Parenting Workshop - Raising Beaut Kids

Parenting Workshop

Wednesday 15 October (Term 4, WEEK 1)

6.30 pm – 8.30 pm Piper Pavilion

 

At the beginning of Term 2 I announced that we have secured the services of two experts who will run parenting workshops for the Preparatory and ELC community over the next two years, Mark Le Messurier and Bill Hansberry, co-authors of the book “Raising Beaut Kids” presented in a cook book style.

Each chapter serves up a typical tricky scenario accompanied with the ingredients that fire things up at home! Then a set of ‘Recipe rescues’ are offered: a practical way to respond to kids and teens when they dish up their tricky, but predictable, behaviours. The ‘Recipe rescues’ are designed to help parents steer the behaviour of their kids (and their own behaviour) in more positive directions, within the context of building healthy relationships.

Mark Le Messurier will be presenting the second of the two sessions presented this year on Wednesday 15 October (Term 4, Week 1) at 6.30 pm in the Piper Pavilion. Mark is a teacher, counsellor and author. He is the co-creator of the internationally popular social skills/friendship building program – “What’s the Buzz?” Mark regularly presents at conferences throughout Australasia and is a recipient of an Australian National Excellence in Teaching Award. Mark works in schools and in private practice in Adelaide with young people he affectionately calls ‘Tough Kids’.

 

These workshops have replaced the scheduled parenting forums (formerly known as curriculum nights) which were to be held during different times of the year.

We gathered the survey data from the parenting forums last year and decided to form a professional relationship with these two fantastic parenting coaches. These workshops are being implemented as part of our community wellbeing program at Prince Alfred College.

The workshops will run for one and a half hours with half an hour for each presenter to socialise with parents and staff. Nibbles will be provided and we ask you to please bring a bottle to share.

I would like to invite as many of our parents as possible to join our staff, as this is a critical opportunity for us as a community to workshop together for the development of our Princes Men (and Princes Girls in the ELC of course).

Please RSVP for catering purposes to Melissa Dales on 8334 1203 or via email mdales@staff.pac.edu.au

Sean Watt
Deputy Head of School,  Preparatory (ELC-6)

 

ELC Sports Day Fun!

Dear Families

 

What a wonderful way to finish off Term 3 with our ELC Sports Day. It was great to join in with the big boys for our health hustle and take part in a festival of colours. The Year 5 boys were great in leading us in some wonderful games such as Duck, Duck, Goose and Parachute Cat and Mouse.

 

One of our favourites, particularly with The Chapple parents, was the Chocolate box game. The tug o’ war proved a great success with an epic struggle to finish off the event. Adding in all those running races as well and we finished the day pretty tired, but with loads of smiling faces. Thanks to Mr Weatherald and the Year 5’s for a great event.

 ELC Team

Human Parvovirus B19 (Slapped Cheek)

Dear Families

We have had one reported case of Human Parvovirus B19, commonly known as Slapped Cheek or Fifth Disease. It is a common viral infection that usually causes a mild illness in children. Symptoms may include mild fever and muscle aches, followed 2-5 days later by a red rash on the face and a lacy red rash on the trunk and limbs.

How does it spread? It is spread by airborne droplets, secretion from the nose and throat or exposure during pregnancy.

Incubation Period: Variable, but usually 4-20 days

Infectious Period: People are infectious until the rash appears

Exclusion is not necessary  although it is advised that children stay at home until they are feeling well.

Encouraging cough and sneeze etiquette and hand hygiene will help to control the spread of infection.

For further information please refer to 'Staying Healthy in Child Care 5th Edition" or the fact sheets on the door leading into the Café.

Regards

Melanie

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Dear Families

If you would like to make a head start on your Christmas shopping we have toy catalogues available on the dresser near the Cooper room.

Orders are due in to me by Monday 27 October, and will be delivered to the ELC.

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask.

Regards
Melanie

artsPACes

Our ELC and Prep School families joined together to celebrate the wonderful way our school explored and investigates the Arts in our curriculum. The theme for this year’s celebration was “Illuminating Creativity”. As the evening became darker our Prep School was transformed into a fairyland wonder of different Arts – theatre, music, dance, drama. The ELC’s installation was in the Chapel this year. We showcased different investigations we have been pursuing in our Unit of Inquiry “Shadowlands”.

Langley and Wilkins made a city scene with a night sky collage inspired by Van Gogh’s Starry Starry Night painting.

Mead, Mattingley and Cooper rooms showcased their investigations into shadows in their booths using photos and their computers to run slideshows of their experiences.

Edgerley room made a camping scene where they have been thinking about day and night, with a slideshow running about their exciting investigations into camping.

Chapple children made some wonderful collages, using sunset and sunrise colours to create images of shadows on buildings.

Angwin children have been exploring coloured sand on the light table inspired by a You Tube clip featuring “Requiem of Sand” by Kseniya Simonova of Ukraine’s Got Talent. Their investigations were portrayed in a range of photos of the children working with the sand in their room.

It was a fantastic way for us to work with the Prep School to showcase the amazing work we do, using many different mediums to pursue our inquiries.

Parent/Teacher Interviews

Dear Families

I am currently taking bookings for Parent/Teacher Interviews which are going to be held on Tuesday 23 and Wednesday 24th September from 3.45pm.

Interviews are 15 minutes in duration and there are limited vacancies. Please call, email or see me at the Front Desk to secure a time.

Regards

Melanie

Sports Day program

Dear Families

 

Please see the link below for the Sports Day Program - Thursday 25 September.

 

http://pac.edu.au/school/preparatory-school/co-curriculum/

 

Regards

 

Melanie

Mead

Dear Mead Room families,

We have been noticing the ‘clues of Spring’ in our environment and decided to create our own blossom tree.  The children excitedly shared the ‘blossom space’ to design and construct the tree utilising just tissue paper and glue.  There was much discussion as to the position of the blossoms, where the finished tree should be placed and could we make a whole forest?

Oliver – If we put too much on it will fall off

Clementine – we could make more… but where could we put them?

But collaboratively we managed to craft a beautiful blossom tree, with more to come!

For the past fortnight we have been noticing the Prince Alfred College crest wherever we go.  Initially it began with the ELC crown logo on our clothing, hats and stamped inside books.  But going on walks around the school we have observed them everywhere!

Lachlan – crown alert!

Lily – Its Prince Alfred College

Finny – its our school

We will continue to search our indoor and outdoor environments for our college crest and research its meaning.

Have a brilliant weekend.

Melissa and Renee.

 

Introducing....Danielle

 

 

Hello,

My name is Danielle Moir and I am an Early Childhood Teacher.

For the past two years I have been employed as the Kindergarten Teacher, Pre-school Team leader and also this year, Educational Leader for the OSHC at Christian Brothers College. I enjoy learning and exploring new and exciting concepts about the world around us, alongside my students in the Early Years everyday.

I am very excited to be working in the Early Years at Prince Alfred College in a relief capacity in the ELC and also at the Junior Campus.

I look forward to meeting all the new families and spending time working with and learning alongside the children at Prince Alfred College Early Learning Centre.

Danielle Moir

Langley

Dear Langley room families,

Children have loved cutting and cooking with the play dough so much over the last week that we just had to make more! We followed a recipe, talked about all the ingredients, and added them to a bowl. Once all the ingredients were mixed together – Hey Presto – we had purple play dough!

We celebrated Robert’s 3^rd birthday this week. Children shared special muffins after they had sung ‘Happy Birthday’ to him. We also took advantage of the beautiful weather on Friday and had lunch outside with the Wilkins room.  

Our family tree is really starting to take shape now so please keep sending in family photos for us to add – email it to smarotti@staff.pac.edu.au and I can print it off for you.   

A reminder about sunscreen and hats! We had quite a few friends without hats this week so please pack a named hat and apply sunscreen in the morning. 

Enjoy the sunshine this weekend!

Emily, Brooke and Sarah   

Don't Forget....

The door code will change as of WEDNESDAY 17 SEPTEMBER. Please remember to come and get the new code from me.

Regards
Melanie

Goodbye Weatherald Family

Congratulations (and goodbye) to Mr Tim Weatherald, Marnie, Elle and Brooke who will be moving to sunny Darwin at the end of the term. Tim has taken extended leave from PAC to take up a coaching role there.

Tim's replacement for PE Lessons for Term 4 will be Mr John Clements.

ELC Tour - Tuesday 16 September

Just letting you know that next Tuesday at 9am there will be an ELC tour, so the car park may be very busy.

Mattingley

Dear Mattingley families and friends,

We have had a lovely week this week exploring outside and enjoying this beautiful weather we have been having. The children have been interested in the clouds which has sparked many deep conversations about what they are and what they do.

They are clouds and they are made out of soft clouds- Angelina

They rain sometimes- Scarlett

Sometimes they hide the sun- Allegra

If they are black they might rain on you- Harvey

Just a quick reminder that as part of our Sun Smart policy we all need to be wearing hats when we are playing and exploring outside. Please make sure that your child has a hat in their bag for the day. We are trying to move away from using spare hats if we can due to hygiene reasons. If we could also ask that you apply sun cream on your child before they arrive that would be greatly appreciated. If you need some sun cream you will be able to find it on the shelf as you walk in the classroom. Thank you for your support.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend,

The Mattingley team.

ArtsPACes

ArtsPACes

ArtsPACes next Wednesday night is the PAC version of our own “Arts Festival  or Fringe” and came about as a way of uniting the ELC – Yr 6 students in a celebration of the Arts and acknowledging and showcasing all the amazing work that happens in Art, Music and Drama within our school. The evening is combined with our celebration of the Yr 6 boys who do an Exhibition showcasing the culmination of their project work in their final PYP year. It is also the evening where the Jack de Vidas Art exhibition is showcased in the Library.

This year the kindy will have their installations in the Chapel. We are planning to take our children up to see all our work on the Wednesday during the day.

The rest of the Prep school will have things happening in the courtyards, classrooms, Library and other shared spaces around the Prep School.

We invite all our families to come and enjoy this extravaganza!

The schedule is:

5:45pm – 6:30pm Year 6 Exhibition

6:30 – 7:30pm ArtsPACes performances around the school

We do recognise that this is a busy time of the evening for young families with tea, bath, bed and appreciate that many families won’t be able to attend.

Cooper

Hello Cooper friends and families

This week the children have been busy cooking up a storm in the home corner. They have been taking orders of what their peers would like to eat and then creating meals with the fruit and vegetable and the pots and pans. The home corner has been a great source of social engagement by the children and we've wittnessed the growth of the friendships in the class.

We have also been busy exploring the different patterns we can make in the sand trays on the light table. The class were quite fascinated by the light shining through the sand once they started to draw.  

Have a fabulous weekend!

Jain & Cris  

Edgerley

Dear Families and Friends,

We have been enjoying the sunshine and warmer weather this week. We have been very busy creating some amazing box creations, snipping and scenting our playdough with herbs from our own veggie patch as well as continued our investigations into light and dark with some wonderful sunrise and sunset paintings. Our highlight has been making pancakes on trangias with Mr Noble and Stewart, Lachlan and Jack, big Yr 11 boys who have just returned from a kayak adventure up in the Riverland. The children loved watching how camp cooking happens and immersing themselves in the wonderful experience in our outside playspace. The morning culminated in eating the pancakes together in the warm sunshine…. It doesn’t get any better than this!! Thank you so much Mr Noble for enriching our day in such a meaningful way!

Kind Regards,

Pip, Emma, Ty and Rosalie

Angwin

Dear Angwin Parents and Friends,

We’ve had a very eeeeeventful and eeeeexciting week in Angwin. We introduced the Ee sound and have had so much fun eeeexploring the many words that begin with this letter. The most fun of all was reading the story of Elmer and then making our very own Elmer elephant for the classroom. We traced it onto some paper using the overhead projector and used our bodies to further explore shadows and light. Then we all helped to paste coloured squares onto the elephant. The following day we painted the other side in grey- to look like all the ordinary elephants. We also made smaller Elmer elephants and practised writing the letter Ee. We have also explored the story of Horton Hatches an Egg and plan to make Green Eggs and Ham next week, when we will introduce the letter Hh. This has all created a further interest in jungles and jungle animals. Watch our room transform over the next couple of weeks!

Thank you,

Angwin Team