Ashhurst Playcentre Newsletter

17th November 2011

Kia ora tatou Hello everyone
Wow, what a busy term it has already been and we are only half way through. This week saw both a business and planning meeting held. It is great to see the times varied so that more parents can become involved it is important that we have your valued input and it is a great way to learn new skills, support your child(rens) learning and strength friendships. The childrens Christmas party has had a date/time and venue change to allow for partners, husbands, grandparents and older siblings to attend. We can review whether this worked when planning for the future. Check out your invitation for more details (in your playcentre pocket). The date is Friday 16th of December. The next newsletter will be at the end of the month however please do not hesitate to email me anything you want circulated. Only 5 weeks till Christmas, how exciting! Thanks Toni. Has anyone got any spare sunhats they would like to donate to playcentre? Any plastic shopping bags would be great, but please put them straight into the store room to the right of the doors. Any old Christmas wrapping paper, fronts of old Christmas cards, ribbons etc for collage, creating coming into the festive season. Dates for any christmas/holiday activities so Toni can make up a calendar of things you could do in the holidays for next newsletter please email her.

Thanks
To everyone who contributed towards relicensing. Thanks to Anna, who very kindly brought her waterblaster to clean out the guttering at the back of the roof on the sand pit cupboards . It had got all blocked up with sand. And the water was getting in the cupboards.

Urgently Wanted
Has anyone got towels they are willing to donate to playcentre?

To hang up the dress-ups at the end of every session as this makes it easier for the childrens interest to be sparked and it also ensures better care of our dress-ups. Thanks To hose down the rakes before putting them on the roof of the shed so it doesnt get all blocked up with sand and leak into the shed. Thanks To write in the daily planning book , what you observe children doing so planning can be reflective, ongoing and child led.

Please remember...

Term 4 invoices will be in your pocket during this week. Please pay these by the 2nd December. Please dont forget when you are paying online please quote your invoice number and put your surname as the reference for Juanita to forward onto me. Same applies to cheques please place your invoice number/child(ren)s name on the back of your cheque before placing in the locked box in the office. This will help me keep a track of the payments, the account number is: ANZ 116900-0015619-11. I would like a list of people and address of everyone outside of playcentre that has helped during the year, guest speakers etc. I will put up a piece of paper to fill in so I can get Xmas cards out by the end of November. Please pay your $20 for this fantastic dinner and evening by the end of NOVEMBER. Can be paid online please reference with your name and dinner or placed in a named envelope, labelled fusion dinner in the locked box in the office at playcentre Thank you, Louise

Fees!

Xmas Cards

Adults Christmas Party

PLEASE check out the wall to the right of the blocks. We would love you to add childrens art (with their permission) or a photo of a childs art and either a caption or learning story. It would be great to celebrate their creations.

Creative Tamariki

ERO
ERO is coming to visit the playcentre at the end of November. Jackie has made up a list should you wish to be in the centre for different components of their visit. If interested please talk to Jackie so she can talk to you how their visit works & what you may like to be involved in.

Business Meeting Snapshots fully minutes can be read online and at playcentre.
Reports: (please note this is not a summary of all reports given see full minutes)
Supervisor: Circulated via email. Jackie asked it to be noticed that the PD from the transition to school has been circulated. The PC policy reflects the current practice. The next policy to be self reviewed is literacy in early childhood. Parent Education: Number of workshops attended by parents is commendable. Health & Safety: Be aware that there is a confirmed case of the mumps at Ashhurst School. Be aware that the lino may be wet. This is a slip hazard. Watch for sand being thrown. A serious illness register and a new ingredients register. Both books are by the phone. These are for the new regulations. (further information to be given through newsletter and H & S Officer).

Business Meeting Snapshots Continued...

Fundraising/Grants: Funds have been received for domestic plays stuff, for COGS wages, for mat and couch. The equipment team will find out from Helen what was required and make the purchase. Strategic Plan Report: Pending changes it will be adopted. We have identified a need for self review to the centres responsiveness with reference to C5 and C6 of the curriculum criteria. Novena will reformat and distribute. General Business: 1. Refurbished Computer to be used on the floor to assist with writing of learning stories. It would enable children to be involved in their learning stories. This is supported in principle and aim to be ready for the New Year. Rent-a-tree. Last year we did 2 suggested we do 1. We are having an apple tree. Xmas party for children. Suggestion that date is changed so all families can attend. Friday 16th at 5pm at the Domain. Parents are to provide a gift with a max value of $5. BYO tea. Adults Xmas Party. Adults please provide a $5 wrapped gift. $20 to be paid by the end of November. Extra camera for Jackie. It is proposed that we will wait until a decision has been made. ERO are coming on the morning of the 28th. Two people will be here. One in the office and one will be watching interactions with children. On Tuesday at noon they will return to provide feedback. Birthday Party Report/Policy will be formed to outline procedures for parties held at playcentre. Hot drinks at the Kai table. It was discussed and decided that our centre is not going to change our current practice. Planning meeting twice a term. Dates set at the start of the year. One planning meeting in the evening and one after session. Mary to purchase a wall planner. Ashhurst Christmas Parade. Decided we will hold a stall. Ginny to plan. Tina expressed keenness to help. It is proposed that the building team look at getting the dishwasher and washing machine installed. Quotes will be gathered and will be passed through the special issues committee for approval. Moved Toni Seconded Jaunita.

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7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

Please note this is NOT everything from the meeting full minutes are available at playcentre and also on the Ashhurst playcentre website.

Lost
Corban lost his blue crocs (shoes) on session last week. If you have seen these please let Sara know.

Would like to invite

Everyone
to an End of Year celebration & Christmas Party at Ashhurst Domain (by the playground) on Friday 16th December 2011. Starts at 5pm with Santa arriving at 6pm. Please bring a picnic tea for you and your family to enjoy.

Please read the wee note attached to your invite at playcentre.

Coming Events
24th November 2011 (Thurs)Practical Communication 7.30 9.30pm Community Playcentre

1st December 2011 (Thurs) Positive Parenting 7.30 9.30pm Community Playcentre (must have attended Practical communication) 8th December 2011 (Thurs) Ashhurst Playcentre Christmas Dinner 10th December 2011 (Sat) Fusion 7:00pm

Ashhurst Christmas Parade 11am start followed by stalls at the back of the school. We would like to have a stall so talk to Novena if you can help. Helpers/Ideas urgently wanted. Childrens Xmas Party at Ashhurst Domain playground from 5pm. (see invitation for more details)

16th December 2011 (Fri)

th

20 December 2011 (Tues) End of Term 4 2011 Start of Term 1 2012 Wednesday February 1st (TBC) 3rd March 2012 Submissions for Issue 143 Playcentre Journal. Looking for stories and photos about: Literacy and pre-literacy on session Rural centre challenges & celebrations Meeting & Volunteer Challenges and how you overcame them Inspiring Playcentre members at your centre/association PAW (playcentre Awareness Week) what did your centre or associate do to celebrate PAW? If you have an idea for a journal article but dont have the time or the knowledge to write it, send us your idea we may know or be able to find the right person to write the story. Please send contributions to pcjournal@gmail.com