2018Parent Handbook

  1. Welcome

The committeeand staff of Sunnyside Kindergarten extend a warm welcome to your family. Our Kindergarten offers excellent facilities and equipment in beautiful surroundings where children are encouraged to develop their independence and desire to learn. This document has been prepared to provide a handy reference of the information you’ll need for your child’s time at Sunnyside.

  1. Policy Manual

The Kindergarten has a comprehensive Policy Manual covering all areas of its management. A copy of this manual is available for your perusal in the foyer. This document is constantly under review.

There are some key components of our policies that should be noted by parents.In an effort to reduce the paper used at the kindergarten these policies are available on the Sunnyside Website. Please read these policies and if you have any queries, contact the President.

  1. Staff and Committee Information

Staff 2018

Angie BromleyYellow group teacher/Educational Leader Nominated Supervisor

Rachel DaleBlue group teacher

El Marson-ThomasRed group teacher

Nicole QuirkGreen group teacher

Jenni LythgoYellow group educator/ Office Coordinator & Enrolments

Kathleen HarleyYellow groupeducator

Michele ZabaleguiBlue group educator

Sue MichaelBlue group educator

Gen Cuthbert-BlakeGreen group educator; Blue & Yellow lunchtime educator

Phuong HarjantaGreen group Educator

Bronwyn CameronRed group educator

Sam RobinsonRed group educator

The Kindergarten also has a Committee of Management and will be voted in at the AGM in November 2018.

  1. Sunnyside Kindergarten Timetable

4 year old groupsYELLOWMonday, Tuesday& Thursday – 9.00am – 3.00pm

BLUEMonday, Tuesday Friday – 9.15am – 3.15pm

3 year old groupGREENWednesday – 9.00am – 3.00pm

REDWednesday & Thursday – 9.15am – 12.15pm

  1. Fees

Fees for 2018 are:

FOUR year old$740 per term
THREE year old$550per term

Sunnyside Kindergarten uses Qikkids and Ezidebit software programs for invoicing and fee collection.

Invoices will be emailed in the first week of each term. Payments will then be deducted the following week. Reminders will also be sent out at this time to alert you that the invoice has been sent.

The Ezidebit system automatically deducts fees from a bank account or credit card that you have nominated on the specified date.

Ezidebit is the only payment method that will be accepted by the kindergarten. This is to streamline our collection system and ensure that we are working in the most efficient manner.

Should you be experiencing hardship, please contact the Treasurer at to organise part payment of your fees.

An Ezidebit form will be included in your Information Pack, distributed at the AGM. Please complete the form and sign, and then upload as required in your Online Enrolment forms. You will need to nominate either a bank account or credit card that the fees will be deducted from.

In addition, a refundable working bee levy of $100 per rostered working bee is payable (See section 6.3). Please also see Sunnyside Kindergarten Fee Policy - available on the Sunnyside Website.

  1. Parent Involvement

To ensure your child’s time at kindergarten is enjoyable and as memorable as possible, parents are invited to become closely involved in the life of the kindergarten and the broad range of activities offered. Parents can choose to participate in the teaching programs and the management of the kindergarten in a wide variety of ways as outline below.

6.1 Administration

The administration of Sunnyside Kindergarten is carried out by a Committee of Management, which is elected at the Annual General Meeting. Nominations are welcome from all members. The Committee meets monthly and is responsible for the management of financial affairs, maintenance of grounds and building, enrolment of children, implementation of Department of Human Services Regulations and general running of the Kindergarten.

6.2Committee of Management Positions

To assist the parents in managing the kindergarten and to ease the burden, it was decided to introduce paid administration roles in bookkeeping/accounting and office administration.

Office Bearers:President
Vice Presidents (2)
Honorary Secretary and Public Officer
Honorary Treasurer

General Committee:At least 6 general members who may hold one of the Secretarial or Assistant Positions

Secretarial Positions:Social/Fundraising Secretary
Uniforms Officer
Maintenance Officer

Assistant Positions:Assistant Secretary
Assistant Maintenance Officer
Assistant Fundraising Secretary
Parent Representatives for each group

These positions are elected at the Annual General Meeting – the next AGM will be in November, 2018.

From time to time the committee forms Sub-Committees to support on-going and special projects, for example:

  • Building Sub-Committee
  • Policy Sub-Committee to maintain policy manual and address enquiries

The Teachers are responsible for the planning and implementation of the educational program and for the day-to-day wellbeing of the children.

Although the Kindergarten is subsidised by the State Government, this funding only partially covers costs. Fees, combined with state funding, cover staff salaries (excluding superannuation) and operating costs.However, major items of equipment and maintenance rely heavily on the voluntary efforts of parents for fundraising, various administrative tasks and maintenance work.

6.3 Working Bees

Sunnyside has extensive grounds for our children to play in and the outdoor area needs to be maintained on a regular basis. To minimise our maintenance cost, parents are requested to participate Working Bees, which are organised by the Maintenance Officer(s).

Apart from normal cleaning, the majority of maintenance work is performed during the Working Bees. A variety of tasks are tackled; basics like lawn mowing, pruning, painting and edge-trimming to more specialised jobs like carpentry, if appropriate tradespeople are among the parents

Families with a child in a 4 year old group are asked to have a parent participate TWICE a year and ONCE a year for families with a child in the 3 year old group. This ensures the regular maintenance the kindergarten requires is undertaken as well as providing parents an opportunity to get to know one another.

With regard to Working Bees, we ask the following:

  • Attend your rostered working bee.
  • Bring along any tools or equipment requested by the Maintenance Officer and give that person as much assistance and advice as possible
  • Leave children at home for safety reasons

If you cannot attend your rostered Working Bee for any reason, please:

  • Let the Maintenance Officer know as soon as possible
  • Arrange to swap with a parent from another Working Bee group if you can
  • Attend any other Working Bee that suits you

If your child is in our 3 year old program you will be required to attend one working bee. You will be charged a $100 levy if you have not attended a working bee by Term 4.

If your child is in our 4 year old program you will be required to attend two working bees. You will be charged a $100 levy in Term 2 and a $100 levy in Term 4 if you have not attended two working bees by Term 4.

For those families with more than one child attending Sunnyside in any year, a maximum of TWO working bees per year will need to be completed in order to be eligible for a Working Bee Levy Refund.

Please remember: We would rather have your help at working bees than your money!

6.4 Parent ‘Stay and Play’ Roster

Mums, Dads, Grandparents and carers are always welcome to join the class for an hour or two. This is an excellent opportunity to see your child and the group in action. It is advisable to have any siblings minded so you can focus on your kindergarten child and really enjoy the ‘Stay and Play’ experience.

6.5 Laundry

The staff may requestassistance with the washing of children’s art smocks, tea towels, etc and help with this is always appreciated.

6.6 Parent’s Library

The Kindergarten has a library of books and magazines that are available for parents to borrow. They are kept in a library rack in the foyer, to the right of the inner entry door. These are on a variety of child-related topics. Please record the book you borrow in the “Borrowing Book” provided and mark it off when it is returned.

6.7 Program Assistance

Parent involvement with activities in the program is welcomed at Sunnyside and if you have anything you would like to share with the children, the teachers would be delighted to hear from you. These could include interesting occupations (policeman, fireman, etc), unusual pets, art, music, cooking, floral art, carpentry, sewing, weaving, spinning, etc. The staff would also be happy to hear from you if you have access to creative play material (eg. paper, soft wood off-cuts etc). Even if you think you have no specific talents, we are always in need of extra, enthusiastic volunteers.

6.8 Social Functions

These are organised by the Social/Fundraising Secretary and the Social Sub-committee. They are informal and provide parents a relaxed, friendly atmosphere in which to get to know other families.

Functions may include dinners, film nights, BBQs, wine tastings and so on. Everyone is encouraged to take part and is guaranteed a good time as well as financially supporting the kindergarten.

  1. Appointments

Our teachers are always happy to discuss your child’s progress with you. There is usually time for a quick chat during daily contacts like drop-off and pick-up. If there is a more serious concern or you need more than a few minutes, parents and teachers should make an appointment at a mutually suitable time, out of session hours.

If you have any other queries related to the running of the Kindergarten, don’t hesitate to contact the Director or any of the Committee Members.

  1. Orientation Process

At the beginning of the year, a staggered orientation period has been found helpful in introducing the children to the Kindergarten.

For the first two sessions of kindergarten, the children will attend in small groups for reduced hours. This enables the children to become familiar with the staff and classroom routines and to feel more comfortable meeting peers. Details of this Orientation Process can be found in your child’s Information Pack.

If you feel your child would benefit from an extended transition period, please discuss this with your child’s teacher and an individual transition plan can be developed.

  1. Car Queue

Drop off and collection times at the kindergarten are very busy, with cars and children moving through the car park at the kindergarten entrance.

As there are limited spaces and as a courtesy to those with infants and toddlers, those coming with older children or only their kinder child are asked to use the ample parking on Belgrave Road whenever possible.

For the safety of the children, and to avoid traffic jams, you are asked to drive up the left-hand side of Cooinda Place and around the traffic island to use the marked parking bays at the entrance to the kindergarten.

Please do not park on the traffic island or leave your car in the turning circle.

  1. Punctuality

In accordance with the Department of Education and Training, staff members must remain at the kindergarten until all children have been collected. For this reason, prompt collection of children is appreciated. It can also be distressing for a child to regularly be ‘the last one’ at Kindergarten. If your child needs to be collected outside the normal time or by someone authorised but unknown to staff, please send a note to this effect with your child. Please read all aspects of the Kindergarten Delivery and Collection of Children Policy -available on the Sunnyside Website.

  1. Illness

Please notify staff if your child is absent due to illness or an infectious condition such as head lice or school sores. Please keep your child at home if suffering from a cold, particularly at the early infectious stage.

The Department of Education and Training Exclusion table is displayed in the foyer for your reference. Please check with staff if you’re unsure whether your child should be excluded.

  1. Immunisation

From 1 January 2016, all parents/guardians seeking to enrol their child at an early childhood service in Victoria must provide evidence that their child is:

  • fully immunised for their age OR
  • on a vaccination catch-up program OR
  • unable to be fully immunised for medical reasons.

The ‘No Jab No Play’ law applies to all early childhood education and care services in Victoria including Kindergarten. Sunnyside are required to keep a copy of your child’s most recent Immunisation History Statement from the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) as evidence of your child's immunisation.

To request an Immunisation History Statement contact the ACIR:

  • phone 1800 653 809
  • email
  • visit Medicare Australia online
  • visit a Medicare or Centrelink office.
  1. Sun Protection

Sunnyside promotes and practicesSun Smart behaviour. The Kindergarten Sun Protection Policy requires that all children arrive at Kindergarten with a named hat and sunscreen be applied from 1st September through to 30th April. The application of sunscreen is the responsibility of the parent/guardian. Staff will readminister sunscreen after lunchon each of the 6 hour sessions. Please complete the Authority of Staff to Apply Sunscreenincluded in the Enrolment forms.

  1. Complaints

When concerns regarding any aspect of the Kindergarten Service cannot be resolved through communication with the teachers, coordinator or appropriate committee member, please refer to the Complaints Policy – available on the Sunnyside Website.

  1. Footwear

It is preferable for the children not to wear thongs or wedge heels as they are unsafe on the outdoor equipment. Gumboots are suitable for the winter months but children are asked to bring other footwear for indoors. In the warmer months, sandals are a good idea as they are much easier for the children to take off and put on by themselves which encourages their independence.

  1. Bags

Please put a change of clothes (especially underwear) in your child’s kindergarten bag. This ensures that the children have their own clothes to change into should they get wet during water play. Toys, dolls and other precious items are best left at home as they are invariably misplaced or broken which causes both staff and children much distress.

We hope that your stay at Sunnyside is a happy learning experience for you and your child.

Sunnyside Kindergarten Association Incorporated
5 Cooinda Place, East Malvern 3145

9571 5349
Email: Website:

Government Subsidised Kindergarten Association Registration No.A0003163E ABN 13 479 644 208