The HCCS ELC provides a positive, secure, accepting and challenging learning environment for children from 3 years of age . We are looking ...
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The HCCS ELC provides a
positive, secure, accepting and
challenging learning
environment for children
from 3½ years of age .
We are looking forward to
working as a team with you
and sharing this special experience
with your child .
CONTACT DETAILS:
The Hills Christian Community School
Onkaparinga Valley Road
Verdun 5245
www.hccs.sa.edu.au
ELC Direct Line 8388 1369 The Early Learning Centre has been established as the
HCCS 8388 7811 first step towards school life at The Hills Christian
Community School. Limited places are available for children
already enrolled in other schools. HCCS Reception intakes
occur in both Term 1 and Term 3 each year.
DIRECTOR
The transition from the ELC to school is an important
Rosie Ferguson priority for both parents and children. For those children
Email : rferguson@hccs.sa.edu.au
attending HCCS, the Orientation Programme involves two
morning visits, late in the term prior to your child starting
school. The children spend time in their new classroom,
ELC TEACHER 2015 getting to know the teacher and other children, as well as
Jenny Silver staying to play in the playground area at recess time during
Email : jsilver@hccs.sa.edu.au the second visit. The ELC also maintains a close relationship
with the children in the HCCS Reception classes and their
teachers, which promotes a smooth transition to school.
HCCS PRINCIPAL
Please let us know if your child will be attending a school
Chris Riemann other than HCCS. These schools should inform you of their
Email : criemann@hccs.sa.edu.au
own transition programmes when you enrol your child.
The Hills Christian Community School is a welcoming, supportive
learning environment in which the Staff members are warm, caring
Christian individuals dedicated to a high standard of teaching. Our
vision is for a Christian school community, helping children learn
and grow to achieve their potential.
Feb 2015All fees are handled by the HCCS Office staff. Invoices are
generated weekly. Fee payments can be put in a clearly marked
envelope and given to staff, or taken directly to the Front
An Early Learning Centre provides education for children aged
Office. Cheque, Credit Card and EFTPOS payments are from 3½ years of age until they move on to school. For many
accepted. Alternatively, emailed invoices and/or Direct Debit children it is not only their first introduction to formal education
payments may also be arranged. but it is also their first step towards independence.
We recognise that parents are a child’s prime educators, and
therefore our focus is on the child/parent relationship and we
aim to meet the needs of both.
Our Early Learning Centre is a registered and licensed Child
Care Centre and families may be eligible for Child Care Benefit We value the relationship between the child, parent and teacher
and Child Care Tax Rebate entitlements. Please contact the and encourage parents to be involved in their child’s experiences
at the ELC. Parents and staff work together to ensure that each
Family Assistance Office on 13 61 50 for further information child is enabled to reach their potential and to develop a love of
about your entitlements. learning.
Regular communication between parents and the ELC staff,
through informal chats, newsletters, information nights, work
displays, telephone calls, interviews and individual Portfolio
ELC bookings are set for the coming term and may be reviewed Folders enable us to provide a high quality, individualised
near the end of each term. Additional sessions may occasionally programme for all children.
be added, where vacancies allow. Please see page 4 of this book-
let for further information about the number of days allocated
for each of our educational phases.
Staffing levels are based on the number of children booked in
to a session. Consequently, you will be charged for any bookings,
even if your child is absent. The Child Care Rebate allows for up
to 42 absences in a financial year before full fees are charged.
At The Hills Christian Community School, the ELC is an integral
part of the school and has been purpose built in order to provide
a smooth and secure transition from home to school. The ELC has
been established in a unique combination of an Educational
A pink folder containing the ELC policies on a Programme complemented by a Long Day Care Programme which
wide range of topics is located adjacent to the enables us to offer care outside of regular school hours.
inside white boards. Please feel free to read
and/or comment on these at any time.EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMME PHASES
Orientation Phase From 3½ years of age
Children are offered one full day per week Please inform the Director:
if your child will be absent (e.g. illness or family events or
Pre-Kindergarten Phase Approaching 4 yrs old holidays). Any absences will be charged as if your child had
Extra days may be available if vacancies permit attended the session or care programme.
Kindergarten Phase From the term after turning 4 if someone different is picking up your child, via the
Sign In Book.
Entitled to 15 hours/week under Universal Access scheme
Offered as at least two days/week plus an alternate Friday full day of any change of information since enrolment (eg change of
contact phone number, diagnosis of any medical condition).
Other arrangements by negotiation with the Director
if there is any other important information which you feel
may help us in dealing with your child.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMME if your child contracts an infectious disease (eg chicken
pox, measles, school sores, etc).
SESSION TIMES if you find head lice in your child’s hair.
ELC Session 8.45 am - 3.15pm FEE : $86 if you have any concerns about your child, questions about
the programme, etc.
LONG DAY CARE
PROGRAMME OPTIONS
LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE - BOOKINGS REQUIRED
Before School Care from 7.30am FEE : $10
Short After School Care 3.15pm - 4.00pm FEE : $10
Long After School Care 3.15pm - 6.00pm FEE : $23
Parents are always welcome in the the ELC and there are a
variety of ways in which you can give your support. A voluntary
Parent Committee meets to discuss issues of importance and
VACATION CARE plan for social events, information and fun nights and any
pastoral care needs in the ELC community.
Provided by HCCS OHSC, for bookings call 8388 1688 If you would like to cook with the children, share your skills or
Full day FEE : $50 Half day FEE : $25 help in any way, please let one of the staff members know. Any
offer of help is always appreciated. Parent support for both
ELC and HCCS fundraising activities are also invaluable forms
of contribution.Central to our ELC philosophy at HCCS is the belief that
Our Behaviour Management Policy aims to: children’s learning is based on strong positive foundations of
maintain a safe, caring and happy centre in which respect secure, trusting relationships with caring adults. Our ELC
and care is shown for our equipment, our environment and reflects the School’s ongoing focus of catering for families
other people throughout their children’s school lives through respectful
support children in accepting responsibility for their own interactions, encouraging high parental involvement, and by
behaviour and understanding its consequences both supporting and nurturing each individual child and their
family.
The children contribute to establishing the rules and we are
consistent with our expectations. The rules are displayed in the We believe that:
classroom and we revisit them often. We acknowledge, encourage and The ELC is an extension of the home, where parents and
reward responsible behaviour, with our focus being on positive teachers work together to support the children in their
behaviour management strategies. experiences away from home
Stimulating play and meaningful conversation are the
main ways by which children learn about themselves,
other people and the world around them
Children are individuals and develop at different rates
We visit the School Library each week to enable children and in a wide variety of ways
to borrow a book to take home. A HCCS Library Bag, Children are curious, active learners
which includes their borrowing barcode, will be provided Children are motivated to learn best when learning is
for them. The $8.00 cost for these bags will be invoiced relevant, meaningful and fun
as part of the usual Fee Invoice system. Nature Play is a vital component of a child’s education
Technology is a part of children’s everyday life and is
important for their future
Children should be independent learners
The role of the educator is to facilitate and support
children’s learning, providing an environment that offers
encouragement, success, challenge and stimulation
Children are required to bring their snack, bottle, hat Children have the right to be in a safe, caring, supportive
and other belongings in a suitable bag. It is important learning environment that reflects the cultural diversity
for children to be responsible for choosing a place for of the community
their bags themselves, so that they know where to Children learn best when their strengths are
find them when they need to get things out or put acknowledged and their self-concept is enhanced
things away. Please write your child’s name clearly on Learning is continuous and that the experiences children
the outside of the bag so that it is easily identifiable. bring from home should be valued and built upon
We ask that children do not bring toys or treasures
from home in case they become lost or broken.There are several ways that we inform you about what is happening
Play is an essential aspect of learning for young children. It is in the ELC.
the young child’s ‘work’. Through play experiences children are Your child’s NOTICES POCKET: Please check this daily for
involved in active learning. They learn about themselves and the notes, invoices and fee payment receipts.
world around them. They are able to construct, test and apply The PARENT WHITEBOARD: Daily information is written on
their own understanding and knowledge of the world. Play is a this board. Interesting articles, events, community
creative process and it is through free play information and our programme are also on display .
that children control and master what they NEWSLETTERS: ELC and HCCS newsletters are generally
have learnt. They are able to express their emailed unless a hard copy is requested.
thoughts and feelings as well as developing DISPLAYS, POSTERS and PHOTOGRAPHS also show and
decision making skills. With free play, it is explain what is happening in the centre.
the process that is important. Play is
seen as the central component in developing
a curriculum that integrates all areas of the
child’s development. Play represents
children’s learning and work as well as
providing fun.
We aim to foster in children:
a Christian faith Each of the children has a Portfolio Folder in which samples of
a positive self concept their work and photographs are kept to show their experiences,
a love of learning growth and development during their time at the ELC. These
show experimentation, exploration and development of skills in
independence and responsibility
cutting, pasting, writing, drawing, literacy, numeracy, painting
co-operation and a sense of caring and creative expression. A brief explanation of any formal tasks
respect for self and others will be attached to the work samples. These will also detail the
equality Learning Outcomes and any relevant skills focused on in these
effective communication and sharing tasks.
individuality and creativeness
problem solving and risk taking Parents and children are welcome to look through their own
confidence and self-motivation Portfolio at any time and they will be sent home at the end of
each year. At the end of their time in the ELC, each child is
presented with their Portfolio to keep.Please ensure that you complete all the Our Programme is based on each child’s developmental needs which
necessary sections of the SIGN IN BOOK when are observed and catered for, through a variety of learning
your child arrives for or leaves their ELC experiences. There is a balance between creative play and
Session or Care Programme. structured activities. Children are encouraged to develop their
independence and thinking skills through an Inquiry approach. Our
Educational Programme Phases operate during school terms.
Each session will begin with a short period of free play
We use The Early Years Learning Framework - ” Belonging, Being &
during which the children may use any of the equipment Becoming”, which is the National curriculum document used in both
inside the ELC room. Please feel free to stay and spend Child Care and Educational settings, as a basis for our planning,
some time with your child enjoying the activities on offer programming and reporting.
and helping them to settle happily.
As Early Childhood Educators we are committed to providing
quality learning programmes that support and stimulate children’s
If your child is experiencing difficulties separating from growth and development and work towards the Frameworks’ five
you, please alert the staff and we will assist you. Please Learning Outcomes :
make sure that you : 1. Children have a strong sense of community
Always say “Goodbye” to your child 2. Children are connected with and contribute to
Assure them that you love them their world
Inform them of who will be collecting them 3. Children have a strong sense of wellbeing
Avoid bribery, which can create a bad habit 4. Children are confident and involved learners
5. Children are effective communicators
Make a clean break and leave quickly, with support
from a staff member if necessary
Generally, children can be distracted by involving them in an We aim to provide experiences in all of the following areas to
interesting activity and soon settle. If your child continues broaden the children’s attitudes, knowledge and skills through:
to be distressed, however, the Director will ring you and
other strategies may need to be implemented. Christian Education
Nature Play
At the end of each session, the children Literacy
will be involved in an educational Whole Health and Physical Development
Group time. We would appreciate it if you Music, Dance and Drama
could wait quietly so as not to distract the Social Skills
group. The staff will farewell the children Science and Technology
individually to ensure that they go home Arts and Crafts
with the person nominated to collect them. Numeracy
Environmental StudiesHEALTHY SNACKS To coincide with the HCCS Uniform Policy, children in the ELC
Children need to bring a healthy snack, such as a piece of fruit are asked to wear either the official ELC uniform (see below for
or vegetable, yoghurt, dry biscuits, cheese or a sandwich each our supplier) or colour coded clothes to match. The official ELC
tops have both the ELC and HCCS embroidered logos, as seen at
session.
the bottom of this page.
Our ELC has a healthy eating policy so we
ask that you do not send sweet biscuits,
cakes, lollies or chips. As children will be UNIFORM -
eating their own food, we ask that, if you Navy Blue polo shirts, either short or long sleeved
send fruit, please prepare it the way your Navy Blue polar fleece jumper (with half zip at neck)
child prefers (eg peeled, sliced etc). This Plain Navy Blue shorts/skorts or leggings/track pants
helps your child become more independent
with his/her eating. FOOTWEAR -
Closed in shoes, sneakers and sandals are appropriate
Please bring separate, clearly labelled footwear for ELC activities. NO THONGS OR CROCS PLEASE !
snacks for both morning and afternoon, as Sneakers are preferred footwear for PE lessons and Nature
well as lunch. Play visits to the Property.
ALLERGY AWARE
As there is a growing number of children in both HATS -
the ELC and School who have severe nut The School hat is a Navy Blue broad brimmed hat with the
allergies, all children are asked not to bring HCCS logo. Children must wear a hat during Terms 1 and 4 (or
food which contains any form of nut product (e.g. whenever the UV rating is 3 or over) for outside play.
peanut butter, Nutella, nut muesli bars, etc). We advise that parents send a spare change of clothes, in their
children’s bag, as a precaution at this age, due to messy play or
DRINKS toileting accidents.
Children are asked to bring their own clearly Please ensure that all items are clearly named!
named water bottle. A filtered drinking fountain
Official ELC uniforms may be purchased from:
is located near the ELC’s front door and there is
also a “Pura Tap“ inside the building. Drink The Uniform Shop
bottles are to be placed on the table inside the Mount Barker Homemaker
Front Door on arrival to allow for easy access Centre
throughout the day. 8398 3983
Please do not send any fruit boxes or drinks other
than water!You can also read
