 7	Nativity Show and more
December 8, 9	Student led Conferences
December 10,	Christmas Break Starts Christmas party

Have a Nice November& a Delightful December,

 Neelika Edirisinghe,

Director, the playway nursery

Hello Parents

Every year October breaks with a beautiful meaning, connecting children and elders of the society together as the  October 01 is named as the Universal Children’s and Elder’s Day. This day is special because it is named as the Universal Children’s and Elder’s day and everyone focuses on children and elders, but is it right that we celebrate the children and elders only on this day? They both deserve our focus and attention everyday as they represent the future and the past respectively!!! Could the present stand alone without the future & the past?

the playway celebrates children every day because we recognize the importance of the childhood, especially early childhood – their needs, their thoughts, their interests and their individuality. Let them learn about their surroundings through play. Play is vital for them just like work is for us.

the playwayers are practicing for Grands’ Day…

Thank you for choosing the playway nursery, where children get a first class experience: plenty of opportunities, productive play sessions with highest quality toys, love and professional care & freedom to express and develop as young individuals. It is our responsibility as care givers that we give them what makes them independent, happy and confident because the future holds so much more for the ones who have a great degree of self esteem.

In contrast the children of William Blake’s era and before had untold sufferings as you could see through the world famous poem I have shared with you below. Please enjoy the strength of the poem & join Blake to stand against the prevailing abuse on children…

The Chimney-Sweeper -Author: William Blake

When my mother died I was very young,
And my father sold me while yet my tongue
Could scarcely cry "Weep! weep! weep! weep!"
So your chimneys I sweep, and in soot I sleep.

There's little Tom Dacre, who cried when his head,
That curled like a lamb's back, was shaved; so I said,
"Hush, Tom! Never mind it, for, when your head's bare,
You know that the soot cannot spoil your white hair."

And so he was quiet, and that very night,
As Tom was a-sleeping, he had such a sight! --
That thousands of sweepers, Dick, Joe, Ned, and Jack,
Were all of them locked up in coffins of black.

And by came an angel, who had a bright key,
And he opened the coffins, and let them all free;
Then down a green plain, leaping, laughing, they run,
And wash in a river, and shine in the sun.

Then naked and white, all their bags left behind,
They rise upon clouds, and sport in the wind;
And the Angel told Tom, if he'd be a good boy,
He'd have God for his father, and never want joy.

And so Tom awoke, and we rose in the dark,
And got with our bags and our brushes to work.
Though the morning was cold, Tom was happy and warm:
So, if all do their duty, they need not fear harm.

Welcome: We are delighted to welcome little Evan, Chithayu and Shanuk to our play circle. Hope you will have a first class experience at the playway.

Happy, Happy Birthday:   Little Dimitri celebrates his fourth birthday on October 03 ! Hope he will have a super Birthday with loads of FUN and Surprises!!

the playwayPhilosophy

•We shall provide the children with a warm, friendly and inviting atmosphere where they will feel secure, loved and happy.

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

•the playway caters to the needs of all children and will encourage the development of physical, emotional, intellectual and social skills.

•at the playway the children will be exposed to small group, whole group and individual learning experiences throughout the day , 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 world around them.

•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 in their own pace.

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

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

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

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

Flash Back 

September 7, Ramadhan celebrations Children at the playway came to the nursery dressed in their salwar cameez to celebrate Holy Rhamadhan. They made cards to wish their families an Eid Mubarak. Ms Sifan, Amani’s mum visited the playway to tell a story about the Holy day and shared some juicy dates, sweets  and loot bags with them. Also Hanaa, Yousuf , Ayan, Amaan, Amirkhan  and aunt Farina shared goodies with the friends through the Holy Season. Thank you everyone for showing kindness and the spirits of brotherhood this way.

September 9, Purple Day: Everyone came to the playway dressed in Purple and made a lasting memory in the minds of the little ones. Thank you parents, for finding super purple kits and remembering to send them in purple.

September 15, Bikes and Trikes Day: The children had a super experience when they brought their bikes and trikes to the playway on that sunny day. We witnessed the enthusiasm as they rode, raced and most importantly learnt how to share their bikes with the peers. My eyes were wet throughout with tears of happiness.

September 21, Look Like a Fish Day: Oh what a finish to the theme…! Thank you parents, for being creative. The costumes were truly interesting. The children were so proud to come to the playway as their favourite sea creature. The children paraded, sang and watched on screen the habitats and the behavior of the sea creatures and decided that they should warn the community not to pollute the sea & rivers where the fish and other water creatures love to live! They created a poster and put it up on the front bulletin board. Hope you noticed it!!!

October 01, Children’s  Day: Thank you again for giving the opportunity for the children to choose their favourite kit to wear to the nursery. When they paraded in those they had something nice and meaningful to tell about their kit that day.

Also, the children became an exited audience when the teachers acted out some all time favourite tales to make the children happy on this special day. Thank you very much Ms. Uthpala, Ms. Navanjana, Ms. Farina, and Ms. Harshini, for being super actresses. Yoga too took part in these dramas making children more fascinated. The costumes were hand - picked and the dialogues were edited to suit the gentle young audience.

With your generous contributions the children were invited to have a typical children’s party with goodies of their choice. The children enjoyed the food and music. They were more excited when they were given the lollipop to take home.  All the children did their own portrait as well to mark the day. 

Our Current Theme: “My Healthy Mind in My Healthy Body”- the connection of food, mind and body

The children will be encouraged to have a healthy diet through this theme and the importance of the food pyramid will be introduced. They will be allowed to touch, taste, smell and cook different types of food and encourage avoiding food that has no importance inside the pyramid. Please encourage your child to inquire about the food items you buy at the super market and whenever possible make it a point to take them on those visits. Encourage them to sort what you buy into vegetables, fruit ,meat, fish, eggs, dairy products and cereals etc…  

Our Mini Theme

(Gamaralage Kotuwa) continues…Await for exiting news on a field trip to a real village in the heart of Colombo!!!

Dates for your Diary: Please refer to this on daily basis…

Tuesday, 5 October	Celebrating Grands at the playway from 9.00 am at the auditorium
Friday, 15 October	Cookery, Fresh fruit salad…
Monday, 18 October	Bring pictures of good food items to school for sticking by Monday
Wednesday,20 October	My favourite food (brunch) at the playway
Thursday, 21- Tuesday 26 Oct	Mid Term Holiday, play halts at the playway
Friday , 29 October (Tentative)	Field Trip to Nuga Gama- Cinnamon Grand, Colombo
Thursday, 04 November	Deevali Celebrations at the playway… Let’s dance to Rhythm of  Kawadi
Friday , 05 November	Holiday, In lieu of Deevali

Have an auspicious October, Neelika Edirisinghe,

Director, the playway nursery