May Newsletter - 2021

National Families Week

As part of our family and friends events for 2021, we were really looking forward to hosting a family and community afternoon tea in conjunction with National Families Week. However, unfortunately due to current Tasmanian restrictions regarding gathering limits for businesses, the maximum density rule of 2 square metres per person applies, including staff, volunteers, children and babies. Therefore, we believe our chosen venue (which was to be Little Bee Howrah), does not have the indoor space big enough for us to follow this rule.

For this reason we will now be participating in 'Dance for Sick Kids' to raise awareness during National Families week. Each day across the week, all children at both centres will be participating in experiences involving dance. 'Dance for Sick Kids' is an interactive and exciting way to instil the importance of kindness and giving back to the community and those in need.

What's been happening at Little Bee .....

Howrah

As a part of our projects, the children have been having a great time using cameras to take photos of the things that are meaningful and important to them. We have been caring for our outdoor environments and talking about sustainable practises, as we use the rain water from the tank to water the garden beds. Outside has also been a very busy place with many roadworks happening close by, the children have watched with amazement at the different machines that they have seen and the different jobs the workers have been doing.

We have also had a visit from some lovely lady’s from RACT, who came to speak to the children about the importance of road safety and what it looks like. The children sat and listened beautifully to the story that was told.

As a part of nature week the children had the opportunity to explore some clay using a variety of mediums. Flowers, leaves, dyes and other items from the garden were most popular with the children as they used these to colour the clay to their liking. We have also talked to the children about 'Earth day' and the importance of preserving our earth, we incorporated this into a garden activity with the children creating small green houses to hang on the window inside and watch grow.

As a part of ANZAC celebrations we shared the story “Lest we forget” with the children showing an interest in the topic. We talked about the significance of the poppy and set up an experience where the children could make their own.

 Airport

Baby Bees:

Into the month of April we unfolded the children’s interest in music giving them multiple opportunities to express themselves through sounds and music. It is lovely seeing them sitting for group time and requesting their favourite songs through hand motions. We have also been exploring musical instruments and the most popular ones are the xylophone, tambourine and shakers.

Every Monday we have a special chore and adventure; going to the garden to feed the chickens. Once we have fresh food and water for them, we make sounds so they can come around. The children love imitating the chickens’ sounds. What a great surprise when we can come back inside bringing some eggs to the kitchen.

We have been engaging in multiple art experiences; such as chalk drawing, sponge painting to celebrate Easter and Anzac Day when we used black and red paints for our own interpretation of poppy flowers. Please have a look on our creations displayed on the walls in our room!

Honey Bees

We have thrown ourselves into nature play this month, with weekly visits to our chickens and the garden, feeding our left over morning tea to our hen’s and collecting the eggs from their hiding places. The children also enjoy tending to the garden bed’s, touching the plants and feeling the dirt through their fingers. They were very excited to take some walks to the park. Each child had opportunity to practise their gross motor skills, climbing up the stairs and sitting at the top of the slide, feeling the bumps on the surface of the slide as they slide down.  Other children enjoyed the back and forth motion on the swings. We saw lot’s of happy smiles as they interacted so beautifully with their peers and learned about turn taking. Indoors we used the colourful fidget popper and our colour cards to help develop the children's sensory awareness around sight and touch.

Sensory play is a type of play that activates and stimulates a child’s senses. Often, sensory play focuses on stimulating touch and sight. When children are very young, they interact with the world primarily through five senses (touching, tasting, hearing, seeing and smelling). 

Bumble Bees

Throughout the month of April in the Bumble Bee Room we further investigated how we can learn about ourselves through our creative choices. This led to a focus on role playing in our home corner space. Firstly, the children enjoyed cooking a range of meals (for breakfast, lunch and dinner) with the array of play food (wooden and plastic), some items getting cooked in saucepans on the hotplates and others in the oven.  During this time we saw many of the children work very closely with their peers and noticed some new friendships developing between the children. This then led the children to feeding the baby dolls the meals that they had very proudly prepared and cooked as they role played.  The children enjoyed feeding the babies bottles, changing the babies’ nappies and rocking the babies off to sleep in their beds and cots. Finally, the children enjoyed taking turns at dressing up and making many different outfits from the selection of ‘Mr Potato Heads’. This led to many conversations around naming the ‘Mr Potato Heads’ family members, friends and even pet names.

Recently, we have been exploring the community by going on adventures to collect natural resources including; vibrant Autumn leaves in various shapes and colours, bunny pails, bark, sticks and leaves. The natural resources collected enabled the children to make a large group collage as well as individual collages. Please keep an eye out for the display to come of the children’s unique natural Autumn collages.

We have been using our visual, interactive weather chart daily, as we discuss the weather and seasons (currently Autumn). The children have been going to the window to observe the weather and on some occasions even stepping outside so that they have a closer view and better understanding of the weather patterns at the time.   

We celebrated Easter by providing each child with a natural item, the acorn. The children went out to the garden to very carefully find a spot to plant their acorn. Each child’s acorn grew in a short timeframe and turned into an Easter Egg!! The children found this experience very exciting and impressive!

More recently we have been making the most of the good weather by walking to the local park where the children have enjoyed having the opportunity to play and take turns on different play equipment, the swings, slide and ball games being a huge hit amongst many of the children!

We have been continuing to regularly visit the garden and chooks and on many occasions digging and searching for worms and on a few occasions finding some fresh eggs.

We commemorated ANZAC Day by providing the children with a range of photographs of poppies for art inspiration. This led the children to creating their own individual and unique poppy collage. Please keep an eye out for our Anzac Day display to come!

Busy Bees

We have been very busy this month in the Busy Bee room…

We have been exploring photography and many different ways that we can view the world. Through this, the children had fun getting creative with drawing and painting their self portraits and also each other.  We used real technology, such as: cameras and phones to take photos throughout the day of things we could see through the lens. A camera is currently making its way around each child as an opportunity for them to take photos of their home environments and things that they may see different outside of Little Bee.

We have also enjoyed discovering different places around the world and investigating they the people may live and what they like to eat. The children have especially loved our new home corner furniture where they have been actively cooking up some of their favourite foods from home, sparking many conversations!

Queen Bee Room

What a busy and fun filled month we have had in the Queen Bee room.

We have been exploring movement, emotions, well-being, and our senses through a multitude of different experiences. Putting our bodies to the test with a variety of different obstacle courses, learning new movements and refining our yoga poses, as well as fun visits to the park.

Looking at our senses and emotions, took us to listening and dancing to known and unknown songs and music and then discussing how these made us feel. We also explored a range of different emotions and what may make us feel, introducing our emotions boxes where the children can identify how they are feeling throughout the day by placing their individual pictures in the corresponding box.

The children have been thoroughly enjoying continuing on with painting in many different forms, as well as exploring the different experiences in our tables. These table experiences are aimed at extending our fine motor skills, pincer grip, turn taking, and sharing as well as having fun with our peers.

We are really lucky to be participating in a physical education program on Thursday mornings for the next 9 weeks from 930-1030am, with Nick, from Showtime Soccer. The lessons are discovery based learning to get children moving, laughing and trying different skills. The main focus is balance, jumping, listening, coordination and communication. Nick will introduce lots of different sports throughout the visits to give the participants a taste of all the different activities. Please keep an eye out on Facebook for weekly photos.

COVID-19 Protocol for all essential visitors to the premises

(refresher)

In mid 2020, we created our 'Protocol for all essential visitors to the premises'.

As 12 months has now passed, we are asking all regular visitors to the Centre (parents/guardians/nominees) to revisit and resign our protocol. Each family will have 3 copies in their family tray, additional copies will be located at at the office, if needed. If you could please return them within the next 4 weeks, thank you.

Any questions, please contact us, thank you. 

Flu vaccination in 2021

Vaccination against influenza (flu) remains important this year. Flu is a highly contagious viral infection that can cause widespread illness and deaths every year. Vaccination is our best defence against flu viruses.

Behaviours, such as; increased hand washing and social distancing helped to stop the spread of flu viruses in the community last year. Relaxing social distancing restrictions this year may allow flu viruses to recirculate, even if they were hardly seen in 2020.

Who should get a flu vaccine?

Vaccination experts recommend flu vaccination for all people aged 6 months and over.

Who is eligible for a free flu vaccine?

Under the National Immunisation Program, free flu vaccines are provided to the following groups who are at higher risk of complications from flu:

• children aged 6 months to less than 5 years
• all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months and over
• people aged 6 months and over with certain medical conditions that increase their chance of severe influenza and its complications
• pregnant women (at any stage during pregnancy)
• people aged 65 years and over.

When will flu vaccines be available?

Free flu vaccines under the National Immunisation Program will become available in April 2021. Vaccinating in Autumn provides protection before the peak influenza season.

Free flu vaccines will be available from GPs, community health clinics, Aboriginal Medical Services and other immunisation providers in your state or territory. To locate a service in your area you can search the National Health Services Directory.

Check with your immunisation provider to find out when they will have the vaccine available and when you can book in to get the vaccine.

If you are not eligible for a free flu vaccine, you can purchase the vaccine from your GP, a pharmacy, or another immunisation provider.

Can I get a flu vaccine at the same time as a COVID-19 vaccine?

Vaccination experts recommend waiting 14 days between getting a flu vaccine and a COVID-19 vaccine. Given this, it will be important to plan both vaccinations.

It doesn’t matter in what order you get the vaccines. However:

• if you are in earlier phases for COVID-19 vaccination, you should get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon you can. You can then plan your flu vaccination.
• if you are in later phases for COVID-19 vaccination, you should get the flu vaccine as soon as you can. This will ensure you are ready to get your COVID‑19 vaccine when it is available to you.

You can check what phase you are in using the COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Checker.

When you book in for your flu vaccination, remember to tell your vaccination provider or clinic if you have received the COVID-19 vaccine (and when you received it). This will help them to plan your appointment.

Little Bee Move Well, Eat Well update...

Our aim for every newsletter is to offer families a little bit of information about the Move Well, Eat Well program, as we continue to implement all strategies outlined in the guidelines here at Little Bee. Over time we will cover all all of the 7 areas, today we are encouraging families to 'think before they drink' - see below for information on the sugar content of drinks.

Do you have any Little Bee bowls or plates at your house? We have noticed lately our supply of bowls and plates are depleting. Please check and return them if you have any - thank you!

Toys from home ...

We are really sorry, but, the bringing of general toys to Little Bee is not encouraged. Toys may create conflict amongst children, or the toys being lost or damaged, of course, children can become upset and distressed over broken and lost toys. The centre is well equipped with a full range of resources to promote learning through play and discovery while at the centre. If your child requires a comforter, please chat to the educators in their room regarding the capacity you are happy for them to be utilised.

Thank you for your support.

National Reconciliation Week

(Monday 27th May – Monday 3rd June)

 Each year National Reconciliation Week (NRW) celebrates and builds on the respectful relationships shared by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians.

The dates that bookend the week are significant milestones in the reconciliation journey.

May 27—Marks the anniversary of Australia’s most successful referendum and a defining event in our nation’s history. The 1967 referendum saw over 90 per cent of Australians vote to give the Commonwealth the power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and recognise them in the national census.

3 June—Commemorates the High Court of Australia’s landmark Mabo decision in 1992, which legally recognised that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a special relationship to the land—a relationship that existed prior to colonisation and still exists today. This recognition paved the way for land rights or Native Title.

In 2021, the National Reconciliation Week theme is: More than a word. Reconciliation takes action, urges the reconciliation movement towards braver and more impactful action. Reinforces that we all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation, and in playing our part we can collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories and cultures. 

As you will be aware, Little Bee is continuing to celebrate our dedication to building stronger relationships and equality for all Australians, we began working on our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in 2019, which has been a wonderful learning journey with many great achievements so far. We look forward to inviting all our families to our launch festival in October 2021.

Our educators are very proud of how we have been able to begin embedding significant aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture into our projects of work. You can read about our project work to see the cultural links we have made in the curriculum news section of this newsletter!  We really look forward to sharing with you how we have made these links at our parent/educator conferences towards the end of the year, whether they be face to face or via a zoom session (depending on the COVID-19 situation at the time).  

Little Bee hours of operation….

We would like to remind all our families, Little Bee Howrah is open from 7.30 a.m. to     5.30 p.m. and Little Bee Airport 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Our staff do not get paid before or after these times, so we ask families not to arrive at the centre before or after the allocated opening hours.  

With winter and the darker days approaching the centre will usually be locked until opening time (Howrah 7.30 a.m. and Airport 7 a.m.) and after closing time (5.30 p.m. Howrah and 6 p.m. Airport. If you need to access the centre outside these times for any reason, please contact centre management.

Thank you for your support in ensuring the safety of all our Little Bee employees.

Happy Mother’s Day!!!

We would like to wish all of our 'Little Bee Mums' a very Happy Mother's Day on Sunday the 9th May. We hope you all get to spend some quality time with your loved ones… and get a tiny bit spoilt too!

Child Care Subsidy Update

Income Estimates for the 2021-2022 Financial Year

Families may have received their notification from Centrelink asking for an income estimate for the 2021-2022 financial year. If so, please complete the task as soon as possible to the best of your ability, as this may assist in ensuring your child care subsidy isn't suspended when we transition to the new financial year.

Thank you

Little Bee Airport - My Family Walls

Does your child have a ‘my family’ photo collage? The children really enjoy looking at their family photos and sharing them with their peers!  This assists them with social development and having a sense of belonging. We encourage all families to support their child in creating a 'photo collage' and emailing or bringing them along to Little Bee. If your child has one, you are welcome to do an updated version at any time also.

Thanks in advance.

Food Allergies Awareness

Food allergy awareness week falls in May each year; it is an initiative of Allergy and Anaphylaxis Australia and is the national initiative to raise awareness and money to support Australians with food allergies—a widespread public health issue that is on the rise. Did you know around 1 in 10 children born in Australia today will develop a food allergy? An allergic reaction can quickly become life threatening; as often families are unaware their child has an allergy until there first serious reaction and tragically this can sometimes be too late.

We have many children at Little Bee with food allergies to things such as; egg, cashew nuts, peanuts, almonds, gluten etc. It is because of this, that we ask families to take extra care when providing food for their children at Little Bee. If you would like more information on food allergies visit: foodallergyaware.com.au, or if you would like support for a person with an allergy, visit your GP.

Does your child have an allergy?? If your child has an allergy, can you please touch base with us to ensure the allergy details are correct and up to date, as often new allergies arise or children ‘grow out of’ allergies and our information can become inaccurate, thank you.

A massive thank you to all of our families who have already supported us to fill in your 'risk minimisation plan' for children with a medical conditon.

Information for review:

We are currently reviewing the following policies and/or procedures:

Things from home policy

COVID-19 Policy

Upcoming staff professional learning, 11th May

Child Safety and Manual Handling - unfortunately due to room capacity, we are unable to invite Little Bee community members to attend.

If you would like to have input reviewing these documents, it would be greatly appreciated, just let us know and we will forward copies to you. Please compose any suggestions you would like to make and place them, either in the suggestions box (at reception) or via email to: littlebee@littlebee.net.au.

Information for families

These are the links we are promoting this month: 

• Food allergy awareness: www.foodallergyaware.com.au
• Move well eat well: www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/mwew 
• National Reconciliation Week: www.reconciliation.org.au/nrw/

Other readings can be found on the internet from recognised sites such as: www.kidsafe.com.au, www.rch.org.au, www.acecqa.gov.au, www.deewr.gov.au and www.kidswithasthma.com.au, www.healthinsite.gov.au

Opportunities for Family Involvement

Committee meetings are held on a bi-monthly basis. They are to reflect on our current practices, work on our Centre’s Quality Improvement Plan and continue to maintain the highest standard of, education and care possible.

All families are invited to join our Family and Friends Committee or our RAP working group, although these are not operating via face- to face meetings at the moment, your ideas and opinions are greatly valued and appreciated.

Families are also welcome to participate daily in Workplace health and safety checks and/or compliance reviews. Please see Emily if you are interested.

 We acknowledge and pay respect to the Elders past, present and future. The Traditional Custodians of Lutruwita (Tasmania) and pay homage to the traditional owners of the land our centres stand on, the Moomairemener people.