Sessional Preschool

Children attending Bishop Kindergarten are offered 15 hours per week for 4 terms prior to starting school. Children attend 2 full days and 2½ hours on Fridays.

Children attend either:

Blue Group
BLUEFIN TUNA / FINS
Monday and Wednesday 8.45a.m. – 3.00p.m.
Friday 8.45a.m. – 11.15a.m.
Green Group
LINCOLN PARROTS / FEATHERS
Tuesday and Thursday 8.45a.m. – 3.00p.m.
Friday 12.30p.m. – 3.00p.m.

Afternoon pick-up time is flexible due to parent choice when picking up pre-school and school children. Please negotiate this with a staff member.

Due to the introduction of Universal Access (i.e. all children attending 15 hours of preschool from 2012) there is no allocated time or space for extension programs e.g. Pre-Entry, Playgroup.

Fees

Fees for 2019 are $65 per term.

Entry and Parking

For everyone’s safety, please observe the speed restrictions that apply around our preschool – 25 km/hr. During drop off and collection times we request that you drive at walking pace only.

There are 2 entrance gates – one from Willison Street (main entry), the other from George Street.

Parking is available on both streets. Please consider our neighbours by keeping their driveways clear at all times.

ENROLMENTS

We work with the Preschool Community and Port Lincoln Office for Education staff to support the placement of children into a Preschool program.

Pre-school

If you wish your child to attend a preschool in Port Lincoln:

Please complete an ‘Intention to Enrol’ form at your preferred preschool as you have decided this is your preschool of choice
you will be contacted by staff during the term prior to your child attending sessional preschool
you will be asked to visit to complete preschool enrolment forms

We ask you to please ensure all details on forms are kept current (i.e. should you change address or telephone number inform the preschool that you submitted the form to.)

All of your children need to be enrolled individually; it is not assumed that a younger sibling of a preschool child will be attending.

SCHOOL TRANSITION

During your child’s 4^th term of preschool, they will be invited to visit their intended school for transition sessions. (These vary in length from school to school).

In the week before the transition sessions start, the transition teacher from each school will visit the preschool to meet with your child and introduce themselves. You will also receive a notice detailing session times and parent/carer information.

Staff Members

Director:

Margaret Henson (Dip T.ECE & B. Ed)

Teachers:

Ly Nguyen-Gabb (B. Arts & Adv. Dip. Learning & Teaching)
Kathy North (Dip. Junior Primary Teaching)

Early Childhood Workers:

Sharon White (Dip Children’s Services)
Lisa Dutschke (Cert III Early Childhood Education and Care)
Chloe Manthorpe

GOVERNING COUNCIL

Bishop Kindergarten is managed by a group of parents/carers volunteers which are elected annually. The Governing Council, supported by staff, is responsible for:

communicating with other families and community members about the service provided by Bishop Kindergarten
maintaining the grounds, building and equipment
managing the preschool’s finances
participating in the planning and developing of policies with guidelines established by DECD

2019 Governing Council Members

Chairperson: Kylie McGuire (Assistant Chairperson: Kate McShane)
Secretary: Pip Murphy (Assistant Secretary: Nyssa Stewart)
Treasurer: Emma Williams (Assistant Treasurer: Pip Murphy)
Website Administrator: Pip Murphy
Committee Members: Jessica Nagel, Eboni Stimson, Brooke Harvey

The Governing Council meets 10 times per year (approximately monthly) which includes an end-of-year celebration. Each meeting provides parents/ carers with an opportunity to be involved with the continuing improvement of their child’s preschool, plus an opportunity to meet and get to know the staff and other parents/carers.

Meetings are a fun and educational way to share your child’s kindergarten year. All parent/carers of preschool children are invited and welcome to attend any meeting.

COMMUNICATION

The Parent /Carers communication bench is usually located along the north wall to the right as you enter the kindergarten’s main room. This area is the focal point for kindergarten communications and parent/carer information.

The Money Box is found here. If not paying by EFT please place all fees or other payments in the envelopes provided. Fill in the details on the envelope and then post into the money box. Our Treasurer will process the funds and place a receipt in your child’s note pocket.

The message book is also on the bench. Any messages for the staff relating to your child may be written in this book.

For example if a different person is collecting your child please give details in the book, or if your child is going to be absent for any reason, staff can be notified via the book

The first aid record and change clothes folders are also found on the parent bench. (see First Aid Procedure for details).

While there is a lot of information relating to Bishop Kindergarten on display please feel free to talk to any of the staff should you have any questions or concerns.

Don’t forget to check your child’s note pocket, hanging by the main door with your child’s photo and name, for individual notices, newsletters etc.

PARENT/CARER PARTICIPATION

There are many ways you can be involved at Bishop Kindergarten

Join the Governing Council
Spend time at Kindergarten
Collect collage material (boxes, cards, interesting paper)
Collect woodworking material (soft wood off-cuts, bottle tops)
Take home the “Dirty Stuff” for washing (can be found in the “wash me” bags by the front door)
Take home and cut up collage material
If you can play a musical instrument come and play for the children sometime
All green thumbs are welcome to help maintain and improve our garden
Artistic folks may wish to use their talents around the kindergarten (a mural, decorate furnishings, dress ups)
Sweep the floor or help tidy up while waiting to collect your child.

All help is highly valued and greatly appreciated at Bishop Kindergarten. If you have a spare moment just ask a staff member how you can help and contribute to your child’s kindergarten year.

We also love to see grandparents, uncles, aunts and others close to your children as well as mums, dads and carers.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME AT BISHOP KINDERGARTEN

LITERACY KITS

Bishop Kindergarten has children’s literacy kits and parent/ carers information books for you to borrow and take home. Literacy kits are hanging on a display rack near the parent bench.

Before borrowing a literacy kit please

sign a borrowing contract
staff will issue a borrowing card for your child.

When borrowing

check all items are in the kit
complete details of kit and the date on your borrowing card.
place your child’s card in the “pocket” corresponding with your kit selection.

When returning

check that all items on the kit tag are in the bag
collect the card from the pocket and record the date.
put bag in the “return kit” basket on the bench.
if not borrowing please leave your card in the card holder on the parent bench.

Only 1 literacy kit to be borrowed at a time. (1 week is the normal time to have a kit in your home).

PARENT LIBRARY

Also there are a variety of adult books covering various topics available for borrowing. These are displayed on the parent bench.
To borrow any parent/child care information books, please see a staff member for assistance.

BANKING

Alliance One Credit Union provides a “School Savers” Facility. A Credit Union Staff member visits the Kindergarten on Wednesday afternoon. Deposit books and money can be left in the collection bags for processing. For further details and enquiries speak to a preschool staff member or your local branch.

KINDERGARTEN RULES

At kindergarten we need rules so we can be safe. Please be aware of these rules and help your child and any other children in your care to observe them.

We walk inside
We walk on the cement areas outside
Adults are to operate the gates and only let out their child/children
We keep inside toys inside and outside toys outside
We swing straight and don’t twist the ropes
We ask an adult if we want equipment from the shed or the hose on
We care and respect each other and the environment
We eat sitting down at the designated tables i.e. kitchen/outside
We use the steps to get to the top of the slide and slide down feet first
We store all our belongings in our bags

PLEASE OBSERVE OUR PRESCHOOL’S PROCEDURES

Bishop Kindergarten is a No Smoking Zone

A DAY AT BISHOP KINDERGARTEN

Staff usually arrive to set up and complete administration tasks between 8 and 830am. Staff are officially employed from 8:30am till 3:45pm.

08:30am

Children / families arrive
Adults sign children in and check note pocket
Children place their name card into container and hang up their bag

8:45-11:10am

Children Directed Play- Children may elect to play inside or outside
Parent/carers may stay to puzzle / paint / chat / read
During this time children will also be involved in intentional teaching experiences e.g. small group games, music, movement, gardening, cooking, literacy kits, stories, science and other programmed experiences
Children may help themselves to morning tea from their bag and write there name on the name sheet when they have had morning tea

11:10-11:25am Children and staff tidy up

11:25-11:45am

Large Group Mat Time- all children participate in an intentional teaching experience- story and game – focusing on Literacy/Numeracy/ Keeping Safe and Social Skills

11:45-12:30am Staff supervise lunch / sunscreen (terms 1 & 4) / inside play

12:30-2:15pm

Child Directed Play – children may elect to play inside or outside
During this time, children will also be involved in intentional teaching experiences e.g. small group games, music. movement, gardening, cooking, literacy kits, stories, science and other programmed experiences
Children may help themselves to afternoon tea from their bag

2:15-2:35pm Children and stage tidy up. Help is always appreciated

2:35- 2:55pm

Large Group Mat Time- all children participate in an intentional teaching experience – story and games – focusing on Literacy/Numeracy?keeping Safe and Social Skills

2:55pm

Staff begin to individually farewell children
Parent/carers sign their child out

Once families have left, the kindy is swept, mopped, vacuumed, tided and the environment is reset for the next day.

FRIDAY AT BISHOP KINDERGARTEN

Staff usually arrive to set up and complete administration tasks between 8 and 830am. Staff are officially employed from 8:30am till 3:45pm.

08:30am

Children / families arrive
Adults sign children in and check note pocket
Children place their name card into container and hang up their bag

8:45-10:30am

Children Directed Play- Children may elect to play inside or outside
Parent/carers may stay to puzzle / paint / chat / read
During this time children will also be involved in intentional teaching experiences e.g. small group games, music, movement, gardening, cooking, literacy kits, stories, science and other programmed experiences
Children may help themselves to morning tea from their bag and write there name on the name sheet when they have had morning tea

10:30-10:50am Children and staff tidy up

10:50-11:10am

Large Group Mat Time- all children participate in an intentional teaching experience- story and game – focusing on Literacy/Numeracy/ Keeping Safe and Social Skills

11:10am

Staff begin to individually farewell children
Parent/carers sign their child out

12:30pm

Children / families arrive
Adults sign children in and check note pocket
Children place their name card into container and hang up their bag