February 2011 Newsletter
Happy New Year
Our Chinese New Year Celebrations were popular with all the children, who engaged in a variety of activities including literacy, art/craft and cooking.
This was not only fun but helped us all to learn about another culture.
Butterfly Experience
Our caterpillars arrived on the 5th February, and were greeted with great excitement. We have watched them grow, and they have both built their cocoons. We are now watching them with great anticipation, and can’t wait to see our beautiful butterfly’s emerge. This has been a fantastic learning experience. We have many other interactive and fun learning experiences planned for 2011 including the Henny Penny Chicken Hatchery, Harmony Week Celebrations, Easter Celebrations, Family Disco, Joel Howlett Magic Show and the Bob Turner Reptile Show.
These extra activities are provided at no cost to families, and complement our daily leaning experiences and educational programme.
Nappies
We would just like to give a quick reminder that if your child is in nappies you are required to supply a minimum of 4 nappies per day. The centre supplies baby wipes and nappy sacs.
Safety & Consideration in our Car Park-PLEASE
As busy people we are well aware of how hard it is to organise children, drop them into childcare and school, then get on with the day-we certainly lead hectic lives. Whilst we appreciate our families have time constraints, we must ask people to slow down and take care when in the car park. All staff are very concerned about the way some families are using our car parking area. On each side of the car park are two double spaces, with three single spaces across the centre. Sadly, some people are parking their car behind other cars where there is not a space. This blocks our driveway, making it impossible for other people to enter or exit. This is not only inconvenient;
IT IS ALSO A HUGE SAFETY RISK.
Any person who parks inappropriately will be asked to immediately move their vehicle.
Thank you for your co-operation in this matter.
School Readiness
The Ocean Room children who will be starting “big school” in 2012 have been working hard in both their Writing Books and School Readiness Books. All Ocean Room are children participating in our comprehensive School Readiness Programme. Part of this programme is the Children’s Sign-in Sheet- we ask that families encourage their child to sign their own name each day when they arrive, and sign-out upon departure. It is also important for the children to find their own locker. Don’t forget that our School Readiness Programme actually begins in the Lake Room, with the development of social skills and independence
Arrival and Departure of Children
All our staff have some very serious concerns regarding the arrival and departure of children, and lack of parent supervision at these times. The following reminders must be adhered to at all times:
• Please do not call out to your child from the entry foyer-you must come into the room to collect your child If we are outside parents must walk outside to collect their child-please don’t stand inside and call out to them.
• Children are not to run through the building at any time-this includes running between rooms.
• Children must be supervised by parents when arriving and departing the centre, and must not go into another room (Lake or Ocean), run outside, go into the office, entry foyer or out to the front gate unless accompanied by their parent
• Children are not to climb, swing or stand on the gate
• At the time of arrival at the centre, parents MUST place their child directly into the care of a staff member. It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure staff are aware their child is on the premises
• Please be respectful of other children and discourage your children from disrupting a group activity
We don’t mean to be difficult; and understand that the children are excited; however we must ensure the safety of the children.
Wonderful Water
Please don’t be concerned if when you arrive to collect your child their drink bottle is full/almost full. Staff actively encourage children to have plenty of drinks throughout the day, and we refill the children’s drink bottles with fresh water.
Thank you Sharon, Brett, Anneke, Nicole, Tara and Kasey
Happy Valentines Day!