Preschool News
Welcome back to Term 3
LEARNING THROUGH PLAY provides opportunities for children to learn as they discover, create, improvise and imagine. When children play with other children, they create social groups, test out ideas, challenge each other’s thinking and build new understandings. Play provides a supportive environment where children can ask questions, solve problems and engage in critical thinking. Play can expand children’s thinking and enhance their desire to know and to learn. In these ways play can promote positive dispositions towards learning. Children’s immersion in their play illustrates how play enables them to simply enjoy being.
Maggie Dent’s article (recently posted on our Facebook page) highlights the need for children to play, illustrating the need for children to have uninterrupted ‘downtime’ where they can immerse themselves and get lost in the play.
https://www.maggiedent.com/blog/why-we-must-prioritise-play-for-todays-children-now/
Parent/teacher meetings
It has been wonderful to invite families in this week and next for Parent/Teacher meetings. This is an opportunity for families to connect with their child’s teacher and discuss all the great learning opportunities at Preschool. We hope you have enjoyed looking at your child’s portfolio and gained insight into their Preschool day. A reminder to bring your portfolio with you to your meeting along with the parent feedback note. Your feedback is important to us and supports us to be relevant and responsive to the needs of your child, your family and the community. We encourage you to email us or if preferred (anonymously) leave feedback under our QIP display in the foyer. We are always striving to provide a high quality, inclusive environment where your child and family feel connected and belong.
SunSmart - Aligned with our SunSmart policy we will ask the students to wear hats from next week. We will also provide sunscreen in the foyer and would appreciate it if you could help your child apply it before heading into class at drop off.
No toys at school – Please do not send toys into school. They can be easily misplaced or broken and are often a source of conflict in games. If your child has a special ‘news’ item, we would encourage you to place it in a bag and connect with your child’s teacher about the item. Thank you for your cooperation.
Healthy lunchboxes – it is important to ensure your child’s lunchbox is full of nutritious, healthy items that provide much needed fuel your child’s Preschool day. Please do not send in confectionary items including sweet muffins, biscuits or lollies. The children have access to water all day so there is also no need for juice or flavoured milk. For ideas on how to build a healthy lunchbox go to; https://healthylunchbox.com.au/
Birthday Celebrations – if you would like to send celebratory items to Preschool with your child for their birthday please send individually wrapped food or small items. This can include; popcorn, ice blocks, small jellybeans, pencils etc.
SCIENCE WEEK – 17th – 21st of August
In Week 5 the Preschool will be transformed into all things ‘Science’!! Activities will include;
Monday (17/8) and Friday (21/8) – Science Fair Days. We will set up experiments and activities in the playground and encourage the children to interact will all the activities. We will also be joined by some of our Year 5/6 buddies.
Tuesday (18/8) the Koalas & Bilbies and Thursday (20/8) the Possums are invited to come to Preschool dressed as their favourite occupation. This could include dressing up as a Scientist, Nurse, Doctor, Pilot etc. Hopefully we will see lots of mini teachers!
Parents, if you have a skill, interest or passion for anything associated with science or technology we would love you to get in touch. We will work together on how we can connect you with the students during Science Week.
COVID Plan
The ELC and Primary School continue to follow the Catholic Education COVID roadmap to ensure we are adhering to the most up to date information and procedures to keep our students, staff and families safe. Any easing of restrictions will be communicated to the St Anthony’s community through SZapp and other relevant channels. At present we will continue our current processes; including sign in/out, hand hygiene and cleaning procedures.
A reminder to keep your child at home if they have any flu like symptoms. If your child is unwell at Preschool you will be contacted and expected to collect them as soon as possible. Thank you for your continued cooperation.
