Halswell Preschool ECE

𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙂𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘿𝙖𝙮

Yes, we know that today is ❤️ Valentines Day, but it's also International 📖 Book Giving Day. The aim is to get books📚 into the hands of as many children👶👧🧒👦 as possible.

Through constant exposure to books and stories, children begin to develop an understanding that symbols ♻️can be read and interpreted by others. This promotes the concept that thoughts, experiences and ideas can be represented through words, pictures, photos and print.

Read to your child every day – books, magazines, letters✉️, and recipes – anything that reinforces the concept that written words mean something. Visit the library together and let your child choose stories to take home – or make your own book together. You could use photos or your child’s illustrations – and invite your child to dictate the text.

What is your child’s favourite book?

Top tips for starting back to school after the holidays.

Getting ready for the first day

If your child is new to the school, visit the school grounds over the holidays to help them get familiar with their new surroundings.

Walking, scooting, or cycling🚴‍♀️ to school is a great start to the day. Practice the safest route to school over the holidays – don’t forget a helmet if they’re on wheels.

It’s easy to let bedtimes 🛌slip during the school holidays. Get your child back into their regular bedtime routine a few days before school starts so they’re rested and ready.

If your child is anxious 😰about their first day, make time to talk to them about their worries. Ask them how they feel and really listen to what they say, rather than telling them not to worry.

Help your child get their clothes, sun hat👒, shoes👟, lunch and backpack🎒 ready the night before school starts to reduce stress in the morning.

Make sure you’ve labelled your child’s lunchbox, drink bottle, sun hat and clothing.

Lunchbox food

A healthy lunch will give your child energy to last the day, keep them happy, and help them concentrate.

Kids are often in a rush to finish lunch so they can play, so they’re more likely to eat a lunch that is quick and easy to eat.

High-sugar or high-fat treats for lunch (biscuits, chippies, juice etc) can make it hard for your child to concentrate later in the day.

If you can get your child to help pack their lunchbox, they’re more likely to eat it.

Keeping hydrated is important for concentration too – water is always best.

Half-fill the drink bottle with water, put it in the freezer overnight and then top up with water from the tap in the morning – this will keep the water nice and cold all day.

Stationery

Unless the school provides stationery, the school will have a list of stationery you need to buy for your child for the year.

Make sure you name their stationery items.

Most stationery shops have deals on in the month before school starts, so it pays to shop around.

Uniform

Have the uniform ready to go the night before school starts to make the morning easier for you and your child.

If you’re struggling to cover the cost:

Ask your school if they have free or discounted second-hand uniforms.

Ask the school if they will let you spread payments for the uniform throughout the year.

Check out shops like The Warehouse and Postie Plus for non-branded uniform items (check with your school if these are okay).

Digital devices

Some schools ask students to bring their own digital device.

Check prices at your school and/or local suppliers to find the best deal.

Ask about finance options to help spread the cost out over time.

Your school may have devices for students to borrow, or they may have a partnership with an organisation that can help.

Sleep

Sleep is so important for a healthy, happy child.

Health experts recommend 9-11 hours sleep per night for school-age children, and 8-10 hours per night for teenagers.

For a better night’s sleep, no screen time one hour before bed – the light from the device sends a signal which makes it hard to fall asleep (even when the light is turned all the way down).

Budgeting for school

Setting up a regular, small automatic payment to the school can make it much easier to pay any fees that come up during the year (check with your school first to make sure this is okay).

Schools can ask you to pay for activities or events that are not part of the school curriculum (including exam fees), but school donations (or voluntary contributions) are optional – you can pay all, some, or none of the suggested donation.

If you do make a donation to your school, you can get a third of the amount back through the Inland Revenue.

If you're having trouble paying fees for activities or events that are not part of the school curriculum, contact the school principal — you might be able to get help.

𝑯𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒚 𝑨𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒂 𝑫𝒂𝒚!

Chinese New Year (also known as the Spring Festival) was established by Emperor Huangdi over 3,000 years ago (712-771 BC). It takes place at the end of January or the beginning of February, according to the lunar calendar in use in China. The first three days are the most important and are a time for family, food🍚 and fireworks🎆. The Lantern🏮 Festival is held on the 15th day and signals the end of the New Year period.

Each Chinese New Year is designated as “the year of“ one of the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac, which animal is supposed to characterise that year and all those born in it. 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit🐰. In Chinese culture, Rabbit is the symbol of longevity, peace and prosperity. Rabbits are optimistic, kind-hearted, sensible and highly approachable.

Traditionally the noisy nature of Chinese New Year celebrations is meant to fend off evil, as does the colour red. Fireworks and boisterous parades that include lion dances serve this purpose as well.

Here are some ways that you can celebrate Chinese New Year.

- Clean your home and garden to sweep away any bad luck. Encourage your children to help!

- Make paper lanterns and decorate your home with them.

- Gift your children with red envelopes filled with money and sweets.

- Make your own dumplings and taste test different flavours to see which are your family's favourite.

- Watch lion and dragon dances on YouTube

- Go along to the parade held on Sunday 5 February 3pm from the Bridge of Remembrance to Cathedral Square.

www.gumdropschildcare.nz
"Where it's great to be small!"

👀Looking for childcare? We've got a list of questions❓ you should be asking.

Download⬇️ the file here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1siHpSsZAOfQP_RiAn8KOIZsxUFvNQoHI/view?usp=sharing

Celebrated on author A. A. Milne's birthday, Winnie the Pooh Day celebrates the beloved honey🍯-obsessed bear🧸 and his adventures in a friendly wood. You could celebrate today by having a Teddy Bear’s Picnic!

If the weather🌞 allows, spread a blanket on the ground outside – if not, the lounge floor will do just as well.
-Serve honey sandwiches 🥪(bears love honey), teddy-shaped biscuits, and miniature chocolate fish (bears love fish too!)

-If your guests are old enough to play games, try ‘Pin the Bow Tie on the Teddy’🧸 and ‘What’s the Time⏰ Mr Bear?’

-For a grand finale, have a teddy bear fashion parade. Haul out all your children’s old baby clothes and help your guests choose hats, socks, bibs, etc to dress their teddies in. Spread out a towel and let each teddy parade down ‘the catwalk’. Don’t forget to take photos!

www.gumdropschildcare.nz
"Where it's great to be small!"

https://www.facebook.com/100064372037482/posts/541217588033971/?mibextid=Nif5oz

🚘 ATTENTION VEHICLE OWNERS 🚘

Police are seeing an increase in vehicle thefts, vehicle break-ins and licence plates being stolen.

Come along to our Safer Vehicles events this week:

𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟮 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 - 𝗪𝗶𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 - 𝟭𝟬𝗮𝗺-𝟮𝗽𝗺
𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟯 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 - 𝗧𝗲 𝗛𝗮̄𝗽𝘂𝗮: 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 - 𝟭𝟬𝗮𝗺-𝟮𝗽𝗺

The Neighbourhood Policing Team will be there providing prevention advice and demonstrating how to fit steering wheel locks and anti-theft licence plate screws.

We have a limited number of steering locks to give away to owners of high risk vehicles (Nissan Tiida, Toyota Aqua, MarkX, Mazda Demio and Subaru Impreza's).