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Marisha’s editorial
Did you see the inspirational story on the 7:30 report, 4th of September? Dr. Caitlin McOmish was a brain damaged toddler at 13 months of age, 27 years ago. Her parents’ love and dedication helped Caitlin over come her brain damage. They developed an enriched environment, starting with daily swimming lessons, gross motor exercises and listening to classical music, and sent her to a bilingual school. “She has now completed a PhD and is one of the country’s brightest young neuroscientists”, ABC 7:30 Report says. Full story. I am very excited to say that this is the learning environment we are offering our bilingual families. www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2007/s2023844.htm
It is almost the end of term 3. We have just 3 weeks left. I am always amazed how time flies. I have noticed that some of our little 2-3 years olds have been giving their parents some kind of ‘act’ at our various sessions by being uncooperative. This is because they are growing bigger, stronger and more independent. They are becoming aware of their ability to say ‘No’ and are trying out what they want to do. Sometimes they don’t really know what they want to do. Just to be able to say ‘no’ to a parent is a big thing for those little minds. It is a normal behaviour and often carries on until they turn 3-4.
The best way to solve the problem is to simply just ignore him/her as long as he/she is not behaving in a destructive or harmful way to someone in the class. Let the teacher handle them. Our teachers are all experienced and well trained in helping your children. If the child is happier playing by him/herself, we will allow that. We won’t exclude the child but will constantly call on him or her to see if he/she would like to participate in our fun group activities.
The most important thing is not to let it become a power struggle; they are here to learn and have fun.
Term 3 Birthday Party & Excursion
It is our birthday party and excursion time again (the week of 18-23rd September). Please let us know where would you like to go for our Spring excursion and celebrate birthdays? Nearby park Ruffey Lake (33 J10) is one of the options, or Hays Paddock in Kew (45 J2). We can combine both activities together and kids will love to have a great outdoor playing session to celebrate their friends’ birthdays. Each group can decide on where and when they would like to meet. Please let us know once you’ve reached a majority vote not later than the week of 16/09.
High Demand for Weekend Mandarin Session
To our surprise, the newly formed Saturday afternoon Mandarin session for term 3 is now full. We can’t take any more enrolments and therefore have to place new families on the waiting list until another group is formed. We have a few older children in this class with their younger siblings, because they really enjoy the fun and creative learning. Those bigger children have shown their unwillingness to attend other “Chinese Schools” before they came for a trial session. Some had even simply refused to learn Chinese at the age of 7. But now, everybody is having a good time here learning through active participation and Chinese learning is no longer ‘unbearable’ to them. They look forward to coming to the session every week. I am very pleased to share their joy in discovering a new way to learn Chinese from our unique program. It is often hard for a young child to change their minds once they have a not-so-good learning experience. I am very glad that children can influence each other with a positive approach to our program and are all looking forward to a ‘new’ way of learning an ‘old’ language with each other.
Starting in term 4 we will be able to have an extra Mandarin session on Saturday afternoon, 3:30-5:00pm, with the same teacher, Miss Katherine Chuang. I would encourage parents (if you are not travelling from far) to bring your child to the later session if he/she still needs a nap in the afternoon. That way, they will be full of energy, once they wake up from the nap and ready to learn and join in the group to have good fun.
Kimmba Bilingual Learning Playgroup New Program for 2008
We are pleased to announce that Kimmba Bilingual Learning Playgroup is going to offer our existing families and children a new learning program for 2008. There are some parents who have enquired as to whether we can offer a longer learning program for older children that doesn’t require parents to be involved in the session. We are now gathering enrolments for next year. This program will only start if we receive sufficient enrolments before the end of this year.
It would be considered an extra curricular activity to the existing government kinder educational program. According to Playgroup Victoria’s rostered playgroup guidelines, we can offer our unique language program twice a week, not exceeding 2 and ½ hours each time, or 4 hours per week in total. The classroom size would be even smaller than the existing playgroups, with only 4 or 8 or 12 children per class as we have to keep the child/adult ratio to 4:1; therefore, we still need a little of your help.
We will continue our existing playgroup sessions for our younger children in 2008.
New languages on board for term 4
We have children enrolled for Japanese and German bilingual learning playgroups. We are looking for language teachers who love children and have teaching experiences in early childhood, with current Australian qualifications preferred. We are also looking for new families to join us in forming these two groups. The German bilingual learning playgroup has almost got enough children for one session per week and has set a time on Tuesday mornings, 10-11:30am. I am yet to meet all the families and organise to find the best suitable German teacher and plan the start of our newly formed German bilingual playgroup. Please contact Marisha for more details.
End of Year Function for all of our families
This big event will be on Sunday 18th of November from 11am to 1pm at Ajani Centre, 284 Thomsons Road, Lower Templestowe, Vic. 3107. Please mark this special date for us in your diary. All of our children will sing, act, or perform on stage for us, in the language that they are learning. After the stage performance, we will serve a light finger food lunch that has been provided by our sponsors.
We are proudly sponsored by Taco Bill Croydon and other local organizations in supporting young children’s bilingual learning. We are still awaiting an answer from Manningham City Council about our Community Grant application, so we are not sure whether our local council would be one of our event sponsors or not. Of course we would appreciate more sponsors if you know of any individuals, business or company who is willing to give us a donation, more finger food for the day, in-kind help, etc.
An in-Kind help list will be distributed at the beginning of term 4. Please put your name down for our biggest annual event for 2007. We need assistance with designing the programs, designing the tickets, costume making, setting up and cleanng up on the day and serving food on the day.
Before the end of this term, we will copy songs that your children will need to practice at home for the End of Year Function. The cost of the CD is $3.00. Please let the teacher know if you do not wish to have a copy of these songs.
First Fund Raising Activity for Kimmba Bilingual Learning Playgroup Inc
A BIG thank you to all parents who participated in our first fund raising educational toy sale catalogue. We have raised $ 267.02 so far!! As a non-profit organisation we need your help to raise much needed funds to update, replace or increase the variety of our existing toys and supplies. I have done some research to date and have found that the Chalk Education Toys fund raising catalogue is most suitable for us, as it is from the company called Modern Teaching Aids, not just a toy sale company. All your orders should be here within 3 weeks. I will notify you once I receive the toys.
If you are yet to bring the order back please remember to give it to Marisha ASAP. Christmas is approaching so you might want to order some more toys for it. Please ask Marisha for the catalogue as there are still lots of un-used catalogues.
Enrol now for term 4
As some of our groups are full, we ask parents to enrol your children for term 4 before the end of this term. Full term payment is due when you enrol your child or a minimum $50.00 deposit per child is required to secure your child’s place. We need to know if there is any possibility for new families and children to join in at term 4 for their desired group. So please let your class teacher know whether you are enrolling your child for term 4. If you are going away for a holiday for more than 3 weeks in term 4, and therefore would like to join on a pro rata basis, please let your teacher know so we can adjust your term 4 fees.
A Hilarious and Helpful Talk for Parents By Steve Biddulph
A great seminar for parents, grandparents, teacher, and instructors – anyone interested in language education, Playgroup Victoria is hosting an evening by family therapist and parenting author Steve Biddulph in our area. Details are on the attached flyer. This is a unique opportunity not to be missed by any parent, caregiver or early childhood professional. Tickets are $16 Playgroup Victoria members, $18 non members (booking fee applies). Bookings are essential.
We regret that babies and children cannot be accommodated at these talks.
Details of this talk can be downloaded here.
Before next edition of our newsletter, we wish you all the best and have a wonderful experience in Term 3 with us and looking forward to seeing you back in Term 4.
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