1. Kidtalk! President’s report Issue 2 – July 2016
Well, Term 3 has definitely approached quickly. And of course our Gala event is nearing - a great night for parents to socialise.
The Gala is only a couple of weeks away. It’s our main fundraising event and getting as many parents and friends along will raise funds for the Kinder. This year the social secretaries have decided to put less of a focus on auction items so parents don’t feel obliged to spend too much on the night. There will be prizes for raffle tickets and four pieces of artwork that will be auctioned off. Your purchase of a ticket for the night and any raffle tickets you wish to purchase will be our main form of fundraising for the night. So please come and enjoy.
The committee and teachers have been hard at work amending the timetable for next year’s classes. We think we’ve come up with one that suits parents and teachers even more so. We are also applying for a Major Infrastructure Grant ( CFCP Major grants round). The Kinder is in need of more working space for teachers to prepare for classes and and conduct meetings, and for storage and office space. The Kinder also requires more space at the entry for students’ bags and belongings as well as an upgrade to the toilets and making the area more user friendly for wheelchair access. If we’re successful the Kinder will be required to put in 25% of the costs. Over many years the Kinder has been saving fundraising funds for capital works. Hopefully all the hours and money raised by fundraising and donations efforts will be put towards making our Kinder space even better.
We also encourage parents to help out by participating in ‘Kinder helper’, working bees, and fundraising activities. The children love it when they see their families participating in their kindergarten, and studies show children do better at kindergarten and at school if this is the case.
If you have any questions at any stage, please don’t’ hesitate to contact me or any other member of the committee.
Kind regards
Joanne Newell (Dexter’s mum)
Proudly sponsored by
Office Manager: Lisa Fitzpatrick
Phone: Address: 143 Upper Heidelberg Road, Ivanhoe

3. Director’s report
It’s hard to believe we are now half way through the year! I hope your children are enjoying their kindergarten days and anticipating the fun and exciting learning experiences that are on offer during each session.
The weather has turned chilly and winter is well and truly here. While the children have been spending more time indoors, we do think it’s very important for them to get a play outdoors every session to stretch their legs, get a dose of Vitamin D, and get some fresh air so please ensure your child wears appropriate clothing and footwear to Kinder. If you are worried about wet shoes you may like to bring some gumboots in a plastic bag for your child to wear outdoors.
In other news we have FINALLY been able to update and launch our brand new website. A huge thanks to Chrissy, one of our Red group mums, for putting this together. She was amazing doing this in her own time and capturing the real essence of our Kinder through lovely imagery and lovely page designs. Her website is also beautiful as are the beautiful products she designs - check out . This website is fully interactive, with each group having access to their very own parent portal that will take you to a dedicated page for each group. We have already started putting up content, so get your group’s password and start interacting – make sure you check regularly for information.
And finally I would like to extend a huge thank you to all our families for your ongoing input in the program. This is so valuable and appreciated. We cannot thank you enough for all the fantastic donations that have been coming into Kinder from yoghurt lids to huge cardboard boxes. These have been upcycled to create new and exciting creations. We also appreciate your suggestions, time and help with the program and more. Keep it coming,
Kind regards
Kate

4. Also from the Director…
Toys from home
Please remember it is best to keep toys at home. We have had a lot of items such as soft toys, Lego, superheros etc that are brought into kinder and are lost or left behind. If you know your child is a repeat offender please check their bags regularly - they can be a little sneaky, I know!
Signing in and out and collecting children on time
It is a legal requirement for all children to be signed in at the start of the session and signed out at the end of the session. We are finding that some children are not being signed in or out. If you have grandparents dropping off or collecting your child, please inform them about this matter. Also if you are adding family members or family friends to your collection list please fill in the appropriate forms (see your child’s teacher) or we may not be able to let your child leave the service.
Please make sure you collect your child on time. If you are running late, then please call us to let us know. It makes it difficult to set up/clean up the room when families are late collecting children. If you do need to collect your child early please make sure you inform staff this will be occurring.
Second year of kinder
By now you should have been approached by either Liz or me if we have any concerns regarding your child’s school readiness for next year. Banyule council will very soon need final numbers on children who will potentially be completing a second year. Liz and I are more than happy to meet with families who are considering a second year or wanting to chat about their child’s overall progress. Just a reminder that Liz and I have planning/programming hours so we can arrange to meet you during these times.
Children attending when unwell
If there is anything that we know children do well it’s sharing their bugs, especially in the winter months! Please ensure your child is well enough to attend.
Please refer to the exclusion list in the foyer to indicate how many days your child may require off after an illness. See your group’s teacher for more information if unsure. Please call us if your child is not coming in, especially if they have a communicable disease so we are aware of it.
Please remind your children to cover their mouths when coughing, blow their noses correctly, and wash their hands.

5. Library
In Term 3 the children in the four year old groups have started library every week (see your individual group for what day). As part of Annie’s art class the children have created their own unique library bag to take home each week.
If you could help the children to remember to bring back the bags and book every Thursday, that would be great. We keep a record of what book is borrowed in case they become misplaced or forgotten. Please see your child’s teacher if the book is lost. We ask that you donate a book of equal value to the kindergarten if this happens.

6. Four year old kinder reports
Red group
We very busy with several interests in Term 3…
Show and share
As you are aware some of the children have already taken home the show and share bag. It’s been great to see some interesting items coming in to Kinder and no toys coming in. We love seeing family photos, things collected from holidays, and the children’s homemade art work. The children are quite confident at sharing their items and telling us all about them. We are amazed at some of the questions.
Benji the take home bear
Benji the bear is also visiting everyone’s house for a week. The children will each get a turn at looking after Benji. Don’t forget to fill out the three questions about Benji’s adventures. If you have trouble printing photos off please let me know. You can them through to kinder and I will print them for you.
Bulbs
After Katie’s broad bean experience the children were fascinated watching three gladioli bulbs that we grew in a vase of water. The children looked at them excitedly and said “look they’re cracking” and “it’s got legs”, “it’s got arms”. We measured the stems to see how much they grew each session and observed the changes.
Great Barrier Reef
We also discussed sea creatures that live in the Great Barrier Reef. We watched a National Geographic film on the Reef and saw some of the creatures and reef life. The children drew and painted their own sea creatures to make a canvas of their ideas for the room.
Other interests
Block building
Role playing in the salon
Building our own marble runs
Annie’s Art program
Making pom poms in Aboriginal colours
Planting with the ladies from Bunnings
Roller painting our library bags

7. Change of clothes Borrowed clothes
Please make sure that your child has at least 1 change of clothes in their bag. We are also happy for the children to bring a coat, umbrella and gumboots to Kinder so we can still go outside when it’s wet and cold. There are days when we do sensory experiences and the children may get wet or covered in paint or slime, so please do not send them in their best clothes because the children love getting right into sensory experiences.
Borrowed clothes
If your child is sent home in a spare set of clothes from Kinder, then please remember to return them after you have washed them. We are finding that clothes are not being returned. If you do have socks, track suit pants, shorts etc that your child has grown out of then we will happily take them for spare clothes at Kinder.
How to help your 4 and 5 year old to become more independent + Why does independence matter?
Independence contributes to the development of self-esteem, identity and wellbeing. Doing something for yourself produces a powerful sense of achievement and success. When children have opportunities to make choices, to attempt tasks for themselves, and to take on increasing responsibilities, their sense of themselves as competent members of society grows. (Promoting Independence and agency. Newsletter No 64, 2013, National Quality Standard Professional Learning Program)
There are ways to help your child to become more independent by …
Encouraging them to carry their own bag into and out of kinder
Making them responsible for putting their own lunch box and drink bottle onto the trolley
Showing them how to put their own clothes/socks etc on and then encourage them to get themselves dressed
Teaching them to put their own coat on
Dressing them in Velcro, zip up or pull on shoes/boots
Encouraging them to pack up their own mess
Encouraging them to take on a challenging task
Giving them small jobs to do
Asking them to walk instead of going in a stroller/pram.
Kind Regards
Liz, Annie and Katie

8. Our bulbs are beginning to sprout!
Vianne uses roller painting to cover the stickers and tape on her library bag. Once it’s dry, the children will have a lovely pattern on their bags.
Making a marble run using bamboo and blocks.
Making pom poms in Aboriginal colours.
Planting out the Veggie box with the ladies from Bunnings

9. Blue group Brown Bear visits Storybook writing Yoga
It’s been such a pleasure teaching Blue group this year. The children and families have created such a special community and with one another and it’s been lovely to hear that the children are spending time with one another outside Kinder as well.
Our program is changing and evolving daily based on the children’s interests and new ideas however some of the highlights of Term 2 were:
Brown Bear visits
The children enjoyed their visits with Brown Bear the Kinder bear. These visits gave the children a great opportunity to present in front of the group and build their confidence. It also helped us to learn more about each others family and things you enjoy doing with one another. Each week a different child will be chosen. We are moving through the children so don't be alarmed if your child hasn't had their turn it will be coming up soon!
Storybook writing
The children are in the process of writing their own special books using ourselves as the main characters. Keep posted as we are hoping to make our very own book for us to read in our book corner. So far the children’s ideas have been very creative.
Yoga
As part of our daily practice the children have been participating in a short yoga session. I practise yoga in my life so sharing this with the children helps me to incorporate an interest I have. The children have been doing authentic poses that I do in my practice. Our yoga practisc has helped the children to build strength, flexibility and quietness of the mind. Please encourage the children to practise at home as mindfulness is a very important part of everyone’s life.
Kind regards
Kate, Katie and Annie

10. General news from Red and Blue groups…
NAIDOC – June
NAIDOC week is a special week in which we spend extra time celebrating our Aboriginal culture and heritage. Celebrating this week provides us with a wonderful opportunity to take action to build respect and strengthen the children’s understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
All groups planned age-appropriate activities to help the children to connect with the Aboriginal culture. Some experiences included a painting class with Annie learning about X Ray paintings, dot paintings and about how aboriginal people made the paints they used and why they expressed themselves in art the way they did. We watched YouTube clips of various dream times stories and read books, listened to aboriginal music, and saw and touched a real didgeridoo. See your child’s individual portfolio for more on our celebrations.
Planting with Bunnings
As part of our curriculum at East Ivanhoe Preschool it is an important part of our philosophy that the children spend time outdoors engaging with the natural environment. Part of this engagement comes from gardening so we were excited about the opportunity to invite the staff from Bunning’s to come to refresh our tired looking veggie patch.  
The children were very excited to get their hands dirty and re-invigorate our herb and veggie boxes. They planted a range of things from parsley to strawberries. We can’t wait to see them sprout and thrive so we can enjoy tasting them and using them in our cooking experiences. See you child's individual portfolio for more information and pictures! 
Drama Toolbox visit
Another highlight from Term 2 was our visit from Drama Toolbox. During this session the children were transformed through the use of props and costumes into habitat heroes who needed to save all the animals from having their homes destroyed. The children had lots of fun and learned the importance of looking after our world and the animals that live here.

11. Three year old kinder report
Yellow and Green groups
Term 2 was exciting for both the 3yo groups as they participated in Drama Toolbox circus play, home corner imaginative salon, puppies and baby play, cooking, outdoor games, learned new songs and sensory/science play and gardening.
There is a lot of mud, paint and mess in general! We do like mess! And art smocks are optional as we find some children flow into doing creative things better if they don't have to stop and fuss with putting on a smock. So please dress your children in clothes that can get messy! A reminder that we would love donations of families’ unwanted/outgrown gumboots.
Sarah continues to study her Diploma of Children's Services and brings new ideas and experiences into the classroom for the children to try. Many children are now able to tell us what they want to do at Kinder and we really encourage that and scaffold their ideas into learning experiences.
I have started professional development learning how to better identify and support young gifted children and how to cater to their needs. Teachers spend a lot of time and focus on ways to help children develop thier confidence and competence in all developmental areas - but sometimes we are quite floored by children who are years advanced in some way. It is not always obvious as children mask things to fit in, even at the age of 3! We want these children to be comfortable with continuing to learn at a pace and style that feels intrinsic/right to them, rather than feel that they have to "perform" or "hide" parts of themselves.
In Term 3 children are trying some new activities such as yoga and "Show&Tell". We gave them a taste of this in Term 2 so they were familiarised.
We would also love to start having parent helpers to join us during sessions thisterm, and will put a roster out for interested parents.
 Kind regards
 Emma and Sarah

12. Art program
We began Term 2 by exploring ‘Collage’ through the art of Eric Carle, author and illustrator of ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’. The children prepared painted papers, using a variety of techniques (rollers, sponges, printing blocks and brushes) and utilized these in their creative collages. ‘The Mixed-Up Chameleon’ too, provided the inspiration for some very inventive and wildly wonderful imaginary creatures.
The main focus in Term 2 has been on Line, Shape and Colour, providing the perfect opportunity to introduce the children to the diverse art of Paul Klee, a Swiss, German artist whose style connected drawing, shape and the realm of colour. ‘Castle and Sun’ (1928) It is said that he just started drawing and let the lines grow into shapes. ‘They’re Biting’ (1920) ‘Drawing is simply taking a line for a walk’ - Paul Klee.
Recently, to co-ordinate with Indigenous Week, the children discovered Traditional Aboriginal Art and how it is intertwined with the ‘Dreamtime’. We looked at images of ancient Rock Art, X-ray Painting, Bark Painting, Body Painting and Dot Painting, and explored the materials, tools and techniques of grinding clays to make pigments. This interest extended to the art of Contemporary Indigenous artists, namely Minnie Pwerle and Emily Kame Kngwarreye and the use of line, shape and colour in their storytelling imagery.
We concluded the term with textile painting and will extend this experience with fabric dyeing in Term 3. Also, we look forward to an excursion to Heide, Museum of Modern Art in September.
With thanks
Annie

13. Social report
The East Ivanhoe Preschool Gala Cocktail Party is fast approaching. As this is a catered event, it is essential that tickets are purchased prior to the RSVP date of 20th July. This is a fabulous night out for parents to socialise with other kinder parents and the teachers across all groups. The invitation is also extended to the wider kinder community so we encourage grandparents and friends to join us.This is the night not to be missed. It is a casual cocktail event which means there is no pressure to dress up, come as you desire. The night will be relatively informal, with lots of food and good company.  It is the perfect opportunity to catch up with people away from the chaos of the kinder foyer! It is also our main fundraising event so please make an effort to sell the raffle tickets attached to the invite. There are some wonderful prizes to be won and most importantly all the money raised goes back to the kinder. We would really love to see everyone there supporting our kinder and making the night a success.So if you haven't already done so, book your tickets now! See you on the 29th!
East Ivanhoe Preschool would like to thank the Major sponsors of the Gala Raffle for their generous support in providing amazing prizes!
Australian Skin & Laser Clinic Ivanhoe 
Since 1998, Australian Laser & Skin Clinics have been leaders in permanent Laser Hair Removal and corrective Skin Treatments.  Offering wide range of treatments from Laser Hair Removal, Advanced Skin Treatments, Cosmetic Injections to Teeth Whitening. Australian Laser & Skin Clinics is one of very few clinics where all staff are medically trained and certified. They have experienced and highly skilled Doctors, Nurses and Dermal Clinicians and use the most advanced technology to achieve safe & effective results.  Australian Laser & Skin Clinics is located at 185 Upper Heidelberg Road Ph: , with 8 other locations across Melbourne. Call for a Free Consultation and start your journey to a New You! For more information visit
Virginia Morris Steps
Newly constructed self-contained 1 bedroom cottage, “100 Steps” to the stunning Pt Roadknight beach, Angelsea.
This stunning accommodation will be first offered for rent in the September School Holidays and sleeps up to 4 pax. Currently the main house is also available to rent, for $250 per night off peak and $650 per night (negotiable) over the Christmas holidaysThis lovely new addition to 100 Steps is under construction and upon completion we can expect to pay upwards of $250 per night, however the owner, Virginia Morris has graciously donated two nights accommodation to EIPS! Please contact Virginia via airbnb-link below for queries.
Tim & Kate O’Callaghan Kew Golf Club
Eaglemont Tennis Club - Shane Scruton Ivanhoe Dental
Anna Ryan Photography Ivanhoe Aquatic Centre
Elliot Steele

14. East Ivanhoe Preschool are also very grateful to the following local traders and families for their support:
Vasko
Miles Real Estate
Sarah and Tim Redin
Chrissy Virgiotis
Punk Angel
Aurelio Family
East Ivanhoe Drycleaners
Pizzami
Theo’s Fish Bar
Hair Connection
The Foreigner Cafe
Crust Ivanhoe
Bee Bee Q
Cafe Georgia
Vino Central
SABI Beauty
Chemist Warehouse Ivanhoe
East Ivanhoe Pharmacy
Foodworks
Zanetti’s
East Ivanhoe Eyecare
Studio V - Vassie Catalano
Luxe Accessories
East Ivanhoe Butchers
Eaglemont Fruit Supply
Dish Cafe
Menz Mode Doncaster
Pastel Bloom Cakes
My Little Perfect
Zucci
Nando’s Ivanhoe
Pronto 
Narelle & Simon Findling
Fairy Hills Icecream
Kinder famlies who have donated goods
Social Secretaries