natborkbork - Lady Forster Kindergarten By The Bay

Reconciliation Week 27 May to 3 June

May 31, 2019May 24, 2019 by natborkbork

National Reconciliation Week 2019 Poster

The theme for National Reconciliation Week (NRW) in 2019 is:

Grounded in Truth
Walk Together with Courage

To foster positive race relations, the relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the broader community must be grounded in a foundation of truth. Whether you’re engaging in challenging conversations or unlearning and relearning what you know, this journey requires all of us to walk together with courage

Reconciliation Australia has many helpful resources at their website: https://www.reconciliation.org.au/

Another great resource is available to journey through at the ‘Share Our Pride’ website:

It works through material in a certain order so each chapter builds on the last. You'll get a taste of traditional cultures and learn about our shared history

Access the resource here: http://www.shareourpride.org.au/

LFK Holiday Program Term 2

May 31, 2019May 22, 2019 by natborkbork

Lady Forster Kindergarten - Term 3 Holiday Program

Bookings are open for our NEXT Holiday Program for 2019!

The program is open to all children aged 3 to 7 years of age and children not currently enrolled at LFK are welcome.

To make a booking, please email or phone the office with your preferred dates to check there are still places available. For families that do not have children enrolled at LFK this year, please:

Complete and return the 2019 Enrolment form.
Provide your child’s current Immunisation History Statement and Birth Certificate.

Please email Julie for a copy of the enrolment form (holidayprogram@lfk.org.au)

Thank you!

Packing a Healthy Lunchbox

May 31, 2019May 4, 2019 by natborkbork

When children eat well they behave better, are able to listen well and concentrate for longer.

Packing a healthy lunchbox will help children to learn and play well and be happy at kindergarten.

Nutrition Australia have a helpful range of fact sheets for families to inspire and empower healthy eating.

Check out their tips on healthy lunchboxes here:

Deepening Our Local Indigenous Connections

March 8, 2019 by natborkbork

LFK recently hosted an international delegation of educators from South Korea and to pay respect to the traditional custodians of the local lands, the Boonwurrung people, we started the day with a ‘Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony’ led by Jaeden Williams.

The kindergarten has built a close connection with Jaeden over recent years. Jaeden Williams, is a proud Yalukit Willam man and custodian of the Boonwurrung. The Boonwurrung ancestral lands extend from the Werribee River, inland Melbourne and along the Mornington Peninsula to Wilson’s Promontory.

Jaeden has been pivotal in introducing the local Boonwurrung culture and language to the children of LFK, teaching them Boonwurrung words they can then share with others. Boonwurrung is an indigenous Australian language traditionally spoken by the Boonwurrung people of the Kulin Nation of Central Victoria prior to European settlement. The last remaining traditional native speakers died in the early 20th century, however there is an active revival movement underway in the Indigenous community and we are committed to supporting this by Jaeden’s work with LFK children.

Our language is like a pearl inside a shell. The shell is like the people that carry the language. If our language is taken away, then that would be like a pearl that is gone. We would be like an empty oyster shell.

Yurranydjil Dhurrkay, Galiwin’ku, North East Arnhem Land

Jaeden collaborated with a local artist last year to present an art workshop for the children. He retold the Port Phillip Bay first peoples creation story and the children produced mural paintings depicting the story. In 2019, Jaeden will accompany the children on one of their beach excursions, teaching them about native plants, trees and creatures as well as sharing ancestral stories of the land. This excursion will lead in well to plans for development of an indigenous garden in the area currently fenced off for pending works to the fence and parkland (Elwood Play Space) adjacent to the kindergarten.

We thank Jaeden for enriching our kindergarten with a local indigenous perspective.

LFK Chosen to Host International Delegation of Educators

March 13, 2019March 8, 2019 by natborkbork

Lady Forster Kindergarten recently hosted 18 delegates from South Korea during late February as guests of the Victorian Department of Education and Training. The delegation came to see to see ‘play based learning’ principles in action.

The delegation was visiting Victoria from Busan in South Korea- sister state to Victoria, to explore potential new models for kindergarten and childcare centres.

Lady Forster Kindergarten was selected to showcase their programs as a high performing kindergarten with a strong play-based learning program. They also welcomed local MP James Newbury and City of Port Phillip Deputy Mayor Louise Crawford as special guests on the day.

LFK has been providing play-based learning programs for the children of Port Phillip for almost a hundred years and through its coastal curriculum program, provides a unique immersion experience in its own ‘backyard’ location nestled into the coastal foreshore of Elwood beach. Lady Forster’s coastal curriculum is similar to ‘Bush Kindergarten’ programs but features the ever-changing coastline of Port Phillip Bay and the unique native bush environment and eco-system of the foreshore habitat.

The day was a great success, beginning with an exchange of gifts and then Jaeden Williams, a local Boonwurrung man, performed a smoking ceremony and ‘Welcome to Country’. The delegation accompanied a group of children on a beach walk to showcase the Kindergarten’s coastal curriculum and then the children sang some Australian animal songs as part of a special group time.

The teaching staff from South Korea were eager to learn about the Victorian early learning systems and had plenty of questions for the Lady Forster teachers.

A Day in the Life of Our Coastal Curriculum!

March 8, 2019 by natborkbork

Our children and the LFK community were excited to come across ‘Merlin’ – a sea lion from Antarctica – snoozing in the sunshine on Elwood Beach on our weekly beach excursion, that forms part of our Coastal Curriculum.

The children explore the local bush and beach surrounding the kindergarten and were very excited to see our snoozing Elwood visitor!

Take a Moment to Watch This …

February 8, 2019 by natborkbork

All children want to play. Children with disabilities are no different. “Ian” is a short, animated film inspired by the real-life Ian, a boy with a disability determined to get to the playground despite his playmates bullying him. This film sets out to show that children with disabilities can and should be included.

“Ian” premiered at Cannes in May 2018. It was written by Gastón Gorali (Metegol/Underdogs), produced by Academy Award winner Juan José Campanella (The Secret in their Eyes) and Fundación ian, a nonprofit founded by Ian’s mum, whose mission is to make life better for families with disabilities. The animated film has won numerous awards internationally. “Ian” has also qualified for the Best Animated Short category in the 2019 Academy Awards. A special film – please take a moment with your child(ren) to watch this.

WAITING LISTS NOW OPEN FOR 2021

March 8, 2019December 5, 2018 by natborkbork

2021 Waiting List Now Open - Lady Forster Kindergarten

Our waiting list for 2021 is now open!

We accept waiting list registrations two years ahead so you have the option now to register your child(ren) on our waiting lists for (2019), 2020 AND 2021. Please fill in our online form and we will do the rest!

We will host our annual Open Day at Lady Forster Kindergarten in June this year and all families on our Waiting Lists will be invited to attend. This is always a great opportunity to have a look around the kindergarten and spend time with staff, committee members and other families.

Choosing a kindergarten for your child is an important decision and we value the time we can spend with prospective families, understanding your needs and getting to know you a little better! Shortly after the Open Day we issue offers of places and begin the enrolment process for the following year – more information here: https://lfk.org.au/enrolment/about-enrolment/

Please email Julie with any further questions you may have about waiting lists at Lady Forster Kindergarten: info@lfk.org.au

Upgrading the Adventure Playgrounds

November 14, 2018 by natborkbork

News: Have Your Say - Lady Forster Kindergarten

The adventure playgrounds are highly valued community assets in Port Phillip. An opportunity exists to plan and secure their future role in the contemporary context and ensure they adapt to the evolving needs and expectations of the community.

The Adventure Playground Upgrade Project is a multi-year project. Currently in the service planning, engagement and consultation stage.

How can I be involved?

We want your views and ideas about how the adventure playgrounds can be improved and the types of services, activities and events that could be delivered from these playgrounds in the future.

Please complete our survey online and share with your networks:
https://haveyoursay.portphillip.vic.gov.au/upgrading-adventure-playgrounds

Consultation closes on 26 November 2018

For more information about the project, contact Perry Lay-Pass, Adventure Playground Project officer on 8563 7586 or apgproject@portphillip.vic.gov.au

Indigenous Incursion at LFK

October 11, 2018 by natborkbork

Lady Forster Kindergarten - Boonwurrung Workshop

Our final incursion for 2018 is a special one where the children will focus on the indigenous history of the Boonwurrung people and land where Lady Forster Kindergarten resides and our connection to country – a particular focus of the committee this year.

Jaeden Williams, a proud Yalukit Willam man of the Boonwurrung, returns to LFK again this year to perform a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony with the children, together with a recounting of the story of Port Phillip and an art workshop.

The Boonwurrung lands extend from the Werribee River, inland Melbourne and along the Mornington Peninsula to Wilson’s Promontory. We are very fortunate to have Jaeden present this incursion and teach about the stories of our nations’ first people and the local Boonwurrung lands of Port Phillip; traditional art styles of the Boonwurrung and the celebration and significance of the welcoming ceremony.

For more information on Jaeden’s work, see attached.