Merry Christmas

Dear Parents and Friends of Little Princes,
2008 has almost drawn to a close and we have already taken the opportunity to say goodbye to those who are moving on in 2009. We wish Benjamin, Liam and Alicia all the very best at their new schools and hope that Aaron, our lunch reliever travels safely and that Miss Trish studies hard in the coming years. We also wish Annabel Ecroyd the best of luck with her move interstate and with the birth of her and Heath's second child. We would like to thank Rebecca Golding for so gallantly and ably stepping into a teaching role in the second semester and are sure that we will see her face around next year. It's also time to excitedly welcome Ms Alex Marcus who will join Amanda Rees in the Flinders Room next semester. Staff have now officially finished their year too and so will not be able to be contacted until January next year. We would like to take this opportunity to thank parents for their support during the year and to wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy new year. We hope you enjoy and safe but exciting holiday and already can't wait to see the children in January (usually with a couple of extra inches in height!).

Whilst the College will celebrate it's 140th year next year it will also be an important milestone for us. The Kindergarten will turn 10 and this is made all the more exciting by us being able to celebrate this decade achievement in a new purpose built facility...2008 was a fantastic year but we are sure looking forward to what 2009 will bring and being able to share those events with your children.

Thank you again

Love to all

The Kindergarten Team

We leave you this year with the Pirie Room students Christmas wishes to the world ...
for everyone to have a warm house to live in. Ned
for everyone to have a Mummy and a Daddy and to get presents too. Henry
for everyone to be happy and have fun like me. John
for everyone to be happy and safe. Isabelle
for everyone to be kind and no one to feel sad. Ben
for all the children to have a present. Dion
for everyone to have a family that loves them. Brodie
for all the animals to be safe and happy. Thomas
for everyone to be a friend. Mason
for no one to be hurt or sad. Braheem
that everyone in the world will have food to eat and a best friend like I do.Mayson
for people to be kind to each other. Isaac
for everyone to be loved. Hunter
for people to be safe and happy. Yianni
for everyone to be friends. Jasper

for the world to be a happy place. Lachlan
for everyone to have a happy family. Liam
for the world to be safe for everyone. Hugo
for everyone to feel loved. Alicia
for everyone to have someone who loves them. Adam
that everyone has a nice Christmas. Kyle
that no one will be sad but everyone happy. Mark
for everyone to belong to a family who loves them. Harrison
for the world to keep everyone safe. Vasili
for people to help each other like I help Henry (my brother) Annabelle
that everyone in the world will get a present. For everyone to be loving and kind. Tom
for all the people in the world to be happy. Joshua
for everyone to feel happy and safe. Christian
for everyone to have a warm, safe home to live in. Matthew
for everyone in the world to have a family to love them. Federico
for everyone in the world to laugh. Jordan

Kindergarten Party

Dear Parents,
the end of the term is nearly upon us.
The final day of term will be on Tuesday the 9th of December. Please note that school ends for Kindergarten students at 12.30 (not 1.00pm)
It is also timely to remind parents that the vacation care schedule is out and if you require a place please hand your completed form back to the front office as soon as possible.
On the final day of term we will be having an informal party for the children from 12.00pm - 12.30pm. This will be an opportunity to say goodbye to some staff and students who will be leaving us. Some parents have also asked about the possibility of sharing cards with classmates, this would be a great day to do this. We also plan for this to be the day that children take home their Christmas gift for their family. Please let us know if your child will not be there so that we can ensure their family gift goes home earlier.
For the party can we please ask families with a surname that starts with a letter between A and L to bring a small plate of something savory and for those with surnames between M and Z to bring a small plate of something sweet.
Thankyou
Kindergarten Staff

New Top Tales Arrivals

Dear Parents,
New titles have arrived from Top Tales. Please be sure to have a look in the basket at the sign on desk and record any purchases you wish to make on the green form.
Staff recommend "When a Monster is Born" by Sean Taylor. This book is a great way to awaken children to the idea that different decisions have different outcomes. Also recommended is "Giraffes Can't Dance" by Giles Andreae, a book about potential and believing in yourself. And of course, a firm favourite, Harry and his dinosaurs return in "Harry and the Dinosaurs make a Splash" by Ian Whybrow.
This wonderfully priced, good quality children's literature is a great way to solve the problem of Christmas presents and every cent you spend helps to build points towards our Kindergarten book account, hopefully allowing us to choose a complimentary title to add to the children's library.
Thank you for your support
Mel Bishop

Roll up, it's time for the Year Seven Fair

Roll up, it's time for the Year Seven Fair. As part of their community service program the year seven students have again this year decided to hold the ever popular Year Seven Fair. Students are involved in creating fair activities for younger students to participate in. They also work out how to charge, arrange tickets and reward their clientele! On the day, the boys from year seven man the booths and help kindergarten students participate.
Due to the age of Kindergarten children the year seven boys have again, this year, planned to open the fair early so that we may participate before the crush of older boys descend! Kindergarten students will require a gold coin donation to enter and that will go towards tickets for the activities and is later donated to the Wesley Mission Charity. Students can also win prizes and these will be collected by Kindergarten teachers to be fairly shared at the conclusion.
The Year Seven Fair is held on Friday the 14th of November and is a casual clothes day...don't forget your gold coin!

Reception/Flinders Christmas Drinks

An invitation has been extended to all current Flinders Room parents to join Reception C parents for an end of year Christmas Party. Belinda and Mark are providing their home for the venue (please see newsletter for address). Please bring a bottle of wine/beer and plate of food. The party will be held on November 28th at 8pm.
Please RSVP to Bec or Belinda on the numbers provided in the newsletter by Friday 21st November.

Pirie Christmas Dinner

Our P & F Reps have organised a Christmas Dinner on Friday 5th December at 7.30pm at Eros Greek Restaurant, 277 Rundle St. If you would like to join in please RSVP with a $20 deposit by Monday 1st December to Annie on 0408 827557 or Bianca on 0421 003355. No late additions will be allowed due to busy Christmas period.

What is a Star Made Of?

• “Stars are made out of rocks because they are like the moon and the moon is made out of rock” said Ben
• “They are made of metal and they don’t like to come out in light, only at dark time” said Braheem
• “I think they are made out of plastic because they are white and squashy and plastic is white and squashy” said Kyle
• “They are made out cheese, I don’t know why” said Joshua with a big smile
• “They are really shiny” said Jasper
• “Stars are hot” said Matthew
• “’Cause they look like the sun and the sun is hot” said Thomas Chapman
• “I think they get cold cause they are made out of ice” said Lachlan Martin
• “The moon is round like the sun but stars have sticks on the side that shine out” said Henry
• “Stars are made of shiny glass that is white” said Braheem
• “Stars don’t go away, the world turns around” said Ben
• “At the museum I saw the world and the world goes around really fast but we can’t feel it and so the stars are on one side” said Hugo
• “When the world turns around the sun is on one side and the stars are on the other” said Matthew
• “Yeah, the stars go where the sun was” said Kyle
• “When the sun goes to America at day time the stars go to Australia for night time” said Thomas
• “The stars came down and crashed up the dinosaurs but in real life the scientists believe a meteor came down and crashed the dinosaurs” said Dion
• “Stars may be made out of sun” said Jasper
• “When it’s day time the stars are still there but the day is light so we can’t see them because the sun is really brighter” said Hugo

Jack de Vidas Art Show

Congratulations to the following boys who were awarded prizes in the Jack de Vidas Art Show that all students wee entered in this year.
Merits:

• William N
• Isaac R
• Clark E
• Braheem A
• Rhys M
• Edison W
• Anthony P
• Henry N

Winners:

• Lachlan M
• Mick M

Photos For Christmas?

Festival City Photography has partnered with PAC again this year to profile a number of events in the school. Orders are currently being taken. To see whether there is a magic moment capturing your son's activities at school visit www.festival-photo.com.au/scripts/shoppingcart.dll and scroll down to the PAC section. To view the photos you must enter the date below.

• 08 may 08 Princesses Tea Party
• 24 June 08 Builder dress up day
• 26 June 08 Flinders Graduation
• 3 September 08 Big Boys Breakfast
• 25 September 08 Sports Day

Costumes for our Nativity

Dear Parents,
Next week we will begin production of a new set of animal costumes more suited to the size of our children for our stable animals in the nativity. They will be simple tabbards that go over children's heads and ties around the waist. If you are able to sew and keen to help and make a small number of costumes can you please let your child's classroom teacher know.
Thank you
Mel Bishop

Spinning Silk

Wow!! have you checked out our silk worms in both of our Kindergarten rooms? We have lots of eggs hatching, and at the same time are enjoying watching our big silk worms spinning cocoons. We wonder if we will be able to find the end of the silk thread and unravel them when the moths have broken free?
We are on the look out for any Mulberry trees. If you have any Mulberry trees near you house and are able to bring us some fresh leaves we would appreciate it very much
Thank you
Kindergarten Staff

Preferences for Reception in 2009

Dear Flinders Room Parents,
as the end of Kindergarten and start of school draws near for your sons, teachers have been busy helping students prepare for this big change. In coming weeks your son's will have visits from Reception teachers and closer to graduation will also go on visits to the Reception classrooms. In four weeks teachers will begin to separate the current Kindergarten class and Mid-year Reception class into two new class lists for 2009. Much work, care and thought goes into the preparation of these lists and staff work hard to ensure that each child has some familiar friends, a working group that is conducive to his development and a teacher that suits his learning style.
Before this process begins however we will accept requests from parents for particular peer groupings. Please note that these must be in writing and that we do not accept requests for teachers. Please feel free to forward your requests to Mel at mbishop@pac.edu.au, Bec at rgolding@pac.edu.au or Annabel at aecroyd@pac.edu.au
Please be aware that requests will be considered but may not be able to be actioned for one reason or another in every case. If you have requested certain friendships to stay together it is always wise to supply us with at least three names. Due to the need to meet and place new students joining us at the college in 2009 class lists are not completed and finalised until the start of 2009.
Thank you
Mel Bishop

Bursting Into Life

Dear Pirie and Flinders Room Parents,
This term we will be finishing our Unit of Inquiry entitled Bursting into Life. Students have already had the opportunity this year to observe growth and change in seeds and eggs and have talked about changes in humans and how we grow. Last term in the Pirie Room there was much discussion about birth with the imminent arrival of Tilda and this term of course we will be focusing on the story about the birth of Baby Jesus. Both rooms currently have tadpoles swimming about and in the coming weeks children will also be able to observe silk worms change as well as hatching monarch butterflies from cocoons.
To support this enquiry we would appreciate it if you could send a photo of your child as a baby to school. We are looking for the earliest picture that you have so that the comparison is most evident. If you are unable to send a digital photo to mbishop@pac.edu.au please send your child's photo to school clearly marked so that we may return it to the correct owner at the end of the term!
Pirie Room students also have a short questionnaire to complete with their mum and dad about when they were a baby.
If you have a new baby in your family and would be comfortable giving your baby a bath in the Pirie or Flinders room please let your child's class teacher know.
Thank you for the support you offer class room teachers by bringing in photos requested from home. They really help enrich our program and help children feel a real link between home and school. We appreciate it very much
Thank you again
Kindergarten Staff

Parent Direct and Chalk Catalouges

Dear Parents,
Parent Direct and Chalk Catalogue orders close at the end of week 2 - Friday the 24th October. If you have any outstanding order please pass them directly to Mrs Pip Cooper.
Thank you

Quiz Night Raffle Basket

Dear Parents,
your P&F reps are currently collecting donations for the Quiz Night Raffle. The theme for the Kindergarten is "Entertainment" and we have already had a few DVD's a cook books donated. Please keep them coming in and place them in the orange basket outside the Pirie Room before this Thursday morning.
Thank you for your kind donations

The Spring Thing

It has been wonderful to welcome back the warm weather and great to see the boys observing the seasonal changes. We have had some lovely sunny days and so it is now time to remind parents to send their child's hat to school as term 4 is a compulsory hat wearing term. Term 4 is always a great term to move back to water in children's drink bottles as this often quenches children's thirst for more satisfactorily than milk, juice or cordials.
We have already had our first cases of hay fever. If your child is particularly prone to bouts of hay fever please feel free to visit your family Doctor for a health plan. After receiving a health plan you can send this with a named bottle of hay fever medication so that relief can be administered at Kindergarten. Please note that staff can not administer hay fever medication to children with symptoms without a health plan even if the medication is one that is familiar to you. Spring is also a good time to check that any asthma medication is still in date.

An Exciting Arrival

Dear Parents,
we are thrilled to announce the arrival of Tilda Annie May Webster on the 8th of October weighing 7lb and 11oz. Both Bron and Tilda are doing well and we hope to be able to share some photos with you soon... you may see more of Tilda at our Nativity!
We would also like to announce the arrival of Izabella Sarita McCauley on the 12th October weighing 6lb 2oz. Both Kellie and Izabella are doing well.
(Please note that Ms Hodges is taking art this term in Kellie's absence)

Have a Fantastic Holiday

Dear Little Princes Families,
have a wonderful Term Three holiday filled with fun and excitement. We look forward to seeing all your smiling faces again at the start of Term Four.
Drive safely
The Kindergarten Team

Farewell Mrs Webster

It is with sadness and excitement that we farewell Bronwyn Webster. Mrs Webster has been with us for the last nine months in the Pirie Room and although we are sad to see her go, it is for a very good reason and we hope that she has joyous news to share with us soon as she awaits the arrival of her third child.
It has been a pleasure to work with Bron over the last term and I have enjoyed her casual laid back manner and great sense of humour. She has displayed a caring manner with the children, always ready with a cuddle and has continued to bravely get down on the floor... and get up without assistance even with only three weeks until her due date to go!
We wish Bron and David all the best on their newest parenting adventure and can't wait for a visit next term. We are pleased to announce the Mrs Emma Mckenzie will be joining us in Brons place.
Bron's burgeoning baby bump has stirred some interest in our young students and below I recount a humorous conversation had on the mat this week after reading the story "There's a House Inside my Mummy"

Child One: The baby's house is inside the mummy's tummy
Child Two: But why does the mummy eat the baby?
Teacher: The baby is in a different part of the mummy's tummy. It's not in the same part of the tummy where the food goes. She is not eating him.
Child One: Yeah, the mummy has a special cord. The food gets in the baby by going from the mummy's tummy part , along the cord and into the baby so he can eat.
Child Two (still a little confused): but why does the mummy eat the baby?
Child One: No, she doesn't eat him, you can't eat humans!
Child Two: Why?
Child One (earnestly, after a thoughtful pause): because they don't taste good!
Teacher: (sound of muffled hysterics!)

... Farewell Bron!

Sports Day Success

Wow, what a great day we had on Thursday!! The weather was perfect, the participants were enthusiastic and the feet were speedy!! Thank you to Ms Levesque for a wonderful Health Hustle that managed to get lots of parents, as well as students participating. We also have to thank Mr Weatherald for helping us with our races. It was great to see some very enthusiastic participants in the parent races... some children's feet barley touched the ground!! Congratulations to all the boys and girls on a great day.

A day For Stars and Angels

Dear Parents,
after a jam packed term three we are looking forward to a more relaxed term four. However we are holding one our most important events for the year next term on the 19th of November. We will be performing our Christmas Nativity at 11.00am in the Chapel. Staff are currently busy preparing scripts, costumes and cast lists. If you know that your child will not be able to attend Kindergarten on Wednesday the 19th of November can you please e-mail Mel Bishop at mbishop@pac.edu.au as soon as possible so that we can make appropriate cast arrangements.
Thank you
Don't forget to put that date in your diary!!!
Mel Bishop

Festival City Photos available online

Dear Parents,
Festival City Photographics now have beautiful photos from our Big Boys Breakfast and some from Grandies Day available to be purchased on line. To find them go to the Festival City Photographics website and go to the Prince Alfred College link. Click on the event you wish to view. To view photos you must enter a password which is the date of the event:

Big Boys Breakfast = 03/09/08

Grandies Day= 04/09/08

We particularly love the photos taken at our breakfast and enjoyed observing the striking similarities between some of the boys and their dads!

Head Lice in the Kindergarten

Dear Parents,
we would like to inform you that we have been informed of a case of head lice in the Kindergarten. Please help us by keeping an eye out for any scratching of the scalp that may indicate that your child has lice. Lice love warm areas and at the start of an infestation can usually be spotted in the area behind children's ears at at the nape of the neck. In children with blond hair it can be easier to spot the black adult lice (but very tricky to catch and crush!) In children with darker hair it easier to look out for the white empty egg casings. These are very small and tear shaped. If you are not sure if a white fleck in your child's hair is an egg casing you can check by grasping the fleck between two fingers and pulling it along the shaft of the hair. If it it moves it is likely to be fluff or dandruff. If it feels like it is firmly cemented and either has to be scrapped off with force or cannot be scraped off at all it is an egg casing.
In the event that your child has lice do not bring your child to kindergarten until after treatment. Please purchase lice shampoo and a lice comb. Follow the instructions on the bottle and DON'T FORGET to repeat the treatment 2 weeks later when any unhatched lice at the time of the first shampoo were safe in their eggs. Lice cannot survive away from a host but we do suggest washing bed linen and placing pillows in direct sun for an afternoon.
Thank you for your cooperation
Kindergarten Staff

Sports Day and Sausage Sizzle

Dear Parents,
we will be holding our annual sports day and sausage sizzle next Thursday September 25th.
This is an exciting fun day and you are invited to join us (bring your running shoes for the parent races!!)
We divide our day into two separate parts. We begin with a health hustle in the gymnasium, running races and circle games on the oval. At the conclusion of this we go back to the Kindergarten for an ice block, small snack and toilet break. We ask that parents do not join us in the kindergarten during this break to avoid tears. Students will leave the oval with their teachers.
We return at 11.15am for our tabloid activities, breaking into six groups that move around the oval to different activities ably assisted by year six students. Please feel free to join your child's group and walk with us.
At the end of sports day children who are normally a full day child have the option of early dismissal due to the tiring nature of the day. Junior Primary staff organise a sausage sizzle fundraiser for children who are staying full day. If you would like your child to have a sausage please complete the form they received in their pigeon hole on Monday the 15th and return it to the Prep school office in a sealed envelope no later than Monday the 22nd of September. Please include correct money as no change will be given. Please note that if you plan to collect your child directly after we finish at approximately 12.15 it is not advisable to order sausages as they may not be ready to collect by this time.
Children may wear their house colour t-shirt on the day. Flinders parents may like to purchase a house t-shirt from the Princes Uniform Shop as they will be required to purchase this in December for weekly Tuesday sport for 2009 anyway. Pirie Room sport houses are on display in the classroom and Flinders sport houses can be seen on the poster above students lockers.
Looking forward to seeing you there
Kindergarten Staff

Parent Teacher Interviews

Dear Parents,
It is now time for our term three round of parent teacher interviews. These will occur during week 10. Parents of all Flinders Room boys may fill in a convenient time slot on the interview timetable in class if they wish to have an interview. As usual, Pirie Room interviews are on a rolling schedule and boys who are eligible for interviews this term will receive a notification in their newsletter pocket. If your son receives a notification please negotiate a suitable time with the reporting teacher listed on the slip.
Thank you
Mel Bishop
Director

Life Be In It Sports Clinics - Flinders Room Students

Dear Parents of Flinders Room students,
Life Be In It will be holding clinics for students for a range of sports during the holidays for children 5 years and older. Please look in your child's locker for the brochure. Remember, places fill fast so book as soon as possible to ensure a space.
Tim Weatherald
Prep Sports Master

Bacon and Eggstravaganza!!

Dear Dads,

thanks for joining us for the Big Boys Breakfast. It was a huge hit with the boys and very apparent to us that the boys thought that it was very special to have their Dad's at Kindergarten for breakfast. What a great morning! We hope you all had a great day on Sunday.

A Big Thankyou

Dear Parents,
we would like to thank you for the support you have given us in the first part of term three. As you are, by now, aware, term three is exceedingly busy and staff have made many requests of parents in the last few weeks in regards to photos, surveys, information etc...
Thank you so much for all managing to coordinate all these requests and helping us to offer all the little extra bits to the boys that make Little Princes such a special place.
Thanks again
The Staff of Little Princes Kindergarten

Some Light Reading!

Dear Parents,
Unfortunately our children don't come with a manual and we sometimes feel that we need some fresh ideas to help us be reflective and supportive nurtures. To this end, a chat with others parents with children of a similar age is always helpful, as is reading material with new ideas. Please feel free to drop in and borrow titles from our parent library.
Titles include:

• The Complete Secrets of Happy Children - Steve Biddulph
• Raising Boys - Steve Biddulph
• Fathering in the Fast Lane - Bruce Robinson
• Tricky Kids - Andrew Fuller
• How to be a Divorced Dad - Simon Baker

If you have any books you have found to be very useful for tips and ideas on parenting that you think we should consider adding to our titles please pass the title and author to your child's teacher.

A Date for Dad's Diary

Fathers Day is fast approaching and kindergarten students have been busy preparing for our annual Big Boys Breakfast. This year we have decided to really go big and added a few eggs and slices of bacon on the BBQ to our breakfast menu. Your son will have, by now, brought home an invitation for this special event. Please note that due to our change in menu we do require RSVP's and also ask that children bring only one special guest (Dad or a significant other in his absence) Unfortunately this year we will have to ask Granddad's to visit us the following day for tea and scones at Grandies Day instead.
We have also made a request for a photo of Dad's and their Little Prince and for the completion of a survey that we would like to share on the day. Please pass these back to your child's teacher.
Date: Wednesday 3rd September
Time: 7.30am
RSVP: asap to class teacher or mbishop@pac.edu.au

Soft Spots for Grandies

We have a soft spot for Grandies at Kindergarten and are eagerly looking forward to welcoming all the children's grandparents to Kindergarten on the 4th of September.
By now you will have received invitations, reply slips and hearts in an envelope from Miss Trish for Grandies Day. Please forward these specially illustrated invitation to your child's grandparents (please forgive us any spelling mistakes on grandies names, they can be difficult to decipher!) along with the hearts that were in the envelopes. Please ask your child's grandparents to pen a special little message on there for your child (don't forget to put the child's name on the back so we know who they belong to!) and send them back to Kindergarten along with their reply slips.
Thank you
Kindergarten Staff

Little Big Shots in the Holidays

Perfect for families and kids aged 2 to 18, Little Big Shots is Australia's major annual travelling children's film festival. It's also an inspiring, meaningful and fun-filled festival of the best in local and international children's features, shorts, animations, documentaries and amazingly, child-produced films.
The films screening in Little Big Shots inspire discussion of world cultures, language, cultural diversity, emotion and intelligence and human values. We guarantee it will make kids laugh, whoop, think and create.
Now in it's fourth year, Little Big Shots takes to the road each year with a new program, bringing great films from around the globe, so go on, pick a session and join us for a juicy bunch of screen adventures for kids, by kids, about kids, to amaze and delight kids. Find our program booklet in your child's locker at Little Princes.
Where: Space Theatre
9th October Session: 9.30 - 10.30 for 2 to 5 year olds
10th October Session: 9.30 - 10.30 for 2 to 5 year olds
11th October Session: 9.30 - 10.30 for 3 - 7 year olds
Duration: each session has at least 6 short films and runs for 50 - 60 minutes
Price: $9.00 per person (under 12 months is free on lap)
Bookings Online: go to www.bass.net.au and choose Little Big Shots
Bookings at BASS Box Offices: Open at the Festival Theatre foyer from 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday
Booking by Phone: 131 246
Group Tickets: $7 per session if you purchase 10 or more tickets and must 82052220

Thank you
Adelaide Festival Centre

Chalk and Parent Direct Fundraiser

Dear parents,
The Chalk and Parent Direct catalogues are a wonderful way to purchase your Christmas presents without a lot of fuss and bother. It also helps us, with a percentage of all sales going to the Kindergarten to purchase additional resources.

The cut off date for ordering educational toys for Christmas will be October 17th. This is Friday Week 1 Term 4. The orders take three to four weeks to be delivered and this way we can assure you they will be here before Christmas.
Please either pay by using credit card or with a cheque as it makes it a lot easier for us to process.

If you have any queries please don't hesitate to speak to me
Thank you
Mrs Pip Cooper

Changes to Assesment and Reporting

Dear parents,
we have recently made subtle changes to the style of our assessment of Kindergarten aged children. We have made these changes for three reasons. Firstly to allow assessments to more accurately reflect a child's individual learning path, secondly to ensure that our assessment is developmentally aimed at 3 and 4 year olds specifically and lastly to be able to allow assessment to reflect our social constructivist philosophy.
You will notice some changes firstly in our reporting timetable

• Children will receive a full written report in the final term of their time in the Pirie Room and then again in the final term of their time in the Flinders Room
• Teachers will offer parent teacher interviews more regularly and to a wider cohort of families each time.

We have also made changes to our Portfolios. We are hoping for this document to become more of a living book of experiences that both students and staff can add to.

• Portfolios will now go home only at the end of each academic year. They are available to borrowed over weekends and are always available to be viewed in the classroom at any time (you will notice our new parent nooks where portfolios are stored)
• We are now reporting on your child's special experiences and progress through learning stories. When your child has a new learning story in their portfolios you will receive an invitation to view it through your child's pocket or pigeon hole.

Please feel free to contact me at the college if you have any concerns or quiries about these changes.
Mel Bishop
Director

Thankyou

Thank you to all the parents who attended our Wine and Cheese night last Thursday. We had a great time chatting over a glass of wine, finding out more about the changes to assessment and reporting in the Kindergarten and creating some wonderful buildings from clay.

Getting ready to build

The Opera House Begins!!

Cape Canaveral and the Eiffel Tower... how ambitious!

The Great Wall, complete with Olympic Rings and.... rabbits!

Come into the class room as see our wonderful creations

Trip to the Odeon Theatre

Dear Parents of Tuesday Students,
By now you will have received a permission slip in regards to our trip to the Odeon Theatre to see "Pigs, Bears and Billy Goats Gruff". Can you please complete this permission slip and return it to your child's class teacher as soon as possible.
Thank you
Kindergarten Team

Cyber Saftey for Children

Dear Parents,
It is a fact of modern day life that our children are going to be exposed to the Internet at home, at school and elsewhere. Many of us did not have Internet access in our homes when we were very young and so the issue of appropriately dealing with net usage by children is a new conundrum for parents. Although it is mainly children above the age of 7 years investigating independently on the net, our young Kindergarten students will be only a few short years away from this. As parents it is wise to have an agreed approach as to how to assist your young child learn about using the Internet properly and safely. As such, a Parent Workshop has been arranged for parents from the Preparatory School on Tuesday 9 September at 7pm. The evening will involve a presentation about Cyber Safety by members of the Cyber Safety Task Group within the Police force. It promises to be a very worthwhile evening full of important information about how to handle and monitor net usage by your child. Please watch this space for an update about the venue.
Thank you
Mel Bishop

A Free Community Forum for Asthma Week

Are you pregnant?
Do you have asthma?
Poorly controlled asthma increases the risk of low birth weight, premature labour and lack of oxygen. The risk of pre-eclampsia is also higher in women with asthma. Asthma is serious, especially when you are pregnant.
Come to our free community forum presented by Dr Vicki Clifton
Where: Queen Victoria Lecture Theatre, Womens and Childrens Hospital
When: Wednesday 3rd September 7.30 to 8.30pm
Refreshments provided
Booking Essential: email forum@asthmasa.org.au or call 8238 9300

Thankyou
The Asthma Foundation SA

Book Week Dress Up Day

Reading together is great fun and learning to read on your own is even better. At Kindergarten we love to read stories, tell stories, act out stories and even illustrate our own stories.
Every year the Children’s Book Council of Australia reads and reviews recently published children’s books in different categories. This year in the category Book of the Year: Early Childhood 600 books were narrowed down to 6 potential winners. Although only one book can win the prestigious award, all six books are excellent examples of good Australian Early Childhood literature and would be a good addition to your son’s bookshelf. Below we have listed the stories that we will be focusing on in class:

Shhhh! Little Mouse - Pamela Allen

Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley - Aaron Blabey

Cat - Mike Dumbleton

Lucy Goosey - Margaret Wild

Parsley Rabbits Book About Books - Frances Watts

We will be celebrating Book Week in the Kindergarten next week. Children will be involved in creating shared books, sharing the Book Week award books, illustrating our own books and dressing up on Friday as our favourite book character. Non Friday boys are welcome to briefly join us with their parent at 9.00am for our parade in the school gym. Please remember that superheros are not regarded as book characters. Please do not allow or encourage your child to dress as a superhero. Pirie Room students may like to dress as a character from the favourite book they have shared with their peers over the last two weeks.

Happy Reading

Are you Coming?

Thanks to all those parents who have RSVP'd for Thursday night. If you have not let us know your intentions yet please send us a quick e-mail at mbishop@pac.edu.au It promises to be a pleasant evening.
Cheers
Mel Bishop

Whole School Photograph

Dear Parents,
Some students will receive a whole school photographer in their pigeon holes today. One photo per family has been supplied. If you would like to purchase this photo for $60 all you have to do is keep the photo and the appropriate charge will be added to your child's account. If you do not wish to purchase the photo simply return it to the Prep School Office in it's original tube before Friday August 22nd.
If you would prefer a mounted copy of this photo for $110 simply return the unmounted photo to the Prep School Office and make a request for a mounted copy. Again the charge will be added to your child's school account.

Can We Fill Your Glass??

Dear Parents,
we would like to invite you to join us for an evening of chat and enjoyable company (as well as some valuable information about assessment and reporting in your child's kindergarten!) on Thursday the 14th of August. We will start at 7.30pm to allow people to put children to bed before we begin. We will provide the glasses and some yummy cheese and nibbles and would love you to bring a bottle of your favourite drop to share. Please let your son's teacher know if you are able to join us or RSVP on mbishop@pac.edu.au We are really looking forward to seeing you all then.

Mel, Amanda, Bron, Pip Trish, Bel, Bec and Nicola

Sharing Time in the Pirie Room - Week Four and Five

Dear Parents of Pirie Room Students,
Please be aware that in week four and five we are planning to use the pictures of our houses during sharing/ show and tell time as a catalyst for further exploration of buildings and how they are made. This means that children should not bring other items for sharing during these two weeks. We will explain this to the students but would ask that you support us by not encouraging other types of share for this fortnight and also by ensuring that your child has brought their picture of their house to school.
Thank you
Pirie Room Staff

Goldilocks

A Second Round of Class Photos - Please Read

Dear Parents,
as in previous years, Kindergarten students will have a second round of class photos this term. Our class photos will take place on Wednesday the 6th of August. Children who have not previously had individual photos taken this year will have their portraits taken on this day. Please note, as in previous years, this second round of photos does not include family and sibling photographs.
If your Kindergarten child does not normally attend on a Wednesday and you would like to bring him or her to school to be a part of this photo we would be very pleased to include them. Our photos occur at the start of the morning and we would ask that these extra children are at school no later than 8.55am. Parents of these children are asked to stay for the photo so that they can be collected once the photo has been taken. Please e-mail Mel at mbishop@pac.edu.au immediately if you are planning to bring your non Wednesday child in for our photo so that we can pass accurate numbers to the photographer as soon as possible.
We ask that children come to school wearing their normal school jumper and navy, bone or maroon pants.
Thank you
The Kindergarten Team

Top Tales

Dear Parents,
New titles have arrived from Top Tales. Please be sure to have a look in the basket at the sign on desk and record any purchases you wish to make on the green form. This time there are two wonderful books to help celebrate Fathers Day and a firm favourite with the staff called On the Moon which is sure to be a hit with any boy with an interest in space travel.
Orders from the last round of Top Tales have also arrived and will be placed in children's lockers today.
Thank you
Mel Bishop

Locomotion in Motion

Dear Flinders Room Parents,
As part of our unit Locomotion in Motion we will be exploring the way in which the children in our class normally come to school. Can you please bring in a photo of your son coming to school (eg: in the car, on the bus, walking etc...) This photo will be used in week three.
Many thanks
Bec, Bel and Amanda

Shaken or Stirred?

Do you fancy yourself driving an Aston Martin? Have you always thought you would make a great bond girl? Have you even day dreamed about what Bond girl or Bond baddie name you would go by? Would you like an opportunity to chat and mix with people older than four years of age?
If the answer is yes to any of the questions above then make sure you contact Marg Giddings at mgiddings@pac.edu.au to purchase your ticket for the Martini Ball. It promises to be a fantastic event with a three course meal, drinks and entertainment. It's also a great way to meet others in our PAC community. For those of you who spend your day chasing after three and four year olds the Martini Ball is a great excuse for getting out a fabulous frock or Bond like tux and adding a little bling.
Tickets are $130 and the ball will be held on August the 30th at 7.00pm at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre .
The theme of course is anything Bond!
Don't miss out

Bishop.... Mel Bishop

Photographs

Over the next 8 weeks a photographer will be visiting the school regularly to update our photographs used for Marketing, the Princes Record, the Website and supporting images of the school provided to educational organisations associated with the School.
If you do not want your son to be included in these photographs, please email Mon Saunders, Manager Communications and Strategy msaunders@pac.edu.au before Monday August 4th. Please include your son(s) full name and year/ tutor name.

Thank you
Mon Saunders
Manager, Communications and Strategy

Who's Been Eating my Porridge?

We cooked porridge in the Pirie Room on Friday. It was lots of fun.

Some of us loved it! Yum Yum...

...and some of didn't! But we were all brave and had a try!

Tuck Lunches

As a part of our move to a healthy tuck menu last term some changes were made both to the food on offer and how the orders are processed. As of this term the tuck no longer takes late payments for lunches that have been ordered, but not paid for, with the promise of payment the following day. The procedure now means that if parents do not have enough money to pay for a tuck order on the day they must go to the Prep School front office for a tuck voucher. The tuck voucher offers students three lunch options and then the cost of the lunch is added to student school fees at the end of the term. Kindergarten staff are not able to process unpaid lunches for parents, it must be done in person.
Thank you
Mel Bishop

Start of Term Houskeeping

Dear Parents,
Below are some friendly reminders about the start of term routine

• Pirie Room library bags need to be placed in the basket under the pigeon holes on Monday mornings
• Please return your child's portfolio to his or her classroom teacher as soon as possible
• Please remember to return any outstanding books that were borrowed from the Library last term

Thank you
Kindergarten Staff

Welcome to Term Three

Dear Little Princes Families,
Welcome back to Kindergarten. We trust that you all enjoyed a fun safe break and are ready and roaring to join us back in the Flinders and Pirie Rooms for a term of exploration, wonder and fun.
The end of last term was a time for many farewells but the start of this term has been a time for new beginnings. I am excited to announce the appointment of two new Kindergarten staff members.
We welcome Mrs Bec Golding as a teacher in the Flinders Room. In the short time she has been with us Bec has displayed an unbounded enthusiasm and has very quickly slotted into the routines and expectations of the Flinders Room. I feel sure that Bec's transition into the Flinders Room has been assisted by the wonderful duo of Amanda Rees and Bel Ecroyd. I look forward to hearing and seeing the wonderful things I'm sure the Flinders Room boys will achieve this semester.
In the Pirie Room we are pleased to introduce Mrs Nicola Porteous-Grace. Nicola comes to us with many and varied teaching experiences and has already shown herself to be extremely thoughtful and gentle with children of this age as well as being extremely approachable to adults. Nicola joins a fantastic team in the Pirie Room, and on a personal note, from one who has jumped from the Flinders Room to the Pirie Room during the holidays, i have also enjoyed the wonderful support of Bron Webster, Pip Cooper and Trish Silvestrino as Nicola and I have found our feet in this first week.
I have a great feeling about the term ahead and look forward to sharing it with your children. I also look forward to opportunity for the odd chat here and there and sincerely hope you will all be able to join us for a evening of wine and cheese (and a little bit of information!) on Thursday night of week 4 this term.
Sincerely
Mel Bishop

Story Makers

"Building a building is like making a story"
This is the premise of the Pirie Room unit of inquiry this term. We will be investigating types of building, types of books and looking at how processes help us build both and how both can be constructed. This unit supports the initial buds of interest in building from Pirie Students last term whilst also allowing them to fully enjoy and have a growing understanding of the importance of Book Week that we will celebrate later this term.
To kick us off this term we have a twofold request. We would like Pirie Students to bring:

• a photo of their house
• their favourite story to share with others at Kindergarten

Please help us by ensuring both are named.
Thank you
The Pirie Room Team

Grandies Day 2008

We are looking forward to welcoming Grandparents of all shapes and sizes on September the 4th as part of our annual Grandies Day.
All Kindergarten students are preparing a surprise during their art classes and require a photo or photos of their Grandies for class in week 2. Please help us by writing your child's name on the back on the photos.
We also like to send messages of love to Grandies by writing something special about them in a love heart. We will send hearts home with students so that grandies may also pen a special note in return. We send these hearts home early so that they may be sent to grandies overseas and returned before grandies day. Grandies can send hearts back to Kindergarten before the day for staff and students to add to our display or bring them with them on the day and pin them up close to their grandchild's messages. Look for an envelope of hearts in your child's pocket or pigeon hole in the coming weeks.

Attendances Changes

Dear Parents,
as you will be aware, before we start the second half of the year we sent home request forms that allow parents to request changes in their child's attendance patterns. Thank you to all the parents who sent these back at the end of last term and over the holidays.
I thought it would be wise to take this opportunity to remind parents about how registration and changes in attendance patterns work at Little Princes.

• Firstly it is important to note that, except in cases of emergency or unavoidable changes in family circumstances, we prefer all attendance changes to happen at the end or start of terms.
• When changing your child's attendance at the end of a term using a change of attendance form you have received from our registrar Carolyn Roney, your requested change is confirmed unless our registrar contacts you. If you are contacted this will mean that there were no spaces available on the requested days and you may need to consider an alternative day. If you are not contacted this means your changes are confirmed.
• If you need to request changes to your child's attendance patterns during the term due to unforeseeable circumstances this must be done in writing through our registrar at croney@pac.edu.au, it cannot be facilitated by our teaching staff. In this case Carolyn will contact you to confirm or adjust patterns.
• Please note that reductions to half days are considered an attendance change, even if students continue to come on the same days. These must be confirmed in writing to Carolyn to avoid billing for full days.

Thank you for your understanding
Mel Bishop

Auskick Pie Night

Dear Parents,
The Adelaide Football Club would like to invite you to attend the Crows Shed for their 6th annual 'Balfours Better Bite Auskick Pie Night.
Date: Monday 30th June
Place: The Crows Shed Brebner Drive West Lakes
Time: 6.00pm - 7.45pm (Doors open at 5.45 for pies and milk)
Cost: Free
All crows players, Claude the Camry Crow and Dipper Dipierdomenico will be there to sign autographs. Children receive a free footy pie and Farmers Union flavoured milk.
Attendance is strictly by RSVP only and our PE teacher, Ms Levesque must know by 5.00pm tomorrow (Thursday 18th June, we apologise for the late notice but we were only informed of this great opportunity this week)
If you would definitely like to take advantage of this offer please e-mail Ms Levesque on mlevesque@pac.edu.au as soon as possible with your son's name and age.
Thank you
PE department

Pirie Room Parent Teacher Interviews

Dear Parents of Pirie Room students,
As term two draws to a close there is now an opportunity for parents who were not offered interviews at the end of term one to arrange to meet a teacher for an interview. If your child is not moving to the Flinders Room please arrange a suitable time with a Pirie Room teacher if you feel you would like to discuss your sons progress or any other specific issues.
Thank you
Mel Bishop

Transition

Dear parents,
Transition activities have begun in earnest across the Kindergarten as we prepare for start of semester two movements through the Pirie and Flinders Rooms. This is a reminder that if your son has been invited to attend a transition morning on a day that he does not normally attend he is more than welcome to join us for the transition times stated on the newsletter.
Please note that we choose transition dates with many different factors in mind and are not able to choose a day when all children would normally attend. It is important to collect your child at the end of transition sessions if he does not normally attend on that day so that staff can maintain legal student/staff ratios and ensure children's safety.
Thank you
Mel Bishop

Flinders Room Graduation

Dear Parents of Flinders Room students,
We are holding an informal graduation ceremony on Thursday the 26th of June at 12.00pm in the Flinders Room. It is brief but fun and signifies your son's final step from Kindergarten to "big school"! Students will be bringing two invitations home in their bags (one for parents and one for a special other). Due to the size of the Flinders Room this event is not for parents of Pirie Room students.
Please let us know if you are able to make it
Thank you
Mel and Amanda

How Eggciting!!

Keep your eyes and ears peeled, we have new visitors in our Kindergarten. You may not see them yet but you will hear them soon enough! We currently have ten eggs ready to hatch in the Pirie Room as part of our unit, "Bursting into life". Over the coming days we hope to successfully hatch out ten little chicks.
Stay posted to our blog for pictures along the way.
The wonderful people from Living Eggs will be coming to collect the incubator and brooder box on the last day of term in week nine but we are hoping to find homes for our chickens before 12.00 that day. If you know anyone who would like chickens that are guaranteed disease free please let us know. Unfortunately we are unable to guarantee whether they are roosters or hens.
Cheep Cheep!

Pirie Room Sharing Time

Dear Parents,
Opportunities to share things of importance with others is always an important way for children form their identity, confirm their interests and share knowledge. Recently sharing time in the Pirie Room has become extremely popular and we are now making a change to how we run our sharing time to try and allow all children an opportunity to show and tell.
If your child has something they wish to share with their peers please ensure that a teacher has been informed at the start of the day. Teachers will record names on a list and we will endeavor to get through as many as possible in the morning at opportune times. Please note that if, due to the children’s busy schedule, we aren’t able to allow everyone to share in the morning group time we will continue to work through them throughout the rest of the day according to the list. We ask for your support and understanding in the event that your child's share has been postponed to the following day.
Please help us to make share time interesting for both presenter and audience by helping your child choose books, special makings at home or things of special interest including items from nature, NO TOYS PLEASE!!
Thank you
Kate Walsh

Pack Your Tool Bag!

It's dress up time! As a culmination to our interest in building we are holding a dress up day at Kindergarten for both classes on Tuesday the 24th of June. We chose this day to coincide with the exciting official opening of our new school gym. We plan to parade through the school looking at the different buildings in our school and finish with a picnic. So get your hard hats on and get ready for the "come dressed as a builder" day

Transition Typo

Dear Parents of Pirie Room children moving to the Flinders Room in July,
You will have received an information sheet outlining transition mornings for the next two weeks. In that newsletter it states that a parent information evening will be held on Tuesday the 24th of June. Please note that this meeting will be held at 7.00pm NOT at 3.15pm as stated. We changed the time of the gathering to allow more parents to participate and apologise for the incorrect information on the sheet. Please let Kate Walsh know if you are able to attend this meeting.
Thank you
Mel Bishop

Big Boys Dress Up Day - Flinders Room

Dear Parents of Flinders Room boys,
You will by now have received a newsletter outlining transition activities for boys moving into Reception in the next semester. We have two transition mornings on the Mondays of week 8 and 9. Boys who do not normally attend on a Monday are welcome to join us between those time. On the second Monday we would like to invite the boys to dress up in their new uniform (or the parts of it that they have!) Boys moving to other schools are also encouraged to wear their new uniform.
Looking forward to seeing you then
Mrs Bishop and Ms Rees

Handy with Contact!

Dear Parents,
we are looking for a parent who would be able to help us by covering a small amount of newly purchased books before we add them to our Kindergarten library. If you are able to help out please let your child's teacher know
Thank you
Kindergarten Staff

Fifth Disease - An Important Message for Expectant Mothers

Dear Parents,

We have had a case of Fifth Disease at Kindergarten and would like to inform any expectant mothers, particularly those who are in the first 20 weeks, as Fifth Disease can cause complications with unborn babies under this age. Fifth Disease, also known as slap cheek, is easily identifiable by the five red lines across the sufferers cheek (it looks like you've been slapped, hence the name).

Unfortunately children with Fifth Disease are infectious before red marks appear on their face and so we would ask that all parents are proactive in responding to silent signs of illness. If your child is unusually pale, overly flushed for a prolonged period, complaining of a fever or head ache, listless, glassy eyed or without appetite this may mean that they are coming down with Fifth disease or another illness. Isolating children at this stage can prevent sickness spreading rapidly through the centre and we ask for your cooperation in allowing children a day at home when they are feeling unwell.

Thank you
Mel Bishop

It's a Ladies Night!!

Dear Ladies from the Flinders and Pirie Rooms,

It's time for a night of fun and mingling. We have organised a ladies night for Friday the 27th of June at 7.00pm starting with dinner @ Cucina Milano on the corner of Hutt and Wakefield streets followed by drinks @ Distill on Rundle.
Sounds like a great opportunity to let our hair down!
Please RSVP to Margaret (Flinders) or Bianca (Pirie) by Friday the 20th of June (Please so the notice at Kindergarten for the RSVP phone numbers)

Thanks
Bianca, Margaret and Bec

Holiday Sports Clinics for Children Aged 5 and Over

Dear Parents,
the Australian Sports Clinic are offering three day or three morning sport clinics for children between 5 and 15 years of age during the holidays for various sports at the college. Children must have already had their fifth birthday. If you are interested in enrolling your son or daughter please collect a brochure from the Flinders Room sign in table at school.

Building with Poles

There are many materials that builders can use but Flinders Room boys have been particularly interested in poles. They worked collaboratively together to constructs a house using poles in the playground. It took a lot of problem solving skills to work it out.

After experimenting with poles outside we talked about balance and symmetry and created houses with poles inside our classroom... Indian Tepees!

Rustic Tones

Autumn is such a special time of year for young children. A time to observe nature cast off her glossy green coat and pull on some more rustic tones. It's also a great time to rush through rustling leaves and collapse in a soft heap! The children in the Pirie Room have been using autumn leaves in their art, both as inspiration and as raw materials.

Sarah Blunden from the Centre for Sleep Research

Dr Sarah Blunden from the Centre for Sleep Research will present an evening on sleep problems in children.
Research suggests that poor sleep results in poor learning, behavioural issues and can lead to depression in some young people. Join us to discover how you can recognise your child’s sleeping problem and develop strategies to overcome it. Proudly sponsored by the Gerard Corporation.

All welcome
Wednesday 11th June
7.00pm
Free Entry
Please see the flyer at Kindergarten for details of where this event will be held
To reserve your place please contact the college reception

Congratulations Conor

Congratulations to Conor and his mum Krystie and Dad Edward on the arrival of Oliver Edward on the 24th of April, the family's second 'little prince'. Oliver arrived weighing 8lbs and we look forward to welcoming him into our community.

Morning Tea Success

Thank you to the Mum's who helped make the "Biggest Morning Tea" such a wonderful success. Bec Raised $120 which will go straight back to the cancer council for much needed support. Bec would also like to thanks those who supported the cause even though they were unable to make it for a cuppa and a chat.

Two Special Evenings with Steve Biddulph

Steve Biddulph is Australia's best known family pshycologist. His talks are highly entertaining, practical and emotionally powerful. Steve and his partner are the authour of five books including The Secret of Happy Children, Manhood and Raising boys. His seminars are hugley popular, highly reccomended and not to be missed. Steve will be holding 2 seminars at the Salvation Army, 277 Pirie St Adeliade, in June. Tickets cost $25 or $40 for both but get in early. Please remember that children and babies cannot be accomodated int he auditorium.

Evening1: Raising Boys - Wednesday 25th June @ 7.30pm
Topics include:

• The three stages of boyhood
• Keeping the special qualities of boys
• The importance of fathers
• Testosterone!
• Why boys love rough and tumble games
• Boy's and housework!

Evening 2: The Secret of Happy Children - Thursday 26th June @7.30pm

Topics include:

• Is my kid normal?
• The stages of childhood
• Understanding your parenting style
• Why are teenagers like toddlers?
• Soft and firm love and when to use which
• How hurry is the enemy of love

To book tickets log onto: www.salvationarmy.org.au/adelaide or for further information please phone 82237776

Welcome Gilligan

Dear Parents of the Pirie Room,

we would like to announce the arrival of a new member of the kindergarten community. Gilligan the canary joined us last week and has been an instant hit with the children. He likes to add to our playful chatter with his own chirps and cheeps and helps the children understand how to care for living things. Welcome Gilligan, we look forward to spending lots of time with you in the future. And thank you to the Antonas family for their kind donation.

Dr Doolittle

Dear Parents of Flinders Room boys,

as a continuation of the boys interest in the zoo we have created a vet at Kindergarten but unfortunately we have no patients and have had to make do with our wonderful child actors (please see picture below!) We would like to invite children to bring fluffy animal toys (clearly named please!) to kindergarten next week for a check up and possibly some bandaging!

Thank you

Mel and Amanda

Flinders Room Curry Night

We are planning a social get together for the parents of Flinders Room boys before they move to reception. It will be a lovely way to get to know each other better over a few wines.

Please join us:
When: Friday the 13th of June
Time: 7.30pm
Where: Bec and Brent's house (address details available at kindergarten)

If you think you are handy in the curry making department please add your name to the list at kindergarten. If not, there are plenty of other things we require that don't need any culinary expertise! You can bring wine x2 if you don't want to bring food. We really hope you can come. Please RSVP by the 9th of June (phone number details available at Kindergarten)
Thank you
Bec

Gig at the Gov

Join our award winning Big Bands for the annual Gig at the Gov
A great night of jazz at one of the best venues for live music in Adelaide.
Governor Hindmarsh Hotel 59 Port Road Hindmarsh
7:00 – 8:30 pm Monday May 19th Dinner Service from 6.00pm
Tickets $10 Adults

Andrew Newhouse
Bands Director

A Friendly Reminder

Dear Parents,
We would like to remind you that, whilst we open our doors at 8.15am, parents are required to stay and supervise their children until 8.30am.
Thankyou
Mel Bishop

To all our Princesses

Dear Mum's,
thankyou for joining us for our annual Princesses Tea Party and thankyou for helping us support research into breast cancer (you all looked very pretty in pink!), we will be sending a cheque for $84 dollars to the Cancer Council this week. We would like to thank Marg and her team at Festival Photographics, with a special mention to Megan, our photographer on the day, for the beautiful photos she delivered to us free of charge on Friday. If you would like to purchase any extra copies of these please go to http://www.festival-photo.com.au/ After the site has appeared click on View Events and then scroll down to Prince Alfred College 2008 and click on Princesses Tea Party. The site will ask you for an event date, type in 08/05/2008 and click enter. Simply follow the directions if you wish to purchase a photo.
We hope you all had a wonderful relaxing day on Sunday and had an opportunity to spend time with your own Mums as well as your little princes!

Important Information for Expectant Mothers

Please Note: We have had two incidents of Fifth Disease in children who attend the Preparatory School. None of our students have experienced any symptoms and we are not concerned that any of our students are at risk. However we would like to inform any expectant mothers particularly those who are in the first 20 weeks as Fifth Disease can cause complications with unborn babies under this age. Fifth Disease, also known as slap cheek, is easily identifiable by the five red lines across the sufferers cheek (it looks like you've been slapped, hence the name). If you have any concerns and would like to organise another person to drop off and collect your child in the interim please ring the college and speak to a staff member.
Thankyou
Mel Bishop

Australia's Biggest Morning Tea

You are all invited to a "Mum's Biggest Morning Tea" as part of Australia's Biggest Morning Tea on May 21st from 9.30am to 11.30am. It will be held at my house, please see the note in your child's pigeon hole for the address. Let's all do our part to help raise funds for this needy cause. I would love you to join me and make a small donation. In addition I will have a range of stunning gift cards, wrapping paper, children's party invitations and other stationary items available. I will donate 10% of sales back to the Cancer Council. You will find a copy of the catalogue on the sign in desk if you would like to view the range. If you are not able to attend but would still like to place an order please don't hesitate to call me. It will be a lovely opportunity to get together, meet some mums and as raise money for this very worthy cause.
Finns Mum, Bec

Flinders Room at the Zoo

Dear Flinders Room Parents,
We are taking an excursion to the Adelaide Zoo on Tuesday the 13th of May to follow up on the boys interest in zoos, how they are built and how animals are grouped. We will be leaving school at 9.15am and returning at approximately 11.30am. Children will need a snack in a zip lock bag (please note: the zoo does not allow Gladwrap) and staff will provide children with water to drink. Parents are welcome to join us but will need to make their own way to the back gate of the zoo due to the size of our bus. Adults will enter at a cost of $17.00 each.

Staffing Changes

Dear Parents,

At the end of the term we unexpectedly said goodbye to Mrs Janet Ricks. Janet was dedicated to the children in the Pirie Room, obvious in the insight and reflection that she offered into children’s investigations and learning at the end of every day. Janet was a very dedicated early childhood professional who put a great deal of time and effort into her work at PAC and she will be missed. We wish her all the very best in whatever she chooses to pursue in the future and feel sure that she will continue to make a difference in the field of early childhood. We have not yet appointed another assistant in Janet's place but are very lucky to have the bubbly, enthusiastic Miss Trish stepping in in the interim. We hope to have this position finalised in the next few weeks.

In the Flinders Room Mrs Annabel Ecroyd will be taking extended leave to travel with her son, Will, and husband, Heath, to England to support Heath whilst he is working there. This Wednesday will be Annabel’s last for the term and we look forward to seeing her at the start of term three. Again we are lucky to have Mrs Sarah Taylor and Ms Catherine Treloar, both firm favourites with the boys, filling in in Annabel’s absence.

In My Absence

Dear Parents,
I will leave for Italy on Tuesday to begin a study tour in Reggio Emilia. I have confidence that the end of the term will run smoothly and wish all of you a safe and happy holidays.
If there is something that you would normally speak to me about that you would like to have addressed please feel free to approach our teacher in the Pirie Room, Ms Kate Walsh, whilst I am away. If it is something that can wait until the start of next term please send me an e-mail at mbishop@pac.edu.au and I will respond upon my return.
Thankyou for a great start to the year and I look forward to seeing you all in Term Two.
Thanks
Mel Bishop

To Keep Those Crows Away!

Dear Parents,
As many of you are aware the Pirie Room children have been busy planting seeds and watching our garden grow. The question was posed to the children what can we do to keep the birds away from the beans once they have been planted in the garden? It was suggested that we could make a scarecrow. As a group we made a list of some of the things we might need to make a scarecrow. This list included a hat, a stick for the ground, straw and a pink hat! If any parents have any of these items, or any other items that could be used for our scarecrow, donations would be kindly accepted.
Thank you,
Pirie Room Staff.

Pirie Room Reporting

Dear Pirie Room Parents,
It is now time for parent teacher interviews for some of the children in the Pirie Room.
I thought I would take this opportunity to inform you of our reporting schedule for students in the Pirie Room. (The list below is our normal reporting schedule but please don’t hesitate to arrange an appointment after 3.30pm with your son’s class teacher if you have pressing concern at any time apart from those listed below)

Interviews

• Our oldest and youngest cohorts of students are eligible for parent teacher interviews in term 1 and term 3 (These interviews are optional for our youngest students in term 3)
  
• Our middle cohort and new students are eligible for parent teacher interviews in term 2

Portfolios

• All students receive portfolios at the end of term 2 and 4

Written Reports

• Our oldest cohort of students preparing to move to the Flinders Room receive a report at the end of term 2
  
• All students receive a report at the end of term 4

Another Exciting Announcment

Dear Parents,
We are pleased to announce that Annie gave birth to a bouncing baby boy on Thursday afternoon. Bruno Anthony arrived weighing 3.69 kg. Annie and Bruno are both doing very well. Congratulations to Annie, Tony, Jasper and Basil on their new arrival ... and congratulations to Jasper on choosing Bruno's name, well done Jas, we like it!

Tuck Services on Thursday 20th March

Dear Parents,
there will be no Kindergarten Tuck Shop services on the final day before the Easter break (Thursday 20th March). The day will finish at 12.30 and so no lunches are required for children who are not going to after school care on that day. For children who are going to after school care they will require a lunch from home, there will be no tuck lunches that day.
Thankyou

P&F News

Dear Parents,
your P&F reps, led by Annie, have organised a wonderful Easter treat for the boys next Tuesday and Thursday. We will be having some warm Hot Cross Buns to share. If your son is allergic to normal hot cross buns please feel free to send along a home made bun that your child can consume safely

Cable Tables

Dear Construction Dad's!!
We are looking for cable reels with ends that are approximately 60cm in diameter. We add foam to the tops and use them as small tables but our supplier is no longer able to provide us with them. If you work at a building site and come across any cable reels that you think we could use as a table we would love it if you could save them for us.
Thanks
Kindergarten Staff

Congratulations

Congratulations to one of our Little Princes families who managed to raise $60,000 for Pediatric Cardiology, a mammoth effort. If anybody would like to donate to this worthy cause and add to this wonderful amount please pass a donation to your son's class teacher.

Hippity Hoppity

I saw a little rabbit once

a-hopping on his was

I said "Where are you going

on such a lovely day?"

He said without the slightest frown

"Please don't get in my way,

I'm taking round the Easter Eggs

because it's Easter day!"

Dear Parents,

Easter is nearly upon us and it will soon be time to learn about the true meaning of the season....and to indulge in some chocky treats!

The story of Jesus

Children will learn at school about how Jesus died on the cross and rose again. This often encourages lots of questions from children about the subject of death which can be a little unnerving for some parents. We teach children about the permanency of death and how Jesus is the only person "who got to come back". This helps children understand that, after hearing about the story of Jesus, they can't expect others to be alive again after dying. Children will often ask why people die and at Kindergarten we reinforce that people only die when they are very very very very very very very sick, very very very very very very very old, or their body is very very very very very very very broken (specialists in the field recommend the seven "very"'s so that children understand that you don't die from a cold, turning 40 or a broken arm!) We are very matter-of-fact in response to queries at Kindergarten and answer children's questions honestly without going into long detail (most children don't want this anyway). If your child is asking questions that you find difficult please feel free to have a chat with your child's teacher about how to respond to the subject.

And now...a more cheery subject... chocolate!!!!

Every year children enjoy sharing chocolates with their friends. To assist with this students construct their own Easter basket to hold their goodies. Children may bring a bag of small Easter eggs to school as of next Monday to share with their friends. Students place these eggs directly into our baskets, this is fun and prevents tears when the recipient inadvertently misplaces his egg. Children then take their eggs home to eat over the Easter break. Due to allergies please ensure that your child's Easter treats do not contain nuts eg: bertie beetles etc...

Thankyou

Happy Easter

Flinders Parent Teacher Interviews

Dear Parents,
At the start of April I will be travelling to the Italian region of Reggio Emilia to participate in a two week early childhood study tour. As you are aware the exciting and unique approach to early childhood practice and the constant exploration of the socio-constructivist philosophy of centres in Reggio Emilia underpins the basic principals of our own centre and I am thrilled to be participating in this professional development experience. It will mean that I will be overseas on the final Tuesday, Thursday and Friday of Term One. Of course we are extremely lucky to have Mrs Taylor teaching in class in my place. The boys are currently unaware of my impending trip but I am sure they will be thrilled to spend some time with Sarah again.
In preparation for this trip I have scheduled Parent/Teacher interviews a week early (Tuesday the 25th and Wednesday the 26th of March) and have placed a schedule in the classroom for parents to fill in, choosing a time convenient for them. Parent Teacher Interviews are not compulsory but if you would like to take advantage of a time to catch up I prefer it if both parents are able to attend together. Please let me know if this is a problem.
Thankyou
Mel Bishop

Hats and Spare Clothing

At this time if year hats are a very important part of our day. With the strong heat we do not step foot out doors without them on. Many parents are becoming frustrated by missing hats. In the Flinders Room we have changed our procedure so that children place their hat in the hat basket on Mondays and all hats go home for a wash on a Friday. This enables teachers to know where all the hats are at any time and hopefully will lessen the problem of hats getting mixed up. In the Pirie Room this is much more difficult due to the number of children. If your child is in the Pirie Room we are hoping you can help us keep track of our hats by helping us in two ways. Please ensure your child's hat is hanging in his locker at the start of the day, and when you collect your child please ensure that it is your child's hat only that you are taking home (some hats seem to have migrated to foreign bags!!). In the Pirie Room we are currently missing hats marked Fergus and Liam.
In special circumstances we are able to give children spare clean hats to wear when they do not have one of their own. For general playground time children must stay under cover if they do not have their hat. All our spare Pirie hats are currently borrowed and have not yet been washed and returned. Also all our spare shorts are currently borrowed and un-returned leaving us with no spare shorts for accidents. If your child has recently borrowed a hat or pair of shorts marked Kindy please wash them and return them to us as soon as possible.
Thankyou

Easter Public Holiday

Dear Parents,
as you are already aware, Kindergarten will finish at 12.30pm on Thursday the 20th March prior to the Good Friday public holiday (Please Note: The rest of the prep school will finish at 1.00pm) If you require After School Care services on this afternoon please make a booking with OSHC staff as soon as possible so that they can ensure adequate staffing. You may ring the Prep School office or contact Cheryl Buck directly on cbuck@pac.edu.au
Thankyou

Kindergarten Places

Dear Parents,
we are pleased to announce that enrollemnts in our Kindergarten are very healthy. We have had a number of parents speak to us about places for younger siblings that are getting ready to turn three. We would urge any parents who are intending to send their children to Little Princes Kindergarten in the next two years to ensure that their child is enrolled to confirm a place. If you would like your child to attend and they are not currently enrolled we would ask you to contact our registrar, Carolyn Roney at croney@pac.edu.au urgently.
Thankyou
Mel Bishop

An exciting announcment

Dear Parents,
We are pleased to announce that Susan gave birth to a beautiful baby girl on Tuesday night.
Olivia Kay arrived safe and sound at 9.47pm weighing 8 pound 12 ounces and at 50cm long.
Susan and Olivia are both doing very well. Congratulations to Susan, Duncan and Bailey on their new arrival.

2008 Tour for a Cure

Join in the fun at the finish line at the 2008 Tour for a Cure and support the wonderful initiative of one of our own PAC families working towards raising money for the Pediatric Cardiology department of the Women's and Children's Hospital here in Adelaide.
On the 9th of March at 11am to 3 pm in the Women's and Children's Hospital Parklands for a gold coin donation join in the fun with a family BBQ, children's entertainment and celebrities. A fun day for all.
Please support a cause that has touched the lives of some of our own PAC families by heading along on the day or if you are unable to make it please feel free to pass a donation to your child's classroom teacher.
Thankyou

Top Tales

Dear Parents,
we have another selection of excellent children's literature at very good prices available to be ordered at the front sign in desk in the lobby. Please record your order on the green sheet and pass your completed credit card order form to Mrs Webster in the Pirie Room. All books purchased accrue points for the Kindergarten to choose a book from this selection to add to our Kindergarten Library. Thanks again to Top Tales for some wonderful titles

Parents and Friends Representatives

Dear Parents,
we are pleased to announce our P&F reps for 2008.
Pirie Room: Annie Antonas and Bianca Fiorentino
Flinders Room: Rowena Jimmieson and Bec Carolan
These reps will facilitate the organisation of get togethers through the year and help us with some community service activities but will also be calling on other parents to assist at different times.
Thankyou to all four of these parents and we look forward to working with them.
The Kindergarten Staff