Good afternoon,
Last week a number of children were away with coughs and colds, so we were very happy to welcome (almost) everyone back this week. We have been working with the children to practise the important habit of covering their noses and mouths when they cough or sneeze. The children know that ‘germs are not for sharing’; we don’t want to share any cough or cold we might have with our friends, and this is why we cough into our sleeves. It would be very helpful if you could help to reinforce this important message at home.
As we continue to build our class community, we watched a short, fun video consisting of three segments in which three different groups of animals band together to help each other. For example, in one, penguins are seen on an ice flow. Suddenly, an orca appears and begins to swim very fast towards them. The implication is that the orca wants to attack. The penguins coordinate by moving to one end of the ice flow. The ice shifts under their weight at one side, and the orca bumps into the upended side. The penguins are safe! By working together, they were able to be successful. We talked about how each of the different animals in the three clips we saw worked together and how in our class we often need to work together. The children were then invited to play a fun game of ‘balloon keepy uppy’. In pairs, they were challenged to keep a balloon up in the air, not to let it touch the floor for the duration of a one minute sand timer. Just like the animals in the animations, they needed to take turns and work together to be successful.
In KG1, we highly value outdoor play for our young learners. When outside, children get physical exercise through active play. Many activities in our playground help children develop important motor skills such as coordination, balance and dexterity. Outdoor play also supports emotional growth by presenting new situations and encouraging children to take positive risks. Additionally, when outdoors, children interact with peers from KG1 and G1, giving them the chance to spend time building social and communication skills with a broader group. Being outside also engages all the senses and fosters an appreciation for the environment. As it is still currently hot and humid, our time outside is rather limited, but when the weather cools down, we plan to spend more time outdoors. Please see the attached photos for a few examples of children exploring the outdoor environment this week.
Each time a child in KG1 has a birthday, we make an big effort to make them feel special. Turning four is after all an important day! We sing happy birthday in English and Arabic, and we also invite each child to make a special birthday ‘crown’ to wear! When it is your child’s birthday, if you would like to send a small treat for him or her to celebrate their special day in school with friends, we ask that you please send cupcakes or muffins (one per child) (no other treats) on their birthday. We will then share out the birthday cupcakes after lunch, should you choose to do this. Please rest assured, sending small cakes for a birthday is entirely optional -not everyone will do this.
Wishing every family a good (three day) weekend,
Kristina, Rahma and Buthaina
