Newsletter for Week Beginning 17th June 2019
Dear parents, children and carers 17th June 2019
This newsletter is kindly sponsored by KEITH REYNOLDS BRICKWORK
The newsletter is also on our website, on our Facebook page or by email on request
We have had a busy 2 weeks talking about our holidays, different places and different ways to travel. We used 2D shapes to make pictures of transport. We made a big aeroplane outside and role-played airport jobs from pilot, cabin crew to ground crew. We flew to Disney and Jurassic park, among other places! We made and tested paper aeroplanes, trying different ways to improve them.
Talk of pirates and treasure maps started us looking at and making maps. We’ll also be talking about our own addresses and hope to send a small postcard to one of our Hummingbirds friends.
In the next week or two we will have treasure hunts and make boats. We can test the boats to see how much they will hold, talk about floating and sinking. We’ll also be having a go at making a vehicle with moving wheels and using tools again.
Photograph day went well. Photos will be ready in 2-3 weeks. Individual photos were taken of most children and a group photo of the 11 children who will leave us in July. Packs to suit all pockets and needs will be available. A small surcharge will be added to each order to raise small funds for Hummingbirds.
NUT ALLERGIES – just a reminder that we have children with NUT allergies and we politely ask that parents do not send in nuts or any products containing nuts.
PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN Our older children are starting to attend their pre-school induction sessions soon. Different schools have different dates – please let us know when your child is attending his/hers so we can chat to them about it. Any issues or worries, do talk to staff and we will see how we can help.
LEAVERS’ PARTY MONDAY afternoon 15th July. For the 11 children who will leave us in July to go on to school. Gail Palmer, who is forest school trained will come and run an afternoon of forest skills, including making a fire, on which we will cook a pizza and some marshmallows! She is fully trained and insured for this activity and will be accompanied by 3 members of staff. Those leavers NOT already in on a Monday afternoon should arrive at 12.45 pm (unless you want to swap days). Wellies, waterproofs OR sun-cream and sun-hats and sensible shoes! Who knows! Either way it’ll be a great adventure and way to celebrate their final week at Hummingbirds.
NEARLY THERE!!! Help us get to £1000! Using easyfundraising.co.uk £907 raised over the last 3 ½ years. Please join now and help us reach a £1000 by September. We can raise funds easily if all the people who shop online, register on easyfundraising.co.uk and select ‘Hummingbirds – Garstang’ as their chosen cause. Every time you shop with participating retailers, we receive a percentage. If you are booking a holiday on-line then BIG donations can be earned.
100 club membership BE IN IT TO WIN IT! It’s easy to join. Most of our members have been supporters for many years, it would be lovely to see some new names on the list. Our prize fund is still currently £67 per month but will go up every time a new member joins us. Donate from £2 a month per number to go in the monthly draw and get the chance to win half our monthly takings.
SPARE CLOTHES and COATS children love to be outside so please do send a light coat just in case. We had sad faces last week when it rained and children couldn’t get out because they had no coat. Spare clothes are need in case of toileting accidents and sand and water play.
SEPTEMBER SESSIONS: please let Janet know how many hours and which sessions you intend using from September so that staffing can be planned. Thank you. Please complete and return forms which were given last week. If you haven’t had a form, there should be some by register, or just ask for one.
30 HOURS FUNDING Working parents: If you think you want to use up to 30 hours from 1st September YOU MUST apply for your code by 31st August. Go to www.childcarechoices.gov.uk to check if you are eligible or to apply. You supply nursery with this code and some other necessary details and we apply for as many hours as you wish to use here. You do not need to use all 30 hours. We apply for funding for the hours you wish to use. It can be shared with one other setting/childminder. Parents who already have a 30 hour’ eligibility code
REMEMBER it is your responsibility to check if are you in the ’grace period’. You can lose funding if you do not respond to the HMRC reminders to update your funding.
QUESTIONNAIRE – next years’ parents - please complete a questionnaire – to be handed out this week. It includes issues which are current and will help us plan for the future.
SUMMER FAIR as the Easter Fun Day was so successful, we are holding another family-oriented afternoon on Saturday 13th July from 1.30 til approximately 3pm. Here’s hoping we get another great sunny afternoon! We can celebrate a year at Hummingbirds and raise some funds for nursery too. Look out for pleas for help, donations etc Thank you.
FOLDERS staff will chat to parents of leavers once they have written a transition report for school. Other children – parents may see their folder and/or chat to staff anytime, please do ask.
Best wishes, Janet, Shirley, Carole, Bridget, Gemma and Rebecca
