ALCHESTER VILLAGE PRE-SCHOOL INC
30 Lockwoods Road Boronia Vic 3155
Telephone: 9762 8178
Email: [email protected]
ABN: 66 201 173 848
NEWSLETTER 1, FEBRUARY 2013
Welcome to all our new and returning families for 2013. We hope you have a enjoyable and
rewarding year as part of the kinder community. This is your newsletter and we would love your
input. Any contributions (social news, recipes etc) can be left in my son Ethan’s pocket (Koala
group) or emailed to me: [email protected]. As this is the first newsletter of the year
there is a bit of information here so I hope you can find the time to read through it all! Don’t
forget to add our list of important dates to your diary. See you at Kinder!
Bec Mackie
Newsletter co-ordinator
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IMPORTA NT DA TES FOR YOUR DIARY
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Wednesday January 30 .................. Term 1 commences
Wednesday February 13 ................ Committee meeting
Monday March 4 ........................... Koala Group Fathers/Special persons night 6.30 – 8pm
Thursday March 7 .......................... Possum Group Fathers/Special persons night 6.30 – 8pm
Friday March 15 ............................. Twilight working bee
Wednesday March 20 .................... Committee meeting
Sunday March 24 ........................... “Get to Know You” family BBQ
Thursday March 28 ........................ Term 1 ends
Sunday April 7 ................................ Bunnings Bayswater sausage sizzle
Monday April 15 ............................ Term 2 commences
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REMINDERS & IMPORTA NT INF O RMATION
Term 1 fees are now due, including
working bee levies. If you haven’t
received your invoice or have any
queries, these can be addressed with
Miriam Smith our Enrolments Officer on
0409 543 058
All parents are reminded to provide a hat
for their child. This is part of the kinders
Sunsmart policy in force during term 1
and term 4
Children also need to bring their own
drink bottle and place it on the drink
trolley when they come in to kinder
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We encourage the children to be
independent and carry their own bags
and hang them on their hook
We like to encourage the children to
greet both the teachers on arrival, as well
as their friends – as well as being polite it
helps us all remember each others names
Please remember to sign your child in on
arrival and departure, and check that you
are signing net to the right name
When playing in the front garden please
remind children not to climb the fences
and ramp rails
Alchester Village Pre-School Newsletter
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It is important that we all ensure the gate
closes
properly
and
only
our
child/children go out, and other children
remain inside to wait for their own
parents
If your child is unwell, please keep them
home to ensure other children and the
staff, do not get sick as well – don’t ask
them if they want to come as they will
invariably answer “yes” regardless of
whether or not they are well enough to
attend
Don’t forget to regularly check your
childs pocket for up to date information,
other
program
and
community
information is displayed throughout the
foyer
At the end of the session we expect the
children to stay on the mat until we see
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FUNDRAISING
By now you should have seen the ‘Pop Sox’
display in the foyer, as well as a notice and
order form in your child’s pocket. These are
brilliant idea, and will save most of us a fair bit
of paper towel! Money from each purchase
goes to our kinder so buy for your friends and
family as well! Orders are due back, with
payment, by Monday March 4.
We have booked Sunday April 7 for the
Bunnings Sausage Sizzle. This will be held
from 9am until 4pm and we would like as
many volunteers as possible. A roster will be
put up towards the middle of March so please
give up an hour or two of your time to help
with what is a FUN day and the biggest
fundraiser of the year. If you can help and
have a current Food Handlers Certificate
please let us know.
Throughout the year we have iron-on logo’s
and sun hats for sale. The logo’s are a great
idea: they are easy to apply (don’t forget the
instructions) to most t-shirts or windcheaters;
they take the hassle out of what to wear; and
February 2013
their parents and call their name, please
ensure siblings and other children
understand this and don’t call out or
encourage children to leave the mat area
If you are unable to attend for duty on
the day you have indicated, please
organise a replacement or swap as the
staff rely on the helpers when planning
activities
When parking out the front please heed
the signs, the council are very vigilant in
issuing fines so if Linda asks you to move
your car she is looking out for you! We
also suggest crossing at the crossing
when she is in attendance
Finally, don’t forget to introduce yourself
to other parents – it sets a good example
for the children and lifelong friendships
are often forged this way!!
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not only make the kids feel special, but helps
them get ready for wearing school uniforms.
Please see the staff to purchase your logo’s
for $5 or hats for $7.50 (it helps to have
correct change).
When shopping at Alchester Village IGA Plus
Liquor don’t forget to place your docket in the
Alchester Village Kinder box at the front of the
store to be included in the ‘Dollars for
Dockets’ promotion.
The Good Guys in Bayswater offer ‘Bayswater
Bucks’ if you mention Alchester Village PreSchool at time of purchase you will receive a
voucher that can be passed on to staff at
kinder and used to purchase equipment for
the kinder.
The fundraising committee members are:
Sylvie (Jasper’s Mum), May (Noah’s Mum) and
Nerissa (Shelby’s Mum), please let us know if
you have any ideas, would like to help in any
way, or have any feedback for us.
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Alchester Village Pre-School Newsletter
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WORKING BEE
February 2013
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Our first working bee is set for Friday March 15, in the evening. These twilight working bees have
been very successful in the past so please come along and lend a hand to tidy up our equipment and
the grounds. A list of proposed tasks, and required equipment/tools with be put up in the foyer in
the next couple of weeks. Please put your name down and help us keep the kinder in tip-top shape!
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‘GET TO K NOW YOU’ FAMILY BB Q
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The committee have decided it would be a great idea to have a BBQ for all our families to meet and
socialise – after all many of us will end up seeing each other in the school ground for the next eight
years and potentially fourteen years!!! This is also a good opportunity to chat with the parents of
the kids your child is making friends with. The BBQ is to be on Sunday March 24 from 11am at The
Basin Triangle Park opposite the Post Office and will be BYO picnic/BBQ. Please come along and help
make this day a success!
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WALL ABY GROUP REP ORT FEBRUARY 2013
We have had a smooth start to the year with a
set up day on January 29, interviews later that
day and all day on January 31 and sessions
starting on February 5. With the increase in
hours of the 4 year old groups we had to shut
down Wombat group and just have 2 sessions
of 3 year olds this year. We have 15 children
coming twice a week and 6 children only
coming on Tuesday and 6 different children
on Thursday. This adds up to 27 children in
the group but only 21 at the one time.
Our emphasis at the moment is on
establishing routines and we run an inside
time, group time, snack all together, outside
time and finish with a story. The 3 year olds
seem to cope better when they know the
structure of the session and particularly that
mum comes back after the story.
We had all the children coming together
yesterday for the first time and this threw a
few children as they were a little intimidated
by the larger numbers. However, after a little
while they settled down- we are continuing
with shorter hours until the end of next week.
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as the children explore the kindergarten
environment. There are areas for group play
such as in the home corner and dough table,
and areas for quieter, solitary play such as rice
play and the library corner. Outside there are
also areas where the children can get away on
their own if things become a bit too much.
There is also lots of water play outside to keep
the children cool.
In group time we are singing some new songs
but mainly nursery rhymes that are familiar to
the children. Story time at the end is also very
short as the children tend to struggle to sit
still for too long at this time of the year.
If there are any issues concerning your child
that you need to talk about I am available at
the end of the session for that.
I will be taking some of my long service leave
from March 14 until the end of the term and
Di Davenport will be relieving for me during
this time.
Rhonda Parkinson
(3 year old coordinator)
We are having fairly basic activities, such as
pasting, painting and dough, at the moment
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Alchester Village Pre-School Newsletter
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FOUR-YEAR-OLD PROGR AM REP ORT FEBRUARY 2013
We currently have 23 children in Koala group
and 24 children in Possum group. We had
some change their minds or their
circumstances changed and they could not
attend. Therefore, we have 5 vacancies.
We are currently in the process of settling the
children into our program. We are pleased to
say they are all coming in happily and able to
find something to do. They are moving well
between the in/outdoors.
Though it is inconvenient, we appreciate your
co operation with these shorter times as this
is the time we establish our routines and
expectations ie walk when inside, use soft
inside voices, packing away after themselves,
asking their friends if they can join in play,
how to sit during group times, listening when
others are talking, hand up when they want to
say something, sitting at end of session until
they hear their name being called and
washing hands ( after messy play, toileting
and before snack time).
As of this week we have also started our snack
routine.
There is a big emphasis on learning each
other’s names and to ask each other about
their names when they are approaching them
in play or at the tables.
Due to many children having spent time at the
beach during the holidays we have been
discussing the Beach and the things we do,
and the creatures we see, when at the beach.
Many of the props that have been placed out
are reflecting this. The children have enjoyed
digging in the sandpit and making many deep
holes and sandcastles. Lots of water has been
carted to the sandpit.
February 2013
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It is pleasing to see co operation, sharing and
taking turns, especially when they are waiting
for the swings or the trampoline.
We have individual, small group and large
group activities, for the children to engage in,
both in and outdoors. These support children
who may only need one other friend to play
with or would only like to interact with a small
group, or even like to spend time on their own.
You will notice that in the Weekly/Individual
Reflection books, and in my reports in the
Newsletters, I will be making references to the
Victorian Early Years Framework, from which
our curriculum is developed. Hopefully this
will help you see how the things we do relate
to the framework. Though most are ongoing
and will be evident with many things we do,
we will aim to highlight how specific things
relate to the Framework. In these initial
sessions and during term 1 our aims are to:
Help children feel safe, secure and supported
Identity:
 build secure attachments with the
educators.
 use effective routines to help make
predicated transitions.
 sense and respond to a feeling of
belonging
 be able to communicate their needs for
comfort and assistance
 feel recognised and respected for who
they are
 show interest in others and being part of
the group
 engage in and contribute to shared play
experiences
 display awareness of and respect for
other’s perspectives
 reflect on their actions and consider
consequences for others.
We have also had many cakes and other
treats being made in the outdoor kitchen.
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Alchester Village Pre-School Newsletter
Children to develop a sense of belonging to
groups/communities
Community:
 listen to others ideas and respect
different ways of being and doing
 notice and react in positive ways to
similarities and differences among people
Take increasing responsibility for their own
Health and Physical Wellbeing
Wellbeing:
 show an increasing independence and
competency in personal hygiene, care and
safety for selves and others.
 show enthusiasm for participating in
physical play and negotiate play spaces to
ensure the safety and wellbeing of
themselves and others.
Children to interact verbally and non verbally
with others.
Communication:
 sing, chant, rhymes, jingles and songs
February 2013
 listen to stories and try to anticipate what
will happen next
 greet friends, staff.
Please remember to ask any questions you
may have.
General information:
As we are adjusting to our new timetable,
over the next few weeks and during the year,
we would appreciate feedback on how you
think it working. This will guide us for when
we are looking forward to next year.
We will be having a student from Monash
University attend as of the 18th February till
the end of term. Her name is Hayley. Please
help make her feel welcomed.
Effie & Chris
4 Year-old co-ordinators
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