Cobham Montessori School

Newsletter Week Commencing 25th November 2024

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Dear Parents and Carers,

NOTICES

Weather and Clothing

As you are aware, the weather is steadily becoming wetter, windier and colder. This means that the garden is becoming increasingly more muddy and less grassy! Please be aware that wellies/sturdy shoes are needed for garden play - we can support the children with changing. We do have a stock of waterproof trousers suitable for the younger friends.

Secret Santa

As part of our Christmas festivities we have decided to mix things up a little bit this year and have taken some input from the Elementary community. Instead of Santa coming along and giving gifts, we thought we'd have a secret Santa instead.

Each child will be given a name (out of a hat from their own community) and £5 for a gift. We will support the children to be extra nice to their "Secret Santee" as well as thinking of something to gift to them. The gift will need to be wrapped and ready to give on the day of the children's party - Tuesday 17th December. We will add every gift to "Santa's sack" and distribute them at the end of the day, ready to go home with.

We want to help the children appreciate the magic of giving (without the expectation of recognition or receiving in return) at Christmas. It might be that children choose to make something using their budget, or simply find something suitable in a charity shop. We do not wish to apply any extra pressure on parents at this time of year so if you would like us to support your child to make something in school or to think of ideas then please just let us know at the door.

THIS WEEK IN SCHOOL

Children's House

This week in the Children's House, we started to feel festive. The children made Christmas cards using star stencils, we made baubles, and we even made up a Christmas song for the BIG show.

The children practised gallops and skips during ballet class. They have continued with their movement routine alongside the music of Three Blind Mice.

At yoga, Miss Hayley has made one of her yoganory book adaptations of the book 'Billy Tribbles Moves Out', a story about a very happy cat who suddenly had to share his bedroom and toys with his baby brother. The children had fun practising cat poses.

On Thursday, we didn't cook. Instead, we made Christmas baubles for your Christmas trees. The children collaborated, helping each other cut, glue, make small tissue paper balls and write their names. 'I have this paper at home. It's called tissue paper.' Where a friend responded, 'Blesssss you!'

During sports, children kept practising dribbling and passing the ball to each other. Their challenge was to control the ball by kicking it softly

to keep it close.

The children have shared many things with their friends this week. Dinosaur books: 'That's a funny name for a dinosaur.', old coins: 'Is this a penny sweet?' 'Who is this?' 'She is a mother' (referring to Elisabeth II), another friend brought the book 'David Bowie from the collection Little People, BIG Dreams, where we learnt that we should 'never be afraid to be ourselves'. To which a child started singing, 'I can be anything; I can see anything that you try. You can see, you can be anything that you try.!

At garden time, children played 'granny footsteps'. This classic playground game is perfect for exploring dramatic tension and controlling our bodies. This game is great fun for children.

Elementary

This week we have been reinforcing the message that the priority for the children should be the follow up to their lessons and they have responded well. Some have discovered that if they practise then we can progress them through to another level; others have discovered that they are lacking in some essential skills which need to be mastered before they can move on. It can be quite the learning curve to come from the Children's House where lessons are given individually and each child has a specific only their own work to consider. Then in the Elementary you are expected to work as part of a group, each child doing their own bit, working concurrently and relying upon one another to progress.

In Yoga, Miss Hayley did a slightly longer session with the children where they played a game of "Yoganory says" (a lot like Simon says but with yoga poses!). The children were all involved in telling a story together using the yoga cards. They ended their session with a guided relaxation.

In Forest school this week there was a collaborative art work, creating a picture of a tree using the different colours of leaves to be found around the education centre (see attached photo). The children also built a den big enough for everyone, which sparked lots of lateral thinking to solve problems - where to find large branches, how to transport them, how to add a roof etc. It was good to see some different children take a leading role throughout the process. At the end of the work, each child was invited to comment on something someone else had done which they admired. Two of our friends also chose to create a "palace" for the guide, (who was thrilled to be thought of!)

Towards the end of the week we introduced a new piece of material to the children (a Timeline of British History); something we have been working on making for quite some time. It was useful to demonstrate to the children the different stages that go into creating "big work" like this. Often, the children believe that work just "happens"; whereas in reality it takes an idea, planning, re-thinking and lots of overcoming obstacles to create a final piece of work. Following the presentation a number of children have decided to create their own timeline which we will support them with at each step.

Next week we will need scooters for Friday only please.

Kind regards,

Yvonne