From the Office
Hello fabulous families,
Welcome to a new year 2018 with us.
AUSTRALIAN FAUNA & FLORA all week beginning January 22 - 25
Week beginning Monday January 22nd - All week let's celebrate Australia's land and animals. Bring in pieces of local native plants or trees to see, smell and paint with, a favourite soft toy of Australian animal or a book about Australia's wide open plains. Be prepared to talk about what you love best about Australia and get ready to show appreciation for the land on which we play, work, and grow together with Aboriginals and Australians.
Parent Involvement
The most exciting news I have for you is the involvement of one of our wonderful parents, Tara, a qualified music therapist who has accepted our invitation to make the specialised music therapy lessons accessible to all Piptree Mt Gravatt East families. These classes will run as a Kindergarten funded program plus additional classes available for all other ages for a weekly/term fee. Tara has provided us with flyers containing much more information for you, so please look for them displayed in every room. This information is worth a read for you all to recognise the benefits of this class. Tara is a very lovely lady who is passionate about music and has the well-developed skills to tap into children's sense of inquiry and expression. Please read below information provided by Tara..
What is Music Therapy (MT)?
The planned and creative use of music to attain
and maintain health and well being. MT differs from
musical entertainment or music education as it focusses
on non-musical outcomes
Incorporates elements of music (such as beat,
rhythm, pitch, etc) and knowledge of neuroscience to enhance/ develop socialisation, cognitive,
language/ communication, self-expression, emotional regulation, and sensory-motor skills
Music can align brain waves, create new neural pathways, help control breathing, cue the brain to
make movement and sound, improve memory, increase/decrease heart rate plus so much more.
Music is innate, appealing and enjoyable which makes it the perfect medium! Singing, live music,
instruments, dancing and play....so much fun can be had while working towards therapeutic,
developmental and educational goals
Who is Tara/ a music therapist?
I am a Registered Music Therapist (RMT) who works in
private practice. Since completing my Masters of Music Therapy in
2010, I have gained vast experience working with babies and children
in settings such as Lady Cilento Children's hospital, Red Hill Special School, AEIOU, Boppin Babies
and Sing and Grow; as well as buillt a steady private practice.
I am a proficient musician who has studied all aspects of applying music as therapy, performance,
history and social theory, psychology, physiology, neuroscience and models of therapeutic intervention.
As an RMT, I am registered with the Australian Music Therapy Association Inc (AMTA Inc) and
am bound by the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics of the AMTA Inc.
I am mum to the beautiful Alice who is graduating from Piptree and transitioning to Prep this year.
My passion has always been supporting and nurturing developmental milestones and having fun!!!!
Music Therapy Programs at Piptree
Sessions are 30-45 mins (based on age/ class group) and will be held every
Friday Morning during school terms. Please pick up an enrolment form (programs are extracurricular,
charged per term in advance).
The programs are inclusive of all abilities, diagnoses, and ages, from newborns to school age
Uses emperical research in music therapy and early childhood education to enhance and support
your child's cognitive, social, physical, emotional and behavioural development
Will be based on Early Intervention, Attachment, Circle of Security, Developmental and
Behavioural Therapy Models.
Creates a space where babies and children get back to basics and nurture face to face
interactions as they connect with each other and sing, dance and move to music, as well as make music
with a range of tuned and untuned percussion instruments.
Be infant/ child-centred and interactive, with sessions reactive to both infant and child needs and
are responsive to their participation on the day
Will include music that is made and played live, not pressing play on a CD player
Will educate and provide teachers and staff with ideas and suggestions on how to carry and
extend on concepts and music outside of session into the classroom throughout the week
Will provide feedback and a summary of the session after each week emailed to parents. Teachers
are also encouraged to take photos and write in the end of day book.
PICK UP YOUR ENROLMENT FORM QUICKLY, THIS IS AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY!
Staff room changes
Staff changes will be a switch over between Miss Debbie and Miss Rosemary going into Toddler Sprouts leaving the Nursery Pips and, Miss Lorelle and Miss Julie.T going into Nursery Pips leaving the Toddler Sprouts. These two rooms are very familiar with each and have support available for each of them easily.
Miss Bwari has been transitioning to Lead Educator in Blossoms Room over the last couple months in preparation for Miss Nishita's maternity leave. Miss Nishita will move into a programming and lunch float role. Miss Leanne will continue as Co-Lead Educator in Blossoms Room.
That is all the changes for staff and rooms for the early days of this year.
Kindergarten Information Night
On 15th February, 2018 we will be conducting a kindergarten information night to provide an overview of the Kindy program and answer further questions you may have. This is a great night to also connect with other parents and gain an understanding to how your child's learning is observed and then assessments made to prepare them for attending Prep in 2019. If you have any specific questions regarding your child, please feel free to contact Miss Renee and these can be answered for you.
Supporting the transition of a new Centre Manager
Dear families,
I have worked very very hard for the last two years, many hours before and after work and on weekends because that is my work ethic that I cannot deny. During this time, I have continued to purchase resources for children that again one day I would get to use in a teaching capacity. I miss the experience of wonder for myself in a class of children, therefore I have decided to resign as a Centre Manager and return to teaching. Managing a Centre has very different responsibilities that I also enjoy immensely. Working with families and doing my best to assist in your transition to work or join the Centre from another. I recognise families are needing to quickly build trusting relationships with strangers, I hope this has been my speciality. I trust the Piptree educators that I have introduced to you and feel confident I have imparted on them all the kindness and support a Centre Manager can give. KAL management and Piptree ownership are now in search of a new Centre Manager for you. Until a new Centre Manager is found Miss Renee will be the responsible person in charge and on duty and Miss Julie will be responsible person early shift and assisting you with your accounts and enrolments. My last official day will be Friday 26th January which is a public holiday, so I hope I get the chance to say my farewells before we break for the Australia Day long weekend.
Warmest regards to you all,
Melisa