SEPTEMBER 2016 SCHOOL HOLIDAYS:
CLICK HERE for the Sept/Oct 2016 Theme Calendar
Photo Gallery:
Chris’s Wrap-up:
Wow, we started in Brazil and we finished up with footy, science and a party! I’ve got to tell you that has been one of my favourite holidays ever. With something different every day, I can guarantee that even the staff had a great time.
In the first week we looked at the Olympic host nation Brazil. In a very busy day we created arts and crafts of native animals of the Amazon, we held our own Mini-Olympics on the oval and we had a special guest who taught the children many phrases in Portuguese. Thanks Leo!
On Wednesday of the first week we thought about who we are grateful to. We created a gratitude tree with leaves made of the thank you notes from the children. This is still on display upstairs at Mont Albert. In Kids Club the older children worked together to solve problems and the younger children worked together to make up cubbies.
On the Friday of the first week we presented the children with a selection of TV’s, stereos, CD players, and a vacuum cleaner, that they were encourage to pull apart. To do this they had to work in groups to choose the right tools. They also watched as the leaders helped drill out particularly stubborn screws. When they had taken everything apart they were asked what each part was, and how that worked to make it work?
In the second week we started with a more philosophical approach asking what is your dream? Children were encouraged to think about the near and distance future, and to try to answer the question. Answers varied from direct, ice cream, to more in depth such as happy families and world peace.
For the Footy Day all of the children took part in a tabloid event of 6 activities. Given only 5 minutes on each they had a chance to practice various footy skills such as kicking, handball and high marking. After a picnic lunch we held a footy day parade where the children marched to their team’s theme song. Gotta say that we mostly tipped the Bulldogs to win; though most of us were going with our hearts over our heads, supporting the underdog.
On the Wednesday of week two, we tried out three different experiments based on our theme of Energy. We tested rolling model cars down ramps covered in different surfaces to study the effects of friction on their speed. We created exploded boomerangs to look at potential vs kinetic energy. And we created static electricity using balloons.
Planning has already started for the Christmas and January holidays and while I can’t say too much yet there will be a return of the letter days, Arts & Crafts specific days, more movie days, more cooking, more Disco Bowling, Geography days and more Science days.
I’m looking forwards to it! Have a great term. I hope to see you soon.
Chris Aveling
MAR/APRIL 2016 SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
Encouraging Healthy Food Choices
At Healthways, our activities encourage physical activity. You won’t see the children sitting for long. You’ll see them running around, talking to each other, being creative, problem solving, and improving their gross and fine motor skills. We encourage healthy exploration and participation.
As we move into 2016, one of our other aims is to encourage more healthy food choices too. Please note some changes that have been made as of the Mar/Apr 2016 holidays:
- Lunch orders – The lunch order menu has changed to now offer “Lunch packs” that include a fruit item and a small dairy item with their hot food item. See “What you need to know” section above for the menu.
- Parent education – As part of the national quality framework, we will be including lunch box ideas and recipes in some of our newsletters and on our website. Please help encourage healthy food choices by packing filling and nutritious food in your child’s lunch box. For some lunch box ideas have a look at these websites, yummy!
- Child education – We will continue to have discussions with the children about healthy food. We will continue to include “healthy” cooking in the program with fruit sculptures, vegetable faces, etc.
- Afternoon canteen – We will be offering a range of smaller “occasional” foods. The children love coming down in the afternoon and getting something special from the canteen. We don’t want to take this away altogether as it is something they really look forward to and after a physically exhausting day they really enjoy it. However, we would like to encourage smaller portions of these “occasional” foods. As such:
- Canteen will continue to only be offered at afternoon tea time.
- The maximum spending money has reduced from $5.00 to $3.50.
- We will be offering smaller portioned packages. ie. Items that weigh 5-45 grams.