Transition Morning Venue

Dear Parents,
please note that the transition morning on the 23rd of June will be held at Little Princes NOT in the new (and as yet, unready) Early Learning Centre. This transition morning is for:
*students who will be new to Prince Alfred College
*all current Flinders Room boys
*all children in the Pirie room who are scheduled to move to Flinders Room in July.
I apologise for any confusion previous information may have caused.
Thank you
Mel Bishop

OSHC on the Last Day of Term

Dear Parents,
The 26th of June is a pupil free day in the kindergarten. If your child requires Out Of School Hours Care please retrun your completed slip to Mel Bishop as soon as possible.
Thankyou
OSHC staff

Personal and Social Education in the Pirie Room

Dear Parents of Pirie Room students,
in the final two weeks of term we will be talking with the children about bodies and personal space. We have begun this discussion by working together to complete human body puzzles. This has sparked some interesting ideas about the difference between boys and girls and has highlighted how much our students already know about the functions of different organs underneath our skin. It has also been a great opportunity to discuss personal privacy and looking after our own bodies. We have discussed at length how the parts of people bodies that are underneath their clothing is private and also reminded the children about appropriate toilet etiquette. We have been pleased by the earnest and open responses and fantastic problem solving strategies that children have suggested.
We hope that the children initiate some discussion at home, perhaps about how lungs help us, why it's important to eat healthy food and drink water or why it is OK to want privacy sometimes? We hope you are as impressed as we were by the children's sensible and honest thoughts.
Kind Regards
Mel Bishop

Changing Landscape

Dear Parents,
you may notice in the next two weeks that we are beginning to pack up our Kindergarten. Whilst this will not effect the children's programs it may effect the lay of the land in the Pirie Room. We have moved a bank of lockers that used to stand in front of the office window to the other side of the room to create a safe bay to store packed boxes. If you discover your child's locker missing just look directly across the classroom and you will See where they are hiding!

A Little Help

Dear Parents,

We are looking for some parents who have a hour of spare time in the morning who could help us. We have had a number of children's books arrive for the new centre and were hoping that there may be a few parents who would like to spend some time helping us cover them. If you are interested in staying with us for a little while in the morning please e-mail Mel Bishop at mbishop@pac.edu.au

Thank you in anticipation
Kindergarten Staff

Last Borrowing Week for the Semester

Dear Parents,
please note that this week is the last week children can borrow books for the semester from the Library.
Can we please ask Pirie Room families to return Library books any day next week to the basket below the pockets. Please keep your library bags.
Can we please ask Flinders Room families to return Library books any day next week to the normal Library basket but please keep your library bags.
Thank you
Kindergarten Staff

Fifth Disease (Slap Face)

Dear Parents,
a student in the Kindergarten has contracted Fifth Disease (slap face). Symptoms, when they occur, include mild fever, cough and running nose, which may or may not be followed by a rash (often children look like they have been slapped on the face, hence the name) .
Women's and Children's Hospital information tells us that Fifth disease is a viral infection caused by the human parvovirus B19 and once the rash appears the person is no longer infectious. Children do not need to be excluded from school unless they are feeling unwell or uncomfortable.
Please note that pregnant women, particularly in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, who have been exposed should contact their doctor immediately.
Please note that people who are immune suppressed may remain infectious for many months after the rash appears.
To aid in minimising the spread of Fifth disease in our centre we will be reiterating with the children the importance of washing hands and not coughing and sneezing on others and ask for your assistance in reinforcing this at home.
Thank you
Mel Bishop

Parent Information Evening for Pirie Room Parents

Little Princes Kindergarten is holding an information night on Monday the 22nd June from 6.00pm – 7.00pm in the Preparatory School Library. The evening will consist of time to provide details of the move, issues that have arisen, answer questions you may have and time to meet with your son’s teacher in the new centre. There will also be information about the physical layout of the centre so that you are able to orient yourself in the first few days of opening.
We hope to see you there
Regards
Neil Andary

Pupil Free Day 26th June

To assist us in the move to the new Early Learning centre, the Headmaster has granted the last day of term, Friday the 26th June, as a pack and move pupil free day. If your child normally attends on a Friday and this Pupil Free day poses problems for you, the school has engaged our Out Of School Hours Care Staff to provide care for children during their normal day time attendance.
To confirm your place in Out Of School Hours Care for this day you must complete and return the reply slip attached to the letter dated 11th June in your child’s pigeon hole and return it to Mrs Mel Bishop.
Regards
Neil Andary

A Fantastic Flinders Farewell

Dear Flinders Room Parents,
As you are already aware the Flinders Room Farewell will be held on Thursday the 25th of June. Due to large numbers in previous years we have moved this event to the Eric Freake Memorial Chapel. Tea and Coffee will be available for parents before the event and we will have a wonderful the wonderful Dwayne from Festival Photographics on hand to record your child’s special moment and also to take family photos at the conclusion of the event. Dwayne always flatters us by recording stunning shots and his photos are available to be viewed on the festival website.
Many families invite grandparents and special others to this event and often choose to have a special family lunch at the conclusion. Can you please let myself or Amanda Rees know if you are planning to take your child for lunch to celebrate the end of Kindergarten and the move to “big school”!
Warm Regards
Alexandra Marcus

A View From Above

To celebrate the college’s 140th year we will be recording the student body in an aerial photograph. This photo will occur on the front oval in front of the main building on Tuesday the 11th of August at 12.00pm.
If your child does not normally attend on a Tuesday and you would like them to be part of this photo please put this date in your diary. On the day it is important that you drop your child at Kindergarten at 11.30 on that day. Parents will be asked to wait inside the Kindergarten until we return from the photo so that they may take their child home. All students will be required to wear their Kindergarten top and black or navy pants (definitely no jeans please)
Thankyou
Mel Bishop

Outstanding Enrolment Forms

Dear Parents,
Some enrolment forms for our new Early Learning Centre are still outstanding. I would strongly urge any families who have not completed these forms to do so immediately. This will ensure your child’s place and your choice of days. It will also help us confirm staffing and allow staff to know which children will be joining them in their new classroom.
Thanking you in advance
Mel Bishop

Tennis for Flinders Students

Dear Parents of Flinders Boys,
Our tennis coach, Libby Sims, offers group lesson for children of Reception age and above. She currently has some spaces available on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays as of the beginning of term three. Boys who will be in Mid Year Reception will be eligible to join. If you are interested in Tennis coaching for your son please leave a note and contact number with Ms Marcus or speak with Libby directly.
Thankyou

Transition Dates

Dear Parents and Caregivers,
as we move closer to the end of the semester teachers have begun to speak with some children about their moves to a new classroom. As you are already aware we provide children with both planned and spontaneous opportunities to build a greater understanding about moving to their next class and in some cases, new teacher.
On the Tuesday the 23rd of June we will hold our end of semester "Moving Up Day"

• We would invite all Flinders Room students (regardless of the days they normally attend) to a transition morning with their new Mid Year Reception teacher, Mrs Tania Crawford. The boys will stay with Mrs Crawford from 9.00 am until 10.55am and will require a snack.
• We would invite Pirie Room students scheduled to move to the Flinders Room in July(regardless of the days they normally attend) to a transition morning with their new teacher, Ms Alex Marcus. The children will stay with Ms Marcus from 9.00 am until 10.30am and will only require a snack if they do not normally attend on a Tuesday. If your child does not normally attend on a Tuesday please arrive to collect them just before 10.30 so Ms Marcus may dismiss them directly to you
• We will also enjoy the company of some new families that will be joining our three year old students in July and hope that they enjoy their morning with us.

If you have any questions about the timetable outlined above please contact me at mbishop@pac.edu.au

Kind Regards

Mel Bishop

Early Learning Centre Handbook

Dear Parents of Students moving to the new Early Learning Centre in July,
Please note that ELC parent handbooks are now in children's pockets in the Pirie Room.
Thank you
Jeanine Dry

Family Photos

Dear Parents,
thank you to those of you who have sent in your family photos so far, you may have noticed some hanging from the family tree in the Pirie Room. We do intend to also use them for other projects and would urge any who have not already sent them to send them to mbishop@pac.edu.au .
Thank you
The Kindergarten Team

Art Mirrors Life - Our Trip to The Art Gallery of South Australia

Next week Thursday students will be visiting the Art Gallery of South Australia. This will be a big adventure as we plan to walk into town! After arriving, the students will split into two groups and walk through the art gallery to observe pictures about family groups. Students will require a small snack in a zip lock bag (NO lunch boxes please!) and a throw away drink ie: fruit box.
To complete the adventure we will be heading back to school using public transport.
To make this trip a success we require the help of lots of mums and dads (with some small change for the trip back on the bus!). Due to the fact that we will walk beside North Terrace we will require at least one adult hand for each child. Thank you so much to those of you who have who have already returned your slip and are willing to help. It is important to note that we cannot take younger siblings with us on the trip or prams. Due to the amount of walking involved we suggest flat comfortable shoes.
We suspect that after this trip students will be very tired and so if you are coming to help and would like to take your full day child after the trip has finished please let your child's teacher know.
We have been in contact with the public transport agency who assure us they will be prepared for us on our return journey so now all we have to hope for is blue skies! We are currently working on a contingency plan in case of rain.
Kind Regards
Mel Bishop and Pip Cooper

In the Flinders Room

This week we decided to take our classroom outside! We set up a home-corner style classroom for the boys to experiment in. Paper, whiteboards, writing utensils and a daily roll were put out for the students to use. All the boys were very eager to use the roll, and to be ‘the teacher’. This activity provided the opportunity for boys to experiment with writing and drawing, to read to each other on the mat and to experiment with giving directions and instructions. It was wonderful to hear the boys use appropriate language to connect this experience with the known daily routine of the classroom.
‘Today is T,t,t Tuesday!’ said Federico as he put the tags up on the board.
He went on, ‘Today is sunny, and today, Clark has Show and Tell.’.
This is the usual morning routine that we follow each day.
Jasper and Lachlan were recording family names on the whiteboards.
‘This says Jasper Antonas, Dad Antonas, Mum Antonas and now Basil Antonas.’ He read proudly.
‘I’m going to write Marcus. That’s my brother’s name.’ said Braheem, before writing the letters S-A-M on his board. ‘Now I’m going to write Dad’s name. He’s called Uncle Pauly.’

It was a wonderfully empowering time for the boys. They read, wrote and chatted confidently and took a lot of pride in their work. Many boys involved themselves in tasks that they would sometimes be more reluctant to try. It was lovely to observe!

Big Boy’s Playground!

As part of our transition for the Mid Year Reception class, we have been playing with the big boys during their lunch time. This has helped the students build their confidence and get to know their new surroundings, in a way that feels safe and secure for them, before the big move to Reception. Next week, we will begin visits with Mrs Crawford and will eat in the Courtyard Café!

Sing Sing!

Music is a wonderful way to captivate learners. We use a pack up song each day to make packing up more fun. Some of the students in the Flinders Room have enjoyed the music so much, that we now have a ‘grooving’ song after the pack up song. This provides a chance to dance and sing and move to the music. We love to look at ourselves in the mirror, especially when we have our microphones out!

Swine Flu and Travel

Dear Parents,
As you are aware this weekend is a long weekend and Kindergarten will be closed on Monday. I know that many families have planned exciting get always over this period. It is therefore timely that I remind families that SA Health requires that children visiting known countries of swine influenza concern or the Melbourne metropolitan area stay at home in isolation for seven days after returning.
Please help us keep our school flu free. The College would appreciate being advised of holiday travel arrangements, particularly for overseas travellers during the upcoming term break, to affected areas so that the School can manage this issue more effectively. If applicable, please telephone Jessica Steel with destination and return date to Australia on 8334 1294 to register student(s), parent contact numbers and details of travel.
We thank you for your understanding in this matter

In the Pirie Room

Learning through sharing knowledge and experiences is one of the most powerful ways children learn. The old adage “two heads are better than one” certainly rings true in our Kindergarten. When children share knowledge together, engage in discussion, work together on a project or work on separate projects while communicating on a common goal they often arrive at a greater understanding than when they first began. We call this a plurality of understanding…big words for a simple concept…together we learn more.
Above you can see Henry and Henry working together on a painting. The painting was initiated by Henry N. Henry G stood beside him, suggesting ideas and improvements until in the end Henry N asked Henry G to join him at the easel to improve the painting. The final painting was a conglomeration of both of the boys idea and a more complete picture of a steam train than either boy would have completed on their own. Another example are these two pictures of roller coasters. Mayson completed his first and inspired Harrison to attempt a similar picture. Mayson gave Harrison advice as to how best to use the paints and brushes. Mayson in turn was so inspired by Harrison’s finished product that he is going to attempt a new and improved roller coaster next time he sits down to the paints!