Director's Report

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, face to face learning was significantly impacted for lots of our children at Livingston for approximately 8 weeks. We moved to online home learning, which both staff and families adapted to and it was a great success. The home learning program was designed to maintain connections with staff, children, and families by incorporating face-to-face online interactions with teachers and children. The group as a whole and children’s interests and abilities were taken into consideration and embedded into the home learning program which allowed each child the opportunity to further develop their skills from home. The feedback about the program has been very positive and much appreciated. 

As we approach the end of the year and some children are beginning school transitions,  it is good to be mindful of the new experiences. Children will encounter unfamiliar circumstances as they begin school, change groups or move to another early learning facility, particularly those that focus on the area of independence. Some simple things to encourage your child’s independence can include: packing their bag in the morning for kinder, carrying their own kinder bag and putting it into their locker, putting their own lunch on the trolley, writing their name on the whiteboard or sign in sheets when they arrive at kinder.

Other things for children to manage independently include being able to dress themselves, or even just taking off or putting on their jumper or shoes and managing or opening their lunch box, including what to eat when. Sometimes a lunch box with sections is good as lots of little containers can be overwhelming and often easily lost, which is frustrating for families! For many children these are things they are already doing, and are encouraged to do at kinder.

Independence contributes to the development of self-esteem, identity and wellbeing. Doing something for yourself produces a powerful sense of achievement and success. When children have opportunities to make choices, to attempt tasks for themselves, and to take on increasing responsibilities, their sense of themselves as competent members of society grows. (NQS PLP e-Newsletter No.64 2013)

We are looking forward to welcoming family members into the kinder for our end of year  “concert,” details of which can be found on the School Stream App in the Dates for 2021 folder.

A big thank you to the Committee for their unwavering work and support throughout 2021, to the families for their support and patience over the year and to the children who greet us every day with their smiles and enthusiasm. 

Louise

Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened!  - Dr Seuss