Mother Hubbards
Newsletter December 2013
Dear
Parents,
It
has been a busy few months here at Mother Hubbards and Christmas as it does
every year has managed to creep up unnoticed. The Children’s Centre has
experienced many changes over the past few months and I’d like to take this
opportunity to thank all Parents, grandparents and childminders for all their
patience and understanding over the past few weeks, especially since we started
the renovations to the centre at the end of October. The renovations were a big
undertaking in such a short period of time and we are very pleased with our new
entrance hall and protected stairs. Moving the Children’s Centre to a different
building could not have happened without the help of all our Staff and I wish
to thank them also.
On
a more personal note I wish to thank everyone for making me feel so welcome
since I started here in Mother Hubbards. I recognise that the centre is going
through a period of transition at present and I will ask everyone to understand
that these changes and some of them temporary, are only ever made in the best
interests of your children. The safety and well-being of every child in this
centre is of paramount importance. We endeavour to rectify any issues as soon as
they arise and please do not hesitate to contact me if you feel that there is a
problem that needs immediate attention.
From
all the staff here at Mother Hubbards and myself I want to wish everyone a very
Merry Christmas and a Healthy and Happy New Year.
Emma
Childrens Centre News
Staff Leaving
As you know Ciara Rickard who has been with Mother Hubbards since August
2010 will be leaving us on December 20th. Ciara has been a great
asset to the service and we wish her the best of luck in her new position.
Lisa Moran our sessional/afterschool teacher will also be leaving us
on December 23rd, Lisa has been with Mother Hubbards since September
2012. We also want to wish her the best of luck in her new position.
Students
We have three students with us on placement in Mother Hubbards
from the Liberties College. Victoria Cullen and Sinead Doyle are in their first
year of FETAC Level 5 Childcare award and are working with Elizabeth and Diana
in the Toddler Room.
Megan Naughton is in second year studying for her FETAC Level 6
award in Childcare, she is based in our Pre-Montessori room with Ciara and
Marie Louise
New Staff
I would like to welcome Marie-Louise McLoughlin to our Mother
Hubbards Staff. She is based in the Pre-Montessori room. Marie-Louise has great
experience as a nurse on call and was a supervisor in her previous position in
a children’s centre.
Lost and Found
We have a box full of clothes outside the Toddler Room with no
names please have a look through to see if you recognise any of the items. Can
all children’s clothes please be labelled with their names as confusion can arise
if children have the same clothes.
Healthy Eating
SAFEFOOD and the HSE have released a new Childhood Obesity
Campaign. With 1 in 4 children in Ireland carrying excess weight this campaign
will focus on communicating practical strategies which we can adopt in order to
address the issues that contribute to weight gain in childhood.
We as a centre will concentrate on managing portion sizes for
children and also promoting more physical activity during the day. Early
Childhood Ireland have agreed to support the campaign and have sent printed
booklets on behalf of SAFEFOOD to the centre. I have left these booklets on the
table in the hall. Please feel free to take one.
Christmas Closure Dates
Mother Hubbards will be open on Monday 23rd of
December as normal.
We will be closed from Tuesday 24th December until
Wednesday January 1st 2014 (inclusive)
We will re-open on Thursday 2nd January 2014
Our ECCE sessional class will finish for Christmas Holidays on
Friday 20th December for 2 weeks, they will return on Monday 6th
January 2014.
Christmas Speech and Drama Play
The Christmas Speech and Drama Play will be on Friday the 20th
of December at 1pm. Only two people can accompany their child to the play due
to size of the room. Sessional and Montessori will do one hour of practice
before the play from 12 to 1pm. Our Montessori and Sessional Groups will begin
their Christmas Concert directly after the play.
Santa will visit the centre on Friday the 20th December
from 10am to 12pm.
Breakfast
We have been dividing
the children in the morning for breakfast due to the reduction in size of the
toddler room. Babies and Toddlers are having their breakfast as normal in the
Toddler room. Pre-Montessori, sessional and Montessori are having their
breakfast upstairs in the Pre-Montessori room.
Merry
Christmas Everyone, best wishes for a Healthy and Happy 2014!!!!