Well done to the team for delivering a fabulous autumn Holiday Program! We had an awesome time, with Nerf Challenge, puppet shows, Chinese Friendship Garden in Darling Harbour, dress ups, Ninja Parc at South Granville, talent show, Master Chef, gardening, skateboarding, yum cha, Ritz at Randwick, rock climbing, tacos, virtual reality in Bondi Junction, bubble soccer plus heaps of crafts, sports, experiments and so much more…
We've had a blast in our ACTIVITY CLUBS over the past two weeks! Here's a glimpse into all the excitement
ART & CRAFT: We've been getting creative with Easter-themed crafts like bouncing rabbits, handprint bunnies, and stained-glass window eggs
BAKING CLUB: Thanks to our two wonderful Scottish educators, we whipped up some delicious Scottish shortbread!
SPORTS: Hockey, dodgeball, oz-tag, cubbies, and lots of soccer!
EXPLORE & DISCOVER: From self-inflating balloons to leaf-cycle artworks, homemade chalk to rainbow clouds, it's been a fortnight filled with exploration and discovery.
A big thank you to those who attended the Hive AGM on Friday 22nd March. You can find more details of the meeting here.
We bid a fond farewell to Rob and Sanj as outgoing committee members. Over 10 years of service to The Hive between them, which is just extraordinary! Your efforts will be gratefully remembered for many more years to come. Thank you 🙏 🙏
And we warmly welcome John and Alex (both Y1 parents) as incoming President and VP respsectively. The Hive team is excited to work with you! 🎉 🎉
We have a couple of spots remaining for two of our TERM 2 paid Hive activities:
SOCCER Monday Y2-6 is now opening up to Y1 - click here to register
SKATEBOARDING Tuesday Y1-6 - click here to register
It’s a jam-packed, fun-filled programme and some days are already fully booked… If you want to join the waitlist, please either ‘Request a Space’ via the app, or email us.
Early pricing has now ended, so please add $10 to the price shown on the calendar. We allocate accurate pricing to all app bookings the day after the booking is made.
Remember: MONDAY 29th APRIL is still school holidays, so if you need a spot, book now.
We say a HUGE thank you to FIONA in Y1 for being one of our most good considerate, thoughtful and smiley little bees!
Always ready to offer help and constantly looking for ways to support the staff - we really appreciate you Fiona
Keep up the good work!
Jena is a former Bondi Beach Public School student and loves enjoying the sunshine and beach whenever she can!
She is currently studying a bachelor of primary education and loving it! One of Jena’s passions is music, especially playing the piano, with over 14 years of experience.
In 2023 Jena spent time travelling around Europe, and loved island hopping in the Greek islands. Her favourite Island was Folegandros since it's where part of her family comes from.
HIVE AGM is TOMORROW - Friday 22nd March at 9am
If you’re able to join us - please do. Meeting will be held in the Bee Box (demountable near the pedestrian gate) and not the Hive room as previously advertised.
Welcome BBQ reminder: Remember to pick the kids up a bit early if you can, to go and join in the fun. If you want someone else to collect your child from Hive, and take them along - you need to email bookings or text 0450 896 686.
WATCH THE WEATHER!! We’re seeing some cooler weather start to creep in, so please be sure to pack layers for the kids. It can get chilly, especially later on in the afternoons…
The April HP program looks AWESOME and is filling up fast…!! Instructions for booking are on our website.
Please do NOT submit a ‘holiday’ notification - this is not the same as making an HP booking!
Please make sure you book the correct program: YK-1 = Little Bees, Y2-6 = Big Bees.
Except: Fri 19 & Wed 24 April - Y2-3 should book Little Bees (program has been specially tailored for the broader age range)
Our morning crew is always bustling with excitement before the school day begins. This fortnight, we've embraced rainy days with lively board game sessions, plenty of dressups and spirited rounds of hide and seek! Our breakfast club special of the week is delicious yogurt and frozen fruit, but our famous Hive cheesy toasties remain the top pick! If you have a breakfast favourite you'd like to see on our menu, don't hesitate to share your suggestions with us.
Our garden bees have been buzzing around like crazy this week! They've been hard at work pulling out the old green bean plants, but don't worry, they saved some seeds to plant next spring! They also planted some new seedlings and did lots of watering. They've been real busy bees!
Can you 🤖 "Spot the Bot' 🤖 ? Our mischievous robot friend has been playing hide-and-seek all around the school lately, and we could really use your help to track it down! Check out the pictures at the bottom…
Check out all the photos for a sneak peek of the awesome fun we've been having in our amazing activity clubs over the past couple of weeks:
ART & CRAFT: paper weaving, welcome BBQ posters, cardboard roll bumblebees, cupcake hot air balloons, rainbow paintings…
BAKING CLUB: Blueberry muffins & cinnammon rolls. Yummmmmm!! 😋😋
SPORTS: circus skills, netball, archery, soccer, dodgeball and more
EXPLORE & DISCOVER: DIY stress balls, bug hunts, nature collages - and a special shoutout to "GG's Salon" which is so awesome that the kids line up to get their hair and nails done!
Well done to our awesome KINDY COHORT for completing their Hive induction! We’ve been running dedicated activities and spaces for them for the first few weeks of term, and now they’re ready to join in the wider program and to mix it up with kids from all the different age groups. GO KINDYS!!!!
And remember - our dedicated Kindy team - Jen and Lucia - are still on hand, and connecting with the Kindys every single day during roll call, afternoon tea and free play…
Katie is from Glasgow, Scotland and has been on the team for 3 years now. She loves helping Hive kids develop their cooking and baking skills. When not at the Hive she runs her own swim school, Swell Swimming and has taught several Hive kids and parents over the years… 🏊♀️ 🏊♀️
Katie recently attempted the 20km Rottnest Island Swim but had to stop halfway, due to the race being abandoned!
HIVE COMMUNICATIONS: A reminder that we’re using the XPLOR HOME app for our comms. You need app notifications switched ON to make sure you don’t miss out!
We duplicate all messages to email, so please look out for emails from no-reply@myxplor.com - thank you.
NEW READING ROOM: Our new reading room / quiet space is open for business! The new hatch at the back of the Hive room, combined with a safety mirror, means the whole new space can be supervised from the main room. This gives kids a lovely sense of independence, whilst still being actively supervised. The kids are loving the space - we’re seeing lots of reading, chilling & chatting and lots of boys & girls enjoying the Bluey playhouse in there. There’s a project underway to make curtains to cover the cupboards and white walls, bringing more warmth and softness to the space.
OUR GARDEN: The kids are loving their time in the garden, as much as ever! We’re making new plans for the beds that held the sunflowers over the summer - watch this space for updates. This last fortnight, we’ve been collecting votes from both kids and parents to help us choose a new garden project. The options are: sensory garden, indigenous planting, biodiversity project (to attract bees, birds, bugs etc) or a biodegradable/composting project… Once we’ve counted all votes, Nelly will apply for a Junior Landcare grant to help us realise the project!
When:: Friday 22 March, 0900
Where:: Hive room
What:: Pls submit nominations for Committee positions to Ellie by this coming Friday, 15th March:
Prez
Vice Prez
Treasurer
Secretary
any other roles you’d like to create and fill!!
PLEASE COME ALONG on the day!! We’d love to see you there, whether you’d like to join the Exec Committee, become a general committee member, or just observe as an ordinary member…
This is your chance to get involved and help shape the future of our ever-evolving centre!
Bookings will open next week (Wk7). You can book via the app - instructions will be at the bottom of the calendar and also on our website.
We ease into excursions for the new Kindys, through the course of the year. In April, we’re starting with a trip to the Ritz cinema in Randwick to see Kung Foo Panda 4, then a visit to a local playground!
As usual: YK-1 book Little Bees, Y2-6 book Big Bees.
There are two exceptions, days when Big Bees is for Y4-6 only and Y2-3 should book into Little Bees, which has been specially tailored for the broader age range:
- Fri 19 April
- Wed 24 April
We look forward to receiving your bookings. Places will fill up - so please book early, and take advantage of the early bird pricing which ends midnight Sunday 31st March.
This week we say well done to FLO & PHOENIX in Y5!!
These two have been really intuitive and helpful to staff recently - with a knack for knowing exactly what kind of actions are supportive in the moment. It’s a wonderful skill to develop and great for our younger kids to watch and learn from.
🐝 🐝 brilliant bees!! 🐝 🐝
Asha is a BBPS OG, and has spent her whole life in Bondi. She loves living by the beach, swimming and enjoying our beautiful Sydney weather.
Asha is half German and recently spent a few months travelling in Europe, where she visited SIX different countries and stayed with her dad’s family in Germany!
This awesome event is a huge hit every year! And it’s a lovely way to welcome the new Kindy families into our wonderful school community.
If you can, why not collect your child from Hive a bit earlier on Fri 22 March, and take them along to join in the fun! There’ll be loads on offer and tons of fun to be had.
A big thank you to the P&C for putting this on each year.
Hive is very happy to support!!
IS YOUR APP WORKING?
There are still a handful of parents who haven’t yet created their parent account and downloaded the app. Without this, you can’t sign your children in/out!
So, reminder - ALL parents should download the XPLOR HOME app. If you know your partner hasn’t yet set up their account, let us know and we will re-send the invitation. We can also help them out on the spot, at the centre...
👋 WELCOME TOM!! 👋
We’re very happy to welcome TOM onto the team! Tom joins us with experience of delivering kids events at a trampoline park, music tutoring and running parkour sessions. Many strings to his bow! His wonderful energy and infectious smile mean he’s going to be a great addition to the team. Welcome Tom!
🗓️ HIVE AGM - YOU ARE INVITED!! 🗓️
> Friday 22 March, 0900, Hive room
> Send in nominations for Committee positions by Fri 15th March:
- Prez, Vice Prez, Treasurer, Secretary - and any other roles you’d like to create and fill!!
> PLEASE COME ALONG on the day!! We’d love to see you there, whether you’d like to join the Exec Committee, become a general committee member, or just listen in as an ordinary member…
NEW KINDYS:
Our wonderful new Kindys are settling in so well! With 92% of the whole year enrolled, we have a great Kindy cohort attending every single session. 👍 For these first few weeks, the Kindys enjoy a tailored activity program, plus dedicated play and rest spaces. They’re also busy getting familiar with our regular Hive routines and exploring all the awesome resources we have for them to play with. We’re seeing lots of smiles and good energy - so it feels like an awesome start to the year! 🎉 🎉
ONCE YOU’VE SIGNED OUT…
Please remember to leave the school grounds as soon as you sign out. We know it’s tempting to stay and hang out at the play equipment - and it probably feels harmless - but in fact it presents several complications: it becomes harder for our staff to distinguish and effectively supervise the children who remain in our care. There’s also a risk to younger siblings, who might get caught up (or knocked down) by the games we’re running on the basketball court. The safety and security of the children in our care is our highest priority, and we thank you in advance for your support with this.
WHO’S AT THE GATE?
As mentioend, the kids’s safety is our top priority, and we want to be sure that we know who’s coming into the school. Please help us out by making your face visible when you buzz at the gate. It’s a little thing, but very helpful when we’re using the intercom.
Every single term, we drill both evacuations and lockdowns, once in the morning, once in the afternoon and once in the holidays. This way, we hope every child has chance to practice what to do in an emergency.
WORKS IN THE HIVE ROOM:
We have fantastic brand new child-safe bag hooks situated around the outside of the Hive room. This is great from an increased supervision point of view, and means there is no need for children (or parents!) to enter the school hallways during Hive pick-up.
We’re also completing work to knock through a ‘window’ between the Hive room and the newly established quiet area in the back room. This allows for a separate-but-connected quiet space for resting, reading - and even sleeping! Thanks to school for supporting for our need to make this modification, in order to enhance our supervision of the new chill zone.
Bookings for April HP will open in Week 7.
In the meantime, we’d love to hear what you thought of the Summer HP - please take just a few minutes to full out our Summer HP Survey. Your input will help us better meet your needs, and we love hearing what you think - good, bad and ugly! Thanks in advance for your feedback.
Shout out this week to ASHER in YK!
Asher is our Bee of the Week for demonstrating great
listening, practicing positive behaviour and setting
such agood example for all his Kindy friends.
Keep up the good work Asher!!
Our biggest year ever at the Hive means we’re so excited to introduce this new role and to grow our relationship with the lovely Mel, who manages the BBPS school canteen.
Mel will be preparing delicious, wholesome, good-energy foods for Hive’s afternoon tea, preparing the odd treat here and there and also helping us set up a Seniors Chef School. Yay!
Mel is mum to three boys who’ve come through the school, and so has been on the scene one way or another for over 12 years now! She knows the school and the kids very well, and is a wonderful safe pair of hands for feeding our Bees!
WELCOME TO 2024: A big hello to all our returning bees, and families. We saw many of you over the holidays (check out all the pics!) and those we didn’t - we missed ya! And a massive WELCOME to all our new Little Bees in Kindy. We have 90% of your whole year enrolled at The Hive, and we can’t wait to get to know you all!
LOST PROPERTY: We still have a few Lost Property items left over from Holiday Program - so please check the box in the Hive room. Unclaimed items will be donated to charity or sent to our ‘spares’ box.
RETURNING BORROWED ITEMS: And speaking of spares… our reserves are very low! If your child borrowed clothes/hat/towel etc during Holiday Program, please wash and return it as soon as possible. Spares are important in case of accidents, and on days when kids don’t have the right clothes for the weather.
PLEASE PACK FOR ALL SEASONS: The weather is changeable, and a warm morning might become a cold afternoon. Please send kids with layers that will help them stay comfortable all day, even if the weather changes during the day. And of course…. HAT!
We’re now fully migrated to Xplor, and we thank everyone for their cooperation with this big move. It’s been pretty smooth and we’re getting great feedback from parents.
A reminder that there are full instructions on our website for making bookings via the Xplor Home app. If you’re unsure, check it out.
All casual and Holiday bookings are made via the app. All requested changes (add/delete) to permanent bookings should be requested via email.
The best news about bookings is that we have managed to remove all waitlists - which is a huge relief to everyone! 👏 👏
THAT’S IT FOR NOW… We have so many awesome photos from the last couple of months, and we know the start of the year is already super busy - so we’ll keep the words brief for this newsletter. Enjoy the photos…!
XPLOR software : A huge thank you for the 200+ child enrolments already completed in Xplor, along with the positive feedback from parents who are loving the new platform! If you haven’t yet enrolled, check for an email from ‘bookings’ on Fri 8 Dec, titled “SUPER IMPORTANT”. Don’t delay, as we’re already oversubscribed on Tue, Wed, Thu afternoons.
WAITLISTS for TERM 1 : We’ve got the highest ever number of booking requests for 2024 - and we know there are families who’ve still not enrolled. So, we’re busy recruiting more staff and we’re also very happy to report that Ms O’Neill has offered to share a second room with us next year. This is awesome news and will be a huge help in ensuring we can continue to offer appropriate eating, resting and activity spaces for a broadening age range of children, and delivering the highest levels of care that you’ve come to expect. We’re keeping waitlists as low as possible, and are monitoring them daily for movement and progress.
TEAM UPDATE : Congratulations to GG who progresses to the senior team next year, becoming Stage Lead for Y3 and our Sports Coordinator. GG is also undertaking a Cert III in Outside School Hours Care. You can read more about GG below, in Bee of the Week!
Congrats also to the lovely Mel from the canteen, who will spread her wings to include The Hive, joining us as Food & Nutrition Lead for 2024. Mel will develop our 2024 menu, provide delicious, nutritious and wholesome afternoon tea for the kids, and will also run our Seniors Baking Club - in the canteen!
Finally a huge welcome to ELLIE, CLEMENTINE, ALICYA & MARLEY, all new recruits for the coming HP and 2024. Also to ZANE, who will join us for Holiday Programs only.
SENIORS in 2024 : We’re seeing a growing number of senior enrolments (Y4-6) and we’re so excited by this! In response, Term 1 will include dedicated Seniors activity options, exclusive Seniors access to the Hang Out zone, a brand new opportunity for Seniors Baking Club in the canteen (specific day TBC) and extra-curricular activities geared specifically towards the Seniors. As always, if you have any otehr suggestions, please let us know…
THANK YOU JON! As a long-standing Hive family moves away from Bondi, we bid farewell to Molly & Eve, and we also extend a hige thank you to dad Jon who was instrumental in getting the garden renovation completed and opening up all the wonderful opportunities that the kids now enjoy. What an awesome legacy to leave Jon, and we’re very grateful for everything you poured into this amazing project. Go well in the Northern Rivers!
Happy end of school year to all our Bees, Big and Little! We’re really looking forward to some fun times with you all over the holoidays, and December HP is ON! for Mon, Tue, Wed next week.
There are just a handful of spots left on the coaches on Monday & Tuesday, so if you’re keen - jump in! And Wednesday will be the BIGGEST end of year party, complete with games, treats, music, dress-ups, BBQ and… the G.O.A.T. NINJA inflatable!! Book through Becklyn for December HP - these will be the final bookings in the old software.
For January HP, book through the Xplor HOME app. Instructions are at the bottom of the calendars, found here. Early Bird pricing for January HP until midnight Sunday 17th Dec, and then all daily fees are +$10.
This week we pay tribute to CAMERON! Cameron has been joining us from Vaucluse Public since he was in Y1, and at the end of this week, he’ll wave goodbye to The Hive and get ready for some new adventures at high school.
Cameron is a huge personality, full of smiles, cheekiness, interesting facts and always ready to help out at The Hive.
Cameron, we’re going to miss you very much! And we wish you all the best for your high school chapter…
Congratulations GG on joining the senior team next year!
Did you know…? GG is a Canberra boy, who’s been in Sydney for 5 years now. He loves all things SWANS (in fact, sport in general) and his favourite food is… chicken wings!!
If he wasn’t an Educator, GG would be an actor - so watch this space, who knows what the future brings…?!
Kids need more calcium as they get older, to support their growing bones and adult teeth. 4-8 years olds need 1,000mg of calcium/day and 9-18year olds need 1,300mg.
Some foods are very high in calcium, with dairy foods among the best natural sources: milk, yogurt, hard cheeses-like cheddar. If you can’t eat dairy, try other foods such as: calcium-set tofu, calcium-fortified soy drinks, edamame beans, broccoli, collard greens, kale, chard, Chinese cabbage and other leafy greens, almonds, sesame seeds, white beans, red beans, and chickpeas, oranges, figs, and prunes. You can find out more here.
Gift-wrapping - After your child’s art has spent its time on the fridge, you could use it as wrapping paper or as part of a card. Family friends and family will love receiving gifts and cards created with love. If you do buy cards or wrapping paper – choose items made from recycled materials, and not wrapped in plastic. You could even try sending e-cards…
D-eco-rations – Many people reuse decorations year after year. If you are planning to buy new ones, why not try making them instead? Turn off your festive lights at night and try using LED ones where possible.
Presents – Take a look around your home. How many things do you already have? Do you really need more stuff? Maybe instead of buying more things this year, you could try an ‘experience’ instead. Like, a trip out to a theme park with a friend. Or a surfing lesson! You can also ask your family to get their gifts at eco-stores this year…
We can all play a part in helping the planet over this holiday period… Find out more here.
HAVE YOU ENROLLED YET FOR 2024?
Thank you to everyone who has enrolled already. We know there are families who haven’t yet - and we urge you to complete the process ASAP. You can’t attend January HP without an approved enrolment. Any enrolments not submitted by the end of this week may not get approved in time to book Jan HP.
WAITLISTS for 2024:
We’re already looking very busy for T1 and are currently running waitlists on Tue & Thu afternoons. Weds afternoon is also close to capacity. We’re seeking more space and recruiting more staff to help us accommodate the increased number of bookings.
So please enrol, and request your 2024 bookings as soon as possible.
CENTRE CLOSURE - STAFF BREAK:
We close for a much-anticipated break at 6pm Wed 20 Dec. We will not be working again until Mon 8 Jan, so please don’t leave your enrolment and any associated questions too late. We won’t be processing enrolments during the closure.
December dates - 18, 19, 20 Dec - should be booked through the Becklyn portal.
The two excursion days (18th & 19th) are almost full, so don’t delay.
January HP must be booked through the XPLOR HOME app. Booking instructions are at the bottom of the calendars.
We’ve got an AWESOME program lined up and can’t wait to see you all there!!
The wonderful, kind-hearted, open-minded, inclusive and supportive behaviour from these two has had us all watching and learning this week.
We see you DYLAN and LUCA
and we LIKE it… 🙌 🙌
…is going from strength to strength! We’ve got a compost bin on the go, which the canteen team are using, as well as us.
We’ve harvested various herbs, as well as micro greens from thinning out the carrots etc. We have eggplant on the way, plus carrots, cherry tomatoes, zucchini and more. Canteen have used the basil, and our own kids have snacked on the micro greens. Edie even used it to make thai beef salad!
ENROLMENTS are OPEN for 2024
…and 145 children are already enrolled in the new software. 👏👏
Remember to complete one form per child. This is one-off effort whilst we migrate, and won’t need to happen again, we promise. Please remember these things:
You need an approved 2024 enrolment in order to book January HP
Once enrolled, create your Parent account in HOME, and download the app
The app is the only place you can make casual & HP bookings
Permanent bookings should be requested via email
YOUR 2024 BOOKINGS
Please think carefully about which bookings you need for next year, and try to avoid overbooking where possible. We’re hoping to avoid waitlists if at all possible, and you can help us with this by only booking what you need. All the details for T1 extra-curriculars are now out there, so factor that in and we look forward to a busy, fun and happy 2024 with you all!
WELCOME LIAM!
We’re stoked to announce a new team member - Liam - joining us with several years experience at schools in the UK, primary and high schools. He’ll be up to speed in time to make sure we can handle the busyness of Holiday Program, and so we also have extra hands on deck for the new Kindys next year!
December HP (18th-20th) can be booked through the Becklyn portal - available now and booking out fast! Only a few spots left on the coaches on 18th & 19th Dec - so don’t hang about!
January HP (starting 8th Jan) requires an approved 2024 enrolment in XPLOR. Bookings will open w/c 20th November. Calendars and updated Ts&Cs are available on our website.
> HP Open: 8-12 Jan
> HP Open: 15-19 Jan
> Centre CLOSED: 22-26 Jan (staff training week)
> HP Open: 29-31 Jan
> Term 1 starts: Thu 1 Feb
This week, a shout out to the wonderful MARLENE in Y1.
Marlene is full of positive energy, which she
loves to share - lifting people up along the way.
She always brings a smile—usually a hug too—and our whole
team think it’s just the best way to start the afternoon...
Thanks Marlene - we love ya! 💕 💕 💕
With The Hive since 2022, Lucia is now one of our committed Kindy team, and she’s looking forward to meeting all the new Little Bees for 2024!
Did you know…? Lucia studies nursing, and hopes to specialise in the paediatric ICU or transition into paramedicine. She danced for over 14 years and now, alongside her Hive role, she’s also an assistant dance teacher at her old studio!
Despite growing up in Bondi, Lucia loves the cold and her favourite season is actually winter… ❄️❄️❄️
Did you know - our bodies are made up of approx 70% water? As the days gets longer and warmer, children are at a greater risk of dehydration than adults because, in relation to their size, children have a larger proportion of their skin available to lose sweat and suffer heat exposure. Also, children don’t always recognise thirst, and might forget to drink if not reminded. We take this seriously at The Hive, with regular reminders to drink throughout all our sessions.
The amount of water your child needs will vary according to age, size and activity levels. For kids under 8, a minimum 4-6 glasses of water per day is recommended. For kids 8+, it’s at least 6-8 glasses/day. If your child plays sport or is very active, they’ll need even more. Kids will also need more fluid on hotter days or when unwell. Read the full article from Healthy Kids here.
Gone are the old disposable plastic bags, but the ‘new’ reusable versions are everywhere and are too often becoming disposable.
Remembering your own bags is key to not having to buy more, and to minimising planet plastic.
How do you remember yours? Put them by the door? Scrunch them into one bag and throw them in the boot? What if there was a trick that meant they could fit into your handbag/backpack/baby bag?
Try folding your reusable bags this way and keep as many as you need, wherever you need them! More detailed instructions here
The Hide ‘n’ Seek series below …spot the children! 🤣 🤣
Keepy Uppy!!
Bug Spotting with Liam!
Our HALLOWEEN PARTY was a huge success. We had an inflatable obstacle course, face painting, spooky games, creative stations, cookie decorating, dress-ups, competitions and loads more… Massive shout out to the Hive team, who gave it it 100% to make sure 130 KIDS had the most spooktastic time ever!
YOU MAY HAVE SEEN: recent news articles about the acute staffing shortages in childcare throughout Australia at the moment. Whilst this problem is real, and widespread, we want to reassure you that at The Hive, we’ve recruited steadily and diligently over the last two years, including a thorough induction program and we are happy to report that we are fully staffed at the moment.
We employ a GM of 8 years at Hive, two qualified Nominated Supervisors both of 5+ years on the team, three Senior Team members (one primary teacher and one studying primary education) plus a wide pool of casual Educators, many of whom have been with us for years and several of whom undertake child/education-related studies. These staff all have regular shifts, offering consistency to the children. In addition, although mandated to operate at a ratio of 15:1, we roster an additional one or two supervisors, depending on booking numbers. So we’re rostering above ratio, for every shift.
In a nutshell, we’ve worked hard to ensure this team is hand-picked, qualified, engaged, consistent and well supported - meaning we can offer your children the highest levels of care possible.
Next week (w/c 6 Nov) you’ll receive an EMAILED INVITATION TO ENROL for 2024. Please read the enrolment form carefully, take the time to fully complete it, and upload all required documents. Within the form, you can request the permanent bookings you’d like for 2024.
When HP opens in Week 7, you’ll also be able to book January dates via this new software.
December HP dates (18th-20th) should be booked within the existing parent portal.
Bookings will open in Week 7. 🛎️ You should enrol in the new software before then!! 🛎️
🏖️ HP OPEN 18 - 20 Dec - book via existing software
⛔ CLOSED Thu 21 Dec - Sun 7 Jan
🏖️ HP OPEN Mon 8 Jan - book via the new software
⛔ CLOSED Mon 22 - Fri 26 Jan for a week of staff training
🏖️ HP OPEN Mon 29 - Wed 31 Jan
🏫 Term 1 starts (Y1-6 only) Thu 1 Feb
This week we salute PASSION!
OLIVIA in Kindy is so keen to find out all she can about BUGS! It’s awesome to see such curiosity, and eagerness to learn. Our new Gardening Club is a dream come true for Olivia :-)
Go Olivia - it’s a lovely quality, to find the wonder in
the natural world around us.
With The Hive since it all began, back in 2015 - Ellie has loved helping the centre to grow, in both size and scope.
Outside of work she’s a mum to two awesome teen girls and loves cooking, netball, camping, exploring Australia, getting crafty and flitting to UK & NZ to see family & friends.
Did you know… Ellie has lived in London, Cape Town and now Sydney; she speaks French; and is pretty nifty with a sewing machine! 🪡 🪡
Top of her bucket list is to see the aurora borealis…
Tricky topic, yes? Screen time and screen use are normal parts of life for most children. The time your child spends watching TV or on the computer, phone, iPad or gaming console can be part of a healthy lifestyle. It’s all about making sure the screen time offers safe, quality engagement, and that this is balanced with plenty of other healthy activities with friends and family. Advice is out there to help you navigate what can be a touchy subject in many households...
There are lots of tips and info on the Raising Children website.
We absolutely love seeing how excited the children are about the garden, how keen they are to learn and how willing they are to get involved. So far, we’ve planted strawberries, tomatoes and eggplants. We’re taking our time, making sure the kids are involved in all the stages, that they learn bits along the way, and that everyone gets chance to have a turn.
Nelly is doing an awesome job creating a sense of ownership of what we’re growing. We really think it could encourage the kids to think about food a little differently: about where it comes from, about how much (or little) we need, about how simple and precious it can be, and not to be wasted…
