Dear Parents / Carers
Playhouse Activities This Week – This week we have created a Helpston shop, the children took turns to be the shop keeper and to do their shopping. The children have been looking at different logo’s, building on their recognition of environmental print. We went on a shop hunt around the garden, which linked to our weekly activity.
Colder Weather – The weather has turned a lot colder this week, please can you ensure your child has a warm winter coat, hat, gloves, and scarf. Thank you.
Forest School – In Forest school this week we read Stickman and then we went on a stick hunt. The children used play dough and sticks to make their own stickman. We talked about how December is the Christmas month and we started to build our stick tree. The children decorated it with cones, wood and play dough baubles. It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
Playhouse Activities Next Week – Christmas has arrived at the Playhouse! There will be lots of practice of Christmas songs and lots of Christmas craft. We will be learning about Hanukkah, the Jewish celebration.
Christmas Post Box – The Christmas Post box is open! We will place a list of children’s names in the cloakroom. Please feel free to take a list if your child would like to write a Christmas card to their Playhouse friends, they can bring them in and post them in the Christmas post box!
Home activity – This week’s home activity is called ‘We’re going on a shape hunt’; Have fun finding different shapes around the house and outside, anywhere you might be visiting. There’s more information on Tapestry and we would love to see any of your photo’s!
Face Coverings – Thank you for socially distancing when coming into the Playhouse, this is greatly appreciated. With cases of COVID increasing we are going to re-introduce a few protective measures with immediate effect. Please can you wear a face covering when you come into the Playhouse cloakroom unless you are exempt. Please can you use hand sanitiser before you press the Preschool buzzer. Thank you.
Christmas Carols – Almshouses – On Thursday 16th December at 2.00pm we will be taking the Preschool children to the Almshouses in Helpston to sing Christmas Carols to the residents. The carols will be held on the lawn in front of the Almshouses and we would love it if you, grandparents or family friends could join us to share a little Christmas cheer and enhance the Christmas atmosphere, whilst socially distancing, of course!
Any help? – Please do not hesitate to speak to staff if you have any concerns or would just like a catch up, we are always available.
Dates for your Diary:
Christmas Church Visit – On Wednesday 8th December at 2.00pm. Preschool Children only.
Playhouse Christmas Carols – Our Playhouse Christmas Carols will be held via Zoom this year to be COVID safe, on Wednesday 15th December at 10.00am.
Christmas Party – Our Playhouse Christmas Party is being held on Friday 17th December from 12.00pm – 2.15pm.
Committee – Christmas Raffle – Please see attached a flyer from our Committee for our Christmas Raffle, there are some amazing prizes to be won!!!
Reminder: Books – Books make great presents! Our local Scholastic books lady, Tammy Fitzjohn, is very kindly donating 10% of all sales to Helpston Playhouse and Out of School Club! Christmas is fast approaching, and it’s always an excellent time to buy lovely books as presents. Tammy will be displaying a select number of books next week for parents to browse in the Playhouse garden – details to follow. Please follow this link to browse and to make any purchases by 30th November 2021: https://book-parties.scholastic.co.uk/party/helpston-preschool
Reminder: Committee – Amazon – If you use Amazon for any of you shopping, please consider helping us by shopping on AmazonSmile at https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ch/1024507-0. For every eligible purchase Amazon donates to Helpston Playhouse & Under Fives Pre-School, at no cost to you.
Reminder: Barnado’s Christmas Appeal – Our Early Years Team from Peterborough City Council have started their Christmas Gift Appeal for vulnerable children and families living across Peterborough and South Fenland (March, Chatteris & Whittlesey). We know this year is looking even tougher on families than even last year and they aim to ensure every child and their siblings referred to the Early Tears Team receive Christmas gifts. Distribution of gifts will start from Monday 13th December. Please take a look at the attached poster or Visit Barnardo’s Child & Family Centre Wish List at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/C5O9223R5Q3H/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex
Have a lovely weekend and stay safe!
Kind regards
The Playhouse Team