Prep

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

WOW!!! What a day full of amazing memories for the Prep students! On Thursday 28 July, the Prep students, teachers and parent helpers became the ultimate ‘Wild Explorers’ as they took on the Melbourne Zoo in Parkville. What absolute champions!! It was a day full of getting on rather big buses (a first for some of us!), a lot of walking, running through sun showers, laughing, looking after each other when we felt a bit tired, looking, pointing, smelling rather questionable smells, eating while being surrounded by a variety of bird life including a Kookaburra, rolling down hills to let out our energy, some more walking, meeting some very friendly Zoo staff and volunteers, and getting to see some absolutely WONDERFUL wildlife!!! 🐒🦋🕸🕷🐢🐍🦎🐠🐅🐆🦓🦍🦧🐘🦒🦜

As part of the day, all the Prep classes went behind the scenes for an education session with two Zoo educators. We counted the different animals that we could see, asked LOTS of questions and were as quiet as mice, as we were introduced to either Henry the tortoise or a rather slithery snake. Henry was a little shy, but poked his head out briefly to say ‘Hello.’ 

After a BIG day, it was time to get back onto the buses. For some of us, this was racing to see a favourite animal on the way to the gate. For many of us, the ride back was an opportunity to have a little nap and for others they were still buzzing from the day! As some of the children said as we got back into the classrooms that afternoon … their ‘buckets’ were overflowing after the day they had! What MAGIC!

We would like to say a big THANK YOU to all the parent volunteers who came along on the day, to support both the children and teachers. After a rather long day, there were definitely some very tired and grateful teachers … and we are certain, there may have been some very sleepy ‘Wild Explorers.’ 🌜

100 Days of Prep!

On Monday 1 August our Foundation (Prep) students celebrated their 100 days of Prep. This is a big milestone for these students. They (and their teachers!) came to school dressed as 100 year olds. Well done to the families for the effort put into this! We celebrated the day with class photos and games, making special hats, counting and showing each other our 100 items and grouping them in 10s, receiving certificates, a Prep DISCO (big hit!) and a Prep picnic lunch in the Hall. After lunch we each ate one of one hundred cupcakes that Maddie's mum, Laura, made especially for us. Big thank you, they looked and tasted delicious.

During assembly we came dancing in to a big applause and sang our repeat after me song: 

“Whoop, here we are”

“It’s our 100 days”

“We love Essex Heights!”

The children had some ideas about what their teachers had done 100 times! Counting the days, saying, “1, 2, 3, eyes on me”, “sit down”, “listen”, “time for lunch!” They also said some things they have loved about the first 100 days of their primary school life.

The celebrations continued all week with many 100 days activities such as a maths game, Race to 100, writing about what we would do with $100, and STEM activities to build structures with 100 things. Now we are going to continue our daily count – will we make it to 200 days of Prep?

Thank you to all parents who supported the teachers to give the children a super special day.