Following a great week last week doing all things appley, this week at The Children’s House we will be focussing on our families! We are asking all children to bring in a family photo that they can put up on the wall as part of their family trees – we will be physically linking these photos to their birthday balloons so they can literally see the link from where they are coming from as part of a family, to developing their own individual selves. We will be discussing what makes each of our families so special and different, as part of the process of getting the children to see themselves as unique individuals in their own community.

We will also be talking about the change in weather as Autumn keeps moving in – the longer nights, shorter days, and chillier weather – and how we adapt to this by wearing different clothes (time to put away the tshirts and shorts!!) This week will also see us carrying out our first fire drill, as fire safety is very important and we practise it every month, so be prepared for lots of questions about smoke alarms etc!

Families (Poem)

Some families are big,                    (spread arms out wide)
Some families are small,                (bring arms close together)
But I love my family,                       (point to self)
Best of all!!                                       (throw hands up in air)

This week will be all about apples at The Children’s House!! It’s that time of year, so we’ll be using them for apple printing (examining the insides first and observing the seeds and the difference in shape and pattern between cutting lengthwise and widthwise), for making stewed apple later in the week, and of course for eating at snack time!

As well as this we’ll be putting together our friendship blankets, using the pictures that each child has created; we’ll be philosophising about why we have rules before making our own classroom rules that everyone will have a say in; we’ll be keeping an eye on the weather with our new weather song; we’ll be practising gross motor movement by walking on the line and balancing beanbags on our heads; finally, we’ll be having our first yoga session!!

What’s the Weather? (tune of My Darling Clementine)

What’s the weather, what’s the weather,
What’s the weather everyone?
Is it cloudy? Is it rainy?
Is there rain or is there sun?

The first full week of Montessori is here!! This week we’ll be learning & practising a lot of practical skills needed in the classroom, such as carrying chairs, rolling mats, saying please and thank you, and using a quiet voice indoors – we’ll also be using drums and shakers to explore the difference between loud and soft sounds.

As well as this, we’ll be making birthday calendars, starting a friendship craft, and doing lots of indoor and outdoor activities – sand and water play, imaginary play, and music and movement – it’s going to be a busy and fun week!!

Rolaí Polaí (Irish rhyme)

Rolaí polaí suas, suas, suas,                    (roll arms and raise them up)
Rolaí polaí síos, síos, síos,                       (roll arms and lower them down)
Rolaí polaí amach, amach, amach,        (roll arms and stretch them out)
Rolaí polaí isteach, isteach, isteach!      (roll arms and bring them in, hugging yourself)

Welcome back everyone!! The first 2 days of school were all about getting to know each other as a class, and getting to know our school environment. The children are all settling in well and getting used to the new routine – playing outdoors, circle time, snack time, Montessori & group activities, then circle time again before going home. Really looking forward to our first full week together!!

Hello Neighbour (chant)

Hello neighbour                             (wave)
What do you say?                           (raise hands)
It’s going to be a beautiful day    (make large circle with hands in front)
So clap your hands                        (clap hands)
And stamp your feet                     (stamp feet)
Jump up and down                       (jump)
And have a seat                              (sit down)

We are so excited to be starting back to school this Thursday, 1st September –

classes will be resuming at 9am, 9.30am and 1pm – we can’t wait to see you there!!!

We will be holding our open day on Tuesday 30th August, from 10am – 12pm, & 7 – 8pm

All welcome to come in, view the school with your children, meet the teachers….

Looking forward to the start of another fantastic year at The Children’s House!!

It’s been a pleasure to have had your children in our school over the last year; we’ll hugely miss those who are heading onto primary school, but we’re also excited for them as we know they’re really ready to move on, and are going to have a wonderful time journeying on in their education! And for those who are returning in September, we can’t wait to see you again!! Thank you for all your support and participation in your children’s pre-school year, we’ve loved every minute of having them, and you, in The Children’s House.

We will be re-opening on Thursday 1st September, watch this space for information about our open day at the end of August, and in the meantime have a fantastic summer everyone!!

Welcome to the last week of the school year!!! We’ve had such a wonderful year with your fantastic children – thank you all so much firstly for entrusting us with your children, it’s been a real privilege to facilitate them in their learning, and secondly thank you for all your ongoing participation and support in that learning, and for all the input you’ve given to us in the school! We’ve never had so many visits from family members (parents, grandparents & siblings), or so much participation in things such as paper making, rugby/football training, musical instruments, Garda & car visit, and last week our morning classes’ sports day – all organised with and by parents! We hope that this will continue to be a growing theme during the coming years in The Children’s House, as it has added hugely to all of our experiences this year.

So onto this short week – the morning classes will be having their pyjama day in aid of the Jack & Jill Foundation on Wednesday 29th, and a party to finish up the year with, while the afternoon classes will be having their sports day, and also partying!!

Please note that the classes this week will be as follows:

9.00 am class: Mon 27th, Wed 29th & Thurs 30th June (last class)

9.30 am class: Mon 27th, Tues 28th & Wed 29th June (last class)

12.45 pm class: Mon 27th & Tues 28th June (last class)

Five Little Ladybirds

Five little ladybirds sitting in a tree –
The first one said ‘I’m glad I’m me’
The second one said ‘I feel great too!’
The third one said ‘How about you?’
The fourth one said ‘It’s time to fly away’
The fifth one said ‘We’ll talk another day!’

Onto the last full week of the classes 2015-16 at The Children’s House, hard to believe…but we’re packing lots into it!! This week both the morning and afternoon classes will be having a teddy bears picnic and a sports day, so we’ll be having a lot of fun! The morning classes will also be making worry dolls – very small and colourful dolls traditionally made in Guatemala, which the child can tell their worries to and put under their pillow before going to sleep, and according to folklore, the doll worries instead of the child who can then sleep well and wake up with their worries gone! While the child is making their worry doll we always emphasise that they should always also tell their parents or teacher if they have any worries.

Teddy Bears Picnic

If you go down to the woods today
You’re sure of a big surprise
If you go down to the woods today
You’d better go in disguise!

For all the bears there ever there was
Will gather there for certain because
Today’s the day the Teddy Bears have their picnic!