Please see the bottom of this post for a personal message from Dianne.
Spring has finally arrived!
With such beautiful weather we
have spent most of our time outside.
Monday was a really interesting night. We started by
challenging people to be blind folded and find their way around. But this soon
evolved into a big discussion about being blind and other impairments. Many of
the kids had lots of fun trying to navigate by feeling their way, but others
soon became disgruntled and understood that blindness can be life long and
would be very frustrating at different times.
In the SAC this week we have had a variety of sports plus
lots of hula hoop practise. Each day someone brings a new trick to try out and
teaches others. It is really cool to see their repertoire being added to.
If you want to learn some new hula hoop tricks check this
video out!
We had two baking nights this week. Both nights we had
vanilla cupcakes with chocolate frosting. Normally we try to sneak in some fruit
in the frosting or the cake! Both nights we had gluten-free and egg-free
batches to accommodate for different student needs. We are finding it really interesting
how using specialty ingredients change the end product.
It seems that loom bands are back again! We have had some
great bracelets, rings, necklaces and whole hand master pieces! Aside from
craft we have also had some great art work. Unfortunately we can’t show you
their work because they used their own photos. But here is an example of what
they were doing.
Later in the week we had some fun problem solving. We found money
and sports equipment down a drain. This of course posed a fabulous challenge. Children
designed different hooks, poles with sticky tape and other contraptions to
retrieve the items. Meanwhile on the mini oval a group of girls started to
teach themselves partner acrobatic tricks. These tricks take a lot of cooperation
and team work through discussing movements and placements of bodies.
We have started having more and more children bring bikes,
scooters and skateboards to OSHC in the afternoon. It is great to see people
trading rides, and giving different things a go. A favourite conversation to
hear is the different types of bikes that we see. Bmx, Mountain bikes and
classic cruisers seem to be the most popular. We love talking about differences
in shape, types of tyres, riding styles and the uses of each bike.
For our Pupil-free day we were so entertained with Maya’s musical
routines that she taught to lots of students. It was complete with music,
singing, dialogue and so much dancing to a song from Matilda. The children were
so inspired that we just had to watch the film in the long room.
Outside we took advantage of the good vibes and just chilled
out in hammocks and cubby houses that we made. Most of the time everyone spent
time listening to show tunes and requests from the children. Unfortunately many
‘ear worms’ crept into the mix, with classics like What did the fox say, PPAP and Banana
dance ‘Peel the banana’.
As a way of remembering such a fabulous year we have started
a finger print tree, which we will add to over the next couple of weeks.
The January Vacation Care program is now available. Just a
friendly reminder, priority goes to bookings where parents are working. If you
want to book in for a fun day we can place you on a waiting list to ensure
families that are truly in need get first priority.
WEEK ONE
Monday
16/1/17– Friday 20/1/17
Monday 16th
January
Home
Day – Summer cooking using seasonal fruits &
vegetables (with Sarah)
Using fruits and
vegetables in season and with input and ideas from the children we will make
– smoothies, icecream and juices. We will be enjoying our treats as we make
them.
Please bring lots
of snacks and lunch.
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Tuesday 17th January
Excursion Day –
Central Market (9-2)
We will
leave OSHC at 9am and travel by train and tram to the Central Market. At the
market we will divide into smaller groups to explore. Each group will be
tasked to find a food that no-one has tried before (last time we bought
samphire, kangaroo fritz and lychees).
We will
return to OSHC by 2pm
Please wear
appropriate shoes for walking, bring some money ($10 max, no junk food/soft
drink will be bought) and a bag to carry your belongings and purchases.
Please provide snacks, lunch and a drink bottle.
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Wednesday 18th
January
Home Day – Soccer Clinic with Damian (9-3)
Damian will lead a clinic that teaches basic ball
handling skills, soccer rules, the role of each position and end with a
match.
Lunch will be provided, please provide lots of snacks.
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Thursday 19th
January
Home day – Stop go Animation (am)
We will taking part in a computer animation
workshop we will be using ipads and a stop-go animation program. The children
will be using photos of themselves and placing them in a scenario (circus/jungle.
The individual animation will be joined together to make a story that we will
all watch on a big screen.
Please provide lots
of snacks and lunch.
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Friday 20th January
Home Day – Circus Elements (am)
Scott from Circus
Elements will be her to teach some basic circus skills – plate spinning,
stilt walking and juggling.
Please wear appropriate
shoes and clothes for physical activity.
Please provide lots of
snacks and lunch.
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wEEK TWO
Monday
23/1/17– Friday 27/1/17
Monday 23rd
January
Home Day – Basketball with Dwayne (pm)
Our favourite ex 36’s basketball player Dwayne will involve
the children in a clinic that introduces and teaches – ball skills, hand-eye
coordination, accuracy, communication, team building and having fun.
Please wear appropriate clothes and shoes for sport.
Please provide lots of snacks and lunch.
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Tuesday 24th January
Home day – Pot plants
Each child will get a pot to decorate and plant
with a selection of herbs and flowers (parsley, chives, thyme, violas,
coriander). We will talk about the different flowers and herbs. The children
will take their miniature gardens home.
Lunch will be provided, please provide lots of snacks.
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Wednesday 25th
January
Excursion Day – Gorge Wildlife Park
We will leave OSHC at 9am and travel by bus to Gorge
Wildlife Park at Cudlee Creek. We will take part in a Koala patting and snake
touching session. We will also explore the park – looking at dingoes, monkeys,
eagles, camels, kangaroos and much more. We will be at OSHC by 3pm.
Please wear clothes appropriate for the weather and
walking.
Please provide lots of snacks, lunch and a drink
bottle.
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Thursday 26th
January
Public Holiday
No Vacation Care
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Friday 27th jANUARY
Home Day – Mobile Science ‘In your guts!’ (am)
Our favourite nerds are
back with a new show about the digestive system, expect some gross smells!!
Please provide lots of
snacks, lunch and a drink bottle.
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Dear Parents,
I will be on sick leave from Monday 28th November until the end of the year. While I'm away Sarah will be running things. Sarah will have the OSHC phone and be checking emails. We have had huge information sharing sessions..but... there maybe something I forgot to pass on! So please be kind :) I will come and visit before Christmas during Vac Care but to those of you I don't see - have a lovely break, working with and caring for your children is a delight. See you next year, Dianne xoxo
This week we have had a big focus on nature. The children have been collecting different artefacts, including plants, insects and rocks and looking at the closely. Some have been using crushed rocks to make paints, others have been collecting bugs to see what they will eat. There has also been a creative element, where students have made images and mandalas out of leaves, petals and twigs. 
