Saturday 26 October 2013

Dinner gongs and poppadoms


Almost every little Reception Sunnysider to walk through the classroom door at 8:35 this morning, wanted to know one thing, and one thing only.......how long was it until lunchtime?
This question was asked repeatedly to all team members, by all little learners, making it seem like the longest morning in the history of long mornings! 

So what was the reason for this desperate little learner need to determine lunchtime? Well it was this.........a delicious sit down curry meal at one of Whippy Cove's finest Indian restaurants was awaiting them all at midday.

The Team had introduced the little learners to Diwali, the Hindu 'festival of lights' earlier in the week, so an Indian meal, in a real Indian restaurant was arranged to round off a week of Diwali activities and makes.  

The little learners were extremely excited at the prospect of eating out in a real restaurant, in spite of the fact that a number of them professed to not liking curry very much, with one little learner declaring that his Granddad's curry tasted like "horrible medicine".  

 It was huge relief to everyone when finally the clock struck 11.30 and it was time for the little learners to don their high visibility jackets, head out into to the Autumn air and make the short walk to Whippy Cove's busy high street. Sixty florescent little learners, walking two by two, excitedly snaked their way towards the sea front, catching enticing glimpses of the rolling waves as they marched along.

Their excitement reached fever pitch upon their arrival at the restaurant, and within seconds the hungry little learners had cast aside their coats and bright yellow jackets in readiness for their exotic lunch. 

The Team (as if by magic), transformed themselves into dinner ladies, dishing up and serving meal after meal, in an attempt to ensure that everyone was able to eat at the same time.

When finally the little learners had their piping hot meal in front of them, three things ensued. There were little learners devouring their meal in seconds and holding their plates aloft their heads, asking for more please! Little learners prodding their meal with a fork and gingerly taking minuscule mouthfuls, undecided whether their Chicken Korma and rice was nice or not! And then there were those little learners who flatly refused to even to even make eye contact with their dinner, and would only eat the chips which had been very thoughtfully included on the menu.

However, all Sunnysiders were unanimous in their enjoyment of the plentiful supply of accompanying poppadoms and naan bread. The whole experience of sitting down and eating out together in an Indian restaurant, is one that every Sunnysider will remember forever. As will the poor proprietors of said restaurant, following the massive clear up operation that must have taken place, upon the little learners' departure. Whoops!  



A question of curry

Some of us like curry,
And some of us do not.
For some it is delicious,
For others far too hot.

Some of us aren't sure,
But still try it once or twice.
We poke it with our fork,
Then pretend to eat the rice.

Some of us are mad for it,
And down it in one go.
But then we get the feeling,
That our head is going to blow!

 The rest of us won't let it
 Come in contact with our lips.
And we're the ones who'd much prefer 
Some sausages and chips! 



"No thank you.......it takes like cough medicine!"

Saturday 19 October 2013

Fast cars and twisted trousers



Christmas came early for the little Sunnysiders of Whippy Cove today, in the shape of a large box filled to the brim with some brand new dress up and role play equipment

This generated tremendous excitement among the little Reception learners, because role play happens to be one of the most popular activities at Sunnyside School. The moment the box was opened, the setting was bustling with busy builders, lollipop men and women, firefighters, nurses, paramedics, and policemen. 

It was during a wrestling match between Mrs Organised, a pair of policeman's trousers and a little learner, (as Mrs Organised desperately tried to get the trousers over the little learner's shoes without removing them first, a tack tick that incidentally seldom works) that Mrs Organised asked the little learner what he knew about the role of a policeman. 

Having had many conversations with little learners in the past about policemen and their role within the community, she wasn't at all surprised when this particular little learner said exactly what all little learners say, and that is "they chase the baddies". However, when the battle with the trousers was finally won and the little learner was able to stand unaided, he added, "He can't do any watering jobs you know!"  Rising to her feet, an exhausted and slightly light headed Mrs Organised asked, "Why is that then?" "Because he hasn't got a hose!" Came the emphatic reply. "But he goes to school sometimes", continued the little policeman learner  "to talk about his nee-nars!" 

Well......you did ask Mrs Organised!





A policeman chases baddies

A policeman chases baddies
As everybody knows,
He can't ever deal with fires,
'Cause he hasn't got a hose!
A policeman's at his happiest
When chasing round in cars,
Especially when he has the chance
To turn on his nee-nars!! 




"Not so fast Sunny Jim.......I believe it's my turn to do the nee-nars!"

Saturday 12 October 2013

Clipboards and tiny teachers




When a little learner approaches you with a clipboard and asks you if you want a school dinner or a packed lunch, it can only mean one thing......teacher play is afoot!

As Sunnyside School is awash with teacher play just now, the Reception Team see this as a very encouraging sign. It suggests that the little learners are happy and settled in their new environment, as well as becoming more and more familiar with the behaviours and routines of the setting.

In all corners, there are little teachers (and their clipboards) taking the register, reading stories and telling each other what's what, in no uncertain terms!

Following the twenty fifth time of being asked what she would like for lunch today (by twenty five different little learners), Mrs Crayon decided it was time to ask a question of her own. When the very next little learner approached her demanding to know what she was having for lunch, Mrs Crayon asked the clipboard armed little learner if she knew of anything else a teacher does all day. Tucking her clipboard under her arm and replacing the lid of her pen, the little learner thought for a moment or two. "Well...."  she began, "They see if you're here..... and they tell you to line up." Attempting to press the little learner for a bit more information, Mrs Crayon asked if she'd seen her teachers doing any other things during the day.  "Yes!" said the little learner attaching a fresh piece of paper to her clipboard, "they boss the kids about!"

Enough said............................except for this!!!




What is a teacher?

What is a teacher 
And what exactly do they do?
Well...........they make you put your hand up,
Then they stand you in a queue.


They ask you if you're here,
And what you want for lunch.
You should hear them in the staff room,
They're a very noisy bunch!


They make you hang your coat up 
Securely on your peg.
They show you how to bat a ball,
And balance on one leg.


They tell you to be quiet.
But then they make you sing.
When the classroom's in a mess,
They make you tidy everything.


They teach you how to write,
And encourage you to draw.
They give cuddles and an ice pack,
When you're hurt and feeling sore.


They fiddle with your buttons,
And sort your tricky zips.
Then they make you sit for hours
With your finger on your lips!


They help you with your numbers,
And teach you how to sew.
They make you go to toilet
When you just don't wanna go!!!


Sometimes they will whisper,
But other times they'll shout!
So all a teacher ever does,
Is boss us kids about!



"You can't be a teacher unless you're bossy and you've got a clipboard!"

Saturday 5 October 2013

Pop stars and cauliflowers



Mrs Caring put her hand in a little learner's book bag this morning.

Nothing unusual there, except that instead of finding the little learners' reading book lying within, Mrs Caring was surprised to discover a tin of ravioli. As there was no accompanying tin opener in the book bag, she quickly deduced that the ravioli wasn't the little learner's lunch, it was in fact a very kind donation for Sunnyside School's up and coming Harvest Festival celebration. 

In addition to collecting tins and packets of food for charity, the little Reception learners have joined forces with year 1 in order to learn two songs to perform at the Harvest Festival Service. They will be singing about collecting piles of the biggest and best conkers ever, as well as a chugging, clattering rather huge and shiny red combine harvester.

The little learners love the combine harvester song and it's accompanying actions. In fact they love the actions so much, they sometimes forget to sing! So, to ensure there will be plenty of big voices on the day, Mrs Very Jolly took all the Reception learners along with their year 1 friends into the hall for one last practice before the service.

After priming the little learners by expressing the importance of remembering to actually sing, Mrs Very Jolly had the little learners in the palm of her hand, ready to give the best practice performance of their lives. She dashed to the CD player, pressed the button to start the CD, the little learners in turn took a collective deep breath, opened their mouths in readiness to sing the first line of Big Red Combine Harvester......And what do you know, out of the speakers blasted Elvis Presley and Blue Suede Shoes. As the little learners immediately sprung into action and began jiggling and giggling their Elvis impressions, it was obvious to everyone that the moment was lost!!

So the moral of the story here is.........Keep yer Big Red Combine Harvester well away from yer Blue Suede Shoes .....Mrs Very Jolly!  




When we sing of Harvest


When we sing of Harvest,
We sing of conkers, pears and wheat.
And we sing that we are thankful
For all the food we eat.

When we sing of Harvest, 
We sing of cauliflowers and beans.
And we sing of blackberry crumble,
(For when we've eaten up our greens.)

When we sing of Harvest,
We sing of combines cutting corn.
And we sing of the poor farmer
Who's been up since half past dawn.

When we sing of Harvest, 
It should be Harvest songs we choose.
So what's with singing Elvis
And his precious Blue Suede Shoes?!



"Who cares why we're singing Elvis at Harvest...........I say we sing him at Christmas too!"