PREPARATORY SCHOOL
Out of School Care
What a start to the year ! Out of School Care has been vibrant and energetic , filled with the sounds of laughter and excitement as some new projects launch and the old favourites get better and better . This of course refers to dodgeball , that timehonoured favourite which sees children jumping for joy and educators fleeing ! Other sports this term have focused on skills , from practicing dribbling in soccer to hand-eye coordination in tennis .
In our endeavours to provide activities that are led by children ’ s interests , as well as giving children opportunities to try new things , we have created the new woodwork shop . This sits on the verandah and is enabling children to design and create useful items for use either at home or at the Centre . Children have made mobile phone holders , bird houses and pencil boxes , and the next project will be planters to place in our gardens . All of these items have been made from offcuts of wood and items that are reclaimed . One of the Centre ’ s aims is to increase sustainability . To this end we have become members of ReMida , an organisation that passes on unwanted items from industry to educational establishments . This is a treasure trove of goodies and there is evidence all around us of our ‘ fixer-upper ’ status !
The blog has launched this year , giving parents access to all of the information relating to the Centre , as well as photos and blogs for parents whose children are enrolled and actively attending . This is a fantastic way of sharing the memories that the children are making and brings us up
Playgroup to date with technology and media forums . Our curriculum is taking full advantage of access to IT , with the children researching topics and themes through iPads as well as good old-fashioned books . The more we embed the National Quality Framework , the more we see the richness of the learning through the play experiences that the children are enjoying .
Vacation care has been wonderfully busy and the themes and excursions that the children have participated in have been wide ranging . The Brickman Lego exhibition was a huge hit , with the children in awe of the amazing creations and jumping at the bit to create their own masterpieces . The Game Vault incursion was also incredibly popular and these two experiences were as a direct result of the children having input into how they wish to spend their time . Educators listening to , engaging with , and building relationships with the children in their care results in meaningful and relevant experiences . This is validated by the large number of children who use the service during the vacations . Carnival Day was inspired by a nostalgic look at fetes and circuses by the Coordinator . The children participated in setting up this event by making stalls and games in the days leading up to it . Some of the activities included the coconut shy ( recycled cable rolls ), the lucky dip ( two painted cardboard boxes ), ball toss , guessing booth and bouncy castles . In the afternoon we enjoyed the clown talent show where the children showcased their slapstick routines in a circus tent created from a gazebo and parachutes .
Playgroup at the Centre continues to go from strength to strength and is open to any families in the school community who have children under school age , including prospective families . This transitional playgroup aims to bridge the gap between home and school in a wonderful setting where children play amongst current Kindergarten and Pre-Primary children . This develops relationships before children start school , with other families as well as children , and creates familiarity with the environment and staff .
Mrs Melanie Berrington Out of School Care Coordinator
The Playgroup is now a fully functioning part of the services we offer through the Out of School Care centre . This is a Playgroups WA joint initiative with the school and seeks to promote a positive transition between younger children in the community and the School . This is exceptionally beneficial to those children heading into Kindy or Pre- Primary as they become familiar with the environment and develop relationships with other children , parents and staff who will be part of their school life . The added benefit is that the parents and care givers are also developing connections and relationships so they start the school journey already with a support network in place .
The Playgroup has a committee and a volunteer leader who organises a roster and plans for the experiences each week . The structure operates around play , outdoor experiences , snack time and maybe a story or singing .
Watching the children play and engage with other children is a joy to see and the variety of ages is something new to the outdoor play space and the centre . The children in the Early Learning Centre very often mingle and play with the playgroup children and it is wonderful to see the peer relationships developing as they dig in the sand pit , run , jump and laugh .
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