In the Classrooms

Langley
Our Gallery of Life focus for this week has been Matisse’s cut outs. We have looked at Matisse’s Snail and talked about what we can see in the piece of art work. We also looked at other pictures of snails and discussed the spiral shape of the snail. We then created our own cut out snail pictures; make sure you take a look at our ever growing gallery! Following on from our investigation about sunflowers, we have planted some sunflower seeds in our garden and the children are eagerly awaiting them to sprout. The children have also been personally decorating their Grandies Day invitations which have been placed in your child’s lockers. We would appreciate it if you could distribute these accordingly.
Kind regards,
Jess, Adele, Kerry and Jennifer

Mead
Dear Mead Room Parents,
We have had so much fun being busy master chefs in our class room kitchen this week.
Ollie reached into the oven to check his meal he was cooking..............
"I think it's ready" Ollie said.
"I got a big spoon to scoop it up. We're having a party" said Jade.
"I want the big spoon" Charlie said excitedly.
Jesse asked "We are eating the porridge aren't we"?
"Yes, we are eating porridge" Charlie answered.
Henry told every one "I'm eating porridge 'cos I love porridge".
"Hey, I want a big bowl" Elliott said.
"Ooh, my porridge is a bit hot" Charlie told the children.
"I need to get dressed for the party now" said Henry!
Best wishes,
Emma, Susan and Penny

Cooper
Inspired by Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, the Cooper children have been investigating how sunflowers grow this week. We have read non-fiction books about how to grow and look after them and looked at a big bunch of real sunflowers in our room. Some of the children looked carefully at the parts of the sunflowers, then created detailed drawings of them in black pen, while others chose to create large paintings of sunflowers at the easel. We are really looking forward to the cooler autumn weather so that we can begin to plant and grow flowers and vegetables of our own in the ELC vegetable patch soon.
Kind regards,
Ali and Susan

Chapple
We have had such a busy, but fun week in Chapple Room. The dress ups have continued to be popular, and this week, after studying Picasso's portrait in which he dressed up as a circus performer, we decided to dress up and paint each other. The partner paintings look fantastic! Please take the time to come and have a look. The dress ups also provided a platform for some wonderful, creative, imaginative play. We added some food and away we went!
We are looking forward to our excursion next week. Please return your consent form asap if your child attends on a Wednesday. Can you PLEASE also return your child's PORTFOLIO if you haven't already done so.
Thanks,
Alexandra and Juliana

Edgerley
This week in Edgerley we have been investigating the drinking habits of our beautiful sunflowers. At the end of each day we measure the amount of water that our flowers have consumed and then add another line to the glass vase so that we can see how much water has disappeared the following day. The sunflower stalks are very tall and we have been hypothesising about which parts of the sun flower need the water and what the water is used for. We have recorded our observations in a chart and have also illustrated our flowers using pencils after looking at them very closely. We will use our observations to paint sunflowers next week.
Kind regards
Mel and Rosalie

Excursions

During the year we take the students from the ELC on excursions and make an effort to spread these excursions over different days where possible to allow all children to have the opportunity to attend.
Dinosaur Petting Zoo – 3rd March
We are taking Kindergarten students of the ELC (Edgerly, Chapple, Cooper and Mead) who attend on a Wednesday to the Higher Ground Theatre at Light Square in the city to see Dinosaur Petting Zoo.
The show is on Wednesday the 3rd of March at 10.00am and we will be travelling to and from the theatre by bus. Although we require adult assistance we have limited spaces for parents to join us on the bus so we are looking for parent helpers who are able to transport themselves to and from the venue. (Please note that younger siblings are not able to join us). If you would like to join us on our trip please let your child’s teacher know. Due to the short notice about the availability of tickets we require RSVP slips to Julie Porter as soon as possible.
Botanic Gardens – 9th March
We are currently planning to take Edgerley and Chapple Kindergarten students who attend on a Tuesday to the Botanic Gardens to see the water gardens in response to interest in the work of Claude Monet.
This trip is on Tuesday the 9th of March at 9.30am. We will be walking to the Botanic Gardens and catching the public bus back to PAC. We require adult assistance as we will be near open bodies of water. The trip will proceed if we a minimum ratio of 1 adult to every 2 children. (Please note that younger siblings are not able to join us). Permission slips will be placed in children’s pigeon holes as soon as this trip has been confirmed.
Clipsal 500 – 11th March
Thankyou for your overwhelming response to our Clipsal 500 excursion. Opportunities to purchase a reduced price adult ticket have now closed. It is timely to remind parents that we CANNOT bring younger or older siblings with us on this trip. We would also like to remind parents that, as with our other excursions, purchasing food and drink for yourself, your child or another child is frowned upon and we ask that you do not do this during the trip. Students attending this trip may bring ear muffs (the type that can hang around a students neck when not in use) if they are sensitive to loud noises.
Art Gallery – 16th March
We are currently planning to take Cooper and Mead students who attend on a Tuesday to the Art Gallery to observe details in paintings on Tuesday the 16th of March at 9.30am.
We are currently planning to take Edgerley and Chapple students who attend on a Tuesdayto the Art Gallery on Tuesday the 16th of March at 1.00pm
Both groups will be walking through Rymill Park and down North Terrace and then catching the public bus back to PAC. We require adult assistance as we will be on major roads. If you would like to join us on our trip please let your child’s teacher know. Permission slips will be placed in children’s pigeon holes soon.

News From Your P&F Reps

Thankyou to the parents who have raised their hand to become a P&F rep for 2010.
Langley – Lucy O’Brien and Kirrily Swaffer
Mead – Karen Percival and Annette Rothgrew
Cooper – Amalia Piantedosi and Adriana Miteloudis
Chapple – Leah Stevens and Eileen Nelson
Edgerey – Karli Dean and Christine McCauley

We hope that you will be able to go to them as a point of reference for events during the year. We look forward to their assistance with events and fundraising and would ask that you support them in their efforts to support the centre. Many P&F reps have been able to meet and confirm some social engagements that are listed below. As dates are confirmed and come through we will post them on the blog but you will also be able to find information in your classrooms.
Kind Regards
Mel Bishop

Langley
*Coffee Morning - Wednesday 10th March 9am, Mortar and Pestle, 37 Dulwich Ave, Dulwich
*Family Day Picnic - Sunday 28th March, Tusmore Park, 10am, b.y.o picnic lunch.
*Coffee Morning - Friday 23rd April 9am, Marmalade Café, 61a Edward St, Norwood
*Coffee Morning - Tuesday 11th May 9am, Uncle Albert’s, Norwood mall 166 The Parade Norwood
*Coffee Morning - Wednesday 16th June 9am, Urban Bistro, 160 Fullarton Road, Rose Park
Regards
Kirrily and Lucy

Edgerley
*Coffee Morning - Wednesday 3rd March, Café Palazzo (cnr Stephen Tce & The Parade) after morning drop off
*Coffee Morning - Thursday 18th March, Café Palazzo (cnr Stephen Tce & The Parade) after morning drop off
*Parent Drinks Night -Friday 19th March (with Chapple Room) The Oriental Hotel (cnr Osmond Tce & Magill Rd) at 6.30pm
*Family Picnic Day -Sunday 28th March, Helicopter Park (Le Fevre Tce, Nth Adel) 11am (bring along rug & picnic lunch)
Regards,
Christine and Karli

Chapple
*Parent Drinks Night -Friday 19th March (with Edgerley Room) The Oriental Hotel (cnr Osmond Tce & Magill Rd) at 6.30pm
Regards,
Eileen and Leah

Lost and Found

Dear Parents,
We have lost a small Schliech toy tiger that belongs to part of a set. It has a “B” marked on it’s underside and we think it may have inadvertently gone home in a bag from one of the three year old rooms. If you have discovered an extra tiger lazing around the house please feel free to return it to Julie Porter at the front desk.

We have found a Holden car key that has not been claimed. If you have lost a key please see Jeanine Dry
Thankyou
Mel Bishop

Documentation Review

Dear Parents,
We are currently reviewing our enrolment documentation at the centre and ask that any parents who have:
*changed their contact details
*have extra emergency contact people they would like added to their child’s form
*have updated health information (particularly that relating to new allergies )
*have assessments from outside agencies (eg: speech pathologists, Occupational Therapists or Paediatric Psychologists)
Please pass this information to us as soon as possible. We are also aware that some information is missing or not in enough detail in our current forms and so some parents may be approached for further information for their child’s form and the centres records.
Thankyou for your assistance with this matter

Gentle Reminders

Please remember our kindergarten program begins at 8:30am and finishes at 3:00pm. It would be fantastic if your child could be here during these times, if possible. If your child is arriving before 8.15am they must be taken to the Cooper Room. Children are not allowed to be left unattended in any other classrooms before 8.15am

Please return your child’s portfolio as soon as possible if you have not already done so.

Grandies Day

Dear Parents,
Grandies Day is fast approaching and hopefully Grandies will have received their decorated invitations. Please look in your child’s pigeon hole if you have not already collected them. We have already begun to receive RSVP’s and are looking forward to receiving many more
Regards
Classroom Teachers

In The Classrooms

Langley
We have been celebrating Chinese New Year in the Langley room this week through a range of activities, in addition to our regular weekly Chinese lessons. Our home corner has been converted; we have made Chinese lanterns, examined the dragon dance and even tried eating Mr Robs Chinese banquet with chopsticks! Our playground was finally completed this week so we have been engaged in lots of gross motor outdoor activities such as climbing and sliding. We have also brought our exploration of different textures outside, playing with smooth stones and bumpy shells in the sand trays. At the easel we have continued to create our own versions of Vincent Van Gogh’s Sunflowers. To extend on this, we have talked about the life cycle of the sunflower and have looked at some sunflower seeds which we will plant in our garden next week. Kind regards
Jess, Adele, Kerry and Chloe

Mead
Dear Mead Room Parents,
As well as learning about Chinese New Year, making pancakes on Pancake Day, painting still life sunflowers, and completing 'Andy Warhol' style photo portrait paintings, we had a wonderful time making a cubby house in the Town Square!
'We need it bigger and bigger. It's a magic cubby house' said Jade.
'It's an airport cubby house' Ryan told us.
'We've got cookies in here' Henry said. 'Do you want two cookies'?
'We want it darker in here' Jenna told us.
Best wishes,
Emma, Susan and Penny

Cooper
The Cooper boys love their morning PE lessons with Mr Weatherald! They listen for the whistle to stop and start, do warm up stretches, star jumps, running on the spot, climbing the ladder and punching the air to the music. They follow the leader around the obstacle course of the ELC playground and balance, climb and crawl their way through. When we go to the gym they try ball sports like soccer, basketball, tennis and football and the boys are getting better and better at bouncing, throwing, catching and kicking with their friends and the teachers. PE is a great way to start the day and the boys always come back to the room full of energy for the day ahead!
Kind regards,
Ali and Susan

Chapple
It has been a wonderful week in Chapple Room. On Tuesday, we made ice cream cake and biscuit faces to help celebrate a special birthday. Each child decorated a biscuit to look like themselves. It was lots of fun, especially eating them! Photos of the biscuits have been put up in the room. Can you recognise your child? Our basil and tomato plants get bigger and bigger every day. There are now more than 20 tomatoes on one of the plants. We are looking forward to using them in some more cooking activities.
Please send back your child's portfolio if you haven't already, as we have some lovely work samples ready to go in them.
Thanks,
Chapple Room Team

Edgerley
What a wonderful week in our classroom. We began the week by enjoying our special Chinese New Year lunch made by Mr Wagenfellar. The year of the Tiger was a great inspiration and we had a great deal of discussions about the different animal years. We discovered that most of us were born in the rooster. Christian showed us a DVD of a real lion dance and we shared it with the other classes. We decided to make our own Chinese lion and used our instruments to play our own Chinese lion game. We performed our own lion dance for the children in Reception H in the big school! They loved our dance and fed our lions lots of red packets.
Gong Xi Fa Cai!!!
Mel and Rosalie

Clipsal 500 (PLEASE READ!!!)

Dear Parents,
In your child’s pigeon hole we have placed a permission slip AND a ticket payment form for our excursion to the Clipsal 500 on the 11th of March. Permission slips are due to Julie Porter before the 5th of July HOWEVER payment forms are due by this coming Tuesday (23rd February). We can only accept credit card payments. It is important to note that tickets for adults bought this way cost $20. If the deadline is missed you must purchase your own ticket at the gate on the day for $38.
Thankyou
Mel Bishop

Plastic Bags

Dear Parents,
We are in desperate need of plastic bags for wet clothes. If you have any spare plastic bags please pass them to your child’s classroom teacher
Thankyou
Mel Bishop

Cooper Room Coffee Catch-up Thursday the 25th

All Cooper room parents and friends are invited to catch up over a coffee at Cafe Palazzo (89a The Parade Norwood), Thursday 25th February 2010 at 9:00am.
Hope to see you there
Adriana and Amalia.

Uniforms

Dear Parents,
As we are part of PAC 's prep school and are often on show, we do expect that children wear their ELC uniforms apart from exceptional circumstances. Please keep shorts, pants or skirts to neutral colours (maroon, navy, denim, beige, kahki) without large logos, prints etc on them .There are maroon shorts and pants available at the uniform shop if your child does not have any suitable ones. Footwear needs to be suitable for lots of running or climbing and for this reason we ask that children do not wear thongs, rubber boots or "crocs".

Thankyou

ELC Staff

Cooper Room

From next week Mrs Sue Bilney will be an extra assistant in this room on Monday, Tuesday and Friday mornings. Sue worked as an assistant in the old Little Princes Kindergarten several years ago. Please make her welcome and introduce yourselves.

Mead Room

Dear Parents,
Next Tuesday 23rd Feb our Speech Therapist , Jan Hooper, will begin doing a basic speech and language screening for all the children in the Mead room. If she has any concerns your child's Teacher will let you know and you can then make an appointment for a full assessment if you would like to. If for any reason you do not wish your child to be involved in the screening could you please let me know,


regards
Jeanine

Staffing

This week we welcomed Miss Susan Sandow as the assistant in the Cooper Room and she has had a busy week getting to know the children and all the parents.
Next week will be Miss Chloe from Langley room's last week with us in her current position. Chloe is beginning university and will work with us on a relief basis to fit in with her studies. We would like to thank Chloe for her help in setting up the Langley room from its inception. Chloe will be replaced by Miss Jennifer Spangler.


Jeanine

Our Calendar Sidebar

Dear Parents,
we seem to have solved our technical glitch with our calendar sidebar. Please look to the left of your computer screen to see our Term One dates. Important dates can also be found on the dates board beside the buffet next to the adult toilets and of course your classroom teacher will distribute weekly diary pages, so that you are aware of the events of the week, every Monday.
Kind Regards
Mel Bishop

In the Classrooms

Langley
Being so hot this week has meant that we have experienced a range of water based activities – check out our weekly journal on display in the classroom for details! We’ve continued our investigation into the world of art by looking at Van Gogh’s Sunflowers and creating our own masterpieces at the easels. The children have also enjoyed looking at themselves in the mirror and creating their own faces using collage materials. We continue to eagerly await the completion of our playground – only the bridge to come. Fingers crossed it will be soon!
Kind regards
Jess, Adele, Kerry and Chloe

Mead
Dear Mead Room Parents and Children,
What a busy week we have had. We had a visit to see the Monster Trucks, have enjoyed practising our ball skills in P.E. and are loving sharing with each other at Show and Tell time on the special chair. We love singing 'Five Little Speckled Frogs' and pretending to be the frogs, and have practised self portraits through collage and painting. We have also made a special Valentines treat for our mum's and dad's to say thank you for loving us so much.
Cheers,
Emma, Susan and Penny

Cooper
The Cooper room boys have begun to show great interest in letters lately, particularly those that start their names. They have been playing with our new alphabet puzzle and chatting to their friends about whose name starts with what letter. As the boys play they have been singing the alphabet song and finding the pictures for the letters, such as F for fish and O for orange. It is really exciting to see the boys' spontaneous literacy play and the ideas and connections they are making about letters and sounds, whilst having lots of fun!
Kind regards,
Ali and Susan

Chapple
We are having a wonderful time exploring art and pattern in Chapple Room. We used the magnifying glasses to help us see small details in paintings. We have also been using them to investigate pattern in paintings, and within the classroom environment. During last week's visit to see Mr Tutt, we were asked to each complete a portrait of him, and to name his teddy bear. We have been carefully painting portraits, which look wonderful. Deciding on a name for the teddy is proving to be a little harder....We will invite Mr Tutt down to Chapple Room soon to reveal the portraits and to see if he approves of our chosen name. Fingers crossed he likes both!
Thanks,
Chapple Room

Edgerley
We have had a busy week counting and playing with numbers. We have been working on improving our numeral formation and all think it is very funny that 3’s and 5’s look so much alike. We particularly enjoyed Bond's show and tell, it was the tallest show and tell we have had!
We have continued our interest in the story of Ned Kelly and have begun to create our own Ned Kelly paintings. Come into our classroom and view our growing gallery.
Mel and Rosalie

Clipsal 500

As many of you may know, the Early Learning Centre takes an excursion to the Clipsal 500 every second year. We have had many queries from parents who would like to be a participant on this excursion.
Three Year old and Four Year old classes will be taking a short trip to the track and, as in past years, we will sit to watch part of a race, walk to see the go carts, cross the bridge for a snack, walk through the display alley and then return back to school. It is a short trip but is usually noisy, dusty and can be warm. As in past years we will not be able to attend the Clipsal unless we have a strict ratio of 2 children to 1 adult or better. Parents who are planning to join us must buy their own tickets at the gate as we enter. This is a wonderful trip that is a particularly good opportunity for fathers to join us. We will visit the track on Thursday the 11th of March and no child will be able to attend without a signed permission slip that teachers will distribute closer to the date. In the intervening time if you have an interest in joining us please make your interest known to Mrs Porter via e-mail at jporter@pac.edu.au
Thankyou
Mel Bishop

Joining us on Excursions

Dear Parents,
As of January 2010 Prince Alfred College requires volunteers and helpers on excursions and within classrooms to sign a statuary declaration to confirm that they have not been convicted of crimes against children. Please approach Jeanine Dry to complete a form. Volunteers need only complete one for the year.

Thankyou

We would like to thank Connor’s Nana for offering to take our chickens at Easter time. We are sure they are going to a lovely home. Thankyou again

A Look at the Books

Dear Parents,
You may have noticed that sitting on top of the buffet (just past the lobby doors), we have a collection of books about parenting and child development. It was wonderful to see that they were used last year but some have been borrowed for quite a length of time. If you borrowed an ELC parent Library book last year, particularly those borrowed in term three, can you please return them or let your child’s teacher know that you are still using it.
Thankyou
Mel Bishop

Fantasic Fire Response

Well done to the children of the Early Learning Centre who responded so quickly and orderly to our practice fire alarm today. Students arrived with their teachers at our marshalling point within a minute of the alarm bell ringing. What wonderful safety conscious children we are!!

Langley
The Langley children have had lots of fun this week as we begin our exploration into different pieces of art work. This week we have been looking at Andy Warhol’s Marilyn picture and creating our own pieces of Pop Art using our photos – be sure to check them out on display! We have also been exploring our sense of touch with play dough, bubble wrap and paint mixing and we have been trying to describe what they feel like.
Kind regards
Jess, Adele, Kerry and Chloe

Mead
We have started our 'Show and Tell' with gusto! This has been a great opportunity for the children to get to know each other and to practice their listening and sharing skills. Please encourage your child to bring in an item of interest and it will generate much discussion.
The children have begun to explore some great artists and their work this week, such as Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh. They have begun to draw a self portrait whilst looking at themselves in the mirror to help them see the positioning of their features and what shapes are on their face.
' I have squiggly hair. Curly ears. I need to draw some shoulders. My hair goes right to my ears' said Jesse whilst drawing his self portrait.
Best wishes,
Emma, Susan and Penny

Cooper
As we get back into our Cooper Room routines this week it has been lovely to see how independent the boys are becoming! They are becoming very accomplished at many self help skills so that they can take care of themselves throughout the day. Many of the boys can now recognise their names or their first letter so that they can find their belongings (particularly their hats). At meal times they can serve their food with tongs and scrape their plates at the end of the meal. They can put their shoes on and take them off for playing in the sandpit and apply sunscreen in the afternoons. In the home corner the boys have been learning to do up buttons as they dress up and dress the dolls up. What great things to learn when you are four or nearly four! Miss Sandow starts with us on Monday and I think she will be very impressed!
Kind regards,
Ali

Chapple
Thank you for such a wonderful start to the term. We have all had a very smooth transition and things are running like clock work in Chapple Room. We've had a number of birthdays, lots of outside play and some great exploration into 'The Gallery of Life'. Thank you to those of you who came to the Parent Information Night. We are still looking for some P&F reps. If you have any queries or would like to take part, please let either Jude, Brendt or myself know. We have started our Weekly Diary for you to look at. We hope it gives you a snapshot of what's been happening in our world. Although it is looking a little dull, due to the colour printer being out of ink, we hope you enjoy reading it each week.
Thanks,
Chapple Room

Edgerley
This week the Edgerley children jumped into the world created by Sidney Nolan through his series of Ned Kelly paintings. We talked about the story of Ned Kelly and looked at how Sidney had shown people what happened in the olden days through his paintings. We took turns on the playground to be Ned Kelly while he police chased us and even downloaded a picture of Ned’s real armour from the internet.
We also began to explore the portraits of Andy Warhol. We chose special people in our classroom to illustrate and paint using pop art colours. William chose his friend Hector.
Kind Regards
Mel and Rosalie

New Arrivals

We had two exciting new arrivals over the holiday period and would like to congratulate Louie and Henry Barrington- Case on the arrival of their new sister Abbey.

We would like to congratulate Max, mum Tabytha and dad Don on the arrival of Charlie Cooper Allen.

Morning Madness

Dear Parents,
We look forward to seeing children and their families as they enter the classrooms in the mornings. It is an important to time for a warm hello and an exchange of information. News that parents have about what happened at breakfast or how a child slept through the night can have an impact on the child’s day ahead. However if you need to speak at length with your child’s teacher please approach them to make an appointment at another time. Staff are often focused on the needs of children entering the room and the settling of the entire class first thing in the morning.
Thank you for your understanding
Classroom Teachers

A Sinking Feeling

Have you ever been walking along somewhere and suddenly got that "sinking feeling" ?
Well if you happen to be wearing high heels and walk across our synthetic play area you may experience it quite literally ! So in order to not leave us ,and our rubber floor, in a depressed state, please stick to the path areas if you wear narrow heels !

Thankyou

Term One Events in the ELC

Dear Parents,
We have a very busy term ahead of us filled with exciting activities and events. To aid in everybody’s organisation we have compiled the following news for you to post on your fridge.
Regards
Kindergarten Teachers

Monday 8th March – Adelaide Cup Public Holiday– All ELC students
The entire College will be closed for the Adelaide Cup Public Holiday.

Monday 15th March – Living Eggs arrive
To support our investigations about Easter and new life we will be hatching chickens in the foyer of the ELC. They will stay with us for two weeks and will be looking for a home just before the Easter holidays. Please let Mrs Porter know if you are able to take a chicken or two on e-mail at jporter@pac.edu.au

Tuesday 23rd March – Harmony Day – 9.30am – Kindergarten Students Only
Children from the ELC Kindergarten program will be joining Junior Primary students to celebrate Harmony Day in the Preparatory School. Students may wear orange on this day to help us celebrate if they would like.

Wednesday 24th March – ELC Grandies Day – 8.30am-10.30am
Our unit about art will culminate in week nine this term with a performance, art show and morning tea for our Grandies. For ELC students this will take the place of the Preparatory School Grandies Day later in the year and hopefully will allow our Grandies to have a relaxing morning rather than having to stretch themselves between two sites. Our P&F will be present on the day with a stall for Grandies who would like to purchase a book and dedicate it to their grandaughter or grandson to donate to our Library.
Children will prepare invitations closer to the date and will include the RSVP contact address jporter@pac.edu.au. It would assist us greatly if RSVP’s could include the names of the intended attendees, the name of the child they are related to and their maternal or paternal relationship to the child. Children who do not normally attend on Fridays are welcome to join us but must stay with their grandies at all times and leave at 10.30am at the end of the morning. We also ask that these children do not come in their school uniform.

Monday 29th – Wednesday 31st March – Parent Teacher Interviews – Kindergarten Parents only
Later this term Kindergarten teaching staff will draw up schedules for Parent Teacher Interview slots. We will post this information on the blog. At this time please visit Mrs Porter at the front desk to schedule a convenient time to see your child’s teacher for a 15 minute interview to discuss their progress.