ECC Fun Day
We will be having a fun day in the ECC tomorrow (Friday 17th June) We have booked a bouncy castle and a bouncy slide for the children to enjoy. We will also have a visit from the ice cream van. There is no cost for this. The weather forecast is looking showery so a change of clothes, especially socks is advised for every child.
Thank you 🙂
Parent Phone calls
The parents of children who did not graduate this year from Gargieston ECC and are returning to us after the summer holidays will receive a phone call from their child’s keyworker on the following days between 3pm and 4pm:
Monday 20th June – Blue group and Orange group
Tuesday 21st June – Yellow group
Wednesday 22nd June – Silver group
Thursday 23rd June – Purple group, Green group and Red group
Friday 24th June – Gold group
Graduation
Well done to all of our Gargieston 2022 graduates today. You were all superstars!
Graduation
ECC Graduation will take place on Wednesday 15th June. Parents and carers of the children graduating to go to school are invited to attend. Parents and carers of children not going to school do not need to attend this event. Please enter via the gym hall door, doors will open at 1.45pm. We aim for the Graduation to start at 2pm. Children are encouraged to wear their ECC polo shirts.
Transition to P1
Our children who are moving to Primary 1 at Gargieston Primary school in August 2022 are well on their way with their transition visits. These will continue this week. Parents are not required to attend any transition visits next week but we look forward to seeing all of the parents of children who are going to school on Wednesday 15th June at 1.45pm for a 2pm start. Parents of children who are not going to school this year do not need to attend this event.
Lunch menu
Week beginning 13th June we will be following week 1 lunch menu.
Visit from PC McPike
Thank you very much to PC McPike for coming along to the ECC today to speak to the children about the role of a police officer 👮♀️ The children enjoyed investigating all of the equipment which she has on her utility belt and listening to a story of Topsy and Tim joining the police 👮♂️
Reminder : Graduation photographs 👩🎓
A little reminder that we will be taking the graduation photos on Monday 6th June for all children graduating from Gargieston ECC.
Week beginning 6th June
We will be following week 3 lunch menu this week in the ECC.
Staying safe in the sun ☀️
Can I please remind all parents that all children should be dropped off at the ECC with their sun cream already applied in this warm weather. Please ensure that your child has a sun hat to protect them in this lovely weather we are getting. Practitioners will top up all sun cream after lunch.
Our Jubilee Celebrations
We had a fantastic day today in the ECC celebrating the Queens Platinum Jubilee. We enjoyed a jubilee themed lunch menu, a special picnic snack outdoors, making bunting, creating Union Jack flags and listening to a story about Paddington Bear going to visit Buckingham Palace.
A visit from Captain Conker and Shirley Husband
Thank you very much to Shirley Hughes who came to visit the ECC today to read the children her new story all about Captain Conker. The children were delighted to then meet Captain Conker in the ECC.
Lunch menu week beginning 30th May
We will be following week 2 lunch menu in the ECC this week with the exception of Tuesday where we will be following our jubilee menu. Please see further down this page for jubilee information.
Bringing in toys from home
A large amount of our ECC children are bringing toys into the ECC from home. Can we please refrain from allowing the children to do this as some toys from home are getting lost or broken which results in the children becoming very upset. Also children find it difficult to share their own toys with their friends.
Graduation Photographs
All children who are graduating from Gargieston ECC to go to school in August 2022 will be having their graduation photograph taken in the ECC on Monday 6th June wearing their gown and hat. Can we ask that long hair is either down or in low bobbles on this day please and that children are wearing their ECC polo shirt for their photograph. Thank you
Jubilee Lunch
The ECC children are encouraged to come along to nursery on Tuesday 31st May dressed up to celebrate the queens jubilee or dressed down in red, white or blue clothing. We will celebrate this occasion with a special jubilee lunch of:
Platinum Pizza, Kensington chicken curry, Windsor wedges, Sandringham sweetcorn, crown carrots followed by Jubilee jewel jellies and Corgi cupcakes.
Sports Day celebrations
Well done to all of the boys and girls for taking part in Sports day today. You all did fantastic! We were delighted with the great turn out of parents and carers who came along to support our sports day. Thank you very much for coming along and joining in with the fun 😀
Sports day
Due to the weather forecast for tomorrow, we have taken the decision to postpone the ECC sports events.
These will now take place on Friday 27th May at 1:30pm.
Reminder 🔔
Week beginning Monday 23/05/22 we will be on week 1 of our lunch menu🍽
Sports day will take place on Wednesday 25th May and children are encouraged to come to nursery wearing their sports wear/comfortable clothing on this day.
Our learning from this week
This week the children have enjoyed a range of drama experiences indoors and outdoors. They have been retelling familiar stories such as Little Red Riding Hood using probs and masks.🎭
Many of the children have been discussing their transition to school in August therefore we created a school classroom setting in the role play area. The children have had the opportunity to further explore their imaginative skills through taking the lead role of a teacher as well as pupils. They have developed their mark making skills through writing registers, creating class displays and doing ‘homework’. The children have really enjoyed acting out various scenarios in the classroom setting 📚✏️
The children have also had the opportunity to create their own musical instruments using junk modelling materials and self selecting a range of dry foods to create various sounds. The children used their instruments to explore different sounds and rhythms🎶
Walk to school week 16th – 20th May 👟
We hope that you will take part in the walk to school week. Please see below the ways in which your child can get involved.
Monday – Madness Monday wear unusual accessories.
Tuesday – Triple Tuesday wear 3 bright items e.g. socks, hat, badge etc
Wednesday – Wacky Wednesday odd socks and shoes.
Thursday – Topsy Turvey Thursday inside out clothes.
Friday – Funky Hair Friday, let’s see some interesting hairstyles
Week 3 lunch menu 🍽
This week we are on week 3 of our lunch menus. Last week there were a few occasions where the daily options did not coincide with the weekly menu, however we were unaware of these changes until the meals arrived each day; we do apologise for the inconvenience.
Some of our learning from this week
We have been very busy this week taking part in a range learning opportunities. Over past few weeks the children have been learning about life cycles and exploring bugs; this week children used recyclable materials to create bug houses in our nursery garden 🐞🐛🕷
In the role play area we have been learning about people within our community who help us. The children showed a keen interest in exploring the role of fire fighters therefore we set up the role play area as a fire station. To enhance the children’s learning and awareness of the various roles of fire fighters we organised a visit from Kilmarnock Fire Station, which took place this week. We would like to thank them for them for taking the time to visit us and providing valuable information to the children. The children thoroughly enjoyed their visit from the firefighters 🚒
New Lunch Menus
Week beginning Monday 9th May we will be introducing our new lunch menu, these will rotate on a three weekly basis. Monday 9th May we will be on week 1. Please see the new menus below.
Big Dig Stay and Play
Thank you very much to everyone who came along to our Big Dig stay and play sessions this week. We greatly appreciate all the help we have had to weed and tidy our planters to allow us to plant a variety of flowers and herbs.
Week 2 Lunch Menu
This week we are on week 2 of our lunch menu, the menu can be found under the Early Childhood Centre tab on the main blog.
I hope you all enjoyed a long weekend and are looking forward to our Big Dig stay and play sessions😊
Numeracy Homelink
Numeracy Home Link Activity- Measure
Easter in the ECC
We have decided not to have an Easter bonnet parade this year, instead we are having a surprise visit from the Easter Bunny on Thursday 31st of March.
This weeks new displays 18.3.22
World Book Day
We will be celebrating World Book Day on Thursday 3rd March in the ECC. Children are welcome to come in their pyjamas or dress up as their favourite book character. Throughout the session we will be exploring a variety of the children’s favourite books.
Rhyme of the fortnight
Below is the nursery rhyme of the fortnight along with the corresponding makaton signs. Please practice this with your child at home
Word Aware
For the next fortnight we are going to be exploring the concept soft. The children will be taking part in a range of activities to help them understand the concept of soft. To enhance your child’s understanding encourage them talk about items that are soft e.g. a blanket, soft cuddly toy, clothing etc.
Please send photos of your child exploring soft and practicing the Makaton sign for soft to Miss Gray – mhairi.gray@eastayrshire.org.uk
Health and Well-being
This month in the ECC the children have been learning about being active. The children have worked really hard to create our health and well-being character Active Andy.
We would love to see photos the children keeping active at home. Please send your photos to Miss Quinn – michelle.quinn@eastayrshire.org.uk
Numeracy question of the month
Please send your photos to Miss Carroll – shelbey.carroll@eastayrshire.org.uk
Numeracy Homelink
Please remember to send your photos to Mrs Halbert mhairi.halbert@eastayrshire.org.uk
Here is the top tip for February if you feel your child requires support with language and communication .
This is the new rhyme of the fortnight for you to practice with your child.
Our numeracy learning opportunities outdoors
Check out our new and improved learning opportunities outdoors. I am sure that the children will have a great time investigating these new play areas.
Our learning
The children in the ECC have been investigating how water can change from one form to another for example ice. They have been exploring Arctic animals and developing their understanding of these living things and what they need to survive.
Burns day
A little reminder that we will be celebrating Burns day in the ECC on Tuesday 25th January. The children will have shortbread for snack on this day and will have the opportunity to recite their poem A dug, a dug on this day if they wish to. We are encouraging the children to wear tartan on this day.
Parent phone calls
We have reached that time again for our termly parents telephone calls. These will take place between 3pm – 4.30pm. These will take place on the following dates:
Monday 24th Jan – Gold group with Mrs Hendrie
Tuesday 25th Jan – Green group with Miss Bechelli
Wednesday 26th Jan – Orange group with Mrs Cotton
Thursday 27th Jan – Silver group with Miss Quinn
Monday 31st Jan – Yellow group with Mrs Nardini
Tuesday 1st Feb – Red group with Miss Gray
Wednesday 2nd Feb – Blue group with Mrs Dempster
Thursday 3rd Feb – Purple group with Mrs Halbert
Outdoor learning
Can I please remind all parents that all ECC children access outdoor learning experiences daily. Can parents please ensure that their child has appropriate clothing for outdoor learning everyday and that this clothing is washed regularly please.
Transition to P1
We wanted to inform you all that we have started to gradually introduce transition experiences to our children at Gargieston ECC. All children are accessing the gym hall weekly and the music room weekly. These experiences are providing the children with the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the layout of the school and become familiar and comfortable in these environments.
ECC Individual children’s targets
All ECC children will be provided with their term 2 individual learning targets this week. If you do not receive these by email please let your child’s keyworker or Mrs Hendrie know. The purple group and orange group targets will be sent out early next week due to staff absences.
Outdoor learning
Can bubble 1 (red, purple, blue and silver groups) parents please ensure that their child comes to ECC wearing their puddle suit and wellies ready to access outdoor learning straight after welcome time.
Thank you
ECC Poem
We are encouraging all of our children in the ECC to learn this poem for Burns day on January 25th. There will be special certificates given out on this date to all children who wish to be involved. We are encouraging all children to wear tartan on this day. Good luck
Lunch menu
Week beginning 10th January we will be following week 3 lunch menu in the ECC
Registration for P1
Any placing requests should also be completed online. The closing date for Placing Requests is Monday 31st January 2022.
If you have any questions regarding Primary 1 registration, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Mckee.
Lunch menu
Thursday 6th January and Friday 7th January we will be following week 2 lunch menu in the ECC
Happy New Year!
Happy new year to all of our families at Gargieston ECC. The ECC will be reopening on Thursday 6th January at 8.40am. We will be delivering our normal hours of full day early learning and childcare for all of our children. We look forward to welcoming you all back tomorrow.
Christmas home link
Chippy’s Christmas Biscuits
Hello
Chippy the Elf here! Would you like to do some baking? Let’s bake some Christmas biscuits with an adult. Can you spot all the different numbers you find as you bake? Help to count out and weigh all the different ingredients and look at the clock or timer to find out when your delicious biscuits will be ready. How many biscuits did you make? I look forward to seeing pictures of all your yummy biscuits.
Please send them to Mrs Halbert at mhairi.halbert@eastayrshire.org.uk and she can show me. Here is my special recipe (Santa’s favourite).
You will need:
170g (6oz) butter
85g (3oz) brown sugar
200g (7oz) flour
2 teaspoons ginger
2 teaspoons cinnamon
Grated orange rind
Icing sugar to decorate
Ask an adult to help set the oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas Mark 5.
Stir it up!
Cream together the sugar and butter.
Add in the flour, orange rind, cinnamon and ginger.
Mix it all up.
Squeeze the mixture into a ball, wrap in a plastic bag and place in the fridge for 2 hours.
Sprinkle some flour on the table and roll out the dough to 5mm think.
Cut out some Christmas shapes using cookie cutters.
Ask an adult to put it in the oven and bake for 15 minutes.
Get an adult to remove from the oven and put on a rack to cool.
When the biscuits are cold decorate them with your icing. (Mix 3 tablespoons of icing sugar and 3 teaspoons of water). Decorate with any other tasty decorations you fancy.
Enjoy and remember to send pictures!
Happy Christmas!
Chippy the Elf x
Christmas holidays
Just a remember that the ECC closes at 2.30pm on Wednesday 22nd December. Thank you to all parents for all of your support this term. We hope all of you have a fantastic Christmas and a happy new year and we look forward to seeing you all next year.
Nativity
Below is a QR code for you to access the ECC nativity performance of The Big Little Nativity. This was recorded as a dress rehearsal before we had to split into 2 bubbles in the ECC. A big well done to all of the boys and girls they worked so hard to learn all of their words and songs. We are delighted to share this with you. Sit back, relax and enjoy the show!
Reminder:
Next week we have lots of things going on in the ECC:
Tuesday 14th – Rearranged for the children to access the hexagol
Wednesday 15th – We will be watching the McDougalls Christmas Show in our bubbles
Thursday 16th – Panto day with treats and Christmas lunch. Please wear Christmas jumpers.
Friday 17th – ECC Christmas party with a visit from a special guest.
Lunch menu
Week beginning 13th December we will be following week 2 ECC lunch menu. There has been a change to the menu on Thursday 16th December where we will have our Christmas lunch. Children will have an option of Roast Turkey or Steak pie on this day. Children are encouraged to wear their Christmas jumpers on this day.
Our new What’s happening today board
Following parent feedback we have introduced our new What’s happening today board located at the main entrance of the ECC. This will be updated daily with a brief outline of activities the children will be able to access in the ECC and keep parents informed of lunch options. We hope you like it.
Secret Inspector feedback
Thank you very much to everyone who completed our online secret inspector questionnaire your opinions are very much appreciated. We have created this display to showcase your views and how we plan to improve in these areas.
Writing competition
To promote writing and celebrate the great work being created in Gargieston and across the SWEIC (South West Education Improvement Collaborative), entries are invited for a writing competition. Alongside prizes for the winners and runners-up in each category, pupils will have their writing shared on the SWEIC blog.
The theme of the competition is ‘The Gift’ and work submitted can be linked to this idea in any way. You may wish to link it to Christmas, but you might also want to think about the idea of gifts and giving in a different way.
Early Years’ Entries Pupils can share their mark-making or dictated ideas. Entries should be within one A4 page and may be pictures, photographs or in any other appropriate form.
Please email all entries to shona.lawson@eastayrshire.gov.uk
No later than 13th December.
Good luck
Nativity update
Our dress rehearsal went very well in the ECC today. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all parents for their understanding that this occasion is taking part virtually this year and thank you for you support with this. The children are really practicing hard to learn their words, songs and makaton signs. They are all superstars and we can’t wait to share this with you all. Can we please remind all ante pre school parents to dress their child in a Christmas jumper for our recording on Wednesday 15th December. Thank you
Numeracy question of the month
Please encourage your child to take part in our ECC question if the month for December. Please send evidence to shelbey.carroll@eastayrshire.org.uk
Yoga Pose of the Week:
‘Reindeer Pose’ 🦌
Raffle tickets
Thank you to everyone who has purchased raffle tickets this is very much appreciated. There is still time to purchase these in the ECC. If you wish to buy raffle tickets please put money in an envelope with your child’s name clearly displayed. Please specify what raffle you would like to purchase a ticket for: our luxury food hamper or the grand raffle. Tickets are £1 each. Thank you for your ongoing support.
Lunch menu
Week beginning 6th December we will be following week 1 lunch menu in the ECC.
Christmas dates for the diary
Monday 6th December – Christmas card craft day
Wednesday 8th December – Dress rehearsal for nativity
Friday 10th December – ECC children will have a turn in the hexagol
Wednesday 15th December – Recording of nativity. Can all ante pre school children please wear a Christmas jumper
Thursday 16th December – Christmas Panto and Christmas lunch (feel free to wear a Christmas jumper)
Friday 17th December – ECC Christmas party with a visit from a special visitor. Party clothes encouraged
ECC drop off
Can I remind all parents that drop off time for the ECC is between 8.45am and 9am. We carry out our registration at 9am to ensure we have the correct adult : child ratio in the ECC. Due to high staff absences this is presenting as a challenge to maintain the correct ratio’s. If you are going to be late to the ECC in the morning please contact the school office and let us know so that we can include your child in our numbers. Thank you for your cooperation with this.
Yoga Pose of the Week:
‘Camel Pose’.
ECC Word Aware
‘Cold’
For the next fortnight we are going to be exploring the concept cold. We have been discussing things that are cold and when it is cold as well as things are not cold and when it is not cold. The children have been taking part in a range of activities to help them understand the concept of cold. To enhance your child’s understanding please encourage them talk about items that are cold e.g. filling a basin up with cold water, eating ice lollies/ice cream etc. Discuss times it may be cold outside and what we should wear e.g hats, scarves and gloves.
Please post photos of your child exploring cold and not cold at home on their learning journal.
Click on the link below to learn the Makaton sign for cold
Reverse Advent Calendar
Primary 7 are organising a reverse advent calendar for the food bank. We would love the ECC to take part.
During the month of December, we are asking your child to bring in one non-perishable food item to give to Ayrshire East Food Bank. Every child will receive a number and this will correspond with a date up to the 17th of December. Therefore, if they are number one they will bring their item on the 1st of December and so on. If their number falls on a Saturday or Sunday, they will bring it in on a Monday. Your child should have already been issued with a number if you have not received this please speak to your child’s keyworker.
We would really appreciate your help with this as we know some families will be struggling over Christmas time.
Thank you for your help.
Lunch menu
Week beginning 29th November we will be following week three menu in the ECC. Please note that the ECC menu is different from the school menu. ECC menu can be found from the drop down menu (ECC 2021-2022 lunch menu) Thank you
⭐️ Star of the week ⭐️
Well done to all of this weeks winners for super tidying up!
Our updated ECC achievement wall:
The children in the ECC are enjoying celebrating their successes and achievements out with the ECC. Please send any wider achievements to susan.dempster@eastayrshire.org.uk
Our new displays:
The children have been learning about seasons and the weather, Scotland and St Andrews Day.
Lunch menu’s
We are experiencing difficulties with our menu’s which have been supplied by the catering team which delivers the lunch to the ECC we would like to offer our apologies for this inconvenience. We aim to get new updated menu’s on the blog ASAP. We were advised to follow week 3 menu for his week however please follow week 2 menu for the remainder of the week. Thank you for your ongoing support with this.
Yoga Pose of the Week:
‘Downward Dog’.
Lunch menu
We will be following week 3 lunch menu in the ECC week beginning 22.11.2021.
Nativity
We are practicing hard in the ECC for our Christmas nativity. All pre school children will have a part to play. All ante pre school children will be part of the choir. If your child has a speaking role to play we have sent home lines to practice with your child at home to help support our nativity. We would be very grateful if you could help your child learn these parts. Unfortunately we are not able to invite parents along to the ECC to watch our nativity, however it will be recorded and shared with all parents. Thank you.
Children in need
We had a nice time discussing and celebrating children in need today in the ECC.
Our learning – 19.11.2021
The boys and girls in the ECC have had a great time this week on their outings to the local woods and park visits. They have been learning about hibernation and what animals hibernate in winter. They have continued to explore Autumn outdoors and have been looking at all the seasons in the art area. The children are really enjoying imaginative role play in our space station outdoors.
Children in need
We are not collecting any money in the ECC for children in need, however if your child would like to wear something pudsey or spotty they are more than welcome to.
Park visit
We will be taking the gold and purple group children to the local park on Thursday 18th November for the afternoon. Please dress children appropriately.
Our new space station role play area
Lunch menu
We will be following week 2 lunch menu week beginning 15th November
Our focused nursery rhyme for the next two weeks Bah Bah Black sheep could please practice this with your children’s home.
Yoga Pose of the Week:
‘bending forward pose’.
Star of the Week:
⭐️ Well done to this weeks Star of the Week winners for having kind hands in nursery ⭐️
ECC Word Aware
‘Noisy’
For the next fortnight we are going to be exploring the concept noisy. We have been discussing things/when it is noisy and things/when it is not noisy. The children have been taking part in a range of activities to help them understand the concept of noisy. To enhance your child’s understanding please encourage them talk about when it is noisy e.g. when collecting children from nursery the playground can be noisy or the tv can be noisy.
Please post photos of your child exploring noisy and not noisy at home on their learning journal.
Scan the QR code below to learn the Makaton sign for ‘noisy’
Parent council Information
The next meeting of the Parent Council and Gargieston Fundraising Group will be held on Tuesday 9th November at 7pm via a Teams meeting.
A warm welcome is extended to all parents and carers. The meetings can be joined by dialling in from your phone, or via video call from a smartphone, tablet or laptop.
For joining details please email gargiestonparentcouncil@gmail.com by 12pm Tuesday 9th November and an invite will be sent to your email address.
If you are a current member of our Parent Council an invite has already been sent.
Park visit 11.11.21
We will be taking the red group and the green group to the local park tomorrow afternoon for a visit. We will be leaving at 1pm and returning at approximately 2.30pm.
Thank you
Woods visit
Some of the children in the ECC went for an Autumn walk this morning to gather some Autumn resources and explore the season of Autumn. 🍁
lunch
There have been a few teething problems with our lunches being delivered in the ECC we would like to apologise for the inconvenience and hopefully this will run more smoothly in the near future. The menu has been changed by the catering manager and we are following week 1 menu this week. Thank you
Yoga Pose of the Week:
‘Dancer Pose’.
wow wall
In the ECC we would love to celebrate the children’s achievements out with of the ECC. If your child has achieved something for example football medals, swimming certificates please email these into us to display on our wow wall.
susan.dempster@eastayrshire.org.uk
Lunch menu change
Our ECC lunches will now be delivered from a central depot daily. Due to these changes there are changes to the weekly menu’s which the children will access. Week beginning 8th November we will be following the new week three menu which is below
Park visit 4/11/2021
The silver and yellow groups enjoyed a visit to our local park today where we made hot chocolate and marshmallows on the camp fire.
Our learning this week – 5/11/2021
This week at Gargieston ECC we have been very busy. We have been exploring our role play supermarket in the playroom. We have been creating a variety of firework pictures and images. We have been exploring campfires and learning how to stay safe around a fire. We have also been developing our awareness of sustainability and how to save our planet.
Visit to Morrison’s
The children in the ECC were fantastic this morning out a walk to our local supermarket. We were developing our awareness of recycling resources to save our planet. We were developing our awareness of how many is used in our local community.
Yoga Pose of the week:
Cloud Pose (easy pose)
ECC park visit
It is our intention to take the yellow group children and the silver group children to the local park on Thursday 4th November in the afternoon. Please ensure that children are appropriately dressed for this outing. Thank you
ECC Word Aware
‘Dark’
For the next fortnight we are going to be exploring the concept ‘dark’. We have been discussing when it is dark and not dark. The children have been taking part in a range of activities to help them understand the concept of dark. To enhance your child’s understanding please encourage them talk about when it is dark e.g. at night it is now getting darker earlier.
Please post photos of your child exploring dark and not dark at home on their learning journal.
Scan the QR code below to learn the Makaton sign for ‘dark’
Rhyme of the fortnight
The focused rhyme of the fortnight is hickory dickory dock. Please practice in this at home to encourage rhyme recognition.
Super Kid!
Introducing……Super Kid!
Next week we are starting ‘Super Kid’ in the ECC where we will choose 2 children everyday to be Super Kids. Every child will get a turn to be a Super Kid. It is chosen randomly and is not based on behaviour. The Super Kid will receive compliments from ECC practitioners and their friends which will be written on a compliment sheet to bring home to show you. There is a space on the compliment sheet for you to write your own compliment for your child. It would be great if you could take a photo of this and add it to your child’s online learning journal. The Super Kids will have the opportunity to wear a super hero cape, a super hero mask and lanyard with Super Kid badge in the ECC if they choose to. They will also enjoy special privileges such as being line leaders. The idea of super kid is to celebrate the children just for being themselves and promoting that we are all unique and different as individuals.
Lunch week beginning 1st November
We will be following week 2 lunch menu week beginning 1st November.
Our learning – 29.10.21
We have been investigating with halloween activities this week in the ECC. The children have enjoyed exploring with hammers and screwdrivers this week to put screws and golf tee’s into a pumpkin. They have also been creating a variety of witches potions outdoors in our witches kitchen.
ECC Halloween party
We have had a fantastic time today celebrating halloween in the ECC! We hope you all have a lovely halloween weekend.
Park visit 28/10/21
The orange and blue groups went a visit to the local park on Thursday 28th October. We had a fabulous time.
Home link opportunities
Please remember that at Gargieston ECC we would love to celebrate the children’s achievements outwit the ECC with them. Please send evidence of this to: susan.dempster@eastayrshire.org.uk
If you have had the chance to complete our numeracy question of the month home link then please send evidence of this to: shelbey.carroll@eastayrshire.org.uk so that we can discuss this with the children and record this in our numeracy floor book.
Thank you very much for your ongoing support with these initiatives
Reminder: Halloween party
We will be having our ECC Halloween party on Friday 29th October. Children are encouraged to come into ECC in their costumes on this day where we will have a fancy dress parade, play some fun Halloween games and enjoy a spooky snack and spooky story together. Please ensure that children wear costumes which they can still access the toilet please. No accessories brought in for costumes please due to Covid restrictions. There will be no charge for this in the ECC. We can’t wait to see all of your lovely costumes.
Lunch diary feedback
The ECC staff would be very grateful if you could complete the simple questionnaire below to express you opinion about our daily lunch diary.
Thank you 🙂
parent phonecalls
Sorry that we had to cancel the orange and blue parent phone calls due to staff absences, these will take place on:
blue group – Monday 1st November 3pm – 4.30pm
orange group – Tuesday 2nd November 3pm – 4.30pm
Thank you
Lunch menu
Week beginning 25/10/21 we will be following week 1 lunch menu in the ECC.
Our learning – 22/10/21
It’s the end of another very busy week in the ECC. We have been creating a variety of Halloween images and decorations in the art area. We have been exploring the story of room on the broom and winnie the witch in the literacy area and creating props to help us retell these familiar stories. Outdoors we have been accessing the trim trail to develop our gross motor skills. In the numeracy area we have continued to enhance out knowledge of shapes. We would like to take this opportunity to inform you all that we have 2 HNC students started with us: Miss Bennett and Miss Whitty. These students will be with us in the ECC for the next 6 weeks.
Halloween party
We will be having our ECC Halloween party on Friday 29th October. Children are encouraged to come to ECC in their costumes on this day where we will have a fancy dress parade, play some fun Halloween games and enjoy a spooky snack and spooky story together. Please ensure that children wear costumes which they can still access the toilet please. No accessories brought in for costumes please due to Covid restrictions. There will be no charge for this in the ECC. We can’t wait to see all of your lovely costumes.
Star of the week
Our stars of the week this week for using nice quite indoor voices at nursery. Well done
Pattern home link
Can all pattern safari evidence please be emailed to Mrs Halbert for Friday 22nd October please:
mhairi.halbert@eastayrshire.org.uk
Question of the month
intergenerational project
Unfortunately Howard House have had to cancel our trip to the Howard park tomorrow as they feel it is too cold for their residents. We have rescheduled this visit for Thursday 28th October. Hopefully the children are not too disappointed.
Reminder:
Our ECC telephone calls ill take place on the following dates between 3pm and 4.30pm:
Wednesday 20th October – silver group
Friday 22nd October – Yellow group
Monday 25th October – Purple group
Tuesday 26th October – Green group
Wednesday 27th October – Red group
Thursday 28th October – Gold group
Unfortunately we have had to cancel the orange and blue group telephone calls these will be rescheduled asap. Sorry for any inconvenience
Celebrating wider achievements
At Gargieston ECC we would love to celebrate your child’s achievements out with the ECC with them. This could include swimming badges, karate medals, learning how to ride their bike etc. We will be creating a display in the ECC to celebrate these achievements. Please send photo’s of these achievements to: susan.dempster@eastayrshire.org.uk We cannot wait to see what wonderful achievements your child has made.
Lunch menu – week beginning 19th October
We hope you have all had a lovely October holiday. We will be following week 3 lunch menu in the ECC starting on Tuesday 19th October.
October holiday home link project
Star of the week
New wall display – 8.10.2021
Our very own castles!
Our learning – 8.10.2021
We have been learning about fairytales in the art area this week in the ECC. We have created shields, wands, crowns to use in our role play castle. We have been building dens in our outdoors learning area. We have been developing our balance skills through exploring obstacle courses in the courtyard. We have been exploring shape in the numeracy area and enhancing our knowledge of rhyming words in the literacy area.
Health and Wellbeing
In the ECC, we support and promote the health and well-being of all children in line with the Scottish Government approach of Getting it right for every child. Within this, well-being is set out over eight well-being indicators of SHANARRI, which we use as a focus on our journey.
This month in the ECC, the children have been learning all about being healthy and we have been discussing the different ways of how we keep our bodies healthy. To support this learning, we have created our very own well-being character and named her ‘Healthy Hollie’.
We would love to see the children demonstrate keeping themselves healthy at home, any photos can be uploaded to your child’s learning journals.
Intergenerational Project
We are very excited to be reintroducing our intergenerational project after the October holidays. Our first date in the diary for this is Thursday 21st October. Orange group and Blue group children will be attending the Howard Park on this afternoon to meet the residents from Howard House to share a play, picnic and story. We will return to the ECC for pick up time.
Yoga Pose of the week:
‘Standing half lotus pose’.
A helpful link to promote poverty week
New areas in the playroom
We have developed some of our areas in the playroom to enhance the children’s learning. The top photo shows our revamped numeracy area. Middle photo is our new cosy book corner to develop literacy. Bottom photo shows our new fairytale castle created by the children to develop their imaginative skills.
ECC Word Aware
‘Heavy’
For the next fortnight we are going to be exploring the concept ‘heavy’. We have been weighing various items and discussing which are heavy and not heavy. The children have been taking part in a range of activities to help them understand the concept of heavy. To enhance your child’s understanding please encourage them to identify things at home that are heavy and not heavy.
Please post photos of your child exploring heavy and not heavy at home on their learning journal.
Scan the QR code below to learn the Makaton sign for ‘heavy’
Lunch week beginning 4th Oct
We will be following the week 1 lunch menu
Parent phone calls
Due to the ongoing pandemic we are unable to hold face to face parent meetings this term. We will be carrying out parent phone calls to all ECC parents after the October holiday week. Parents will be provided with children’s individual learning targets on Monday 18th October. We will discuss these targets during parent phone calls. Please keep an eye on this blog for more information of dates and times for parent phone calls.
Settling In Reports
All new children which started with us in August will receive their settling in reports today (Friday 1st October) in their bags at home time today. If you do not receive this or have any issues please contact me on heather.hendrie@eastayrshire.org.uk
Our learning – 1/10/21
The boys and girls in the ECC have had a fantastic week this week learning new skills. We have been investigating with size and amounts outdoors using scales to measure quantity and weight. We have been continuing to engage and learn fun ring games while outdoors in our courtyard area. We have been learning about rhyming words in our literacy area through a variety of fun interactive games. We have also been developing our awareness of quantity and that numbers represent quantities in our environment in our numeracy area. We can’t wait to see what fun adventures next week will bring. 🙂
Autumn top tip
Yoga Pose of the Week:
‘Superman pose’.
Our learning this week – 24.9.21
This week in the ECC we have been exploring new ring games outdoors in the courtyard. We have been continuing to develop our number recognition through our play. We have been investigating size and amounts in the garden using scales to explore weight. We have been continuing to develop our awareness of pattern in the art area and reinforcing our knowledge of nursery rhymes in the literacy area.
Star of the week – 24.9.21
Well done to our stars of the week this week for fantastic sharing in the ECC. Next week our focus will be on good tidying up.
Munch for MacMillan
The ECC had a fantastic time this afternoon celebrating Munch for MacMillan. Thank you very much for your support with this.
Munch for MacMillan
please remember to dress your child in green tomorrow Friday 24th September in support for our munch for MacMillan picnic. Thank you
Yoga Pose of the week:
‘Gate Pose’.
This is our focused nursery rhyme, please practice this with your child at home.
Speech and language
Stars of the week – 16.9.21
Our stars of the week this week in the ECC for super walking feet.
Lunch menu
We will be following week 2 lunch menu when we return to ECC on Tuesday 21st September
September weekend
A quick reminder that the ECC will be closed on Friday 17th September and Monday 20th September. Have a lovely long weekend.
No Nuts
Can I remind all parents that we are a nut free school and we do not promote nuts of any kind being brought into the ECC please due to severe allergies. Thank you
Our learning this week 16.9.2021
The children have been loving exploring the Gruffalo through drama this week. They have acted out the story, created owl ice cream, investigated with Gruffalo crumble, created playdough gruffalo’s, created shape gruffalo images and painted their own Gruffalo pictures. We have also been investigating floating and sinking this week in the ECC and continued to enhance our knowledge of numbers, nursery rhymes and animal patterns.
ECC Word Aware
‘Empty’
For the next fortnight we are going to be exploring the concept ‘empty’. We have been discussing things that are empty and not empty in and around the ECC. The children have been taking part in a range of activities to help them understand the concept of empty. To enhance your child’s understanding please encourage them to identify things at home that are empty and not empty e.g before filling the bath you could discuss that the bath is empty and once the bath is ready it is not empty.
Please post photos of your child exploring empty and not empty at home on their learning journal.
Scan the QR code below to learn the Makaton sign for ’empty’
New ECC displays
The boys and girls in the ECC have been working very hard to create lots of lovely display in the ECC. They have created a variety of Gruffalo themed images to promote their learning and development of exploring Gruffalo drama outdoors. They have created their own incy wincy spiders. They have also been exploring a variety of familiar nursery rhymes and expanding on their knowledge of these.
Munch for MacMillan
We will be having a munch for Macmillan on Friday 24th September in the ECC. We plan to have a picnic outdoors with the school on this day. Please encourage your child to wear green. No snacks need to be brought to the ECC we will supply these. Thank you very much for your support.
ECC Yoga Pose of the Week:
‘Side Plank’.
Lunch
We will be following week 1 lunch menu week beginning 13th September
Our learning 10.9.21
We have been very busy in the ECC this week. In our art area we are learning about pattern. We have been creating our own tiger patterns and we have designed and constructed our very own junk model giraffe. Outdoors in the garden we have been exploring capacity of water in fun ways. In the numeracy area we have been practicing our number recognition. In the literacy area we have been investigating a variety of nursery rhymes. In the courtyard we have been acting out a variety of familiar stories through drama.
ECC stars of the week! 10.9.21
Our stars of the week for great listening ears. Well done everyone. Next week we will be looking for walking feet.
ECC Yoga Pose of the Week:
‘Triangle Pose’.
Star of the week!
We will be reintroducing star of the week in the ECC next week. Our focus will be on using listening ears in the ECC.
Lunch menu
We will be following week 3 lunch menu in the ECC week beginning 6/9/2021
Packed lunches
Can we please ask all parents of children who bring in a packed lunch to please ensure that their child’s name is clearly displayed on the outside of the lunch box / bag. Thank you
New wall displays – 3/9/2021
The children in the ECC have been exploring a variety of books this week and creating book reviews on their favourite stories. They have also really enjoyed creating marble paintings in the art area.
ECC Yoga Pose of the Week:
‘Warrior Pose’
Week beginning 30th August 2021 – We will be following week 2 menu options for lunch. Snacks of fresh fruit and vegetables are available daily throughout the session for children to enjoy.
Thank you to Blackwood Plant Hire!
The ECC would like to say a huge thank you to Blackwood plant hire who very kindly donated us some lovely new sand for the children to explore outdoors in the outdoor learning area. Very much appreciated.
New wall displays – 27th August 2021
The boys and girls in the ECC have been very busy creating hand print trees and using cotton buds to paint leaves. Also painting symmetrical butterfly pictures.
ECC Yoga Pose of the Week
As part of our Health and Wellbeing focus in the nursery, we like to encourage the children to practice yoga and mindfulness. We will be posting a Yoga pose of the week for children to try and we would love to see pictures of this in their learning journal. This weeks pose is:
Tree Pose.
Drop off arrangements
Parents and carers are kindly reminded that masks should be worn at all times when dropping off and picking up your child from the ECC. We will be operating with two doors for drop off and pick up to adhere to social distancing guidelines for adults:
Gold, Green, Yellow and Orange group children will use the main ECC door.
Purple, Red, Silver and Blue group children will use the fire exit door located beside the main entrance to the school.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Lunch menu
Lunches are a new experience for us all at Gargieston ECC. Below is a link to access the ECC lunch menu we will be starting on Thursday 19th August with Week 3 menu.
https://www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/Resources/PDF/School-meals/School-meals-menu-for-early-years.pdf
snack
All children will be offered a snack of fruit or vegetables daily both morning and afternoon in the ECC.
Staffing update
We have a few new faces starting with us at Gargieston ECC in August 2021. Below is our up to date staffing in the ECC.
Head Teacher – Mrs McKee
Senior Lead ELCP – Mrs Hendrie
Gold Group – Mrs Hendrie / Mrs Irvine
Silver Group – Miss Quinn
Purple Group Miss Carroll / Mrs Halbert
Red Group – Miss Gray
Blue Group – Mrs Murray / Mrs Dempster
Green Group – Miss Bechelli
Yellow Group – Mrs Nardini / Miss Ferguson
Orange Group – Mrs Cotton
Support Assistants – Miss Law, Miss Larmour, Mrs Johnston
Catering Assistants – Mrs Hughes, Mrs Bett
Welcome back!
Welcome to Gargieston ECC. We are all very excited to be starting our 1140 hours at Gargieston and cant wait to see all of our Pre School children return on Thursday 19th August.
New start children we are very excited to meet you week beginning Monday 23rd August.
Below are the letters that were emailed out to parents before the summer break if you need a little reminder about plans in the ECC.
