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The last few weeks at the ELC, it has certainly felt like summer is on the way! We have had quite a few warm days, and are making use of the cooler mornings to spend time outdoors with the students. During warmer weather the children absolutely love to get involved in water play based activities, so please be sure to include a change of clothes in the children's bags in case they need some drier things to wear!
We have set up a watering station at the ELC to encourage the students to get involved with watering our plants during outdoor play times. The students are really keen to help with this - and I really appreciate a few less pot plants to water!
We have also been busy in the vegie patch with the students doing some planting over the last few weeks. A big thank you to Frankie’s family and Ailsa’s family who have donated some seedlings to our vegie patch - we have spinach, corn, tomatoes, zucchini, basil, pumpkin, and sugar snap peas. We have also planted some carrot and bean seeds - so hopefully these will sprout!
The students have loved helping in the garden as one of outdoor activities. Whenever the garden gates are open we end up with a collection of students keen to help with watering. With just one hose to use in the vegie patch - watering cans that can be shared amongst the students are a must- so everyone can get involved. They are also doing a great job with keeping an eye out for weeds and digging these up.
The students have been keen to help with the process of planting too. Digging holes and settling seedlings into the garden, covering them with dirt and watering them in. They love discovering the critters hiding amongst plants - worms, lady birds, slaters, earwigs, ants, snails - we have found them all. We have lots of great discussions about which vegies we like, and identifying the different plants and what they will grow.
If you get a chance have a walk by the vegie patch with your child at drop off and pick up, discuss some of the vegies growing there, perhaps sample a spinach leaf or two, and pick some mint or sage to crush and smell. Quite a few of the students also enjoy talking about the things they have growing in their gardens at home - and for some this is clearly something they love to do as they are regular visitors to the vegie patch and always keen to help.
We hope that through experiences such as this we are building students' love for eating fresh food and openness to trying different vegetables!! We also hope to build a love for the natural environment and a sense of responsibility for caring for our natural world. All this learning is an important part of the Early Years Learning Framework - particularly learning outcome 2 - that children are connected with and contribute to their world.
We look forward to seeing you next week at our Art show - another opportunity for the students to connect with and contribute to their community! Their artworks look amazing - and the pride they have in their creations is evident. A big thank you to the teachers and educators who have worked with the students learning about different artists, and supporting our young artists so patiently as they spent time exploring different media and art techniques. We are collecting gold coin donations as entry to the show. All money raised will be donated to St Vincent De Paul’s Christmas appeal.
We are also going to collect some hamper items and create some ELC hampers to donate to the Vinnie’s Christmas appeal. The Year 6 leaders are organising this and will be down to talk to each of our classes. Students will receive a christmas donation ticket, of something they can bring in to add to the hamper. Tickets can be returned with their donation, and these will go into a raffle draw for some fun prizes.
As we near the end of the year, the students are no longer borrowing books from the Primary School Library.
We will still attend our Library lessons but no library bags will be required. If you have any books at home, please return them to the ELC asap. Thank you.
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Click on your child's classroom picture below to see their class newsletter.
Preschool Art Show - Tuesday 26/11 & Friday 29/11 3pm-5pm
Preschool Christmas Picnic - Tuesday 10/12/24 (more information to come).
St Anthony's End of Year Mass - Monday 16/12/24 @ the Church
Last Day of Term 2024 - Monday 16/12/24.
Possums Last Day = Friday 13th December
Koalas & Bilbies Last Day = Monday 16th December
The last day for the ELC Preschool term is Monday 16 December 2024.
Please contact us ASAP if you know your child will not be here for their last booked day. Your CCS will likely be affected & we would like ot discuss this with you. Thanks!
Generally, Centrelink will not pay CCS for absences on a child's first or last day(s) of attendance.
This means that if your child is absent on their last day of booked attendance (Bilbies & Koalas Monday 16/12/24 or Possums Friday 13/12/24) and any consecutive days immediately before that last day, you will unfortuantely be charged full fees for those days.
There are some exceptions and further information can be found here on the Services Australia website.
