Newsletter May 2008

Hello everyone!  We are half way through second term.  Time flies and we are certain that our children have been having fun and learning new things all the time.  This newsletter is packed with lots of information; please take time to read them.

Fundraising – Suasage Sizzle at Bunnings Nunawading (Queen’s Birthday long weekend) Mon 9th June 2008.

This event is going to come around very, very soon.  We still need more helpers for the day; it is a long weekend, if you’re not going away, please do lend us a hand.  We would really appreciate your help, the time slot that still needs parent helpers are : 12-2pm (1 more parent needed); 2-4pm (2 more parents needed) and 4-5pm (4 more parents).  If you really, really can’t help in selling them, please do drop by to Bunnings that day and buy a sausage or two to support us.  We would love to see some familiar faces.

We would like to thank the following parents that have volunteer to help us to cook sausages and donating things for this day, they are: Heng, Chris, Mary Leung, Eli Theeboom, Leypeng Thomas, Karen Loh, Tran & Kevin Tan, Damien & Selvy Bushby, Millie Lim, Jessica Tsai, Myles Vincombe, Linda, Mr.Chin, Wesley, Jennifer, Pauline Wikman, Stephanie, Eva, Sook Lin, Melissa, Angelina, Liz, and Maria Chan.

To those parents that are cooking and selling sausages on that day, please remember to bring your own apron.  Utensil will be provided.  If you can’t remember which time shift you’ve put your name for, please call Maria This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to confirm your time.

To those parents that are donating or lending us things, please bring your donation by next Saturday 7th June, the latest.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP AND DONATION.

Language program

Mandarin

We strongly recommend children on Monday and Thursday class to take up a second session to increase the exposure of the language, especially if your child has already turned 3 years and does not attending Kinder this year. The two sessions will be taught by two different teachers.  Children will gain a lot with such intense learning.  The second session will be held on Wednesday from 10-12noon.  Consistency learning produces better results.  Our Mandarin Primary program is running with a success, children have improved tremendously with the language and thanks to our dedicated teacher, Jessica Tsai.  She has committed in keeping the parent/teacher communication going so that parents get to know how their children are doing in the class.  Well done, Jessica.

Cantonese

We are hoping to offer a longer program with our experienced Cantonese teacher, parents interested to register their child in this program, please contact Marisha.

Spanish

We are running this class as per usual, 10-11:30am Saturday. Packs of Spanish flash cards are on its way to be purchased via our web before the end of this year.

German

Since our last newsletter in regards to opening of Primary program for German from July, respond has been lukewarm.  You may not consider this now, but do think about it for the next 6 month when your child is older and show signs that they can benefit much more from longer program.  Children will gain more independency, practice their social skills in longer program when parents are not around all the time.  If you’re interested, please contact Marisha.

Enrolment/ fees due for Term 3/4

Register for next semester’s (Term 3/4) class with payment opens 16th June till 28th June.  We do advice parents to register and pay during these two weeks so that not to be disappointed as we do have new children coming in next semester and spaces has been taken already. With the shortage of quality preschool program around, our placements do fill up very quickly, especially the popular sessions.  Leypeng will be here during these two weeks to register your child/ren and collect fees.  If you don’t find her at the centre, please do leave your payment with your child’s name and group in an envelope in the mailbox located on the pink shelf. Thank you.

Parking

Manningham council planning department had visited us twice this month regarding parking issues in the street.  It can get very congested and annoying for both parents and the neighbours in the early morning when all moms starting to turn up and looking for parking on the street.  Please don’t block the neighbour’s driveway or parked in front of their bin on Thursdays, this is rubbish collection day. Planning department is happy for us to run the playgroup(s) for many years to come, the only thing is, please be sensible when park your car.  I know most of our moms are very sensible and most of the time when you are here, parking is already very congested by East Doncaster Secondary College teachers and staff because they’ve put more classrooms in staff car park since last year. We have to put it in our newsletter for the council.

Website

Our website has just had a major facelift with all our teachers’ introduction.  It is packed with lots of information; we have a classified section where you can advertise if you are looking for a nanny/baby sitter service with specific language!  And in the near future, you can download certain teaching material from the website, such as flash cards, you can print them and use them at home by only paying us a small downloading fee.  It is a very useful webpage.  Do check it out!! If you need more information please contact Marisha.

Sponsorships

To run a successful early learning language program, we need lots of supports.  The committee board is interested at raising a foundation to support the running of Kimmba’s unique language program for young learners. Please let us know your feedback and thoughts through email or contacting anyone of the committee members; we would really appreciate your input in regarding to supporting us in the long term.

Signage

Any parents interested to promote us, bilingual learning program, to the larger community? If you won’t mind having our sign on your car, please contact Marisha. We are busy designing our very own car signage.

Free Public Lecture

On Left Right Here! Split-brain research explained and delivered by Prof Michael Gazzaniga, Director of the SAGE Center for the Study of the Mind, University of California. It is FREE.

Event information

Here’s the website on this lecture, feel free to have a look, www.florey.edu.au.  Bookings are essential.

That’s all the reports for this newsletter.  Enjoy the rest of the term.  Thank you for your attention.