2023 Term 1 - Weeks 7-8

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🛎️ 🛎️ HIVE PHILOSOPHY REFRESH 🛎️ 🛎️

DING DING!!! You recently received an email about our Hive philosophy review,
and a huge thank you to those who’ve already taken part!

We’d love a few more parent responses before the next stage of the review process, so please click here.

Your input is important, valuable and hugely relevant - so please commit 5 minutes to have your say.
Thanks in advance… 🙏 🙏

 

👋 LIVE FROM THE HIVE … 👋

CONGRATULATIONS… to JEN, ANA and LAUREN who have all just taken on the roles of Senior Educator & Group Leader. JEN will be allocated to YK, ANA to Y1-2 and LAUREN to Y3-6. This exciting restructure reflects the growth of our centre and our team, and allows us to further target our focus towards smaller groups of kids, their wellbeing and the activities we offer them.

Edie remains our Child & Family Lead, and is still the parents’ go-to for anything you’d like to discuss.

🏖️ HOLIDAY PROGRAM 🏖️

Bookings are now open! Please book early to avoid missing out. Check out the calendars for LITTLE BEES and BIG BEES, and please remind yourselves of our Ts&Cs.


🐝 BEES OF THE WEEK 🐝

…are the whole HIVE TEAM, who spent last
Tuesday evening making sure they are trained and ready to deal with any health emergency or injury.

💓 We’ve also invested in our own Hive defibrillator 💓

💡 PARENT REMINDERS 🤔

AFTERNOONS: Once you’ve signed out at the iPad, please be sure to leave the school grounds promptly. If children remain at school after sign-out, it could compromise the effective supervision of those children still in Hive care.

 

2023 Term 1 - Weeks 5-6

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👋 LIVE FROM THE HIVE … 👋

Morning sessions: We focus on helping the kids to prep and pack away their own breakfasts. This includes, toast & spreads, cheese toasties, cereals (4⭐ min. rating) and smoothies. Life skills & nutrition, all in one!

Our increased numbers of older kids this year means we’ll be moving to a split afternoon program from Term 2, with one or two activities each afternoon tailored especially to children in Y3 and above… 👊👊

New Child Safe Standards from the Office of the Children’s Guardian are being reviewed for full integration into our existing policies and processes. The safety of the kids is always our No.1 priority, and guides everything we do. We’ll share with you any policy updates that might eventuate…

The whole team is undergoing First Aid & CPR training next week. Although the law requires only one staff member on duty to be trained, we aim to have as much of the team as possible ready to deal with cuts, bumps, breaks, allergies, asthma, anaphylaxis, CPR and more...
…which leads smoothly to a reminder that we always strive to be a ❌🥜🌰❌ NUT-FREE ZONE ❌🥜🌰❌

🏖️ HOLIDAY PROGRAM 🏖️

We’re busy working on an AWESOME April Holiday Program for you. The portal calendar will open at the start of Week 8, giving you four full weeks to making bookings before the program starts on Tuesday 11th April.

🐝 BEE OF THE WEEK 🐝

Is the lovely Max F in Y3,
for spending time in the quiet corner
reading some stories to our new Kindys…

A beautiful connection between the different age groups.

Love your work, Max!


💡 PARENT REMINDERS 🤔

Just the usual reminders for hats, and a warm layer - and everything with NAMES INSIDE please!!

🏄 OCEAN LOVERS’ FESTIVAL 🐬

Spearheaded by local mum Anita, the annual Volvo Ocean Lovers Festival returns to Bondi on 15-19 March, with a jam-packed program of activities and events designed to celebrate and inspire action for our beautiful ocean 🌊🌊🌊

The Festival of Ideas, Art + Music & Actions will take over the new Bondi Pavilion and surrounds, highlighting the latest science and innovations for protecting and nurturing the ocean and its wildlife.

Music, art, films, food, talks and market stalls will fill the Pavilion with vibrant entertainment for all ages over the weekend of 18-19 March.

For the full program, visit www.oceanloversfestival.com

 

2023 Term 1 - Weeks 1-4

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Activity break during staff training week!

👋 LIVE FROM THE HIVE … 👋

HELLO AGAIN, to all returning bees and a warm WELCOME to all our NEW KINDYS! We’re buzzier than ever this year, and looking forward to a fun-filled Term 1 with you all 😊

Following an AWESOME Holiday Program (check out the pics!), the final week in January saw our first ever full week of STAFF TRAINING. A huge success, with 100% staff attendance, we covered TEN separate topics across three full days: including Play Theory, Food Hygiene, Active Supervision, Emotion Coaching & Self-Regulation, Behaviour Management, Understanding Diagnoses, Activity Programming and more... Your children really are in safe (and well-trained) hands at The Hive! 🫶

Since December’s newsletter, we’ve welcomed several new team members: shout out to ANA, ASHA, ELLA, JENA & WILSON. We now have a waitlist only on Thursday afternoons, which is great progress. If you’re still waiting on a spot, bear with us: we continue to juggle and are doing our very best to get rid of those lists altogether.

Following on from waitlist progress: CASUAL SPOTS can now be booked via the portal for both Monday and Friday afternoons. For any other afternoon (or if you’ve missed the online deadline), email us to check availability.

This term, we’re trying out the idea of externally-provided, paid extra-curricular activities during the Hive afternoon. For Term 1 we’re running with SKATEBOARDING and DRAMA, with both classes fully booked! So far so good, and we plan to continue so keep an eye on your inboxes for opportunities in coming terms. Through the year, we’ll vary the days, activities and age groups offered, so everyone should have a chance to get involved.

 

🐝 BEE/S OF THE WEEK 🐝


LENNIX and LOLA in YK for working so hard
on their listening skills over the last couple of weeks.

Also, for making great choices to be
team players and helpful bees!!

Such an awesome start at The Hive!! 👊 👊

🤔 PARENT REMINDERS 💡

  • ALWAYS sign your child in/out at the iPad. Any issues? Just ask staff for help!

  • Please leave school grounds promptly, once you’ve signed out your child

  • Please COLLECT all LOST PROPERTY from the tubs in the Hive room. At the end of week 5 we’ll wash and pass on to our spares box or to Vinnies…

  • Term 1 is NO HAT NO PLAY. We don’t lend out hats due to the risk of head lice, so children without a hat are restricted to shaded areas and activities…

  • Every day please pack HAT, WATER BOTTLE and remember a WARM LAYER for those cooler afternoons…

2022 Term 4 - Weeks 7-8

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🏖️ HOLIDAY PROGRAM 🏖️

  • Bookings are OPEN!! Book ASAP to avoid missing out

  • Remember - if you’re going into Y2 next year, you should book into BIG BEES!!

  • New 2023 Kindys are welcome to book into our January LITTLE BEES program - it’s been specially designed with them in mind

  • Mon 30th Jan is still Holiday Program (school starts on Tue 31st). You’ll need a 2023 Hive enrolment to book Mon 30th as it falls within Term 1

  • Another reminder that we are NUT FREE - please be super careful about which foods you pack for the kids

 

🐝 BEE OF THE WEEK 🐝

We couldn’t move beyond this super-sweet moment, that happened last week with Theo in Y1.

We brought our Big Bear out of hibernation (in the office) and five minutes later he was providing a safe space for cuddles and sleepy time…

Just gorgeous!

 

PARENT REMINDERS

Remember when you arrive to pick up, to please sign out and leave the school grounds quickly. This helps avoid confusion around supervision and responsibility.

We know it can be fun, but please keep younger siblings away from the play equipment when you’re picking up from The Hive. This helps avoid accidents and allows our staff to safely and effectively supervise the Hive kids who are playing there. 🙏

 

LOCAL BUSINESS SHOUT OUT 📣

Swell Swimming is an awesome local swim school, run by our very own staff member Katie!

They offer pool and ocean swimming lessons for both kids and adults, and this summer will be running lots of children’s group sessions at Bondi, to help kids get more confident and comfortable in the ocean. 

Find out more about them here, and you can drop Katie an email at info@swellswimming.com.au or contact her directly on 0481 315 828.
Instagram- @swellswimming

 

👞 SPARE KIDS’ SHOES or TRAINERS? 👟

Local mum Tammy is driving a collection to help provide shoes to kids in Burundi.

If you have any pre-loved school shoes or trainers that you’re ready to part with, please make sure they’re clean and drop them off to staff at the Hive room.

At the end of term Tammy will pass them on to the organising charity, Angel Network Australia, who’ll make sure they get to children in Africa who can make good use of them.

Thanks in advance for helping us to help other children around the world…

2022 Term 4 - Weeks 5-6

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👋 LIVE FROM THE HIVE … 👋

You’ve all received your invitation to the AGM, to be held on Fri 2nd Dec at 9am in the Hive room. Please send RSVPs directly to Ellie, along with any nominations to join our wonderful Hive Management Committee, whether as a general member or as an office bearer. We’d love your input and energy and promise to take up only a little of your time; usually just a 1h meeting each term.

Have the kids told you there’s lots of exciting new stuff on the menu? DIY sushi, fruit smoothies, brown rice layered salad bowls, pasta, pita & dips and more… Let us know if you have any feedback or requests for other lovely fresh food we can add to the menu. Great work chef Edie!

🏖️ HOLIDAY PROGRAM 🏖️

After some recent chopping and changing, the dates are fixed, and bookings will open late next week.

- - - Last day of T4: Fri 16 Dec - - -

HP OPEN: Mon 19 - Wed 21 Dec
HIVE CLOSED: Thu 22 Dec - Sun 8 Jan
HP OPEN: 9-13 & 16-20 Jan
HIVE CLOSED: 23-27 Jan (staff training & Public Holiday)
HP OPEN: Mon 30 Jan

- - - First day of T2: Tue 31 Jan - - -

🐝 BEE OF THE WEEK 🐝

…is our very own Jen!

Jen brings the biggest, bestest smile with her to
every single shift, and the kids just love her warmth,
positive energy and gentle approach.

See below for how your pre-schoolers could
also spend some time with Jen!

💡 PARENT REMINDERS 🤔

As always in Terms 4 & 1 - please remember to send the kids to school with a HAT!
We’re a SUN SAFE CENTRE and No Hat No Play can mean the kids have to stay indoors. Boo!

📣 LOCAL BUSINESS SHOUT OUT 📣

Our lovely Bee of the Week - Jen - is many things. As well as being a fabulous Hive Educator, she’s also a qualified primary teacher and the founder of Little Leaners, offering a Playroom & Hangout Space for bubs (6m-2.5y) and their carers, just around the corner from school.

Check them out here or contact Jen directly on 0412 086 050, to book a spot!


2022 Term 4 - Weeks 1-4 and 🎃 Halloweeeeen 🎃

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👋 LIVE FROM THE HIVE … 👋

In Term 4, every day is NO HAT NO PLAY. We don’t lend out hats due to the risk of head lice, so children without a hat are restricted to shaded areas and activities…

🫙🫙🫙 SHOUT OUT for any GLASS JARS 🫙🫙🫙
Please bring in empty, clean, glass jars with lids, for use in a project later this term 🫙🫙🫙

We’ve had a flurry of LATE PICK-UPS recently 🙁 We don’t enjoy applying penalty fees, and we really don’t enjoy not being able to go home on time, so please make sure you pick up by 6pm latest, every day 🙏

Please RETURN all BORROWED CLOTHES. We need to have them ready to help other children, so remember to wash and return as soon as you can after use. Thank you


🏖️ HOLIDAY PROGRAM 🏖️

We’re busy working on the calendar and bookings will OPEN in Wk 7. Summer Holiday Program dates are:

  • OPEN December 20th & 21st

  • OPEN January 12th-25th + 30th (Term starts Tue 31st Jan)

‼️ IMPORTANT ‼️ HIVE will be CLOSED as follows…

  • CLOSED Mon 9th - Wed 11th Jan: for Hive staff training and team development

  • CLOSED Fri 27th Jan: to create a long weekend after public holiday on 26th

 

🐝 BEE OF THE WEEK 🐝

Congratulations to our friend CAMERON in Y5.

He’s Bee of the Week, for always being so helpful. Cameron particularly loves helping us get organised and
making sure team communication is on point! 😊

Great work Cameron 👏👏


🎭 EXTRA CURRICULAR 🛹

Thanks to everyone who responded to our extra curricular survey last term. We’ve been busy behind the scenes, and are excited to announce that there will be two options in T1 2023:

  • Drama for Y2 and above

  • Skateboarding for Y1&2

More to follow by email, including details of the program, how to sign up and pay for the term.

2022 - Spring Holiday Program

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🏖️ Spring Holiday Program - it’s a wrap! 🏖️

Well done to the team for delivering an amazing Spring Holiday Program! We had an awesome time, including parklands, ice-cream, Powerhouse, whales, laser tag, movies, Bake-Off, dodgeball, rock-climbing, Opera House, bouncy castle, slime, BBQs and so much more…

Check out the pics below!

2022 Term 3 - Week 9-10 * End of Term *

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👋 LIVE FROM THE HIVE … 👋

Happy END OF TERM - we hope you all enjoy the break! Stay safe & well and look after one another. To everyone booked in for Holiday Program, we look forward to seeing you next week! Several days are full, so if you can’t book - email us to join the waitlist.

Welcome back Aman! We missed you…

There’s been so much happening in our ACTIVITY PROGRAM & CLUBS:

  • DIY bouncy balls and stickers

  • yoga, gymnastics, basketball, hockey

  • collages, hand puppets, stained glass and marbling

  • baking club & paper clay

  • music games, just dance, volleyball, survival tip

    …and so much more!!

 

🐝 BEE OF THE WEEK 🐝

Is CAIA in Y2. One day, she forgot to bring in the palm cards she needed to perform her public speaking that day.

Instead of panicking, she asked for some card and re-created them all from memory, before school even started.

Caia - we think you’re awesome for staying calm and focused when things got tricky!

💡 PARENT REMINDERS 🤔

For HOLIDAY PROGRAM, please remember:

  • we’re open 0730-1800

  • kids MUST be signed in/out at the Hive room * * NO GATE DROPS * *

  • wear sun hat, covered shoulders, closed shoes

  • bring your own recess and lunch

  • bring your WHEELS & HELMET every non-excursion day

Thanks for your suggestions for AFTERNOON TEA. The new menu has been up and running for a few weeks now - please let us know what the kids think!

2022 Term 3 - Week 7 & 8

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👋 LIVE from the HIVE … 👋

We’re considering the introduction (in 2023) of additional paid afternoon activities, delivered on site, by external providers, and signed up for a term. The idea is to give the kids with the busiest parents chance to experience some of the extra-curricular opportunities out there. Our parent survey will help us work out whether this is something that families would find helpful, and which activities would be most popular… It’ll only take 2 mins to complete and will help us better tailor our offering to you…
Huge thanks to the 50+ of you that have already responded: the more info we gather the better we can plan!

👋 We say goodbye to ALFIE, who heads back to the UK to start his degree in Social Work. Bye Alfie, the seniors will miss you! 👋

ACTIVITY CLUBS were busy with the likes of DIY pompoms, basketball, button mobiles, sliding doors, gymnastics, hama beads, DIY earrings, hockey, father’s day gifts, yoga and much more… it’s been a JAM-PACKED fortnight!

And to all the DADS & OTHER LADS out there who act as positive role models for our young’uns - we thank you and salute you. Hope you had a treat or two on Sunday 4th 🥰 🥰

🏖️ Holiday Program - NOW OPEN!! 🏖️

We’re super excited for HP bookings to be open. We welcome back the split program, with most days tailored for age groups. The age split-point is varied on a couple of days, so please check carefully that you book into the right session. It’s an AWESOME program, and we have fingers firmly crossed for Covid and weather to give us a break so the kids get the full benefit of all Sydney’s fantastic planning! 👏

🌱🥕 Seeking GARDENING VOLUNTEERS ☝️👀

We’re looking for parent volunteers for an hour (4-5pm), once or twice a week to help the kids tend the school’s veggie gardens, learn about plants and the origins of certain foods and - of course - grow lots of yummy ingredients for Hive and Canteen to use!

It’s a very low-key commitment, so if you have green fingers or thumbs and a bit of spare time, please contact Sydney - it’ll be fun, rewarding and totally flexible…

🐝 BEE OF THE WEEK 🐝

…is our very own NATE! We’re blown away by the enthusiasm and energy that he brings with him every single day. And so are the kids!

The photo right, is a model of Nate made by one of the kids in his craft group this week.

Nate, we’re also loving the stories you’re weaving with the kids every day at the 4pm meeting - so many smiles!


💡 PARENT REMINDERS 🤔

If you’ve borrowed Hive spare clothes - please remember to wash and return them. We’ve almost run out of warm layers to lend out!

 

We love this montage of the kids ⬆️ trying to copy Alfie’s breakdance moves… ⬇️ 🤣 🤣 🤣

2022 Term 3 - Week 5 & 6 BOOK WEEK!

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👋 LIVE FROM THE HIVE … 👋

Welcome back EDIE & ALFIE from your well-earned break. We missed ya! Check out the photos of them both at Maleny Bird World in Queensland…

🤩 Get ready… HOLIDAY PROGRAM will open next week!! 🤩 We’re back to a split program, for YK-1 and Y2-6. There are some variations on this split due to limited availabilities, so please check the calendar and your bookings carefully…

Below is just a taster of what we got up to in our wonderful ACTIVITY CLUBS this fortnight…

  • ART & CRAFT: fridge magnets, photo frames, splat paint, volcanoes, bunting and tie-dyeing!

  • BAKING CLUB: cheese twists & hummingbird cake

  • SPORTS: survival tip, kick-ball, sock wrestling, poison ball, gymnastics, basketball

  • EXPLORE & DISCOVER: balloon rockets, slime, movie making, potion making, cardboard creations

We’re excited to offer the kids a whole NEW AFTERNOON TEA MENU. Thanks EDIE for all your work to pull this together - lucky kids! They’ll be enjoying delicious, healthy treats like wholemeal mini pizzas, chicken wings, home-made frittatas, buddha bowls… You can check out the week’s menu here

🐠 Shout out to the VAN IMHOFF family for donating Li’l Apricot, a lovely new addition to our fish tank! 🐠

👏 NOMINATIONS FOR HIVE COMMITTEE 👏

Our AGM will be held later this year - date TBC - we’d love to see as many as possible of you there. We’re also keen to swell our Hive Exec committee, which is a sub-committee of the P&C. You’d help determine the direction and strategy for The Hive and become part of a great team, supporting our awesome Hive community. If you think you’d like to join:

  • yay! thank you 🙏

  • please send NOMINATIONS to Ellie by the end of Week 8, Fri 9 Sept


🐝 BEES OF THE WEEK 🐝


We’ve been super impressed with LOLA JOY in YK - she’s been doing such an awesome job of listening, helping out, and encouraging the whole group to do the right thing. Such beautiful role-modelling Lola - keep it up!

DIEGO in Y4 has been running mindfulness sessions for the whole group each Thursday afternoon - thank you Diego for that little dose of calm
and breath, it’s such a lovely contribution to our Hive community

Another beautiful bee is BILLY in Y4, who’s been showing us what it
means to be an awesome sibling! Always looking out for his
sisters and making sure they’re OK - so lovely to see…

💡 PARENT REMINDERS 🤔

Please try to make sure the kids have all their bits when you pick up - we have a growing pile of lost property and so much of it without names, which makes it hard to return.

The weather is getting warmer, but afternoons can still be very cool; we’ve had to lend out LOTS of warm layers recently. Please remember to pack extra layers for the kids - and please wash and return any borrowed clothes, thank you 🙏