Banyan Park News - October 2017

Welcome to the October edition of Banyan Park News! We have a very busy Term 4 ahead and have already done lots of fun things so far. Zac Sanders took Preschool photos in week 2 and we had lots of fun capturing the children in natural play situations. Last week we had Superhero/favourite character days on Tuesday and Thursday.
The children dressed up, we did face painting, ate kryptonite after reading a superman story and had two really fun days. This week we have had two more days

splashing around in the water. We made a slip and slide out of a tarp (even Katherine, Emily and Ellie had a slide!) ran under the sprinkler, played with ice and generally had a cool time.

This term we have said a sad farewell to Aurora Christian-Rutledge and Jenna Pepperell. On the 22nd we say farewell to Holly Doolan as they move back to the mainland.
We have welcomed several new 3 year olds - Denny Barlow, George Sims and Ernie Fell. We look forward to lots of fun with our new friends!

STAFF NEWS
You may have noticed a new face at Banyan Park over the past few weeks. Alex Parry is a new casual at Banyan and comes to us from Coolum in QLD. He has been a volunteer football coach for U/6’s to U/10’s, has worked as a Special Ed assistant in Grades 2 and 3 at Suncoast Christian College and most recently was part of the Green Army Project Norfolk Island. The children, especially boys, love having him and he has immense enthusiasm. Say hi to Alex and have a chat when you have a minute.

Katherine is taking leave next week to return to the mainland for her son’s graduation. She will return on Tuesday the 14th November. Heather McMillan will work in Katherine’s absence.
Ebony has just had 2 weeks leave and had a fabulous time in Bali!
Ellie had a relaxing week at Bribie Island in Week 1 and Emily also had a fun week catching up with friends in Brisbane.

NORFOLK LANGUAGE
This week we had the pleasure of Aunty Col coming to spend time with the children and talking to them about Norfolk language and culture. Aunty Col will be coming every Tuesday for the rest of this term and we are very excited to be able to learn from this wonderful lady- thank you Aunty Col!!

TERM 4 ROUTINE CHANGES
After several false starts, we have been able to initiate small afternoon groups with the children going to big school next year. We have explored floating and sinking, how rockets work, numeral recognition and counting, strengthening fine motor skills, learning to take turns, waiting with the small group at the table and of course learning to write their full name. The children are loving this time.
Due to staff constraints on Mondays we will run two large ‘big school’ groups, and will have 3 smaller groups on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Banyan Park Facebook page
We have a new closed Facebook group just for Banyan Park parents – called “Banyan Park Parents Group”. We will be able share more of our daily activities and share photos which will show the children’s faces, as it is a closed and monitored page only for parents.
The Banyan Park Playcentre Inc page is a business page and as such is open to everyone. From now on if we post photos of the children on that page we will be blurring out their faces so they will not be recognisable to anyone visiting the page who is not connected to the community.

COMMITTEE MEETING
The next Committee Meeting is Monday the 13th November at 6.30pm here at Banyan Park. If you have any thing you wish to have discussed please let Katherine know on 22415 or Victoria on committee@banyanparkni.com

CHRISTMAS VACATION CARE
We will be holding Christmas vacation care this year and the dates will be 18-22nd December and from 8-25th January. We will close for 2 weeks over the Christmas break.
Vacation Care will be dependent on minimum numbers, and fees will be payable for days enrolled in vacation care without flexibility if your child does not attend.
Enrolment forms will go into your parent pockets in the next few weeks.

TERM 1 2018
Banyan Park will recommence on Tuesday 30th
January, 2018

TINKER TABLE
We have introduced a Tinker Table this week. We used screwdrivers to take apart a DVD player and see how it works. We watched a YouTube clip which showed how the laser transfers the information through the 2 circuit boards to create the picture and sound that we see.
If you have any thing you’d like to donate just bring it along for us to tinker!

Kinder Orientation
Kindergarten Information night was held last Tuesday night at the School Library and was a very informative evening.
The Kinder Orientation will be held on Wednesday’s the 15th, 22nd November and 6th December from 11.15am to 12.15pm. The children will be taken over to the school by Katherine and Ellie.

Bounty Museum
The Thursday older group went for an impromptu excursion to the Bounty Museum this Thursday. We had to cover a few eyes as we walked past most of the mannequins but they loved seeing olden day phones, swords, guns and the turtle shells.

Hilli Goat Excursion
Hilli Goat Farm excursion will be on 14th and 15th November. Notes will go in pockets this week.

Quotes from your kids:
“Someone hit me in the brain with a cup and now my brain is not working”
“I can’t put my lunchbox away cause my arms are too tired”
“Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! There’s chocolate on my chocolate!"