Hello families,
Happy Cultural Diversity and Harmony Week! What a wonderful week it’s been at Choklits Ringwood as we celebrated the rich cultural backgrounds that make us unique. Through various activities, we’ve come together to help children gain a deeper understanding of the world around them and the beauty of diversity.
This week has highlighted how we may come from different backgrounds, but at the heart of it all, we are united as one. Embracing our differences fosters a stronger sense of community and helps build respect, empathy, and connection. Together, we create an inclusive environment where everyone is celebrated and valued.
Exciting News…
Service Improvements in our outdoor yard will commence on Monday 24th March at 10:00am. You’ll probably notice some temporary fencing that will be in the yard while the works take place. We will keep you informed of any work that will impact our programs but we don’t anticipate any at this point.
Highlights from the week…
Nursery: Our Nursery children engaged in a joyful musical exploration, dancing to songs in various languages. This fun activity allowed them to connect with different cultures through the power of music and movement. In addition, the children took part in arts and crafts, using orange paint, the symbolic color of Harmony Day, to create vibrant and meaningful artwork.
Pre-Toddlers: This week, the Pre-Toddler children celebrated Cultural Diversity Week in an exciting and engaging way by learning the “Hello Song” in a variety of languages. They explored flags from different countries using the iPad and took part in meaningful discussions about the unique cultural backgrounds of their friends. It was a fun and enriching experience that not only celebrated cultural diversity but also enhanced the children’s language skills and sparked their curiosity about the world. The children’s enthusiasm and open-mindedness created a warm and welcoming atmosphere for learning, fostering a deeper appreciation for the beauty and richness of our global community.
Toddlers: Our little learners in the Toddler Room took part in a hands-on, collaborative project to create a representation of planet Earth using various materials. This project was designed to teach the children about the rich diversity of cultures and traditions around the world, while emphasizing that, despite our different backgrounds, we are united in our responsibility to care for our planet. In addition, the children also enjoyed painting with orange and green, the symbolic colors of Harmony Day and St. Patrick’s Day, further connecting them to the celebration of unity and cultural appreciation.
Kinder 3: The Kinder children had a blast at our Happy Feet incursion, an incredible program focused on children’s health and fitness, while also promoting confidence and self-esteem. The themed adventure for the day was the Zoo, featuring original music, magic, colourful props, and stunning costumes that truly captured the children’s imaginations. In addition, our Kinder children participated in the Cultural Celebration by reading the story “Elmer”. This delightful story shared an important message about how we may all look different, yet we can still get along and live harmoniously together, reinforcing the value of diversity and inclusion.
Kinder 4: Our Kinder 4 children also had a fantastic time with the Happy Feet incursion, with their favorite moments being dressing up as monkeys and mimicking animal sounds. To celebrate Cultural Diversity Week and promote comprehensive skills, our Kinder children learned about different flags, exploring where they come from and linking them to their respective countries, a great opportunity to learn more about each other. This was all brought to life through the story “Whoever We Are.” Story sessions are helping the children develop essential literacy and reading skills. Storytelling enhances vocabulary and comprehension, while fostering imagination, empathy, and critical thinking. It also promotes an understanding of diverse cultures, laying a strong foundation for future learning and communication.
Our Nursery team members, Leila and Tina, celebrated Nowruz this week and shared their insight into their traditions. Nowruz is the Persian New Year, celebrated on 20th March 2025, to welcome Spring. It is a time for renewal, family gatherings, and joyful celebrations. A special tradition is the Haft-Seen table, which includes seven symbolic items that start with “S” in Persian:
- Sabzeh (sprouts) – New beginnings
- Seer (garlic) – Health
- Seeb (apple) – Beauty
- Senjed (dried fruit) – Love
- Samanu (sweet pudding) – Strength
- Serkeh (vinegar) – Patience and wisdom
- Sumac (spice) – Sunrise and hope
People clean their homes, visit loved ones, and enjoy festive meals to start the new year with happiness and positivity
Educator spotlight…
A massive shout-out to DJ, who has now stepped into the role of Second in Charge in the Toddler Room! Over the past two months, DJ has demonstrated exceptional professionalism, strong leadership skills, and a genuine passion for early childhood education. Her ability to connect with the children, support her colleagues, and create a positive and engaging learning environment has made her an invaluable addition to the team. DJ’s collaborative spirit is a true asset, and she has been instrumental in supporting Sukh and the entire team. Well done, DJ. We’re so proud to have you with us!
Next week…
- Monday- Dr Chan Visit and Vision Portraits
- Tuesday – Music with Tom & Kinder 4 Library Visit
- Thursday – Yoga with Tanaya
- Friday – Cooking with Jordan
Be sure to check our Calendar of Events for full details of these and other upcoming excursions, incursions, and celebrations.
Community Connection…
Trident Gymnastics (a small business owned by one of our Choklits families) offers Play Gym classes where young children experience 1.5 hours of exciting play, fun, and adventure. Please click here for more information.
Don’t forget…
Just a gentle reminder to kindly avoid bringing food from home, as we have some allergies in the service that we need to be mindful of. We really appreciate your understanding and help in keeping everyone safe and healthy. Thank you so much!
We’d love your help to help us improve at Choklits …
So, don’t forget you can send us feedback or share your ideas at any time regarding our service, practice, policies or curriculum in a couple of different ways-
- In person at Choklits, either verbally or in writing using the clipboards provided
- Via phone or email
- Using our National Quality Areas Feedback Form
- Using our Policy Feedback Form
- Visiting choklits.com.au/contact
Thank you again for your ongoing support. We look forward to another wonderful week ahead!
Have a great weekend,
Janine, Jenny, and the Choklits Team
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Please check the calendar below for important upcoming events, feel free to share with your family and friends.
Our Centres
(03) 9879 5888