Early Learning
Echidnas
Our Echidna group love being part of a community and here is a snapshot of what this looks like to us!
The Kinder partnered with Warrnambool District Food Share for all of Term 2, and our families donated 251kg of food items – wowser, that’s a lot of food! Amanda from Foodshare came and told the children how this food really helps support people in need, and no, they don’t accept donations of pets! Amanda posed with the children for this photo – can you spot her?
The Kinder community supported our beautiful little man, Ben, on HEARTKIDS Day as they dressed as superheroes and donated a gold coin to the organisation. Mrs Ezzy had her own ‘mini-me’!
We celebrated the Irish Heritage of one of our students with Irish Dance classes in the school auditorium under the expert direction of Clare Finnigan, Kathleen’s Mum. The Echidnas learned how to double skip, point their toes, and bow with their hands by their sides. Mr Tom Rouse helped us with photos and videos but declined the offer to trip the lights fantastic with me. Maybe next time, Tom?
The Echidnas utilise all the amazing facilities that are available at the ‘Big School’. We love heading over to the Library to borrow books, play fun games in the gym, visiting Mr Wakim and Mrs McLeod in the Wellbeing Room, and popping in to surprise Mrs Snook’s Year 1 children with a song!
Being part of a Kinder community closely mirrors the values and principles of living in the Kingdom of God. In Matthew 19:14, Jesus says, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." This verse highlights the importance of nurturing and valuing children, emphasizing that their innocence, purity, and openness are qualities that embody the Kingdom of God.
A Kinder community, which is dedicated to fostering the growth, development, and well-being of children, aligns with these kingdom values. By creating an environment where children feel loved, respected, and valued, we are participating in kingdom living, reflecting God's love and care for the most vulnerable.
This nurturing environment helps children to understand their own worth and the value of others, fostering a sense of community and belonging that is central to both kingdom living and early childhood education.
Children Have a Strong Sense of Identity – Outcome 1: Early Years Learning Frameworks
Judi Missen
Early Learning Educator
Koalas
The Koala three year-old group are now halfway through their first year of Kindergarten and they are growing up fast! A number of the children have turned 4 now, and all the Koalas are rapidly growing in confidence and skills.
We've been practising cutting skills using pretend scissors in the Kinder salon, with play dough scissors, and in crafts designed to encourage participation and practice. The Koalas loved making Lions with snippy manes and crazy haircut heads! They wanted to make more than one, and they spent lots of time doing many scissor cuts. The challenge was to see if they could do just three, and then see how many cuts they wanted to do. They did far too many to count! Great persistence, Koalas.
We have been sharing Indigenous picture books around the Billabongs we create indoors, and continue to encourage the children to engage with the stories through movement. Moving while we learn helps us acquire language, body awareness and focus. We pretend to be lots of different native animals and sometimes weather in the stories. One story we especially enjoyed was Fish Usmob Gettem - Fishing at Bidyadanga by Maureen Yanawana. There was a lot of interesting marine life in the story, and we loved the book illustrations because other children had painted them!
After we had enjoyed the story a couple of times we all made colourful Fish to put in our Billabong. Every Fish was unique and every child was so proud of their work. Some children made several Fish. Paperclips were attached to the Fish and we went hunting for them with magnetic fishing rods by the Kinder Billabong.
On our final day of Term 2 we celebrated with a crazy hair day. We also went to the school gym for our first ever visit! At the gym we played some familiar music games with bean bags, practised our ball skills and had lots of fun rolling and chasing hula hoops. Now everyone will need a good rest after all the busy fun we've had at Kinder!
Enjoy the winter break, Koala Group, and we will see you next term.
Sian Duggan
Early Learning Educator
Possums
The Possum Group have been enjoying dramatic play in a hairdresser area. Children’s language use was so interesting to listen to, as they made small talk, discussed different styles, used visual resources to help get their message across, booked people in for appointments, phoned their clients to ask how their haircuts were going, and charged payments.
It has been a great tool for building connections as the props ensured everyone was able to come and have a go. We especially loved having Frankie’s Mum, Courtney, who runs South West Nail Care in Timboon, come in to paint our nails! We are so grateful for the resources she donated as well! We have really enjoyed our fabulous hair styles, but the children have decided that after the holidays the hairdressing salon will become a treehouse!
Beth Parker
Head of Early Learning
Wombats
Over the last few weeks, the Wombat group has been learning with the book The Very Hungry Caterpillar. We learned about the life cycle of Butterflies and how Caterpillars change to Butterflies. We practiced counting, made Caterpillar headbands, learned Caterpillar fingerplays and we did beautiful Butterfly paintings. We also learned The Butterfly Song, where we learned how God created the animals in the beginning and He created us as unique individuals. He loves us with His unfailing love.
If I were a butterfly, I’d thank you Lord for giving me wings.
If I were a robin in the tree, I’d thank you Lord that I could sing.
And if I were a fish in the sea, I’d wiggle my tail and I’d giggle with glee
But I’d just thank you Father for making me me.
Cause You gave me a heart and you gave me a smile
You gave me Jesus and you made me Your child
And I just thank you Father for making me me.
Anna Chen
Early Learning Educator
Graduation Celebration
We want to congratulate our amazing graduate, Mrs Missen. Judi has worked extremely hard to continue including all of the effort and “extra” she is known for putting into her teaching while also completing her Bachelor of Early Childhood Teaching.
As a teaching team, we have all been inspired and refreshed by Judi as she has brought in new initiatives and ideas, which we have embraced with a growth-mindset (not just for children!)
We are all very proud of Judi, and had a lot of fun celebrating with her this week. Please raise a can of Pepsi Max to our graduate!
And here's to you, Mrs. Missen,
Jesus loves you more than you will know
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Beth Parker
Head of Early Learning