Roman Day at Chester Races - 31st May 2014

Roman Day will bring history alive with a celebration of the City of Chester's Roman past.  A Roman Legion will be on duty throughout the afternoon and the Devil's Horsemen Stunt Team will be providing entertainment on the Open Course.

Chariot racing will take place between the second and third race, with a stunt riding display between the fifth and sixth race.
http://www.chester-races.co.uk/racing/fixtures/saturday-31-may-roman-day

Llandudno Victorian Extravaganza - 3rd-5th May

Step back in time to enjoy a Victorian street fair, complete with old time fair rides, steam engines, street entertainers and parades at midday each day.

Visit: http://www.victorian-extravaganza.com/ for more information

Easter Raffle Update

Thank you to all who donated items and those who purchased tickets for our Easter Raffle; the total amount raised was £310.

We hope to announce some news about improvements to the outdoor area  soon.

Thank you again for your support!

Parent Support Group

The Siege of Whittington Castle - 3, 4 & 5 May 2014

The castle has been seized by those loyal to John, claiming to hold it in his name (and that Richard has died). A larger force of Ricardian loyalists have marched to claim the castle in the name of the Lionheart in anticipation of his return.

The stage is set, come and watch the outcome!!

* Living History
* Battles
* Archery
* Craft stalls
* Refreshments on site

When: On 3rd, 4th and 5th May 2014, 10am - 4pm

Entrance fee:
Adults £3
Child £1

Telephone: 01691 662500
Email: info@whittingtoncastle.co.uk
Web: www.whittingtoncastle.co.uk

Book tales and superheroes in classroom!

You may have seen some fancy costumes from the Classroom children and staff over the last week as they dressed up as their favourite book character and then as their favourite superhero.  Here are some photos!

Favourite Superhero

Favourite Book Character


 

Bucket list of things to do before you're 12...

The National Trust have developed a bucket list of 50 fun outdoor things to do before you're 12 to encourage kids to get mucky, discover their wild side and get closer to nature.

Download the checklist or visit the kids area where they can register for extra rewards and games

Examples include:

- Roll down a really big hill
- Fly a kite
- Make a daisy chain
- Play pooh sticks
- Eat an apple straight from the tree

There are even helpful parent guides on how to do some of the things: https://www.50things.org.uk/parents-area.aspx

No bake mini egg rocky road - perfect for Easter

If you are looking to do some cooking for your little ones or do something different for Easter why not try this No Bake Mini Egg Rocky Road:

You will need:

Two 173g share packs of Cadbury Mini Eggs
800g milk chocolate
180g mini marshmallows
400g Digestives

Line a baking tin, you may need to use two smaller ones if you don't have a large one as it makes a lot of mixture.

Recipe:

* Firstly, melt the chocolate. This can be done in the microwave or over a pan.

* Put the Digestives into a large bowl and smash them up! Used the end of a rolling pin. You want to keep large pieces for extra crunch so don’t go too mad at this point!.

* Add in the marshmallows and one pack of the Mini Eggs.

* Pour over the melted chocolate and mix well. Push this into your lined baking tin.

* Top with the other pack of Mini Eggs. Leave to set in the fridge for 1-2 hours.

Then its time to cut it into squares and enjoy!!!!

 

For other ideas of what to do with Mini Eggs take a look at these: http://www.goodtoknow.co.uk/recipes/540399/13-amazing-things-to-make-with-mini-eggs-this-easter

 

There's also some interesting ideas of cooking with Crème Eggs too (use the orange arrows to see the individual recipes) at: http://www.goodtoknow.co.uk/recipes/pictures/34793/creme-egg-recipes/1

Three Little Pigs on CBeebies on Easter Monday

Tune in to CBeebies at 11am on Easter Monday to watch Mr Bloom retell the classic Three Little Pigs story with help from the Tiddlers.

Featuring performances from Northern Ballet, the adventure follows three dancing, DIYing pigs as they go about building their homes, while the big bad wolf prepares to blow their homes in.

If your little one enjoys dancing also check out the dances on the CBeebies website at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/three-little-pigs/watch

Last chance to enter Easter Raffle!

If you haven't returned your completed Easter Raffle tickets yet, please do so asap as the draw will take place on Thursday 17th April 2014!

These are some of the prizes that you could win....

Just £1 per ticket or £5 for a book, all monies raised got towards the Nursery Charitable Funds.

Children's Literary Pop-up festival - 19th April

The whole of the Coalbrookdale site will be given over to the enjoyment and inspiration of stories on Saturday 19 April with 11 writers, poets, illustrators and storytellers delivering a day of interactive workshops.

A wandering story teller, Richard Sylvester, will delight audiences with tales based on local and historical research while Arthurian games and activities will take place in a medieval pavilion on the Green at Coalbrookdale led by Julia Golding who wrote the Young Knights of the Round Table series.

Ken Wilson-Max is a prolific author and illustrator of books for the very young and he will be creating a pop-up jungle in Enginuity with life-size 3D animals and soundscape which will become a place for games and story-telling.

Poet and performer, Kayo Chingonyi will be devising a Grimm fairytale-inspired performance event in the Covered Bays titled In Search of Fear, with local young actors and collaborations with a fiddle player and composer. There will also be various other performances, debates, exhibitions and creative activities based on children’s literature.

This event is being organised in partnership with Pop Up Projects CIC, the Royal Opera House and Arts Council England and is the first time it has taken place outside London.

The free festival takes place on Saturday 19 April from 11am to 5pm - See more at: http://www.ironbridge.org.uk/plan-your-visit/events-and-exhibitions-calendar/pop-up-festival-of-stories/view/2014-04-19

Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron (Ironbridge)

Easter activities in Wrexham's parks

• Tuesday 15th April - Nant Mill, Easter Cards - 1.30-3.30pm - all ages (£2.50)

• Wednesday 16th April - Alyn Waters Easter Trail, 1.30-3.30pm - all ages (£2.50)

• Thursday 17th April - Bellevue Park Easter Bunny Trail, 10-12 - all ages, meet at the bandstand (donations to Friends of Bellevue Park)

• Thursday 17th April - Acton Easter Treasure Trail, 1.00-3.00-all ages (donations)

• Thursday 17th April - Ty Mawr Egg citing eggs, decorate a clay egg for Easter - 1.30-3.30pm - all ages (£2.50)

• Monday 21st April - Ty Mawr Easter 'Hedgehog' Trail, drop in from 11-3.30 - all ages (£2.50)

• Wednesday 23rd April - Ponciau Banks Mad Hatters Tea Party and Bowling taster session, drop-in at the bowling pavilion from 1.30-3.30pm - all ages (£2.50 to make a hat)

Calling all budding artists: Waterstone's Drawing Competition

Waterstones are running a nationwide competition for children aged 10 and under to draw a picture of the person they'll be treating this Fathers' Day - be that Dad, Grandad, Uncle or whoever.

The winning picture will be featured in Waterstones shops all across the UK, and the artist responsible will also receive a £20 Gift Card (or European equivalent).

Anyone aged 10 or under can enter so let your imaginations run wild. All they ask is that you fill in the entry form and hand it in to a Waterstones bookshop before Monday 21st April.

For more information including terms and conditions and link to print the entry form please see: http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/pages/enter-our-childrens-drawing-competition/200002202/?utm_source=ChildrensGenre&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=020414

Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2014 shortlist

The Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2014 shortlists have been announced...

 The Best Picture Book Shortlist is:

• Open Very Carefully (Paperback)  by Nick Bromley
• Weasels (Paperback) by Elys Dolan, et al.
• Time for Bed, Fred! (Paperback) by Yasmeen Ismail
• The Crocodile Who Didn't Like Water (Paperback) by Gemma Merino
• Harold Finds a Voice (Paperback) by Courtney Dicmas, et al.
• Penguin in Peril (Paperback) by Helen Hancocks, et al. 

The winners will be announced at an evening reception at Waterstones Piccadilly, Europe's largest bookshop, on Thursday 3rd April.

For the short lists for the other children's age categories see: http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/pages/childrens-book-prize/1185/?utm_source=ChildrensGenre&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=020414

Reminder: Nursery Closed on Easter and May Public Holidays

A reminder that the nursery will be closed on the Easter public holidays:

 - Friday 18th April 2014
 - Monday 21st April 2014

The nursery will also be closed on the following May public holidays:

 - Monday 5th May 2014
 - Monday 26th May 2014

Easter Events at Moreton Garden Centre

The Moreton Garden Centre have a variety of activities for children over the Easter break:

http://www.moretonpark.com/easter

Booking is required (which can be done online at the link above) due to limited places. There is a mix of free and costed activities.


There is also an Owl Roadshow on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th April 10am to 4pm

Throughout the day, for a donation to the Owl Charity, you can have the rare opportunity to hold one of these rare birds.

Easter Egg Trails

• Powis Castle Easter Egg Trail 18th - 21st April, 11am-4pm, £2 per child

• Whittington Castle Easter Egg Hunt and Trails 20th April

• Park Hall Farm Easter Eggstravaganza 7th-27th April

• Blists Hill Victorian Town Easter celebration 18th-21st April

• Chirk Castle Cadbury Easter Trail, 18th-21st April

• Erddig Hall Cadbury Easter Trail, 18th-21st April

• Attingham Park Cadbury Easter Trail, 18th-21st April

Reminder: update your details

Please make sure that you keep the nursery office staff aware of any changes to your contact details. We've had a few cases where we have tried to reach parents but not had the latest details or postcode for completing education claims.

Changes include new addresses with postcode, mobile numbers, change of job i.e. Work contact numbers.

Thank you!

Wow Board Update

The Wow Board for the Classroom children has been a huge success and there are lots of leaves on the tree documenting different achievements and important events for the children.

For those who have not seen it yet, the tree is on the wall just past the fish tank on the left. Here is an image:

The children have been excited about putting their special moments on the tree to share with the staff and their friends at the nursery. The parents are also giving positive feedback about how their child's confidence has improved by sharing the small or large achievement including sleeping through the night for so many nights, being brave having vaccinations, helping friends have fun and going to the circus!

However, we still need you to help with this by taking blank leaves home with you to complete with your child. There are lots of different coloured leaves in a box to choose from, write on the moment your child wants to share, your child's name, date and bring back to hang on the tree...thank you!

We are hoping to start rolling this out to the other rooms after Easter.

Dial 999: Everyday Super Heroes at Wrexham Museum - 12 April

We all rely on the three emergency services - the Police, Ambulance and Fire & Rescue – to protect our communities and save lives.

A celebration of the emergency services is being held this month and Wrexham Museum in Regent Street will host the event, entitled Everyday Super Heroes, on April 12.  It is timed to coincide with the museum's current exhibition, Dial 999: A History of Emergency Services.

Staff at the museum have teamed up with North Wales police, North Wales Fire and Rescue and the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust for an action-packed day of displays and demonstrations.

There will be opportunities to inspect emergency services machines, try on kit, ask questions and learn how to keep safe.

Tours of the fire station will also be laid on and there will the chance to compare and contrast the equipment firefighters have used over the past 150 years.

Paramedics will be staging CPR demonstrations and letting people see inside some of the vehicles they use during emergencies,

Visitors will also be able to take part in a police crime scene investigation challenge and learn about the skills required to catch criminals from evidence they leave behind.

The special event will take place on Saturday 12th April 2014, further details can be found on: https://www.facebook.com/WrexhamMuseums

The exhibition is on from: 31/03/2014 to 05/04/2014 at:
Wrexham County Borough Museum & Archives
Time: Mon-Fri: 10am - 5pm; Sat: 10.30am - 3pm
This is event is suitable for All Ages
Contact Wrexham County Borough Museum & Archives on 01978 297480 or email museum@wrexham.gov.uk
Ticket Price: Free

Oh help, oh no, it's a Gruffalo!

The Forestry Commission is helping to celebrate The Gruffalo's 15th anniversary!

Dates for your diary

• Friday 11th April to Sept: Gruffalo activity trails
• Saturday 7th June: Gruffalo's birthday party picnic
• From Friday 3rd October: Gruffalo’s child activity trails

This spring Gruffalo trails will be coming to:

• Cannock Chase, Staffordshire
• Delamere Forest, Cheshire
• Wyre Forest, Shropshire

These sites will also get a giant Gruffalo sculpture unveiled as part of the trail in June - check the website for more information

For other locations and more information visit: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/gruffalo

MD Warriors in the Classroom!

Children in the Classroom regularly get the chance to take part in activities delivered by external companies such as Diddi Dance and Pajama Drama as part of their usual nursery week.

At the moment MD Warriors Martial Arts are joining us to work with the classroom children covering aspects of their Little Warriors programme. They are coming in on different days each week to allow children attending different sessions to participate.

So far they have received a brilliant response from the children!

About MD Warriors Marital Arts Programme

The MD Warriors martial arts programme is a multi dimensional program that focuses on the following 5 dimensions: Martial arts, Soft Skills, Self protection, Fitness and Enjoyment.

MD Warriors Martial Arts is a mixed martial arts style that includes: Karate, Judo, Boxing, Ju Jitsu, Kempo, Taekwondo, Kung Fu, as well as traditional weapons.

MD Warriors also has a dynamic new approach to self defence, as well as the traditional sport side of teaching children to recognise and avoid conflict situations, whilst instilling the traditional Martial Art values.

MD Warriors welcomes all children aged 3 to 16 years of age and you can view more information including classes in the local area at: http://www.mdwarriors.co.uk/#

Something for the mummy's / grandma's - Spring Fashion 5th April

For all you lovely mummy's and grandma's, Eagles Meadow Shopping Centre, Wrexham is having a Spring Fashion Event on Saturday 5th April 2014 from 11am with:

• Live Fashion Shows
• Free Make Overs
• Exclusive Offers and Prizes

For more information see: www.eagles-meadow.co.uk/events

Secret Garden appearing FREE at Clwyd Theatr Cymru 3/10 May 2014

Ssssh! Did you know that hidden away in the depths of the theatre is a secret garden of magic and fun...and it needs your help to write buzzzzzy-beeee-poems, wiggly-worm-words and night-time-nonsense-noises?

Prepare to get creative using tissue paper, glitter, feathers, words and more!

Suitable for children aged 2-5 years

On: Saturday 3rd and 10th May 2014, 9-10am

Book your free tickets on 0845 330 3565
(Limited places/child must be accompanied by an adult