As the year is quickly drawing to a close, we would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our families a Merry Christmas, and thank you for all your support through the past 10 months. If you are going away for the holidays, we wish you safe and happy travels.
To those families who are moving on, we wish you all the best and trust that the transition to school from Preschool is a smooth one. Please feel welcome to send us a photo of your child in their school uniform and let us know how that first day was.
If any families are looking for additional days please let us know as soon as possible so that we can assist you. Please keep in mind that we require 2 weeks written notice if your child is finishing up or you are changing your booked days.
Fee Payments – A big thank you for to those who are ensuring fees are paid and one week in advance at all times. Remember if you are paying fortnightly you will be required to pay 2 weeks in advance so as you are still in advance. If you are planning to take holiday's, you will be expected to keep your payments up or pay the holiday period in advance so as to keep your account in advance at all times. This is a requirement for applying the holiday discount rate (if applicable to you) and will also ensure your continuity of enrolment. If your direct debit fails at any time you will be expected to pay the missed payment prior to your child's next day of attendance via manual direct debit or Bpay.
Lost Property - We understand your frustration if your child's belongings go missing, this is the same frustration that we feel when items are not labelled and we cannot find a home for them. We have a basket set up in the foyer for clothing and other items that have been left behind. Please have a look in the basket if something of your child's goes missing. The basket will be cleared each month and the un-named contents given to charity.
Signing in and Out - It is very important that children are signed in and out each day on the Kiosk tablet. This is a legal requirement and failure to sign your child in and out correctly may result in your subsidy not being applied correctly to your account. If for some reason the Kiosk tablet is not working there will be paper based sign in/out sheets available, please ask a staff member for assistance.
Class rolls for 2021 Rolls and transitions for next year have been completed ready to commence from 25th January . These will be displayed on the door of each room from 4th January 2021 so that parents will know which room their child will be in from 25th January .
Staffing from 25th January 2021
Nominated Supervisor/Centre Manager – Suzie
2IC & Educational Leader – Chandell
Nursery/Joeys – Swati & Leigh-Ann
Toddlers/Bilbies – Rachel & Harman
Junior Kindy/Koalas – Kc & Ann
Senior Kindy/Wombats – Trish & Kahu
Preschool/Goannas – Charito & Daruka
Float/Relief – Pinky, Sarah, Chandell
Casual relief – Mandeep
Kitchen – Leena
Staff annual leave
Harman – 14th to 16th December
Suzie – 15th December to 4th January (Chandell will be overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Centre during that time)
Trish – 29th to 31st December.
Swati – 4th to 11th January
Kahu – 18th to 22nd January
Leigh-Ann – 27th & 28th January
Christmas Around the World:
France
In many regions in France, Christmas celebrations start with St Nicholas day on the 6th of December. Then children get sweets and little gifts.
Many cities in France are decorated during the weeks leading up to Christmas and children love to open the 24 little windows of their Advent calendar. In the Alsace region, the tradition of putting up decorated Christmas trees dates back as far as the 14th century. Towns and cities are also illuminated with Christmas lights.
On Christmas eve, Children put their polished shoes out in front of the chimney and hope that 'Père Noël' (Father Christmas) fills the shoes with sweets. Christmas Day, 25th of December is a public holiday and families get together for a big feast. On this day also presents are exchanged.
A special outing for many families during the festive season is this year an evening visit to the magical illuminated world of the Jardin des Plantes in Paris.
Italy
In Italy, a nativity scene, a 'presepe', is usually put up in churches, town squares and often in homes. This is for many the most important part of the Christmas decorations.
The nativity scene display with a crib filled with straw, originally stems from Italy and is now common occurrence in many countries around the world. In Italy, 'Babbo Natale', that's how Father Christmas is called in Italian, hands out presents to children on Christmas Day. Still in many families, gifts are exchanged only on 6 th of January which is the Day of Epiphany. In Italy, the people wish each other 'Buon Natale', which means 'Merry Christmas'
Christmas in Germany
In the weeks leading up to Christmas, festive Christmas markets are set up on main squares in many cities.
Houses are often decorated with fairy lights and festive ornaments in December, however, in Germany the Christmas tree is usually only put up and decorated at the homes in the morning of the 24th of December.
Festive Christmas celebrations in Germany begin on the 24th of December, on Christmas Eve. Shops close early on Christmas eve, so remember that you have to get your Christmas shopping done until lunchtime. The 26th of December is a public holiday in Germany too and many families celebrate on this day together, go to Church or enjoy a little excursion to a nearby park.
Christmas in England
In England, most people start with Christmas decorations early, that is as early as mid of November. Many families decorate their houses with lots of fairy lights and sparkling displays.
Often the house owners collect donations from visitors to their displays in aid of local charities. So remember if you like a display place some spare coins into the honesty boxes and help the good causes.
Christmas is celebrated on Christmas Day, the 25th of December. 26 December is a bank holiday as well. On Boxing Day, the 26th of December, friends and family are usually visited to exchange gifts.
Christmas in Norway
In Norway, children wait for 'Julenisse', the Norwegian Santa Claus. On Christmas Eve, the 'Julenisse', brings presents to the children.
During the month of December, children wait eagerly for 'Jul', that is how they call Christmas.
The Norwegians wish each other God Jul! which means Happy Christmas!
Christmas in Iceland
In Iceland, children put their shoes on the windowsill so the 'Juletide Lads', the Santa Claus, fills the shoes with little goodies.
Christmas celebrations in Iceland start on 24th of December, Christmas eve. Families get together and enjoy good food and many visit midnight mass.
Christmas in Portugal
The Portuguese celebrate Christmas on 24th of December. Houses are decorated for Christmas and many families put up a nativity scene (presépio), where Baby Jesus is added to the crib after the family attends Midnight mass. Children put out their shoes for Baby Jesus, not Santa, and gifts are exchanged after the family has attended a Christmas service on Christmas eve. In some towns and villages, the community gathers then also around a fire in the church car park that has been lit and wish each other 'Feliz Natal'.
Christmas markets are not this common in Portugal, however, the capital city Lisbon is known for its huge artificial tree has been which is sparkling with with thousands of green lights.
Christmas in the Philippines
In the Philippines there is a special tradition of having a Christmas lantern, which is called 'paról'; the lantern is star-shaped, remembering the star of Bethlehem, and mainly made out of bamboo and paper. The Christmas lanterns are on sale during Christmas time in the many markets in the Philippines.
Christmas in Singapore
In Singapore, about two in ten people are Christians. Christmas, however, is very commercialised in Singapore and Christmas decorations are abundant in the city with masses of tiny fairy light decorations.
Stunning decorations can be seen everywhere in the main shopping district, Orchard Road. Or visit the Gardens on the Bay for a truly stunning Christmas Wonderland with light installations and concert. The display there is open until 26 December.
Christmas in Australia
In Australia, it is tradition in the weeks up to Christmas to join in Christmas picnics organized by various churches and sing Christmas carols on the beach. As Australia is in the southern hemisphere, the festive season is during summer time and thus it is easy to understand that during Christmas time friends and family often gather at the beach.
Christmas in Brazil
In Brazil, you will often find a 'presepio', a crib or nativity scene, in front of a church. 'Papai Noel', or Father Christmas, travels from Greenland to Brazil to give presents to Brazilian kids. Many cities display Christmas trees during the month leading up to the '' and often the year end is celebrated with fireworks. The floating Christmas tree in Rio de Janeiro is said to be the largest Christmas tree in the world. It will be lighted on 14 December 2019.
In Brazil, you say 'Bom Natal' or 'Boas Festes' if you wish somebody Merry Christmas.
Christmas in South Africa
In South Africa, the weeks before Christmas, people celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December. On Christmas Day the family gathers at a 'braai', which is the South African version of a barbecue (BBQ). In South Africa it is summer season in December. Many people visit Christmas mass on Christmas day as well. There are few natural Christmas trees, but some people put up decorated artificial trees in their homes.
Many shopping centres are transformed with Christmas decorations.
There are many festive concerts as well as gifts and arts & crafts markets held during the weeks leading up to Christmas Day.
Christmas in the USA
In December many families decorate their houses with Christmas ornaments and Christmas lights. Christmas is celebrated on 25th December. On Christmas Day, families get together for a festive meal after exchanging gifts.
Sourced from Christmas Around the World | Christmas Traditions | Merry Christmas (kids-world-travel-guide.com)