Heathdene Preschool

💐 To all of our beautiful mums, grandmothers, carers and special people who nurture and care for the children in our community, Happy Mother’s Day!

As Mother’s Day approaches, we celebrate the love, patience, strength and care you give so generously every single day. From the early mornings and packed lunches to the cuddles, encouragement, listening ears and endless support, the impact you have on your children’s lives is immeasurable.

We know Mother’s Day can hold many different emotions for different families. We also hold space for those missing someone special, those longing to be mothers, and those for whom this day may feel difficult.

Thank you for trusting us to be part of your children’s journey. We hope Mother’s Day brings moments of love, appreciation and connection with the people who matter most.

“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”
Proverbs 31:25

With love from all of us at Heathdene Preschool 🧡

Wishing all of our families a joyful Easter and a lovely long weekend together.

Over the past few weeks, the children have enjoyed exploring Easter through stories, crafts, and a little bit of egg-citing fun along the way 🐣 while also learning about the important and true message of hope, renewal, and new life that Easter brings 🧡

As we head into the term break, we hope this time brings rest, peace, and special moments with your loved ones.

Thank you all for being such a valued part of our Heathdene community. We hope your term break is filled with peace, joy, and maybe a little chocolate too!

Happy Easter everyone ✝️

Angelica 🐔

We’re excited to share that Heathdene has welcomed a new feathered friend to our coop!

Meet Angelica! She has joined Pedra, Cookie and Coco here at preschool. Angelica has come to us from another home where she was finding things a little tricky, and we’re so pleased to be able to offer her a safe, calm and caring environment.

The children are already enjoying getting to know her and learning about how we can show kindness and care to all living things. We’re looking forward to seeing Angelica settle in and become part of our Heathdene family.

Be sure to say hello to her this week 🧡

What started as a quiet, spontaneous story with a small group soon grew into a larger gathering, as children were drawn to the connection and calm of the moment.

When educators provide a secure base, children naturally come close, engage and learn together.

Everyday Circle of Security moments guide everything we do. At Heathdene, attachment theory principles are embedded in our culture and practice.

➡️ Connection first, learning follows 🧡

🛠️⚙️🪚 Today was our first day back for our incredible Heathdene staff team and we could not have asked for a better way to kick off the year! We all came together for a hands-on Pallet play workshop, collaborating, creating and building exciting new pieces for our beautiful preschool environment.

Pallet Play uses open-ended, recycled and reclaimed materials, while encouraging children to imagine, problem-solve, take safe risks and work together, all while supporting our strong focus on sustainability and purposeful play.

Today we built…
⛺️ Teepee
🥁 Bucket drum kit
🧗 Tyre climber
🖼️ Art easel

We are so excited to welcome our new families for their orientation session tomorrow (Friday 30th Jan), and all returning families from Monday 2nd February. There is so much to look forward to as these creations come to life through the children’s play.

A huge thank you to Aaron from Pallet Play for such an engaging and inspiring day. We can’t wait to see where the children’s ideas take us 🧡

🎄Today we celebrated the season, and each other. Amid the busyness of December, it was so special to pause for a beautiful Christmas lunch together at a stunning venue.
Our team pours so much heart, wisdom and joy into our preschool community all year long, and sharing this time to reflect, laugh and simply enjoy one another felt like the perfect way to wrap up the year.

A Christmas lunch to remember with the incredible educators who make our preschool feel like family. So grateful for this remarkable team 🧡

Our strong partnership with our local schools is something we’ve built through ongoing genuine collaboration, and it’s wonderful to see the benefits of that shared commitment.

Last week, St John Bosco Catholic Primary School welcomed our preschool children for a fantastic visit. The children explored the kindergarten classrooms, played in the big school playground, observed the canteen and enjoyed getting a little glimpse of what “big school” life looks like. They returned full of excitement and confidence.

This week, that collaboration continues as we welcome two St John Bosco College Engadine high school students completing their work experience with us. It’s a privilege to support young people who are exploring future pathways in education and care, and our team has really enjoyed having them involved.

Thank you, Bosco, for the continued partnership and the meaningful opportunities it creates for our preschoolers and the wider community. And also a huge thank you to our Heathdene parent volunteers! 🧡

🍃 Bunnings Warehouse Australia Preschool Visit 🌱

Last week we had the most wonderful morning at preschool! Michelle from Bunnings joined us for a special garden replenishing adventure, bringing along a gorgeous selection of herbs, vegetables and flowers.
The children were hands-on from the very first moment - mixing soil, choosing plants and discovering the magic of how living things grow.

With Michelle’s guidance, they explored new vocabulary like roots, shoots, nutrients and compost, and learnt how different plants need different amounts of sunlight and water to thrive.

There was plenty of teamwork, problem solving and fine-motor practice as the children planned where each plant should go, dug holes, and gently tucked our new greenery into the earth.

Our garden is now again a vibrant, thriving space the children can’t wait to observe and care for.

A huge thank you to Michelle and Bunnings for their generosity and for helping us strengthen our connection with nature, sustainability and our community 🧡

🌺 Today we acknowledged Remembrance Day

We talked gently with the children about the importance of peace, kindness and caring for others. We observed a quiet moment of reflection, and created poppy art to honour those who served and sacrificed.

Remembrance Day provides a meaningful opportunity to help children understand the value of gratitude, community and looking after one another.

Thank you to our superstar Heathdene mums who serve our community as NSW Ambulance Paramedics. Recently, they brought the ambulance to preschool and created the most unforgettable learning experience for the children.

We are so grateful that they took the time to share their knowledge, answer endless curious questions, and allow the children to explore the ambulance firsthand.

During the visit, the children learned:
• The important role paramedics play in helping people
• When and how to call 000 in an emergency
• How paramedics keep people safe and calm
• What some of the medical equipment is used for
• Ways we can look after our bodies and stay safe

The children were absolutely captivated as they explored inside the ambulance and observed the tools and equipment used to care for people who are hurt or unwell.

These meaningful real-world experiences help children build awareness of community helpers, develop confidence in seeking help, and deepen their understanding of care and safety.

We absolutely love when our families share their special interests, skills and passions with us. These moments enrich our learning community in such meaningful and authentic ways. We are truly blessed to have such strong, generous and skilled members of our preschool community.

Thank you again, Alyssa & Marnie 🧡🚑✨