Nido Early School Avondale Heights

Need extra days these school holidays? We’ve got you covered!

School holidays are coming up Monday 29 June – Friday 10 July, and we know routines can get a little tricky.

If you need additional casual days, just have a chat with our team. We’re here to help make things easier for you.

Spots can fill quickly, so let us know as soon as possible!

Bittersweet celebrations as we say goodbye to our wonderful Jenny!

On Sunday we gathered for a special team brunch to celebrate Jenny and her incredible journey with us. Jenny first joined our Nido family as a student, grew into a fantastic Educator, and has now stepped up to become an Early Childhood Teacher (ECT).

​While we are sad to see her leave our specific center, we are incredibly proud that she is continuing her journey as an ECT at Nido Early School Essendon. They are so lucky to have you, Jenny!
​Thank you for being such an amazing colleague, and a supportive team player. You will always be a part of our Nido Early School Avondale Heights family! 💕

​Please join us in wishing Jenny the absolute best of luck in her next chapter!
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World Environment Day at Nido Early School Avondale Heights
On Thursday our children experienced something truly special as we welcomed the team from Reptile Encounters into our learning environment.
Through calm, hands-on interactions with native reptiles, the children were invited to explore, observe and gently connect with the natural world around them
At Nido, we believe in nurturing a sense of wonder and respect for all living things. Experiences like this support children to develop an understanding of the environment, biodiversity and the important role we all play in caring for our planet.
Even our brave educators couldn't resist getting in on the fun! Check out Nursery 1 lead educator Gabi smiling alongside the ambassador while holding a massive snake.

✨ Fun fact:
Shingleback lizards have a large, blunt tail that heavily resembles their actual head. They use this "second head" as a decoy to confuse predators, redirecting attacks away from their vital organs so they can make a safe escape. Talk about nature's perfect illusion.

Reptile Encounters’ programs are thoughtfully designed to inspire curiosity and foster a deeper appreciation for wildlife and conservation, aligning beautifully with our commitment to sustainability and environmental awareness.
Moments like these create meaningful connections not only with animals, but with the world we share 🌍💚

More Than Just Paint and Paper:

The "Why" Behind Our Art Classes

​If you’ve seen our recent posts, you know our little artists have been busy experimenting with different mediums. But we want to pull back the curtain and share the bigger picture!

​Over the past few weeks, our classes have been focusing on the core Elements of Art the fundamental building blocks that help children understand how art is made, while deeply connecting their creativity to the natural world around them.

​Here is what our children have been exploring and why:

​Week 1: The Dot (Inspiration: The Cheetah)

​The Concept:
We started at the very beginning! A dot is the most basic building block in art. It can be small, big, colorful, soft, or bold. When you multiply or line up dots, they create shapes, patterns, and texture.

​The Lesson:
To see this element in nature, we looked at the beautiful dotted patterns of the cheetah, using black acrylic paint on brown paper to practice making deliberate, impactful marks.

​Week 2: Texture (Inspiration: The Aboriginal Flag)
​The Concept:
Texture is the surface quality you can see or feel smooth, rough, uneven, or sticky.

​The Lesson:
We explored tactile texture using sponges as applicators on red, yellow, and black paper. By dabbing, pressing, and dragging poster paints, the children learned how a sponge holds color and creates an uneven, gooey surface. Plus, using the colors of the Aboriginal Flag allowed them to naturally experiment with mixing colors to create unique shades and tones.

​Week 3: Lines (Inspiration: The Zebra)

​The Concept:
A line is simply a mark made by a moving point through space. It has length, width, and direction. Artists use lines to outline shapes, define edges, and suggest movement.

​The Lesson:
Drawing inspiration from nature, the children looked at the striking patterns of a zebra to explore how lines function. Through this exercise, they practiced creating and identifying different types of lines—including thick, thin, horizontal, and vertical marks.

​The Medium:
Working with raw charcoal on white paper gave them the freedom to explore values. They discovered that pressing lightly creates soft, misty grey lines, while pushing harder creates strong, dark, bold marks.

​Every line, dot, and textured sponge press is helping the children build visual literacy, fine motor skills, and a deeper appreciation for nature's designs. We are so incredibly proud of their progress and their artistic growth!

​👇 Drop a comment below to show some love for our talented little artists! 👇

Classroom Four Joins in on National Reconciliation Week! 🖤💛❤️

​Our incredible children in Classroom Four have been actively participating in our center-wide journey of learning, honoring, and connecting with First Nations histories and cultures.

​At Nido, we believe that every day matters and every connection matters. In Classroom Four, those connections are being built through thoughtful reflection, creative exploration, and hands-on experiences:

​Engaging with Symbols & Stories:

The children have been exploring traditional Indigenous symbols and storytelling, discovering how art can be used to share deep connections to the land, animals, and community.

​Creative Expressions:

Through beautiful visual art displays and sensory play, our educators are guiding the children to appreciate the vibrant colors and patterns of First Nations artwork, allowing them to express their own understandings through creative mediums.

​Respecting Country:

By embedding our Acknowledgement of Country into our daily routines, Classroom Four is fostering an environment of deep respect, helping our children understand their part in a bigger story as they observe, learn, and grow together.

​We are incredibly proud of the meaningful conversations and respectful curiosity coming out of Classroom Four this week. Every step we take together brings us closer on our shared journey.
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Classrooms Five and Six Honour National Reconciliation Week! 🖤💛❤️

​Our wonderful toddlers (ages 2 to 3) in Classrooms Five and Six have been coming together to explore, learn, and connect with First Nations histories and cultures.

​At Nido, we truly believe that every day matters and every connection matters. Watching our littlest learners build their understanding through sensory and creative play shows just how meaningful these early connections are:

​Sensory & Natural Exploration:

The children have been engaging with a beautiful array of natural textures, including native eucalyptus leaves, pinecones, tree bark, and sticks. They even used playdough to interact with wooden Australian animal cutouts like kangaroos and emus!

​Cultural Storytelling & Representation:

Through beautiful picture books like Dream Little One, Dream and Animals in the Bush, our toddlers are listening to First Nations stories. Our play spaces also feature diverse dolls, soft koala plushies, and mini Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags to ensure representation is woven into their everyday environment.

​A Canvas of Art & Colour:

The children have been exploring incredible Indigenous art styles, focusing on vibrant dot paintings, sea turtles, and traditional patterns. A sorting tray filled with colourful rings and materials encourages them to engage with these visual stories through hands-on matching and play.

​We are so proud of how our Classrooms Five and Six children are observing, learning, and growing together. Every small moment of discovery this week helps lay the foundation for a respectful, connected future. 🤝🌱
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Wednesdays with Wardah Weekly Art Exploration.

​Every Wednesday, our children look forward to discovering a new art medium with Wardah.

This week, the children focused on the sensory and visual textures of sponge printing as we acknowledged National Reconciliation Week.

​The children showed incredible focus as they manipulated the sponges, deciding how to layer the iconic colors of the Aboriginal Flag on their canvases.
​Reggio Emilia teaching views children as capable, rich researchers. By providing them with different mediums like sponges today, Wardah allows the children to express their respect and understanding of First Nations culture in their own unique, creative voices. Look at the incredible depth in their final pieces!
​🖤💛❤️
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Classroom Three Celebrates National Reconciliation Week! 🖤💛❤️

​Our wonderful kinder children in Classroom Three have been deeply engaged in learning about, honoring, and celebrating the rich histories and cultures of First Nations peoples.
​At Nido, we believe that every day matters and every connection matters. This week, those connections have truly come to life through hands-on exploration and meaningful play:

​Exploring Indigenous Symbols:

The children have been introduced to various traditional symbols—such as those for a meeting place, kangaroo footprints, person, and rain—helping them understand how stories and information have been shared for thousands of years.

​Sensory Storytelling:

Our sensory sand tray experience allows the children to use natural materials, tracing sticks, and hand-painted story stones to practice drawing these significant symbols, building a deeper connection to the culture.

​Connecting to Country:

Our classroom proudly displays our Acknowledgement of Country alongside the meaningful reminder: "Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow."

We have also been exploring the beautiful book Welcome to Country by Aunty Joy Murphy and Lisa Kennedy to further embed this respect into our daily routine.

​We are so proud of the curiosity, respect, and open hearts our kinder group has shown. Every conversation and every connection we make this week helps us grow together on this journey.
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Under Construction: Young Minds at Work!

​Our little builders at Nido Early School Avondale Heights have been busy transforming the yard into a full-scale construction zone!
​Through this immersive dramatic play, our children are doing so much more than just wearing high-vis vests. They are:

​Developing Problem-Solving Skills: Working out how to stack their "bricks" and balance structures.

​Building Social Connections: Practicing teamwork, communication, and delegating roles on the "job site."

​Enhancing Fine & Gross Motor Skills: Navigating the site, handling tools, and maneuvering around the "caution" zones.

​Watching their imaginations take flight as they design and create is the highlight of our week. Safety first, but creativity always!
​Has your little one mentioned their big building projects today? Let us know their favorite part of the construction site in the comments below! 👇
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Beep Beep! New learning in progress

​Classroom 5 is buzzing this week as we roll out our new 7 Learning Branches curriculum for toddlers and infants.

​Our "Tiny Travellers" small-world setup is more than just fun,it’s helping our toddlers connect with the world around them. From learning road safety signs (Literacy) to navigating the "traffic" over our handmade bridges (STEM), they are busy building new skills every day.
​We love seeing our little citizens explore their community through play!

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