read the testimonial in full

Kindergarten Services Staff Newsletter
27 May 2013
KINDER CALENDAR
Coordinator’s
Corner
27 May
Kindergarten Open Sessions
27 May
Lucy’s Quarterly Meeting –
Jamieson Way @ 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Dear Team,
28 May
Kindergarten Open Sessions
Well after all of the buzz and excitement of the
conference, I have taken a few days to reflect on what
was an incredible day filled with inspiration, motivation,
change advocates, networking and reflective thinking.
It was wonderful to see so many educators from a vast
array of both internal and external services attend, with
a genuine joy and passion for the theme of
sustainability. It was delightful and interesting to walk
around the room, and hear conversations and
commitments from educators on their key learnings
and ideas to take away and implement within
Wyndham services.
29 May
Kindergarten Open Sessions
30 May
Kathy Walker - PD - Reclaiming Your
Professionalism
4 June
Kathy Walker - PD – Emotional
Intelligence
6 June
Stewart’s Quarterly Meeting –
The Grange @ 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
10 June
Queens Birthday (Public Holiday)
18 June
Kathy Walker - PD - Emotional
Intelligence
I have also taken some time out to reflect on the hard
work and dedication of our colleagues in the Steering
Committee who have worked tirelessly to ensure that
this event was delivered in a professional way. A
conference of this magnitude takes hours of
brainstorming, preparation, negotiations, planning,
documenting and problem resolution to deliver, and I
am most proud of the efforts of our colleagues who did
all this and more. A special mention goes to our Project
Officer, Kim Knersch; and Administration Officer, Alison
Ashley; who undertook significant planning and
communication to all stakeholders in coordinating the
overall event. Well done.
19 June
Emergency Asthma Management
Training
15 July
Term Three begins
16 July
Kathy Walker - PD – Emotional
Intelligence
24 July
Kathy Walker - PD - Reclaiming your
Professionalism
26 July
Kathy Walker - PD - Want you life
back?
This newsletter will provide an overview of the key
messages from the guest speakers, in addition to the
sharing of some pledges made by you all at the
conference. We hope that the publication of pledges in
newsletters into the future, will provide you with
reminders on the commitment that you made to
yourself and the early years services within Wyndham.
Thanks
Belinda Stewart
Kindergarten Services Co-ordinator
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“The best time to plant a tree was
20 years ago.
The next best time is today”
~ Chinese proverb
Here is a recap on what our Guest Speakers had to say …..
Adam Elliot
Adam certainly kicked off the Annual Educators Conference with a bang and an honest and humour filled tale of
his life both pre-Oscar and post-Oscar. What an incredible tale of motivation, persistence and perseverance,
thrown in with a mix of making the most out of publicity and learnings along the way! Through Adam’s story of
his life on the dole, to the nomination for the Oscar (which he almost didn’t attend due to lack of finances), to his
journey through sponsorship and cravats, to the moment when his name was called out by Adam Sandler and
Owen Wilson – we shared many a laugh and a tear with him.
Adam had a particularly strong message pertaining to creative freedom and passion – that he did not let anyone
take away from him. His commitment to his profession remained steadfast, and in the face of adversity and the
doubt of many, he broke all the moulds, defeating the Goliaths of the entertainment industry in Disney among
many others. Adam also made a special reference to the creative freedom he was blessed with by the teachers,
parents and key people within his life. This is a sound reminder to us of the responsibility we have in ensuring
that children have the support, freedom and encouragement to be children – to explore, to learn and to create
in the way that they need to.
Kindergarten Services Educator’s Conference 2013
Elicia Napoli and Glenn Luke from Altona North Children’s Centre
Elicia (Coordinator) and Glenn (Educator) provided a very realistic, hands on approach to exactly how they have
been able to introduce sustainability from an idea, into everyday practice. Their years of experience in the
children’s setting enabled us to connect to their journey and acknowledge both the challenges and the successes
experienced as they moved forward. Their water tank was a great example of trial and error amongst the group
once they set their mind to ‘catching the rain’. It’s important for us all to remember that it’s not about getting it
right first time around – it’s about introducing children to opportunities where they can safely capture and try
their ideas whilst working towards their common goal.
Like you I’m sure, I loved the clips of the children explaining what the worms (or snakes!) were doing in the
worm farm and where the worm juice goes. These clips connected me to the thoughts of children and how
simply we could all contribute to changing the culture in our centres to ensure that sustainability become part of
our everyday practice and not just an idea or a theme.
To the five people who got up on stage to collect your goodie bag, hopefully you have all implemented those
simple ideas into your program in one way or another!
GUEST PRESENTERS – IT’S EASY BEING GREEN
Ian McBurney – Live ecoLogical
It’s Easy Being Green – A sustainable future, supporting children’s play on the natural environments was the
theme of this year’s Educators conference. The conference’s aim was to build on educator’s capacity to exceed
the National Quality Standard Area 3 – Physical Environment, and more specifically QA 3.3 – The Service takes
an active role in caring for its environment, and contributes to a sustainable future that delivers outcomes as
guided by the approved early learning frameworks for Australia.
Ian McBurney, an Ecological Sustainability Practitioner has inspired and enabled many in business,
manufacturing, government, schools, communities and now Wyndham’s educators, to move towards a better
future. Ian passionately believes that at this time in our history when almost all natural systems seem to be in
decline, it is our responsibility to bring about a shift and change the culture to enable and promote a sustainable
society.
Ian’s presentation was thought provoking, but not all doom and gloom as he provided us with not only
information, but strategies and ideas on what we can do in our services to ensure that we have a sustainable
future. We were all asked to think about our current practices and philosophies and challenged to make a
pledge to make a difference to the environmental education of children.
Let us all be inspired by Ian as he was by the work of Jane Goodall and her interactions with David Greybeard.
KINDERGARTEN SERVICES EDUCATOR’S CONFERENCE
Doug Fargher – Bush Kindergarten Westgarth
Doug Fargher presented on the Bush Kinder program, which he established (in Australia) from Westgarth
Kindergarten in 2011. His presentation highlighted the importance of children’s connection with nature, without
the need of traditional boundaries and equipment.
During his presentation, Doug discussed the regulatory challenges they have dealt with along their journey and
how, with the support and input from DEECD and the Kindergarten families they were still able to implement
such a unique and beneficial program.
Doug spoke about the need for children to experience risk and reward through exploration of their natural
environment. This was highlighted by some short clips that he previewed, taken from Bush Kinder:
The Lever – was a clip where two children were using a small branch to lever and move a bigger log across the
ground. The children had discovered earlier how to use the smaller branch as a tool to manoeuvre bigger items
around. While this occurred, two other children were digging in the dirt at the base of a nearby tree, discovering
a leaf insect and the larvae of another insect in the bark of the tree.
The Seesaw – showed five children that had placed a large log in the wedge of a tree, attempting to use it like a
seesaw. One child was at the high end of the seesaw trying to climb onto the log, with little success. With the
help of another child, the girl was lifted onto the branch and began seesawing.
Soon after the girl fell from the seesaw branch onto the ground, she quickly got up, dusted herself off and
attempted to climb back onto the branch, falling again.
Doug’s presentation was both inspiring and empowering and provided an opportunity for all educators to
challenge their thinking around the use of the open spaces and the natural environment.
For further information on Bush Kinder, checkout their blog: http://bushkinder.blogspot.com.au/
Kindergarten Services Educator’s Conference 2013
A Sustainable Future, Supporting Children’s Play In Natural Environments
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Claire Warden
The day concluded with the inspirational and pointed key note address by international speaker, Claire Warden.
Claire, who calls Scotland home, took us on a journey around the world and into the heart of her passion – Forest
Kinder, where children call the forest their playground and their classroom. Claire shared with us her key
learnings, experiences and philosophies with a particular emphasis on our need to re-connect with the Earth.
Claire also reminded us of children’s needs to be children and of their need to deconstruct in order to
reconstruct and understand the world that they live in. Of particular importance, was Claire’s use of examples
throughout her address, which challenged us all to think differently, confront the ‘fish face’ in all of us, and to
remember the times that we have put children second to our own needs within their learning environment.
Claire gave us a timely reminder of our responsibilities as both educators and as humans to the earth and to the
children that we have the privilege of working with. Claire also highlighted the changes within our world in
terms of technological advances and how at times, this technology has moved children from being seekers of
knowledge and answers, to receivers of information. How do we combat this within our learning environments?
Claire’s point blank questioning around our practices as educators with relation to the outdoors certainly tested
some of us. Claire shared with us the rationale that educators provide her with as to why we do not take
children outside – it’s too cold; it’s raining; when it warms up. As Claire pointed out, in Scotland if this was the
case, their children would go outside only twice per year!
The key questions for us all to think about are:
 What have you taken away from Claire’s presentation?
 What are you going to do differently?
 How often have we put children second to cleaning, packing etc?
 How are you going to bring about change within your Service?
What Is The Kindergarten Services Pledge Tree?
Pledge’s were made in writing by each one of you and placed on the trees during the Educator’s Conference.
Pledges are your commitment to build on your capacity to exceed the National Quality Standard: Area 3 –
Physical Environment.
Making a pledge was a sign of your commitment in working towards caring for the environment within our
Wyndham Kindergartens.
Further pledges will appear as a regular newsletter item to remind you of the pledges you have made.
So watch this space, your pledge might appear in the next edition.
“To make children more
aware of the wonderful
aspects of nature, such as a
simple drop of water.”
“More messy outdoor play.”
“To teach children about the
word sustainability and what
it looks like in practice.”
Did you take a walk around
the pop up Labyrinth?
SUSTAINABILITY IN THE KINDERGARTEN SERVICES
LEADERSHIP GROUP
“It’s easy being green!” That’s the theme of the Term so far and
certainly not a gimmick that will fade away fast. After having
attended our conference recently, you will all now know and
understand that sustainability is not only something that we
should think about, but something we MUST act upon. You will
each have some fantastic ways of encouraging sustainability
within your Kinders, but what are Kindergarten Services staff
doing you ask?
This is what we have done so far to improve our sustainability
and lessen our carbon footprint:
“The labyrinth is a metaphor
for life’s journey,
It is like the walk we take
in life,
Filled with twists and turns
but no dead ends”.
Sustainability is now an agenda item for our weekly
leadership meetings;
Minutes are typed directly onto a laptop as opposed to
written on notes then typed up;
Multiple copies of minutes are no longer printed, they are
emailed for viewing prior to the meeting;
Faxes have been drastically reduced – Unit Leaders are
now scanning documents and sending via email or
emailing directly where possible;
Documents are being updated to be word fillable to
support staff to lessen the number of faxes sent;
Staff carpool to meetings or use myki cards if catching
public transport;
Think before you print! Staff are mindful of the volume
and quality of printing before hitting the print button;
Clean paper (used on one side only) is recycled and used
by the green team to make notepads;
Resources are shared amongst the Leadership group to
avoid multiple copies where possible; and
Computers have all been updated with a more efficient
operating system that hibernates after a short period of
time rather than running idle;
And it won’t stop there! The Unit continues to address
sustainability on a regular basis. We will soon be implementing
new processes and systems to lessen the carbon footprint of
our Unit on the planet and ensure a greener environment for
our children!
Have you got any great sustainability ideas? Send them through
to us to share with the group!
adminkinder@wyndham.vic.gov.au
Kindergarten Vision Statement
On the first day of Term One, staff worked in small groups to develop a vision statement for Kindergarten
Services in line with Wyndham City ‘s vision statement. The Kindergarten Unit also worked in groups to
develop a vision statement. At the Conference all statements were displayed and staff were asked to
vote on the one that resonated with them the most. The quality of ideas put forward was outstanding
and made voting quite challenging causing many to think deeply on what each statement meant to the
individual.
To see the full list of ideas submitted see the table on the next page.
The majority of votes went to:
The vision statement that had the most votes is :
Inspiration
We go above and
beyond in meeting
the unique needs of
our growing
community as we
inspire our children,
each other and
ourselves to be the
best we can be.
“Children need the
freedom and time to play.
Play is not a luxury.
Play is a necessity.”
Kay Redfield Jamison
Vision Statement
To nurture and empower all children to
grow into responsible and respectful
people.
Number
of votes
0
Vision Statement
Education – Enriching, empowering,
enabling.
Number
of Votes
4
To provide Early Childhood learning for
life.
9
Building positive steps in the ladder of
life.
0
Our children, our families, our
community united.
2
Our children, our focus, our future.
19
Commitment to Quality Education,
Inspire the future,
Empower our Community.
1
Challenge to empower through play.
1
Inspire, encourage, empower.
8
Play, learning, progress.
1
Planting the seeds, together we nurture
our future.
2
All children, best start, positive future.
3
To respect and believe anything is
possible while having fun and learning.
12
3
Every child can belong to a Wyndham
Kindergarten.
3
Making education fun and play based,
while supporting and encouraging
parents, children and staff, in a flexible,
open supportive, respectful
environment.
Embracing the growth of the
communities’ children, shaping the
future.
0
Kindergarten a place to work, learn and
be.
2
Our children, our future, through
growing, learning and acknowledging.
0
Our children, our community, our
future.
10
To provide a respectful, nurturing
community.
0
Working together for the growth of our
children’s future.
2
“Not only is being outdoors pleasant, its richness and novelty
stimulate brain development and function”. (Rivkin, 2000)
Is your outdoor play space a rich environment that provides
learning opportunities for children of all abilities?
Whenever adults are invited to share childhood memories, they often describe outdoor experiences
as the exciting games they played, fantasies they imagined, discoveries they made while exploring and
opportunities for independence and responsibility.
When selecting and arranging materials within outdoor play areas, educators should consider the
following:
uncluttered spaces that allow children to focus on materials
children’s perspectives and interests
purpose of areas and enhancement of holistic development
balance of natural, commercial, simple, complex and authentic items
flexibility of time and materials
new possibilities to transform the environment and generate learning
diverse and unusual ways to organize, combine and arrange materials
plans that include ample time to learn from, maintain or change the resources
access for children of all abilities
As early childhood educators, your role is to ensure the inclusion of all children, to observe and listen
to the children’s conversations and ideas, and to gather new information to extend their learning.
NQS: Quality Area 1: Educational Program and Practice
1.1.5 Every child is supported to participate in the program
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY
Kindergarten Services OH&S meeting dates are:

3 June

12 August

11 November
Should you have any issues you wish the working group to discuss please forward the items
to one of the OH&S representatives.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WITH CATHARINE HYDON
"Maximising children's learning over a longer day session“
Sept 16 and Oct 21
5:30 pm – 8:30 pm - Pizza will be provided.
Staff will need to submit a PD application to their Unit Leader for approval to attend.
Moving towards a paperless world –
IT TRAINING
Keep an eye out for an IT survey coming your
way.
The survey aims at giving the Unit a better
understanding of the areas you would like to
advance in your personal technology skills.
The Success Of Teamwork
Coming together is a beginning.
Keeping together is progress.
Working together is success.
~ Henry Ford ~