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BALCOMBE PRE-SCHOOL
Term 4, 2012 Welcome to our Term 4 Newsletter! In This Issue: The 2012 Committee Special Thanks 4yo Teachers’ Report 3yo Group Leader’s Report Building Works Have Started! Social & Fundraising Report Gallery: Seals & Sea Stars Gallery: Lobsters, Penguins & Dolphins Gallery: Turtles
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"#$$%!&'$()*+,)! BALCOMBE PRE-SCHOOL 144 Bay Road (PO Box 88) Mt Martha VIC 3934 5974 1214 admin@balcombepreschool.org.au
! 2012 Committee The
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Term 4, 2012
Luke Woods Vice President Janie Nottingham Secretary Janie Nottingham Treasurer Claire Shaw Uniform Officer Claire Shaw 4yo Enrolment Officer Sally Fisher 3yo Enrolment Officer Rachael Roberts Maintenance - Playground Melinda Binder Maintenance - Building Justin Monk Maintenance - Garden Shontelle Davenport NationalQualityFramework Rohani Bixler Party Officer Samantha Howard Melinda Binder IT Officer Luke Woods Newsletter Editor Rebekah Pryor General Committee Kythie Mitchell Merran Wood Sally Fisher Sylvia Rupik Melissa Shirrefs Tracey Waddell-Jones Rachel Salpietro Social & Fundraising Narelle Lear Sub-Committee Rachel Salpietro Rachael Roberts Janine Ward Kate Beauchamp Administration Officer
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! ! ! ! art and other ! small things www.rebekahpryor.com ! !
Glenys Hodgson
Office Hours: Thursdays 10:30-3:15
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Term 4, 2012 !
Special thanks again to all of the great local businesses that have supported us.
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ARPProjects ANDREW PRYOR arpprojects@bigpond.com 0433 527 793 building & carpentry !
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! Teachers’ Report: 4 yo
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! from the Seals, Sea Stars, Penguins, Lobsters & Dolphins news ! ! Program… ! !
Term 4, 2012 !
Wow, isn’t it hard to believe that our year together is already coming to an end! Where does the time go?! Term Four has been very busy for us with lots of incursions, excursions and school orientation days. The children are very excited about becoming ‘big school kids’ and some have already come to pre-school dressed in their uniforms . . . talk about being prepared!!! After settling back into pre-school following the holidays, the children were excited to participate in our Dad’s Night celebrations. As part of this special event, our dads had the opportunity to experience a range of Pre-School activities (including construction, collage, clay, puzzles and stories) whilst meeting their child’s friends and teachers, and other dads. Some dads were even lucky enough to have their faces painted by the children! On Wednesday 24th October, we participated in Kids Day in the Park. The children made the most of the beautiful weather and enjoyed participating in a range of free activities from local preschools. This year we made paper windmills which were very popular and loved using our new tent and Balcombe Pre-School flags. We would like to say a big thank you to everybody who helped out on this busy day . . . we couldn’t have done it without you! Children in the Penguin and Seal groups enjoyed a special visit from Balcombe Grammar students on Wednesday 7th November. The students (who are currently in Year 8) worked together to plan and implement a tabloid sports program for us to participate in. Activities included egg and spoon races, obstacle course challenges, throwing and catching activities and experiences, all of which extended our fine and gross motor skills. This was a great afternoon for all of the students (both big and little!) and as such, we hope to do this again next year. The children have been very busy outside recently, making pools and rivers in the sandpit, painting with water and also doing some gardening, especially since our visit from Bunnings and the rapid growth of our vegie patch! The children have enjoyed watching (and eating!) the vegetables over the last few weeks.
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! Teachers’ Report continued… ! 4 yo
! ! Term 4, 2012 ! ! ! Inside, the children have worked together to perform all sorts of interesting operations/procedures ! Balcombe Pre-School Hospital . . . often (to their delight) on staff members or the lucky in the
parent who was on duty each session! In response to the children’s interest in how we can care for our bodies, we had a visit from the Peninsula Health Community Dental Program followed by Breakfast at Kinder (with the children and staff arriving in their pyjamas!) We chose what we would like to eat from the Balcombe Pre-School Breakfast Menu before getting changed into our kinder clothes and brushing our teeth. We had lots of fun together! Our dramatic play area was then transformed into a Supermarket! We talked about the shops we go to with our families, how different shops sell different goods to meet our needs and how money is used in exchange for what we want to buy. We then went on an excursion to the Mt Martha Shops and had a tour of IGA, posted a letter we had written to a friend at the post office and bought some yummy chips from the fish and chip shop (which we then ate at the park before our walk back to kinder!). Over the past week, the children have begun to talk a lot about Christmas! We have begun making special Christmas surprises with the children, which will be handed out at their break-up parties. At these parties, we will celebrate our year together with yummy food, games and some of the children’s favorite songs from throughout the year whilst of course having lots of fun! It has been a pleasure getting to know you and your children over the past twelve months and we would like to say a huge thank you for all your support (particularly in regards to our Pilot Program and current renovations). It is wonderful to be part of such a great community! Thank you also to our fantastic assistants for all of their hard work and to all of our outgoing committee members - the time and effort that you have put into the pre-school over the past twelve months is greatly appreciated. We hope you all have a safe and happy holiday and wish you all the best for 2013!
Eliza, Jessica, Kerri, Jessie, Kristy, Natalie, Kellie and Lee. The staff at Balcombe Pre-School !
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! Group Leader’s Report: 3 yo
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! from the Turtles news
! Term 4, 2012 ! ! a bitter-sweet time of year it is. The smell of Summer is in the air, Christmas is looming ! What ! around the corner and work is starting to wrap up; which means it is almost time to say farewell to
our three year olds and send them on their merry way to Four Year Old Kinder. I am so proud at how far each of our three year olds has come. When I think back to Week One, seeing children cling to mums’ and dads’ legs, so unsure of what was in store for them. Now (in fourth term) mum and dad sometimes don’t even get a look back let alone a goodbye kiss. The children are straight into playing with their kinder friends. I think back to first term where we had one or two children bring “show and tell” in. Some children were reserved and shy. Now I have to allocate extra time to ensure everyone gets a turn! It’s very rewarding for Kerri and I to see how much everyone’s confidence has grown. We have had many highlights this year. The farm coming to the kinder was definitely my favourite. I never thought I would have a chicken sit on my head but after seeing several children do it I thought I should be as brave as them and give it a try. Seeing the president of the kinder dress up with a tutu on his head when Wiggly Worm Dance Company came to visit is also in my top five highlights. Dress up as your favourite book character was a fantastic session and I still giggle looking at photos of all the children in their costumes. The list really could go on but won’t – there’s not one session where a smile wasn’t brought to my face. I am also proud of our parents for trusting Kerri and I when times got tough. We understand that this can be the first experience a three year old has away from their parents. You all did so well, so thank you. We have loved getting to know the siblings and parents (sometimes even grandparents) of our three year olds. You and your children will be missed. A huge thank-you to Kerri! I’ve had a great year working with you. Have a wonderful and safe holiday!! Jessie McGovern Three Year Old Group Leader. !
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! Building Works Have Started! ! ! ! ! !
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As we heard at the AGM, this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s committee commissioned a new long-term landscape plan for our yard. Local landscape architect Jenny Boutland of WKH Architects worked with a subcommittee of teachers and parents to come up with an innovative design that will help to guide how we (and future Balcombe Pre-school communities) improve our yard to make it an even more fun space for kids to learn and play in. And you will have noticed that there has been much ado in the carpark of late as works get underway to extend our building. The new design by kinder dad and local architect Steve Hofer of WKH Architects sees the existing structure extended to accommodate a more user-friendly entrance and bag area, larger staff office and extra meeting room. The new addition, together with its bold beach-box-inspired façade, will not only improve functionality but will also add extra fun and colour to the kinder space. Works are due for completion early in 2013.
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! Social & Fundraising Report
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! ! Term 4, 2012 ! ! Well, ! what a year it has been for fundraising! Our goal was set high to match what last year’s ! ! committee had raised which was $10,500 and we knew we had a tough job given the economic
climate. We arranged and successfully ran 10 events throughout the year, and whilst a lot of time and effort went into planning the events, thanks to your support and generosity it was well worth it - we passed last year’s total which is a wonderful result providing valuable funds for our kinder! Total funds raised for the year - $12 670!
Kinder Family Picnic – Friday 7th December There was a great turnout of families attending on Friday 7th December and the weather was good to us. Everyone had a great sociable night, with parents and kids all enjoying each other’s company. We all loved the surprise visit by Santa who provided great entertainment and all the kids received a delicious candy cane and a balloon from Santa. Many thanks to Santa for taking time out of his busy schedule, to come and wish us all a Merry Christmas and spread some Christmas cheer. Thanks also to the generous donation of 3 CAT toys that were auctioned on the night. Total profit from that event was $215. We wish next year’s committee all the best in their fundraising efforts in implementing the first stages of the new rejuvenated playground, which will provide a wonderful play area for future kinder kids to enjoy. Exciting times are certainly to come. Have a Merry Christmas & a safe and Happy New Year. Narelle Lear, Kate Beauchamp, Janine Ward, Rachel Salpietro & Rachael Roberts!
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Thanks Santa and an even bigger thanks from all of us to Narelle Lear, Rachel Salpietro, Janine Ward, Kate Beauchamp and Rachael Roberts for their fundraising efforts this year! $12 670 was raised! !
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Gallery: Seals & Sea Stars ! ! ! ! ! !
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Gallery: Seals & Sea Stars
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Gallery: Turtles !
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