We also started the countdown to Christmas using our Advent Elf calendar. Each day the children read a joke or question related to Christmas from the numbered pockets. It's a lovely way to start each day.

This week in Form 1 it has all been about the wonderful Christmas performances taking place at Russell House! The children were a fantastic audience for the dress rehearsals of Russell Robins, Nursery, Form 2 and Form 3. The children loved seeing the costumes, listening to all the festive songs and watching the Christmas stories being told. These traditions always make this time of year feel even more special for the children. Please visit our Facebook Page for photos of Transition's and Form 1's The Christmas Story and other performances. 

Of course, this week it was also Transition's and Forms 1’s turn to perform their Christmas production of The Christmas Story to their families. The children loved performing and they certainly sang their little socks off! I think they all did an absolutely wonderful job and they really would have loved to have done it all over again. As a treat for doing so well, Father Christmas sent our class elf back from the North Pole with some treats for the children. They were very excited to find the letter when they arrived on Thursday morning!

This week, the children have been writing letters to Father Christmas in readiness for his visit to Russell House next Tuesday. The children wrote about why they had been good and then about the special present they hoped to receive. The children's writing has come on brilliantly and, as our first term draws to a close, I couldn't be prouder of all the progress they have made. I am sure Father Christmas will be very impressed as well!

The children have also enjoyed making their Christmas cards this week. Using sponges, paint, googly eyes, cotton wool and coloured card, the children have created a lovely little penguin design. They carefully worked through each step to make each penguin and they are looking forward to writing their Christmas messages inside next week.

We have continued our Christmas sewing project, ready for them to be taken home next week. Sequins and beads were first sewn onto one half of their circular shaped piece of felt. They then joined the two circles together by sewing all around the edge, leaving only a small gap. It was then time to stuff their decoration with padding, sew up the gap and finish with colourful ribbon. I am sure they will look great on your Christmas trees!

In maths this week, the children have been learning about repeating patterns. We have used wooden shapes, coloured cubes and other objects to create lots of different patterns. The children have been great at spotting the pattern and then saying it out loud. Once confident they have grasped the pattern, they have then been able to carry it on. Importantly, they have remembered to check the pattern to ensure they have included all the elements. The children have also tried to carry on stripy repeating patterns on candy canes, colouring in the stripes the correct colours to continue the pattern. 

The children have, as always, loved playing in the classroom and deciding on the things they would like to do. Decorating the class Christmas tree, playing with the construction resources, making hot chocolate in the water tray, colouring and making cards have all been lots of fun. We are looking forward to our class party next week, visiting Father Christmas in his Grotto and Christmas Jumper Day on the last day of school. 

I hope you and the children have a very happy Christmas and a well-deserved rest! Merry Christmas everyone!