Narromine Preschool Kindergarten Inc Newsletter

Tuesday 30th May 2023 at 7.00pm.  Registrations from 6.30pm.

Gather a table of 8 and call the Bowling Club to reserve your team's spot!  Don't have 8?  No problem!  The Club or the preschool can help you join a team on the night.  We have a list at the children's sign in book if you would like to add your name. $10 entry fee per person.  Supper is available for a gold coin donation.  Great prizes available for the raffle winners and Quiz Master among us!  Kindly hosted by the Narromine Bowling Club, 158 Dandaloo Street, Narromine.  Call 6889 1164 to reserve your table.

Thank you to all those Mothers, Grandmothers and Carers who were able to visit for our Mother’s Day Morning Teas. It was lovely to welcome so many special visitors to enjoy our beautiful preschool. We had a wonderful turn out on both days to share some quality time with your child at preschool, while enjoying some yummy scones for morning tea. We hope you enjoyed the special gift "made with love" from your child for Mother's Day.

The preschool does as "Acknowledgement of Country" every day to thank the

Wiradjuri People for sharing their land.

We have recently introduced a new ritual regarding our Acknowledgement.

Every day after we pack away outside one of the educators walks around the playground and plays the clap sticks. This signals to the children to go and sit around the bike track near the fishpond to do our Acknowledgement all together before we transition inside.

It is a respectful way to acknowledge Aboriginal culture, children and their families and the path towards reconciliation.

"Here is the land. Here is the sky. Here are my friends, and here am I.

We thank the Wiradjuri people for the land

On which we learn and play.

Hands up, hands down.

We’re on Wiradjuri ground".

The teachers have been busy working through our preschool developmental checklist with the children. The checklists provide a quick method to identify a child's development in the different learning areas: gross motor skills, fine motor skills, cognitive learning, speech and language, and social and emotional development. Information from the checklists are then collated and help create our developmental profile and learning goals for each child.

Narromine Preschool would like to work together with you towards meeting the needs of each individual child and their family.  We invite you to set some individual and specific goals with your child at home. We are introducing a "My Preschool Goals" form for your child’s learning.  We ask that you complete the form and return it ASAP. It will help educators to plan for your child's future learning at preschool. The front page can be completed with your child and the back page is for you to note down any goals you have for your child this year. The forms will be sent home in the next week.

Please also make note of any areas of development for which you may have concern (i.e., speech, learning, coordination, etc.). We can then support you with a referral to access therapy services if necessary.

A child’s early years are the foundation for future development, providing a strong base for lifelong learning and learning abilities, including cognitive and social development. Well-established research continues to emphasise the importance of early childhood education as an essential building block of a child’s future success.

The Pyramid of Learning framework above, shows the importance of a strong foundation, on which to build from the bottom up to academic learning as the top of the pyramid to be taught when all the layers have been built on.

At preschool we believe in the importance of developing the whole child, not just academic skills- which as you can see from the Pyramid of Learning are at the very top of the pyramid.

Children need a firm base on which to build on their skills. That is why we have a wide variety of experiences and activities available every day at preschool in both the indoor and outdoor environment, to build on their development. Experiences such as playdough, cutting and pasting, painting, building with construction sets, puzzles, monkey bars all help children to develop and build up their hand strength and finger dexterity needed for later pencil grip and handwriting.

At preschool we provide an inspiring environment for children to develop the skills and qualities needed to flourish in all aspects of life, including school. In preparing children for the future, we also value the “here and now” in children’s lives and allow unhurried time for children to make sense of the world as they play and enjoy being 4 and 5 year olds.  School readiness is not a separate program but is an integral part of our everyday program as we nurture all areas of children’s growth and development.

Through play, children will learn skills in areas such as numeracy, literacy and self-care and, just as importantly, they will develop the physical, social and communication skills to help them take on the challenges and opportunities that life (and school) might present.  Because teachers and educators at Preschool focus on individual children’s interests, strengths and needs they foster curiosity, enthusiasm and a willingness to learn – important dispositions to be successful and confident life-long learners.

There is continuity of learning and friendships when the children attend for a minimum of 2 days per week, The children also have the opportunity to practice and refine their skills and gain a sense of belonging and security within the preschool environment which leads to increased participation and emotional and social wellbeing.

The “Start Strong Affordable Preschool" initiative provides fee relief funding to reduce your fees up to a maximum of $4,220 per year for eligible families. This funding is based on a child in the year before school, or from an equity background (low income or ATSI) attending a minimum of 15 hours (2 days) a week.

The preschool enrolment policy states that children in these categories MUST attend for a minimum of 2 days a week due to the funding and priority of access guidelines set by the Department of Education.

Tax Invoices have been sent home for Term 2 with the fee relief applied, therefore a NIL balance is owing.

A “Back to Preschool Week” is planned in Week 6 for the current Kindergarten children from each of the schools, as part of our transition to school process. The children will come to play and interact with our preschoolers for about an hour during the morning (after morning tea).

The following dates are now confirmed:

Tuesday 30/5/23 - Narromine Public School 11.30-12.30pm

Wednesday 31/5/23 - St Augustines 11.00am-12.00pm

Thursday 1/6/23 - Narromine Christian School 11.00am-12.00pm

Friday 2/6/23 - Narromine Public School 11.30-12.30pm 

With a lot of notes going home and being sent back to Preschool we ask parents to let us know if there is a returned note in your child's backpack.  Especially if the note contains money.  Teachers are not always told by children whether there is a note in their backpack - and it is not the achievable to check all backpacks.  A phone call, text or email will ensure the note is found and doesn't go home again.  The preschool mobile number is 0447 891795.  Thank you

Our weather is hard to predict at this time of year, could you please make sure your child has a jumper or jacket with their name clearly labelled in their backpack.  Also a reminder to send a spare set of clothes in case of accidents.

This year our Preschool Photos will be taken by Georgie Johnson.  All families should have received an order form in their child's backpack.  Please contact our office if you have not received a note or need a new note.  Photos will be taken daily during Week 9 of Term 2, from Monday 19th June to Friday 23rd June.   Completed order forms and payment are due back at the Preschool by Friday 9th June.  If you are returning your order and payment in person, please place the envelope in our locked Fees Box inside our front door.  If sending your order and payment in your child's backpack, please contact our staff to advise and we will make sure the note is placed in our Fees Box.  

We are looking at running our “Bringing Up Great Kids Program” again this year. 

Last year, Miss Jo facilitated the 4 week program that provided parents with an opportunity to reflect on their parenting journey in a friendly and safe environment.

We had some very positive feedback on the program with participants gaining new skills and confidence in their parenting journey.

We plan to offer this program again next term on a different day. If you are interested in participating, please see Louise or Jo in the office as we are taking expressions of interest about what day might work best in Term 3.

Narromine Community Health is running a FREE influenza immunisation clinic.  This is available for any child aged between 6 months and 5 years and their family members.  Please book by calling Narromine Community Health Ph: 6889 9600.  

Narromine Preschool will be offering FREE dental screening on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of week 8 provided by Narromine Community Health.

We know tooth decay can lead to pain and difficulty eating and concentrating at school, and a simple screening process can lead to early detection and treatment.

Caroline Maxwell - Child and Family Health Nurse from Narromine Community Health will attend the preschool and run a fun session with the children about how to care for their teeth and maintain healthy mouths.

Caroline will be looking for visual signs the children may need to see a dentist, and most importantly she will be looking for early signs of tooth decay.  If any concerns are identified a will be sent home asking you to take you child to see a dentist. She will also provide information as to where your family can access FREE dental care.