St Matthew’s Preschool January 2012 Newsletter

 

Welcome back! We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas break and feel full of energy to face the New Year.

• We wish to reassure you that steps have been taken to secure our equipment after the events last term; following the break-in all things in the property are marked in such a way that would make re-sale impossible. In addition to that the premises are alarmed. No confidential information was lost and we have taken police advice on securing our school in the most appropriate way.
• We have a new entrance! Please bear with us as we all get used to using this; we have to think of the children’s safety first and then find the best way of registering arrivals etc. The coat pegs will be eventually moved for the children to use as they arrive until then please walk through to hang up jackets and store pushchairs. There is access to a toilet if needed when waiting. Please be aware that this entrance is also used for the church office and meeting room.
• Some of you probably received new mobile phones at Christmas! We will be giving you ‘New contact’ forms to fill in so that all our details are up to date on addresses and phone numbers - in the event of an emergency we will need to contact you immediately.
• Half term - Monday 13^th to Friday 17^th February; a list of Preschool term dates are available upon request.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St Matthews Preschool Newsletter Autumn 2011

 

 

Welcome to our latest newsletter!

• You may have noticed the new church meeting room and office are almost complete. The office will be used by Maggie who deals with church and preschool business and will also contain the photocopier which will mean an easier & quicker copying of worksheets/pictures/documents for us – no more trekking over to the church each time we need a photocopy!  There will also be a toilet with disabled access. The glassed, covered area will become the new preschool entrance and, when it is all finished, this will give you all much more protection from the cold wind and rain; it will contain a new notice board, child height coat pegs and easier access through a doorway into the small hall. We are all hoping this will be ready for January! Any questions about any of this please speak to Liz or Sandra.
• Work on a larger storage area for preschool equipment will begin once the other building work has ended. This has been a big problem for us for some time as a fair amount of our toys and trolleys simply do not fit into the cupboard we have now and it has had to remain covered by tarpaulin in the corner. We will lose some space in the small hall (where the book corner is now) but will gain in safer storage of very expensive items.
• IMPORTANT DATES!

1. Half term Monday 24^th to Friday 28^th October we will be closed.
2. Tuesday 1^st November at 9.30am we will be having a ‘Harvest’ event with a representative from a Homeless Project. The children have been learning songs and decorating boxes with an autumn theme ready to give items to others in need. Please can we ask you to donate sugar, tinned meats, marmite, mayonnaise, cereals, long life milk, biscuits or squash and also cleaning products for kitchen and bathrooms?  All families are very welcome to join us for this special time (this should take around 30 minutes).
3. Friday 9^th December at 10am is Christmas party time! All children are invited to attend our exciting party with Mr Pumpkin and a very special visitor. Parents, carers and younger siblings are welcome too. The party will finish at 11.45 am and the preschool will be CLOSED in the afternoon.
4. Monday 12^th December at 11.00am the preschool Nativity will take place in the church. All children going to First School next September will be involved as angels or shepherds etc. All families are very welcome to join us for this wonderful Christmas occasion. Costumes are provided by the preschool. Younger preschool children will join us at the end to sing.
5. Last day of autumn term will be Friday December 16^th. We return to preschool on Monday 9^th January 2012.

If there are any questions about any of this please speak to Liz or Sandra.

• Please can we remind you to inform the preschool if you change your address or phone numbers, this is very important in case of accidents or illness.
• Please name your child’s lunch box as often they have the same designs. A healthy lunch should include a piece of fruit or vegetable (such as carrot sticks), a sandwich or wrap or similar and a yoghurt. Crisps and biscuits/cereal bars are ok for a treat but the preschool staff will endeavour to ensure healthy items are eaten first. Please do not put sweets in lunch boxes.

 

Thank you for your support of the preschool.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St Matthews Preschool Newsletter Summer 2011

 

This will be the last newsletter of this school year and there are several important dates and events for your diaries!

Wednesday 15^th June: Open Day 8am until 3pm. Bacon Rolls and cereals! This is an opportunity to view your child’s Learning Journal and talk with their key worker in an informal way. We will open at 8am for BREAKFAST of Bacon rolls and cereals, (served until 9am only because of Health & Safety regulations), please pop in at any time during the day - no appointments necessary. This is particularly important for parents of children going to Big School in September.

Wednesday 13^th July: Preschool Party morning. Jo Jingles will be here from 10am until 11.30am running a music party for all the children! There’s also an opportunity for parents and carers to see the new covered play area, meet the builders and talk to Preschool committee members. There will be a special cake and party food. Please come along! The preschool will be open as normal in the afternoon. List for party food donations will be available soon.

Friday 15^th July: Last day of term. The preschool will be open from 9am until noon only. We will be closed in the afternoon for staff to sort/clean and tidy away equipment.

Monday 18^th July: Children going to Big school in September are invited to PLAY in Stoke Abbot Road from 10am until 11.30am as a special treat!  Cost is £3.50 per child and includes a drink. Children must wear socks! Sorry no younger children. More details soon.

Website: The preschool has a website if you wish to visit it for themes, newsletters, and policies etc, speak to Teresa for information about this- www.stmatthewspreschool.co.uk  

Tesco & Sainsbury’s vouchers: Thank you so much for supporting the preschool by donating your vouchers; we collected 3,000 vouchers from both supermarkets which will allow us to order Initial Sounds Phonics aids, a storage trolley and cooking equipment. Thank you for your support!

Reminders:

• Please put sun cream on your child during the summer term before arriving at preschool, we have sun cream to ‘top them up’ during the day.
• The preschool provides sun hats for all the children to avoid upsets over losses/colours/styles etc. If your child wears a sun hat to the preschool please place it in the ‘Going Home’ box or on a peg and ensure it is named!
• Please place special toys your child may bring in to the preschool in the ‘Going Home’ box to avoid loss. We quite understand if your child needs a comforter and will do our best to ensure they are not lost but we cannot be held responsible if toys go missing.
• Please name Lunchboxes and flasks! We suggest a sandwich or similar item, a small yoghurt, piece of fruit and a cereal bar as a typical healthy lunch. Please do not send chocolate or sweets in their lunches.

We wish you all a happy and safe summer holiday.

Good luck to all our school leavers, we will miss you all!

 

 

 

St Matthews Preschool Spring Newsletter

• You may well have noticed the building of the covered play area is progressing as is the office and meeting room for the church.

The builders have told us that the children will be able to use the area after the Easter holiday.

We would like to invite you to a ‘Fun Morning’ on

Wednesday 13^th July at 10am until 11.30am.

Jo Jingles will be there to do fun music games; you can meet some members of the Preschool committee, eat cake and look at the new play area. The Preschool will be open as usual for those who normally attend on a Wednesday afternoon. More details soon.

 Holiday dates reminder:

Close Friday 8^th April at 3pm for Easter holiday

Open Tuesday 26^th April as normal

Closed on Friday 29^th April – Public Holiday (Royal Wedding)

Closed Monday 2^nd May - Bank Holiday

Open Tuesday 3^rd May

Closed For Half Term - Monday 30^th May to Friday 3^rd June

Open Monday 6^th June until Friday 15^th July

Please note the preschool will close at 12 noon on the 15^th July for cleaning and checking equipment.

• Monday 18^th July those children going to First School in September 2011 are invited to PLAY in Stoke Abbot Road at 10am until 11.30am.

More details soon.

• Please inform us which school your child has been allocated for September 2011. There will be a list available for you to see which schools the children will be going to.
• Group photo: the photographer will be coming to the preschool on

Friday May 13^th at 9.00am (for 9.15am photo).

If your child does not normally attend on a Friday but you wish them to be included please bring them to preschool and wait until the photographer is finished. If your child comes on a Friday but you do not wish them to be included tell Liz, Sandra or Shelley.

This does make a lovely memento for those leaving in July.

 

A few reminders!

• Please note: if your child misses a session due to an appointment or sickness it is not possible to have an alternative session as our places are all allocated, if your child does not yet receive the Free Entitlement you still have to pay for the place.
• In hot, sunny weather put sun cream on your child before attending and we will apply more as needed. The preschool provides sun hats for all the children as this prevents upsets over lost hats.
• Do not send your child to preschool in open-toed sandals or shoes as they do not provide enough protection on our equipment.
• Remember to name your child’s Lunchbox and flask as many are the same. A typical healthy lunch of a sandwich/roll or similar, a piece of fruit and a yoghurt is ideal to provide them with enough energy; an occasional treat of crisps or biscuit afterwards is alright.
• Please name coats and jackets.
• Our Insurance only covers us from 9am until 3pm, please leave and collect your child as near as possible to these times.
• Check your child’s hair regularly for Head Lice.

If you are unsure about any of this speak to Liz.

Thank you for your support!

 

 

 

 

DVD ORDER FORM WILL BE AVAILABLE

 TUESDAY 14TH DECEMBER

 

St Matthew’s Preschool Newsletter December 2010

Building News

We cannot believe how quickly this autumn term has passed. It was only a few short weeks ago that the children were out playing in the warm sunshine and now we wrap up in jackets and cardigans in the freezing winds. Some of you may be aware that the preschool has a grant for improving the outside play area and I’m delighted to tell you that work on an ‘All-weather-surface covered play area’ will begin on the 11^th of December on a part of our garden – St Matthew’s church is also using the opportunity to build offices and a meeting room at the same time.  This will mean a dry play area for the children all year round. During the building work we will be using the small hard paved area and taking small groups of children to Victoria Park.                  

Christmas Party

The Christmas Party will be on Friday December 10^th this is for ALL the children and Mr Pumpkin will be entertaining us, there will also be a very special visitor. The preschool will open at 9.45am and close at 12pm. Food lists are available.

THERE WILL BE NO AFTERNOON SESSION.

 

Nativity

The Nativity will take place on Monday 13^th December in St Matthew’s church. All children going to Big School next September will be taking part and younger children will join us at the front for the last few songs. This will start at 11am – if your child doesn’t normally come to Preschool on a Monday and they are going to Big School next year please bring them at 10.30am to change into their costumes.  All costumes will be provided by the preschool.

Everyone is welcome to the Nativity.

 

Please do not block the centre aisle with pushchairs or buggies as the Kings and Stars will be using it. There will be a recording made of the event which will be available to buy for £2.

Preschool closes on Friday 17^th December

and reopens on Tuesday 4^th January 2011.

Happy Christmas and

A Happy New Year

From all at St Matthew’s Preschool!