...where children are happy to learn
All our Educators are fully vaccinated and safety protocols are strictly in place
Taking Enrolments
Now for 2022!
1 Watts Place West Hoxton NSW 2171
ph: (02) 9825 8822 mob: 0426 972 893
Welcome to May!
Dear Parents/Families,
We welcome the holy month of Easter and Ramadan. To our families celebrating Easter, we hope this period of celebration is filled with love, laughter, reflection, family, and joyous memories. To our families who are fasting throughout Ramadan, we hope God gives you strength, clarity, reflection, patience, and compassion.
Just a friendly reminder that Happy Days will be closed on Good Friday 15th April and Easter Monday 18th April. Don’t forget to join us for our Easter Hat Parade on Thursday 14th April (more information on this event below). We are also closed on Anzac Day Monday 25 April.
Feel free to keep up with our monthly planned events by checking out the whiteboard in the foyer.
What's On?
Pancake Day
Friday 1st of April
Did you know? Shrove Day also known as Pancake Day, is a Christian tradition of feasting before the 40-day fast of Lent which kicks off on Ash Wednesday. On this day, Christians go to confession to be absolved from sin ahead of the 40 day fast of Lent. Lent is the season that remembers the Bible story of Jesus’ 40-day journey through the desert. It’s often a time when Christians and non-Christians alike give up a particular treat or bad habit “for Lent”. Traditionally, Christians would abstain from eating luxury foods during Lent such as eggs, fat, milk, and sugar. So, to make sure they were used up they would mix flour and make pancakes.
So at Happy Days, to make sure we use up all our left over flour, the Little Learners and the Big Explorers will be making their very own pancakes with toppings and bring some home... if there are any left!
We will also watch some videos to learn about Lent and the following season of Easter.
Nature Play Week
Monday 11th to Friday 15th April
Throughout this week, we will create as many simple play opportunities in the natural environment for the children as possible. Our activities will include going on picnics, resting/sleeping outdoors (parent permission will be sought via email), doing nature based art and crafts, ID the plants we have in premises by collecting leaves and looking them up in the internet, learn about one wildlife animal per day, just to name a few.
We also ask if you have a chance to explore the outdoors on the weekend that you email us the photos to display for news time.
The Big Explorers and Little Learners may also plan an excursion to Greenway Park Oval. Consent forms and dates will be sent out closer to the week.
Earth Day
Friday 22st of April
Our planet is an amazing place, but it needs our help to thrive! Happy Days will be doing our part on Earth Day by turning off the lights when we are not using them, limiting our water usage, having an outdoor scavenger hunt and continuing to implement our Eco-Warriors program.
You can help us save the planet by looking after your neighbourhood, we would love to see photos of what your community looks like, feel free to email us.
Ramadan
Monday 4th April
Did you know? Ramadan is the holiest month for Muslims which falls on the ninth month in the Muslim lunar calendar. During Ramadan Muslims fast from dawn until dusk. During the period of fast, they are abstain from drinking, eating, immoral acts and anger. Other acts of worship such as prayer, reading the Quran and charity are also encouraged during the holy month.
During the month of Ramadan, Miss Feyza will be reading 20 Favourite Tales from the Quran, specially chosen for young children with special meanings behind each story that she will explain.
We would like to welcome any family that might be interested in speaking to the class in regard to what they do throughout the month of Ramadan and leading up to Eid.
We will also have dates available in the foyer for families. Please feel free to grab some to break your fast on your way home and for the children to try.
Annual Easter Celebration
Thursday 14th April
Join us for our annual Easter Celebrations!
Happy Days will be having an Easter Hat Parade starting at 2:30 pm, the Little Learners will make their debut first and the Big Explorers will follow. Easter hats are available to be purchased and made here at HDK for $10, this can be added to your Xplor account or paid as cash. We ask that you let a staff member know so that no one misses out. Our cut-off date of Tuesday 12th April is when we will no longer be accepting hat payments so get in early!
After the parade, if you would like to stick around, we will have some fun activities for the children to play and explore such as:
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Meet the Easter Bunny
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Easter Egg Hunt
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Jumping castle
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Easter raffle
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Guess the Lolly Jar
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Face Painting
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Lolly Bags, Balloons & Treats will be sold on the day so bring your gold coins
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Cookie Decorating
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Music and dance
An entry fee to the event will be $5 per child, this includes siblings which can also stay for the event and participate (parent to stay and supervise). Payments can be made via cash or Xplor, please let a staff member know so that we can note down your payment.
If your child does not usually attend on a Thursday, they are still welcome to participate in the parade and events, just ensure they arrive at the centre by 2:30 pm - parent to stay and supervise.
Raffle tickets will be sold at $1 each, $4 for 5 or $10 for 12.
Movie Under the Stars
Friday 8th April @6:30pm start
Happy Days is super excited to host our first-ever “Movie Under the Stars” Fundraiser. All money raised will go towards our Henny Hatching experience that coincides with our centre project “Lifecycle of a Chicken”. The night will commence at 6 pm for a 6:30 pm start, the event will cost $10 per child (adults attend for free).
We ask families to bring either a picnic blanket, pillows, bean bag or blow-up lounge for your own comfort. A snack bar will be available at an extra cost to families on the night.
We will also be auctioning off 2x sets of gold-class movie tickets on the night. Raffle tickets can only be purchased on the night and will be drawn after the movie concludes. Please feel free to email any movie suggestions your children might like.
Itty Bitty Beats Performance Show
Tuesday 19th April
Schools Performance Tours is back with a new show that focuses on music and movement. It is designed to engage young children as an audience and active participants in the show. Learning with music is much more fun and makes learning easier.
The performance starts at 10 am and is $10 per child, all payments will be added directly to your Xplor account on the day with permission slips to follow closer to the date.
children who do not usually attend the kindy on Tuesdays are encouraged to attend the show (parent to stay and supervise).
Important Reminders
Control of Infectious Illnesses
Please HELP us contain infectious illnesses by keeping your child at home when they are sick. If your child is absent from school due to an illness, please make sure to bring in a clearance form from the doctors on their next booked day.
If your child has been sent home from school on their booked day, in correspondence to our SICK CHILDREN'S Policy, your child must stay home for 24 hours before bringing them back, to reduce the spread of illnesses.
During COVID-19, staff have a right to turn down your child’s attendance if they are experiencing any flu-like symptoms or have had Panadol or Nurofen prior to attending the centre. Please do not “Dose and Dump”.
What to Pack
This is just a friendly reminder on what to pack for your child when attending Happy Days.
In your child's bag they must have the following (ALL LABELLED with your child's name):
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Spare clothes suited for the season and weather, including short sleeve/long sleeve t-shirt, shorts and pants, underwear, socks, jumpers or jackets.
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Bedding including a fitted sheet and blanket
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A water bottle
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Nappies or pull ups if required
Label Clothing
A BIG reminder to please label your children’s belongings. If an item isn’t collected within 2 weeks, they will go towards our MS fundraising bin.
COVID-19 Testing and Isolation Guide
NSW Health recommends that all children and staff get a COVID-19 test if they have even mild symptoms. Those who test positive must isolate and should not attend the service for 7 days. They can leave isolation after 7 days only if they haven't had any symptom of sore throat, runny nose, cough or shortness of breath for the last 24 hours. They do not need to test before returning to the service.
For more information, please refer to the NSW Government's Information for families: COVID-19 and early childhood education.
Safety Drills
At Happy Days Kindergarten, the educators frequently practise various emergency drills such as Intruder Lockdown, Bushfire and Fire evacuation. This is to ensure that in the case of an emergency, all staff are fully prepared to act appropriately and ensure the safety of the children.
If your child is attending on any of the above days, please help prepare them for the drill by discussing with them what to expect on the day.
Upcoming Drills:
- Bomb Threat Drill on the 6th of April
- Fire Evacuation on the 27th of April
Absences
If your child is going to be absent from the centre, please call our centre landline on (02) 9825 8822 or our centre mobile on 0426 972 893 to inform the staff. Notifying us of your child’s absence allows us to open that spot to a family that might need it as a casual day.
Parents, Please Sign-In and Sign-Out
It is a government requirement for every parent or carer to sign your child in & out of Happy Days for your correct attendance.
Your Centrelink entitlements will be affected for non-compliance.
Centre Vacancies
Spots are filling fast!
Happy Days only has availability on Monday and Fridays in both the Little Learners and Big Explorers room, if you are looking to add a day please let us know.
Policy Review
Every month we review a set of policies to ensure that they are relevant and up to date according to regulations. You are invited to provide feedback on our policy of the month below (send your feedback to westhoxton@happydayskindy.com):
Listed below are the other policies we reviewed last month. Please feel free to ask one of our friendly educators for a copy if you're interested.
- Multicultural Policy
- Children's belongings Policy
- Control of Infectious Disease Policy
- Cyber safety Policy
- Immunisation Policy
- Incident, Injury, Trauma and Illness Policy
- Teething Policy
- Privacy and confidentiality Policy
What we've been Up To
Clean Up Australia Day
On the 7th of March Happy Days Kindy participated in Clean Up Australia Day! This day was created to clean and preserve Australia’s incredible landscape. Happy Days implemented various activities that educated our children about the significance of Clean Up Australia is about and how they can help.
In the Big Explorers room Miss Ashley discussed recycling and disposing rubbish appropriately with the children. The children participated in a matching game where they matched different types of rubbish with the correct rubbish bins.
Clean Up Australia Day was a great learning success at Happy Days Kindy!
Veggie Month
This last month, both the Little Learners and Big Explorers implemented ‘Veggies month’ into our learning interests. Veggies month was about promoting healthy eating and learning about different fruits and veggies. Using a EYLF approved learning guide, the educators planned various activities and experiences for the children. The children participated in multiple cooking experiences including making veggie rice paper rolls, guacamole, veggie muffins and many more. We brainstormed and used our creativity to make various fruits and veggies crafts.
St. Patricks Day
Happy Days participated in celebrating St. Patrick day with a variety of Irish-based activities including making green playdough, listening to Irish music as well as getting active with Irish dancing. The Big Explorers and Little Learners also completed St. Patrick's Day colouring which allowed them to use their creativity and explore Irish traditions.
On Friday the 18th of March Happy Days Kindy celebrated Red Nose Day to raise awareness for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Happy Days set up a charity table which consisted of tiaras, bandanas, balloon’s, lolly bags, face paint in exchange for a Gold Coin donation.
The children and educators also wore red t-shirts on the day. In the Big Explorers and the Little Learners rooms, the educators set up various activities such as making Red Velvet cupcakes and stencil painting of a person with a big red nose which the children enjoyed!
Red Nose Day was a great success at Happy Days as we were able to raise $140 dollars for Red Nose Australia! A big thank you to families who donated for this great cause.
Red
Nose
Day
Harmony Day
On the 21st of March, Happy Days Kindergarten celebrated Harmony Day. The educators and children all wore orange shirts on the day.
In the Big Explorers room, Miss Ula educated the children what Harmony Day is all about - diversity, inclusiveness, and the respect of all cultures. This was followed by a variety of activities such as Harmony Day handprint painting, and a Harmony Day colouring in!
In the Little Learners room, the children participated in a group colouring in centred around Harmony Day as well as bringing out a African drum to explore and educate the children about music in different cultures!
Holi
Holi
Happy Days Kindergarten celebrated Holi, the victory of good over evil. Holi is also a celebration of the arrival of Spring and harvests to come. Holi is a festival of colours, emotions and happiness.
Children celebrate this festival through a Colour Run where they ran through different coloured powders - it was an awesome experience! We did tree painting, danced to Holi inspired music and drank mango smoothies for morning tea.
A fun day indeed!
The Little Learners went on an adventure to Calmsley City Farm. This excursion gave the children the opportunity to be hands on which was fantastic! We loved petting the animals and being up close feeding them by hand. This was a great way for the Little Learners to explore the farm, enhance their sensory skills & boost their fine motor skills. The Little Learners discovered the farm playground which they were amazed to see. The children were quick to run and play as they explored their senses playing with nature and using their hands to dig up the dirt and bark.
Little Learners Excursion
Focus Learning Programs
Eco-Warriors
Happy Days Sustainability Program
Starting this month Miss Shipra and Miss Hannah have been focusing on cleaning up our garden to make way for our new greenhouse. The children were very interested in watching their teachers replace the old plants with new plants. The Little Learners and Big Explorers engaged happily in caring for their environment as their teachers educated them about the different seeds and what we need to do for our new plants to flourish in our herb garden. Firstly, Miss Shipra assisted the children by putting on their gardening gloves, then they used a shovel to dig the soil and place them into our herb pots.
The children patiently waited until it was their turn to help with planting our herbs. The seeds we used for our garden were Kale, Coriander, Parsley and Rosemary. We have also planted some beautiful flowers in our hanging pots. The children told their teachers that they really love the pretty flowers in our garden - music to our ears!.
Miss Shipra and Miss Hannah
Munch and Move
Happy Days Health & Fitness Program
This month for Munch and Move the Little Learners utilised their hand – eye coordination by rounding up sheep (balloons) the Little Learners loved this activity as it also allowed them to have fun as well as getting active. The Big Explorers engaged a variety of activities that supported their fundamental physical skills. The children participated in a variety of action songs that required them to move and manipulate various body parts such as their arms and hips.
Miss Ashley and Miss Danielle
Happy Days Social Skills Program
This month the Big Explorers and the Little Learners focused on identifying feelings! Some of the activities that Miss Sophia and Miss Feyza created for both the Big Explorers and the Little Learners were ‘Feeling Flashcards!’. The flashcards were used to determine if the children could identify the feelings displayed on each flashcard.
The feelings ranged from worried, happy, disappointed, angry, glad, sleepy, hurt and calm! Miss Sophia read a series of books in the Big Explorers’ room such as ‘I am Happy’ and ‘I am Sad. In the Little Learners room, Miss Feyza read the storybook ‘I need a Hug’. The benefit for the children being able to identify their feelings and the emotions of others is that they are then able to create positive relationships and adopt positive social skills!
Miss Feyza and Miss Sophia