The Lakes College Before and After School Care

The Good Samaritan Christmas Appeal. ❤️🎁

This year our service alongside our Uniting Early learning Services will be jumping in to the support the "The Good Samaritan Christmas Appeal. We are also partnering with the Uniting Church here at the Lakes College to create something special! Our children and families have the opportunity to fill a shoebox with small gifts, practical items, and messages of kindness that are delivered to children living in vulnerable situations around the world. What may seem like a simple shoebox can become a powerful message of hope, love, and generosity.

A few helpful packing reminders,
- If you include a toothbrush, please remember to add toothpaste so the child receiving the shoebox has everything they need

- If you include a soccer ball, please also add a ball pump, as many children receiving these shoeboxes may not have access to purchase one

- If you include a colouring-in book, please add crayons or felt pens so children have the supplies needed to enjoy their gift.

Important Dates

📦 Shoeboxes are due back by Friday, 16 October 2026. You will be able to collect a shoebox starting next Monday the 24th of August. Hope we can all come together to make a impact!

Chatter box craft! - Spontaneous Play

Today we had fun making chatter boxes!
The children practised their folding skills, helped each other with instructions, and showed great creativity while decorating their designs. They loved sharing their chatter boxes with friends and taking turns asking questions. A wonderful activity for building fine motor, communication, and social skills!

Learning Outcomes:

Outcome 4: Children are confident and involved learners as they followed instructions, problem-solved, and demonstrated

Outcome 5: Children are effective communicators as they shared ideas.

Outcome 3: Children have a strong sense of wellbeing as they developed fine motor skills, coordination, and confidence.

Animal Craft Fun! 🎨🐾

Today, our little learners enjoyed a wonderful animal craft experience! Children selected their favourite animals and used their creativity to colour, cut, and decorate their masterpieces.

As they worked, the children shared their ideas about their chosen animals, practised their scissor skills, and proudly showcased their finished creations to their friends and educators. It was fantastic to see their imagination, focus, and confidence shine throughout the activity.

EYLF Learning Outcomes:

🌟 Outcome 1: Children Have a Strong Sense of Identity

Children made independent choices by selecting their favourite animal and expressing their individual interests through art.�

🌟 Outcome 4: Children Are Confident and Involved Learners

Children developed problem-solving skills, concentration, and persistence while colouring, cutting, and creating their animal crafts.�

🌟 Outcome 5: Children Are Effective Communicators

Children shared ideas and conversations about their animals, using language to describe features, habitats, and personal preferences.�

🌟 Outcome 3: Children Have a Strong Sense of Wellbeing

Children strengthened their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and scissor control through cutting and colouring activities.�

We loved seeing each child's unique creation and celebrating their creativity and learning together!
🐾

Today, the children created colourful ice cream paintings using cut-up sponges to make unique textured effects. Through this creative experience, children explored colour and texture, strengthened their fine motor skills, and expressed their ideas through art. We loved seeing their imaginations come to life! ✨

Learning Outcomes (EYLF):

Outcome 4: Confident and Involved Learners

Children used problem-solving skills as they explored how the sponge created different textures and effects with paint. Children showed curiosity and creativity while experimenting with colours and techniques.�

Outcome 5: Effective Communicators

Children expressed their ideas and preferences through their artwork and conversations about ice cream flavours and colours.�

Outcome 3: Strong Sense of Wellbeing

Children developed fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and control through grasping, dabbing, and stamping with the sponge pieces.

Marshmallow S'mores Fun ☁️

Today we started by making cloud bracelets. As we explored the materials, the children noticed they looked more like marshmallows.

Following their interests, we transformed the activity into a marshmallow s'mores campfire adventure. The children helped create a pretend campfire, toasted their marshmallows, and shared fun stories with their friends.

Through imaginative play, they worked together, communicated their ideas, and enjoyed a shared experience full of laughter and creativity.

Outcomes:

Outcome 1: Children developed a sense of identity as they confidently shared their ideas and contributed to the group experience.�

Outcome 4: Children were confident and involved learners, using observation and imagination to extend the activity in a new direction.�

Outcome 5: Children were effective communicators, engaging in storytelling, conversations, and collaborative play.�

The children's creativity turned a simple bracelet making experience into a memorable campfire adventure! 🔥☁️

🌱 Watering the Garden 💧

Today, our children worked together to water the garden, showing care and responsibility as they nurtured the plants. They demonstrated an understanding that plants need regular water to grow and enjoyed seeing the results of their efforts in our shared outdoor space.

The activity supported independence, connection with nature, and a sense of contribution to the college community.

Our children took pride in helping the garden thrive and enjoyed the calming experience of being outdoors in the early morning.

Outcomes:

Demonstrates responsibility and care for the environment.

Develops practical life skills and independence.

Builds confidence through contributing to the community.

100 Days of Prep Celebration!! 🎉

Today we celebrated an exciting milestone as our lakes College Prep students reached 100 days of school!

Over the past 100 days, our little learners have grown in confidence, made new friends, discovered new skills, and created many wonderful memories.

We are so proud of everything they have achieved.

Here's to 100 days of learning, laughter, and fun, and many more adventures to come!

Happy National Lamington Day! 🍫🥥🐑

Today at College Care , we celebrated National Lamington Day with a fun Lamington colouring competition! 🎨🇦🇺

The children showed off their creativity with colourful designs, big smiles, and plenty of enthusiasm. It was wonderful to see everyone getting involved and celebrating this much loved Australian icon.

A big congratulations to all our talented participants. We loved seeing your amazing artwork! 👏🌟

CHILD EDUCATORS!

This afternoon, some of our senior children spontaneously stepped into the role of educators, embracing the opportunity to help staff and support their peers. To make their roles visible, the children wore special lanyards and carried pens, helping other children identify them as "educators" and providing a point of contact when questions or concerns arose.

Throughout the session, the children assisted with running activities, completed headcounts, and helped monitor the group. They took their responsibilities seriously, demonstrating leadership, confidence, and a strong sense of accountability. By taking on these important tasks, they gained a valuable insight into the many roles and responsibilities educators undertake each day.

As they guided their peers, the children began to think about safety, organisation, problem solving, and the different situations that can arise within a busy OSHC environment. They supported younger children, answered questions, and worked collaboratively with educators to ensure activities ran smoothly.

This child led experience provided meaningful opportunities for growth and responsibility. The senior children were empowered to contribute to the service community, developing independence, leadership skills, and empathy as they considered the needs of others. Their enthusiasm and commitment showed a growing understanding of what it means to care for and support a group.

Learning Outcomes

Outcome 1 – Children have a strong sense of identity

Demonstrated confidence by taking on leadership roles and responsibilities.
Developed self-esteem through being trusted with meaningful tasks.

Outcome 2 – Children are connected with and contribute to their world. Contributed positively to the OSHC community by supporting peers and educators.

Modelled responsible behaviour and teamwork.

Outcome 3 – Children have a strong sense of wellbeing

Showed awareness of safety practices through assisting with headcounts and supervision.

Outcome 4 – Children are confident and involved learners

Engaged in problem-solving, decision-making, and real-life learning experiences. Applied their knowledge and observations of educator practices in authentic situations.

Outcome 5 – Children are effective communicators

Used verbal communication to answer questions, guide peers, and share information.
Demonstrated active listening and collaboration with both children and educators.

Magic Drawings Come to Life!

Today the children participated in a fascinating science and art experience using magic markers, spoons, and water. Children carefully drew pictures and symbols onto spoons using special whiteboard markers. Once their drawings were complete, they gently placed the spoons into a container of water and watched with excitement as their creations slowly lifted off the spoon and floated across the water's surface.

The children were captivated by the unexpected result and eagerly tested different drawings, colours, and shapes. They shared their observations with one another, predicting what might happen before placing their spoons into the water and discussing why the drawings floated away. Many children repeated the process several times, showing persistence, curiosity, and enthusiasm for learning through experimentation.

This activity encouraged children to explore basic scientific concepts such as cause and effect, observation, prediction, and experimentation. It also supported creativity and fine motor development as children carefully drew their designs and manipulated the spoons in the water.

Learning Outcomes:

Outcome 4 Children are Confident and Involved Learners: Children develop confidence and involvement in learning as they experimented, investigated, and shared their discoveries.

Outcome 5 Children are Effective Communicators: Children interacted verbally with peers and educators, expressing ideas, making predictions, and describing what they observed.

Outcome 1 Children Have a Strong Sense of Identity: Children demonstrated confidence and resilience by trying different designs and testing their ideas.

Children's Voice: "It's floating!" "My drawing jumped off the spoon!" "Can I make a bigger one and see what happens?"