Red Apple Early Learning Centre Vermont

Today our Red Apple kindergarten children braved the weather and headed out to Kew's Traffic School where we learnt how to cross the road safely, how to follow traffic instructions on our roads and how to make sure we are safely wearing our helmets.
We had such a fun morning and thank Emily for showing us a wonderful experience.

Critical reflection is a vital practice for educators seeking to grow professionally and improve outcomes for children. It goes beyond simply thinking about what worked or didn’t, it involves questioning underlying assumptions, examining personal beliefs, and considering how social, cultural factors shape teaching practices. At last nights staff meeting we explored all of these things working collaboratively together to better the way we educate the children at Red Apple.

🌟 Empowering Future Leaders! 🌟

At Red Apple we believe that every idea—big or small—can spark meaningful change. Recently, our management team came together as leaders for change with other centres in the area working collaboratively to make our centre an even more inspiring, inclusive, and engaging place for children, families, and our team. 💡✨

Through shared goals, open conversations, and a drive to keep growing, this group is I already exploring new ways to strengthen our practices, celebrate our community, and continue putting children at the heart of everything we do. ❤️

We’re so proud of our team’s dedication to leading with purpose and making a difference every day! 🙌

Child 👦👧 safety is truly valued and promoted by our local kindergartens and childcare centres 🩵 - this is just another example of our local early years specialists leading the way!

Ringwood Electorate's first ever, inaugural Kindergarten and Childcare Safety Meeting was organised by the amazing Chey from Cuddly Bear Heathmont and joined by Tahlia Marsh (Director, Grow Early Education Heathmont), Karen (Director, Knaith Road Childcare Centre and Kindergarten), Alyson Cayley (Director, Red Apple Early Learning Centre Vermont), Emma Di Falco (Director, Red Apple Early Learning Centre Balwyn), Stacey Cocking (Educational Leader Red Apple Early Learning Centre Vermont), Tracey Hayes (Director, Kids on Mullum Child Care) and Amy (Educational Leader Natural Wonders Early Learning)

Please do NOT read anything into an absence of a local Kinder or Childcare - they have many pressures and demands on their time and not all can make each meeting, but ALL are kept advised of shared learnings and best local practice.

✨ Happy Diwali! ✨
Yesterday we celebrated the Festival of Lights — a time for joy, kindness, and togetherness.
The children enjoyed learning about Diwali’s beautiful traditions, exploring colours, lights, and creativity through cooking, stories, art and play.
Wishing all our families that celebrated a bright and joyful Diwali! 🪔💛

“I got a Spider-Man henna on my hand” Elliot

“We have beautiful dresses” Madeleine

“We are cooking roti to eat for lunch with Fatema and Bushra” Anastasia

💛 CHILD PROTECTION WEEK 💛

This week we’re shining a light on Child Protection Week. At Red Apple Vermont, we believe building safe and trusting relationships with children and families is at the heart of everything we do.

We’re helping children learn in simple, age-appropriate ways that:
✨ Their voice matters
✨ They can talk to a trusted adult if something doesn’t feel right
✨ Everyone has the right to feel safe

To signify this we participated in the LOUD fence Inc. initiative, writing our names (and inviting the familes and children to do so as well) on ribbons to symbolise our promise to the Red Apple community that we will always do our best to have child safety at the forefront of all that we do.

Together, as families and educators, we can create a community where our little ones grow up feeling strong, safe and connected.

LITTLE WOODWORKERS INCURSION

On Friday we had a visit from Jim from Little Woodworkers in our kinder room.

We started with a short safety talk around when we use our tools. Then we had a group talk about the importance of trees and how they help sustain our environment.

From there Jim gave us a demonstration on how to make our toolboxes and we got to work building a toolbox of our own.

“I used the drill and the hammer for my toolbox” Elliot

“The trees help the animals” Zayn-Ali

“The trees help our air” Cynthia

“It was a bit tricky to get it in the holes but I did it” Nami

Thanks Jim!

💛Today is R U OK? Day 💛

It’s a reminder to check in with the people around us – our children, family, friends, neighbours, and colleagues. A simple conversation can make a big difference.

Taking the time to ask “Are you OK?” and really listening can help someone feel supported and less alone. 🌻

Let’s show our kids the importance of kindness, connection, and looking out for one another.

So today (and every day) let’s pause, check in, and start meaningful conversations.
Because a conversation could change a life

HAPPY EDUCATORS DAY!

Today we celebrate the amazing educators that make Red Apple Vermont, for their hard work, love and dedication to the families and children.

We celebrated them with an educators walk of fame through the entrance with some heart felt messages from the children and families hanging from balloons. Followed by a delicious morning tea, gift bags and a connection dinner to come!

We thank all the lovely families that helped make today special, through kind words, gifts and flowers every piece of appreciation means the world!

“The teachers are my friends and I love them” Anastasia

“They (the teachers) play with me and do fun things” Elliot

“I like when I’m sad they give me cuddles” Mia

BOOK WEEK 2025

Last week at Red Apple Vermont we celebrated book week with the children. Books are such a big part of our daily lives and we loved the chance to explore all our favourites and dress up in our favourite characters.

Extending on our love of books we had The Drama Toolbox come to visit our Kinder children to theatricalised the Indigenous Dreamtime story “tiddalick the frog”. We had such great fun role playing the animals that tried to make tiddalick laugh to let all the water out.

“We just dressed up, I was a kangaroo” Emma

“The frog drank all the water so the animals were sad” Kayden

“I was a tongue lizard” Alfie

“It was pretend, I was a koala and a wombat, the frog drank all the water and the animals had to wake up and make him laugh” Ewan