Early Learning
Possums
The Possum group has continued our exploration of different countries. Lately we have been focussing on China. We were very interested in China as four of our Possum friends’ families come from there, and we had noticed they were doing very well in the Olympics! We saw some photos of Lochie, Samuel, May and Anna in China, or in Chinese costumes, and were very interested to see Anna playing in the snow in China!
Mrs Chen and the Year 5 students came to teach us more about China. We got to practice using chopsticks, learned how to make paper snowflakes, tried writing some Chinese numbers with calligraphy tools, made some red envelopes with Bible verse blessings inside, and made some shapes using Tangram puzzles. The Possum group loved having the Year 5's visit. They were very helpful and friendly - Alfie and Lucas even put on a puppet show for us where they taught us some Chinese numbers! Ashley reminded us that no two snowflakes are the same, just like each of us. I can’t think of any other word but heartwarming to describe watching our young Kinder children learning from the example and experience of our older students.
During another Kinder session we got to taste some Dumplings and Spring Rolls, facilitated by Samuel and Lochie's Mums - thank you so much Ying and Anna! We also continued our learning process (which we are now very familiar with) of thinking about what we already know, what we want to know, and then reflecting on what we have learned - you can see in the photo below what the Possum's thoughts were.
Here is the Bible verse included in the red envelopes, in English and Chinese:
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. - Numbers 6:24-26
愿耶和华赐福给你，保护你；愿耶和华使他的脸光照你，赐恩给你；愿耶和华向你转脸，赐你平安。- 民数记 6:24-26
Beth Parker
Head of Early Learning
Echidnas
To celebrate Book Week, children were invited to bring in a favourite book from home. The educators set their KPIs high as we embarked on a book reading marathon – we wanted to read EVERY book brought in by the children TO the children! (In the spirit of transparency, I must admit that chapter books were not included in this commitment made to the children).
Mrs Missen went dumpster diving and found old, damaged books and we repurposed them into individual book reviews! The children were asked to review their chosen books, and we created a book review corner, which is not really a corner but the name sounded good. Some reviews went a tad off topic, but they have all been scribed verbatim. These reviews are on display in the Echidna room to be shared with Kinder friends and families.
Oh, and although there were some very dry mouthed educators from all the book reading, we read them all! Even Gideon’s rather large Children’s Bible Stories book got a guernsey as we selected ONE page to read. We love books!
Judi Missen
Early Learning Educator
Wombats
The three-year-old Wombat group has been exploring the School this term. We have enjoyed energetic and exciting games at the Gymnasium, book readings and colouring sheets in the School Library, and utilising the athletics track to test our Olympic skills! We may have also snuck onto the new Junior School playground for a test run!
Parents have been helping us hold straying hands as we venture over to the School, and their support is invaluable – many thanks to those who are able to assist us in our meanderings.
As we continue to share the amazing resources that the School has on offer, we thank God for his continued provision for our K-12 School, and look forward to more exciting waddling adventures on the School grounds.
Judi Missen
Early Learning Educator