Directors report
Anna Hutchings 19 March 2020
In these unique times we are continuing our constant task, which is to put children first. Aside from implementing extra hygiene and distancing measures, this means creating a safe, predictable and happy environment for our children to learn and play. Our Kindy is a little sanctuary where life continues almost as normal, with the aim that any changes go undetected by children. The way that we talk about the current crisis in front of children is so important - we must be mindful of their young minds, their still developing ability to process complex information and their small-person emotions.
And anyway, there have been much more interesting things to talk about, such as, must this caterpillar eat brown leaves because it is brown? And, will I ever be able to touch the tree with my toes when I swing really high? Will I or the tree take longer to grow? These small things fill our days and we are joyful.
We begin each morning by saying our welcome:
“Here is the land, the water and the sky, here are our friends, and here am I. Today I will go with Yindyamarra my heart”. Yindyamarra is a Wiradjuri word that means to go slowly with honour and respect. We use the word in multiple contexts throughout the day, reminding ourselves to make choices that respect others, ourselves and the environment. I have been amazed and delighted with how children in both our Kindy groups have demonstrated Yindyamarra, how kind they are to each other how respectful they are. Obviously this comes from home.
Following are some examples of our play and learning recently
- Exploring balance and load, spontaneously in play by stacking cushions and walking along narrow beams, and through experimentation with a set of scales. These are fun opportunities to develop early mathematical thinking and language.
- Children are collaborating to build amazing structures and gadgets using a wide range and combination of open ended materials - a museum with a meditation area, houses with electricity cables, and an actual platform in the climbing tree.
- The climbing tree has been a focal point so far this year as children develop their courage to find a way up and make it out onto the little platform. We have used these moments to discuss “safety checks“ and making choices that are safe for yourself and others.
- Sensory play and learning with gorgeous goop, play dough, clay and playing in the rain one warm day.
- We have set up play experiences for children to explore the “connecting“ schema, where children experiment with different ways of joining things together, such as threading beads on to different kinds of materials, blocks and loose parts arranged in towers and snaking curves, giant twisty ties to connect larger resources together.
- Imaginary role play about animals, families and rescue games.
- Developing compassion and understanding through the discoveries we have made of a diverse range of insects and small creatures.
- Exploring ideas about the First Australians, meeting the beautiful Aunty Sharron and learning from her about some traditional indigenous dance, song, inventions and ideas and how we can all feel connected to the world around us.
- Imagining we’re in the Rainforest with the Evergreen Children’s Theatre and meeting some amazing native animal puppets.
- We’re learning about CHANGE by watching our Hawk Moth caterpillars go through their metamorphosis.
- We are exploring effective communication, listening strategies and literacy learning through our constant reading of books and through an ongoing game “teachers” where the children take turns sitting on my stool, reading a book and leading the other children in songs and games.
On Wednesday our staff had a very productive pupil free day. We completed our CPR refresher course, re-painted the outdoor bathroom, water blasted the cave, installed new worm towers for composting, worked on updating our MSDS, gave the mud kitchen a makeover, took to the front garden with needle and thread to make repairs to our crochet art and held a staff meeting to discuss, among other things, our response to the COVID-19 crisis.
In these unfamiliar times it is unclear what we should be looking forward to. Nevertheless we are making plans for our Bush Kindy program next term with some exciting new elements. We are looking forward to re-planting our veggie pod with winter plants.
Thank you to our families who have come on roster, we’ve enjoyed your presence and appreciated your help.
