Early Years Campus Weekly Update

Dear Parents,

What a vibrant and celebratory week we just had! Last week was brimming with joy as we celebrated both Halloween and Diwali, two festivals that not only light up our calendars but also enrich our understanding of different cultures.

A Week of Celebrations
The week began with our Halloween festivities, where the school transformed into a spooky wonderland adorned with cobwebs, bats, and ghostly decorations. The moment our students arrived, their eyes lit up with excitement and curiosity. This dramatic change in our learning environment sparked fascinating discussions among the children, inspiring them to unleash their creativity and imagination.

On Thursday afternoon, the real fun began! Our Halloween party kicked off with lively dancing, followed by a variety of engaging activities. The children had the option to dress up, listen to spooky stories, explore Halloween crafts, enjoy face painting, or play festive games like Pumpkin Skittles and Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin. A huge thank you to our wonderful parent volunteers who helped make this event a success!

As Thursday came to a close, our magical 'Halloween Fairies' swiftly packed away the decorations, ensuring that Friday morning would bring a new celebration.

Welcoming Diwali
We greeted Friday with the vibrant colours and joyous spirit of Diwali. Our special assembly introduced the children to the significance of this beautiful festival. They listened attentively to the tale of Rama and Sita and learned about the traditions of lighting Diyas and decorating homes with Rangoli patterns. The children were captivated by the story and the customs surrounding Diwali, making it a wonderful opportunity for cultural exploration.

The Benefits of Mixing Age Groups
One of the highlights of these celebrations was the chance for our students to interact across different classes and age groups. These mixed-age experiences are invaluable. They allow our children to learn from one another, fostering empathy, cooperation, and social skills. It’s heartwarming to see our students form friendships and support each other, regardless of their age.

Upcoming Literacy Parent Workshop
Looking ahead, we are excited to invite you to our Literacy Parent Workshop this Thursday, November 7th, at 8:45 AM. Join us to learn about our approach to teaching literacy and how we support your child in their communication, reading, and writing skills. Following the workshop, there will be an opportunity for parents to spend some time in class to see literacy learning in action. We hope you can join us for this enriching experience, which will conclude by 10 AM.

World Children’s Day 20th November
World Children’s Day is a global day of action for children, by children, marking the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). On this day, UNICEF advocates and raises awareness to protect and fulfil the rights of every child, without discrimination.
In 2024, World Children's Day calls on adults to listen to the future. By listening to children, we can fulfil their right to self-expression, understand their ideas for a better world and include their priorities in our actions today. To mark this day, we ask that all children and adults wear BLUE to school on the 20th and throughout the day we will have special activities to raise the awareness of children’s rights and in particular their right to be listened to.

Thank you for your continued support in making these celebrations memorable for our children. We look forward to another exciting week ahead.

Yours sincerely,

Ruth Hanson
Head of Early Years Campus