hURLINGHAM PRESCHOOL NEWSLETTER ISSUE 1

Hurlingham Preschool newsletter
Hurlingham Preschool
1 Palmer Avenue
Brighton East, 3187
W: hurlinghampreschool.org.au
End of Term 1 NEWSLETTER
Issue 2
April 2014
Inside
Update from President
Victoria Brown
page 2
4 year old Wombat &
Koala Update from our
Educator and Director
Emma Butler
page 3 & 4
3 year old Echidna
Report by Educator
Angela Seaton
page 5, 6 & 7
2014
Dear Hurlingham Pre-school families,
First term has seen the kinder community achieve so much and
importantly we have seen our little ones quickly settle in and
understand some of the important aspects of kinder life such as
sharing, getting to know the educators, participate, learn and make
friends.
This edition of our newsletter is full of interesting news and updates
including reports from our educators on what our beautiful little ones
have been learning and experiencing over the last couple of months.
Please take the time to see the updates from our president Victoria,
including the new timetable that is being proposed for 2015.
I hope you and your families have a lovely break over the school
holidays and we look forward to seeing you back at the end of April.
Kinder resumes on 22nd of April, but don’t forget Friday 25th is Anzac
Day and therefore the kinder will be closed that day.
Stay safe,
By Louise Potter
Presidents Report
Victoria Brown
I am sure I am not the only one who can’t quite believe this term is almost
over. It has been a fantastic first term, with the children very quickly
getting used to their new routines: longer hours for the 4 year olds and
new surroundings, teachers and friends for the 3 year olds.
Thank you to the Social Committee and Class Reps for making the
Welcome Picnic such a success – great weather and a wonderful turn out
– a very positive way to begin the term.
Thanks also to the Building & Maintenance team and to all the families
who worked so hard last Saturday at the first Working Bee of the year.
The kinder looked amazing and it was great to have it like that for
Sunday’s Open Day.
With the three year olds having had their visit from the Easter Bunny (the
look on their faces when the Bunny called Angela to let her know there
were eggs hidden outside was priceless) and the four year-old groups
about to have their end of term celebrations, it finishes up a very busy
first term.
I wish you all a great holiday break and I am looking forward to next term.
Victoria Brown
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4 year old update (Koala & Wombat
Groups)
By Director & Educator
Emma Butler
Australian Animals
The children have been really interested in Australia and Australian animals so we read a great
book called Animals of Australia.
This book was a great way to introduce characteristics, diet and habitat of some of our favourite
native animals.
From this book the children learnt;
• A koala eats gum leaves and doesn’t drink as it gets its water from the leaves. It sleeps during
the day and has a pouch.
• A Kangaroo has a tummy pouch, needs a tail to balance and can jump as long as a bus. They live
in a group called a mob and eat plants
• A Platypus has webbed feet and a bill like a duck. They live in a burrow and love to swim.
• An Echidna has a long sticky tongue to catch ants with. It curls up into a ball when it’s frightened
to protect itself with its sharp spines.
• An Emu is a giant bird that can’t fly. It is as tall as a man and can run very fast. They lay big green
eggs.
Indigenous Australians
We also talked about some special places in Australia like Uluru, the Bungle Bungles and the
Sydney Harbour Bridge. Our exploration into our wonderful country provoked interest in
Indigenous Australians. Some of the children displayed some knowledge about Aboriginal people
and they shared it with the group.
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Some of the children brought in Didgeridoos to show their group as well as photos from holidays
had around Australia. This was a great way for children to share their experiences with the group.
We chatted about Indigenous Australians being the first people to ever live in Australia. The
children wondered what it would be like back then in the “olden days”. There wouldn’t be any
shops, roads, cars, houses, train, planes etc, I posed the question, “Where did they get their food
from?” Which lead to a discussion about collecting and hunting for food. Many children then
wanted to talk about spears and boomerangs.
Some of the children brought in Didgeridoos to show their group as well as photos from holidays
they had around Australia. This was a great way for children to share their experiences with the
group.
Dream Time Stories
The children learnt how stories were passed down through generations of Indigenous Australians
to explain how the world and the creatures were made. These stories are called Dream Time
Stories.
We read How the Birds Got Their Colours, How the Kangaroos Got Their Tails and How the Echidna
Got its Spikes. We also watched a short video about The Rainbow Serpent. The children wondered
if these stories were true or not. We left it up to them to believe what they thought was right.
If you are interested, here is the story of How the Birds Got Their Colours.
Long, long ago in the dreamtime, when the land was being made, all of the birds were black- all one
colour. Until, one day, a little dove flew around looking for food. He flew down to the ground to
catch a big juicy grub. But instead he landed right on a sharp stick! It pierced his little foot and he
became sick. For days, he lay on the ground in pain. His foot swelled up. He was dying. All of his
mates gathered around to see how they could help. All except crow. He just wandered around with
his hands behind his back. Suddenly, the parrot rushed forward and with her sharp beak burst the
little dove’s swollen foot. Colour splashed out all over the parrot. Red and green and blue ran down
her chest, wings and tail. It splashed out all over the other birds. Some got red, some brown, some
blue and some yellow. Some got spots, some got stripes. All got colours. All except crow, who was
standing away from the others. Crow got no colour at all. So that’s how the birds got their colours.
And as for the dove, he soon got better, thanked the parrot and was able to fly away.”
Dancing
The children enjoyed songs and dances about Australia including Highway Number 1 and a
Didgeridoo song where the children danced like Aussie animals such as wedge tail eagles, brolgas,
dingos, etc.
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3 year old update (Echidna Group)
By Educator
Angela Seaton
It’s hard to believe a term has passed. We have covered so much and the
children are well settled into the kinder experience.
In the past weeks we have been looking at summer and sea creatures. We read
the story of the Rainbow Fish - a classic children’s story with the underlying
messages of happiness and sharing. Children coloured their own rainbow fish
with crayons, and then added a wash of water colour over the image. Our
rainbow fish sparkled and shimmered in the water.
We made jelly fish, explored sea shells, added sea creatures and fish to
playdough, and had water troughs with sand and whales, octopus, crabs and
other (fake) crustaceans.
We then commenced a group activity where all the children were involved in
making a giant Rainbow Fish to hang in the kinder room. Those of you who are
familiar with the story will notice that our oversized Rainbow Fish has 2 faces – a
silver side to indicate when he was sad he had no one to play with - he did not
want to share his scales. The opposite face is of Rainbow Fish when he was really
happy – he shared his scales with the other fish in the ocean who then became
his friends.
The moral of the story? Rainbow Fish had to decide whether to choose beauty
over emotions.
Isabelle brought in the storybook of ‘Rainbow Fish and the Big Blue Whale’.
Rainbow Fish and his friends were scared of the big whale who was constantly
watching them, but why??? I suggest you find the book and read it together
with your child.
Several children have been bringing toys and animals to kinder for show and tell,
or for comfort. When Sean brought his teddy to the mat, all the children were
excited and wanted to tell us about their teddies. This led to an impromptu
discussion about our cuddly friends. We progressed around the circle taking
turns to each tell a story about a teddy who lives at our house. The idea of a
Teddy Bear Picnic was born to be held on the last day of term. This posed a
problem. Some children don’t have a teddy but other cuddle toys. It was then
decided that teddies and cuddle buddies would all be welcome at the Picnic.
A list of friendly foods was drawn up and invitations were sent out.
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As the children were celebrating their Picnic, and sharing food with their furry friends,
the telephone rang. It was the Easter Bunny, telling us that he’d paid a visit, and we
proceeded outdoors to an Easter Egg Hunt. Children found eggs all over the
playground and gathered them in baskets. After play, the eggs were divided and
taken home in specially decorated Easter baskets
We have been singing “Little Peter Rabbit” and “Little Easter Bunny Hops” These songs
have actions or a game associated, and encourage turn taking, listening skills and
responses, and discovering our singing voices. The children are eager to learn
different songs and are discovering their volume controls also.
We have been playing lots of different matching and sorting games recently–the
Lunchbox Game, threading, making patterns with colour, dominoes etc. The cutting
table has attracted many children, and the box construction table is gaining pace.
The swing set and bikes are, by far, the most popular activities outdoors, and the
children use the sand timer to ensure a fair go. As the year progresses, these skills will
be offered more and the children will consolidate their understanding of teamwork,
rules and routines when at kinder.
On Monday, we said goodbye to Ariya and her family who are moving interstate, and
we wish them well in their new venture.
We will soon say hello to Miley and her family, as they become part of the Echidna
group.
This week, Parent Teacher Interviews were held which allowed me time to meet with
parents to discuss their child’s development further. I am using the information gained
from parents and children’s interests to program for Term 2, where we will start by
looking at, ‘families’, ‘ourselves’ and ‘the farm’. We will ask for a recent family photo
(including names) once term resumes.
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Thank you to the 25 families who assisted at the Working Bee last weekend, the kinder
looks immaculate and you literally moved a mountain (of soft fall) to make it so. We
appreciate your efforts to make our workplace so inviting. It was certainly noticed on
Open Day when we were joined by local families looking for a kinder for their children
in the next year(s).
Our kindergarten photographer will be in on Wednesday 23 April, and again the
following week when our group portrait will be taken. Please drop me an email if you
know that you will be absent during that time.
Wishing you all a safe holiday and a Happy Easter.
Ange
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NEW TIMETABLE FOR 2015
Hurlingham Pre-school has decided to change the timetable for
2015.
We will be offering one 4 year old group with two long days and the
other group will remain sessional. This has been in consultation with
our Educators, community need and changing times, and we are
hoping everyone's needs will be met. The three year old group will
remain as two sessions, but the days will change from this year. If
anyone has any queries about the upcoming changes, please feel free
to ask the educators or Sarah Pitts, the Enrolment Officer, on 0426
206 202.
Please see below the 2015 timetable:
8.00 – 8.30
8.30 – 9.00
9.00 – 9.30
9.30 – 10.00
10.00 – 10.30
10.30 – 11.00
11.00 – 11.30
11.30 – 12.00
12.00 – 12.30
12.30 – 1.00
1.00 – 1.30
1.30 – 2.00
2.00 – 2.30
2.30 – 3.00
3.00 – 3.30
3.30 – 4.00
4.00 – 4.30
4.30 – 5.00
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday Thursday
Friday
Wombat
7.5 hours
8.30am –
4pm
Echidna
2.5 hours
8.30am –
11am
Wombat
7.5 hours
8.30am –
4pm
Koala
5 hours
8.30am1.30pm
Koala
5 hours
8.30am 1.30pm
Koala
5 hours
11.30am –
4.30pm
Echidna
2.5 hours
2pm –
4.30pm
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Fees for Term 2
Please note the Term 2 invoices were sent out via email on Monday 27 March.
If you have not received a copy, please check your junk box, otherwise, please
let Elaine know, and she can check the email address and either resend or print
off a copy for you. Please note, to avoid paying the late fee, payment should be
made in full by the due date, Wednesday 30 April. If you do not think you will
be able to meet this deadline, please advise Elaine ASAP on 9553 8491 or at
accounts@hurlinghampreschool.org.au.
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Working Bee - update
Working Bee - update
Thank you to the Henery, Edwards, Kelada, Phillips, CarrollKirkwood, Razkowski, Chandra and Potter families from
Wombat, the Faiman, Golec, Hall, Gattusso and Ziccardi families
from Koala and the Smith, Jones, Doyle, Zimmerman, Katsieris
and Leask, families from Echidna for all of their amazing hard
work at Hurlingham’s first Working Bee for 2014. The
day was a huge success with a great turn out to tackle a VERY
large pile of soft fall for the play ground and garden areas. It was
all hands on deck, kids included, to get 8 cubic meters of it
spread around.
The kinder got a lovely spruce up with lots of sweeping, cleaning,
scrubbing and organising, inside and out…... including the
kitchen sink!
It was a great opportunity for many of the families to get to
know each other a little better, particularly the dads who did lots
of heavy lifting with spades and wheelbarrows, blower vacs and
drills!
The kinder really looked lovely at the end of the hard work and
everyone should feel very proud of what was achieved, for our
open day on Sunday.
And an enormous thank you to Jacquie and Jo for organizing it
all!!
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Healthy Eating – ITS OUR POLICY!!!!
In keeping with Hurlingham Preschool’s policy on healthy eating, we require our
families to promote the following ideas when packing your children’ s food for
snack time;
A minimum of one item in your child’s snack box is a fruit or vegetable
Minimise pre-packaged foods where possible
Bring a full water bottle to Kinder
Unacceptable food list items brought to kinder, will be left in the snack box to
be consumed out of kinder hours.
Why are healthy lunches/snacks promoted at
kinder?
There’s nothing wrong with an occasional treat but when you multiply it by
up to 25 kids in a group, it becomes difficult to explain to the children that
these treats are only ‘sometimes’ foods when they are seeing them
everyday. This is why we ask all our families to embrace the healthy food
only policy when you are packing the kids lunches or snacks.
Just as we do with physical education, water and road safety, caring for the
environment, promoting kindness and respect, we are always educating
the kids about best practice. Healthy eating is best practice. As the national
framework (EYLF) states:
“Good nutrition is essential to healthy living and enables children to be
active participants in play. Early childhood settings provide many
opportunities for children to experience a range of healthy foods and to
learn about food choices from educators and other children.”
The framework demands in many of the Quality areas and in the Outcomes
that are being assessed, that the Educators embed healthy food and
nutrition in the program. We welcome your support and understanding in
promoting healthy food only coming to kinder except of course, for birthday
cupcakes etc as birthdays are definitely treat occasions!
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Kinder Photo Dates for
2014
Kinder photos for all groups have been
booked for the beginning of Term 2. The
photographer will come to each group
over two consecutive weeks as follows:
WOMBAT: Tuesday April 22nd
ECHIDNA & KOALA: Wednesday April 23rd
ALL GROUPS: Tuesday April 29th and
ALL GROUPS: Wednesday April 30th
There will also be the opportunity for family shots
on Sunday May 4th for anyone who is interested.
The cost for this session is $10 which will be
collected by the class reps. A booking sheet is in
the foyer for you to fill in your preferred time if your
are interested in this.
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Holiday Kinder Movie Fun!
Tuesday 15th April
10 - 10:30am Start (exact screening time to be confirmed a week prior)
The Muppets Most Wanted
Family and friends welcome, we hope to see you there!!
Where: Dendy Palace Brighton, 26 Church Street, Brighton
Cost: $10 per ticket (prepaid) - children under 3 free (may need to to sit on your lap)
Please book using our new on-line ticketing system via the link
(Make sure you have your credit card handy!)
http://www.trybooking.com/EQOE
Tickets must be purchased in advance to obtain special rate regular ticket pricing applies on day.
Family & Friends welcome
Hope to see you there!
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