This week has been a busy one in our Early Learning Centre, as our Kinder children have enjoyed parties with their friends, sung carefully practiced songs for enraptured families and friends, and graduated from their Kinder year.

We are so proud of each child we have had the privilege to nurture and learn with over the year. We have seen growth in confidence, independence, language, resilience, and social and emotional skills. We have also noticed growth in relationships, between children and their peers, children and their educators, and educators and families. We have so loved getting to know our Kinder families this year, and partnering with them in their children’s early learning.

We are looking forward to having most of the children in our 3 year old Wombat groups moving to 4 year old Kinder with us. As the children in our 4 year old groups move to school next year, saying goodbye is bittersweet! We are excited about what they will achieve throughout their schooling, and proud of the being, belonging and becoming they have developed at Kinder. We will also really miss our Kinder friends and families whom we have grown very close to.

We want to encourage our 4 year old families as they move to school, that you’ve got this! The way you love and know your children inspires us daily, and we love watching how excited your children are to see you at the end of a Kinder session. Thank you for raising such wonderful people. We pray that God will bless you and your families as you move to the next stage of your children’s learning.

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

Beth Parker

Head of Early Learning

Ants

The Ant Group finished their Kinder year on Tuesday with a Christmas Party. During the morning, everybody pitched in and decorated the room with paper chains and balloons. Some children thought balloons were a strange addition at a Christmas party; we talked about birthday celebrations and decided that they were a good idea for Jesus' birthday! A game of Pass the Parcel was great fun, especially as each child received a small gift from the parcel. The Ants shared a Christmas banquet of hot foods and fruit kebabs, lots of festive treats, and were amazed by the incredible seven-layered rainbow jellies to end the feast.

Parents, grandparents and friends joined us for a relaxed graduation ceremony. The children performed several songs and received their Kindergarten Certificates. They're now officially Big School Students!

Despite all the celebrations, many children expressed mixed emotions about finishing their Kinder year. As they anticipate starting school next year, this big step brings so many changes to their lives. Relationships change - ending or beginning - and their learning experiences will change. They will go from being the Biggest to the Smallest in their educational settings. As things continually change throughout our lives, it's wonderful to remember that God knew all the steps we would take and that He wants to walk with us, to lead and guide us in His will for our lives.

… be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9

Much love, blessings and congratulations to all our graduating Kinder students. You have all come so far this year. Well done!

Sian Duggan, Sharon Perry & Anna Chen

Early Learning Teachers

Bees

The Bee group have been busy making some Christmas presents and learning some songs to sing for our families and friends, but we made time this week to celebrate a very traditional Kinder activity - a teddy bear’s picnic. Children made some fairy bread for the picnic, and gained confidence and skill in spreading butter on the bread. The sprinkles were applied very generously, to the bread, the table and the floor!

We sang a song with our teddies and read some stories about bears. At lunch time, we enjoyed sharing the fairy bread while Mrs Ezzy read us the book We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen. Then we went on a bear hunt together! We swishy swashed through the grass, stumble tripped over a log in the forest, splash sploshed through a river, squelch squerched through mud, and hoo wooed (and threw snowballs) through a snow storm! Then we were at the cave. A few children already suspected Walt’s Dad might be the bear, but it was no less exciting when he chased us all the way back home!

The Bee group are never going on a bear hunt again! This is because they’re going to school, and while they may go on many more bear hunts over their lives, this was our last time together as the Bee group.

We pray that all of our Bee group children will remember that they are loved by God who made them and knows them, and we look forward to seeing all of the amazing things they will do. We would also like to remind our future police officers that they’ve made a promise not to ever give us any fines (not that we would do anything to deserve one anyway!).

Beth Parker, Katie Ezzy, Judi Missen & Lauren Jones

Head of Early Learning / Early Learning Teachers

Monday Wombats

Our Monday Wombat Group have been increasingly working together and communicating with each other to achieve different goals. Last week, several children worked together and problem-solved to empty a very full clam shell, and we found that many shovels made light work! Children suggested testing whether it was light enough to lift at different stages of emptying. We all had to work together to lift it, as well as work out where we should be standing to have the best chance of moving it. Eventually, we were able to tip it! Teamwork!

The Monday Wombat group have also enjoyed their last session for the year with a party day. Children sang together for families and friends, and enjoyed delicious food provided by families. We so appreciate the support of our kinder families as they have encouraged their children and us, and helped us throw a very special party. We are looking forward to continuing to learn with the children in our Wombat groups next year, as most of them join us for 4 year old Kinder.

Beth Parker

Head of Early Learning

Friday Wombats

The Friday Wombat group got busy in the garden as they helped Mrs Missen dig out some plants. We are preparing our garden beds for new planting next year, but had a lot of plants flourishing, and we didn’t want to waste them. We have re-potted some, and shared some around. Children noticed the roots, stems and leaves, and had a smell and a taste of the leaves. Most of the Wombat group took home a cutting of ginger mint, ready to be planted. We poured water in, as we know plants need water, and tied them with favourite colours of rubber bands. Children were excited to share a plant with their family, and continue their learning at home.

Beth Parker & Judi Missen

Head of Early Learning / Early Learning Teacher

Sport

State Table Tennis Finals