Glen Education North Cheltenham
Celebrating Community Connections
By Glen Education North Cheltenham Team
At Glen Education NCK, we believe that strong community partnerships enrich children’s learning, build confidence, and help them understand the world around them. This term, we have been thrilled to welcome a range of local community members and participate in shared experiences that support children’s sense of belonging and connection.
Community Helpers Visit Glen NCK
We have been very fortunate to receive visits from several important community helpers.
- Local police officers dropped by to speak with the children about safety, the role of police in our community, and how they help keep everyone safe.
- Ambulance officers shared their expertise, showing children some of their equipment and explaining what happens in an emergency.
Fire fighters also visited, giving the children an exciting look at their gear, discussing fire safety, and even allowing the children to explore the fire truck.
These visits sparked wonderful conversations and helped children develop an understanding of the different people who care for and protect our community.
Family Engagement
We were delighted to welcome Chloe’s mum, who spoke to the children about her role as a nurse. She explained how she helps people stay healthy, what a day in her job looks like, and the tools she uses. The children were highly engaged and asked thoughtful questions, showing a genuine interest in caring professions.
Connections with Le Page Primary School
Our relationship with Le Page Primary School has continued to grow through several exciting programs and shared events:
- We enjoyed a special visit for Book Week, where the children had the chance to join the parade, dressed in their favourite book characters and celebrate a love of literature.
- The children also attended concerts at the school, giving them exposure to a school environment and helping build confidence for future transitions.
- Our ongoing School Buddy Program has been a highlight. The Grade 5/6 students from Le Page PS have been visiting Glen NCK on a weekly basis, forming positive relationships with our kinder children. Together they participate in shared reading, games, and small projects that build connection, empathy, and leadership skills.
Visit from Bunnings: Growing Our Fairy Garden
We were excited to welcome team members from Bunnings, who visited Glen NCK to talk with the children about gardening and caring for plants. They shared tips on how plants grow, what they need to stay healthy, and how we can create inviting outdoor spaces for everyone to enjoy. The children were enthusiastic and eager to share their own gardening experiences. Bunnings kindly donated a selection of plants, soil, and decorative items to help us continue developing our fairy garden. This generous contribution has inspired the children to take pride in nurturing the space, and they have been actively involved in planting, watering, and creating magical corners for imaginative play.
Glen Education School Holiday Program at Glen NCK
During the recent school holidays, Glen NCK proudly hosted the Glen Education School Holiday Program, offering a welcoming, engaging, and play-rich environment for children across the Glen Education community. The program provided families with high-quality care during the break while giving children the opportunity to explore new experiences, build friendships, and enjoy a variety of creative and active activities.
Children participated in themed art projects, outdoor adventures, cooking experiences, and imaginative play sessions that encouraged curiosity, teamwork, and independence. Educators thoughtfully planned the program to reflect children’s interests, ensuring each day was filled with fun, exploration, and learning.
The holiday period also allowed children from different Glen Education services to come together, fostering new friendships and strengthening our sense of community. We are delighted with how engaged and enthusiastic the children were and look forward to continuing to offer meaningful programs during future school holiday periods.
Bake Sale for “It’s Okay Not to Be Okay” Day
As part of our commitment to supporting children’s wellbeing and promoting positive mental health messages within our community, Glen NCK held a Bake Sale to raise funds for “It’s Okay Not to Be Okay” Day. Our families generously baked a wonderful assortment of treats—cookies, muffins, slices, cupcakes, and more—which were sold at the service. The children were excited to help set up the stall and take part in the event, proudly sharing the baked goods their families had contributed.
The fundraiser was a heartwarming success, bringing families together to support an important cause. We are grateful to everyone who baked, bought, and contributed. Your generosity helps us continue to build a supportive, caring environment where children learn that it’s okay to express their feelings and seek help when they need it.
Celebrating Special Person’s Day
At Glen NCK, Special Person’s Day is one of our most treasured celebrations—a day dedicated to honouring the important people in each child’s life. Children invited grandparents, aunties, uncles, family friends, or any special adult who plays a meaningful role in their world.
The service was filled with joy as children proudly welcomed their guests and shared their favourite learning spaces and activities. Together, they enjoyed craft experiences, reading corners, building spaces, and outdoor play. Many children made personalised artworks and small gifts to present to their special person, creating beautiful moments of connection.
This celebration not only strengthens relationships but also reinforces children’s sense of belonging by recognising that learning happens within a wider circle of supportive and loving people. It was wonderful to see so many smiles, warm conversations, and shared experiences throughout the day, reminding us all just how important these connections are.
End-of-Year Succulent Gifts
To celebrate the end of the year and create something meaningful for families, the children have been working on succulent gifts—beautiful handmade presents filled with care, creativity, and lots of enthusiasm. This project became a wonderful whole-community effort, with families generously donating jars, soil, decorative rocks, crushed rock, sand, and shells.
Looking Ahead
We are proud of the strong community ties we continue to build and the meaningful experiences these partnerships bring to our children. These engagements not only support learning but also reinforce the values of kindness, respect, and community spirit.
Thank you to all our visitors, families, and school partners for helping make this term such a rich and memorable one.