Outside School Hours Care
Bookings Information
Casual Bookings/Cancellations/Adjustments please call 9592 0994 directly. email: melissa.asmar1@gmail.com
EMAIL NOT TO BE USED TO CHANGE DAILY ATTENDANCES
EMAIL TO BE USED for changing permanent bookings, making advanced bookings/cancellations (ie holiday program, school closure days), account queries, addressing special needs, incidents that need clarification, and the like. Emails are not checked prior to a session as administrative duties are addressed off site and away from the service as our priority lies with the active supervision of children, their development and wellbeing.
Having said all of the above, if a child ever finds themselves confused and don’t know where they're supposed to be, please prepare a "back up plan" by stating they can “always go to after care” and together we can resolve the situation. This is an important aspect of a child’s “belonging, being and becoming” which involves them learning independence, coping skills and OSHC staff being available to children as support when needed.
Transitions and Routines
Transitions are times when children move between and adapt to different spaces or places and with different people, experiences, expectations and routines. The term encompasses regular transitions across a day and those that occur at significant times in children’s lives such as starting full-time school (EYLF, p. 16) and starting in an education and care service such as the Outside School Hours Care.
The OSHC service is focused on assisting children to become confident learners which supports and eases children's transitions from school into to the OSHC setting and vice- versa.
Responsive, positive relationships between children and the staff at OSHC are crucial in building children’s self-esteem and resilience which further assist them to make effective transitions, and encourage children's overall growth and development. Staff help children feel secure, which frees them to explore and play but also staff harness opportunities for children to learn.
One such area is the opportunity to safely guide Foundation children to and from their classrooms whilst drive through is in operation. Staff find it helpful to role model and talk with children, emphasising to watch where they are going, remain on the top two steps and to walk as close to the wall/hall as possible. These strategies help children further develop life skills in the area of road safety.
Educators use intentional moments during transitions to develop “good citizenship” within the OSHC especially amongst older children. Older children are expected to volunteer a small portion of their time and efforts to ensure that foundation children are made to feel safe and secure. Simultaneously older children develop crucial values such as care, compassion and responsibility
Yoga with Sonia - Prep Transitions
Sonia and Dani provided a secure base from which children explored themselves and the world around them, in this case the OSHC service... They learned to relax and develop their sense of belonging. As children’s skills and self-confidence grow, they will become more independent and have more control over their development especially when making friends.
Accounts Due
Accounts are now out and due in full within seven days. Should you have any queries then please email melissa.asmar1@gmail.com The accounts cover weeks 1&2 Term 1. The holiday program on Monday 29th and Tuesday 30th January has been "joined" to this account.
Accounts are now emailed directly to a dedicated family email. If an email is not available then accounts are distributed via the school office, then handed to children by their class room teacher. If you do not receive your account please contact Melissa. Cash is NOT to be left at the office but handed directly to staff where a receipt will be issued. Cheques are also accepted or the most preferred way is via a direct transfer to the St Finbar’s OSHC bank account (St Finbars Outside School Hours Care BSB: 083 347A/c: 55055 9263. Please include your surname and child’s name in the Ref area).
To avoid large accounts it’s important that payments are made every 2 weeks (when invoices are received) and frequent payments keep our OSHC program running efficiently. Thank you in advance.
Should accounts fall into arrears then access to the program will be denied. If you are experiencing financial difficulties then please speak to Melissa and a meeting with Fr Ian will be organised to discuss a payment plan. Regretfully an outside collection agency will be called for those who refuse to pay their debt in a timely manner.
School Closure Days - March
The OSHC will be OPEN from 8am - 6pm Thursday 8th March and Friday 9th March.
Canvassing children's interests for experiences and activities for the upcoming school closure days.
The planned experiences will emerge from engaging children in programming. It is about Educators assisting children of all ages to express their interests and readiness to engage in experiences. While school age children can actively participate in planning, recording and evaluating the program, Educators develop responsive and understanding relationships with each individual child. This is achieved by observing, listening and talking with each child, their families and with professional colleagues.
The activities/experiences will be posted in next week's newsletter.
The service will be closed Monday 12th March for Labour Day Public Holiday.
In order to receive CCB and the CCR 50% rebate, families must register with the Department of human service or call 13 61 50.
School Closure Day
8am - 6pm $38 full fee $19 after 50%rebate
School Closure half Day
Any 5 hours of the day $19 full fee $9.50 after 50%rebate
BYO Lunch, snack and refillable water bottle.