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- July 2008 -

Newsletter for Offshore Residents of Pittwater, Australia Volume 9, Issue 328 July 2008     

Special Edition

At the kindy, we're just tidying our office a little, and we're asking all parents who are considering enrolling their child over the next few months to fill in a waitlist form, so that we can predict future enrolments.  Waitlist packs, including information on the kindy and lists of contact names, are available at the kindy if you would like to pick one up.

Secondly, if all parents could answer the following questions, that would also be very useful in planning the future of the kindy:

If the kindy opened for another day, would you enrol your child another day?
Is your child at another childcare centre because we are not open enough days per week?

If the kindy opened for longer hours, would you use those hours for your child?
Is your child at another childcare centre because we are not open for long enough hours?

Please email your answers to SIOCS@comcen.com.au

We are also updating our email lists.  If you do not have a child at the kindy, but you would still like to be kept in touch with what is happening, then send an email to the SIOCS email address, and ask to be put on our 'Friends of the Kindy' email list.  We will email you Newsletters, announcements, the minutes of the AGM and notices of events and working bees, etc.

And finally, we're sorry to announce that Camille, who has been doing a fabulous job running the holiday workshops, isn't able to continue doing so at the moment.  This means that until we find someone to replace her, there won't be anymore holiday workshops for school children.

If you think you would like to help with this, please get in touch with SIOCS - we'd be delighted to hear from you!

Thank you to everyone in the community who has supported and I hope will continue to support the kindy.  We are very grateful to all the people who have helped to keep the kindy open.

SIOCS Staff & Committee

Gourmet Lunch & Auction
The WPCA plan a Gourmet Lunch and Auction at South Elvina Park on Sunday, 10th August, 2008, commencing at 1.00 p.m.
The afternoon will help raise funds to purchase solar panels for Pittwater High School. It’s a terrific initiative by the school to become self-sustaining in their power needs.

Please note in your diaries.

It will be an outstanding event. More details to come.

Artist's Talk

Jan Melville is one of the artists from the Warringah Printmakers Studio giving a talk on Sunday 6th July at 2.p.m. at Mosman Gallery as part of the exhibition "From Ocean to Harbour"

The event is free and afternoon tea will be provided. Contact the gallery on 99784178 if attending.

Fun Holiday Program for Kids on the Coast

Places are still available for primary school children for the winter school holiday activity program at Pittwater Council’s Coastal Environment Centre.

The school holiday program, which runs between 8-17 July, offers some great activities that will entertain the kids while they learn to value and care for our natural environment.

The Centre Coordinator Jo Tulau said that the program combined a mix of art, craft, fun and games, discovery and learning, with an emphasis on the plants and animals that make up Pittwater’s coastal environment.

“One of the activities on offer includes a ‘Whale of a time’, which offers wonderful facts about humpback whales.

“There is also a chance to have fun with whale-based art, such as making your own origami whale,” she said.

Other activities include a session on a frog’s life cycle called ‘My friend the frog’. Learn what frogs eat and where they live – and how to make your backyard frog-friendly!

Children can also learn about the wide variety of shells on the coast and how to create artwork from recycled garbage in the ‘Garbage to Gallery’ activity.

The Kids on the Coast program runs every school holiday, offering two-hour activities for $20. Each activity is led by an enthusiastic and experienced educator. The Coastal Environment Centre is located at Lake Park Road, North Narrabeen.

For more information or to book a place go to www.pittwater.nsw.gov.au/environment/cec/kidsoncoast or call the Coastal Environment Centre on 9970 1675.

Cash Prizes for Young Writers Competition

Pittwater Council is running a story writing competition for primary and high school students, with cash prizes on offer to the winners.

The competition challenges students to write a work of fiction based on the theme “Just in Time” and must incorporate the following four words: “Pittwater”, “library”, “beach” and “whale”.

Children and Youth Librarian at Mona Vale library Rebeccah Vick said the competition was a great opportunity for students to showcase their creative writing skills and to be in the running to win up to $75 in prize money.

Winning students will also have their stories displayed in Mona Vale library.

The entries will be judged and prizes awarded in four age categories; junior primary (up to year 3), senior primary (years 4 – 6), junior secondary (years 7 and 8) and senior secondary (years 9 to 12).

All stories must be 500 words or less and submitted with a completed entry form by Friday 8 August at 5pm.

For more information about the competition call 9970 1608 or to download an entry form visit www.pittwater.nsw.gov.au/library