Dear Monkey Class Families,
I trust you all had a lovely week, and it's crazy how swiftly time has flown by—it feels like just yesterday you were on campus during our Shared Learning Day. Thank you so much for joining us at school last week. It truly means a lot to the children to share their school life with you. I hope that as parents, you were able to witness firsthand how settled and content the school environment is for them.
I must admit, I was a little apprehensive about how each child would react to the presence of parents and teachers together. However, I am delighted to share that each child did a remarkable job and has shown significant growth since your visit at the start of the school year transition period. During the 'Shared Learning Day' some children required time and encouragement to warm up and try new activities, while others confidently led their parents around the classrooms, exploring various areas briefly. Some children struggled to find an activity they wanted to engage in, while others simply sought a quiet space. Please understand that these reactions are all age-appropriate and developmental milestones, and each child is on their unique learning journey. I am proud of each and every one of them.
Throughout the school year, I look forward to welcoming you on campus in various capacities. Below, I have included a snapshot of some candid photos I took during the day. Please click on the links below to see more.
Sharing the Planet
Last week, we worked together to create beautiful posters based on our research projects. It was heartwarming to see how the children shared their knowledge not only with teachers but also with their classmates and friends. The children helped stick images, and I aided in writing what these images represented and the questions they answered. These posters are now proudly displayed in our classroom, sparking engaging discussions and further curiosity among the children.
This unit has not only enriched the children's knowledge but also honed their critical thinking and questioning skills, fostering their curiosity as inquirers.
This week, we delved into learning more about unusual creatures, including some animals and insects in our classroom that were previously unidentified. This small group activity provided an excellent opportunity for sharing, turn-taking, and learning together.
As we wrapped up the unit, we added these creatures to our classroom environment so that the children could explore them up close. The conversations became more detailed and enriched, providing a wonderful conclusion to our learning journey.
Given that each child learns differently , we provided diverse opportunities for wondering and inquiry throughout the unit, including small group activities, one-on-one time, circle time discussions, and utilising the classroom environment. I also wanted to sharing a display that we have connected to throughout the unit and have continued to revisit, like a learning wall extending both our understanding of nature as well as what we observe and how we interact with the environment and each other.
As whole class, during circle time we used the story 'Here We Are' by Oliver Jefferson to reflect on what we observed in the pictures and the knowledge we gained about nature. Following this, we proposed decorating and changing our classroom environment so it looked more ‘Christmasy’, which excited the children greatly. However once we started talking about what areas we could change the children expressed a strong preference for keeping the plants as they are still growing and they enjoy watering them daily. Regarding the animals, and habitats opinions were mixed, but ultimately, the majority decision was to let them stay. The tools such as magnifying glasses, binoculars and rules had to stay, as the children hadn't finished using them in their play. Leaving us just a small area of our classroom which we changed into a charming Christmas city, featuring two Christmas trees for the children to decorate and a few pretend presents to play with. We have also started to sing more Christmas songs and listening to Christmas stories.
Who We Are
Our recent excursions to Bradbury School have been filled with memorable adventures. Last week, we excitedly attended the primary school students' rehearsal of the Jungle Book. Despite some finding it a bit scary or the music too loud, all the children embraced the opportunity to try something new. They shared their thoughts with teachers and eventually immersed themselves in the performance.
This week, we explored a new playground, 'Tellytubby Land', where the children had a fantastic time rolling, sliding, and running through the hills. They delighted in the plants, the elevated views of our Hillside playground, and engaging in various activities like jumping, bubble chasing, and popping bubbles. Laughter and joy filled the air throughout the day.
These excursions tie in with our 'Who We Are' unit, providing students with opportunities to try new activities and explore different interests. They also help foster a sense of community within the school and expose the children to new environments. We look forward to more adventures and exploration as we continue to develop our wider school community.
December Birthday Celebration
This week, we celebrated the birthdays of our Monkey Class friends who have December birthdays. It's a bit early this month as we wanted to ensure we had the opportunity to celebrate together before the Winter Break. Click on the links below to catch a glimpse of our celebration.
Google Photos & Spotify Playlist
As always, we encourage you to stay connected with us through Google Albums and
Spotify, where we share glimpses of our classroom adventures
Hillside Winter Picnic - Wednesday 11th of December!
Just a friendly reminder about the Hillside Winter Picnic scheduled for Wednesday the 11th of December. This will be a casual social gathering and a wonderful opportunity for our Monkey class families to come together with the aim to create a space where families can mix and enjoy each other's company.
The event will be divided into two sessions to accommodate both the morning and afternoon classes:
Monkey AM Class: 9:30-11:15 am
Monkey PM Class: 12:30-2:15 pm
We will be welcoming all families directly at Repulse Bay Beach at our designated class picnic area. Please refer to the map included below for directions, or simply look out for the Monkey class icon upon your arrival.
Have a lovely weekend and we look forward to seeing you all next week in person at Repulse Bay!
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