This week at Letchmore Infants' & Nursery School-

• Safer Internet Day- 8 February 2022

  Mon 31 Jan 2022

  On Tuesday 8th February we joined schools and youth organisations across the UK in celebrating Safer Internet Day 2022. Safer Internet Day is a global campaign to promote the safe and responsible use of technology. The theme this year is ‘All Fun & Games?’

   

  Using the internet safely and positively is a key message that we promote at Letchmore and it forms a core part of our computing curriculum. Celebrating Safer Internet Day is a great opportunity for us to re-emphasise the online safety messages we deliver throughout the year. The children will be participating in stories and activities on the day and we would be delighted if you could join us by continuing the conversation at home.

   

  Please find attached an activity that your child might like to complete with you. It asks them to think up the ingredients needed for a spell or recipe to create ‘a kinder internet’. Please feel free to email photos of the completed recipes to the class email addresses so that we can share the children’s knowledge and ideas.

   

  For further information you may be interested in downloading the free Safer Internet Day Resources for Parents and Carers, available at: saferinternet.org.uk/sid-parents.

   

  Some other resources which you may find helpful in supporting your child online are:

  • Advice for parents and carers from Childnet (childnet.com/parents-and-carers)
  • Reviews and information about games, apps, TV shows and websites from

  Common Sense Media (commonsense.org)

  • Help on using parental controls and privacy settings from Internet Matters

  (internetmatters.org./controls)

  • Information and reporting of online grooming or sexual abuse from CEOP (ceop.police.uk)

  

• Children's Mental Health Week 7-13 February

  Fri 28 Jan 2022

  Children's Mental Health Week is taking place on 7-13 February 2022. This year's theme is Growing Together.  This aims to encourage children (and adults) to consider how they have grown, and how they can help others to grow. 

   

  What is 'Growing Together' and why is it important?

  Human beings change and grow- we do it all the time and in different ways.  Physical growth is easy to see as we grow from babies to children, teenagers to adults.  But growing emotionally is also an important part of our development.

   

  Things that upset us when we are younger may no longer overwhelm us as we grow and learn to cope with life's ups and downs.  Challenges and set backs can help us to grow and adapt.  trying new things can help us to move beyond our comfort zone into a new realm of possibility and potential.  However, emotional growth is often a gradual process that happens over time, and sometimes we might feel a bit 'stuck'.  At these times we are reminded of how much we need others in our lives to help us keep growing.

   

  We need our parents and carers, our teachers, our friends and others to support us to grow, especially whenthings get tough.  We often need others to help us believe in ourselves, to keep going, and to try doing things a bit differently.  Even when we have experienced really difficult challenges in ours lives, with the right support, we can continue to grow and flourish.  

   

  At Letchmore this week the children are undertaking a range of activities based on the theme of 'growing together' and 'love and care'.  The children have been colouring away their cares.  Why don't you ask them what they have been learning and what activities they took part in this week?

  

• Beijing Winter Olympics

  Fri 28 Jan 2022
  The Beijing Winter Olympics starts 4 February.  Can you think of all the sports involved in the winter Olympics?  Have a look below for the full list of sports.  What are your favourites?  Why don’t you try watching some news sports during the Olympic games to see if you can find something new to try out?

  

• National Story Telling Week- 30th January- 4th February 2022

  Mon 24 Jan 2022

  National Story telling week is being held between 30th January – 4th February this year-

  “Storytelling can be found enriching lives everywhere. The sharing between teller and listener empowers, feeding the imagination from one generation to the next.”- Society for Storytelling.

   

  What is National Storytelling Week?

  Once upon a time, storytelling was a way to pass the time. Now, it's an excellent way to entertain and teach each other new ideas. This is why National Storytelling Week is celebrated by people of all ages who read the likes of folktales, fairytales, love stories and more.

   

  Storytelling is a powerful tool that allows us to share stories that inspire and teach others.

   

  How is National Storytelling Week celebrated?

  National Storytelling Week is celebrated for a full week in February. Stories are chosen and are told between the teller and the listener. It's a fantastic way for people to share their own story, or even invent something entirely new - it's also endlessly entertaining!

   

  Finding the time to read with children can often be difficult, especially with of modern life's pressures. However, it's an important part of every child's education. Why don’t you enjoy a story with your child/ren this week.  You could even share this with your teachers by emailing the class email.

• Chinese New Year 1st February 2022

  Mon 24 Jan 2022

  Chinese New Year is the festival marking the start of the new year, beginning on the second new moon after the winter solstice and ending on the full moon fifteen days later. It is marked by visits to family and friends, special meals, fireworks, and gift giving.

   

  Year of the Tiger 2022

  Tigers are courageous and active people who love a good challenge and adventure in life.

   

  Lucky Things for Tigers

  • Lucky colors: blue, green

  • Lucky numbers: 1, 3, 7

  • Lucky flowers: plum blossom

  • Lucky directions: north

  Unlucky Things for Tigers

  • Unlucky colors: white

  • Unlucky numbers: 4, 9