Kyla has really enjoyed her 2 terms at Peter Rabbit Community Preschool. The teachers are lovely and she has made some wonderful friends. Preschool here in Australia is quite different than what I was used to in Michigan. First, you have to put your child on a waitlist…and there is a non-refundable fee to do so. A lot of people put there kids name on these waitlists from birth to assure they get placement in a particular school. Even if you’re enrolling your child that day and there is a spot available, you still have to be put on the waitlist and pay the fee. A lot of people put there children on several waitlists and then decide. Second, the preschools here are all day…like 9am-3pm, 2-3 days per week depending on age. Third, since this is Australia, there are some great outdoor play areas for the kids as well as no hat, no play policies and a big emphasis on skin care. Fourth, from what I have seen so far, the preschools do daybook type things in which they share pictures and stories about each day over email. I hear they also pull together photos, etc. from each specific child to give to the child at the end of the year. Very cool!
So, when we arrived over half way through the year, there were very few options as far as preschool availability. We have been happy with Kyla’s school and love that it is in our suburb and that she’ll have a friend from school in the same Kindy class next year (more about him later!).
Here are a few pictures of Kyla’s school, which is attached to, but not affiliated with a catholic church. There’s the main large room with a lot of different stations-arts and crafts, manipulatives, painting, puzzles, books, etc., a small room off that with computers and a light box and other science type activities, a dramatic play area upstairs, and a great outdoor space, complete with a large sand pit, climbing obstacles, tables for morning tea and lunch, cubby house, a stage with puppet house and tables set up for different crafts. Kyla loves it!!
And here’s a random site that we have seen more than a few times on our way to pick Kyla up…yep, that guy has a pet goat that he takes for walks…and often nibbles on bushes in the preschool parking lot.
Here is a picture of Kyla and her best friend, Mikayla…aka, sista! They have so much fun together!
Kyla doing crafts at school
This was bring your bike or scooter to school day-such fun!
And here is a picture of Kyla and Paris. We hear about Paris ALL THE TIME! She loves him, and he loves her too….when do we start worrying about this??? Who am I kidding…I’m already scared to death of this one growing up! We do highs and lows at dinner time and Kyla tried to have both of her topic revolving around Paris-from seeing him, to seeing his mum, to getting to ride to big school with him (his mum drives Kyla sometimes since she also has an older daughter at the Bush School), and she will just randomly talk about him throughout her day. They are cute together though….and will get to continue their friendship into Kindergarten next year.
Kyla’s school keeps the parents very involved and there is a lot of fun to be had at Peter Rabbit. In the short time we’ve been here, we’ve worked a fundraiser-a sausage sizzle at Bunnings, our local hardware store, worked a weekend garden duty, participated in a father’s day tea and a grandparent’s day tea (Kyla’s Nana & Papa skyped in for that!), and enjoyed an End of Year Disco/Monster Mash Party. That was a really fun night where the kids got dressed up and they had a disco with music, dancing and games, followed by a sausage sizzle, games, auctions, and treats over at the preschool’s outdoor play area. They also do a lot of great things during school time for the kids, from having authors visit, police & fireman visits, show and tell, animal farms, etc.
Kyla “showing” Nana & Papa her school
Here are a few pictures of the fun at the Disco
Of course, there’s Paris next to Kyla
Alaina and his big sister, Ellie are also friends!
Kyla and Hallie found the microphones and had a BLAST singing for everybody! So cute!
And of course, I had to throw in a little photo shoot in between the church and preschool!
So, Kyla’s preschool years are quickly coming to a close. She has already had her 2 days of Kindergarten orientation at the Bush School and will have her best start assessment just before school starts on February 3rd. Kyla is on the right holding hands with…Paris!
We are looking forward to her Christmas party and concert next week!
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