KINDERGARTEN

Welcome to the River School’s Pre-Kindergarten Group, operating 2, 3 & 5 day programs.
Every year and every group of children are very different and this makes for an exciting and fresh adventure. It is always a fun filled time, where we get to know and love a whole bunch of great kids and the children make new friendships and take huge leaps in getting ready for ‘big school.’

Neo-Humanist education is not a method, but a philosophy of education and human life.
Therefore we try to use the most progressive methods possible that are in line with our philosophy, adjusting those for the place and children we are teaching.

Play is the natural way that children learn.
With play-based education, children develop a love of learning.
‘Socio-dramatic play’ or imaginative play gives children a chance to imitate and practise what they see all around them. Teachers can gently extend this experience by being involved and carefully observing the childrens’ play.
We encourage creativity and fun through the use of songs, games, stories and art.

We believe there is an innate Oneness that unites all beings - animate and inanimate.
We share with children our respect for all life and the wonder of the amazing natural world that surrounds us.
We like to encourage children to innately feel that connection through developing silence (sacred time), simple meditation and visualisations as well as spending time in nature.

We are all members of one human family.
Humanity is like a beautiful garden with so many different kinds of flowers each one adding to the beauty of the whole.
We can help children appreciate and understand racial, cultural, national and ethnic differences – while still understanding the basic unity that we share.

We believe in the uniqueness of every child; each child has special gifts, their own learning timetable, and their special way to take in knowledge. The teacher’s job is to see, with love, the uniqueness of each child, so that they can freely blossom in their own time, in the best possible environment for them. Each child has many facets to be valued and enhanced.

Our learning community takes into account children’s physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual development.

Our Educational Goals for Kindergarten

• To provide a program that carefully balances child-initiated play, teacher enriched learning and teacher initiated learning experiences.
• To foster self-confidence and self worth as we encourage children to learn about themselves, and to respect and live peacefully with others.
• To promote appropriate social behaviours, encouraging children to negotiate and compromise, to be assertive and learn to be good friends.
• To encourage children to be independent, self motivated learners who can wonder, make hypotheses and feel confident to express their ideas, in a range of mediums.
• Our program, with the Perceptual Motor program and experiences at the creek, provide many opportunities for you child to explore and extend their bodies capabilities. This is crucial in whole brain development. Health and caring for our bodies is also incorporated into the program.

Communication

We believe open and frequent communication goes a long way in promoting a very positive Kindy environment. We use various means of communication, these are:

• Letters home to you detailing current aspects of the program and any other general issues.
• The School Newsletter which is available on the school website.
• The Kindy Parent Notice board.
• Big Book – your child’s portfolio.
• Parent interviews – regular sharing of information regarding your child’s progress will occur informally on a day to day basis, but formal interviews are held at the end of the first term and at the end of term three.

We do value our relationship with parents, however our main concern during school hours is providing a quality Kindy program for your children. We need setting up time in the morning and to be fully available to the children during their day. We ask you to save our informal chats till after preschool or by making an appointment to see the teacher.

If any concerns arise concerning your child or the program please arrange a time to talk to the Kindy staff to discuss these and find prompt resolutions.

Please let us know about any events in your child’s life that may effect their behaviour, making them excited (eg, a visit from a relative) or in need of support (the death of a family member, favourite pet or a new baby in the family).

Parent / Teacher Partnership

Parents are a very valuable part of the Kindy program. You are your child’s first teacher and because of your intimate relationship, have a lot of valuable insights and knowledge about the many facets of your child that you could share with us. We value and have always enjoyed parental involvement in the preschool program. You may not be able to help in all situations but here are a few areas that we welcome and rely on your input.

• Swimming roster
• Supervision for obstacle courses
• Assisting in children’s play and learning activities
• Helping to collate the children’s big books
• Supporting fundraising efforts
• Transport/ supervision on excursions
• Sharing of expertise in any given area
• Hunting and gathering interesting materials for children to experiment and create with eg.
• Shells
• Drift Wood (Small pieces)
• Pieces of coral
• Lovely rocks and stones.
• Pinecones especially the tiny ones.
• Gumnuts; especially the BIG ones.
• Banksia men
• Ribbons and lace
• Fabric flowers
• Coloured pieces of plexiglass
• Pine offcuts for carpentry
• Wire for modelling with
• Beads and buttons for sorting

Settling your child into Kindy.

It is not uncommon for young children to experience separation anxiety even if they have attended our Pre-Kindy program. Kindy presents a new situation. The teachers are unfamiliar at the beginning, the routine may differ and there may be different expectations.

It is wise, therefore to have a plan, should some separation anxiety occur. We recommend preparing your child before hand about how long you will stay and stick to it. For example, “I will read you a story, or do a puzzle with you, but then I am going. I will be back when school finishes."

They may cry and try and get you to stay longer, this can be very hard to bear. But, it is really important to keep your agreement. Nearly every child settles within a few minutes. If you are concerned please ring us as soon as you get home and check in on how your little one is doing.

Attendance

For the continuity of the program, for the benefit of your child, please make every effort to be consistent with your child’s attendance at Kindy. It is unsettling for your child and difficult for them to fit in with the group if attendance is irregular. If your child is ill or if something unavoidable happens, please let us know on the day of absence. Prior notice of holidays is also expected.
Written consent needs to be given to staff before children are permitted to go with an adult other than a custodial parent.

Arrival and Departure

Please aim to get your child to Kindy before the program begins. Arriving late and trying to fit into the group is very difficult for a young child. Likewise the prompt pick-up of your child after school reduces any worrying moments for them.

Bus

As the children settle into the year and feel comfortable at Kindy, parents are encouraged to send their children to school on the bus. This is in effort to reduce the traffic on Bridge Creek Road.

The Kindergarten Program

This can change from year to year, and term to term, but a regular routine helps your child settle and feel a sense of control over their day, as they know what comes next and the procedures. This encourages more independent behaviours.

Our summer day usually flows as follows:
8.00 Centre Opens
8.30 Kindergarten Program begins
9.05 Morning Circle. A group time of singing, shared literacy experience, news and discussion.
9.45 Morning Tea.
10.10 Child Initiated / self directed inside/outside play ( scaffolded, extended by staff)
11.30 Tidy Up, short mat time and get ready for….
12.15 Creek time

12.50 Lunch
1.15 Inside quiet activities, manipulatives, drawing etc.
2.00 Music /games
3.00 Kindergarten Program Ends.

4.00 Centre Closes

During the final term we make regular visits to the Prep classroom and sometimes share a lunch time with them, as well as joining the whole School in Morning Circle.

What to Bring to Kindy

• A sunhat that stays at school (a broad brimmed hat is the only suitable style, no caps or visors.)
• Clothes suitable for climbing and messy activities. These clothes should also encourage independence in changing and toileting.
• Enough food for lunch and morning tea. The children require a substantial amount of food. Please ensure it is sentitent, healthy with minimal packaging, no preservatives, artifical colours and flavours and low or no sugar.
• A named, unbreakable plastic cup with a handle; this stays at school.
• At least one change of clothes (Old clothes are the best, as the children will be engaged in messy play).
• These clothes can stay at school in a clearly named plastic bag.
• A big bag/port to carry all of these belongings, plus art work.
• Footwear that the children can manage themselves.

Swimming at the Creek

We swim in the creek in the last term of the year.The creek is a wonderful and unique experience for the children. They learn confidence in the water, safety and concern for others. We watch the children become very capable swimmers, rock hoppers, dam builders, rock wall constructors and environmental scientists who make all kinds of discoveries. It is also emotionally a great release for everyone as well as being cool and refreshing. Water and children just go together.
However, it is also a huge responsibility for us and each year we will need parental support to let this happen.
We will only be taking the children swimming at the creek if we have 4 adults to supervise.

Birthdays

Birthdays are such an exciting event in the lives of young children and we love to celebrate this with them at preschool. Often, parents will make a cake (or cup cakes) and bring this to Kindy to share with the group. We have the recipe for a delicious vegan carob cake, which always turns out superb. We are more than willing to give this to you if you are having a problem finding a cake recipe that does not contain eggs (the Schools’ food Policy is addressed below under ‘Nutrition’). Please do not use icing sugar and sugary toppings.
If you don’t celebrate birthdays or other special occasions, please let us know before the event.

Nutrition

At The River School SNACKS AND LUNCHES are required to be vegetarian (no meat, fish or eggs) and sentient (no onions, garlic or mushrooms). If more information is required please contact Prabha or Dada. As well as the vegetarian aspect of Kindy lunches, we also emphasise the importance of healthy, non-packaged food.

Please make every attempt to minimise the amount of packaging your child brings to Kindy. (Packaging creates a waste and litter problem. Encouraging children to be aware of packaging enables them to make choices about their involvement in the waste problem of the school and the planet.)

To encourage independence please ensure that food is easily managed by the children themselves.

Lunch suggestions:

• Crackers and cheese
• Fresh, cut fruit
• Dried fruit
• Cut fresh vegetables
• Nuts
• Salad and pasta
• Yoghurt
• Sandwiches
• Corn or soy chips (highly salted and flavoured potato chips are not recommended for good health)

Toys or treasures from home.

We discourage children from bringing toys or special items from home as these may get lost or damaged. This can be upsetting for the child and yourself. We have at times initiated a Show and Tell day for the children. You don’t need to find something for your child to bring and definitely no toys are to be brought. Please keep this opportunity for those times when your child is bursting to show a found natural treasure or tell some very important news.

Medication Administration

(Where possible, medications should be administered to your child at times other than during school hours).

All medication supplied to the school must be in a container labelled by a pharmacist/natural practitioner, showing the name of the medication, the use by date or date of distribution, the name of the student’s medical practitioner, the name of the student, the dosage and the frequency of administration.

A dated, signed, letter of request to administer must be sent with the medication and given to PreSchppl staff, so this can be entered into the medication register.

In the day to day activities of the children, we encounter the occasional injury or upset ie : ant bites, falls, trauma etc. for which we will administer Rescue Remedy or Homoeopathic remedies. If any information is needed on these please contact the office.

Infectious Diseases & Head Lice

Children suffering from an infectious complaint (measles, mumps, chicken pox, whooping cough, etc) must remain at home for the period specified by the Health Dept. or family doctor. We will call parents, and ask them to come and pick up their child if they are exhibiting signs of a contagious disease (this also applies to head lice).

School Policies

Behaviour Management Policy -Safe, Happy & Free To Learn-
Each child is a unique individual that is part of a unique family structure. Each family have their own value and belief systems and family expectations and understandings. When children enter preschool they enter a new social environment where there may be a set of different expectations than those of home.

As children become familiar with the new social setting, they decide how they will respond to these expectations. For most children, the adjustment is smooth, some children may experience a few difficulties and for a small number the adjustment can be quite challenging.

At the River School, behaviour is managed with careful consideration of each child’s differences while keeping the interests of all the children in mind.

Behaviour Management is achieved by:

• Close monitoring of behaviour by staff.
• Supporting children as they learn about their needs and choose socially acceptable ways to have them met.
• Helping children choose appropriate, safe behaviours for themselves and towards those around them.
• Teaching children to use assertive “I” messages, to listen to others express their feelings and to use verbal communication instead of emotional outbursts or physical force.
• Withdrawing a child from play if they choose physically aggressive behaviour until the child is able to make better choices.
• vEnsuring the safety and security of children takes first priority.
• Keeping records of incidents and discussing them with parents of each child concerned.
• Modelling positive, behaviour strategies.
• Involving the children in decision making and setting up of school rules.

“The child’s psychology is superlatively inclined towards play,
A child’s thirst for knowledge has to be awakened through the medium of games and through play alone s/he must be taught.”
P R Sarkar
Spiritual teacher of Ananda Marga