Hi Everyone and welcome, wow I can't believe we are heading full on towards the term break already.
What a busy term it has been, with much happening. Both in the programs and within the kindergarten and wider community.
Both our 3 and 4 yr old groups are settling well.
New friendships have been forming for some 4s and other consolidating. These friendship are taking on more significance as the children become more social beings and become more competent with their skills.
Just wanted to touch base at this stage and let you know a little of what is happening. I hope to set up closed blogs for the two groups this week as well as run this one with general inforamtion and news. I enjoyed both the morning parent information sessions and value your input into these.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Happy New Year
I want to wish you all a very happy and funfilled 2009.
I also have to say what a magical day our last day was. I was so very proud of all the children who sang so well and really seemed to enjoy the whole experience.
I loved the spontaneous exclamations whilst watching the presentaion, and their obvious joy in the experience.
I'm going to miss so many of you and hope to see you from time to time.
Please stay in touch. Blessings
I also have to say what a magical day our last day was. I was so very proud of all the children who sang so well and really seemed to enjoy the whole experience.
I loved the spontaneous exclamations whilst watching the presentaion, and their obvious joy in the experience.
I'm going to miss so many of you and hope to see you from time to time.
Please stay in touch. Blessings
Monday, December 15, 2008
Penaltimate Day
What a wonderfully settled industrious day the children had today. As if they know that from tomorrow things will be different...
But hey it's all good and the children are excited to be launching ahead towards new horizons, and hopefully Saara and I have done our jobs well.
It is sad, but also thrilling. I can't wait to hear all the news of their first school days and the exciting things that lay ahead.
Of course school isn't just about the schoolwork, of learning the rules, of following directions and instructions, of listening and taking in new facts... It too is about fun.. the fun of discovering a new friend, of working out a new teacher, of exploring new territory and beginning to break the secret codes of reading and writing and of being big and sometimes feeling small.
As I let my 'big children' go I hope that someone else will gather up these 'little ones' and nurture them and care for them as we have done here.
To all the children I thank you for your willingness to take up the many opportunities that we have set out for you. Thank you for teaching me things and for learning how to be tolerant and understanding.
Go, full steam ahead, and enjoy a life full of adventures and crammed with possibilities.
But hey it's all good and the children are excited to be launching ahead towards new horizons, and hopefully Saara and I have done our jobs well.
It is sad, but also thrilling. I can't wait to hear all the news of their first school days and the exciting things that lay ahead.
Of course school isn't just about the schoolwork, of learning the rules, of following directions and instructions, of listening and taking in new facts... It too is about fun.. the fun of discovering a new friend, of working out a new teacher, of exploring new territory and beginning to break the secret codes of reading and writing and of being big and sometimes feeling small.
As I let my 'big children' go I hope that someone else will gather up these 'little ones' and nurture them and care for them as we have done here.
To all the children I thank you for your willingness to take up the many opportunities that we have set out for you. Thank you for teaching me things and for learning how to be tolerant and understanding.
Go, full steam ahead, and enjoy a life full of adventures and crammed with possibilities.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
WOW... I hope it's not good-bye
Well Nitsa pulled me up on my blogging slackness so sorry to all of those who have been waiting for the next posting, you've been waiting awhile.
But honestly I have to say yet again, where has this year gone, and the ending seems to be going faster than ever. Only two more kindergarten days to go.
I can't believe it... as you might not be able to as well.
An incredible amount has been achieved this year by all the children and I can tell many are very excited about the new venture ahead.... but maybe not so some of the parents.
Yes Nitsa and Amanda I think the leap is getting closer, make sure you hold hands, close your eyes...... and FLY.
Saying good-bye to the children on Tuesday is going to be difficult. Sometimes that is why I surround myself with busy-ness. I have nurtured and extended and cared for and challenged them, only to send them off into someone else's care. And I can tell many are ready and eager for that.
I hope our party is a great opportunity to celebrate one last time as a group, not only children or parents of children coming to the kindergarten, but as a collective group who have found and developed friendships that I hope continue for a long time to come, no matter what the physical distances we might begin to experience that separate us.
I hope to see many of you around over the years and hear the stories you can regale me with about your children.
I will also take this opportunity to thank Saara for all the assistance she has offered over this year. Many if not all of you have experienced her approachablness and easy going self, she makes my job easier in many many ways.
But honestly I have to say yet again, where has this year gone, and the ending seems to be going faster than ever. Only two more kindergarten days to go.
I can't believe it... as you might not be able to as well.
An incredible amount has been achieved this year by all the children and I can tell many are very excited about the new venture ahead.... but maybe not so some of the parents.
Yes Nitsa and Amanda I think the leap is getting closer, make sure you hold hands, close your eyes...... and FLY.
Saying good-bye to the children on Tuesday is going to be difficult. Sometimes that is why I surround myself with busy-ness. I have nurtured and extended and cared for and challenged them, only to send them off into someone else's care. And I can tell many are ready and eager for that.
I hope our party is a great opportunity to celebrate one last time as a group, not only children or parents of children coming to the kindergarten, but as a collective group who have found and developed friendships that I hope continue for a long time to come, no matter what the physical distances we might begin to experience that separate us.
I hope to see many of you around over the years and hear the stories you can regale me with about your children.
I will also take this opportunity to thank Saara for all the assistance she has offered over this year. Many if not all of you have experienced her approachablness and easy going self, she makes my job easier in many many ways.
Monday, November 17, 2008
....But they just play..... where's the learning in that???
So often I hear the cry that children just play at kindergarten and that the real work begins at school. this is said directly or indirectly with the inference that some parents feel that if their child has been recommended for a second year of kindergarten that it would be wasted and they the child would be better off repeating a school year.
Play is never 'JUST' any one thing, children learn far more at this time in their lives and at a greater rate than they will ever again... They make sense of their world by playing out situations and roles and build the foundations for a love of learning that will carry them through their academic years and beyond...
And since when is doing one thing 'just' doing that thing??? An example would be since when is watching tv at the end of a busy day... simply 'just' watching tv... it is unwinding, tuning out, and often rarely is it just watching tv.
The same can be said of play, very rarely is it just what we often observe on the surface. Play is complex and a skilled early childhood educator interpretes this play and extends it where it needs extension and plans and predicts for more challenges and outcomes. Play is never 'just' play... it is fun, absorbing, intricate, simple, solitary, social....
Play is never 'JUST' any one thing, children learn far more at this time in their lives and at a greater rate than they will ever again... They make sense of their world by playing out situations and roles and build the foundations for a love of learning that will carry them through their academic years and beyond...
And since when is doing one thing 'just' doing that thing??? An example would be since when is watching tv at the end of a busy day... simply 'just' watching tv... it is unwinding, tuning out, and often rarely is it just watching tv.
The same can be said of play, very rarely is it just what we often observe on the surface. Play is complex and a skilled early childhood educator interpretes this play and extends it where it needs extension and plans and predicts for more challenges and outcomes. Play is never 'just' play... it is fun, absorbing, intricate, simple, solitary, social....
Monday, November 10, 2008
Luke... parent/teacher and latest news...
The children are preparing to say farewell to Luke... this has been done in several ways from children seeking him out... to chasing him for that elusive +kiss+ to sitting with him, or asking if they can visit... so I am anticipating a build up of this for the week with tomorrow's party/get together being a great opportunity for the children to get down and party with him, lol.
Parent/teacher interviews or update sessions are about wrapped up... I hope the information exchange has been usefull to many, I know I have found some of your feedback and insights helpful too.
I am grateful to those parents who also keep me updated with some relevant newspaper articles... two of late which are particularly good are from the Age, dated Nov 3 in the Education section, titled Dangers of too much safety, and the other titled, "I'm telling on you" is a powerful tool when push comes to shove... if you would like a copy just let me know.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
School Transitions and parent teacher interviews.
wow is it already that time of year once again!
The local schools have begun the process of introducing their prospective new students to the school and environs. Do they seem so small to you? We have also begun talking about this change during our daily group times and getting some discussion going to help the children anticipate the change ahead.
I have to say that i find this group particularly caring of one another and supportive.. this wavers from time to time. But they do seem to be getting the sense that time is running out in this group to play together. There is some great stuff happening and friendships seem frenetic and fun involved play is evident everywhere.
I have begun the end of year parent teacher interviews so that we can chat briefly about some of the development that has been happening for your child and some things that may be useful to assist your child before school starts.
Enjoy this next little while here at LFK, I'm confident your child will, and I look forward to catching up at one of the several social events planned over the next little while.
The local schools have begun the process of introducing their prospective new students to the school and environs. Do they seem so small to you? We have also begun talking about this change during our daily group times and getting some discussion going to help the children anticipate the change ahead.
I have to say that i find this group particularly caring of one another and supportive.. this wavers from time to time. But they do seem to be getting the sense that time is running out in this group to play together. There is some great stuff happening and friendships seem frenetic and fun involved play is evident everywhere.
I have begun the end of year parent teacher interviews so that we can chat briefly about some of the development that has been happening for your child and some things that may be useful to assist your child before school starts.
Enjoy this next little while here at LFK, I'm confident your child will, and I look forward to catching up at one of the several social events planned over the next little while.
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