Glen Education Fern Street 

Meaningful Partnerships

By Glen Fern Street Educational Team

As we begin another exciting year in our kindergarten program, we are thrilled to share our goals and vision for the year ahead. This year, our focus is on community engagement through sustainability in human, social, economic, and environmental contexts, alongside fostering safe and secure relationships that support each child’s growth. Together, we aim to create a strong foundation for children to develop lifelong skills while feeling supported, valued, and connected. 

We are pleased to share that so far, throughout Term 1, we have had a smooth and positive transition into kindergarten. The children have been settling in wonderfully, building safe and secure relationships with the educational team and their peers. Our classroom has become a space where every child feels safe, respected, and confident in exploring, learning, and growing. 

In addition, the program has so far been guided by the children’s interests, which has been an exciting and natural way for them to take ownership of their learning. Children have shown particular interest in exploring the world around them, with topics such as space, dinosaurs, and sea life capturing their imaginations. These topics have sparked rich discussions, hands-on activities, and investigations, providing opportunities for children to learn more about the universe, the natural world, and creatures of the past and present. Gardening has also been a popular activity, where children explore the environment through growing plants and learning about how nature works. 

We have also been able to build meaningful partnerships with families. Through ongoing collaboration, we are working together to make informed decisions about each child’s learning and development. This partnership is crucial in ensuring that every child’s unique needs are met, and it allows us to provide a more personalized and supportive learning experience. 

Our goals for this year are rooted in the idea of building a sustainable, caring, and responsible community. One area of focus is fostering environmental awareness. We are introducing children to sustainability and helping them understand how their actions impact the world around them. 

We also aim to encourage social responsibility and empathy. This year, children will be taught how to contribute to a positive and inclusive community. By engaging in activities that promote kindness, cooperation, and problem-solving, children will develop empathy and understand the importance of supporting one another. 

As part of this exploration, we have been reading the book Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud, which teaches children about social responsibility through the concept of being either a "bucket filler" or a "bucket dipper." The book has provided a wonderful framework for understanding how our actions and words can have a positive or negative impact on others. Through this, the children are learning how to be "bucket fillers" by showing kindness, support, and empathy, which helps strengthen our community of learners. 

In addition to these goals, we are working on promoting economic and resource awareness. Children will be introduced to basic concepts like sharing resources, the value of hard work, and fairness. These lessons will help them understand how economic systems work and how they can contribute to a fair and sustainable community. Simple acts like borrowing books from the library also play an important role in teaching children about resource sharing and how we can use what’s available in our community responsibly. These discussions will reinforce broader ideas of social responsibility and sustainability in everyday life. 

Another key focus this year is building safe and secure relationships. We are committed to creating an environment of trust, respect, and security where every child feels valued. Through structured activities and positive reinforcement, children are learning how to express their emotions, develop friendships, and strengthen their social skills in a safe, supportive environment. 

By integrating these goals—sustainability, social responsibility, and safe, secure relationships—we are equipping children with lifelong skills that will benefit them far beyond the classroom. The ability to communicate, cooperate, solve problems, and build strong relationships will serve them in all aspects of their lives. Whether working together on a group project, learning how to care for the environment, or supporting a friend, these foundational skills will be invaluable as they grow and navigate the world around them. 

In Term 2 and beyond, we are looking to invite families to actively contribute to the program. We encourage you to speak with the educational team if you would like to share your expertise about your role, hobbies, or even come in to read a book with the children. Your involvement will greatly enrich the children’s learning experiences and help strengthen the partnership between home and school. 

We are committed to continuing our partnership with families throughout the year. By sharing ideas, collaborating, and making informed decisions about your child’s learning and development, we can work together to create the best possible experience for your child. Communication is key, so please feel free to reach out with any questions, concerns, or insights. We are here to support you and your child every step of the way. 

We are excited for the year ahead and look forward to continuing to work together to create a nurturing, sustainable, and supportive learning environment.