EPPING VIEWS KINDERGARTEN NEWSLETTER
Term Three is in full swing and it has been another busy term at Epping Views Kindergarten.
The children have been learning about occupations and jobs are in our community. Our four
year olds last week went on an excursion to Woolworths. They learnt about the different sec-
tions of the supermarket and had some fresh fruit. We also started this term with celebrating
NAIDOC week and a variety of activities that the children were exposed to in order to discover
more about the aboriginal culture and our local community. They did symbol drawing, pattern
painting, cooking damper and playing in our gunyah (aboriginal house). They listened to vari-
ous dreamtime stories but the favourite was Bunjil the Eagle who is the story of the Wurundjeri
people.
Our three year olds also a had Rhythm Fun drumming incursion. The children enjoyed this
session with the instruments and being able to play the on the drums too.
Name assessments and gross and fine motor skills have just been completed for this term and we have noticed a big difference in the children’s ability. Children are now able to write and copy their names, or write the first letter and many can now write their names independently. We will continue to work on their name writing during our literacy groups. Our fine and gross motor skills have also improved and we use our planning time to ensure that we are covering these areas each week in our programs. This term we begun our transition program with EVPS and all groups have been visiting each
week. The children participated in PMP and ICT classes and some grade 6 helpers. This new
addition to our routine is already a favourite of most children with only some becoming upset
with the new surroundings. Next week we will moving onto Visual Art classes. Each group
have had an opportunity to spend some time on the play equipment and in the big sandpit and
feed the chickens. This is a positive experience, the children benefit from heading over to
EVPS, and it is great opportunity to help prepare the children for school regardless of which
school they will be attending.
We conducted interviews with our four year old families to discuss the children’s progress at kinder and to share their goal for this term. It is an opportunity to share and find out infor-mation about their child and to discuss what school each child is attending and what goal each family has for this term. This term our whole group goal is to assist the children with separating from their parents at the door and walking into the kinder room independently. We received a lot of positive feedback from parents regarding our program we provide, additional specialist programs, school visits, incursions and homework packs that were handed out. We had 111 interviews out of our 132 on our list, which is a fantastic success rate.
Term Dates
29th Jan – 29th March 16th April – 29th June 16th July – 21st Sept
8th Oct – 21st Dec
We have children who
are at high risk of Ana-
phylaxis.
We ask that you do not
send nuts or nut products
in with your child.
Te r m Th r ee Augus t 2018
15 Lyndarum Drive
Epping, Vic, 3076
Phone: 8405 3227
Diary Dates AUGUST
22ND - Book Week Dress Up 3 Year Olds
24th - Book Week Dress Up 4 year Olds
27th - Father’s Day Night Joey & Echidna Groups - 5.30pm –6.30pm
28th - Father’s Day Night Wombat & Koala Groups - 5.30pm—6.30pm
29th - Father’s Day Celebration Kookaburra & Rosella Groups - 8.30am-9.30am
29th - Father’s Day Celebration Magpie & Cockatoo Groups - 3.30pm-4.30pm
SEPTEMBER
14th - Dinosaur Incursion 4 Year Old Groups
19th - Footy Dress Up Day 3 Year Old Groups
21st - Footy Dress Up Day 4 Year old Groups
21st - Last Day Term 3
OCTOBER
8TH - First Day Term 4
11th - Wild Action 4 Year Old groups
Four Year Old News
Koala Group
We started off our Term Three with celebrating NAIDOC week and a variety of activities for children to explore and discover more about the Indigenous aboriginal culture and our local community. Some of our favourite activities have been symbol drawing, pattern painting, cooking damper and playing in our gunyah (aboriginal house). We listened to various dreamtime stories but our favourite was Bunjil the Eagle who is the story of the local Wurundjeri people. We are also researching Australian animals and learning about them and their characteristics.
At the start of Term Three we began our transition to school program. Each week we visit Epping Views Primary School exposing the children to a variety of activities as well as becoming familiar with a school environment. We have participated in their PMP program and ICT program where the children are learning how to use Netbooks.
We visited Woolworths on Thursday 16th August and took a look behind the scenes. Some of highlights were eating watermelon, visiting the great big freezer and discovering how very cold it is. The children were fantastic, asking many questions and taking in lots of in-formation. Each child was given a piece of fruit, we used this to make some yummy fruit salad.
Looka from the Responsible Pet Program came to kindergarten to teach us all about dog safety. The children learnt what signs to look to ensure a dog is safe and how to approach the dog safely and how to know when a dog is angry. We each practised approaching Looka allowing him to smell us and giving him a nice long pat.
We celebrated Teacher Dani’s last day with a baby shower full of games, cupcake decorat-ing and lots of laughs. Thank you to everyone who spoilt Dani with all the gorgeous gifts for her baby. We are going to miss her and look forward to her visits.
Don’t forget:
Fathers Night (Tuesday 28th)
Don’t forget to pack appropriate clothing for all weather.
Parent helpers are welcome
Please ensure you are on time to our sessions so that your child does not miss out on important parts of our program.
If you have questions please let us know,
Casey and Asma
Wombat News
Over the past few weeks the Wombat children have been learning all about the Indigenous and
Aboriginal culture in Australia. The children have had the opportunity to participate in a variety of
play spaces such as tracing symbols in sand and making damper to explore this culture further and
the children even learnt how to do the Hokey Pokey using indigenous words. We have now
moved onto the topic of Occupations. The children are learning all about the different occupations
that are out there in our local community and what tools they use in their job.
Whilst we have started talking to the children about this, we will introducing four helper jobs in
our room which are teacher helpers, weather/day, cleaning inspectors and nature helpers. Each
day two children will be given one of these jobs to do whilst they are at kindergarten for their ses-
sion. This will give the children a sense of responsibility and encourage them to work together as
a team to ensure that our kindergarten environment is clean and tidy.
We have recently been talking to our group about the topic of Weather. We have firstly introduced
this to the children by having a discussion with them about what they already know and showing
them a clip on the interactive television about how rain is made, what types of weather there is
and demonstrating to the children how to make rain in a jar by doing a science experiment using
water, food dye and shaving cream. We have placed a rain gauge outdoors to catch the rain and
we check this each session with the children. We will be continuing to speak to the children each
day about the weather and introducing a song about days of the week.
The children participated in the Responsible Pet Ownership Program, where they had the oppor-
tunity to meet Janina and her dog Pepper. The children learnt about how to be safe around dogs,
what to do if they came across an angry dog and some new songs about what to do when meeting
a new dog for the first time.
We would like to welcome Radha our student who will be on placement with us every Tuesday,
Thursday and Friday until the end of the year. Parents please feel free to introduce yourselves to
our new team member and make her feel welcome.
Each week the children look forward to their library session with Catherine. They listen intently to
the story book being read to them and take their time to choose a book by looking at the front cov-
er pictures for clues. The children that have not received a library star award yet are eagerly wait-
ing each week to see if they are going to be the chosen. This term our specialist focus with Casey
is Science. The children started off their first session by experimenting with primary colours and
using torches to explore colours on white material.
We have started off our first lot of specialist visits over to Epping Views Primary School with
PMP. The children had the opportunity to practise their balancing jumping and catching skills. Af-
ter three sessions of PMP, the children will be moving onto Digital Learning where they will be
using a computer and navigating how to use the mouse. We will be finishing off our specialist vis-
its over at the primary school with the children doing Visual Arts.
Families please remember to be on time for each kindergarten session to allow your child to com-
plete their start of day process and participate in our first mat time. If you are late it can disrupt
your childs kindergarten routine and the rest of the groups concentration.
Amanda, Melinda and Alan
Joey News
It has been yet another busy term and time sure is flying by!
Our new topic we have introduced this term is Occupations. The children have been learn-
ing about what an occupation is, the role of different occupations and the tools that these
occupations use. We have had discussions about what occupations they have seen and that
some of these occupations are also community helpers. The children have been drawing on
their own knowledge and experiences by sharing the occupations of their family members
and community helpers they have seen such as the Police, Mail Carrier and Doctor.
As the children have been showing an interest in role play we have provided some further
opportunities within the room linked to this topic including the VET area where the chil-
dren have cared for animals and our Bakery where the children are using playdough to
make cakes, cookies and doughnuts. They have since requested to set up our own kinder
supermarket since our excursion to Woolworths.
The children have enjoyed our weekly visits to Epping Views Primary School where they
have so far participated in PMP, Digital Learning and in the coming weeks will be attend-
ing Visual Art lessons. It has been great for the children to meet a variety of teachers, par-
ticipate in a variety of experiences and explore a school environment. After each visit we
have been utilising the school grounds by playing on the play equipment, eating our snack
on the picnic tables and visiting the Prep area.
Earlier this term we conducted our parent interviews. It was a great opportunity to discuss
the children’s progress at kinder with you and to share their individual goal for this term.
Our whole group goal for this term was to assist the children with separating from their
parents at the door and walking into the kinder room independently. We are very happy to
report that this is going well and would like to thank you for supporting your children in
this change of routine.
Some important reminders:
Please be on time for each session to allow your child to complete their start of day pro-
cess and participate in our first mat time. If you are late it can disrupt your child’s
kinder routine the rest of the groups concentration.
DON’T FORGET to check our reflection book to keep up to date with the Joey
Group.
If you have any questions regarding the educational program or your child’s progress,
please feel free to make a time to speak with us.
Catherine, Donna, Asma and Jennifer
Echidna News This term the children have been enjoying our visits to Epping Views Primary School. We are currently
taking part in Digital Learning where the children are learning how to use a laptop. Many of the chil-
dren can navigate an iPad but using a laptop requires different skill that they will use in prep. Over the
next three weeks the children will be learning how to use a computer and navigate using the mouse and
keyboard with the help and guidance of Jaimee Lee.
We were very lucky to have had our Responsible Pet Program visit where Danielle and her pet dog Lu-
ca came in to teach the children how to be safe around dogs and the right way to approach them. I am
very proud of all the children who had a go at approaching Luca in the right way and were able to give
him a pat.
The children have been showing a strong interest in numeracy particularly rote counting above ten, rec-
ognising numbers and playing numeracy games. We have been playing small and large group games
and extending their knowledge and interest in our Maths area using dice, matching games, number writ-
ing cards, bingo and counting games on the interactive television. Alphabet recognition has also been of
interest with the children developing their awareness of upper and lowercase letters and practising
matching these letters at activities and during our small group times. The children’s knowledge of the
days of the week have developed over the past few weeks as we are discussing this daily as a part of
first group time at the beginning of our sessions.
We have many exciting events scheduled in this term and are looking forward to providing the children
with these opportunities. This week we will be going over to Woolworths for a discovery tour as part
of our occupations topic of exploration and are going behind the scene to learn about the different de-
partments. We will also be having our book week dress up day along with our Father's night.
I would like to thank our families who attended our mid-year interviews. It was great to speak to you
all and to those parents who have not returned their parent goal please do so as soon as possible.
Some important reminders:
* Please be on time for each session to allow your child to complete their start of day process and par-
ticipate in our first mat time. If you are late it can disrupt your child’s kinder routine and the rest of the
groups concentration.
*Our parent helper sheet is next to the sign in book. We welcome you to join up and come and spend
time with your child and our group during one of our sessions.
* Starting from Monday the 20th of August we will be implementing our drop off at the door policy
DON’T FORGET to check our reflection book to keep up to date with the Echidna Group.
If you have any questions regarding the educational program or your child’s progress please feel free to
make a time to speak with us.
Jamie, Priti and Laura
Cockatoo Group
You may have noticed that over the last couple of weeks we have been starting our session on the mat
where we have been conducting a group time including anything from a song, to a game or even a story-
book. This will continue on for the rest of the year to encourage a smooth transition into the room and to
introduce any new activities to the children that we have planned for the session. It is important that your
child is arriving on time to ensure they are involved in this part of our routine.
The children have shown an ongoing interest in art and craft experiences including painting, pasting and
cutting. Each week we are planning different activities to continue their interest and develop their skills in
this area of play including painting using a variety of mediums and introducing the two part concept of cut
and paste. The children have also been engaging in a variety of colour and shape related activities within
the room and we have a new game that we will introduce with a similar concept to their favourite game
Little Mouse.
We had a visit from Rhythm Fun where Joe introduced the children to musical terms such as rhythm, beat
and tempo through the use of songs and musical instruments. They used a variety of instruments and
played along to different songs while exploring concepts such as fast and slow and high and low. The
children then had the opportunity to have a go on Joe’s drum kit where they chose sticks or brushes to
use. This was a very popular experience, with the children all getting up and having a go!
This term we will be continuing to focus on the children’s independence skills. It is important that you
support your children in becoming independent by allowing them to carry their own bags, place their bag
in their locker and put their drink bottle on the trolley. Throughout the session the children’s independ-
ence is fostered by them opening their snack containers, putting their beanies and jackets on and packing
their bags at the end of the session.
Some important reminders:
Please ensure you are packing spare clothes in your child’s bag. We encourage messy play and may
require to change your child during the session.
If you have any questions regarding the educational program or your child’s progress, please feel free to
make a time to speak with us.
Catherine and Alan
3 Year Old News
Kookaburra Group
The Kookaburra children have been continuing with their shape and number knowledge,
and participating in many group songs which include numbers. It is great to see the children
begin to extend on their friendships branching out and playing with other children. The
Kookaburra children enjoy the Rhythm Joe incursion learning about rhythm and tempo and
different sounds some are high and some are low sounds, the children had the opportunity
to play different instruments such as maracas, triangles, tambourines and the best of all the
large drums.
Over this term we will be focusing on helping the children extend on their independence
skills and allowing them to be responsible for their belongings making sure they collect
their things at the end of the session before going home. We will continue to encourage the
children to extend on their friendship groups and provide small group games to help extend
on this.
Looking forward to another fun filled term with the Kookaburra children, feel free to come
and speak to myself or Priti if you have any concerns or queries.
Laura & Priti.
Magpie Group Can you believe we are already half way through Term Three?
Our Magpies have been very busy exploring different sensory activities such as water play, shaving cream and water beads. During these experiences we use our senses to describe what we can feel and use ‘juicy’ language such as soft, gooey, cold, wet and slimey.
Our craft and painting area is still as popular as ever. The children have been creating some beautiful paint-ings and it is great to see how much their pictures are developing. At the craft table the children have been practising using scissors by cutting up straws, streamers and paper. Using scissors is an important skill chil-dren use in four year old kinder and in prep. Exposing children with them in our three year program means they have plenty of practise to master this tricky skill.
Joe from Rhythm time came to visit bringing along his musical instruments and his drum set. Children were able to play and sing along with Joe as he taught us about different musical instruments and some important musical words like tempo, rhythm and high and low sounds. We even got to have a turn playing the big drum set.
Don’t forget:
Fathers Day Afternoon
To forget to pack appropriate clothing for all weather.
Parent helpers are available for sign up.
Please see Casey or Asma if you have any questions.
Casey and Asma
Rosella Group Wow, we only have a few weeks remaining of Term Three, and what a busy term we have had. We have been starting our sessions on the mat and the children have responded positively to this change in their rou-tine. Our groups times have been consisting of stories, music and dance or used to introduce new areas in the room. We have had an ongoing interest in the arts and crafts area, decorating boxes, making clouds or practising our fine motor control through cutting and pasting. Another strong interest we have had is col-ours, to further extend on this we have been making bubble paintings and creating coloured bubbles in the outdoor yard. The children also enjoy outside play especially in the sand and dirt pit and having fun on the pirate ship.
Joe from Rhythm Time visited the children. He bought along a variety of instruments, but the children’s favourite was his drum kit. Joe let all the children have a play on it and taught them new musical words such as rhythm and temp.
Reminders
Our Session begins at 8.30am - please ensure you are bringing your child on time. As of next Term the children will begin their session with a group time on the mat.
We go outdoors every session regardless of the weather. Please pack appropriate clothing.
Father’s Day Morning Weds 29th August 8.30am—9.30am
Parents helper sign sheet is out every session, please put your name down to join in one of our sessions.
If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to come and see us.
Thank you
Melinda & Alan
Healthy Snacks Thank you to the families that have given their child healthy snacks in their
lunchbox. Keep up the great work!
Ali Al Badry
Scarlett Alessi
Sukhnaaz Anand
Georgia Damtsis
Justin Davceski
Louay El-Hage Has-
san
Ali Hamadi
Yasemin Kulekci
Fatimah Adeli
Marcel Dimeski
Abeer Nandi
Cody Paterson
Tamara Sutherland
Ayaan Tawfiq
Zak Trajcevski
Alexia Triantos
Mia Alessandrino
Mihindukulasuriya
Fernando
Archer Glover
Eleanor Glover
Aarthika Jeevithan
Anthoni King
Avika Manik
Eshita Rana
Meharvan Singh
Amelia Sutter
Benjamin Becerra
Nunez
Leon Cattapan
Oliver Cattapan
Jada Del Mastro
Fatima Mustafoska
Daniel Olivieri
Mastak Bhandol
Reminders Signing In and Out – When signing your child in and out of each session please remember
to actually sign in and out and please ensure that you are signing in the correct place. It is important that you do not sign out until the end of the session. While you are waiting in the foyer to collect your child please remember to check your child’s art box for any art and craft that your child has completed. Before you leave check your child’s hang pocket for notes so that you are kept up to date with our information.
Clothing– Please remember to pack a warm jumper or jacket for your child to wear whilst outdoors. Also a warm beanie for them to put on. If your child would like to play in the digging patch, we suggest that you dress your child in gumboots or pack them in their bag so that they can change their shoes if they choose to play in this area of our outdoor envi-ronment.
Emergency Exit Door— Just a reminder to all families that the emergency door exit is for emergency’s only, it is not to be used for exiting after dropping off or collecting your child.
Disabled Parking – Please remember you must have a disabled sticker to park in this car spot. Just because it is raining or there are no other car parks does not mean you can park there. Please leave these places for people who need them.
Immunisation Forms – If you know you have only provided us with a copy of your child’s immunization records from their green maternal health book we now need a copy from your My Gov account. If you could print this off and send it in with your child or pass on to their teacher, please.
Teachers – Just a reminder that teachers often have meetings before and after their sessions so if you are wanting to speak with your child’s teacher make sure you have contacted them and made an appointment.
Toys – Please ensure that you are not sending your child to kinder with any toys from home. While they are at kinder they have plenty of resources and toys they can use both inside and outside.