Milestones Early Learning South Townsville

Book Week 2026 kicks off next week (22-28 August), theme "Symphony of Stories." Looking for something new to read together? Julian Is a Mermaid, The Colour Monster and Dear Zoo are a few ideas to get you started. Head to the blog for the full list, plus why that fourth re-read tonight is doing more than you'd think.

📚 Read more: https://affinityeducation.com.au/blog/book-week-2026-the-practice-behind-the-stories/

This week the team congratulated Miss Julie on her 18 year Workiversary with some lovely surprises. ❤️

It’s hard to believe 18 years has passed already supporting so many children,families and educators ❤️

If you can help this is what is needed at the moment for Hope in a Suitcase

For those asking for an updated needs list for this coming week:
* water bottles for all ages
* Baby bottles and soothers
* Sizes 4 and 5 nappies
* Reading books all ages
* Pencilcases for all ages
* Bath towels
* Baby zippys (warm) size 00000
* Baby bottles & soothers for newborns
* hair elastics (we have enough scrunchies)
* Soft blankets or throws for teens
* Sizes 3 and 8 girls warm pjs
* Sizes 12-14 and 14-16 underwear
* Size 000 warm onesies (girls only)
* Sizes 3 & 12 girls summer clothing
* Sizes 2, 3, 4 & 10 boys summer clothing
* Small toys and activities for all ages
* Adult size clothing & pjs suitable for teens

As part of NAIDOC week today the children helped Miss Julie finish off a very special painting that was created for our centre.

This South Townsville painting is a contemporary Aboriginal artwork that shows the story and pays homage to the local Bindal and Wulgurukaba people.

The concentric circles surrounded by U shapes is the Aboriginal symbol for a meeting place. In our painting it represents the centre, the larger U shapes are the educators and the smaller U shapes are the children. The artefacts, which as the coolamon, dilly bag and clapsticks are important for Indigenous people.

The carpet snake is the Wulgurukaba people’s totem and is also an integral part of the Wulgurukaba people’s creation story.

The ocean at the bottom represents the connection that the mobs have to the ocean and The Great Barrier Reef. The Dugong is another totem that is important to the Bindal people’s creation story.

The night sky with the stars represents ancestors, and the shooting star was also an important indicator for the Bindal people’s creation story.

This painting was created by Gabby Collins, from the Biripai tribe of northern NSW.

Today is a very special day for everyone at River's Gift. It would have been River's 15th birthday.

River was a much-loved little boy whose life, and heart breaking loss, inspired the creation of River's Gift and our commitment to helping more babies celebrate birthdays of their own.

Today Hope the blue elephant visited our nursery room to read the story “Rivers Gift”.

River's Gift, is a leading SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) focused charity, founded in late 2011 by parents Karl Waddell and Alexandra Hamilton, in loving memory of their first-born son, River. He was a happy and healthy baby who tragically passed away from SIDS, at just 128 days of age. River was gifted a baby blue elephant soft toy when he was born, hence the connection and significance of Hope the Elephant being created as the River's Gift mascot.
River's Gift is dedicated to funding research and sharing safe sleep education with families, to minimise the risk of SIDS and fatal sleep accidents.

💙Meet Hope the Elephant!💙

We are excited to welcome Hope from the River's Gift Hope Collective to our centre

Hope is a beautiful blue elephant, chosen in honour of River, who was gifted a baby blue elephant when he was born. 💙

Every new family enrolling at our centre will receive a copy of the story “Finding Hope" to Rivers gift is helping raise awareness of safe sleep practices, aiming to minimise the risk of SIDS and fatal sleep accidents.

Hope will joining us for story times and learning experiences as we share important safe sleep messages with our children and families. 💙.

https://riversgift.org/?fbclid=IwVERDUASlaF1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEej0AWZof8_mBKXkTLUBel_2XsUnbkTOhDukrhJPBc44Z0-Iy4xyieTpLHVA4_aem_H2pKS-zaTQqzIDPvnDlFQw

A big huge congratulations to Miss Pilar on her 14th year Workiversary and Miss Tiniel on her 13th year Workiversary.

What an amazing achievement🎉🎉🎉

You are loved and valued by our whole community❤️

💕Happy Mothers Day to all of our amazing mums out there.

Today we celebrated all the special people in our lives with a lovely morning tea. 💕💕💕💕💕

We hope you have a wonderful day on Sunday💕

Our kindergarten class had some very special visitors from the JCU Teddy Bear Hospital yesterday.

Such a great program supporting healthy eating, how to look after our teeth and bodies .

Thank you to all our wonderful families that are helping us support this amazing organisation this month. What a difference they make ❤️