ENewsletter

President's Report

Welcome to Term 4! I hope everyone had a relaxing holiday. Don’t forget to pack your child’s hat for kinder sessions this term and to apply sunscreen. There is some sunscreen in the foyer and near the sign-in book if needed.

Thanks to everyone who came along to celebrate Helen’s Birthday (and start her farewell celebrations). Current and past parents and staff attended and it was a lovely evening full of laughter, reminiscing and cake! If you couldn’t make it, there will be an opportunity later in the year for the current 4yo families to farewell Helen.

Term 4 is a very busy term here at Eastmont.

Last term we secured a grant for approx. $1400 from the Whitehorse Council. So far we have purchased four new rugs for the children to sit on and play, which are arriving next week and are looking to upgrade parts of our outdoor area. We are looking to re-home the old rugs, see notice below and speak to Sonya if you can assist.

Our Bunnings BBQ & Cake Stall is to be held at Vermont South Bunnings on Sunday 20th October. All families are expected to help out by volunteering on the day or baking something for our cake stall. Sign up at volunteersignup.org/JR7MD

Below are some important dates for your diary. We hope to see lots of families at these upcoming events!

Grandparents Morning Tea will be held on Saturday 9th Nov at the kinder with details being announced shortly.
A highlight of the term will be the Eastmont Pre-School Christmas Party at the Mooroolbark Miniature Railway on Sunday 17th November 10am – 1pm. All families are invited. More information coming soon!
Our AGM will be held on Wednesday 20st November at 7:30pm. Attendance is compulsory for all 2020 families.

Our last working bee for the year was held at the end of the school holidays. We had families raking and sweeping, digging up some of the agapanthus and doing a general clean-up of the kinder. Thanks to Fiona, Alex, Kim, Mick, Kath, Carole, Megan, Mel and Lynette and a group of children who gave up their Sunday morning to help get everything ready for Term 4.

Finally, we are looking for some new committee members for next year. Being on the committee is a great way to meet others and contribute to your child’s education. Eastmont Pre-School can only continue to operate effectively with a full committee. See below copy of letter sent to all 202 families and feel free to email me (president@eastmont.org) or speak to the other committee members if you would like more information about the roles available.

Thanks

- Cassie

Dates for your Diary

4yo Report

We ended last term on a high note with our fun Footy Days. The children all enjoyed making coloured streamers, signing along to their favourite footy songs and eating veggie hot dogs!

The children are all excited to be back at kinder after the holiday break and we are all looking forward to a busy, fun and exciting term.

To comply with our Sunsmart policy weather permitting, we will be commencing each session with outdoor play first so that sunscreen can be applied by families beforehand. All children also need to bring a hat to kinder every day.

The children enjoyed playing in the Eastmont Supermarket last term and now it has returned to their old favourite home corner with an assortment of dolls and teddies and dress ups.

We are singing/dancing to Singing in the Rain, A Sailor went to sea, Hokey Pokey, Highway Number One and lots of other songs. On Thursdays and Fridays Helen plays the piano and the children all enthusiastically join in movement to music and drama.

The puzzles available for the children to self-select have become increasingly challenging as their concentration spans have increased and they become more proficient at problem-solving exercises. The children are currently very interested in looking at books so, in addition to the reading corner inside, we often take books outside in a basket. The children sit on the bean bags or picnic blanket and spend time looking at and listening to picture story books by themselves as well as in small groups.

We are continuing to focus on fine motor skill development and offer the children lots of learning experiences to develop their pencil grip, hand-eye coordination and finger and hand strength and dexterity. Theses include cutting and pasting activities, worksheets, playdough, Lego etc.

This week we have had SwimWorld swim school present interactive sessions about water safety which the children all enjoyed, especially getting a photo with someone dressed up as Squirt, the baby turtle.

Thank you to all the families who attended the working bee before we started back at kinder, it is lovely to come back and have everything so nice and tidy.

- Sonya

3yo Report

The children had fun wearing their footy colours and dress ups during the last week of term 3 for footy day. To celebrate the children made fairy bread and enjoyed it at snack time. They also planted beans in the garden and are now eagerly waiting for them to grow.

Term 4 is off to a great start. The children have been enjoying a sensory water activity and animal printing with paint and stampers. They have also been using new materials at the pasting table and playing with animal toys on the mat. We have been learning new songs together including ‘veggie patch’, ‘Spring time’ and ‘twist, shake and wiggle’ during our daily mat times.

On Monday the 21st and 22nd of October we will be having a drama toolbox incursion. The children will have the chance to dress up in costume and engage in movement and drama activities.

- Sonya (for Sue)

Social & Fundraising Update

As Cassie mentioned, our biggest fundraiser for Term 4 is the Bunnings BBQ & Cake Stall on Sunday 20th October (next Sunday) from 8am-5pm at Bunnings Vermont South. We need all Eastmont families to volunteer their time to help out on the day or bake something for the cake stall. Please sign up using the volunteer signup sheet - lots more volunteers are needed - https://www.volunteersignup.org/JR7MD

You would have also seen the notice put in pockets and on Skoolbag last week about the Tea Towel & Carry Bag Fundraiser. This has been very successful in the past years and is a great memento of your child's time at kinder. A tea towel sample is in the foyer and the due date has been extended until Friday 18 October. Why not purchase a few extras as Christmas presents.

The last Scholastic Book Order for the year were also sent home last week. Orders are to be placed through the Book Club LOOP App by Friday 25 October.

And lastly, invites will shortly be sent out for our Eastmont Christmas Party on Sunday 17 November at Mooroolbark Miniature Railway. It promises to be lots of fun and a great opportunity to catch up with other kinder families and to reflect on the year, with a special appearance from Santa.

- Megan