2021 Term 3 Wk 7-8 - 📚 Book Week & Recyclables Week ♻️

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What’s the news?

We celebrated BOOK WEEK by making story tiles, creating our own books and bookmarks and - of course - doing lots of reading and enjoying all the great books in our Hive library.

We got busy finding out how much ‘rubbish’ we can actually reuse and recycle, with cardboard constructions, DIY lip balm, french knitting and making our own didgeridoos!

We also enjoyed lots of outdoor time - skipping, handball and hula hoops as well as perfecting our skills on the basketball court… 🏀

🏖️ Holiday Program 🏖️

A much reduced Holiday Program has been targeted to those families who’ve been attending school and/or Hive this term during lockdown and really need our support during that fortnight. Places are extremely limited due to reduced team size and the various restrictions and public health orders still in place. If you’re unable to care for your children at home during HP, please email us to enquire about availability.

For children aged 8-12, our lovely friends at WAYS are also offering a Holiday Program. You can enrol and book here: just click the APPLY button at the top of the page. You can also see their program at the bottom of this newsletter…

📝 * NEW * Policy Review 🧐

We’ve added a new feature on our homepage linking to the Hive policy currently under review, including a short summary of any updates, and a space at the bottom to submit your feedback. The best policy review process includes all stakeholders - and that includes YOU, our Hive families. Please take a couple of minutes to review and feedback.
🙏 Thank you 🙏

✅ Please mark ‘AWAY’ until end of lockdown ✅

Another reminder to mark your bookings AWAY through to the end of lockdown. The absences won’t be counted by Centrelink, and there’s no charge to you but we’ll still get the CCS payments as a form of support from the government. Thank you all for helping us out with this.

💞 Look after yourselves 💞

More than two months into lockdown now, and it can become easy to forget about exercise. The Heart Foundation has some great tips for staying active during lockdown - maybe some of them would work for you…

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Syd and Zango, sending smiles your way! 😊
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2021 Term 3 Wk 5-6 - we’ve got this!

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What’s the news?

Not so much news this fortnight; the Hive has been closed whilst the team were in isolation. We’ve been staying in touch, checking in with one another and making sure that everyone smiles at least once a day! We’ve all returned three negative tests and will be back in action from Monday.

A big thank you to Andrew and to Debbie B for taking care of the 🐟 🐡 🐠 for us! 🙏

In the background, we’ve used our time to work on our Quality Improvement Plan and various internal processes; also to prepare for a larger policy review drive - which we’ll share with you soon, and ask for your input.

✅ Please mark ‘AWAY’ until end of lockdown ✅

Another reminder to mark your bookings AWAY through to the end of lockdown. The absences won’t be counted by Centrelink, and there’s no charge to you but we’ll still get the CCS payments as a form of support from the government. Thank you all for helping us out with this.

📚 Home grown fabulousness! 🏆

To celebrate Book Week (22-27 August) award-winning children’s author (and Hive mum!) Victoria, is holding a special story time session, where she’ll share her latest books with you .

Tune in at 11am next Thursday to hear Victoria read The Bark Book and The Lion Who Came to Stay. To join in, sign up right here!

Her new book Ribbit, Rabbit, Robot is also on this year’s shortlist. We have fingers crossed for you Victoria. And thanks once again for donating your wonderful books to our Hive library!!

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🤔 Your suggestions… 🤔

Don’t forget - we’d love to hear what you think about The Hive.
What could we stop doing, start doing or do more of? Please take a minute to have your say…

💞 Look after each other 💞

We hope that you’re all doing OK at home, particularly those who’ve been isolating. Try and make time to be gentle with yourselves through lockdown 🙂

…and maple says: if all else fails, just lick your own nose! 👌

Edie, preparing for her return to the hive! 😂

JARA AND AGGIE SAY HELLO and 👍👍!

Syd and Zango, sending smiles your way! 😊

Syd and Zango, sending smiles your way! 😊

Euge and Rufina, showing us how chilling is done… 😎

G’day from Ellie, on a chilly morning… ❄️

G’day from Ellie, on a chilly morning… ❄️

2021 Term 3 Wk 3-4 - National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day

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Jack in the box!

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What’s the news?

During lockdown, we’re running a reduced activity program which is updated weekly on our website. Thanks Eugenia, for keeping it fun and interesting, even with such a limited audience.

We love getting outdoors on these beautiful sunny days - and the colourful handball courts have become a favourite spot for all sorts of things: yoga, drawing and of course… handball!

Here are a couple more links for some activity and experiment inspo…! This week, why not try Science Fun or National Geographic

🤔 Your suggestions… 🤔

Whilst most of our families are away from The Hive, it might be a good chance to think about how we can do better. What could we change, start doing or do more of? We would love to hear from you, so please take a minute to fill in the form and have your say!

✅ Please mark AWAY until 27th August ✅

A reminder to mark your bookings AWAY through to 27th August, in line with the current lockdown end date. No charge to you, but we’ll still get the CCS payments as a form of support from the government. Thank you all for helping us out with this.

💞 Look after each other 💞

These are trying times and it’s important to look after our own mental health and that of our children, especially as many of the usual social connections just aren’t available during lockdown. The Raising Children website give good tips on nurturing the mental health of younger school-age and pre-teen children (as well as loads of other great info).

Some tips to support your children during COVID-19 outbreak:

• Dedicate some time to have a conversation about it all, to ask them gently what they already know and understand, so that you can get a sense of what they have been exposed to, answer any questions and correct any misunderstandings

• Listen, and validate your child’s feelings. Anxiety is real for many people right now, but with understanding and reassurance from you, any anxiety will lessen

• Suggest they have regular contact via Zoom/Skype/phone with the people they’re missing, such as grandparents, school friends etc

• Remind them there are things they can do that are in their control to help keep them safe, eg: hand washing and physical distancing. Remind them that by staying at home you are keeping yourselves safe as well as others

• Use this opportunity to focus on kindness; share with your children some of the ways that you can together look out for vulnerable family members, neighbours and friends

• Look out for the ‘helpers’: show your children some examples of those in the community who are stepping up and helping others when they need it most

• Let your children know that you are their safe space, they can approach you any time with any questions, and that you will always answer them as honestly as you can. 

• An app or mindfulness practice at night can help children who are feeling anxious.  Or try this Pokemon cosmic yoga experience!

• Check in with yourself often: the way that you are carrying your own anxiety and worries about the pandemic can be felt by your children too. Look after each other.

Our spidery new friend! She was lovely and cosy inside, but we gently suggested she might prefer to be outside…

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2021 Term 3 Wk 1-2 - home sweet home

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We’re so happy to be back home at BBPS
💛🖤💛 and in our wonderful Hive room 💛🖤💛
(even if we are missing almost all the lovely kids…!)

Thank you everyone…

…for supporting school & the Hive by following the Public Health Orders and keeping children at home where possible.

For when it’s not possible, we’re open every morning and afternoon, caring for a very small crew, running a simplified program, and still having loads of fun! The kids are loving our new role play tool bench, supermarket and cafe resources! The decreased attendance also means we’ve tipped the balance of focus towards the administrative and behind-the-scenes aspects of our work; we’re all still keeping very busy!


Are all your bookings in place?

If you had Term 2 bookings which you cancelled because of Covid, please consider reinstating them and marking them ‘absent’ during lockdown (currently until 30th July). This will help us receive funding from the government, and will cost you nothing; there is no charge to parents for notified absences during lockdown. If you’re not sure what to do, drop us an email and we’ll help you out.


💞 Look after each other 💞

We hope all our families are doing OK through lockdown, and that you’re all looking after yourselves and one another. We’re all trying to get outdoors at least once a day, but it can still be a challenge to fill the hours at home with the kids. Below are a couple of links that might help you out…

This mega-list of (mostly) screen-free activities, was compiled by a Sydney mum and has already gone viral…

And if your (maybe slightly older) kids enjoy more of a science/engineering challenge, try this collection of experiments, many of which use things you’ll already have at home…

2021 July HP, now back to BONDI ! !

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Holiday Program and Bellevue Hill - it’s a wrap…

Our stay at Bellevue Hill is now over, and two weeks of Holiday Program are done and dusted - despite Covid restrictions and a mini shutdown. The team stayed on their toes the whole time, making up new activities and fun games for all the children, despite limited space/resources and the ban on incursions & excursions.

We enjoyed colouring in, magnatiles, craft projects, hair wraps, puppet making / puppet shows, group gymnastics, lots of skipping, LOADS of handball, playing cards, lego plus our very own talent show - and that’s only some of what we got up to…!

Thanks to all our HP families for understanding the challenges, offering continuing support, and adhering to the Covid restrictions as they evolve.

TERM 3 - back in BONDI, Tue 13th July

* * WE’RE CLOSED ON MONDAY 12th JULY * *

  • We’re back in our wonderful Hive room at BBPS for Term 3 - we’ve missed it!!

  • We’re offering care to the children of essential workers only - keep kids home if you can

  • We will remove all charges for notified absences in T3 W1

  • Parents are not allowed into school, we’ll collect/deliver children to you at the gate - more detail to follow once we understand the situation onsite

  • You cannot drop children at the gate in the morning - you must wait for an Educator to collect

  • Any child with symptoms must be kept at home, and get tested if required - use this symptom checker tool

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2021 Term 2 Wk 9-10 - off to Bellevue Hill!

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HIVE NEWS

Well, what a huge couple of weeks…!
After the fire at BBPS on Wed 9th June - with a slick evacuation of 71 kids - and a subsequent relocation of everyone up to Bellevue Hill, I’m happy to report that we just finished two successful weeks of afternoon Hive sessions from our new location.

Huge shout-out to:

  • our amazing HIVE TEAM, for running the evacuation as true professionals, keeping the kids calm and safe and for continuing to give 110% as we navigate the creation and operation of a new centre at BHPS, and now all the changes that Covid brings to our Holiday Program

  • our KIDS, for being awesome, for using their drills experience to allow our staff to do what was needed during the fire

  • our HIVE FAMILIES, for all your wonderful messages of support since the fire. They have all been shared with the whole team, and the words are truly precious. Thank you.

  • all the BBPS SCHOOL STAFF for supporting The Hive so solidly both during and since the fire (and for handling the rapid school relocation so well!)

  • our new FRIENDS up at BELLEVUE HILL PS, who’ve welcomed us warmly and gone to great lengths to help us settle in

* * HOLIDAY PROGRAM UPDATE * *

Holiday Program is ON! Running from Bellevue Hill PS…

  • Mon 28 Jun - Fri 9 July 0730-1800

  • CLOSED on Monday 12th July

  • Drop/collect kids at the SOUTH GATE on Bellevue Park Rd (cul de sac)

  • NO PARENTS ON SITE

    • call 0450 896 686 for gate access

    • we’ll sign kids in/out for you

EVOLVING COVID RESTRICTIONS mean ongoing changes to the program:

  • all excursions cancelled

  • some incursions cancelled - TBC

  • we’re re-planning as necessary, please bear with us

  • if you can’t book, email us for a place on the waitlist

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2021 Term 2 Wk 7-8 - Reconciliation

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PARENT NEWS/REMINDERS

  • Remember to check out our HOLIDAY PROGRAM calendars, and book in before we fill up!

    ⚠️⚠️ The system defaults to LITTLE BEES so PLEASE take care to book into the correct program/age group. ⚠️⚠️

  • Reminder: the children’s BATHROOMS at school are 100% out of bounds to parents.

  • Hive children are not allowed to talk to through the SCHOOL FENCE. For consistency and the security of all children, this also includes talking to parents - we appreciate your support.

  • If your child’s DIETARY REQUIREMENTS CHANGE at any stage, please let us know. Just email Sydney, our Nutrition Lead!

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2021 Term 2 Wk 5-6 - Cultural Diversity & Fantasy Weeks

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HOLIDAY PROGRAM BOOKINGS ARE OPEN!!

👏🏻 Book now to avoid missing out 👏🏻
Extended opening from 7:30am - 6:00pm

Increasing numbers (yay!) mean we can once again offer a split program on most days:

PARENT REMINDERS

  • It’s ❄️ CHILLY ❄️ now, especially by late afternoon. PLEASE REMEMBER to pack warm clothes for your children - including name labels!!

  • It’s Hive and school policy that children’s own toys remain at home. We have SO many cool things for the kids to play with here, so let’s avoid the distress caused when home toys get lost/damaged/’borrowed’. Parents, please support us with this from home 💪

  • Once you’ve SIGNED OUT, please head out of school straight away. We appreciate your support

  • Unless taking part in an organised Hive wheels session, please remember that WHEELS should only be ridden once outside the school gates. This is the same rule for school and Hive, for kids and parents…!

  • FOUND: one children’s VTech watch. If you think it might be yours - please email, letting us know the colour…

  • We have all the milk cartons we need now, thank you everyone. No further callouts this week! 🙏

  • An update that the whole Hive team just underwent CPR and First Aid training renewals. All your 🐝🐝 are in safe hands!

🐝 BEE of the WEEK is…

ARDEN in Y1, for being a wonderful, creative, caring friend to others at The Hive 🤗

WHAT HAVE THE KIDS BEEN UP TO…?

  • Our Hive SENIORS were super busy this fortnight with excursions, making their own afternoon tea, a diversity project, dart painting, clay club, wheels, a tonne of sports, buddying with the little ones, baking club and so much more!

  • Our LITTLE BEES didn’t stop either: colouring, canvas painting, clay club, hat making, cubby building, world-creating, baking, dragon eggs, puppets and friendship bracelets! And there were tonnes of sport, like soccer, handball, archery, races and spike ball.

Never a dull moment at The Hive…! 😄

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2021 Term 2 Wk 3-4 - Mothers & Others / Recycled Craft / Anti-Bullying

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HIVE NEWS

>> We hope mothers & others had a wonderful day on the 9th. We salute you all! Our Hive kids were certainly very busy all week making cards, soaps, massage bees, framed photos and all sorts of lovely things for the people they love.

>> We strive to deliver the program as advertised, but sometimes the weather or rostering challenges make it hard to run Wheels Club or Senior Excursions. Please bear with us on those days - we stick to the plan whenever we can. That said, we finally got the seniors over the road this week, and they had a blast!

>> On that note, we are currently recruiting to EXPAND our wonderful team, remove our small waiting lists and offer even more amazing activities. Please get to know the new faces on our team!

>> We’re glad to now have a huge map of Australia showing all the Aboriginal nations. This will form the basis for various discussions and projects within our Reconciliation Action Plan.

>> We have lots of wonderful new artworks up on the walls: salt paintings, leaf watercolours, sugar skulls and more… Several of the kids also created their own anti-bullying posters, showing some real empathy, insight and creative ideas… 👏👏👏

Come on in and take a look at all the amazing new artwork on display…!!

🐝 of the WEEK is…

MIMI in YK, for saying the thing she enjoyed most about her recycled robot project was all the TEAMWORK with her buddy Ava - what a lovely thing to hear!

SHOUT OUT FOR…

  • old newspapers & magazines

  • 1 or 2 litre milk containers in opaque plastic

Our new map of Australia, showing all the Aboriginal peoples’ nations

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
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2021 Term 2 Wk 1-2 - Back to School & Anzac Week

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HIVE NEWS

>> Welcome back to TERM 2! We had a wonderful Holiday Program and thank you to everyone who is taking part in our HP SURVEY. We’d love to hear from even more of you - so if you have 2 minutes, please complete our survey here.

>> Hive has accumulated surplus funds during a lull in major works at school over recent years. Now, we're very happy to be able to CONTRIBUTE towards the UPGRADE & DEVELOPMENT WORKS currently underway in the back playground. We can't wait for the kids to enjoy the many exciting new elements on offer later this year!

>> We’re getting busier, so have made provision for a SECOND SIGN IN/SIGN OUT STATION outside the Hive room. If there’s a queue of parents, please use the second iPad!

>> Our TERM 2 PROGRAM is looking amazing! Some highlights below:

  • Painting Club

  • Clay Club

  • Dedicated Seniors option every day

  • Seniors mini excursions (if sufficient numbers)

  • Hive Wheels day

  • Baking Club

  • as well as all the usual Craft, Sport, Science & Imaginative Play…!

👏👏 CONGRATULATIONS SYDNEY! 👏👏

Sydney has been with our Hive team for three years already, and she now joins our Senior Team as Co-ordinator for Holiday Program, Food & Nutrition and Senior Program.
Alongside her recent Diploma in Early Childhood Education & Care, Sydney brings a wealth of hands-on experience to her new role, plus a deep affection for our wonderful Hive community. We’re super happy to support Sydney with this next step in her career, and we know she’ll continue to do great things

SHOUT OUT FOR…

  • old newspapers & magazines

  • 1 or 2 litre milk containers in opaque plastic