February Newsletter
Welcome everyone to our latest edition of the Country Kids monthly newsletter. We have lots of interesting news for you …..
Congratulations!
Our warmest congratulations go out to our families with new babies….we have had two boys and two girls born recently:
· To Tiia & Jamie, after three boys, a beautiful little girl named Claire.
· To Shaun and Shannon, a gorgeous baby sister for Aiden named Georgie.
· To Aidan, Candice & Seth, a baby boy named Riley; and
· To Jess & Maddison & family, a boy (finally!!), named Tyler.
Well done to all of you!!
Our New Director – Jodi Sweet has been in training to become our new Director of Country Kids! She is doing a fantastic job, and as soon as she finishes her Diploma (which should be next week), she will be enrolling in her Advanced Diploma, and will begin work as our new Director. We are very proud of her and know she will do a great job! Please don’t hesitate to talk to her about any matter.
Melanie Zanatta – Mel had her last day with us on Friday of last week, and is now on maternity leave. Hopefully she will be back with us at the end of this year. All the best for the birth of your baby Mel and Tony.
Pick Up/Drop Off Reminder – please ensure you always let a staff member know when you drop your child off in the morning, and also when you pick them up in the afternoon, as we need to know at all times which children are in our care. Please never take your child home in the afternoon without letting their teacher know. This is very important for the safety of all the children.
Spare Clothes – could we please have spare clothes in your child’s backpack every day, especially now the weather is warm, and we are doing more outside water play.
Chinese New Year – last week, the Centre celebrated Chinese New Year. The children learnt how to say hello in Chinese, we ate a variety of Chinese foods, looked at Chinese clothes, and did lots of different arts and crafts in this theme. Have a look on the walls in the rooms – the children have done an awesome job. The Pre-Schoolers even used chopsticks, and some of them were very good!
Lost Property – could you please check at home and in your child’s backpack for a pair of shorts and a t-shirt that have gone missing from the Junior Kindy room.
We are also missing a pair of denim shorts with a pink flower on the back & a frill on the bottom, also from the Junior Kindy room.
Please let us know if you have either of these items - thank you!
Jelly Bean Competition – there were 843 jelly beans in the jar, and the winner was 9 year old Alesha. She was, of course, thrilled! Thank you to all of you who had a guess!
From the office:
Parents, we ask that fees are in advance at all times. If your account is behind, could you please arrange for payment this week. This saves the embarrassment of us having to speak to you in the busy drop off/pick up time! Thank you.
Half Price Days – remember, our fifth day of care is now half price. Please ask Mel if you would like to take advantage of this offer.
We do have availability in rooms on some days; so if you would like to increase your child’s days here at the Centre, please talk to Mel or Brian in the office.
Slip, Slop, Slap - parents, please dress your child suitably for these hot summer days, and when possible could you please apply sunscreen before coming into the Centre. We do not go outside in the middle of the day, and when we do go outside, we always apply sunscreen to every child, but additional protection is needed for young children. Please always ensure that they have their shoulders covered – no strappy shirts please. Hats are essential every day !
Scrapbooks - if you would like us to keep your child’s art work in a scrapbook, could you please bring one in & give to your Group Leader. This is a neater way to keep your child’s precious art work, and you can then take it home at the end of the year. Otherwise, art work will come home in your child’s backpack.
News from the Rooms
Platypus Pre-School – Kindergarten – we have been a very busy room during the last few weeks. We have now started the Kindy program, and the children are quickly getting into a routine. We have enjoyed participating in lots of activities to celebrate Australia Day, Chinese Week, and Valentines Day, including painting flags, using chopsticks, trying Chinese food, playing traditional Chinese games, and making lanterns. We hope you all enjoyed received your ‘Sweet Pea’ plant for Valentines Day!!
Kookaburra Kindy – as you know, Mel Z has left to await the birth of her baby, and we have a brand new Group Leader, Melissa Patti, who has started with us this week. Melissa holds her Diploma, and has many years experience as a Group Leader with other childcare centres. She is married and has two boys, Jace & Kye, who now attend Country Kids. Welcome to our Centre Melissa, we hope you enjoy working here. Melissa is already working on lots of new ideas for the children.
Joey Jnr Kindy – as you all know, Tracey has left our Centre to pursue a new career. We wish her all the best. Teresa has been Group Leader of this room since Tracey has gone, and she has been busy organizing lots of different activities including Chinese lantern making to coincide with relevant multi-cultural celebrations. The children have been singing songs to help learn counting. They’ve also been doing lots of puzzles and building blocks to extend their fine motor skills, and they have also been loving the good weather at the moment, and making the most of it with lots of outside play & picnics (which help to develop social and emotional skills).
Tree Frog Toddlers – Toddlers have been busy making Chinese dragons, making our hand print Valentines Day cards, blowing and chasing bubbles, learning sign language for ‘thank you’, and doing butterfly paintings. We have also been rolling, jumping and dancing on our soft rolling mats. Please parents, just a reminder could you please name ALL your child’s belongings.
Numbat Nursery – we have been listening to Chinese music, playing with some new push-a-long toys, and enjoying playing outdoors.
Policy Review - this months policies reviewed were:
· Chemical Policy
· Storage Policy
· Dangerous Objects Policy
· Fee Policy
· Hygiene Policy
· Immunisation Families Policy
· Immunisation Staff Policy
· Open Door Policy
· Supervision Policy
· Dress Code Policy
