Hi Livingston Families,

Looking back, Term 1 seems so long ago now! Whilst it felt fast, it was wonderful to see all the children settled, happy, and engaged during their first term of Kindergarten.

Thank you to all families who have donated items last term. Your generosity makes a real difference, particularly as we are no longer able to apply levies under the Free Kinder initiative. If you missed the opportunity this term, there will be more chances to contribute next term.

As part of our School Readiness Funding from the Department of Education, we receive support from allied health professionals. This year, these sessions are available for families to discuss any questions or concerns regarding their child's development.

Please note, these are not formal assessments. You can find dates and times in the SRF folder on School Stream.

We are currently reviewing our processes, practices, and documentation in line with the updated Child Safe Standards. Our Child Safe Action Plan is available on School Stream in the Policy folder. One of the new requirements may include all staff and volunteers (including committee members and family members attending Stay & Play sessions) completing National Child Safe training. We are currently clarifying how this applies to family sessions and events such as end-of-year celebrations.

For more information or to access the training, please visit: https://www.education.gov.au/early-childhood/about/quality-and-safety/national-child-safety-training

We would also like to acknowledge our (volunteer) Committee Grants Officers, Orlagh and Amanda, who have been working hard behind the scenes to secure funding for incursions, sensory resources, Aboriginal programs, and IT equipment. Their efforts benefit all of our children and families.

Have you visited our Family Library in the foyer?

There is a wide range of books exploring themes such as emotions, body safety, resilience, and inclusion. Please remember to complete the borrowing form and return books within one week. If there is a topic you would like to see included, we welcome your suggestions.

We also have a Community Pantry in the foyer. This space allows families to both give and receive support.

How it works: Families can take items they may need when collecting their child, and contribute items from their own pantry when they are able. Suggested donations include pasta, sauces, canned goods, cereals, biscuits, and crackers. This initiative supports children in developing a sense of community, belonging, and awareness of helping others, sustainability, and reducing waste.

Take what you need, share what you can.

The mostly dry weather has allowed us to fully utilise our outdoor spaces. At the start of the year, we timetable outdoor areas so each group can build confidence in their environment. In Term 2, we've already begun to share these spaces, creating opportunities for interaction between the three- and four-year-old groups.

Benefits of mixed-age play include:

Social and emotional wellbeing: Children develop empathy, social skills, and emotional understanding through interacting with peers of different ages.
Emerging leadership: Older children build confidence and responsibility by supporting younger peers.
Language development: Younger children are exposed to more advanced language, supporting vocabulary growth and comprehension.
Complex play: Mixed-age groups encourage creativity, problem-solving, and deeper engagement in play.

In our four-year-old groups, we have set learning spaces for role play experiences, fine motor activities, literacy activities, block play, and creative experiences. We welcome donations of materials such as ribbon, wool, small boxes, and interesting items for construction and creativity.

NB: Please ensure items have not contained medicines or nut products.

On behalf of all the educators, staff and committee members, we hope you're enjoying Term 2. It's wonderful to see all the lovely little faces again following the Easter break, excited for the term ahead.

Louise

Livingston Kindergarten | Quarterly Newsletter

Caring, Community, Connection

Issue 1 · 06 May 2026

In this issue