Dear families,

Welcome to our final MEYM newsletter for 2025. This year has been a busy and rewarding period across all of our kindergartens, with the children making significant progress in their learning, experience, and confidence. We are extremely proud of both the children and our dedicated staff for their commitment and enthusiasm in supporting their development. We would also like to extend our sincere appreciation to our parent volunteers within the community; your support has been instrumental in making many of our events possible. Wishing all the children headed off to school the very best of luck. And for those returning we cannot wait to see you back with us next year!

General Manager – Shanna Whitelaw

Dear Families,

As we approach the final weeks of the kindergarten year, I want to take a moment to thank every family who has entrusted us with their child’s early learning in 2025. Whether your child is continuing with us next year or preparing to start Prep, we are grateful for your partnership and proud of the confident, capable learners we’ve nurtured together.

To our families whose children are transitioning to school — warmest wishes for the exciting journey ahead. Our teams are actively supporting this transition, including sharing key information with schools. If you’d like to know more about what this looks like for your child, please speak with your Early Childhood Teacher or Service Coordinator.

Thank You for Your Feedback

Thank you to all families who completed the 2025 MEYM Family Survey. Your insights are invaluable and will help shape service and organisational decisions for 2026. A summary of the results and planned actions will be shared in early 2026.

Strengthening Child Safety: Policy Reform and Partnership

As part of recent Victorian Government child safe reforms and updated legislation introduced in September, MEYM implemented a number of important policy changes from the beginning of Term 4 to further strengthen our commitment to child safety.

These changes include the rollout of the new Safe Use of Digital Technologies and Online Environments Policy, which introduced a personal device ban for staff, families, and visitors while on-site. This policy was communicated throughout Term 3 and again at the beginning of Term 4, and forms part of our broader commitment to safe, respectful environments.

I sincerely thank all families for embracing this change with such understanding and support. As end-of-year celebrations approach, some families have asked whether personal devices (including phones and smartwatches) can be used during events and within service spaces. Personal devices will not be permitted at these celebrations; however, services will thoughtfully capture a small number of images using MEYM devices to share with families, in line with organisational policies and consent preferences.

End-of-Year Events and 2026 Planning

• End-of-year celebration details will be shared by your service shortly — we look forward to marking this special time together.
• Parent Information Nights and Orientation Days and Start Dates 2026 have now been communicated to all families.

• An email confirming the last day of kindergarten for 2025 has already been sent to all families.
• Services are working to keep families informed with timely updates about end-of-year events and transitions, and will continue to share information as needed to support planning and participation.

Djirra’s Reverse Advent Calendar

This year, MEYM is proud to participate in Djirra’s Reverse Advent Calendar — a community initiative supporting Aboriginal women and families. If you’d like to contribute, please drop donations into your service. It doesn’t matter what item you donate, or on what day you donate — every contribution counts. MEYM will coordinate a collective drop-off in early December. Learn more: Djirra’s Reverse Advent Calendar. This time of year is always full — with celebrations, transitions, and preparations for the end of year and the year ahead. Amid the busyness, I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy the special memories being created at this time, and also find moments to rest and recharge

Shanna Whitelaw, General Manager, gm@meym.org.au

Early Childhood Curriculum & Support Manager – Shauna Lui

In term 4 we had our second MEYM’s All-Staff Professional Learning day for the year. All our teaching teams came together to participate in a day of learning and networking. This year, we had a moving and empowering Acknowledgement of Country session by Nartarsha Bamblett. She encouraged our staff to reflect on our connection to self, to culture, to Country. She showed us how meaningful an authentic Acknowledgement of Country is, all while loving and nurturing her 4 month old baby. What a powerful session, it was an absolute privilege. 

We also had Rebecca Harris run an information-packed session on trauma-informed practice and educator wellbeing. This is our second time learning about trauma-informed practice and we were able to delve deeper into the important approach. Rebecca provided us with strategies for connection, co-regulation and partnership with families/carers. A trauma-informed approach can be used and is beneficial for all children, families/carers and ensures that we work towards best outcomes for you all. 

We took the rest of the day to have an organisation-wide discussion and reflection on our values, and documentation. This reflection lays the groundwork for our organisation’s commitment to quality improvement, so stay tuned!

Thank you for your support for our teaching teams taking time to grow in their professional practice, we appreciate it. We want to model and instill a love for learning in your children by continuously learning and growing!

Please contact me via email if you have any questions or would like a chat. You can reach me at s.lui@meym.org.au

Shauna – MEYM Pedagogy and Practice Manager (s.lui@meym.org.au)

Enrolment Officer – Sam Zuccarelli

Children’s last session days at kindergarten for 2025 have already been communicated to all families. In the lead up to the final day please remember to check lost property and that you leave with all your child’s belongings.

Parent Information Evening/Orientation and Start dates have now been communicated to all families. If you have not seen this email in your in box or spam folder please click on this link to view your kindergarten’s orientation and start dates information https://meym.org.au/orientation/

Communication: We kindly ask that you check your email, including your inbox and spam folder, and ensure that you review our communications. Note that we frequently share our services good news stories, updates and photos on our social media platforms, including facebook and instagram.

Please keep the MEYM Enrolment Officer notified of the following change in family circumstances: Change in address or phone number, update of authorised nominees for your child, update of concession card or visa status, update of your child’s Medical Action Plan, Court orders, Child Protection or Child and Family Services support. Note that a change of phone number will impact upon your being able to digitally sign your child in and out of kinder.

Term Dates 2025
Start of term 1, 28 January, Finish 4 April
Start of term 2, 22 April, Finish 4 July
Start of term 3, 21 July, Finish 19 September
Start of term 4, 6 October, Finish 19 December (children finish up w/c 15 December)

For any enquiries regarding kindergarten programs, enrolment or orientation, please email Samantha, Enrolment Officer at enrolments@meym.org.au

Thank you, Samantha Zuccarelli, Enrolment Officer, MEYM

What’s happening in our kindergarten program:

Essendon Traffic School Excursion: In October, the children in the red group went on an exciting excursion to Essendon Traffic School. The day began with a short lesson where the children learned about basic traffic information, such as  STOP sign, traffic lights, and GIVE WAY signs. Before the bike riding session, children also learned how to wear helmets safely and correctly. After that, everyone got to choose their favourite bike – some even challenged themselves by picking bikes without training wheels! Once on the roads, the children followed real-life traffic signs and road layouts. They practised riding straight, turning corners, and navigating roundabouts, showing great concentration and enthusiasm.

All of the children were deeply engaged and showed excellent self-control and cooperation throughout the excursion. This experience supported their understanding of traffic safety, community roles, and the importance of following rules to keep everyone safe. Physically, the children developed gross motor coordination as they balanced, pedalled, and steered their bicycles. Meanwhile, they demonstrated confidence, teamwork, and respect for others while taking part in a shared community experience. This excursion also strengthened their sense of belonging as they learned how real communities work and how they could take part responsibly.

Little Sprout’s Incursion: “Waste Not, Want Not” All three groups in Gowanbrae took part in an engaging sustainability incursion, learning about recycling, landfill and how our actions affect the environment. The children compared different materials and worked together in a recycling game to sort rubbish into the correct bins. To finish, Amika showed the children the pots she made them out of newspaper. Children gathered to fill their pots with soil and plant a marigold flower, to take home.

Mini Creature Discovery: All three groups at Gowanbrae have been busy exploring the fascinating world of tiny insects and animals, collecting mini creatures such as millipedes, bushy boys and snails. Together, the children helped create a miniature habitat where these living things could live and the children can observe them. We added soil, rotting wood, fallen leaves and other natural materials to make a safe and comfortable environment for the tiny visitors.

The children have been learning about what mini creatures need to survive and how we can care for them respectfully. This inquiry has led to rich conversations about our Acknowledgement of Country, understanding how we share the land with all living beings, and how we can live alongside them in a kind and sustained way.At the end of each day, we carefully return the mini creatures to the land and say goodbye, reminding the children that we are guests in their home and caretakers of the environment around us.

Exploring the ‘The Colour Monster’ and Our Emotions

All three groups are exploring emotions and ways to regulate ourselves from Term 3 to this term. In group time, the red group and blue group set out some jars, each one decorated with a different Colour Monster that represented a particular emotion. Every child was given a small wooden stick and invited to place it into the jar that matched their emotion today. Also, the children were encouraged to share why they felt that way.

During a colouring activity, children coloured the emotions they were feeling and explained the reasons behind their emotions. In group time, we discussed ways we manage our emotions such as anger and sadness and introduced children to the five fingers breathing technique to help us calm our bodies and minds.

Exploring Feelings is a key component of socio-emotional learning (SEL). Children developed greater emotional awareness, which will facilitate them to express and manage their feelings. ‘The Colour Monster’ emphasises more on transforming abstract emotions into colours to help children recognise and visualise them. And in this extended activity, children practised identifying and naming emotions, as well as expressing themselves in confidence. They also listened to others’ voices, which fostered empathy and respect for different feelings. Through group discussion, children learned that everyone experiences a range of emotions.

From the team at Gowanbrae Children’s Centre

Important Dates: Term 4 Community day!  – Wednesday 3rd of December 5:00pm-6:30pm 

Monday 15th of December – Session for Kingfisher

Wednesday the 17th of December  – Session for Dragonfly

What’s happening in our kindergarten program: Dragonfly:

22/10
Hassan and Enzo found a bee in the garden and asked to put it in a container so we could discuss it during group time. Being able observe the bee up close while it was still, opened up lots of conversations around its features and what they were used for. We talked about how bees make honey and collect nectar. To extend this interest, we set up an activity where children cut out images of each step a bee takes to make honey, and used their problem solving skills to determine the order in which each step was taken. We will also make a beehive using papier-mâché this week for the children to paint, and stick old cardboard tape rolls together to make a honeycomb shape. 

Analysis

• The children showed curiosity, engagement, and creativity across all experiences.
• Their ideas and questions led to meaningful discussions and follow-up activities, reflecting strong agency and collaborative learning.
• The activities supported the development of scientific thinking, fine motor skills, cultural awareness, and problem-solving abilities.

The children have also been watching “What is reconciliation? – Explained by a child” on youtube during group times. They have open discussions about the rightful custodians of the land and how we can be respectful and kind towards First Nations people and their culture. We set up a piece of fabric with the outline of Australia on it and invited children and families to add icons and symbols on the fabric to represent Australia in ways that were meaningful to them. We found that many flowers, people and animals were added, which reflects how the children are internalising the importance of respecting the land and people. We have it hung up on a wall in the room for all to enjoy. 

We are also workshopping an Acknowledgement of Country based on the discussions children had about how we can show respect and kindness for First Nations people, the land, animals and plants. We hope that this makes for a more meaningful Acknowledgement of Country that the children can relate to and understand better. 

Kingfisher: 

We have been clearing out the games board at Lake Park and the children have been helping us to check all the pieces to the games there and also playing them to see if we wanted to keep them. This gave a wonderful opportunity for children to develop turn taking, following instructions, communicating with each other around rules and working together. The children were developing their verbal and non verbal communication as they played cooperative games or snap and other card games. As a wider group we also started playing different sports such as basketball and soccer outside. These games had different impacts on different children. Some children explained the rules, gave children jobs and communicated what needed to happen. Other children came to the game seeking a connection with children and teachers so they would run after the ball and share their excitement and joy with those around them. This also gave different children leadership opportunities and a chance to connect with different children than normal. This was a great child and teacher led experience.    The Kingfisher children have also been exploring diaspora and fossils. This has looked like digging for fossils in the mud pit, examining rocks to check for fossils, sharing our dinosaur knowledge and so much more. From this we created our own dinosaur fossils and had a blast breaking them apart and discovering what was inside. 

The children were developing their investigative skills and their communication skills. It was amazing to see how fossils and dinosaurs connected the group of children together through different the range of experiences. 

Kingfisher Nature Program: We are so lucky to have nature right on our doorstep that allows us to observe the changes to our environment throughout the Kulin/ four seasons. Throughout Guling to Poorneet seasons, we have seen the leaves return to the trees, the sun is brighter and hotter, flowers are blooming and the wildlife is active. Our resident Tawny Frogmouth family moved from their spot in the peppercorn tree to nest, and we have been lucky enough to spy what could be our friends with their new baby at Nature Program of all places! This has brought birds, yet again, to the forefront of our learning and curiosity at LPK. Our student Aphy has been kind enough to share a nest with us to explore, and we have had a wonderful time checking on the Collins Street Falcons via live stream. As we continue our relationship with Nature Program, we are developing ways to acknowledge Country and the Wurundjeri custodians by taking quiet moments to connect with our senses and reflect on why Nature Program is special to all of us. We look forward to observing and interacting with the ongoing changes to our surroundings that we learn and play on. 

Dragonfly Nature Program :

The Dragonfly group has started their nature program outings in small groups and it has been wonderful. The children have spent their time exploring the new environment. This included climbing the big tree, rolling down the hill and searching for bugs. We have seen cockatoos, spiders, snails, baby possums and so much more!  

As we continue on these trips we look forward to observing how the environment changes as we move into Buarth Gurru (Grass Flowering Season) and Garrawang (Kangaroo-Apple Season). We would love to hear what your children have connected with on the nature program. 

Volunteer Opportunities: Nature Program dates till the end of the year 

We would love to have parent/family support on any of our outings. Please let one of the teachers know   

Kingfisher: 

Tuesday 11th of November 

Tuesday 25th of November 

Tuesday 9th of December 

Dragonfly: 

7th of November Group 1

14th of November Group 2

21st of November Group 3

28th of November Group 1

5th of December Group 2

12th of December Group 3

From the team at Lake Park Kindergarten

Whats happening at our Kindergarten:

Our Learning Journey, this term at Moomba Park Kindergarten

The Possum Group has embarked on a planting project – an inquiry, with each child caring for their own potted plant. This experience nurtures responsibility, patience, and curiosity as children observe changes in growth over time.

Following our recent visits to local schools, the children and educators have collaboratively set up a school role-play area in our classroom. This space has become a space of imaginative play, where children recreate and represent the school environments they remember or visualise. As many of our children are currently attending Steps to Prep sessions at local schools, this experience has been highly meaningful and relevant to them.

Within this area, children are engaging in conversations about which friends will be attending the same schools, helping them form new friendships and strengthen existing bonds.

The class discussions are extending into storytelling using the “now–then” technique, where children draw on shared experiences to create class stories together. Our current literacy focus includes reading and retelling The Gingerbread Man. Using finger puppets, the children have been recreating scenes from the story and exploring sequencing and character dialogue. This learning experience was further extended through baking our own gingerbread men, guided by visual recipe cards. This process supported children’s engagement, promoted early literacy and numeracy skills, and provided valuable opportunities for cooperation and turn-taking.

All groups at Moomba Park also participated in the Aussie Bird Count. Although the weather limited bird sightings on some days, the children demonstrated great enthusiasm and persistence. We have included photos of birds commonly seen during community walks and in our backyards. Children have been using “Backyard Birds of Victoria” posters to identify and match birds they spot in the kindergarten yard—an activity that has sparked new excitement and a deeper connection with our local environment.

These rich learning experiences continue to reflect the children’s interests and support their transition to school, while promoting creativity, curiosity, and a love of discovery.

The children in the Kangaroo group have been fascinated by space and continue to explore this exciting topic through questions, discussion, and play. Together, we wondered:

What can we see in the sky?
“Stars, the moon, sun, birds, clouds, trees, playground, moonlight, asteroids.”

What is space?
“It looks like a river because it’s blue and black.”
“It’s grey.”
“It has a lot of planets!” – Conrad

Can you live in space?
“No, nobody can.” – Eisa
“Astronauts can!”

How do we travel to space?
“With a rocket ship!”

What do astronauts do in space?
“They jump high, explore, look around, wear helmets, and blast off!”

From their shared ideas, the children discovered that Jupiter is the biggest planet, the moon has moonquakes, and that space is cold, quiet, and makes you float! They also learned that astronauts can live in space stations.

To extend our learning, we’ve been interviewing the children about themselves — their name, age, favourite colour and food, whether they like Kinder (and why!), how old they think their parents are, and what they want to be when they grow up. These conversations are helping to build language skills, confidence in speaking, and the ability to express ideas in front of others.

Our space journey has inspired wonder, creativity, and lots of laughter — as the children continue to imagine what it might be like to travel among the stars!

The children in the Echidna group are learning about the colours and shapes through projection on the wall and tracing experiences. An overhead projector is used to project bright, coloured shapes onto the wall. The children were fascinated by the light; they experimented by placing their hands on the projector and watching the shadow appear and move. The children arranged the coloured shapes on the projector surface, and we were amazed to see it being displayed larger than life. They noticed the image shifting as they moved the shapes/objects on the projector. Collaboration was evident, with lots of sharing ideas, discoveries, helping and exploration. The colours were further explored through the colours on the move experience, where water and crepe paper were used to transfer colour around onto the paper. The transformation was magical. 

The children in the Echidna group have been exploring colours and shapes through an exciting light and projection experience. Using an overhead projector, the children experimented with bright, coloured shapes projected onto the wall, creating beautiful patterns of light and shadow.

The children were fascinated by the glowing images and eagerly placed their hands on the projector to see their shadows appear and move. As they arranged and layered coloured shapes, they noticed how the images grew larger on the wall and shifted as objects were moved.

This experience sparked rich collaboration and curiosity; children shared ideas, helped one another, and celebrated their discoveries together.

The exploration continued through our “Colours on the Move” activity, where crepe paper and water were used to transfer colour onto paper. Watching the colours spread and blend was truly magical, and the children were captivated by the transformation.

These experiences encouraged creativity, scientific thinking, and cooperative learning, as children explored how light, colour, and shape interact in fascinating ways.

The group is preparing for their first community walk. Class discussions are taking place, encouraging children to think about what the experience will look like and to help establish the expectations and agreements that need to be in place to ensure everyone’s safety and enjoyment.

The Wombat Group children learned collaboration and turn-taking in small group projects. Educators supported children in expressing needs and feelings with words and fostered positive relationships through consistent routines and peer interaction.

We continued going on “Nature Walks” and discussing seasonal changes (from Spring to Summer) and gardening, as well as group clean-up routines and caring for shared materials. We invited parents and siblings to join us in the classroom in “Stay & Play” sessions.

Educators supported children in age-appropriate sustainability practices and acknowledged family values and cultures during activities. In science exploration, children learned about natural phenomena through inquiry-based projects, including growing plants and using hands-on activities. An upcoming “Recycled Paper Making– Incursion” will help children explore the topic creatively by working in groups to make several pieces of recycled paper. Educators will scaffold children’s curiosity and vocabulary through rich conversations during these learning experiences.

From the team at Moomba Park Kindergarten

Important Dates: Parent information night for 2026 – Tuesday the 25^th

End of year event and party – details to follow.

What is happening at our service: Newlands’ kids have been exploring some costume making and having a go at some designing around wearable art. Elise has been letting the children design various outfits using material, cardboard, paper and ribbon. They even watched some short clips of the World of Wearable art show – which prompted some great conversations and furthering ideas of what “dress-ups” are.

The children also learnt about Diwali and the festival of lights. Some showed off their special outfits while others made celebratory party “poppers” which gave the room a real sparkle.

The group is also exploring and gaining a deep understanding of the local land and sky and waterways. This exploration will lead to the children having a deeper understanding of what it means to acknowledge country and their role in looking after county. Linked to this there has been some community involvement from older children who have sent some drawings and ideas of what Merri Bek as a community should value. These visions and explanations are on the wall near the neighborhood house office and worth a look.

The older children who will be going to school have started visiting their local school. Elise is working with them to explore some ideas of what their school looks like – this is turning out to be a wonderful creative process of which the children are very involved.

Nature Program: We have been finding it tricky to get out regularly due to the weather but hopefully things will settle and we can get some more small groups out for a short play in the nature play spot.

Teacher Communications: Our wonderful teaching student Kushi will be with us till the middle of November. She has been a wonderfully reflective student and we have loved having her.

From the team at Newlands Preschool

Important Dates: With the end of year fast approaching, please take note of your child’s group end of year celebration and last day:

4yo Yellow

End of year celebration: Tuesday 9^th December at 2.30pm

Last Day: Monday 15^th December

3yo Green

End of year celebration: Monday 15^th December at 2.30pm

Last Day: Monday 15^th December

4yo Purple

End of year celebration: Thursday 18^th December at 2.00pm

Last Day: Thursday 18^th December

3yo Blue

End of year celebration: Friday 12^th December at 2.30pm

Last Day: Thursday 18^th December

What’s happening in our kindergarten program: Marni had set herself the goal to establish a Native Australian Garden in the top kinder yard, so 4yo Yellow enlisted the help of Bunnings to create a native garden. The children planted Kangaroo paws, a Lemon Myrtle tree, pigface ground cover, aboriginal oregano and bottle brush bush. They discussed how to look after plants and what they need to thrive and grow bigger. It has been good to see them checking on and watering their garden each week.

It has been a busy month of celebrations with first Diwali and then Halloween. All groups have been doing activities and having discussions on these festivals as well as dressing up on Halloween!

The Librarian from Merri-bek Libraries visited with 3yo Blue and 4yo Purple to read some stories and tell the children about the library. She visited with Yellow and Green Groups last term. Thanks to Shourong for reaching out and organizing these visits.

We have also entered Buath Gurru season (grass-flowering) on the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung seasonal calendar, and have started discussing the characteristics of this season and what to look out for when we go on our walks. With not much longer to go, we still have lots planned including incursions, cooking experiences and visits to Bush Kinder.

Child Reflections: Our 4yo’s have started visiting their schools for orientation and are coming back to kinder with lots of interesting stories on what they did and who they saw. Following up on this, we have created a school classroom in our imaginative play area for the children to reenact their experiences.

Parent Fundraising Group: Congratulations to our amazing Parents Group who recently raised $3, 981.00 at the Bunnings sausage sizzle. We thank everyone who was part of organizing the day, helped on the day, donated goods or money or went and purchased a sausage.

We have recently been spending money on some new toys, equipment and cubby houses. As the playground is on a slope, we will have to install platforms so that the cubby houses are safe, which means that we have had to put in paperwork to the council to be approved. In the meantime, we are coming up with lots of ideas that we can turn our cubby houses into when we get them.

Teacher Communications: As this will be our last MEYM newsletter for the year, we wish to thank our amazing families for all your support this year. It has been a big adjustment doubling in size, but the children adjusted well, as did the staff, and we’ve had a fun year!

From the team at Oak Park Kindergarten

Important Dates: Thursday 27th November: Information Night

Thursday 18^th December: Clean Up Day
Please note that there will be no kindergarten sessions on this day, as staff will be busy packing up and preparing for the next year.

Friday 28th November: Kinder Disco Night

Friday 5th December: Orientation Day

Thursday 11th December: Kinder End of Year Celebration & Flying Bookworm Incursion

Wednesday 17th December: Last Kinder Session for 2025

What is happening at our service: During term 3, the children have been showing a big interest in gardening and planting! They have loved planting tree sticks and branches, pretending they are growing plants, and checking each week to see how their real plants are growing. Their curiosity and care for nature have been wonderful to see.

To build on this interest, families joined us for a special Person/ Father’s Day planting activity, where children and their dads/special person planted together and took their pots home to watch them grow. At kinder, children also planted chickpeas and broad beans, learning how plants grow and change over time.

We also connected with our local community at the Sussex Neighbourhood House. They were selling plants to raise funds for their garden, and the children and staff bought some to brighten up our kinder rooms and outdoor spaces. Children loved choosing their plants and proudly putting their donations in the box.

Through these experiences, children are learning about caring for the environment, connecting with the community, and the joy of helping others — while having lots of fun along the way!

Child Reflections: Kinder Learning Highlights – Term Overview During Term 3, the children showed a wonderful interest in gardening and planting. They explored different seeds such as tomato, chickpeas, and Broad beans, learning how to plant, water, and care for them. The children enjoyed watching their plants grow and sharing thoughtful questions like, “How do we take care of the plant?” and “Can I take this to home and show my family?” These experiences supported their curiosity, care for nature, and sense of responsibility.

Children also took part in sorting activities, explored Indigenous learning through art, stories and songs, and enjoyed a fun bake sale with support from our kinder families.

We also celebrated Footy Dress Up Day, which was a highlight of the term! Children proudly wore their favourite team colours, joined in outdoor games, and worked together to make homemade pizzas for lunch. It was a fantastic day filled with teamwork, laughter, and a great sense of community spirit.

As we move into Term 4, the children are showing lots of excitement about Halloween. They have been talking about costumes, decorations, and all things spooky! To extend their interest, we’ll be dressing up in Halloween costumes, encouraging imagination, creativity, and playful storytelling.

It has been a busy and joyful time filled with hands-on learning, friendship, and creativity. We are so proud of how the children are developing confidence, teamwork, and a strong sense of belonging in our kinder community.

Thank you for your continued support!

We loved seeing our families enjoy the Kinder Disco Night and having fun together — what a wonderful way to celebrate our community spirit!

Incursions/Excurions: Flying Bookworm – Thursday 11^th Dec

Child Safety Information: Child Safety Reminder – No Phone Use in Kindergarten

At our service, the safety and wellbeing of children is our highest priority. In line with the Victorian Child Safe Standards, we ask that all families and visitors do not use mobile phones within the kindergarten environment.

Please ensure that phones are kept in your pocket or bag during drop-off and pick-up. If you are on a call, we kindly ask that you complete it before entering the kinder room.

This practice helps us maintain a safe, respectful, and fully attentive environment for all children. Thank you for supporting our commitment to child safety.

Parent Fundraising Group: Kinder Disco – Friday 28^th November

Volunteer Opportunities: Kinder Disco Night 🎉

Our Fundraising Team is excited to host the upcoming Kinder Disco Night, and we would love your support to make this event a great success! There are several ways you can get involved: you might like to help with setting up or tidying up (arriving a little early or staying back to decorate and clean up), assist at the face painting, hair, or glitter station, help run games and hand out prizes, be our music helper/DJ to manage the playlist, or lend a hand as a food and drink helper to serve and restock snacks.

Your time and effort make a big difference, and the children truly enjoy seeing their families take part. If you’re available to volunteer, please let us know—our Fundraising Team would really appreciate your help!

Teacher Communications: Transition Learning and Development Statement

The Transition Learning and Development Statements (TLDS) are now being prepared for each child who will be starting school in 2026. Families have received a link to access their child’s statement.

Please take a moment to open the link and complete the family section as soon as possible. Once this section is completed, we will review and forward the final statement to your child’s school.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in helping make a smooth transition to school for your child.

School Orientation and Transition

This is a very exciting time of the year as our children begin their school transition and orientation programs for those starting school in 2026.

The local primary schools have reminded us how important this orientation days are in helping children feel confident and ready for their next big step. During these sessions, children can explore the school environment, meet their teachers, and learn about classroom routines and expectations.

These experiences play a key role in helping children feel comfortable and prepared for the transition to school.

Session Time
Our kindergarten session runs from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. We kindly ask all families to collect their child on time at 4:00 pm. If you are running late, please contact the staff so we can reassure your child and keep them informed.

Clothing
Please ensure your child has a set of extra clothes in their bag each day. As we run an indoor–outdoor program, the children spend time outside even in wet weather. Dressing your child appropriately and providing spare clothes helps them to comfortably enjoy all activities.

Sun Smart Time Again!

As the weather warms up, it’s time to get those hats and sunscreen ready! PVCC Kindergarten is proudly a Sun Smart Kindergarten, and we work together to keep our children safe while enjoying the sunshine.

The Cancer Council reminds us of the 5 key steps to staying Sun Smart:

1. Slip on sun-safe clothing that covers as much skin as possible.
2. Slop on SPF 50+ sunscreen.
3. Slap on a broad-brimmed hat to protect the face, neck, and ears.
4. Seek shade whenever possible.
5. Slide on a pair of sunglasses.

Remember, UV rays can be strong even on cool or cloudy days, so please send a clearly labelled hat with your child each day and make sure sunscreen is applied before the start of each session.

The kindergarten provides 50+ sunscreen for reapplication during the day, or you are welcome to supply your child’s own if you prefer.

Let’s all stay safe and Sun Smart this season!

Hats Are Required

As the weather becomes warmer, it’s important to protect children’s skin from harmful UV rays by wearing a hat, covering their shoulders and eyes, and applying sunscreen.

Children must wear a hat for all outdoor activities during summer, so please ensure one is always packed in your child’s kindergarten bag.

We ask families to apply sunscreen before the session begins, and educators will reapply it during the day as needed. As the temperaturerises, we will also be including more water play activities, so please pack a change of clothes for your child.

Please remember to:

• Cover shoulders with t-shirts or sun-safe clothing
• Apply sunscreen before arrival
• Avoid thongs – footwear must have a strap across the back for safety

Thank you for helping us keep our children safe and Sun Smart!

Family Communication

We value strong partnerships with families and love sharing feedback about your child’s growth and development. If you feel you don’t get enough time to connect with staff during drop-off and pick-up, please don’t hesitate to ask for a meeting. We would be more than happy to arrange a time to talk in detail about your child’s learning journey.

From the team at Pascoe Vale Community Centre Kindergarten

Important Dates: Parent information night 24^th

4Y0 End of year party – 2 and 3^rd of December

3 YO End of year party   5^th of December

Incursion and excursion details will be coming shortly – some of these are weather dependent.

What is happening at our service: For many of our 4 Year Old Group – school visits have started which has both been exciting and a little bit nerve racking. The children and the educators have been reflecting on this process and some children have been sharing their thoughts about their new schools. We have had some visits from some prep schools as well – which is always welcoming as being able to observe the children in an learning environment can be extremely useful for when it comes to supporting this big transition

Linked to this has been discussion and thoughts on what the children would like to do as part of their end-of-year celebration. So far much of the discussion has been focused on what type of food they would like to eat – with pizza, ice cream and cake all seemingly being desired items. The team is going to get party planning finalized and invitations are to come

Sen has been really focusing on building children’s understanding and confidence about recycling and increasing their knowledge on sustainability. The children have been exploring ideas of what types of items can go in what types of bins.

The 3 Y0 group have been exploring the local community and begun to take short community walks. The first few have been effected by rain but they hope to explore further in the coming months.

Incursions/Excursions: All children will be offered the chance to get out in to the local community before the end of the year. We are also planning some bigger excursions and events for December – with further details to come.

Parent Fundraising Group: A massive thank you to this years PFG and all their amazing hard work. St Linus couldn’t do it without you.

Service Building Works: Tim and the PAG have completed a working bee and refreshed the yard. We are due delivery of tan bark to update under the swing set and some refreshing of the mud patch area.

From the team at St Linus Kindergarten

Important Dates: Parent Information night 2026 – Monday 17^th November

Wild Action Incursion Green Group – Tuesday 18^th November

Wild Action Incursion Green Group – Tuesday 20^th November

Orientation Day for new families – Friday 28^th November

End of year Service celebration – Friday 5^th December

Green Group Last Day – Monday 15^th December

Blue Group Last Day – Wednesday 17^th December

What is happening at our service: There have been so many exciting things happening in our kinder programs lately! The children had lots of fun dressing up for Halloween, showing great creativity and imagination. They’ve also enjoyed running lemonade stalls using lemons picked straight from our very own lemon tree. With school transitions well underway, the children have been busy building confidence and independence. Our curious learners have been mixing potions and perfumes, exploring scents and textures, and discovering all sorts of interesting insects in our outdoor spaces — their sense of wonder and exploration has truly come alive!

Incursions/Excursions: We’re so excited for our upcoming Wild Action Incursion with Australian Animal Encounters! The children’s love for animals has inspired this special visit, where they’ll get to meet some amazing native Australian creatures up close. Together, we’ll learn how to care for these animals and their habitats, exploring how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have cared for Country for thousands of years. It’s a wonderful opportunity for the children to connect with our native wildlife and develop a deeper respect for the land, animals, and people who share it.

Parent Fundraising Group: We’re delighted to share that our recent Bunnings BBQ raised over $4,000. Thank you to all the amazing families who generously volunteered their time and contributed to the event. We’re now looking forward to receiving our personalised mugs, marking our last fundraiser for the year.

Service Improvements: We are in the process of finalising some minor updates to our outdoor environment, mainly relocating the fort in the sandpit and giving the space a tidy-up to make it more inviting for the children.

Teacher Communications: Please ensure your child brings and wears an appropriate SunSmart hat, and remember to apply sunscreen before the start of their kinder day. Also, please take a moment to check the lost property in the foyer — any unclaimed items will be donated to a charity shop in the coming weeks.

From the team at Turner Street Kindergarten

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Coburg Night Market: Features local artists, makers, and food vendors across three dates in December.

CERES Joe’s Christmas Market: A local market for handmade goods on Saturday, December 14, 2024.

Handmade Christmas Market: Held at Coburg Town Hall on Sunday, December 15, 2024, with crafts and workshops.

Festive Art on Windows: Transforms shopfronts along Sydney Road in Brunswick with festive art displays from November 23, 2024, through January 2025. 

Carols by the Lake: A free, family-friendly evening of live music and carols at Coburg Lake Reserve on Saturday, December 7, 2024, from 6–9pm.

Sensory-friendly Santa: An event for children with autism and/or sensory processing disorder on Saturday, December 23.

DIY Christmas wrap and decorations workshop: Create reusable wrapping and decorations using block printing techniques.

See Santa and his Elves: Santa and his elves will be in the Central Coburg area. 

Chanukah: A Jewish festival that runs from December 14th to 22nd.

Kwanzaa: A week-long celebration of African cultures from December 26th to January 1st.

MEYM would like to thank you for taking the time to read our Newsletter