Hello Families,
Winter is definitely upon us, and we’ve felt it this week! The chilly weather made its presence known, but that didn’t stop our amazing children and dedicated staff from having a fantastic week.
Despite the cold, the days were filled with curiosity, discovery, and laughter. From cosy indoor activities to brave outdoor adventures, the spirit of learning and fun kept everyone warm and smiling.
Exciting news…
We’re excited to announce that from 16th June, we will be transitioning to Storypark, a platform for sharing your child’s learning journey and staying connected with our centre.
What you need to do before 16th June:
- Download the Storypark app
Available for free on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store
Search for “Storypark” and install the app on your phone or tablet
2. Set up your account
You will receive an invitation email from us soon
Follow the link in the email to create your account and connect with your child’s profile
Please ensure your account is set up before 16th June so you don’t miss any important updates or information once we switch platforms.
If you have any questions or need assistance during the setup process, please reach out – we’re here to help make this transition as smooth as possible.
We look forward to launching this new chapter with you on Storypark!
Highlights from the week…
We had a fantastic week filled with creativity, exploration, and emotional expression.
This week, our nursery children took part in a meaningful and creative activity to commemorate Mabo Day. Through an engaging art and craft experience, the children coloured and pasted small pieces of paper onto images of the native hibiscus flower, a symbol of remembrance and respect.
Mabo Day, observed annually on 3rd June, honours Eddie Mabo’s courageous fight for Indigenous land rights. It marks the historic 1992 High Court decision that legally recognised native title in Australia, a significant step toward justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
While participating in the activity, educators introduced the importance of Mabo Day in an age-appropriate way, helping children begin to understand and appreciate the rich culture and history of Australia’s First Nations people.
This hands-on experience was a beautiful way to combine creativity with cultural awareness, planting early seeds of respect, inclusion, and understanding in our youngest learners.
To conclude Reconciliation Week, our Pre-Toddler children embraced the opportunity to learn about and celebrate Aboriginal culture. The children gathered around their Aboriginal learning table, taking time to explore the vibrant artwork displayed on their wall, each piece rich with meaning and storytelling. Together, they talked about what it means to show respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their connection to the land we live on.The children especially loved singing Inanay, a traditional Aboriginal song. Their joyful voices filled the room, creating a shared moment of cultural appreciation and unity. This experience helped deepen our understanding of Australia’s First Nations peoples and the importance of diversity, inclusion, and respect from a young age.
Our toddler children engaged in a vibrant and meaningful project. This week’s theme focused on butterflies and emotions, combining art with emotional awareness. Each child created their own butterfly, thoughtfully choosing colours to represent how they were feeling. This activity encouraged self-expression and helped children begin to make connections between colours and emotions.
Educators sparked thoughtful conversations by asking open-ended questions such as:
“How do you feel today, and what colour would you pick for that feeling?”
Using droppers and food colouring, the children explored colour mixing and patterns, creating beautiful designs on paper towels. Once the paper towels dried, educators gently supported each child in threading through the butterfly’s thorax to bring their creation to life.This project not only fostered creativity and fine motor development but also opened up opportunities for meaningful discussions about feelings, self-awareness, and the natural world. We’re so proud of the thoughtful, imaginative work our toddlers produced and look forward to more engaging projects ahead.
Our Kinder 3 and 4 children had an ocean-sized week of fun and learning. To celebrate Ocean Day, the Kinder 4 learners dove into Catfish Ursula Upside Down by Corey R. Tabor, sparking thoughtful chats about being yourself and celebrating differences. The children loved exploring these ideas while boosting their confidence and sense of belonging.
As part of Kinder 4 ocean project, the kids got creative making turtles from egg cartons and were amazed by our “waves in a bottle” experiment, predicting and discussing how oil and water don’t mix! The Kinder 3 also read ocean stories, such as The Rainbow Fish, and talked about all the fascinating creatures beneath the sea.
The Kinders’ pretend ocean tub made a splash! The children giggled, splashed, and imagined sea animals swimming through plants and waves. Some even shared their own fishing adventures with their families.
To wrap it all up, a visit from Stop, Look, Listen, Think brought road safety to life in an interactive and playful way, helping further prepare our little explorers for adventures out in the community.
It’s been a week full of curiosity, creativity, and connection!
Educator spotlight…
A big shout out to our fabulous Zovi from the Pre-Toddler room! With her warm and tranquil demeanour, Zovi brings a calming presence to both children and staff alike. She is the true definition of a team player, always ready to jump in and lend a helping hand, not just at Choklits Ringwood, but across all three of our services.
Whether she’s supporting in another room, helping in the kitchen to prepare delicious, nourishing meals, or running fun and engaging activities for the children, Zovi gives it her all. Her creativity, reliability, and collaborative spirit make her an invaluable part of our team.
Zovi, thank you for everything you do. Your dedication, kindness, and infectious positivity make a real difference every single day!
Next week…
- Monday – King’s birthday- Public holiday
- Tuesday – Kinder 4 Cooking with Jordan, Kinder 4 Library Visit & Music with Tom
- Wednesday – Kinder 3 Cooking with Jordan
- Thursday – Messy Play with Asten and Yoga with Tanaya
- Friday- Kinder 3 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…
As the frosty winds begin to bite, please remember to bundle up the children in extra warm clothes, think cozy hats, fuzzy mittens, thick scarves, and toasty jackets!
And don’t forget those cute little winter boots and snuggly layers underneath, because even when it’s freezing, our little adventurers still love playing outside. Let’s keep them warm, happy, and ready for winter-filled fun!
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