What a fantastic month we have had at Play’s Kool Mandurah. The children have been busy learning and discovering through a range of different activities and experiences. A big thankyou to all the wonderful grandparents who were able to attend our Grandparents Morning Tea and to the children and their families for the wonderful appreciation displayed towards the educators Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day.

The Peel Zoo came to visit us on Tuesday 27th September and we were able to learn so much. They brought with them a cockatoo, a lizard, a ferret, snakes and a really big cockroach. DID YOU KNOW? Cockatoos are long-lived birds and can live to be more than 50 years old!

We have many planned events and activities scheduled for the month of October and we look forward to the many wonderful learning opportunities the children will have.

Theorist Quote: The goal of education is not to

increase the amount of knowledge but to create

the possibilities for a child to invent and

discover, to create people who are capable of

doing new things. (Jean Piaget)

81 Mandurah Terrace Mandurah WA 6210

(08) 9584 8033 mandurah@mychildcare.net.au

www.mychildcare.net.au

On Friday 16th September we had had a special visit from Sylvia on behalf of the City of Mandurah. Sylvia came to Play’s Kool to educate us about the importance of the two big trees in the front outside play area. Sylvia informed us that one of the trees was called a MONTEREY CYPRUS and the other is called a NORFOLK ISLAND PINE. We heard the story that they were planted in the early 1950’s by a little boy named Mr Harold Blakeley Jnr (which means the trees are over 60 years old). We were all very interested in the information Sylvia was giving us and we even had the opportunity of all standing around the Norfolk Island Pine and holding hands to see how many of us could fit around the trunk. We counted, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14! We all held our hands up in the air to see how tall the tree was compared to us... we still have a while to go before we get that tall! To extend on the information given, children were given the opportunity to gather foliage that had fallen from the trees which they then glued onto blank canvases. This special artwork is now proudly displayed in the main office.

ANALYSIS OF LEARNING The children demonstrated an increased knowledge of, and respect for the natural environment. They are also developing an awareness of the impact of human activity on the environment.

EYLF 2.4: Children become socially responsible and show respect for the environment.

NQS 6.3.4: The service builds relationships and engages with their local community.

As with every policy review, a copy will be displayed in the main foyer of our Centre. All comments and feedback you have for our consideration is greatly appreciated and always important as part of our policy improvement initiative.

Play’s Kool Mandurah understands that the exposure to UV radiation in childhood is a major risk factor for developing skin cancer later in life. Correct sun protection practices reduce a child’s risk of skin and eye damage and ensure they obtain enough vitamin D from the sun to allow for healthy bone development and maintenance. Our staff will:

Use a combination of sun protection measures whenever UV levels reach 3 and or above.

Access the daily UV alert issued by BoM to find out daily local sun protection times and the UV index.

Ensure sun protection measures are adequate at all times, particularly from 10am-2pm when daily UV levels reach their peak.

Ensure protection measures are adequate for children with all skin types.

Ensure sun protection measures are considered when planning excursions.

After applying sunscreen, you

should give it at least 20 to 30

minutes to dry before going

outside. It takes this long after

application for the chemicals to

start working. Letting the

sunscreen dry also helps ensure

that it stays on your skin.

4.1 Staffing arrangements enhance children’s leaning and development and ensure their safety and wellbeing. 4.1.1 Educator to child ratios and qualification requirements are maintained at all times.

4.2 Educators, co-ordinators and staff members are respectful and ethical. 4.2.1 Professional standards guide practice, interactions and relationships. 4.2.2 Educators, co-ordinators and staff members work collaboratively and affirm, challenge, support and learn from each other to

further develop their skills, to improve practice and relationships. 4.2.3 Interactions convey mutual respect, equity and recognition of each other’s strengths and skills.

The Kindies Room has been very busy following their interest of bugs and insects. Children currently are caring for silk worms and meal worms by providing them with food such as mulberry leaves and potato. We have observed the silk worms turning from worms to cocoons which has been a wonderful experience. Children have been busy going on ‘bug and insect’ hunts looking at what they can find in the outside environment and then learning all about them by accessing information from our iPads. We have been learning the difference between dangerous and safe bugs, which ones we can touch and which ones we should not. The Kindies Room has been decorated with creations the children have made such as spider webs hanging from the roof, caterpillar name insects, bumblebees and butterflies. EYLF 4.1: Children develop dispositions for learning such as curiosity, cooperation, confidence, creativity,

commitment, enthusiasm, persistence, imagination and reflexivity NQS 1.1.2: Each child’s current knowledge, ideas, culture, abilities and interests are the foundation of the program.

A couple of our friends in the Toddlers Room showed their interest in nail painting by using a play dough roller and bowl to paint each other’s toe nails. They each took turns saying “my turn”. To extend on this interest Alicia organised a foot spa experience using a bath tub and adding warm water and detergent for the bubbles. It looks as though our friends really enjoyed the experience… what do you think? EYLF 2.1.2: Cooperate with others and negotiate roles and relationships in play episodes and group experiences. EYLF 2.1.6: Build on their own social experiences to explore other ways of being. NQS 5.2.1: Each child is supported to work with, learn from and help others through collaborative learning

opportunities.

Molly, our pet puppy dog from the Babies Room was lucky enough to spend a week at Theia’s house. Theia’s family wrote all about Molly’s adventures during the week with Molly & Theia’s favourite experience together being a shopping trip to Bunnings. Once home from their trip, Theia and Molly helped plant new vegetables and then watered all of the plants. To extend on Molly’s visit to Theia’s house, Anne and Shauni organised for the children to build and paint Molly her own dog house which was lots of fun!

EYLF 1.1.3: Sense and respond to a feeling of belonging.

NQS 5.2.1: Each child is supported to feel secure, confident and included.

Friendly Reminders…

DAILY CHECKLIST

Water bottles.

Piece of fruit.

Hats - legionnaire or bucket style.

Spare clothing – at least two sets, weather appropriate.

Nappies - at least 6 per day.

Formula – please provide in its original tin and clearly label name and the date it was opened.

Bottles – the exact amount required for the day, washed and ready to use.

Bedding – for children who need to have a sleep.

Dummies and comforters – required for children at sleep time. Please ensure dummies are stored in a sealed container.

PLEASE ENSURE ALL BELONGINGS ARE CLEARLY LABELLED WITH YOUR CHILD’S NAME.

SUNSMART Play’s Kool is a SunSmart Centre and we require all children to bring their hats with them on a daily basis and parents are to ensure children are dressed in SunSmart clothing. We kindly ask all families to get involved with encouraging their children to apply their own sunscreen when they arrive each day at our SunSmart (sunscreen) station. There are wipes and sanitiser to help wash your hands afterwards. It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure children have sunscreen applied prior or upon arrival so there is adequate time for the sunscreen to take effect.

IMMUNISATIONS Please remember to let us know of any updates to your children’s immunisation register by allowing us to take a copy.

SLEEPING AT THE CENTRE If all families could please remember to bring in the bedding required for their children on each day of attendance. This should consist of one set of cot sheets as well as a thin blanket stored inside a pillow case which we will have organised for you to take home again at the end of each day. If you do not provide any bedding we will assume your child does not require a sleep on that day.

MEDICATIONS Please ensure all medication is handed directly to our staff members and not left in children’s bags. Medication Forms must be completed and signed prior to our staff being able to administer any medications.

PARENT SURVEYS Parent Survey forms are available on our Parent’s Notice Board and we always welcome any comments, suggestions or concerns you may have. Your valuable feedback assists us in continually assessing how we deliver care to your family.

TOYS Please ensure children leave their toys at home to prevent their loved toys getting broken or lost. Play’s Kool does not take any responsibility for lost or broken toys brought in from home.

CHILD INTEREST & FAMILY INPUT Thank you for all of the family input we

receive. Sharing your special events, activities,

culture and any of your child’s particular interests

with us is extremely valuable towards developing our

learning journeys.

2 DAYS. OVER 200 KILOMETRES. 1 EPIC RIDE.

The MACA Ride to Conquer Cancer benefiting Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research is for anyone who wants to challenge themselves for a great cause. All you need is motivation, a bike and a helmet. The money you raise for The Ride will benefit Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Western Australia’s premier adult medical research institute. Please visit www.conquercancer.org.au to find out how you can participate in this great initiative or to show your support and donate money to one of the many riders.

We have a lovely new vegetable garden in the Kindies yard, growing parsley, lettuce and strawberries and we are able to use these harvested vegetables in our kitchen… SO FRESH & DELICIOUS! Our fresh garden produce also brings some lovely smells into the kitchen and our food.

All of our food scraps either get kept to feed our chickens or are donated to the K9 Dog Rescue www.k9.asn.au