Choklits Ringwood Weekly Updates

We love to hear any feedback you have, so please head to our last post and let us know your thoughts in the comments.

We’d love your help to help us improve at Choklits …

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-

1. In person at Choklits, either verbally or in writing using the clipboards provided
2. Via phone or email
3. Using our National Quality Areas Feedback Form
4. Using our Policy Feedback Form
5. Visiting choklits.com.au/contact 

Kind Regards

Jodi, Sue and the Team

— Friday, August 11th —

Hello families,

Happy Friday!!!

We have had a tooth-tastic week here at Choklits for Dental Week.  The children have had a great time  “brushing up” on all things oral care! 🦷🪥 It’s been a  week full of smiles and giggles. 

Here are some of the highlights for the week. 

Nursery: 

Our littlest explorers in the Nursery engaged in a dental-themed provocation table, igniting their curiosity about dental care. They also dabbled in artistic expression by painting pictures of teeth with white paint and toothbrushes, creating whimsical and imaginative masterpieces. A vibrant Rainbow Colour table allowed them to delve into the enchanting world of colours, promoting sensory exploration and cognitive development.

Pre-Toddlers: 

In the Pre-Toddler group, our budding learners watched the engaging Wiggles tooth brushing song as part of Dental Week, instilling the importance of oral hygiene. Their creativity flourished as they painted A4 templated teeth with white paint and toothbrushes, fostering fine motor skills and artistic expression. Discussions about healthy eating were enriched by reading the captivating story “Budburra’s Garden,” while the introduction of a new mega block resource provided boundless opportunities for imaginative play.

Toddlers:

Toddlers also enjoyed the Wiggles tooth brushing song, delving into the world of dental care through song and movement. Their artistic talents shone as they painted A4 templated teeth, reinforcing the significance of dental health. The exploration of healthy eating continued, promoting a holistic understanding of well-being. In a delightful twist, the science behind magnets captured their attention as they tested various surfaces for magnetism, fostering scientific inquiry and critical thinking.

3-Year-Old Kinder:

Our curious 3-Year-Old Kindergarten learners embarked on a literary journey with the story “The Teeth” by Emmaline Marvig. This inspired rich discussions around healthy eating and the importance of dental care. In an imaginative twist, the educators set up a captivating hair salon, allowing the children to explore their interests and creativity. Songs with actions added a musical touch to their learning, promoting language development and coordination.

4-Year-Old Kinder: 

The 4-Year-Old Kindergarten group delved into the realm of healthy eating, discussing the vital role it plays in our well-being. Through an engaging book about teeth, they deepened their understanding of dental health. A visit from Dr. Anna of Ivory Dental reinforced oral care practices, leaving a lasting impact on our young learners. The creation of a puppet theatre sparked their imaginations and storytelling abilities, while space puzzles added an element of cosmic exploration to their week.

Upcoming August Events…

• 14th-18th: Science Week – Get ready for a week full of exciting scientific exploration and experiments that ignite curiosity and wonder.
• 21st-25th: Book Week – Come dressed in your favourite book character, celebrating the joy of reading and storytelling.

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend. I am off to see the Barbie movie again, more pottery throwing and supporting my son Gus’s footy mates in their semi final game. Stay warm and safe and see you next week.

Kind Regards

Jodi, Sue and the Team

— Friday, August 4th —

Happy Friday Choklits Families.

Can you believe it is August!! My goodness this year is just flying by.  

Our wonderful maintenance guru, Ryan, has completed the Chicken Coop and our chickens have been visiting during the day. The children are so excited to see them outside. 

We have had a busy week with lots of wonderful experiences created by Choklits hard working Educators. I have been in the rooms a lot this week supporting Educators and was even  lucky enough to go on the 4 YO Kinder excursion to Marlborough Primary.  It was such a big walk for the 4’s  and they did a great job walking to the school. I am so proud of how well they listened and engaged with the Prep teacher. It definitely was a highlight of my week. 

Let’s dive into some other  highlights of our week:

Nursery:

The Nursery children enjoyed the benefits of group time, where they engaged in interactive and social activities that fostered their sense of belonging. They had a blast with a bubble experience, exploring the magical world of bubbles and developing their sensory skills. The 5 Little Ducks playset brought joy and playful learning, enhancing their numeracy and language development. Our little learners also celebrated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander activities by decorating handprints to display, embracing diversity and inclusivity in the Nursery.

Pre-Toddler:

Our Pre-Toddler group had fun with bubbles, experiencing the delight of bubble play while developing their fine motor skills. They further explored colours and 3D shapes, fostering their understanding of the world around them.  As part of our commitment to inclusivity, we listened to the story “No Way Yirrikipayi!” by Alison Lester in honour of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day, promoting cultural awareness and understanding.

Toddler:

The Toddler group explored the joy of music with various musical instruments, sparking their creativity and love for rhythm. They also experienced the wonder of planting seeds, nurturing their understanding of nature and growth. Similarly, they also engaged with the story “No Way Yirrikipayi,” fostering cultural appreciation and a sense of respect for different backgrounds. The children also had a blast playing the game “What’s the Time, Mr. Wolf,” promoting social interactions and turn-taking.

3-Year-Old Kinder:

In the 3-Year-Old Kinder, a group time discussion about community helpers led to a captivating story titled “Emergency Emergency Vehicles to the Rescue.” The children then engaged in activities centred around police, firemen, and doctors, gaining insight into the important roles these helpers play in our community. They also had a fascinating “All About Today” activity calendar, learning about the date, month, and year, promoting their understanding of time. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Children’s day the fabulous 3’s engaged in a painting activity using paint brushes made from natural plants. 

4-Year-Old Kinder:

The 4-Year-Old Kinder had a special excursion to Marlborough Primary School, where they read a story and enjoyed playtime in the playground with the preps. They continued their exploration of the theme “Space” by creating space puppets, fueling their imagination and storytelling abilities. A pop-up book about Earth brought excitement and discussions about our planet. In another delightful activity, they read the story “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” leading to insightful conversations around healthy eating habits. They even transformed the home corner into a lively cafe, promoting role-play and social interactions.

Thank you…

We are absolutely delighted and deeply grateful for your overwhelming generosity and support in raising $158.80  for the Melbourne City Mission, an organisation that provides essential assistance to those facing homelessness. Your donations have made a significant impact and will go a long way in supporting the most vulnerable members of our community during these challenging times. We are truly proud to be part of a community that cares so deeply and takes meaningful action to make a positive difference in the lives of others. 

August Events…

We have an exciting lineup of events for August:

• 4th: National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day – Let’s celebrate the rich cultural heritage of our Indigenous children with engaging activities that promote diversity and inclusivity.
• 7th-13th: Dental Health Week – Dental health is essential for our little ones’ overall well-being. We will incorporate fun and informative activities to teach the importance of dental care.
• 13th: Red Nose Day – Let’s support this great cause by wearing as much red clothing as we can, raising awareness for safe sleep practices for babies.
• 14th-18th: Science Week – Get ready for a week full of exciting scientific exploration and experiments that ignite curiosity and wonder.
• 21st-25th: Book Week – Come dressed in your favourite book character, celebrating the joy of reading and storytelling.

Have a wonderful weekend, stay safe and warm and see you all next week. 

Kind Regards

Jodi, Sue and the team

— Friday, July 28th —

Hello Choklits Families,

Happy Friday!!!!

This week it was wonderful to see all the children and educators support The Melbourne City Mission by wearing their Pyjamas this week. Everyone  came  dressed in their cosy and adorable pyjamas, ready for a week of exciting activities and learning experiences.  We are immensely grateful for the generous donations made by our Choklits families, as we raised money for the Melbourne City Mission Winter Appeal. Your contributions have made a significant impact in supporting those in need within our community, especially during these colder months. Thank you !!!!

Let’s delve into this weeks highlights:

Nursery:

During Pyjama Week, our little ones had a blast engaging in various experiences. They enjoyed a pasting activity, creating beautiful masterpieces. Sensory play is an integral part of learning, and our Nursery children had sensory experiences that stimulated their senses and encouraged exploration. The sandpit provided them with a fun and tactile experience. Educators also  introduced our little adventurers to the wonders of nature by exploring sensory experiences with tan bark and trees. To further explore the value of nature, we also planted a tree on “Plant a Tree Day.”

Pre-Toddler/Toddler:

Our Pre-Toddlers and Toddlers were immersed in Pyjama Week with a special sensory experience using shaving cream and food colouring, resembling fluffy clouds. Music is a wonderful way to engage children, and our little ones had a delightful time with the “Musical Pillows Song and Dance” game. As part of “Plant a Tree Day,” they had the opportunity to explore the concept of plant growth by planting mung beans in plastic cups.

3 YO Kinder:

In the 3-year-old Kindergarten group, Pyjama Week was filled with excitement, including a fun and educational pyjama matching card game. The children also explored the fascinating world of wax-resistant painting, allowing their creativity to shine. Storytelling with puppets came alive with beloved tales like “Wombat Stew” and “Tiddaliks.” To inspire a sense of responsibility and love for nature, the children planted individual seeds to take home and nurture for “Plant a Tree Day.”

4YO Kinder:

Our 4-year-old Kindergarten group had an engaging Pyjama Week. They are  continuing their exploration of space by creating planets. They had an energising dance party and enjoyed balancing bridge activities, enhancing their physical coordination. As part of “Plant a Tree Day,” our young green thumbs took a step further by planting vegetables in the garden.

Upcoming August Events:

We have an exciting lineup of events for August:

• 4th: National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day – Let’s celebrate the rich cultural heritage of our Indigenous children with engaging activities that promote diversity and inclusivity.
• 7th-13th: Dental Health Week – Dental health is essential for our little ones’ overall well-being. We will incorporate fun and informative activities to teach the importance of dental care.
• 13th: Red Nose Day – Let’s support this great cause by wearing as much red clothing as we can, raising awareness for safe sleep practices for babies.
• 14th-18th: Science Week – Get ready for a week full of exciting scientific exploration and experiments that ignite curiosity and wonder.
• 21st-25th: Book Week – Come dressed in your favourite book character, celebrating the joy of reading and storytelling.

Have you seen our Winter Menu…

Don’t forget to check out our nutritious, chef-prepared winter menu, designed to keep little tummies satisfied and healthy during the colder months. The menu is available here https://www.choklits.com.au/winter-menus-2023/

Have a fabulous weekend everyone and look forward to seeing you all next week

Take Care

Jodi, Sue and the Team

— Friday, July 21st —

Hello Choklits families,

Welcome to Friday!!!!

As the winter chill settles in today and brrrrr it is cold, I warmly welcome you to our weekly update.  Despite the cold weather, Choklits has been buzzing with warmth and excitement as our children engaged in enriching activities throughout the week.

This week, our kinders had the pleasure of two captivating incursions centred around Australian animals. Wildlife Xposure brought a touch of the wild into our centre, allowing our children to interact with some of Australia’s wildlife and learn about their habitats and life cycles. It was an interactive experience that sparked wonder and curiosity about the diverse wildlife that calls Australia home. It was wonderful to listen to all the children and their answers to the speaker’s question. They do know alot about Australian animals. 

In addition, Museum Victoria’s taxidermy incursion brought lifelike representations of Australian animals, creating a unique opportunity for our 4 YO Kinder children to closely observe and learn about these animals in a safe and educational setting. It was equally as impressive. 

Here are the weeks highlights:

Nursery: 

In the Nursery, our little ones had a delightful Ocean-themed week, building on previous weeks of exploration. They sang “Row, Row, Row Your Boat,” made adorable jellyfish, and let their creativity flow by painting boxes that transformed into boats. Engaging with playdough and sea animals further enriched their sensory experiences.

Pre-Toddlers and Toddlers: 

Our curious Pre-Toddlers and Toddlers embarked on a journey to discover “Bugs in the Garden.” They explored these tiny creatures and their habitats, sparking their wonder and understanding of the natural world. They also had the opportunity to explore technology in the home corner, promoting their cognitive development and understanding of the world around them. Engaging with the story “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” led to a provocation table being created which has sparked lots of discussion. Incorporating a bit of STEM into the week the children have been exploring  the concepts of big and small. They finished the week by helping to create a donation box for our upcoming Pyjama week supporting Melbourne City Mission. 

3-Year-Old Kinder: 

Our 3-Year-Old Kinder group had an exciting visit from Wildlife Xposure, where they interacted with fascinating Australian animals. Learning about the life cycles of these creatures deepened their knowledge and understanding of the natural world. The children also enjoyed a show and tell session, allowing them to confidently share their thoughts and interests with their peers.

4-Year-Old Kinder: 

The 4-Year-Old Kinder group had a special visit from the Melbourne Museum, diving into the captivating world of Australian habitats. They also had a blast designing and making their own spaceships, fueling their imagination and creativity. Engaging in outdoor games promoted physical activity and teamwork among our kinder children.

Goodbye…

It is with a mix of sadness and gratitude that we bid farewell to Educator Juan and Amber. Juan has taken up a teaching position in the primary sector and Educator Amber has decided to pursue a new career path. We are thankful for the role they both played in nurturing our little learners and in turn they thanked Choklits for giving them the opportunity to work and give them experience in the early childhood sector.  We wish them both well in their future endeavours.

Our Favourite Social Post…

Our heartwarming social post celebrated our dedicated educators, who received massage chairs as part of the 100 chairs in 100 days promotion from Masseuse Massage Australia. This gesture highlighted our commitment to supporting our educators’ well-being as they tirelessly provide exceptional care and engaging programs for the children at Choklits.

Next Week… 

Get ready for Pyjama Week, where we will support The Melbourne City Mission Winter Appeal. This initiative embodies our strong sense of community and commitment to giving back. We have been raising funds for this important Charity whose work supports people/families who are experiencing homelessness, for a while now and it is a favourite week for parents, children and educators alike.  Who struggles to get the children dressed in the morning – well next week you don’t have to worry. The children can just jump out of bed and they are ready to come to Choklits.  LOL Don’t forget to bring a gold coin donation. 

Stay warm and cosy this weekend, and I look forward to sharing more wonderful Choklits adventures with you next week.

Kind Regards

Jodi, Sue and Team

— Friday, July 14th —

Hello families,

Happy Friday!!!!!

I hope you have a wonderful week and managed to enjoy some of the sunshine we had this week.  I have thoroughly enjoyed getting out of the office, soaking up some Vitamin D, while spending time with the children out in the yard this week.  There was lots of  excitement around Ryan and the building of the chicken coop. It is looking like they will be the best housed chickens in town.  Ryan has done a super job.  

We also had a beary good time this week with our Teddy Bears Picnic activities.  There is just something too cute about children and their teddies and there were lots of happy faces. The rooms had teddy related stories and activities organised for the week. Here are the room highlights: 

Nursery: In the Nursery, our little ones enjoyed all the Teddy Bear Picnic activities the educators provided.  They read the very entertaining book ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ and embarked on our own bear hunt adventure and provided a sensory experience to go with the story.  To add a creative touch, the children used paper plates and paint to craft their own teddy bears, using their imagination and fine motor skills. They are still enjoying visiting the chicks we have kept from the Henny Penny program, connecting with the natural world and nurturing their sense of empathy.

Pre-Toddlers: Our Pre-Toddler group joined in the fun of the Teddy Bears Picnic, enjoying a delightful lunch outdoors. The children engaged in imaginative play with farm animals, expanding their vocabulary and fostering their social skills. Outdoor play provided them with fine motor experiences, enhancing their coordination and sense of exploration.

Toddler: The Toddler group embraced the spirit of the Teddy Bears Picnic as well. They enjoyed stories and having their lunch outside on the big mat with their teddies. Sarah from Rhythm and Moves provided a fantastic session with a  pirate-themed sing song.   Outside in the undercroft,  the Toddlers  explored fine motor activities, strengthening their little muscles and working on their building and puzzle skills. 

3-Year-Old Kinder: Our imaginative 3-Year-Old Kinder children celebrated the Teddy Bears Picnic by reading the book ‘This is the Bear’ by Sarah Hayes and illustrated by Helen Craig. This delightful tale took them on an adventure of rescue and friendship. They also prepared to make a rainbow serpent, honing their scissor skills by cutting coloured paper. Through these experiences, they are developing their literacy skills and artistic expression.

4-Year-Old Kinder: In the 4-Year-Old Kinder group, the Teddy Bears Picnic became an opportunity to discuss healthy food choices during a picnic. Conversations about nutrition and making mindful food decisions fostered their understanding of balanced lifestyles. They also explored Australian animals, sharing their favourite animal and deepening their knowledge of our unique wildlife.

July’s Events… Click here to see our calendar of events.

24th – 28th: Pyjama Day for Melbourne City Mission Winter Appeal 

We believe in the power of giving back to our community. From the 24th to the 28th, we will be hosting a Pyjama Day to raise funds for the Melbourne City Mission Winter Appeal. Children are invited to come dressed in their cosy pyjamas, and together, we will create a warm and caring environment while supporting those in need during the winter season. Let’s make a positive impact by coming together for a worthy cause.

28th: National Plant a Tree Day 

We will be joining the nationwide initiative of National Plant a Tree Day. Our little environmentalists will have the opportunity to connect with nature and learn about the importance of trees in our ecosystem. Through hands-on planting activities, they will develop a sense of responsibility towards the environment and understand the role they can play in creating a sustainable future.

Don’t forget…

4 YO Kinder parents – The cut off for enroling your child in Primary School is fast approaching.  If you already haven’t sent in an application for a school or need some help please see me in the office or speak to Chloe or Sue.  

Here is a link for more information : https://www.vic.gov.au/enrolling-foundation-prep

I hope you all have a lovely weekend and look forward to another fabulous week of learning next week.

Kind Regards

Jodi, Sue and Team

— Friday, July 7th —

Hello families,

I hope you all have had a terrific week.  Our little chicks are certainly growing at a rapid rate and I have been so chatty.  I loved receiving some clever posters from Oscar’s (in the 3 YO room) sister Amelie, who gave us some important information about raising chickens and some very thoughtful names we could use for the chicks.  If you haven’t seen it check it out and let me know what you think or add some more names to the list. It’s great to have the Choklits families invested in our little chickens.  Rachael (Myah’s Mum) also told us about making sure we dig deep when making the coop so the foxes don’t try and burrow under to get to the chickens. Great ideas and  keep them coming.  If you know any other tips, please share. 

I saw a joke at the pet shop while I was getting more feed and wood shavings for the pen and I thought I would share:

What do you call a chicken that is funny? A Comedi-hen.

It did make me giggle. 

Highlights…

We kicked off the week with the celebration of NAIDOC Week, honouring the rich culture, history, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Throughout the centre, the children engaged in various activities and experiences to deepen their understanding and appreciation of Indigenous heritage. Here are just some of the highlights from this week: 

Nursery: 

In the Nursery, our youngest learners have been looking at Australian Animals for NAIDOC week. Exploring the experiences in the room and using their creativity with paint to decorate some animal images. They have also been  captivated by the wonders of the ocean. Building on this theme, they extended their exploration to include boats, igniting their curiosity about different modes of transportation. Through play and sensory experiences, our Nursery children are developing their fine motor skills and expanding their understanding of the world around them.

Pre-Toddlers: 

The Pre-Toddler room embraced NAIDOC Week by engaging in painting activities using the colours of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags. They expressed their creativity and learned about the symbolism behind these important flags. They also had the pleasure of listening to indigenous stories, fostering their love for storytelling and expanding their cultural knowledge.

Toddler: 

Our  Toddlers delved into NAIDOC Week activities by engaging in expressive painting using the colours of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags too. They further explored Australian culture by engaging in explorative play with red, yellow, and black playdough, creating Aboriginal symbols with wooden stamps. Through these experiences, they develop their fine motor skills, artistic expression, and cultural appreciation. Music with Cam from Rhythm and Moves added so much joy to their week, enhancing their coordination and love for music.

3-Year-Old Kinder: 

In our 3-Year-Old Kinder room, the children immersed themselves in the world of Australian animals, expanding their knowledge and understanding of our unique wildlife. They engaged in activities such as learning the names of various Australian animals, exploring their life cycles through informative posters, and diving into captivating books centred around Australian fauna. Literacy skills were explored through writing on blackboards, practising the art of wiping it off and starting anew.

4-Year-Old Kinder: 

Our 4-Year-Old Kinder children explored the captivating story of “The Rainbow Serpent” during NAIDOC Week. They delved into creative expression by crafting their own Gaan the rainbow serpent using coloured paper and participating in weaving activities. Playdough with stones and gems offered a sensory experience that sparked their creativity and fine motor skills. Furthermore, our kinder children embarked on an excursion to the Salvation Army Thrift Shop to purchase books for our centre, fostering their love for reading and community engagement.

Next week…

10th – 14th: Teddy Bears Picnic – 

Get your favourite teddy bears ready for our much-anticipated Teddy Bears Picnic.  This special event will bring together children, educators, and their furry friends for a delightful outdoor gathering. We will enjoy games, storytelling, and of course, a picnic.

July’s Events… Click here to see our calendar of events.

24th – 28th: Pyjama Day for Melbourne City Mission Winter Appeal 

We believe in the power of giving back to our community. From the 24th to the 28th, we will be hosting a Pyjama Day to raise funds for the Melbourne City Mission Winter Appeal. Children are invited to come dressed in their cosy pyjamas, and together, we will create a warm and caring environment while supporting those in need during the winter season. Let’s make a positive impact by coming together for a worthy cause.

28th: National Plant a Tree Day 

We will be joining the nationwide initiative of National Plant a Tree Day. Our little environmentalists will have the opportunity to connect with nature and learn about the importance of trees in our ecosystem. Through hands-on planting activities, they will develop a sense of responsibility towards the environment and understand the role they can play in creating a sustainable future.

Reminder:

Please look both ways when leaving the centre’s carpark.  It is just a habit to look right as that is where the traffic is coming from but please be aware that pedestrians could be coming from the left as you are leaving. 

It’s been another great week and learning at Choklits. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching and listening to all the children around the centre. I hope you all have a lovely weekend. Let me know if you are doing anything exciting.  I always love hearing about what you all get up to on the weekend.  

We’d love your help to help us improve at Choklits…

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-

1. In person at Choklits, either verbally or in writing using the clipboards provided
2. Via phone or email
3. Using our National Quality Areas Feedback Form
4. Using our Policy Feedback Form
5. Visiting choklits.com.au/contact 

Thanks so much for your help!

Have a great weekend,

Jodi and the Choklits Team

— Friday, June 30th —

Hello Choklits Families

Welcome to our Friday weekly newsletter.  We hope this message finds you all in good spirits and staying warm amidst the chilly Melbourne weather. As always, we have had an exciting week filled with educational activities and joyful moments of exploration. It was our last week with the Henny Penny Hatching Program, but it is not goodbye to the chickens.  We will be keeping some of the chickens here at Choklits in a nice big coup out in the backyard. Until it is ready and the little chicks are a bit bigger, I will be taking them home to keep them nice and warm and bring them in for cuddles each day.  It will be such a valuable learning opportunity for our little learners to have Choklits chickens here at the centre.  I can’t wait.  

Highlights…

Nursery: Our little ones in the Nursery have been having a blast with sensory wooden colourful blocks, engaging their senses and fine motor skills. They’ve been busy stacking, sorting, and exploring the different textures and shapes. Alongside this, they have been honing their gross motor skills through various play activities. We are thrilled to see their growth and development in these key areas.

Pre-Toddlers: Our curious Pre-Toddlers have been on a grand adventure in the big yard outside. They have been exploring the vast space, strengthening their gross motor skills and connecting with nature. Additionally, they have been using big colourful blocks to develop their gross motor skills and learn about colours. To add a touch of music and movement, they’ve been dancing with scarves, fostering their coordination and self-expression.

Toddlers: Our energetic Toddlers have been diving into the world of letters with alphabet letter threading. Through this hands-on activity, they have been strengthening their fine motor skills and letter recognition. Additionally, they’ve embarked on a roaring adventure in the dinosaur world, where they’ve let their imagination run wild and learned fascinating facts about these magnificent creatures.

3-Year-Old Kinder: Our inquisitive 3-Year-Old Kinder children have been extending their exploration of shapes through Kandinsky circle watercolour painting. They’ve been experimenting with colours, patterns, and shapes, nurturing their creativity and artistic expression. Through this activity, they are not only developing their fine motor skills but also deepening their understanding of shapes and colours.

4-Year-Old Kinder: Our imaginative 4-Year-Old Kinder children have had an eventful week. They embarked on a post office visit, where they eagerly brought stamps to put on the letters they were sending home. This activity not only fosters their communication skills but also introduces them to the concept of community engagement. Additionally, they’ve been constructing 3D houses, representing their own homes and strengthening their spatial awareness. To further fuel their curiosity, they’ve been using magnifying glasses to explore the fascinating world of our stick insects.

Welcome…

We would like to extend a warm welcome to Archie, who has joined our team. Archie brings a wealth of experience and a passion for providing a nurturing learning environment for our little ones. The children have been enjoying his musical and artistic  talents too.

Farewell…

On a bittersweet note, we bid farewell to Educator Sam, who has been a valued member of our kinder team. We extend our gratitude for their dedication and wish them all the best in their future endeavours. Her last day is next Friday the 7th of July. 

Well earned break…

Sue is on holiday next week. She is on a road trip to just North of Sydney to spend some time with family. She will be back on the 11th.  I will still be here and will look after all of Choklits Admin while she is away. 

July Events…

We are excited to share with you our upcoming calendar of events, packed with enriching and fun-filled activities for our little ones. Mark your calendars and get ready for a month full of celebration, connection, and giving back!

3rd – 7th: NAIDOC Week 

We will be celebrating NAIDOC Week, honouring the rich culture, history, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Through various activities and discussions, we will foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of Indigenous heritage among our children. This is a wonderful opportunity to teach them about the values of inclusivity, respect, and cultural diversity.

10th – 14th: Teddy Bears Picnic

Get your favourite teddy bears ready for our much-anticipated Teddy Bears Picnic.  This special event will bring together children, educators, and their furry friends for a delightful outdoor gathering. We will enjoy games, storytelling, and of course, a picnic filled with delicious treats. 

24th – 28th: Pyjama Day for Melbourne City Mission Winter Appeal 

We believe in the power of giving back to our community. From the 24th to the 28th, we will be hosting a Pyjama Day to raise funds for the Melbourne City Mission Winter Appeal. Children are invited to come dressed in their cosy pyjamas, and together, we will create a warm and caring environment while supporting those in need during the winter season. Let’s make a positive impact by coming together for a worthy cause.

28th: National Plant a Tree Day 

We will be joining the nationwide initiative of National Plant a Tree Day. Our little environmentalists will have the opportunity to connect with nature and learn about the importance of trees in our ecosystem. Through hands-on planting activities, they will develop a sense of responsibility towards the environment and understand the role they can play in creating a sustainable future.

Last reminder…

Did you know the CCS balancing deadline is fast approaching…

Families must confirm what they earned in 2021–22 and 2020–21 by 30 June to avoid losing CCS or incurring debt. At the end of each financial year, Services Australia compares a family’s income estimate with their actual income to check they got the right amount of CCS. This process is called balancing.  Families need to confirm their income for balancing to occur. There are deadlines for families to do this. The end of the financial year marks two important deadlines for families:

• first deadline for confirming 2021–22 income
• second deadline for confirming 2020–21 income.

If a family misses the first deadline, their CCS will stop.  If a family misses the second deadline, they will lose their CCS eligibility and may have to repay any CCS they got for that financial year.  Families should go to the Services Australia website for more information.

Stay warm my wonderful Choklits family and see you all next week.

We’d love your help to help us improve at Choklits…

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-

1. In person at Choklits, either verbally or in writing using the clipboards provided
2. Via phone or email
3. Using our National Quality Areas Feedback Form
4. Using our Policy Feedback Form
5. Visiting choklits.com.au/contact 

Thanks so much for your help!

Have a great weekend,

Jodi and the Choklits Team

— Friday, June 23rd —

Hello Choklits Community,

Welcome to another eggciting week at Choklits Child Care! We hope you’re all doing well and ready for a fun-filled update. Our centre has been buzzing with joy and excitement as we embarked on an eggcellent adventure with the Henny Penny Hatching Program. Alongside our delightful chick encounters, the children have also indulged their creative sides through art and craft, creating adorable little chicks. Let’s crack open the details and discover some more highlights of the week!

Nursery:

In our Nursery, the children have been immersed in the world of colours with our engaging colour sorting boxes. They’ve had the opportunity to explore different hues and textures, enhancing their sensory development and fine motor skills. Our little ones have shown great enthusiasm and curiosity as they discover the wonders hidden within each box. 

Additionally, their artistic talents have flourished as they crafted their very own little chicks, bringing their imagination to life. Our adorable Nursery children have been busy exploring the world of art and creating their very own fluffy chicks using the delightful technique of stamping. With brushes dipped in yellow paint, they eagerly made playful strokes on paper, discovering the joy of self-expression and sensory exploration. The room was filled with giggles and squeals of delight as they saw the colourful patterns and textures take shape. Each unique chick emerged with its own personality, showcasing the creativity and imagination of our youngest Choklit learners.

Pre-Toddlers:

Under the sea, our Pre-Toddlers have dived into the captivating realm of sea creatures. From colourful fish to gentle sea turtles, they’ve been fascinated by these amazing creatures. Through hands-on experiences and interactive storytelling, our young explorers have been building their knowledge and understanding of the ocean’s diverse inhabitants. 

Our curious and observant Pre-Toddlers have also  been delving into the fascinating world of facial expressions. Using hand mirrors, they’ve had the opportunity to explore and recognize different emotions by observing their own reflections. This activity not only promotes self-awareness but also encourages empathy and understanding of others. Our little learners have been captivated by their own smiling faces, surprised expressions, and even playful silly faces! Through this interactive experience, they are developing their social and emotional skills, laying a strong foundation for building meaningful relationships.

In addition to exploring facial expressions, our Pre-Toddlers have been having a bubbly good time with bubble play. They’ve been enchanted by the magical floating spheres, giggling with delight as they chase and pop the bubbles. This sensory activity stimulates their visual tracking skills, hand-eye coordination, and provides a joyful avenue for exploration and discovery. The laughter and wonder that fill the room during bubble play create a positive and engaging atmosphere for our little Chokliteers.

Toddlers:

Our curious Toddlers have been busy unleashing their creativity with loose play cardboard construction. They’ve been building and constructing using various cardboard materials, fostering their problem-solving skills and spatial awareness. To add some musical fun to their week, the children enjoyed the catchy “Crackle and Pop” song, inspired by our feathered friends, chickens!

Our inquisitive and imaginative Toddlers have been building their fine motor skills and creativity through block play. Block play has provided them with endless opportunities for exploration, problem-solving, and cooperation. They’ve been busy constructing towers, bridges, and even imaginary worlds with their colourful blocks. Through this open-ended play, they are also developing their spatial awareness and critical thinking abilities.

To further enhance their language skills, our Toddlers have been engaging in songs with actions. These catchy tunes not only bring joy and laughter but also support language development as the children follow along with the lyrics and corresponding actions. Whether they’re clapping, stomping, or wiggling their fingers, these songs provide a fun and interactive way to learn new words, practice coordination, and foster a love for music. Our little stars are shining bright as they sing, dance, and express themselves through these engaging activities.

3-Year-Old Kinder:

Shapes have taken center stage in our 3-Year-Old Kinder room. Building on their previous exploration, the children were challenged to create shapes using their bodies. This engaging activity not only promotes physical development but also encourages critical thinking and spatial reasoning. Our little shape makers have been stretching, bending, and twisting to create a world of geometric wonders. 

Also our imaginative 3-Year-Old Kinder children have been on a creative journey this week, exploring the rich world of Aboriginal animals. They have embraced the beauty of art by painting templates of various animals and skillfully cutting them out. Through this hands-on activity, the children have not only expressed their artistic flair but also gained a deeper appreciation for the cultural significance of animals in Aboriginal storytelling. This experience has sparked their curiosity about different animals and their habitats, fostering a sense of connection with the natural world around them.

4-Year-Old Kinder:

Our 4-Year-Old Kinder children have been on a sensory adventure with our exciting sensory box activity. By hiding objects within a box, the children have engaged their sense of touch and explored their problem-solving abilities as they try to guess the hidden objects. This activity promotes sensory development, fine motor skills, and critical thinking. 

Additionally, our Kinder children had an enriching excursion to Marlborough Primary School, where they had the opportunity to engage with older students and gain insights into the world of primary education.  They were able to explore the school’s playground and spend time in the Prep room with the Prep teacher Helen and students.  With the Prep teacher, the  4-Year-Old Kinder group explored the magical world of storytelling. The Prep teacher Helen, embarked on an enchanting journey through the pages of the book called “Twinkle” by Nick Bland. The story took them on an adventure filled with twinkling stars and delightful characters. Through this shared reading experience, our kinder children not only developed their literacy skills but also ignited their imagination and love for storytelling. The were able to predict what might happen next 

Inspired by the sparkling stars in the story, our creative kinder children had the opportunity to create their own shining masterpieces. They adorned stars with glitter and paper, turning them into dazzling works of art. As they carefully spread the glue, sprinkled the glitter, and arranged silver or gold paper pieces, our little stars were shining bright as they expressed themselves through this engaging activity. The glittering stars now serve as a reminder of their excursion to Marlborough Primary School. 

Next Week:

Henny Penny

We have one more week with the chickens and only 4 eggs left to hatch.  At the end of the program there is some information if you would like to adopt any chickens.  We are going to adopt 4 of the little chicks with Ryan building a coop to  house the chickens.  Chickens provide an opportunity for children to develop a connection with the natural world. They can observe and interact with living creatures and the importance of caring for animals.  Taking care of chickens also helps children develop a sense of responsibility. They learn about the needs of living beings and develop empathy by actively participating in the daily care and feeding routines of the chickens. We are beyond excited. 

We’d love your help to help us improve at Choklits…

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-

1. In person at Choklits, either verbally or in writing using the clipboards provided
2. Via phone or email
3. Using our National Quality Areas Feedback Form
4. Using our Policy Feedback Form
5. Visiting choklits.com.au/contact 

Thanks so much for your help!

Have a great weekend,

Jodi and the Choklits Team

— Friday, June 16th —

Hello families,

Welcome to another exciting week at Choklits!  It is lovely to be back and see all your beautiful children.  I have had copious amounts of hugs which warms my soul and puts a smile on my face.  Thank you for all the hugs from parents too and your warm and caring words, in what is still a very raw and heartbreaking time in our life.  You have no idea how much your support means to my family and I. We are forever grateful.  

Despite the chilly weather, our little learners have been engaged in a wide range of educational activities that have sparked their curiosity and ignited their imaginations. Here are some highlights from the week:

The Nursery:

Our youngest explorers have been diving into the wonders of the ocean with their “Under the Sea Sensory Play.” Through this interactive experience, they have been discovering different textures, colours, and sea creatures, stimulating their senses and fostering their cognitive development. In the Home Corner, the little ones have been engaged in role-playing activities, wearing hats to further enhance their imaginative play.

The Pre-Toddler Room:

In the Pre-Toddler Room, our little bookworms have been immersed in the magical world of reading. Our dedicated educators have been sharing stories, rhymes, and songs, promoting language development and early literacy skills. Through these engaging activities, we are nurturing a love for books and building a strong foundation for their future learning journey.

The Toddler Room:

In the Toddler Room, our young learners have been exploring the concept of home through their Home Corner activities. They have been engaged in pretend play, taking on different roles and responsibilities, and using their imaginations to create their own little worlds. These play-based experiences provide opportunities for social interaction, problem-solving, and building essential life skills.

The 3YO Room:

Our curious 3-year-olds have been on a shape exploration journey. They have been discovering and identifying different shapes in their environment, from everyday objects to geometric patterns. Through hands-on activities and games, our educators have been supporting their mathematical thinking and spatial awareness, aligning with the principles of the Early Years Learning Framework.

The 4YO Room:

In the 4YO Room, our budding scientists have conducted an exciting raindrop experiment. They have observed and explored the effects of raindrops falling using shaving cream and food dye, encouraging their scientific inquiry and critical thinking skills. Additionally, the children have been grooving and moving with our music and movement sessions, where they can express themselves creatively and enhance their coordination and motor skills.

Educator Shout- out…

Congratulations to Chloe who celebrates her one year anniversary today.  We love the wonderful program you offer our 4 year Old Kinder Children.  If you haven’t met Chloe you can check out her profile by clicking here

Next week…

Henny Penny Hatching is coming on Monday

Henny Penny’s is a wonderful incursion to learn about where chickens come from.  Over two weeks we will watch little chicks hatch from eggs. 

Henny Penny’s hatching incursion is a wonderful opportunity for children to develop their fine motor skills, practice critical thinking, and enhance their social and emotional development. As they witness the magic of new life emerging, they’ll gain a deeper understanding of the natural world and the responsibility we have in caring for it. 

Don’t forget…

To action any requests to complete previous years tax returns and Centrelink requirements  as per email sent out on Tuesday before the end of the financial year. Any questions please do not hesitate to contact the office. 

We’d love your help to help us improve at Choklits…

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-

1. In person at Choklits, either verbally or in writing using the clipboards provided
2. Via phone or email
3. Using our National Quality Areas Feedback Form
4. Using our Policy Feedback Form
5. Visiting choklits.com.au/contact 

Thanks so much for your help!

Have a great weekend,

Jodi and the Choklits Team

— Friday, June 9th —

Hello Choklits families,

Here we are at the end of another fantastic week, and it’s Friday again! We started our week basking in the pleasant sunshine and carried our joyful spirit forward, even as the sun made way for the rain in the past couple of days. But come rain or shine, our little Choklits explorers continue to enjoy their days full of learning and fun. As we look forward to the long weekend, we wish you all a relaxing time filled with cherished family moments.

This Week’s Highlights…

Nursery had an aquatic-themed week, celebrating World Ocean Day at our sea creature table. ‘Baby Shark’ is the song of the week, given the children’s fascination with baby sharks. The winter activities, including dressing up and strutting around in gumboots, were a hit among our little ones.

Our Pre-Toddlers had a mini adventure, exploring the 4-year-old room and enjoying the hospitality of the kindergarten children. The kitchen area was a favourite among them. Sarah couldn’t make it this week for the music session, but that didn’t dampen the spirit of our Pretoddler and Toddler rooms as they had their own music-filled fun.

The Toddlers have had a busy week of sandpit play, where they used their creativity to dig holes and make roads, imprinting car tracks. ‘What’s the time Mister Wolf’ was a fun game that enhanced their numeracy skills while ensuring they had a good time. Imaginative play was at its best with the children embarking on bear and snake hunts around our spacious backyard.

In the 3-year-old kindergarten room, children engaged in a myriad of activities. They loved making playdough, balancing soft bags during their yoga session and navigating through the obstacle course.

Our 4-year-old Kindergarten children extended their knowledge about emotions and corresponding Auslan signs. They also welcomed the Pretoddler children to their room and were caring guides during their visit. A special guest, Helen, a prep teacher from Marlborough Primary school, paid us a visit, sparking conversations about transitioning to school next year.

Welcome…

We are thrilled to have Nilusha from our Surrey Hills centre joining our 4-year-old kindergarten group for her three-week placement. Let’s extend our warm Choklits welcome to Nilusha.

Friendly Reminder…

Remember, we will be closed on Monday in observance of the King’s Birthday public holiday. 

Enjoy the long weekend, and we look forward to another week of adventures, discoveries, and growth when we return!

We’d love your help to help us improve at Choklits…

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-

1. In person at Choklits, either verbally or in writing using the clipboards provided
2. Via phone or email
3. Using our National Quality Areas Feedback Form
4. Using our Policy Feedback Form
5. Visiting choklits.com.au/contact 

Thanks so much for your help!

Have a great weekend,

Sue and the Choklits Team

— Friday, June 2nd —

Hello Families,

Can you believe we’re already in June? Although winter officially starts this month, it feels as if it’s been winter for the past month already. Despite the cold air outside, it’s wonderful to hear the cheerful sounds of children’s laughter and conversations floating in through the office window.

Highlights from the week…

This week, we have been focusing on National Reconciliation Week across the centre. In the Nursery, we used our ‘Country Book’ as a valuable resource, exploring it both in group time and with individual children. We created playdough in the colours of the Aboriginal flag, a fantastic sensory activity that introduced the children to these significant colours. Our indigenous playtable was a hit, and to mark the first official day of winter on Thursday, the children crafted cotton ball snowflakes.

The Pretoddlers and Toddlers were fully engaged in the acknowledgement of country, which is part of their everyday program. Stories were read, songs were sung, and an Aboriginal flag-themed wool threading activity kept them busy. They particularly enjoyed singing ‘Ko Koo Kookaburra’ and listening to the story ‘Somebody’s Land’ by Greig Dreise. We’ve also seen our children working on self-help skills, like cutting up their own fruit during break time. Our Pretoddlers took great delight in playing peekaboo with scarves and thoroughly enjoyed the rain stick during their yoga session.

Our 3-year-old group held meaningful discussions every morning after their acknowledgement to country. They explored the significance of the Aboriginal culture, symbols and how these relate to the care of everything around us. They enjoyed the book ‘People and Places and the Colours’, and ‘My Family Likes Bushtucker’ was a favourite read as they could relate to the Aboriginal symbols in the book. They even drew some symbols, which are now proudly displayed on the room wall.

The 4-year-old Kindergarten group had a thrilling day on Monday when they visited Chesterfield Farm. The experience was a topic of much chatter upon their return. They also enjoyed an art incursion on Thursday. Their weekly theme involved linking children’s voices to Aboriginal symbols and their meanings, and they enjoyed several books on our country, such as ‘I’m Australian’. During their Auslan sessions this week, they explored the topic of emotions.

Educator spotlight…

Next week, we’re excited to welcome Nilusha from our Surrey Hills Centre who’ll be joining us for her placement in the 4-year-old kindergarten room. Let’s all make her feel welcome.

Next week…

Dr Rob will be visiting us on Monday. We have reached the limit for the flu shots this Monday, but you can still sign up for the following fortnight when he visits us again on Monday, 19th June. If you would like your child or yourself to have the flu shot, please come to the office and sign the form.

Here’s to another week of learning and growth. Enjoy your weekend and keep warm!

We’d love your help to help us improve at Choklits…

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-

1. In person at Choklits, either verbally or in writing using the clipboards provided
2. Via phone or email
3. Using our National Quality Areas Feedback Form
4. Using our Policy Feedback Form
5. Visiting choklits.com.au/contact 

Thanks so much for your help!

Have a great weekend,

Sue and the Choklits Team

— Friday, May 26th —

Hello families,

Another vibrant week is drawing to a close here at Choklits, and it’s been all the more special with Jodi back for a few hours each day. Both the educators and children were so happy to see her, there’s been lots of visits to the office window this week. We’re so glad to have her back Jodi!

Highlights from the week…

This week was an absolute whirlwind of diverse and engaging activities. The Nursery had a blast playing with puppets and creating some impressive block towers. They even got some hands-on experience making play dough and incorporated leaves and toy insects into their creations for an added twist.

In the Pre Toddler group, the children transformed their room into a mini vet clinic, complete with toy tools and stuffed animal patients. They’ve learned about caring for animals and the role of a vet, all while engaging in imaginative play. A particularly exciting addition this week has been four new spiny leaf insect pets that the children and teachers have affectionately named Bug, Spider, Cheese, and Bikkies.

Our 3-year-old group explored colours in depth, sorting and identifying different hues. They’ve also discussed the importance of good manners, learning when and how to use ‘please’ and ‘thank you’. A fun game of passing bean bags added an element of physical play to their week, and they’re set to mark Sorry Day with a reading of the special book “Welcome to Country”.

The 4-year-olds have spent the week getting to grips with numbers and honing their coordination skills. They’ve been involved in constructing a model city, promoting a sense of ownership and community spirit. A story session with Sarah from the library added a literary twist to their week. Anticipation is high for their upcoming trip to Chesterfield Farm on Monday!

Did you know…

We’re fortunate to have student helpers at the centre, who are here gaining valuable experience for their Early Childhood Education courses. Please extend a warm welcome when you see them.

Next Week…

We’ll be hosting local high school students for their work experience, giving them a taste of the rewarding world of childcare. As mentioned, our 4-year-old kindergarten group is all set for their exciting trip to Chesterfield Farm on Monday, complete with kitchen scraps for the resident pigs!

Here’s to another week of rich learning and fun at Choklits!

We’d love your help to help us improve at Choklits…

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-

1. In person at Choklits, either verbally or in writing using the clipboards provided
2. Via phone or email
3. Using our National Quality Areas Feedback Form
4. Using our Policy Feedback Form
5. Visiting choklits.com.au/contact 

Thanks so much for your help!

Have a great weekend,

Sue and the Choklits Team

— Friday, May 19th —

Hello wonderful families,

What a vibrant week we’ve had at Choklits, kicking off with a glorious, sun-kissed Monday. The temperature may have dropped a notch since then, and today it almost feels like we might have a snow flurry! Our spirited little explorers, however, haven’t seemed to mind and have been enjoying a host of outdoor activities which have kept them toasty. As the weekend promises a bit of a chill, do keep snug and warm. We eagerly await the start of yet another adventurous week with your children!

Weekly highlights…

Our Nursery infants had a grand time exploring with the tunnel indoors and out this week, focusing on their spatial awareness. Together, they’ve immersed themselves in a world of stories, songs and stick insects.

The Pre Toddlers and Toddlers introduced an invigorating ‘brain break’ each day, where they took a mid-morning pause to refuel with nutritious snacks such as bananas. Their outdoor adventures involved a great deal of physical play, a highlight being their fun balance beam jumps of varying heights. Book-filled group times supplemented with puppets and songs worked to enhance their budding language skills.

The 3-year-old kindergarten group experimented with sensory art, using leaves and fine motor skills to create delightful paintings. Their resourcefulness shone as they upcycled paper to craft beautiful artwork. Music and dance also came alive, as they introduced scarves into their routines. Their outdoor pursuits saw them conquer the monkey bars and refine their hopping skills.

Our 4-year-old Kindergarten children received an insightful incursion on road safety, learning to ‘stop, look, and listen’. This has sparked conversations about road safety which were further reflected in their city project. Alongside, they’ve been honing their fine motor skills with some good old-fashioned scissor work. In addition to creating remarkable leaf insect models, they’ve engaged in plenty of outdoor physical play, running and exploring our yard in between their intriguing activities.

New faces…

Let’s extend a warm Choklits welcome to Gul, who has joined us this week as a new member of our educator team in the Toddler room. Do make sure to say hello and introduce yourselves when you see her around.

A big thank you…

We cannot express enough how deeply we appreciate our Choklits community for standing by Jodi during the challenging time she’s been through recently. The outpouring of heartfelt messages and genuine support has been truly overwhelming. Yesterday, as Jodi laid her beloved husband to rest, it was moving to witness not only a family grieving a Husband, Dad and friend, but also cherishing the wonderful life they’d shared. If anyone still wishes to contribute, the GoFundMe page remains active for donations.

Here’s to another week of learning, growing, and making precious memories together at Choklits!

We’d love your help to help us improve at Choklits…

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-

1. In person at Choklits, either verbally or in writing using the clipboards provided
2. Via phone or email
3. Using our National Quality Areas Feedback Form
4. Using our Policy Feedback Form
5. Visiting choklits.com.au/contact 

Thanks so much for your help!

Have a great weekend,

Sue and the Choklits Team

— Friday, May 12th —

Hello Families,

It is with a heavy heart that I write this Friday reflection. After the news that we received at the start of this week we would like to say how proud we are of our educators and Choklits community for the love and support and generosity that you have shown to us all, and especially to the McVea family.

Jodi has expressed how much she wants to thank every one of you for your kindness and genuinely can not thank everyone enough, she is completely overwhelmed. It has been so nice this week that the children have brought a lot of joy and happiness to us with their laughter, imaginative play, singing and cuddles. Children have a way of knowing when they need to help us smile.

If you’d like to see what we’ve set up for Jodi and the McVea Family, please click here.

We are looking forward to seeing the Mums, Grandmas and special friends this afternoon for our Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea which is due to start shortly!

Hope you all have a relaxing day and all our Mum’s get spoiled on Sunday for Mother’s Day!

Highlights from the week…

The Nursery children did some physical activities with the gym equipment inside as the weather was very wet and cold. They also had the blocks out for some hand eye coordination and changed the room around with a beautiful home corner ready for the Mums for afternoon tea. The sandpit was well used yesterday with the change in weather and they made a birthday cake and celebrated 3 little friends’ birthdays this month.

The pre toddlers loved Elena’s Yoga sessions this week, learning to listen, follow instructions and have some fun with the music.

The Toddlers enjoyed reading the book “We are going on a bear hunt” and then walking around the back yard through the fort around the trees and in the sand pit learning how to follow directions. They also enjoyed throwing bean bags into hoops practising aiming for the hoop.

The 3 year old kindergarten group has focused on being hygienic – washing our hands before and after food, and going to the toilet all ready for our Mother’s Day afternoon tea. Talking about changes in the weather, the sun hats have now all been washed and put away for winter and now the Jackets and gumboots have come out ready for the colder months.

Lots of fun activities are happening this week in our 4 year old kindergarten room. The children have been painting boxes to replicate buildings, getting ready for building their city. Children will be learning about where people live, going to work and belong. The drawing of the stick insects was another fun activity in the room learning how to copy objects.

Of course all the rooms have been very busy getting all the preparations ready for our Mother’s Day afternoon tea today!

Welcome…

We are very excited to have Phoebe back at Choklits! She worked here a few years ago and has returned to join the toddler room team, we are very excited to have you back Phoebe!

We’d love your help to help us improve at Choklits…

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-

1. In person at Choklits, either verbally or in writing using the clipboards provided
2. Via phone or email
3. Using our National Quality Areas Feedback Form
4. Using our Policy Feedback Form
5. Visiting choklits.com.au/contact 

Thanks so much for your help!

Have a great weekend,

Sue and the Choklits Team

— Friday, May 5th —

Hello families,

Welcome to another Friday update!!!

There was lots of excitement at the start of the week as the children saw Ryan install a temporary fence that blocked off the fort. The children were wondering what was happening and listened intently as Ryan explained the Kinder yard was getting a new fence. The children were so excited to watch the tradesman build the new fence with their dog “Nacho”.  There were lots of rich and thoughtful conversations between Educators and children as they discussed what was happening. The children were learning about the world around them and what some people do for their jobs.  

We had our monthly staff meeting Wednesday night where  Janine led the team on a training session on our Documentation, in particular the Learning Stories we write as part of documenting children’s learning at Choklits. As a group we then discussed Quality Area 2 of The National Quality Standard around supervision. This is a great opportunity for teams to come together and discuss program and planning and practice so we continue to deliver the highest quality of Education and Care.

This morning, we practised our emergency evacuation procedure with the children. We do this regularly to ensure that in a real emergency the children will know what to do.  Our ‘hypothetical fire’ was in the golf course across the road, so after Sue alerted the centre to the danger, we gathered the children, emergency bags, medical alert bags and quickly but calmly headed to  our assembly point in the 4 YO kinder yard. All the children sat in their room groups while educators did head checks and were happy to say everyone was accounted for.  Once Sue gave us the all clear we all returned to the activities we were doing before. 

The different faces you see at Choklits…

We love supporting students who are studying to become Early Childhood Educators. We see the value of giving them the opportunity to experience the everyday routines in a child care centre. They all have to do a meet and greet with management before starting at the centre.

Next week we have:

Nursery – Sam

Toddlers –  Theresa (Thursday’s)

4 YO Kinder – Maddy and Li Li

On occasion, we also have agency staff to help support rooms and ratio requirements.

Next week we have  Kara and Carol in the Toddler Room on Monday. They both have been here before and know our routine and the children. 

Did you know…

That I did my placement here at Choklits almost 9 years ago when I was studying and Sue offered me a job! What a great eye for talent she has. Haha!!  

Our favourite social post…

If you didn’t see the article about Sue that was posted on our socials click here to have a look. Sue is such an integral part of Choklits and we love how warm, friendly and supportive she is. No wonder she was voted “Melbourne’s best Childcare Worker” last year. 

Next week…

Next week is our Mother’s Day afternoon tea. It is from 3 pm – 4pm on Friday the 12th of May. If you haven’t replied please email [email protected] with who is coming and if you have any dietary requirements. As you can imagine parking can be a little tricky when our special events are on. Please be aware it will be busy. Parking is available down Maidstone St and across the road at the golf course but if you choose this option please cross at the lights only. If you are not attending and usually pick up around this time you may want to consider coming a little earlier. 

We have our fingers crossed for nice weather and we can enjoy being outside but if not there will be lots of activities and yummy afternoon tea in the rooms. We can’t wait to see everyone there. Click here to see a flashback of our 2021 Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea. You might see some familiar faces.

Did you know the CCS balancing deadline is fast approaching…

Families must confirm what they earned in 2021–22 and 2020–21 by 30 June to avoid losing CCS or incurring debt. At the end of each financial year, Services Australia compares a family’s income estimate with their actual income to check they got the right amount of CCS. This process is called balancing.  Families need to confirm their income for balancing to occur. There are deadlines for families to do this. The end of the financial year marks two important deadlines for families:

• first deadline for confirming 2021–22 income
• second deadline for confirming 2020–21 income.

If a family misses the first deadline, their CCS will stop.  If a family misses the second deadline, they will lose their CCS eligibility and may have to repay any CCS they got for that financial year.  Families should go to the Services Australia website for more information.

Don’t forget…

To RSVP to our Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea. The event will be held on the 12th of May at 3pm-4pm. Please RSVP via email or keep your eyes peeled for our Xplor posts, as we’d love to see you (and any special people) there! This invitation is to all of our families, not only those who attend on Fridays!

We’d love your help to help us improve at Choklits…

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-

1. In person at Choklits, either verbally or in writing using the clipboards provided
2. Via phone or email
3. Using our National Quality Areas Feedback Form
4. Using our Policy Feedback Form
5. Visiting choklits.com.au/contact 

Thanks so much for your help!

Have a great weekend,

Jodi, Sue and the Choklits Team

— Friday, April 28th —

Hello families,

Happy Friday Everyone!!! It is lovely to be back after a little time away. I did miss everyone and had lots of cuddles from both Educators and children. I caught up with all the wonderful experiences the children have been doing through the last two reflections which Sue kindly wrote while I was away. Here is what we go up to.

This week….

There was lots of poppy making and ANZAC biscuit making to commemorate ANZAC day.  

There is so much to love about the ANZAC biscuit. It’s sweet, crunchy or chewy and reminds us of the ANZAC legacy and spirit. Making ANZAC biscuits is a beautiful tradition that many Australians use to commemorate ANZAC day to remember our fallen soldiers. The children across the rooms on Wednesday each had a turn to help make ANZAC biscuits which they devoured for afternoon tea. We love  cooking experiences at Choklits as they can support the development of various skills and knowledge, including fine motor skills, maths and science concepts, language development, creativity and imagination, social skills, and self-help skills. I missed out again though and didn’t get to taste any of the scrumptious biscuits but the smells as they were cooking were divine. 

Poppies are a symbol of remembrance and hope for a peaceful future and are used to  remember those who have given their lives in battle because they are the flowers which grew on the battlefields after World War One ended. The children explored lots of different mediums to make their poppies. Please check out Xplor for all the wonderful posts about the different poppy creations. 

We had a visit from Pam who came to deliver the  ‘Living Safely with Dogs Preschool Program’. Pam brought her beautiful black Labrador, Clover and talked about dog safety and how and when it is safe to approach a dog. The 4-year-old Kinder children learned a song about how to approach a dog safely and they were very much engaged.  

Did you know the CCS balancing deadline is fast approaching…

Families must confirm what they earned in 2021–22 and 2020–21 by 30 June to avoid losing CCS or incurring debt. At the end of each financial year, Services Australia compares a family’s income estimate with their actual income to check they got the right amount of CCS. This process is called balancing.  Families need to confirm their income for balancing to occur. There are deadlines for families to do this. The end of the financial year marks two important deadlines for families:

• first deadline for confirming 2021–22 income
• second deadline for confirming 2020–21 income.

If a family misses the first deadline, their CCS will stop.  If a family misses the second deadline, they will lose their CCS eligibility and may have to repay any CCS they got for that financial year.  Families should go to the Services Australia website for more information.

Don’t forget…

To RSVP to our Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea. The event will be held on the 12th of May at 3pm-4pm. Please RSVP via email or keep your eyes peeled for our Xplor posts, as we’d love to see you (and any special people) there! This invitation is to all of our families, not only those who attend on Fridays!

We’d love your help to help us improve at Choklits…

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-

1. In person at Choklits, either verbally or in writing using the clipboards provided
2. Via phone or email
3. Using our National Quality Areas Feedback Form
4. Using our Policy Feedback Form
5. Visiting choklits.com.au/contact 

Thanks so much for your help!

Have a great weekend,

Jodi, Sue and the Choklits Team

— Friday, April 21st —

Hello families,

This week has been busy and has gone so fast with lots of opportunities for learning, building relationships and having fun!

Highlights from the week…

Our nursery children concentrated on physical activities this week. The educators encouraged the children to use the balancing beam and the gym equipment. They stacked rings and used puzzles to help build their hand and eye coordination and fine motor skills. They also celebrated Earth Day today, with sensory bottles and looking at earth colours like green and blue. It’s no surprise that outside sand play remains one of the most popular activities to help develop fine motor skills.

The pre-toddler and toddler children read the famous story The Hungry Caterpillar this week which supports both maths and counting skills, as well as the wonders of science and nature as the caterpillar changes to a butterfly. They also sang lots of action songs which helps build language skills, a really popular one was row row row your boat! 

The class also read and discussed a book called Reflection, an age appropriate book about Anzac Day. The themes of the book linked nicely to a craft exercise called threading, another popular activity this week. Using black thread and patty pan cups to resemble poppies the children have created some wonderful Anzac pieces. The children also spent a lot of time this week creating obstacle courses in the yard and are planting a terrarium today as part of their Earth Day discussions.

The 3 year old kindergarten class continued with their theme of learning about emotions and colours, and how to use colours to show how they are feeling. They were introduced to the primary colours this week and have started to look at secondary colours too. The children also enjoyed creating some marble paintings using shaving cream and took great pride in hanging their beautiful designs up in the room for everyone to admire.

The 4 year old kindergarten class had a fun week learning more about the stick insects, in particular the baby ones, what they eat and how they take care of themselves. They made their stick insects from sticks they had collected on their walks this week. They also made their very own paper birds and were so excited they could take them home! Today, for Earth Day, they are venturing out to collect the best leaves in our neighbourhood to make leaf crowns! I can’t wait to see their creations. As part of their preparation and collecting natural resources this week for their activities and learnings, the children have been discussing Aboriginal perspectives in relation to nature. They spent a lot of time discussing the reasons why we do not want to break sticks or leaves from trees or bushes, but pick up what has dropped onto the ground. They also talked about road rules and traffic lights, and practised many different aspects of road safety when they went to the library. They even learned many new signs for traffic lights and other road rules during Auslan this week! If you’d like to learn some new signs yourself I’m sure they’ll be willing teachers!

Educator spotlight…

We would like to say a big congratulations to Tracey who has now been with us at Choklits for 18 years. Tracey is fondly known by all the children as Nana Tracey and she loves coming to work every day to see the children. Thank you Tracey for all those years and we look forward to having you here for another 18 years!!!

Next week…

We will have Tuesday off for the Anzac Day Public Holiday. Then, on Wednesday, we will be making some yummy Anzac biscuits. Lauren will also be coming on Wednesday to talk to the 4 year old kindergarten children about being responsible around pets.

Don’t forget…

The centre will be closed for Anzac Day on Tuesday 25th April.

We’d love your help to help us improve at Choklits…

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-

1. In person at Choklits, either verbally or in writing using the clipboards provided
2. Via phone or email
3. Using our National Quality Areas Feedback Form
4. Using our Policy Feedback Form
5. Visiting choklits.com.au/contact 

Thanks so much for your help!

Have a great weekend,

Sue and the Choklits Team

— Friday, April 14th —

Hello families,

Wow, where has this week gone! I hope everyone had a lovely relaxing Easter break. We are loving the sun which is out today and warming us up for the weekend. Many of you know Jodi is having a well earned break and will be back at Choklits on Wednesday 26th April so I’m (Sue) sharing the updates this week. I hope Jodi is having a great time!

Highlights from the week…

We have enjoyed some great and fun learning activities in our rooms this week.

The nursery children have been loving the bright colourful tunnel to explore, they also have really loved the technology table or office area with quite a few of the children pretending to talk on the phones and type on the keyboards. It’s amazing how children emulate what they see us do!

The Pre-Toddler and Toddler rooms love their family photos that are going up in the room. They spend lots of time pointing out their families and sharing stories which helps support their sense of belonging and build connections with their friends. We may have a new favourite song here too, the children have absolutely loved the wombat wobble song this week. Janine took many requests to keep the song on repeat. We also had our big parachute out this week which brings many smiles to the children’s faces. Watching the balls fly into the air and then catching them builds on many of the children’s senses and fine motor skills that are essential elements of learning skills like writing as they move to our kindergarten glasses. 

The three-year-old kindergarten children have been looking at colours this week, how they relate to their emotions and how they can use colours in their communication. We have charts in our rooms at Choklits that connect colours with emotions. For example, the colour red is associated with feeling frustrated, so our charts have pictures of frustrated children’s faces inside a zone of red. A young child can’t often come to an educator and explain they are feeling frustrated. What they can do is look at the faces on the chart, relate the faces to their feelings and then tell the educators they are feeling ‘red’, for example. The use of colours not only helps with communication it also creates a safe space for them too. It’s much easier for a child to say they feel red than to explain why they are frustrated. From that point, our educators can help guide them through whatever they are feeling.

The four-year-old kindergarten children have been talking about the lifecycle of chickens, and have been making chicken puppets and even a chicken coup! We have some exciting things happening at Choklits that involve chickens, so please stay tuned for the coming news!

Welcome…

Last week we said goodbye to Tim from Rhythm and Moves and this week we welcomed Sarah from Rhythm and Moves who has taken over from Tim. Sarah will be here at the same time every Tuesday! 

A big thank you to…

The Choklits Croydon Team for having many of the Choklits Ringwood Educators attend their team meeting this week. One of the benefits of having multiple Choklits services is that we get to learn from so many more people and all improve together. We spent time looking at their rooms, their programs and sharing information with each other. Thank you Team Croydon!

Have you noticed…

Our lovely new sign out the front of the centre promoting all three Choklits centres? With all the cars that drive down Canterbury Road we might all end up famous. Haha!!!

We’d love your help to help us improve at Choklits …

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-

1. In person at Choklits, either verbally or in writing using the clipboards provided
2. Via phone or email
3. Using our National Quality Areas Feedback Form
4. Using our Policy Feedback Form
5. Visiting choklits.com.au/contact 

Thanks so much for your help!

Have a great weekend,

Sue and the Choklits Team

— Friday, April 7th —

Hello families,

Happy Good Friday!!!!!

Can you believe our Easter break is already upon us? This year is already flying by.

We have had a very busy and exciting start to the week preparing for our Easter Bonnet Parade today.  The children have been busy creating some wonderful decorated bonnets and masks which they showcased to their educators and fellow Choklits friends in the Nursery and Pre-Toddler Rooms. Afterwards they had a little dance before heading off to enjoy the rest of the afternoon. 

Goodbye…

We said goodbye to Tim from Rhythm and Moves this week, as opportunities have opened up for Tim closer to home.  Tim has been visiting Choklits Ringwood for 6 years and will be sadly missed. The children made a lovely card for Tim to say thank you for all the wonderful songs he has taught us and all the groovy moves over the years. My all time favourite song that Tim sings is ‘Rockin Robin’.  

The lovely Sarah from Rhythm and Moves will take over Tim’s sessions (same day, same time). We look forward to welcoming her and continuing to learn about music and movement. 

Fun facts and things you should check out from our community…

• If you are looking for a fun extracurricular activity for 2+ year olds, then check out Trident Gymnastics. It is owned by one of our Toddler families. Dimi’s parents, Alona and Tim, own and run the family business.  Click here to check out their website. 

Our community page on our website is nearly ready.  This will be a place where we can promote businesses, skills and talents within our community. If you are a business owner, or have a special talent or skill you’d like to share with others please email us so we can include you on the new page. 

We’d love your help to help us improve at Choklits …

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-

1. In person at Choklits, either verbally or in writing using the clipboards provided
2. Via phone or email
3. Using our National Quality Areas Feedback Form
4. Using our Policy Feedback Form
5. Visiting choklits.com.au/contact 

Thanks so much for your help!

I hope everyone has a lovely Easter break.  I hear a lot of families are heading away. Take care and safe travels to those going away.  

I will be having some time off too. I will be back in the office on Wednesday the 26th of April. Sue will be in the office looking after you all. 

See you all in a few weeks,

Jodi and the Choklits Team

— Friday, March 31st —

Hello families,

Welcome to another Friday update!

What busy bees the children have been this week! All the rooms have been giving the children an opportunity to participate in Easter Art and Craft. The centre is looking very colourful and there has been lots of discussions around bunnies and chicks. There are some wonderful benefits for celebrating events like Easter at Choklits. It provides children with opportunities through activities  to interact with others, practice sharing and develop social skills. It is also wonderful to help children learn about different cultures and traditions. We love celebrating different cultures at Choklits. 

Highlights from the week…

As some of you know, we were recently assessed by the Department of Education who visit child care services periodically to check we are all doing the right thing! The visits include an assessment of many different areas across each service. Last night at our staff meeting we let the team know and we are super excited to share that we were rated ‘Exceeding’ for the quality area called ‘Collaborative Partnerships with Families and Communities’. Being rated exceeding means the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority has assessed and confirmed that we go beyond the requirements of the National Quality Standard for Quality Area 6. As I’m sure you can imagine, both our leadership team and all our educators were extremely happy to receive this feedback, a big thank you to everyone involved! 

Educator spotlight…

Ereney has been a part of the Toddler team at Choklits for 2 ½ years. The children just adore Ereney. She has the biggest smile, gives the best cuddles and loves providing lots of art and craft activities for the children to extend their learning. Click here to see her profile. 

Next week…

We have the photographers from Vision Portrait visiting the centre next week and there is absolutely no pressure to have your children’s photos taken, but if you do, the last day to book is Saturday. The details to book are just below in last week’s update. 

Don’t forget…

We are closed on Good Friday (7th April) and Good Monday (10th April). 

We’d love your help to help us improve at Choklits …

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-

1. In person at Choklits, either verbally or in writing using the clipboards provided
2. Via phone or email
3. Using our National Quality Areas Feedback Form
4. Using our Policy Feedback Form
5. Visiting choklits.com.au/contact 

Thanks so much for your help!

Have a great weekend,

Jodi, Sue and the Choklits Team

— Friday, March 24th —

Hello families,

Happy Friday!!!

This week Choklits was abuzz with activities and learning opportunities for children as we celebrated Harmony Day. Harmony Day is a day to celebrate cultural diversity, respect, and inclusiveness in Australia. How good was it to see the children and educators wearing lots of orange.  By wearing orange it shows how much we value and embrace cultural diversity at Choklits and are committed to building a community where everyone feels respected and included.   

Highlight from Harmony Day….

Educators in the Nursery Room sang songs in their home language and read stories. They also explored the colour orange through the medium of paint, in particular the fun and messy finger painting or in their case whole hand painting. 

The Pre-Toddler and Toddler children explored the colour orange too using a variety of resources. Orange playdough was very popular as were the painting experiences.

The 3’s created Harmony bracelets and read the story “We are together” by Britta Teckentrup, which talks about the importance of inclusivity and relationships.

The 4’s created teenie weenie pictures of themselves using colours to represent their skin colour. Super cute kinders. 

We also had a visit from Sarah and Anne from the Realm Library in Ringwood this week. They come once a Term to read and sing songs to the children. We love our connections with our community who provide so many learning opportunities for the children.  

Fun facts and things you should check out from our community…

• Did you know watching and listening helps develop language? In our interaction with the youngest of our learners, we use our hands, eyes, faces and words to communicate. This shows them how people communicate. Soon, the baby’s babbling noises will sound like adult talk. They begin to take turns and wait for a response. Later, children will choose the right words and body language to communicate their feelings and needs.
• We are currently rebuilding choklits.com.au and will be revamping our community page to include a place where we can promote businesses, skills and talents within our community. If you are a business owner, have a special talent or skill you’d like to share with others please email us so we can include you on the new page. 

Please remember…

• Vision Portraits is coming to the centre from the 3rd of April to the 6th. Click here and use the password ‘annualphotos’. Don’t forget to click on Ringwood’s tab and follow the instructions. 

We’d love your help to help us improve at Choklits …

Don’t forget you can send us feedback at any time on our curriculum in a couple of different ways-

1. In person at Choklits, either verbally or in writing using the clipboards provided
2. Via phone or email
3. Using our National Quality Areas Feedback Form
4. Visiting choklits.com.au/contact 

Thanks so much for your help!

Have a great weekend,

Jodi, Sue and the Choklits Team

— Friday, March 17th —

Hello families,

What a week of multicultural celebrations!!!! The educators across the centre provided some wonderful experiences to explore the different cultural backgrounds we have at Choklits.  

What we got up to this week…..

Nursery Educators Usha, Tejal and Sunanda along with student Brinda dressed in their traditional attire and danced and sang to the children.  Educators Shuang, Tina and Ereney read stories and sang Nursery Rhymes in their home language. Nilu from the 3 YO room shared with the children a Sri Lankan parade, read the story “A Hundred Thousand Welcomes” by Mary Lee Donavan and sang “We are one but we are many”. Sam from the 4 YO Kindergarten room has started preparing a diversity/cultural wall in the room with a poster “Welcome to everyone” and look forward to watching this project grow over the next few weeks.

It was a wonderful week of learning!

Next Week….

Tuesday the 21st of March – Harmony Day. Wear ORANGE, the more the better.

We’d love your help to help us improve at Choklits…

We are always looking for ways to improve at Choklits and we’d love your input! Let me explain…

As a child care service, our practices are guided by the 7 National Quality Standards (NQS) which are important for several reasons. Broadly, they provide a framework for assessing and improving the quality of care and education that children receive in early childhood settings. They help ensure children are receiving the best possible care and education, which is critical for their development and future success.

Furthermore, the 7 Quality Areas are a set of benchmarks established by the Australian Government to ensure high-quality early childhood education and care. 

Below are the benefits of each of the seven quality areas:

1. Educational program and practice: This quality area focuses on the educational programs and practices provided by the child care service. The benefits of a high-quality educational program include preparing children for school, supporting their development and learning, and promoting positive social and emotional outcomes.
2. Children’s health and safety: This quality area focuses on the health and safety of children in the child care setting. The benefits of ensuring children’s health and safety include reducing the risk of illness and injury, promoting healthy habits, and providing a safe and secure environment for children to learn and play.
3. Physical environment: This quality area focuses on the physical environment of the child care service, including the buildings, equipment, and outdoor areas. The benefits of a high-quality physical environment include providing a welcoming and stimulating environment for children, promoting physical activity, and supporting learning and development.
4. Staffing arrangements: This quality area focuses on the staffing arrangements of the child care service, including staff qualifications, ratios, and ongoing professional development. The benefits of high-quality staffing arrangements include ensuring that children receive appropriate care and education, promoting positive interactions with children, and providing a stable and consistent environment for children.
5. Relationships with children: This quality area focuses on the relationships between children and the child care service’s staff. The benefits of positive relationships with children include promoting emotional well-being, supporting social development, and facilitating learning and development.
6. Collaborative partnerships with families and communities: This quality area focuses on the partnerships between the child care service, families, and the wider community. The benefits of collaborative partnerships include supporting children’s learning and development, promoting a sense of belonging, and fostering positive relationships between families and the child care service.
7. Governance and leadership: This quality area focuses on the governance and leadership of the child care service, including policies, procedures, and decision-making processes. The benefits of effective governance and leadership include ensuring that the child care service operates in a professional and ethical manner, providing a clear direction and purpose, and promoting continuous improvement in the quality of care provided to children.

By focusing on these quality areas, Choklits can support children’s learning and development, promote their health and safety, and foster positive relationships with families and the wider community.

This is where our parents, carers and community can help us. Below is a link where you can send us any feedback, ideas or comments on the 7 Quality Areas and how they relate to Choklits. Please let us know anything you’d like to see done, improved or implemented at Choklits. We’re completely open to any ideas so we’d love to hear any suggestions you have. You can use the link below, or we have a dedicated space in our foyer where you can handwrite any feedback too.

Please click here to send us your feedback.

Thanks so much for your help!

Have a wonderful weekend and for those who have joined our footy tipping competition, good luck. After round one I am already down the bottom LOL. It’s not too late if you would still like to join in the fun. Just click here.

Jodi and the Choklits Team

— Friday, March 10th —

Hello families,

Happy Friday and Happy Long Weekend.

We’ve had another super exciting week here at Choklits! This week we celebrated the Indian Festival Holi. Holi is a popular Hindu festival known as the ‘Festival of Colours.’ It is a vibrant and colourful festival that is a symbol of good over evil, celebrating the change from Winter to Spring in India and the blossoming of love. What a wonderful thing to celebrate!! 

Here is how the rooms celebrated on the day…

Nursery

 Educators created a sensory exploration table with colourful resources and provided an opportunity for the children  to explore colours with some squeezable paint brushes.

Pre-Toddlers/Toddlers

Educator Elly read a story about the colours of Holi before the children explored some art activities with corks and paints.  There was lots of wonderful artwork created.

3 YO Kinders

The children were able to watch a short video on the festival and I asked the children what they loved most about the celebration they just watched. The “colour battle” they yelled. The festival goers were having a great time with the Holi powder, throwing it around and getting messy. It looked like heaps of fun. Maybe we will organise this next year: Choklits Super Fun Battle of Colours between rooms. I know lots of children who would love this. 

4 YO Kinders

The 4’s talked about the celebration and made some paper towel ink blottings. The children were able to use their fine motor skills with pipettes and use some control to pipe the ink onto the paper towel to create colourful patterns. 

Happy International Women’s Day for Wednesday too, to all the wonderful women in the Choklits Community!

Next week…

13th – 17th  Cultural Diversity Week 

If you missed the blog on Learning about cultural diversity for Under 5’s click here

Click here to see our Calendar of Events

Please remember…

Footy tipping is officially underway! Sign up here before the first bounce on Thursday 16th March. With free entry and the chance to share in the $600 prize pool, we can’t wait to see whose footy knowledge will top the ladder!

We are closed on Monday for the Labour Day holiday.  

I hope everyone has a wonderful long weekend. A lot of our Educators are taking advantage of the long weekend and are going camping and heading to Moomba? What are you up to this weekend? 

Jodi and the Choklits Team

— Friday, March 3rd —

Hello families,

Well, it’s official- Summer is over! We will be swapping our summer hats for woolly beanies soon. I feel it most in the mornings now and must admit, I cheekily put the heater on at least twice this week. Even though the weather has been a little gloomy and wet this week, it hasn’t stopped the children from enjoying lots of great indoor activities this week. Puzzles, play dough, construction and drawing were just some of the experiences we had on offer as well as lots of sand play outside.   

What’s been happening…

The 3-year-old kindergarten class have set up a restaurant in their home corner and have been talking about healthy foods. I stopped in for a meal or two and was well looked after. I even popped in at lunchtime to have a chat about some of the vegetables in Saliya’s cooking. “I can see something small, round and green, I wonder what that could be?” I asked. “Peas” everyone chorused. I always have the best time visiting the rooms. The Pre-Todders and Toddlers have been exploring dinosaurs and the Nursery children have been busy using their fine motor skills to build towers out of blocks. The 4-year-old kindergarten class have been getting messy with clay and I saw some wonderful creations.  Don’t forget to check out all the documentation on Xplor. 

Have you noticed that we have our flags back on display? They are hanging on the wall just outside in the undercroft.  We were really lucky to have them donated by some of our local members of parliament. We were thinking of erecting 3 flagpoles at the front of the centre. We would love to know what you think and any suggestions on where they should go? Wouldn’t it be great for the 4-year-old kindergarteners to be able to take turns raising the flags each morning? Who remembers being on flag duty at primary school? I sure do! 

Next week…

We kick off some great learning opportunities next week when we look at the Indian festival Holi. Holi is the festival of colours. Then, we have cultural diversity week from March 13th – 17th. If you missed our blog on why we look to celebrate our diverse families in our program, please click here. There’s always plenty of discussion about food and meals during this period so if you have a favourite family dishes of cultural significance you enjoy as a family please let me know. As long as they are not family secrets then I would love to share them with our Choklits Community. 

Coming up…

Centre photos have been booked for Monday April 3rd – 6th. We are using the same company as last year, Vision Portraits, and sessions are booked online through their website. There is no obligation to have your child/ren’s photo taken but if you do then please go to visionportraits.com.au/photos and enter the password ‘annualphotos’. Make sure you select Choklits Ringwood.  

Have a great weekend. Some of our families are heading to Avalon for the air show. Hope you have a great time, I can’t wait to hear all about it!!

Jodi and the Choklits Team

— Friday, February 24th —

Hello families,

Happy Friday !!!

We’ve had another super exciting week here at Choklits! On top of our regular incursions, we’ve had lots happening here. We started off our week with a visit from our furry friend Hamish for Love Your Pet Day.

Hamish puts lots of smiles on the children’s faces and staff alike, and after visiting each room, he went home with a full belly of treats. Janine tells me he slept the afternoon away. I have loved seeing all the super cute photos of your family pets – from all the furry babies plus one very loved chicken, they all look like much-loved members of your family.  

We also celebrated Pancake Day on Tuesday! The children absolutely love cooking activities and it makes it even more special when they get to eat the end products. Saliya made some homemade berry coulis to go with the pancakes for afternoon tea. There was not a single pancake left in any of the rooms and I know because I went looking. If you missed our blog post on it, you’ll find it here. 

We are currently rebuilding choklits.com.au and will be revamping our community page to include a place where we can promote businesses, skills and talents within our community. If you are a business owner, or have a special talent or skill you’d like to share with others please email us so we can include you on the new page.

Next week…

Is a change of season- the first day of Autumn is on Wednesday! We look forward to exploring lots of experiences surrounding Autumn.

Have a great weekend,

Jodi and the Choklits Team