Educator Newsletter/Autumn 2016
Welcome
We have welcomedtwo new Armidale based Educators this summer, Zanna Lindquist and Monique Bezzina.
Zanna and Monique are looking forward to developing their businessesand we wish them all the very best. We hope you have the opportunity to meet them soon if you haven’t met them already.
Farewell
Unfortunatelywe recently said goodbye to Jo Burey in Guyra. We thank Jo for her contribution and commitmentto AFDC over the past 7 and a half years and we hope that she is very happy in her new career.
THE MOVE
As Educators know,we have beenin the process of looking for a new home for Armidale & District Family Day Care. We hope to confirm our new locationASAP. The CBD address we are considering will provide the service with greater visibility within the community and easier access which could lead to more enrolments and perhaps newEducator registrations.
We know that there are rumours out there in the community but we would appreciate everyone’s assistance in helping to maintain confidentiality until the move is confirmed and all the people who need to know are informed. Thank you
Playsession
Both our Board of Directors and our team recognise the high value that many Educators place on Playsession.
We are aiming to continue Playsession after the move, but what form it will take depends on the availability of TAFE facilities and/or the willingness of some Educators to share the job of hosting a weekly get together.
We may know more about the TAFE option after this week’s ECA meeting, but in the meantime, if you feel you could host a small group of Educators at your service once a month please let us know. We would be happy to talk to you about the support you would need to do this.
Playsession will continue here until Easter (please see the March Calendar). The Easter Playsession (date to be advised) will be our last at 169 Miller Street and we hope many of you can join us on the day.
P.S.The bus will continue to be available for transport to and from playsession wherever it is being held.
And what about the wonderful Angela….what can we say…….
Angela’s life is getting busier- between study and other commitments we feel very privileged to have had Ange with us this long. We know that everyone will want us to thank her for providing so many wonderfulplayspaces and experiences for everyone to enjoy. She is truly an inspiration and we know that her talents, energy and enthusiasm will be put to very good use in some fortunate school in the very near future.
ANGE, A VERY BIG THANK YOU AND HUG FROM US ALL!!
Show Exhibits
Playsession and a number of Educators submitted craft entries to the recent Armidale Show.
HOLD THE PRESS- AFDC PLAYSESSION WON FIRST PRIZE AND DINA AND HER CHILDREN WON SECOND PRIZE!!
Meanwhile Julie and the children in Walcha are looking forward to submitting their entries to Walcha Show when it rolls around in March. Good luck Julie and children.
Toy Library Sales
Thank you to all the Educators who have supported this sale. We are pleased that the resources will continue to benefit children enrolled with our service. To date we have raised well over $3,000.
Thank you also to Liz for her tireless efforts in organising and promoting resources for sale!!!
Last week we invited other services to come and see what we have for sale and after they have had a browse we will be advertising excess resources, furniture and fittings on Armidale Buy, Swap, Sell.
Forum
An Educator/Staff forum is proposed for Wednesday 30th March. By then we should be able to provide everyone with full details of the move and discuss how it will happen and when.
We will be able to pass on copies of the Procedures and reviewed Policies to add to your Policy folders. We hope all Educatorsare able to attend and join us in formally saying goodbye to 169 Miller Street and reflecting on all the good times and highlights the service has enjoyed whilst it was our home.
Focus Areas
We need to ensure that we have everyone’s Routine Excursion information on file along with an Excursion Risk Assessment for each routine venue and family permission notes. If you have not supplied them as yet could you please send them in ASAP. THANKYOU
For those Educators who use their phones to document observations and/or like to post/ share images of the children enjoying play experiences on their Facebook pages we also need Social Network disclaimer forms and family release (permission) forms from you. THANKS.
We hope to follow up the workshop in March with a focus on program documentation. What is working for you, what is not, what you might like to share with colleagues, how we can assist etc.
Reminders
Please ensure that we have signed copies of each new contract on file. It would appear that some copies have not been returned to the office. The Parent/Educator contract is designed to provide surety to Educators and Families regarding booked hours and payment of fees.
For those Armidale based Educators- Armidale Cup Day (Monday 14th March) is no longer a gazetted Public Holiday, rather a local event day.
Professional Development
“Putting Purpose into Planning” Wednesday 23rd March 6pm-9pm
This session is designed for experienced Educators. You will have the opportunity to look at why critical reflection is important, the challenges you may face and how you can improve your observations and documentation.
The $33 cost can be taken out of CCB if you would prefer to pay that way.
Thank you to those Educators who have already advised us they will be coming. We need to know numbers by Monday 7th March so that we can complete our bulk booking . THANKS
Compliance Visit
Circumstances have meant that the Compliance Visit has been postponed twice. Thank you for your patience and your preparation! A new date will be set as soon as possible and we will advise all Educators of this via email/text.
Following the visit we will be sure to let everyone know what feedback we have received from the Assessor and what, if any, recommendations she makes.
AFDC Board of Directors
Our Service is a Constitutional Corporation, managed by a community based Board of Directors, which is elected annually.
Board Members include community representatives, Educators and Family representatives.
Educators who are interested in assisting to steer the direction in which our Service grows, and provide a voice for other Educators are invited to nominate for election to the 2016 Board of Directors. Your input will be warmly welcomed!!
Sue, Liz ,Pat and Ange