|
|
COBNUTS
KINDERGARTEN NEWSLETTER MAY 2008
In the Spring term we welcomed Lani and Charlotte and their families to
the kindergarten. We now have a group of fourteen children, and this is
expected to grow in the Autumn term - interested parents are advised to
apply early for places next year!
We look forward to Summer, and the festivals we celebrate. We are very
fortunate to have such helpful and supportive parents who are
strengthening the kindergarten community. It is really wonderful to hear
the children talk about forthcoming events, such as festivals, and how
their parents and siblings will be 'coming for a party' at the
kindergarten. For the children, not only do festivals build strong
bridges between home and the kindergarten, but such events also live on
in the children's play, as they re-enact the festival events. It is also
very special to see the children who have moved from kindergarten to
school, how big they seem now! And so happy, confident and able too.
At Cobnuts many strong friendships have grown between families, often
spanning a number of years, sometimes formed during early parenting days
whilst at the parent and toddler group. Festivals rekindle and
strengthen these relationships. We look forward to welcoming more new
families and their children to the kindergarten.
Sue
Story-telling at Maidstone Museum
On March 11th Cobnuts was invited to Maidstone Museum to tell the story
of Goldilocks and the Three Bears at the regular Tuesday slot. This
session is aimed at children aged three years to six and is always very
popular.
As the children were very familiar with the tale of the three bears,
they were very attentive listeners. They were able to join in with the
bears ‘chorus’ when they return from their walk to find their porridge
eaten, their chairs broden and their beds crumpled!
After the story the children made a bear crown with furry ears. Growling
bears could be heard resonating throughout the museum!
As well as this story, a simple tale about seeds was told. The children
were captivated at the idea of the rain fairies waking the seeds and the
earth fairies coning to help the roots grow and hold firm. To compliment
the story each child made their own spring garden. They enjoyed spooning
the soil into their dish, sprinkling on the seed and ‘tucking the seeds
into bed’.
Zoe
Easter Bread Making & Breakfast
Easter Saturday saw the kindergarten full of excited children and
parents eager to make and bake bread for the Easter breakfast the next
day. Sue and Tansy led us all though the craft of bread making, though
it’s true to say parents lagged behind the children who regularly bake
bread as a kindergarten activity. Many muscles were exercised as much
bread was kneaded for Sunday morning’s breakfast. The bold and the brave
amongst us even ventured to throw some shapes, following Sue’s lead in
building the famous ‘Four Way Plait’.
The carefully mixed, creatively plaited, and cautiously carried dough
was taken to homes across Maidstone, where it was proven beyond doubt,
and baked golden in hot ovens. We went to sleep with the warm smell of
fresh bread filling the air, and expectations of the following morning
filling our heads.
Easter Sunday didn’t so much break as thaw into a flurry of big wet snow
flakes. We wondered if the Easter Bunny would be snow bound or if he
would slide his way to Cobnuts. It was a tense time. We arrived at
Cobnuts, with our bread and contributions to breakfast, and joined the
swirl of people laying out tables, chairs, cutlery, crockery and
spreading a feast to fill the kindergarten. Outside the snowflakes fell
a little bigger and harder, and we wondered as we looked through the
leaded ‘Christmas- at-Easter’ windows into the garden if the Easter
Bunny would make it. More people came and the numbers swelled to fifty.
The chattering and laughing mixed together to give the room a
comfortable buzz on a chilly day, and after listening to a reading,
singing a round, and grace we began to eat: bread (of course!), jams,
honeys, cooked meats, and cheese filled our plates and coffee or juice
our cups. We talked with old friends and new, as the snow flakes tumbled
past the windows. If we didn’t get home, that would be OK – we were all
together, with friends, and with enough food to see us through….After a
while, fed and in good humour, breakfast gave way to Tansy telling a
seasonal story that had the children enthralled, until they went
outside, into the snow covered garden to find the hidden chocolate eggs.
As far as we know, all the eggs and all the children were accounted for.
As we left, shepherding children back to the car and clutching our
collection of Easter eggs, I looked over my shoulder once more and
thought I saw, just for a second, the Easter bunny hopping away down the
garden. It was that kind of weekend really, everything you could wish
for., with a little bit more thrown in.
Chris
Spring Picnic
We met at twelve, at Fant Wildlife reserve, loaded down with bags of
spare clothes, towels, buckets, coats, blankets , wellies and the
picnic. It was good to see all of our friends arriving. What great
weather again, just right for pond dipping, mud-swirling, weed flicking,
tree climbing and animal watching.....
Harris in the stream; Joel and Jasper on their running circuit; Sol and
Maela spelling out words; Josh inspecting pond life; Emmie playing with
the water; Jacob and Ethan with their mums and the girls in the 'girls
only area'....
Children playing, mums chatting, sun shining, everybody happy and the
call of 'here comes a train': parents waving and children wondering.
'Can I have something else to eat?' to share with friends. A happy
afternoon on a picnic.
Diane
Craft Group
A craft group has started on Thursday afternoons (term time), running
from 1.15pm to 2.45pm. We will be working towards making items for a
stall we are hoping to run at the Michael Hall advent fair this year, as
a fundraiser for Cobnuts. All materials and project ideas can be
provided, although suggestions for new ideas are always very welcome.
Last year the group produced some beautiful toys and decorations for a
stall at the Blackthorn advent fair, so we are raising our sights even
higher this year! The group provides a friendly meeting place, with
plenty of chat, tea and cake between sewing if we’re lucky! Pre-school
children are welcome to attend along with parents, so that they can play
as we work.
Tansy
Volunteers Needed
Maureen has decided to step back from her role as bookkeeper and
secretary to Cobnuts, due to her increased commitments at the Blackthorn
Trust.
She has carried out her work for Cobnuts over the last four years
extremely conscientiously, and we are very grateful to her. We are now
looking for two people to replace her:
1. A bookkeeper- to run the day to day accounts. Tasks include writing
cheques, paying in money to the bank, sending our invoices to parents,
doing salaries and PAYE, and collecting Gift Aid. Maureen reckons that
it takes about 1 day's work a month. Some experience would be useful but
not essential as you could be trained. There is a possibility of being
given a laptop on which to do the accounts.
2. A secretary- to be the named point of contact for Ofsted and the
Charities Commission. To attend Cobnuts committee meetings (which are
one evening every 6 weeks, starting at 7.30pm)
If you feel you could help with either of these roles and would like to
be more involved in practically supporting Cobnuts, please contact
Christopher, the committee chairperson, on 01622 728008.
|
