This week at Chiselhurst Kindergarten…
2025 Term 4
Week 9
There is lots happening at Chiselhurst this week, with a wonderful mix of community connections, celebrations, and special learning experiences across our groups.
On Tuesday, our Banksia children will be heading out on their community walk. These meaningful excursions help children build a sense of belonging, observe familiar spaces from a new perspective, and connect their learning with the broader world around them. Banksia families will have already received detailed information from Gail about what to expect on the day.
On Wednesday, we are fortunate to welcome a very special visitor to our Casuarina and Daisy groups. Daniel Fitzpatrick — a local police officer and parent from our Acacia group — will be coming to share his role, answer the children’s questions, and help them understand how police keep our community safe. Thank you, Daniel, for stopping by!!
Later in the week, our Daisy group will be stepping into the spotlight with their Christmas Concert on Friday evening from 5:00–6:30pm. This is always a heartwarming celebration and a wonderful opportunity for families to see the children’s confidence and creativity shine. We are all looking forward to a beautiful evening together.
We also have great news for our mango lovers — mango orders are arriving this Wednesday! Once they have been delivered, we will carefully check the stock to ensure the full order has been received. Please wait for our official collection announcement before coming in, as we want to make sure everything is accounted for before distributing boxes.
It’s shaping up to be a lovely week at Chiselhurst, full of connection, community, and festive spirit. Let us know if you need any additional information — we’re always happy to help!
Week 8
What a fantastic end to the year! We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Benno and Josh for installing the beautiful new fairy lights in the western playground. They look excellent and have added an extra layer of sparkle to our outdoor space.
A big thank you also goes to Michelle Power for providing the music on Friday night. Your contribution helped create such a warm and joyful atmosphere.
And to all the families who attended our Christmas Movie Evening – thank you. Your presence, energy, and enthusiasm made the night truly memorable. It was a joy to gather together under the stars and celebrate another wonderful year at Chiselhurst. These shared moments are what make our community so special.
This week, our Transition Statements will be moving to the cloud for schools to access. If you have not yet submitted your permission forms, please do so as soon as possible. Teachers require these immediately to ensure everything can be uploaded without delay.
Thank you again for your ongoing support, your participation, and the generosity you bring to our community events. We look forward to finishing the year with the same warmth and spirit we shared on Friday night.
Week 7
Our Family Christmas Celebration is almost here, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you all! The event will be held this Friday at 5pm, and we encourage everyone to purchase tickets as soon as possible. Tickets are $20 per family, and it’s always a wonderful evening to come together as a community and enjoy some festive fun. This year, we’ll be screening A Charlie Brown Christmas, so bring a picnic rug, settle in, and enjoy a relaxed evening under the stars. BUY TICKETS HERE!
On Tuesday, we will host our second 2026 Parent Information Evening, this time for the Casuarina and Daisy groups. This evening is an important opportunity to meet the teaching team, hear about next year’s program, and ask any questions you may have. The following morning—Wednesday—we welcome the children for their Orientation Morning, a lovely way for them to get familiar with their new learning spaces, teachers, and routines.
Families will also receive their draft Transition Statements this week. Please keep an eye out for these documents, as they provide valuable information about your child’s learning journey and help support a smooth transition to school. We ask that you provide any feedback if needed and ensure you sign Consent Form 2.
This week, Irena will continue her meaningful natural art sessions, working with the Daisy group on Thursday and the Casuarina group on Friday. Her work—rooted in nature, connection to Country, and Indigenous perspectives—always inspires the children. All creations are left in nature once complete, keeping the experience deeply grounded in respect and sustainability. We also welcome Megan McNicholl, who will be capturing these beautiful moments through her photography.
Finally, we say a heartfelt farewell to Maddy Woodland, who finishes her six-week placement with us this week. Maddy has brought warmth, enthusiasm, and a bright presence to Chiselhurst—we will miss her dearly. Please make sure to say goodbye today!
Week 6
A big thank you to everyone who joined us at the Working Bee on Sunday — Breanna Wardle, Jake McGrath, Craig Brownlie, Elspeth Webster, and our wonderful staff Gail, Renee, Lucy, Michelle, and Rosemarie. Your time and effort help keep our kindergarten looking beautiful and running smoothly. We truly appreciate your support!
This week, we are thrilled to welcome Irena Kobald, the talented author of My Two Blankets. Irena will be working with the Acacia group on Monday and Banksia on Tuesday, creating beautiful natural art projects. She will return next week to work with our end-of-week groups. Irena has a deep passion for nature, Indigenous culture, and connecting with Country. Her art is designed to be left in nature, celebrating its impermanence and beauty. Joining her is photographer Megan McNicholl, who will capture these creative moments and artworks.
We’re also looking forward to welcoming Hayley Brown, our Early Childhood Education Consultant from Lady Gowrie, who will spend Monday with us. Hayley provides valuable support, keeps us up to date with policy changes, and helps ensure we continue to deliver the highest quality early childhood education.
This week also brings our first Parent Information Night for 2026 — for the Acacia and Banksia groups on Tuesday evening — followed by orientation morning on Wednesday.
Finally, a reminder to purchase your Christmas Gathering tickets — the event is only two weeks away! And don’t forget our Tea Towels — they’ve been ordered, but only a few extras are available, so please get yours soon before they sell out.
Week 5
We have a very full and exciting week ahead at Chiselhurst!
First up, a reminder that our Working Bee is happening on Sunday, 9 November at 8am. These mornings are always a great opportunity to lend a hand, meet other families, and help us keep our kindergarten looking its best. Whether you can stay for an hour or the whole morning, every bit of help makes a big difference — we’d love to see you there! Please let Rosemarie know ASAP! - rosemaried@chiselhurst.com.au
On Monday, Dragon Fields Farm will be visiting our Acacia and Banksia groups with a few furry and feathered friends — some little piggies, a duck, and a turkey! The children will love getting up close to these friendly animals and learning more about farm life. Casuarina and Daisy groups will have their turn to meet the animals on Friday, so everyone gets to join in the fun.
We’ll also be treated to a storytelling experience from the StoryTeller Feller on Tuesday and Wednesday. He is an incredibly skilled communicator who engages children with humour, expression, and imagination — it’s always a joy to watch him in action.
Finally, our friends from Mater Dei will be visiting on Tuesday and Thursday to say hello and connect with our children in preparation for next year.
A busy, interactive, and exciting week lies ahead — filled with animals, stories, and community spirit!
Week 4
There’s plenty happening at Chiselhurst this week! We’re thrilled to welcome back Sunday from Hello Africa, who will be visiting on Tuesday with the Acacia and Banksia groups, and again on Thursday with Casuarina and Daisy. Sunday has been coming to Chiselhurst for more than 20 years, and his visits are always a highlight for the children. His music, rhythm, and energy bring such joy to the centre — we can’t wait to see the children’s faces light up again!
A big thank you goes to Charlie (John) Hughes for volunteering his time to repair our WiFi extender. It had been giving us a bit of grief lately, and having it back in working order is a huge help. We really appreciate families who step in to lend a hand — it’s these acts of support that help keep our kindergarten running smoothly.
And how about this — we’ll be receiving over 320 boxes of mangoes in early December! That’s more than two tons of mangoes headed our way. A massive thank you to everyone who supported the fundraiser and encouraged family and friends to get involved. Your efforts make such a big difference to what we can do for our kindy community.
Keep an eye on Facebook for the announcement of our mango fundraiser prize winner — we’ll be revealing that soon!
Lastly, a reminder about our upcoming working bee. We’re still looking for more helpers, so if you can spare a little time, please get in touch with Rosemarie. Many hands make light work, and we’d love to see you there!
Week 3
There’s so much happening in Week 3 at Chiselhurst – and it’s shaping up to be a wonderful week of learning, connection, and community!
To start the week, three of our educators will be heading to Twin Towns Kindergarten on Monday. They’ll join in an Indigenous incursion and observe how the team at Twin Towns embeds Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives across their program. We’re really looking forward to learning from their experience and continuing to deepen our own cultural understanding and inclusion at Chiselhurst.
This week also marks one of our favourite events of the year – Grandparents’ Morning!
Monday – Acacia
Tuesday – Banksia
Wednesday – Casuarina
Thursday – Daisy
We’re so excited to welcome grandparents and special friends into our kindergarten spaces to share in the children’s world for a morning of connection and fun. Please let your educators know if your family will be attending so we can prepare for the day.
On Thursday, we’ll also be hosting visitors from Ipswich Kindergarten along with Hayley Brown from Lady Gowrie ECEC, who are coming to learn more about our programs and environment.
And of course – it’s the final week to get your mango orders in! Orders close this week, so please make sure payment and forms are submitted on time. Thank you to everyone who’s supported this delicious fundraiser so far!
Week 2
What a bright and busy Week 2 it’s been at Chiselhurst!
We’re delighted to welcome Jess Walmsley to the Acacia group as our new Inclusion Support Educator. Jess brings a wonderful warmth and enthusiasm, and we know she’ll be a fantastic addition to our team. Please make her feel right at home if you see her around!
A huge thank you to the amazing crew from the Highfields Men’s Shed, who kindly repaired our bikes and home corner furniture — everything is looking fresh, sturdy, and ready for more playtime adventures. We also send a big shoutout to Jason and his little helper Carter from Bridgestone Wilsonton for taking the time to pump up our block trolley tyres — teamwork at its best!
Don’t forget to keep those mango orders coming in — just a few weeks left, and we can’t wait to enjoy that sweet summer goodness.
We’ve had a great response about our tea towels, too — thank you! We’ll be opening up orders within the next week, so keep an eye out for details.
And finally, a big thank you for your patience as we navigate our phone system upgrades. We’re almost at the finish line, and once complete, it’ll make communication with families even smoother.
Here’s to another fun, sunny week of learning, laughter, and community spirit at Chiselhurst! 🌞
Week 1
We’re so happy to see everyone’s smiling faces back at Chiselhurst and ready for another fun and busy term! Term 4 is always such a lovely time — full of sunshine, excitement, and special moments as we head toward the end of the year together.
A big warm welcome to Maddyson Woodland, a USQ student joining our Front Room for the next six weeks. We’re thrilled to have her on board and know the children will enjoy getting to know her! 💛
You might have noticed something new outside — our brand new shade sails! They look amazing, and we’re so grateful to Sunset Canvas for their wonderful work. They’ll definitely be appreciated as the weather warms up and we spend more time outdoors.
And don’t forget — it’s mango time! 🥭 There are only three more weeks to get your orders in for our annual Mango Fundraiser. They make the perfect summer treat (and help support our kindy too!).
Here’s to a fantastic start to Term 4 — full of fun, friendship, and sunny days ahead! 🌼
