Look out for information about this year’s Matariki activities…
Author Archive for helen ravine
What a busy few months we’ve had at Brooklyn Early Childhood Centre this year!
QUIZ NIGHT
Our first major fundraiser for the year was the Quiz Night held on Sunday 22 April at the Brooklyn Bar and Bistro. As well as being a very succesful fundraiser, this was a great community event enjoyed by all the parents, wahanu, friends and teachers who attended. There was an option of a meal for those who wanted it, a raffle with fantastic prizes, and spot prizes on the night. A special feature was a round of questions about the centre!
Congratulations and a big THANK YOU to the parents who organised the quiz night: Justine, Sam and Tania, as well as to Stacey who did the organisation at the Centre end of the event.
WELL DONE AND A BIG THANK YOU FROM THE WHOLE TEAM
FISH AND CHIPS EVENING
We had our first fish and chips evening on 29 March. Families brought along their fish and chips and shared a lovely sunny evening at the centre. Teachers and committee members talked about some of the events that are coming up at BECC this year.
There was also a small fundraiser, a “Balloon Tree” where parents could chose a balloon and make a contribution in the form of a toy for the centre. The children have really enjoyed the new books, toys and puzzles that have been coming into the centre as a result.
Many thanks to the families who came along, the teachers and committee mebers who got up and talked, and the whanau who participated in the balloon tree!
CHINESE NEW YEAR
On Friday the 10th of February we had a shared lunch to celebrate Chinese New Year. Leading up to this celebration, teachers and children learned about Chinese New Year and did activities that reflect the celebration.
Many thanks to the parents who talked to us about their own family celebrations and brought in things for us to share. It added both to our learning and to our enjoyment of the festical. It was a great start to our year.
Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. In China, it is known as “Spring Festival,” The festival begins on the first day of the first month in the traditional Chinese calendar and ends with Lantern Festival which is on the 15th day.
Chinese New Year is the longest and most important festivity in the Chinese calendar. The origin of Chinese New Year is itself centuries old and gains significance because of several myths and traditions.
Within China, regional customs and traditions concerning the celebration of the Chinese New Year vary widely. People will pour out their money to buy presents, decoration, material, food, and clothing. It is also traditional for every family to thoroughly cleanse the house, in order to sweep away any ill-fortune and to make way for good incoming luck. Windows and doors will be decorated with red colour paper-cuts and couplets with popular themes of “good fortune” or “happiness”, “wealth”, and “longevity”. The Chinese New Year tradition is to reconcile, forget all grudges and sincerely wish peace and happiness for everyone.
March 2012
Tena Koutou,Hallo,Namaste,Ni Hao,Talofa and Hello to all
STAFF NEWS:
We have been lucky enough to secure Dalal for a lot of our teacher relief. Dalal replaced Lara on her Parental Leave and enjoys working at BECC whenever needed and we really enjoy having her here. She comes through Education Personnel.
Teacher Appraisals are occuring now.
Curriculum Area Reviews are also underway – this is where we take a curriculum area and assess the environment/resources to see that they meet the children’s needs and stimulate interest.
Please return your “All About Me” forms so that we can enter them into the program planning folders and daily planning. Parent aspirations are incorporated into our planning discussions at staff meetings. Also a photo sheet for the Whanau board is great to have – it is our aim that we have one for every child on the wall.
CENTRE HOURS
8.30 am open
2.30pm expected parental arrival.
Centre vacated by 2.45 to allow for staff non contact discussion and clean down.
The date for Child Chats is still to be confirmed – the reason for this is the date of the Matariki celebrations and the stories we write around each event. This year’s child chats will be held over the period of a week; so when you see the dates advertised make sure you make a booking asap!! These sessions are invaluable for whanau and teachers in getting to know your child more fully.
Committee News
Next Meeting: 3 April from 7.00 to 9.00pm at the centre all whanau welcome to attend!
Emailed invoices are working well – if you have any issues please contact our administrator Kathleen on 380 8087
The Strategic Plan has been posted for your consultation, please read it and contribute if you have something you wish to add – this is your opportunity to have input into a fundamental document! It is a document that is written by parents and management members.
Policies will be reviewed at ongoing meetings and posted on the notice board for consultation!
Our centre Philosophy has been reviewed, emailed, posted on the board and is now about to go to committee so thank you for your input – the new and updated version should be in circulation within the next few weeks.
Do you have a particular talent/skill that you could share with the children during session times – maybe you are a musician a gardener or a storyteller ??? Please let us know!
If you are available to assist us on any outings it would be great to let us know so that we can plan ahead! We will be taking two trips to Te Papa to celebrate Matariki so we will need lots of volunteers – dates of outings to be posted on the notice board! Don’t worry we will give plenty of notice.
CASUAL BOOKINGS – these are first and foremost available to committee members who receive one free day each per month. Often we can’t confirm a casual space is available until we know who’s away on the day. Unfortunately this means that a casual booking may not be a reliable option if you have extra days coming up that you need care for. As per the policy these days cannot be booked on an ongoing basis but on a casual basis and must be confirmed by either Jo or myself (Pam).
Thanks to everyone who came to the fish and chip night and to the teachers and committee members who talked about upcoming events. If you missed out, don’t worry, we will be sharing the information (Via the new noticeboard/newsletters)
Fundraising – thanks to everyone who took a balloon from the fundraising balloon tree at the fish and chip night, and to Sam for organizing this. It’s a way of fundraising that gives you a say in where your money goes! Entertainment book sales are underway. Every family should have received a book to either buy or return. More are available on request.
Quiz night – Sunday 22nd April Keep an eye on noticeboard and pockets for information. This will be a fun night with great prizes!!! Again thanks to the fundraising team, esp Tania and Justine.
EASTER – we are closed only on the statutory holidays – ie Friday and Monday. It would be great to know beforehand if you’re going to be away so that we hopefully plan some walks and fun stuff for the children who are still here!!
Haere Mai and Welcome everyone, hope you had a nice holiday season. A special welcome to Te Rina, Lenn and their whanau.,
STAFF NEWS:
25th January – we had our teacher only day and set up for the first day of the term. We will be setting up for the coming year with profiles, all about me forms etc – so if you are requested to fill one in again this is because we like to keep up to date with what’s going on for the children and their families/whanau.
Please return profile books so that we can put them out for the children to look through, we hope you enjoyed sharing them with your children/whanau and we welcome any stories from your holidays! Also if your child is not on the whanau wall please send in a photo and a few words just printed off the computer to put on the wall so that they can see themselves on there!
CENTRE HOURS
8.30 am open
2.30pm expected parental arrival.
Centre vacated by 2.45 to allow for staff non contact discussion and clean down.
If you would like to make a time to talk to a teacher about your child just let us know and we will see what time suits best. Remember Child Chat sessions will happen again this year. The date for these will be set and well publicized to make sure you take the opportunity to discuss how your child is here at BECC.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
BECC EMERGENCY CELL NUMBER IS: 027 8123247
This is sun-blocking weather believe it or not – you are required to send your child blocked at the beginning of the day and we will re-apply after lunch. A named sunhat and a couple of changes of clothes is also requested as it is now water play season!!!
WHAT CAN I PUT IN THE LUNCHBOX?
We would like to remind you that, while the children love discovering sweet treats, in their lunchboxes, it’s important that most of the food is healthy. We do ask that there no lollies in the lunchboxes.
If you’re looking for inspiration, check out our “Healthy Lunch box Ideas” on our website: http://brooklynecc.org.nz/information-for-parents/resources/
Committee News
We are trialling e-mailing invoices. Any feedback on this would be appreciated.
Thanks to those who completed the parent survey Sue collated these and the results were fed back to the team.
The Strategic Plan has resurfaced with committee members going on a training seminar 9th Feb. You are all welcome to contribute to strategic planning – the draft will be posted as soon as it is produced.
Policies to be reviewed at ongoing meetings!
Centre Philosophy was reviewed at the last staff meeting. We will post this on the wall for consultation/contribution from whanau.
Thanks Murray who came in and fixed the play house for the children and installed the earthquake proofing in the sleeproom.
Thanks Stephen who has worked with Helen to maintain the centre website. We had problems with the website over summer, but are hopeful it’s sorted now.
Do you have a particular talent/skill that you could share with the children during session times – maybe you are a musician a gardener or a storyteller ??? Please let us know!
If you are available to assist us on any outings it would be great to let us know so that we can plan ahead!
BOOK NIGHT- thanks to all those who supported this on the night and a little afterwards! Helen bought some books on Day and Night, Animals, Sound and Hearing, Friction, Colours and Chinese New Year from the money raised on the night.
Thank you to parents, teachers and children who contributed to our CHINESE NEW YEAR celebrations. If your family has a cultural celebration coming up that you would like to share with us at the centre, please talk to the teachers. We would love to hear about them and celebrate with you!
Haere Mai and Welcome to Lucy, Sebo, Jack, Leon and Basail!!! Farewelling Matthew, Margot and Harry!!!
STAFF NEWS:
TEACHER ONLY DAY – We reviewed the programming and profiles that we manage and then went on to clean the equipment in storage so that it could be used in curriculum areas – which we have been reviewing recently.
Many thanks to Dalal who has relieved for Lara while she was on parental leave. Dalal will finish up at the end of November, she has been a wonderful addition to the team and we look forward to her continuing as a reliever on an as needed basis in the future.
Welcome back Lara – who is returning to work on Monday the 28th of November after her Parental Leave period. We look forward to having Lara back again before the Christmas close down.
CENTRE HOURS
8.30 am open
2.30pm expected parental arrival.
Centre vacated by 2.45 to allow for staff non contact discussion and clean down.
CENTRE CLOSEDOWN DATES:
Last day of term 20 December 2011
Reopen 26th January 2012
HEALTH AND SAFETY
BECC EMERGENCY CELL NUMBER IS: 027 8123247
If your child is sick at the centre we will contact you immediately to control/reduce the spread of illness, please make sure your contact details are up to date, if you have changed your place of employment or moved house we need your up to date numbers straight away!!!
This is sun-blocking weather – you are required to send your child blocked at the beginning of the day and we will re-apply after lunch. A named sunhat and a couple of changes of clothes is also requested as it is now water play season!!!
We also need plastic bags . . . !!!
COMMITTEE
We are trialling emailing invoices from this month. Paper copies will still be placed in your children’s pockets. Any feedback on this would be appreciated.
Parent surveys have been circulated today and need to be filled out and returned by the 2nd of December. This is your chance to give feedback on how the centre is doing! Please fill it out and return it to the box provided.
Many many thanks to Richard who has organized the total replacement of food and water for our emergency supplies!!!
CHRISTMAS PARTY . . . will be held 15th December 12pm to 2.45. PLEASE CHECK YOUR PARENT POCKETS FOR NOTICES!
BOOK NIGHT Fundraiser……….Please come along to the Children’s Bookshop in Kilbirnie 7pm on the 1st of December to support this worthy cause – a percentage of the proceeds goes to the centre and we are able to buy books from the amount made on the night!!
Back by Popular Demand!!!
Brooklyn Early Childhood Centre Presents:
BECC BOOK NIGHT
Thursday 1st December, 7pm
at The Children’s Bookshop, 26 Kilbirnie Plaza, Kilbirnie
As well as the chance to do some Christmas Shopping at one of Wellington’s Best-Loved Shops, you will get:
- Friendly Advice from the Experts
- Nibbles
- Spot Prizes
We need to have an idea of numbers beforehand so please RSVP at the centre, on the form by the sign-in book.
See you there on the 1st of December
Christmas Party 2011
Thursday 15 December
12 – 2.45pm
At Brooklyn Early Childhood Centre
Shared Lunch
Nigel Kennedy Magic Show 1pm
Santa!!!!
Christmas Hamper Raffle
WHAT TO BRING BEFORE THE DAY OFTHE PARTY:
- $5 per childtowards the magician, please give to a teacher
- A $2 -$5 present for each child, named and wrapped, also to be given to one of the teachers before the day of the party
An item for the Christmas Hamper raffle
WHAT TO BRING ON PARTY DAY:
- A plate of food for lunch, to be dropped off at the centre as early as possible on the Thursday
- Cash for raffle tickets
Thursday children arrive as normal. Other
families arrive at midday and we’ll start lunch at 12.15.
Parents and younger siblings all welcome to
stay for the party, but no older siblings please.
THANK YOU to everyone involved in organizing, building and painting our new storage shed. Special thanks to Dulux for the paint. We have certainly been very lucky to have received so much support from Dulux.
Haere Mai and Welcome to Brendan, both Hugos, Jack, Saul and Sebo .
STAFF NEWS:
The whole team have been working hard on reviewing and resourcing their curriculum areas. The system of review does take some time but it is well worth the wait with the changes arise out of the interests and needs of the children and the ideas of the teaching team. The centre is looking fantastic and in making such informed decisions the children are getting maximum benefit from the changes. Some of these include: a brand new storage shed, a playhouse now in a permanent setting, a giant phone, easy access storage for the animals, cars, blocks etc, puzzles and games rotated in the block area, nature table display board, new playhouse/tent to give the children a private space to play in, new sleep music and a soon to be installed sunshade!
Storage solutions once the back room ventilation issue is sorted will allow for safer storage of equipment and resources and rotation to refresh all areas.
Thanks to all those who participated in the Parent Teacher Chat sessions, they were a great chance to discuss the children with Parents/Whanau. We will be asking for feedback in the end of year survey and look forward to the sessions again in 2012.
TEACHER ONLY DAY – 25th October 2011 is a planning day – the centre will be closed on this day to allow for team planning to take place.
CENTRE HOURS
8.30 am open
2.30pm expected parental arrival.
Centre vacated by 2.45 to allow for staff non contact discussion and clean down.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
BECC EMERGENCY CELL NUMBER IS: 027 8123247
If your child is sick at the centre we will contact you immediately to control/reduce the spread of illness, please make sure your contact details are up to date, if you have changed your place of employment or moved house we need your up to date numbers straight away!!!
CIVIL DEFENCE SUPPLIES – keep bringing in those civil defence emergency supplies!!! Thanks Richard for organizing this job!
COMMITTEE
We are trialling e-mailing invoices from this month. Paper copies will still be placed in your child’s pockets. Any feedback on this would be appreciated.
Thanks to all of you who attended the AGM last month. We rely on your input greatly being a not for profit centre. If you’d like to know more about joining the fundraising or getting more involved please call Roz on 380 1206 to discuss or see a teacher!
Welcome Sue our new Centre Manager via WCCCA and all the new committee members. There are lots of interesting and creative fundraising ideas going round at the moment – get ready to get involved!!!
Again thanks to all those outgoing Committee members and all those who volunteered their time over the past year!
BECC Strategic Plan will be released for consultation. This is something that the whole centre must work together on as a planning tool. Centre Philosophy soon to be reviewed.
Book Mending – Is there anyone who could take some books that need mending from time to time to fix for us??? They do suffer wear and tear from time to time.
THANK YOU
Sophie for organizing the shed to completion. Thx Jeroen/Anthony/Erik for building the shed and David and John for painting it. Also thanks to Geordie dulux for supplying the paint from Dulux. We have certainly been very lucky to have received so much support from Dulux.
Our thoughts continue to be with the people of Christchurch.
As the stories have gradually emerged of what happened during and immediately after the earthquake, it has become clear that earthquake drills played a significant role in helping all the thousands of preschool and school children survive. They reacted by doing what they had practiced. Here at the centre we practice doing “Turtles” with the children; stop what you are doing and crouch on the floor with knees drawn up underneath you and your hands clasped at the back of your neck (as pictured). We often practice this in a fun way as “The Hiding Game”.
We would like to remind you that in the event of a emergency here, teachers are required to stay with the children for 48 hours. As per policy, children will only be released into the care of one of the people listed as an emergency contact on their enrolment form.
Please check that we have up to date contacts for your child, including your own work and mobile phone numbers. This is the most important thing you can do to help us prepare for a civil defence emergency.
The centre’s Emergency Plan and Procedure is displayed on the wall above the cubbyholes, opposite the front door. There is also a summary in the May 2011 newsletter.
