September 2009 - Raffles International School

RAFFLES INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
TOWN CENTRE NURSERY
Newsletter |September 2009 | Issue 1
A warm welcome to our new, as well as our “returning”, children and families to the Academic year here at Raffles Town Centre
Nursery. I trust that you all had an enjoyable summer and a joyful Eid. Hopefully you are all now ready to get back to the normal
routine of everyday life! It has been very quiet in the nursery without you all and I for one am glad to see you all return and
bringing the nursery back to life!
End of Year Concert
I thought that those of you who were with us last term would
be pleased to be reminded of our end of term concert which
allowed the children to bring their topic on Animals to a
resounding close. We are very grateful for the support you all
provided by turning up to cheer the children on…so here’s a
reminder of how the event went!
Forget me Nots | Jungle Animals
Poppies | Spiders
Sunflowers | Butterflies
Sweet Peas | Sheep
Bluebells | Monkeys
The Audience!

www.rafflesis.com | +97144271458
Academic Year 2009-2010
We now have seven classrooms opened and as a result have welcomed a number of new teachers and assistants as well as children
to the school. The first few weeks are always hard work as we try to settle both children and parents into the life here at nursery.
Overall these have gone well and although most of the children are settling down with their class teachers, others take a bit longer
to be comfortable in the environment. In such circumstances patience is required but rest assured all do settle down.
Sweet Peas
Roses
Poppies
Bluebells
Sunflowers
Forget me Nots
Tulips

Town Centre Nursery September 09 Newsletter | Page 3
Topics and the Curriculum
As you will be aware we do not follow a British curriculum but we do make use of the English “Foundation Stage” as well as
aspects of the Montessori philosophy in the promotion of children’s learning. In this approach children learn through play and
first hand practical experiences where they are encouraged to be independent and confident; taking charge of their own
learning. In addition, we couple this with specific teacher directed activities. In this way we believe that the children get an
effective balance of child initiated and adult directed opportunities. All of the classes do also follow a daily routine to ensure
that the children feel secure in their environment.
Menus
You will no doubt all be familiar with the problems we
have encountered with the directive from Dubai
Municipality that we provide only a vegetarian menu
for the children in nursery school. Fortunately,
following all the feedback you gave to us we have
managed to encourage them to reverse this decision.
As such, we will be following menus using meat,
chicken and fish by week beginning Sunday, 27
September 2009. There are copies of these menus in
the reception area as well as a hard copy of the
feedback sheet should you wish to make any further
comments. Please feel free to complete the feedback
form and leave it in the comments box provided –
these will be passed onto our catering manager.
Alternatively, all of this information can be found on
our website and completed electronically if you wish
to do so.
Whilst on the subject of menus, please can I remind
you that we like to follow a regime of “healthy eating”.
As such can I ask that the snack you provide for your
child on a daily basis also follows this approach?
Please avoid things like chocolate and peanuts – we do
have children on the premises who are allergic to
these items.
Monkeynastix
You may have met Ashleigh Constable from
Monkeytastix when you were in the nursery during the
orientation days. This programme provides
appropriate gymnastic exercises for young children.
Ashely will be holding a session in the nursery each
week on a Tuesday from 8.30am. If you wish your
child to take part in this programme please do
complete one of the registration forms available in the
reception area. Once completed please place this,
and the appropriate fee, in the envelope provided and
place in the Monkeynastix box.
Arabic Teacher
We are pleased to say that we now have an Arabic
teacher on the premises. She will shortly be
beginning classes initially with our 3-4year old
children. The children will receive two half hour
sessions over the week. We will keep you updated on
the progress of this and of any plans we have to
extend the provision.
RAFFLES INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
OLD TOWN NURSERY | Newsletter SEP09

www.rafflesis.com | +97144271458
Hats and Suncream
As we move into autumn and winter hopefully the
children will soon be able to spend longer in the
outdoors. I would be grateful if you ensure that your
child comes to school with sun cream already applied
and with a hat that they can wear outdoors.
Parent’s group
I am keen to develop a parents’ group.
It is by
working directly with parents that we can effectively
meet the needs primarily of the nursery children, but
also of the local community in which you all live.
anyone is interested in supporting us in this way
please let me know.
Diary Dates
The nursery will be closed on the following days this
term:
26 th to 29 th November 2009 – Eid-Al-Adha
2 nd & 3 rd December 2009 – National Day
If
Heath and Safety
In these days of H1N1 I would like to thank you all for
your vigilance in keeping your child at home should
they show any flu-like symptoms – such as fever,
runny nose, cough, sore throat, diarrhea and/or
vomiting. It has been greatly appreciated.
I also apologise for sending your child home with a
runny nose as has happened in this last week – I do
realize that a runny nose can be an everyday
occurrence with young children. The chances are that
this is all that your child is suffering from, however, I
appreciate your understanding that I have to verge on
the side of caution and exclude them from nursery
until the symptoms have subsided or a medical
certificate is available from your doctor.
The school nurse, Ms Cathy, will continue to monitor
children as they arrive and during the course of each
day. If any child displays any symptoms they will be
“quarantined” with Ms Cathy until you are able to
collect them and get them checked out by your
physician. Fortunately, most of the children like to
visit Cathy in her clinic – so if nothing else they will get
her 1-2-1 divided attention!
18 th December 2009 – 2 nd January 2010 – Winter Break
Term 2 will begin on Sunday 3rd January 2010.
Ms Cathy | Our school nurse
If you have any concerns or questions please do let
either Ms Cathy or me know or we will address these
soonest.

Town Centre Nursery September 09 Newsletter | Page 5
LONG TERM PLANNING 2009-2010
September 2009
October 2009
November 2009
December 2009
January 2010
Nursery Rhymes
Senses
Water
Let’s Celebrate
Bears
• Ramadan/Eid
Cards/artwork/songs
• 30 th
Halloween
Art
activity/dress up
day
• 6 th Diwali -
Art work
• 26 th – Eid –
card/artwork
• 26 th
Thanksgiving
– cards
• 2 nd National
Day – Flags
• 25 th
Christmas –
cards/artwor
k, party,
decorate
tree.
• 28 th Teddy
Bears Picnic
– trip to park
for older
children.
February 2010
March 2010
April 2010
May 2010
June 2010
Growing
Books and Stories
Food and Drink
People Who Help Us
Toys
• 4 th Sports Day
• 14-16 th Chinese
New Year – art
work
• 14 th Valentines –
cards
• 28 th Holi -
artwork
• 14/21 st
Mothers Day –
make
card/invite
for tea &
cakes on 18 th
• 17 th St.
Patrick Day –
card/art
• Book Week –
bring in
books, invite
parents to
read stories,
dress up day,
book stall.
• Int’l Day
• 25-29 th
Health Week
– exercise
class,
healthy
eating etc.
• Trip – to
North
campus to
cook.
• Invite fire
service or
police to take
a talk, bring
rig or car.
• 24 th End of
Year
Concert.