and read the latest issue of the SMOOSH Newsletter

PAGE 1
SMOOSH NEWS
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
WELCOME
HIGHLIGHTS
OF TERM 1
IMPORTANT
NOTES
NEW STAFF
JANUARY
VACATION
CARE
EASTLAKES
SMOOSH
AFTERNOON TEA
CHILDREN’S
COMMENT
TERM 1 2016
WELCOME
Hi everyone, we just wanted to start this newsletter by saying a huge
welcome to all of our new families and our new kindies as well as a huge
welcome back to all of our retuning families .2016 has started at a full pace
and is turning out to be another busy year! We welcomed 27 new families
this year, of these we had 22 kindergarten children.
HIGHLIGHTS OF TERM 1 2016
At the beginning of this year we added another feather to our cap by
acquiring the Out Of School Care service at Eastlakes Public School and
transitioned all families and children smoothly into our care .We have been
getting great feedback from the teachers, principal and families about the
care and program provided at the SMOOSH service and our quite overwhelmed with the positive response we have been getting since .
QKeyLM and Facebook
In keeping with our Philosophy and vision we strive to involve families
and children in our process of continuous improvement by seeking feedback
on the SMOOSH program and services.
It being a technological era we looked at technology to help us in the
betterment of our program delivery.
Thus the SMOOSH Facebook page and web portal called QKeylm came into
being this year!
In Qkeylm families can view the Child’s Portfolio, Program Journals and
Program online, enabling families to provide input into Programs and
opportunities to contribute to the child’s learning.
Facebook will be a great way to upload photos daily and receive comments,
suggestions from all stakeholders in the community.
We have sent out a password to families for the Qkeylm and invite to
our Facebook page. Please let Rekkha or Mariko know if you have not received an email with the password.
SMOOSH Garden– Sustainability
SMOOSH is committed to the development of a sustainable educational
environment that endeavors to inspire and teach children to use best
sustainable practices by developing each student’s personal understanding,
knowledge and love for the natural environment.
We implement a hands-on approach to education for sustainability, through
curriculum planning that includes experiments and activities that are both
amusing and educational too. Thus to build upon our sustainable practices we
are adding a worm farm, and chickens in our garden area soon!
Finally, we combine gardening with cooking; we use the products of our vegetable garden to cook nutritious meals or snacks for our afternoon tea.
Thus, the children learn to use healthy products from their garden for
their food.
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IMPORTANT NOTES
ABSENT CHILDREN
Please ensure that you have the SMOOSH mobile 0431427176 and SMOOSH
number 83389678 so you can call if your child is away from school on a day
that they usually come to SMOOSH .It is imperative that you call SMOOSH
if your child is not coming to SMOOSH, as it is very stressful to run around
the school looking for your child and also trying to then contact parents. The
school do not notify us if your child is away or leaves school early.
VACATION CARE
Autumn Vacation Care program has
been released , so book early to
secure a place.
It is very important for all children
to have hats and water bottles
each day during the holiday
program.
Sunscreen is also provided for the
children. You are more than welcome to pack specific sunscreen.
CHILD DEVELOPMENT
As SMOOSH Educators we value
children's play as a basis for their
learning.
Although the children are only with us
for a short time per day, we aim to
provide daily documentation available
for families to read. A folder with child
observations is also available (on
request :)
SMOOSH CLOSING TIME
Our closing time is 6.00pm sharp. If you think you may be late, please
call to notify SMOOSH or organise an alternative. Regular late
pickups will be issued with late fees and possible
cancellation of care.
NUT AWARE CENTRE
Please remember we are a ‘Nut Aware’ Centre. We
ask that children not come to SMOOSH with nut
products such as peanut butter, Nutella and nuts.
We have children in attendance who are highly
allergic and so we need to avoid exposure as far as
possible
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IMPORTANT NOTES
EZI-DEBIT PAYMENTS
Payments are made every Monday for
the 2 week s ahead. On the days of
payment you receive a statement. If
you are not receiving your
statements please verify your email
address with SMOOSH
BOOKING CHANGES
Booking changes and cancelations
As per our Parent hand book, we
require two weeks’ notice for any
bookings changes and/or
cancelations this includes casual
bookings.
WELCOME NEW EDUCATORS AT SMOOSH
.
Marianna Chatziemmanouil
Shirin Gharagozli
Our team at SMOOSH continues to increase in diversity as we have had two new
educators join us this term.
We welcomed Marianna and Shirin to the SMOOSH team at the beginning of this year.
Marianna has a Greek background and Shirin is Persian.
Marianna is currently studying at Macquarie University, doing her Doctorate in
Management & Leadership in Education. Marianna brings with her, her love for
sustainability and environment protection. She enjoys gardening, cooking, and sports
with the children.
Shirin has a background in interior design. She is enthusiastic about painting and arts &
crafts. She is a qualified interior designer and her hobbies are designing, watching
movies and doing art work.
We look forward to working with both of them at SMOOSH !!
SUMMER VACATION CARE
We ended 2015 with a dance performance and a Christmas party for families at SMOOSH. Like
every other year this party was hugely popular with families and children.
We had a Santa giving out presents to children .Children performed a dance routine that they had
rehearsed over the term, played party games and enjoyed some yummy party snacks!
Thanks to everyone who helped us make this event successful!
Santa giving out presents and children performing!
We had a great beginning to our holiday program with HEROES day! Children learnt about
fire safety and first aid and where to get help from when we received special visits from
the firefighters and the paramedics.
Teresa a parent of SMOOSH who is also a paramedic greatly contributed to the success
of this day. The children were also able to try on the paramedics uniform which the
children found very exciting.
Children learning the process of administering First aid and ensuring fire safety
Throughout the week, more exciting excursions came along such as visiting the Movies,
Inflatable world, Monkey Mania, Laser skirmish, Sky Zone, City amusement.
Galaxy world, Inflatable world and laser skirmish activities enjoyed by children!
As for Incursions, we had Jason from Road Tripz comes in to do bike riding and skateboarding with the children, a circus workshop was held and we had Malaysia day to
celebrate its culture and tradition.
Adam’s grandmother kindly came in and talked to the children about Malaysia, which is
where she is from. She showed us the traditional dress, and taught the children a game
called Enjit2 Semut which means “shake ants from my hand.”
Malaysian day, drum beats and an Afternoon with Aaron Gray at SMOOSH
One of the children’s and educators favourite venue was going back to the Harbor cruise.
It was a beautiful day for a tour around Sydney Harbor. They saw the Sydney Opera
House, The Harbor Bridge, Cockatoo island, Fort Denison and Taronga Zoo.
The children enjoyed delicious dishes including chicken, noodles, sausages, salads and
potatoes.
Farm animals, water Play day with 450 children from other OOSH services
One of the highlights of this Vacation care was when we hosted 450 children from ten
other OOSH Centre's to come for a GALA Day. There was a big carnival set up in the
school grounds with water slides, jumping castle and lots of fun water games.
Summer holidays came to end with the most popular activities Sky Zone and Luna
Park. .
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EASTLAKES SMOOSH NEWS
This year South East community Connect has added a new centre to our ranks, located at Eastlakes
Public School. We took over the centre from Alouette Child Care. At the moment we have an average
of 6 children in the morning and 15 children every afternoon. We have also welcomed 9 new families
into our service this year. Now we have 26 families accessing the service
Children are provided with breakfast and a yummy afternoon tea every day. We have initiated new
weekly programs including a homework club, cooking class and gardening. The children spend their
time playing outdoors and also doing craft and other fun activities centred around their interests,
which are featured in our weekly program.
Children participating in cooking, having a picnic and a game a cricket
In just one school term SMOOSH has accomplished a lot. We have introduced a new afternoon tea
menu and weekly program centred on the children’s interests (found out through our monthly
children’s group meetings). Children have made dolls houses, trains, light sabres and have done
cultural and celebratory crafts including ones for Chinese New Year, Harmony Day and Easter.
Children have also enjoyed weekly gardening sessions and cooking class where they make food for
their own afternoon tea which is now down in a picnic style as suggested by the children.
Gardening art and craft are the other activities enjoyed by children
The children have a lot of fun playing outdoors, engaging in group games such as tips, Soccer, cricket,
hula hoop competitions and hide and seek as well as their own free play
At SMOOSH we are also in the process of setting up computers for homework and free play as
well as coaches to teach the children different sports once a week from next term
.
FUN TIMES AT SMOOSH
Eastlakes
We made a birds nest!
Free Play is great!
.
Love art and Craft!
I love playing on the
equipment
Play dough is the best!
Children’s comments:
Smoosh. When you say SMOOSH I say yeah ok, I will tell you why I say yeah
when anyone in the world ever say SMOOSH, I will yell yeah SMOOSH and I will
tell you why. Because it’s fun and exciting, The best afterschool care I have ever seen and the best thing about Smoosh is the staff. Now I will tell you a little
about the staff, First of all they're fun, funny, kind, always helpful and always
have new things for us to do at Smoosh, Exciting things that Smoosh kids including me enjoy so much. - Charlize
SMOOSH is getting
better– Valerie
I like SMOOSH because of the
arts and crafts and activities -
Danielle & Scarlett.W
Zachary said SMOOSH is best
because of the staff
Elijah thinks that
SMOOSH is awesome
because there are lots
of things to do around
SMOOSH has great
food!- Bianca
Aysha says SMOOSH is the
best in the world because it is
a nice place to hang out with
your friends
Jessica thinks that
SMOOSH is the best
because they have the
best toys to play with
like, dress ups and the
food is also very good
like the yum balls!
SMOOSH is a good place to play with
your friends, with lots of places to
play and variations of things to play
with… SMOOSH is the best and
SMOOSH also has great food, I have
anaphylaxis and I thought I couldn’t
eat because of my anaphylaxis, but I
could eat because they give me things
I'm not allergic to ,so I'm happy with
their meals.– Jayden
FUN TIMES AT SMOOSH
Halloween party food at SMOOSH!
Bike riding
The huge PUMPKIN at SMOOSH
and the Scott family that donated he seed!!!
Mana the artist at work !!
Scarlett enjoying her playtime!
Tara happily showing off her tail!
SEMOLINA PUDDING RECIPE
Semolina Pudding was one of the most popular afternoon tea
enjoyed by children last week.
600ml (2 1/4 cups) milk or
water
115g (1/2 cup) caster sugar
65g (1/3 cup) semolina
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
90g (1/2 cup) sultanas
STEP1
Combine the milk (or water), sugar, semolina, cinnamon and cardamom in
a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat.
Reduce heat to low, add the sultanas and cook uncovered, stirring often,
for 12-14 minutes or until the mixture thickens slightly.
STEP 2
Pour the mixture on a serving tray and spread it even. Then cut them
into diamond pieces and serve.
THANK YOU
Thank you to all families that continue supporting us with their donations and
contribute to the service delivery by taking time to provide valuable feedback and
suggestions.
We are grateful to Muharram Ayer (Taner’s dad) for installing our SMOOSH mosaic
artwork once again.
Thanks to Uddy’ s parents -Manish and Megha Agarwal for donating a professional
cricket gear to SMOOSH children.
Thank you to Adam Zaeen’s grandma for helping us on the Malaysian day
A big thank you to all teachers and the Principal of Gardeners Road Public School and
Eastlakes Public School for their help and support provided to us during the term.