Happy Feet Drysdale

Across every generation, our Elders have played and continue to play, an important role and hold a prominent place within our communities and families. As the theme for NAIDOC week this year is ‘For Our Elders’ the children at Happy Feet Drysdale hosted a morning tea for their Elders. Welcoming our Elders into our service, the children served a morning tea of fresh fruit, warm damper with Davidson plum jam and lemon myrtle slice Our Elders were then invited to engage in amazing activities with the children throughout a wonderful morning.

At Happy Feet Drysdale, we acknowledge all First Peoples of the beautiful lands on which we live and celebrate their enduring knowledge and connections to Country. We honour the wisdom of and pay respect to Elders past and present.
NAIDOC week celebrations provided our children with opportunities to explore history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Our children enjoyed listening to Dreamtime stories, connecting with Country through nature, incorporating natural materials into art pieces, cooking with bush tucker and exploring language symbols through story blocks.

Josh from the Museums Victoria Outreach Program visited our kindergarten children bringing with him some dinosaur fossils!!! As dinosaurs have continued to be a subject of fascination for our kindergarten children, they were very excited to be provided with the opportunity to explore through hands-on learning. Through stories and activities, Josh introduced the children to ways in which palaeontologists have come to understand dinosaurs through finding and studying fossils.

The children were very excited as members from the Drysdale Country Fire Authority visited us at Happy Feet Drysdale. Participating in an amazing flagship educational program called ‘Fire Safe Kids’ the children explored helping family members to develop a home fire escape plan, how to identify fire hazards around their homes, what to do in an emergency and practicing getting down low in the middle of a fire. The children were invited to explore a fire engine as well have a go at the fire hoses!!!

Today our friends in Toddler One, Pre-Kinder and Kinder had the wonderful opportunity to take part in a special dancing session!

Hayley is the Koorie Preschool Advisor at Wathaurong, and today she came along to spend time with each of these age groups, walking them through some Aboriginal dancing and introducing them to the names of different animals in Wathaurong language.

A huge thank you to Hayley for coming to share this beautiful culture with us, she was warm, inviting and engaging with our services children and they loved spending time with her!

Our children in the Toddler 2 room have begun to learn out seasons and the weather. This week, as the focus was on winter, the children were invited to express creativity and imagination as they created an umbrella that supported learning 'where rain comes from'.

Our friends in our Toddler 1 room have been introduced to natural environments which have centred on World Oceans. Learning and play environments have incorporated sea animals that have fascinated the children. Today, the children enjoyed stamping onto paper with bubble wrap and paint as they created a starfish!!

Our Nursery 2 friends are continuing their learning on colours. This week the focus is the colours blue and green with various shades of colours introduced.

Happy to be sponsoring the Leopold Lions FNC this year!

💚💛A great BIG thank you to Happy Feet Early Learning Centre 💚💛
(Shane and Natalie) for coming on board as new sponsors of Leopold Lions FNC

They have provided warm-up tops for our U-16s footy team and don't they look smart

📍Happy Feet Early Learning are located at 118 High Street Drysdale and
is a 126-place childcare centre catering for children 6weeks-5years old.
They are staffed by a team of passionate early childhood educators and carers, specialists in intentional teaching methods.

If its childcare you need, then consider Happy Feet in Drysdale 👣

National Reconciliation Week, is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements, and to explore how each of us is able to contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

The children throughout Happy Feet Drysdale engaged in National Reconciliation Week through embedding conversations about reconciliation and fostering knowledge and pride in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and contributions. The children were invited to ‘Be a voice for generations’ through intentional conversations, dreamtime stories, art, music, dance, drama and language.

Tomorrow Happy Feet Drysdale will recognise National Sorry Day, kicking off Reconciliation Week.

National Sorry Day is a day to acknowledge the strength of Stolen Generations Survivors and reflect on how we can all play a part in the healing process for our people and nation. While this date carries great significance for the Stolen Generations and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, it is also commemorated by Australians right around the country.

Here at Happy Feet Drysdale we will be showing our thanks to and respect for the traditional owners of the land on which we play and learn. We will mark the day with Indigenous songs and themed experiences, furthering our children’s understanding and knowledge of Indigenous culture.

The children in our Kindergarten room enjoyed the opportunity to visit Boronggook Drysdale Library this morning. Participating in the 2023 National Simultaneous Storytime, the children listened to a reading of 'The Speedy Sloth' that is read by teachers to students throughout Australia simultaneously.

Our friends in the Pre-Kinder room expressed amazing imagination and creativity as they were challenged to think outside of the box as they created an ‘object’. Encouraged to formulate a ‘plan’ supported the children incorporating ideas and perspectives as they created some wonderful objects, with one of them being a ‘train’.

The children in our Nursery Two room, explored colours as they painted onto paper. Colours have been introduced to the children with ‘blue’ being the focus colour this week. Colours are a key way that children are able to describe and categorise the world around them.

Our friends in Kinder enjoyed a Bush Kinder session this morning. The children explored our natural environment through uninterrupted play. Opportunities to construct their own learning, the children were most intrigued with all of the leaves that they discovered on the ground. Questioning why leaves fall off trees, will form our inquiry next Bush Kinder session.

Happy Mothers Day to all our mums, grandmothers, aunts and special people. Friday we enjoyed a special Mother’s Day morning tea with our families and children. It was lovely to see so many attend and celebrate with the children. We hope you all enjoy a lovely day tomorrow with your families.
❤️💕🌹🌺

The children in our kindergarten room were invited to create their own puppets this week. Incorporating many wonderful ideas and perspectives, imagination and creativity was expressed as amazing puppets were created. When dry, the children worked together as they designed their own ‘Puppet Show’!!

Our babies in Nursery One explored intriguing sounds as they explored sensory blocks. As each of the blocks contained various sized and coloured balls, our babies discovered that each of the blocks produced a different sound.

Our friends in our Pre-Kindergarten room have begun to explore colours. Experimenting with coloured cellophane provided opportunities for the children to explore primary and secondary colours.

The children in our kindergarten room were very excited to discover eggs in our chicken coop. Our chickens have taken their time settling in and have now laid their first bundle of eggs!!!

They shall grow not old,
as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not wear them,
nor the years condem.

At the going down of the sun
and in the morning,

We will remember them.

From
'For the Fallen'
Laurence Binyon 1914

The theme of Earth Day 2023 is ‘Invest in Our Planet’ that calls for a shift towards sustainable practices within our environments. The children all were invited to explore sustainable practices through turning lights off, saving water to feed to our vegetable garden, incorporate recycled materials into learning and play environments and exploring our natural resources within our outdoor spaces.

Our friends in kindergarten have been busily observing our Chrysalis waiting for our butterflies to hatch. The children were very excited to observe two butterflies hatch late this afternoon.

Happy Easter from our families to yours. May your Easter holidays be full of family, fun and especially a safe one.

Painting with their hands and fingers is a favourite with our youngest learners!!

Our kindergarten friends were very excited to begin our Butterfly Hatching program. The Butterfly Hatching program is a unique opportunity for the children to experience the process of observing the chrysalis (pup) as it turns into a beautiful butterfly.

Exploring various printing mediums has provided our Nursery two children with opportunities to experiment with authentic materials. Incorporating small rocks with paper and paint intrigued the children as they shook each of the recycled containers. On opening each of the containers, the children discovered an intricate pattern!!!

Our children in Nursery 2 enjoy sensory activities. The children enjoyed exploring the stretchy texture and were intrigued with how it felt.

Our chickens enjoyed a wander this afternoon!!!

Our babies in Nursery One were very intrigued with ‘Silly Putty’ as they explored the texture in their hands and fingers. Moving the ‘Silly Putty’ through their fingers supports the strengthening of motor control and dexterity.

Standard 1 of the Child Safe Standards promotes a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and people are respected and valued.
Our children in Toddler 2 ensure culturally safe environments through Acknowledgment of Country at the beginning of each day. My Country shpports the children as they celebrate the joy of nature and forming a connection to Place.

Invited to make ‘silly putty’ provided opportunities for the children in our kindergarten room to experiment with their own theories. As the children measured out corn flour and dish soap, they explored textures as both matters were mixed together. The children were fascinated with the puzzling texture of not-quite-a-liquid and not-quite-a-solid.

Our children in Toddler 1 enjoyed participating in science as they explored ‘liquid foam’. Brushing brushes through the liquid foam then onto paper, the children observed the foam as it began to dry. The children were fascinated as it began to form a fluffy form on top of the paper.

Kitchen hand position available at Happy Feet Drysdale
School hours, 95% child care fee relief available.
5 days a week, must have some kitchen experience although there will be on the job training, work with an experienced child care centre cook. Working with children check required as well as Do food safely certificate.
Great opportunity for someone looking for permanent part time position within school hours.
send an email to [email protected] or give us a call on 52424999

One of our Drysdale families is opening a coffee shop this weekend if you are over Newtown way drop in for a Constant Coffee

𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟 𝗟𝗔𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗛 𝗢𝗙 𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗪 𝗕𝗔𝗥 💥
📆 Saturday March 25th, 2023 8am - 2pm
📍24 / 7-11 Newcastle Street, Newtown

Here is your chance to compare, evaluate and taste the different flavours of some of our coffees through a guided cupping session with our baristas and roasters ☕️

This will be an intimate experience, with only limited spots available on the day.

The children in our prekindergarten room enjoyed a music session today. Incorporating music into the children’s learning and play environments promotes movement, thinking and inspires creativity.

Our children in Toddler 2 have enjoyed reading the book ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’. Incorporating recycled materials into creative art expression, the children enjoyed creating their own caterpillar!!

Today we welcomed four new teenagers to our village. Over the next week, we will be naming our girls and would love suggestions from our families and community.
Help us name our 4 girls!!
Pop any name suggestions in the comments 😃

Clean Up Australia Day! 🌏♻️

Our Toddler One friends took part in Clean Up Australia Day today, doing their part to tidy up our natural environments. We read books at group time all about strategies for care for the environment, and then explored recycling through learning experiences.

Our toddlers then headed outside, equipped with their special gloves and got to work tidying up our yard!