Week 2, Term 4

Dubbo West Preschool News

October 2015

Hi everyone,
Term 4 is here and the end of the year is very close. Your children and their
educators will all be working very hard this term to get ready for school, reports,
end of year concerts and completing some very special presents. If your child will
be absent for orientation for an extended period this term please let your room
staff know so they can adjust any important activities to accommodate. Please
check your class date and time for their class concert that is included in this
newsletter.
Morning tea
We ask that you pack some fruit for your child to have at morning tea as part of
our munch and move program. This is similar to crunch and sip that most schools
have. Learning good nutrition at a young age helps children develop good eating
habits. Even if your child does not eat fruit at home we are able to discuss how
good it is for them and encourage them to try like their friends. Often this is
enough to get them to try. Of course if there are other factors that will exclude
them from eating fruit please see your teacher as it is something we can discuss
with school for next year as well. We will also be encouraging children to eat the
fruit as it comes and peel it themselves. We work on 4 year old children opening
all packets by themselves or ask a friend if they can not. This will help with their
independence at school next year and ensure they have the skills to manage
themselves.
Orientation
For new children to the preschool. Will be held 27th, 28th & 29th October 2015 from
3.30 to 4.15. You will have received a letter inviting you along if your child has not
attended the preschool before.
Tuesday Echidna (M), Kangaroo (MT), Bilby (MT)
Wednesday Bilbys (WT), Echidnas (T), Kangaroos (W), Kookaburras (MTW)
Thursday Bilbys (F), Echidna (W-F), Kangaroos (TF), Kookaburras (TF)
Parent info night for 2016
Will be held on the 5th November 2015 from 6-7pm. This information session will
introduce new families to our preschool and give details around how our preschool
runs. We will hold the evening in the Bilby room.

Fees
Fees for this term are due 30th November prompt payment prior to this date
is appreciated. If you are having any difficulty with fees please leave a
message at the office for the Director Cathryn Albert to contact you or see
Cathryn to make arrangements.

Dubbo West Preschool News

Fundraising
We are continuing to collect donations for our Christmas Monster raffle of toys, gifts,
products and services. Any kind donations can be given to the office or if you know
anyone that may be able to help us out please see Mel at the office and we can
arrange a copy of our official letter to be given to them.
Term Dates
Term 46th October to 16th December 2015

Dates to remember

1st December 2015Christmas Carols

Play Group
The playgroup is an option for children who dont currently attend preschool
to get to know what happens in a preschool day. Mums, Dads or
Grandparents can book into two sessions at a time with children and are
required to stay for the playgroup. Each week has a limit of 10 bookings so
that the group is not too large and overwhelming. If you know anyone that
has a child between 2-4years of any ability that may be interested please get
them to contact the office to see what sessions are still available
(Ph:68827144).
Summer routine
We have begun the summer routine this term which means we will be playing
outside on arrival. Please check your whiteboard outside your classroom for
the playground your child needs to go to and bring along a large drink bottle
with water.
Hats
REMEMBER to pack a hat everyday for preschool as we
need to wear a hat to play. A no hat no play rule is being
discussed with the older children in readiness for school.
They will be asked to play in shaded areas if they have
forgotten their hat. Please also apply sunscreen on arrival.
HOLD MY HAND
Please hold your childrens hand when leaving the front gate as
there is a large amount of traffic in the car park who cant see
children when vehicles are moving.
Please supervise your children especially at pick up time once they
have been signed out as we have had two children make their way
through the crowd of people out to the front gate and were then let
out by adults. If you could also check that a child is with an adult
before you let them out of the gate.

SCHOOL ENROLMENTS FOR 2016

If your child is going to BIG school in 2016 and you have not enrolled them
yet please enroll them as soon as possible as orientations have already
begun for most schools and some schools are already full.

Dubbo West Preschool News

Hearing testing
We are now able to pilot a new program that will test childrens
hearing before they go off to school. We have just received the final
clearance to access the program from the designers and we will
begin with assessing the children heading off to school next year. The
data that we collect will then assist in the ongoing improvement with the program
and is very exciting.
Transition to school
There are many activities that we will use this term to help with readiness for the
school environment on 2016 some are listed below.

All 4 year old classes will be involved in two school visits this term with their
classes. One visit will be a private school and the other a public school. We
always encourage parents to come along if they can as it is a valuable
experience. Further details will be ready next week for visits.

All teachers will meet with kindergarten staff to give them valuable
information about your child individually. Please see your teacher if there is
something you would particularly like them to discuss as every bit of
information that could help your childs transition to school is very helpful.

We will have a pretend canteen week for all 4 year old classes. You will
receive a paper bag and a lunch menu to choose from. Please place your
childs name class and order on the paper bag and the correct money inside
the bag the same as at school. Our pretend canteen lady (Miss Mel) will ask
the children what their first and last name is and
which class they belong to when they collect their
lunch from the canteen. We understand that this is
usually a treat that most children only do sparingly at
school so there will be items such as little pies and
sausage rolls available. This is available at school and
is a good time to discuss sometimes food when ordering or there are
healthier options.

We will be reading some social stories about what happens at school and
discuss any worries that children may have about BIG school next year.

We will also commence school lunches this week at Preschool where all 4
year old children will sit with a child or children that will be
going to their school next year. Other classes in the preschool
will join together for this so your child may meet some new
friends. This often helps with the transition to school by
giving them a familiar face to find at school.

Timed lunches we will begin in the last half of the term to visually show 4
year old children how long they will have at school to eat their lunch before
the bell goes. This part of school is often not policed or supervised for long
so preparing them for the limited time, with the skills to open drink
bottles/lunch boxes/packets and fruit it will give your child the
independence they need to meet all of their needs at school.

Dubbo West Preschool and claiming CCB

Dubbo West Preschool News

We have a registered carer number at Dubbo West Preschool therefore you can
claim your paid fees through Centrelink.
Child Care Benefit for registered care is paid at a standard hourly rate for up to
50 hours per child per week if: you and your partner are working, looking for
work, training, or studying at some time in the week that care is provided or you
and your partner have an exemption from that requirement.
The current registered care rate for a non-school aged child in up to 50 hours of
care per week is $0.696 per hour, or $34.80 per child per week. You are paid
Child Care Benefit for registered child care directly if you submit a claim and
provide your child care receipts to Centrelink. You will need to ask Mel at the
front office for a special CCB receipt once you have paid your fees. You also need
to wait for the term to be over before you will be able to claim. You can only
claim backdated for 12 months with receipts.
Christmas concert and party day dates and times

Date

Time

Event

30/11/2015

All day

Kangaroo Monday party day

1/12/2015

11am

Bilby Monday/Tuesday group concert

2/12/2015

All Day
11am

Kangaroo Tuesday party day

Bilby Wednesday group concert

3/12/2015

11am

Kookaburra Thursday group concert

4/12/2015

12 noon
11am

Echidna Wednesday/Thursday group concert

Bilby Thursday/Friday group concert

7/12/2015

11am
11am

Echidna Friday group concert

Kangaroo Monday group concert

8/12/2015

12 noon
11am

Echidna Monday/Tuesday group concert

Kangaroo Tuesday group concert

12noon

Kookaburra Mon/Tues/Wed group concert

All day

Echidna Mon/Tues party day

All day
11am

Bilby Mon/Tues group party day

Kangaroo Wed/Thur/Fri group concert

All day

Kookaburra Mon/Tues/Wed group party day

All day
All day

Bilby Wednesday group party day

Kookaburra Thursday group party day

All day

Echidna Wed/Thurs group party day

All day

Kangaroo Wed/Thurs/Fri group party day

All day

Bilby Thurs/Fri group party day

All day

Echidna Friday group party day

9/12/2015

10/12/2015

11/12/2015