MPEEK NEWSLETTER

October 2021 Volume No. 1 M P K A PEEK INTO OUR LITTLE WORLD

TABLE OF CONTENTS Message from Principal's Desk Vice Principal's speech Counsellors corner Achievements Celebrations Events School activities Games Teacher's experience Parent's testimonials Diwali tips Our creative team

CELEBRATING FOUNDATION DAY Written by Adeline Palmerston Preschool newsletters are one of the most efficient and reliable ways to keep parents updated on all that is happening with their kids and the school. They're definitely a better alternative for weekly parent and teacher meetings. Whether it’s in an email or a letter format, newsletters are a great way to connect with your preschool's community. Of course, before you begin, you must first gather the information you want to include in your newsletter. Once you've got that pat down, you can start playing around with the layout. Go for a pared-back design that won't look too crowded or busy. You can also choose to use punchy colors to liven things up and catch the parents’ attention. Make sure you have just the right amount of whitespace, but don't be afraid to toss in some fun graphics.

Ms. Ruchi Goel Vice Principal, Sadar. Mother's Pet Kindergarten has completed 42 long years since its foundation in 1979 by Mrs.Aruna Upadhyaya. From a humble beginning in Sadar, with a few children, it has grown to four branches covering all the 4 corners of the city and is rocking the education scene of Nagpur. The reason for our growth and sustainability in the field of providing quality early childhood education has been our methodology and the developmentally appropriate practices that we have been following right from the time of our inception, when these phrases were not even being spoken about byeducationists. Our practices and playway method of teaching comes instinctively from the heart.We understand the \"100 languages of a child\" and work towards the development of the whole child by providing a safe and secureenvironment coupled with love and care, so that the child learns and acquires the various skills joyfully. When the Covid-19 pandemic struck, we took up the challenge head - on and ensured that the child's learning continued in the same seamless manner, without compromising on any of the areas of the child's development,be it Cognitive, Affective or Psychomotor (CAP). After a series of brainstorming sessions, we came up with a well-balanced programme to lay the foundation for lifelong learning. In the first few weeks, the focus was on building a bond with our little babies by givingthem a feeling of comfort and security in the virtual classroom. So the motto was 'reaching out' before 'teaching'.Once the bond was built, the teaching and formal work gained momentum. The lessons in the online mode of teaching learning are planned meticulously keeping in mind the prior knowledge of the child at all levels and also the readiness of a child to learn and Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences. Be it teaching a letter of the English alphabet, number, an akshar of the Hindi varnamala or any topic related to the child's environment, we follow a pattern, keeping in mind the three learning domains of Bloom’s Taxonomy, namely cognitive, affective and psychomotor.

Our teaching does not follow the pen- paper or chalk - and - talk methods. We start any lesson with experiential learning using the body or the immediate surroundings. This way the learning is embedded in the mind of a child so much that on seeing a billboard while driving down a road, the child begins to read the letters, numbers or words written on it or begins to recognize the colour, shape or size of the objects seen on it. We continued giving our little babies activities to polish their gross and fine motor skills and finally their pincer skills. So the structured activities like the games organized on Fridays and the exercises and energizers taken up daily during the Morning Routine were incorporated in our daily online curriculum too. Drawing, painting, scribbling, paper tearing, cutting, pasting, dough play, finger rhymes, role play have helped in the development of muscles and improving eye- hand coordination. The EPL activities are taken to make the child independent and develop his self-confidence, apart from providing sensory experiences. For language development, we have story telling sessions,speaking rounds, word building games, picture talk, music and rhymes and opportunities for free expression and questioning. When we speak of a holistic development, the social and emotional aspect cannot be neglected.So to take care of that, we have activities like know your buddy, birthday celebration, celebration of festivals, interactive way of taking attendance, making leaders to conduct sessions, to name a few; which brings joy to our virtual classrooms too. It is our well-crafted methodology and practices that makes a Mother's Pet child a child possessing high self-esteem and confidence. So, parents, we have a reason for all that we do in class/school because for us the child's holistic development is the topmost priority. We know what we do and the reason why we do and hence we are where we are today,proudly, at the top of the early childhood scene in Nagpur.

Ms. Monica Khurana Vice Principal, Wardhaman Nagar.. Reaching before Teaching When the Covid pandemic hit education, our worst foe became our best buddy. Technology which was the biggest taboo for all educationists, especially in kindergarten, became the only saviour. Teaching for MPK has and never will be a challenge but reaching through technology surely was without the hugs, ear to ear smiles, warm talks and gestures, how would we reach out to the heart of a kindergarten kid? This time, to add to the challenge, we had to reach the parents too. Challenges can break you or make you and at MPK there is no choice, so we had to make it. We realized a smile carries a million miles if it comes from the heart and when you put your heart and soul into any task, every challenge is achievable. So we embarked upon this journey with smiles and confidence in our hearts and on our faces. Virtual hugs and dancing stars stepped in for warm hugs and incentives. We laughed and cried together. We became companions not only to the children but to siblings, parents, grandparents - - - as well. We danced, sang, played, narrated stories and rhymes together on screen. Our attendance never ever went down and children did not want the classes to end. They had loads to share not only with teachers but with their peers as well. We gave them an online platform to connect and socialize. The tears that rolled down the cheeks of children and family members before vacations reiterated that we had Reached with a Bang, and teaching followed suit without a challenge. It taught us the biggest lesson for life. “Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.” “ALWAYS REACH BEFORE YOU TEACH & PREACH.”

Ms. Monica Khurana Vice Principal, Wardhaman Nagar.. Reaching before Teaching When the Covid pandemic hit education, our worst foe became our best buddy. Technology which was the biggest taboo for all educationists, especially in kindergarten, became the only saviour. Teaching for MPK has and never will be a challenge but reaching through technology surely was without the hugs, ear to ear smiles, warm talks and gestures, how would we reach out to the heart of a kindergarten kid? This time, to add to the challenge, we had to reach the parents too. Challenges can break you or make you and at MPK there is no choice, so we had to make it. We realized a smile carries a million miles if it comes from the heart and when you put your heart and soul into any task, every challenge is achievable. So we embarked upon this journey with smiles and confidence in our hearts and on our faces. Virtual hugs and dancing stars stepped in for warm hugs and incentives. We laughed and cried together. We became companions not only to the children but to siblings, parents, grandparents - - - as well. We danced, sang, played, narrated stories and rhymes together on screen. Our attendance never ever went down and children did not want the classes to end. They had loads to share not only with teachers but with their peers as well. We gave them an online platform to connect and socialize. The tears that rolled down the cheeks of children and family members before vacations reiterated that we had Reached with a Bang, and teaching followed suit without a challenge. It taught us the biggest lesson for life. “Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.” “ALWAYS REACH BEFORE YOU TEACH & PREACH.”

Counsellor's Corner



EVENING CLUB ACTIVITIES MAKING NEW FRIENDS AT SCHOOL To facilitate parents in engaging children in joyful and productive learning during these difficult times of pandemic, we at MPK have started with our unique Language Development, Art and Craft, Environmental Awareness, Music and Dance clubs in the evenings. The eagerness of parents to enrol their children for these clubs was evident from the waiting list. This overwhelming response was a testimony of their popularity amongst the children.

EVENING CLUB ACTIVITIES MAKING NEW FRIENDS AT SCHOOL To facilitate parents in engaging children in joyful and productive learning during these difficult times of pandemic, we at MPK have started with our unique Language Development, Art and Craft, Environmental Awareness, Music and Dance clubs in the evenings. The eagerness of parents to enrol their children for these clubs was evident from the waiting list. This overwhelming response was a testimony of their popularity amongst the children.

OCTOBER , VOL. 1 MP K A PEEK INTO OUR LITTLE WORLD TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 • CELEBRATIONS AND EVENTS 2 • SCHOOL ACTIVITIES 3.• ACHIEVMENTS 4.• TESTIMONIALS