News
Saturday Sleepovers
Saturday Sleepovers are an exceptional way to introduce your child to the joys of nights away from home, as they are in a familiar environment with adults and children they know. Sleepovers are held once a month (if there is sufficient demand) and are staffed by regular Small World teachers (Tracy, Lina, Dao, Angelique, Sheena and Ayan). Numbers are limited to fifteen, and children have to be over two years of age to participate. Siblings up to the age of ten are also welcome. Children can be dropped off any time after 6 pm on Saturday night and are picked up before 10 am the following day. Only an overnight bag, pillow and sleeping bag are required – everything else – meals, fun and adventure – are provided. The cost is $95 per child. The sleepover dates for 2011 (should you wish to plan in advance) will be 19 March, 16 April, 14 May, 11 June, 16 July, 20 August, 24 September, 15 October, 19 November, 3 December and 17 December.
Portfolios
Every month new and exciting stories are added to your child’s portfolio. Please feel free to take portfolios home to share with friends and family and particularly to discuss and revisit stories with your child. You may also wish to add your own comments in the space provided – or your own stories!
Transitions
A number of children are currently transitioning between rooms. These transitions provide children with important opportunities to develop skills for coping with change and are always handled gently and with great care by teachers and children usually make the change seamlessly. If you think your child would benefit from a home visit from one of their new teachers however, please don’t hesitate to ask for this to be organised.
Hours of Operation
Small World is open from 7.30 am to 5.30 pm each week day for your convenience. Please support the teachers by arriving in plenty of time to pick up your child and to make the transition from centre to home as unhurried as possible.
Anecdote of the Month No.3
Recently a four year old boy was overheard telling his off-to-school female friend that he would miss her when she was gone, but that it was alright because he would “marry her one day”. A rival nearby overheard this declaration of intent and announced that he would be the one to marry the girl in question. Lynn (sensing conflict) intervened and said that it was probably up to the girl to decide who she would marry. The girl reflected on this news momentarily before pointing to each boy in turn to say “you can marry me and you can be my boyfriend!”
School Holiday Programme
The world famous Small World School Holiday programme will again be running in the Term One break either side of Easter. This is open to children aged five to ten years and spaces are strictly limited. So be in quick! Details from reception.
Allergies
We have a number of children with food allergies at Small World and one for whom contact with certain foods poses very real risks. For this reason we ask that children do not bring food into the centre at any time. Thank you for your co-operation.
Anecdote of the Month No. 4
Recently Lucy was having lunch in the Kiwi Room where she discovered in conversation that one of the children could speak Mandarin, Cantonese and English. “That’s amazing” said Lucy. Overhearing this, a four-year old girl keen to also impress said “I can speak Mandarin too – listen: orange, orange, orange!”
Fire Drills
At Small World we have regular fire drills to ensure that children are familiar with the sounds and procedures to be followed in an emergency. Tiffany plans these and she is the only one to know when and where they will happen. Sometimes they will need to occur during drop off or pick up times to ensure we are able to manage evacuations effectively even at the busiest times of the day. We apologise in advance for any inconvenience this may cause parents eager to get to work or home.