Adding a few post on a static front page

I am trying to add a few posts after some content on my front page. I have tried to add few things in simplecatch_functions and content, but without any success so far.
I am using the right-sidabar template.

Ideally, the first part of the home page would have static content edited directly from the usual “Page” section in wordpress, and would be follow by a few posts excerpt+thumbnail, let’s say 3, just after that, using the same layout as the “blog” page.

Can anyone provide me the piece of code and the location to insert it?

Thanks in advance!