So the journey begins...

They say that an adventure begins with a single

step and a sound roadmap. Congratulations on

taking this first step in your child’s education.

Southern Hills Christian College is delighted to

welcome your family to our college. We can assure

you that we have a clearly structured roadmap

in place to deliver on our promise of providing a

unique and fruitful school for your family and our

community.

Enjoy these precious early learning years!

Welcome to the Southern Hills community.

As soon as you step onto our campus, you will see that it is quintessentially Australian.

We pride ourselves in providing nature play opportunities, engaging routines for our children and the chance to grow up in an environment that is unique to the distinctive flora and fauna that can only be found here in Bedfordale.

As a parent of young children, I know that they learn best when they feel safe and comfortable. Our early year’s program follows the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and the Western Australian Kindergarten curriculum.

The EYLF describes childhood as a time of belonging, being and becoming.

Children start to form their sense of identity from an early age, which shapes the type of adult they will become.

We are blessed with one of the largest outdoor learning areas in Western Australia. Our students have fun, get dirty, challenge themselves and learn a lot about self-management, decision making, and taking risks through natural play.

I hope that you find this guide helpful and that it will give you a snapshot into the life of our Early Learning Centre.

Regards,Paul Beacham - College Principal

Welcome to Southern Hills Christian College

intelligence. We intend to ensure that our children approach their work with an effective mindset as we enable them to embrace skills which will prepare them for lifelong learning.

We believe that children greatly benefit from being taught and encouraged in the school’s SPIRIT Values. These Values include all of the Early Years Learning Framework Outcomes and are the backbone of our philosophy.

SELF-MOTIVATED - COMMITTED TO LEARNING At Southern Hills, self-motivation looks like being thankful for learning opportunities, seeking to know more, learning how to learn, taking responsibility for one’s own learning, and being committed to self-improvement. Students joy and seek out challenges and believe they will learn and improve with effort.

PERSEVERANCE - EMBRACE CHALLENGESStudents at Southern Hills display perseverance by embracing challenges and opportunities, approaching uncertainty with courage, seeing effort as the path to mastery, falling forward, and welcoming, giving, and responding positively to feedback.

IDENTITY - IN CHRISTIdentity in Christ means knowing we are made in His image, being open to learning more about Jesus’ love for us, aspiring to know more about ourselves, that we belong and are called to do good work in His name.

RELATIONAL - SERVANT HEARTEDThe Southern Hills community is relational by knowing we are servants to one another, being a group of peace makers, choosing to respect others, demonstrating humility and grace, and showing fairness and consideration towards others.

INTEGRITY - DO WHAT IS RIGHTAt Southern Hills, integrity looks like doing what is right even if it costs, seeking to do good, being honest, being an advocate for God’s justice and equality, and developing discernment.

THINKERS - EMPOWERED TO INQUIRESouthern Hills students are thinkers who seek to inquire, identify the problems that are worth solving, are solution focused, plan and carry out research, and play with possibilities.

A love of learning starts at the Early Learning Centre (Pre-Kindergarten – Pre-Primary) where we welcome the opportunity to nurture and develop our youngest students, from the age of three. As we know, children learn best when they feel safe and comfortable, and we genuinely value the relationships we build with our youngest students and their families.

We believe that children have the right to a holistic and Christ-centred education. Alongside explicit instruction, we value nature play, child-initiated play, playful learning, time to explore and time to investigate. We believe that all children should have access to high-quality, play-based and hands-on learning and should be given time to explore their world.

Our Early Learning Centre staff aim to develop the children’s skills in becoming lifelong learners by encouraging curiosity, developing resilience and helping them to overcome challenges through the use of a carefully planned curriculum, SPIRIT Values, and a well designed outdoor education program. The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia defines play-based learning as “a context for learning through which children organise and make sense of their social worlds, as they engage actively with people, objects and representations”.

Our teaching team plays an integral part in supporting children’s learning within the context of our programme. They provide the opportunity to experiment, explore, discover and solve problems.

Foundations of literacy and numeracy and other pre-academic skills are learnt both in the context of play and through responsive and intentional teaching. We maintain a balance between experiences which are initiated by the children and those which are supported or facilitated by thoughtful and intentional teaching. Specialist teachers follow the class routines and are supported in designing a play-based program which links to the children’s life experiences, involves nature and operates in a familiar environment.

We are interested in the children’s mindset and strive to create motivated learners who embrace a challenge, learn from setbacks and know that they can grow their

Our Early Years Philosophy

UNITYI dreamt I stood in a studio,And watched two sculptors there.The clay they used was a young child’s mind,And they fashioned it with care.

One was a teacher, the tools he usedWere books, music, and art.One a parent with a guiding handAnd a gentle loving heart. Day after day, the teacher toiled,With a touch that was deft and sure.While the parent laboured by his side,And polished and smoothed it o’er. And when at last, their work was done,They were proud of what they had wrought.For the things they had moulded into the child,Could neither be sold nor bought. And each agreed they would have failedIf each had worked alone,For behind the parent stood the schoolAnd behind the teacher, the home. Author Unknown

Discovering Our Shared Role

The EYLF (Early Years Learning Framework), developed by the WA School Curriculum and Standards Authority, describes childhood as a time of belonging, being and becoming.

Belonging is the basis for living a fulfilling life. Children feel they belong because of the relationships they have with their family, community, culture and place.

Being is about living here and now. Childhood is a special time in life and children need time to just ‘be’ - time to play, try new things and have fun.

Becoming is about the learning and development that young children experience. Children start to form their sense of identity from an early age, which shapes the type of adult they will become.

The Framework conveys the highest expectations for all children’s learning from birth to five years and through the transition to school. It communicates these expectations through five learning outcomes.

Outcome 1: Children have a strong sense of identity

Outcome 2: Children are connected with and contribute to their world

Outcome 3: Children have a strong sense of well-being

Outcome 4: Children are confident and involved learners

Outcome 5: Children are effective communicators

Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF)

We believe children learn best when they have a sense of belonging and as such, our staff focus their attention on setting up an inviting and comfortable learning environment that enables children to transition between home and school with ease. The early years team employ a thematic approach to teaching, covering all curriculum areas, the Early Years Learning Framework and including our own Southern Hills Early Learning Centre Philosophy.

Our thematic approach enables us to plan an integrated program that embraces play, discovery and hands on experiences to ensure that learning is meaningful to our young students. The children participate in whole class mat sessions and structured small group activities designed to develop specific skills or concepts. A great deal of valuable learning happens in the different hubs within our classrooms, for example, the book corner, dramatic play areas, construction zone, puzzle and manipulative centres, writing centres and art centres. These areas and centres give the students an opportunity for free play, which is crucial to success in academic development.

Learning in the Early Childhood Phase

Extensive research has been done in the area of enabling children to become skilled readers. We know that any successful early reading programme allows a child to:

• Develop and foster good reading habits and an enjoyment of reading;• Develop print concepts (left to right direction, what is a letter/word, top to bottom,

etc.);• Develop knowledge of letter sounds, names and shapes;• Convey the understanding that spoken words are composed of sounds (phonemic

awareness) and that letters correspond to these sounds;• Provide instruction in sound/symbol relationships (phonics).

There is a strong focus on oral language development through conversation, retells, questions, collaboration, investigation and imagination.

Each day the whole group gathers for story time. Individual reading time is also encouraged so that students can read alone or share books together. Questions are an important feature of all “story times” to ensure that a strong understanding of the reading material is developing. Before children can learn to read and write independently, they must develop the capacity to distinguish individual sounds within words. This includes the capacity to identify rhymes, syllables, first, last and middle sounds; and identify ‘same’ and ‘different’ sounds.

Children are encouraged to explore by making/ drawing lines, marks and symbols. Opportunities for pen craft are available to extend their writing skills when they are ready to be challenged. Initially, young children may role-play when writing and, although the marks they make on paper may look like scribbles, they should be celebrated as the beginning stage of writing development.

Early Years Literacy

Early Years Numeracy

Numeracy learning builds on children’s curiosity and enthusiasm. Our Numeracy Programs challenge children to explore ideas about patterns and relationships, order and predictability and logic and meaning.

PATTERNS AND ALGEBRAChildren learn to organise their world by recognising patterns and gradually begin to use patterns as a strategy for problem-solving, forming generalisations, and developing the concepts of number, operation, shape, and space. Pattern recognition is the first step in the development of algebraic thinking.

SPATIAL SENSEGeometry (spatial awareness) helps children to represent and describe their world. Children learn to name and recognise the properties of various shapes and figures, to use words that indicate direction and position, and to analyse and solve problems.

MEASUREMENTEarly learning experiences focus on direct comparisons of objects. Children make decisions about size by looking, touching, and comparing objects directly while building the language to express size and relationships.

CLASSIFICATION AND DATA COLLECTIONChildren use sorting to organise their world. They begin to use language to describe similarities and differences and begin sharing their ideas and their mathematical thinking.

In the Early Years, children use concrete materials to increase their awareness of mathematical concepts.

At Southern Hills Christian College we believe children learn best when they experience hands on, intentional inquiry based activities. The Early Learning Centre at Southern Hills is a certified Little Scientist House offering age-appropriate STEM exploration enabling the students to develop STEM literacy and ensuring that students foster an enthusiasm for research and discovery. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. The children learn about the STEM topics through daily playful exploration of Water, Air, Engineering, Optics, Mathematics and Human Body.

WATERThe children explore water with all their senses. The program introduces the students to investigations as they explore the different aggregate states and test the solubility of various substances.

AIRThe children enjoy the beautiful fresh air that our natural environment provides us with. They catch soap bubbles and experience that air is so much more than ‘nothing’. Staff ensure ideas for the learning environment are co-constructed with the students and the program helps our students to explore questions that encourage children’s metacognitive thinking.

ENGINEERINGChildren explore forces and effects they have. The program encourages the students to invent, design and construct. A carefully designed learning environment ensures that the children’s technical thinking process are actively engaged.

OPTICSUsing children’s ideas and existing knowledge the staff help the students to explore mirrors, colourful shadows and nature’s paint palette. They investigate lights, colours and optical illusions as they develop their understanding of these concepts.

HUMAN BODYThe students learn about the fascinating functions of their bodies and organs, muscles, skeleton and joints. Their sense of self is developed through the exploration of models.

Early Years STEM

Specialist Subjects

SPORTDuring Sport and Physical Education lessons, the children are encouraged to engage in various activities that develop gross and fine motor skills, coordination, control, body awareness, balance.

MUSICSouthern Hills Christian College provides opportunities for children to develop skills in singing, percussion playing, dance and performing. They will learn to sing a variety of songs, including nursery rhymes, action and counting songs and some linked to their class topics. Children are encouraged to sing in a tuneful and rhythmic manner. Children will be given the opportunity to develop their musicality through playing games and learning to play many of the common percussion instruments. They are also encouraged to talk about what they have heard using the appropriate musical vocabulary.

CHINESEThe Chinese program offers the children opportunities to engage and learn through a thematic approach closely linked to their current learning experiences and familiar environments and routines. The students will learn language sentences, dialogue and vocabulary that relate to the themes and continually build on their existing knowledge. This is achieved through fun and engaging games, songs and interactions with puppets and soft toy props.

BUSHLAND PLAYBushland Play makes up a larger part of our Outdoor Education programme and is introduced in Kindergarten. It allows the children to explore the natural environment in a closely managed way; being able to play, build and climb in beautifully natural space. This programme brings many exciting events back to the classroom environment and regularly stimulates interesting topics of study that are truly child inspired. We encourage our students to get dirty, challenge themselves and learn a lot about self-management, decision making and risks through natural play. It also forms the cornerstone of things to follow with children embracing the concepts of “Leave No Trace” and minimising our impact on the natural environment. Be sure to look out for the most exciting time of the week as our students head outdoors to enjoy the world that God created.

LIBRARYAll children have a library time and are encouraged to borrow library books. Books are to be kept in the child’s library bag for protection. Approved library bags are available from the Uniform shop. Reading is a wonderful activity that develops many areas of your child’s learning.

MONITORING AND REPORTING ON

CHILDREN’S PROGRESS

Please show an interest in your child’s work as it is significant to him/her. Keep in mind that many learning experiences do not produce tangible end products and lots of work is kept at school, displayed in the classroom and in your child’s digital portfolio. Some work is sent home at the end of the term.

KICKSTARTYou will receive access to an ongoing digital portfolio. At the end of Term 4 you will receive an age appropriate comment on your child’s social and emotional development.

KINDERGARTENYou will receive access to an ongoing digital portfolio and a school report at the end of Term 4.

PRE-PRIMARYYou will receive access to an ongoing digital portfolio and a Semester One Report at the end of Term 2 and a Semester 2 Report at the end of Term 4. If an area of concern is identified, you will be contacted to discuss strategies to address this.

PARENT INTERVIEWSIf you have any concerns or wish to speak to the teacher specifically about your child, an opportunity for a short ten-minute appointment is available during the first two weeks of school. We encourage you to make an appointment at any stage to discuss your child’s progress needs. Our doors are always open.

DEVELOPING INDEPENDENCEWe aim to encourage the children toward independence while fostering interdependence on others. To assist, please allow them to take responsibility for putting their fruit in the basket, putting their bag away, etc. It is an expectation that Kickstart to Pre-Primary children can go to the toilet themselves. Please advise us if your child still needs some assistance in this regard.

PHOTOGRAPH POLICY Written permission is required by all participants before photos of students can be taken. Please ensure that if you are photographing your child at any College events, that no one else is in the shot. This is especially important if you plan to use the photo on Social Media.

Classes operate from 8:20am – 3:00pm.

The classroom will be open from 8:20am and parents are encouraged to spend time with their child each morning doing puzzles, playing, reading books or completing activities provided. We understand that some parents may need to leave their child at this time.

When we ring the bell at 8:45am children are asked to sit on the mat for the formal start of our class time together. Please leave promptly with a confident “goodbye”. Your confidence in your child’s ability to cope is essential. Most children settle quickly once their parents go but be assured, if there are any problems, we will let you know.

TRANSITION PERIODFor the first two weeks, we will follow a transition timetable designed to ease our young students into school. The transition timetables will be communicated with parents.

*PLEASE NOTE: You may extend your child’s transition time if you feel that they need more time. On a half day, your child will only require one piece of fruit as they finish before lunch

PARENT ROSTERParents are invaluable to the Early Learning programme. With your support, we can offer a greater variety of learning experiences/activities. You are asked to volunteer to be a parent helper whenever possible throughout the year. A Parent Helper Roster will be displayed on the notice board each term.

A parent helper assists the staff with the children’s activities, fruit preparation and clean-up activities; joining in the fun. Being on the roster provides an excellent opportunity for you to see your child interacting with others as well as giving you a chance to participate in their learning. If you are unable to take part in the roster, we welcome grandparents, aunts, uncles or close family friends to come in your place. Children enjoy having their family members visit them, and we see it as an important part of the transition from home to school.

WAYS PARENTS CAN HELP

ABSENTEE NOTESA rollcall is taken each day. The legal guardian of any student who does not attend school is required by law to provide a written explanation for their absence. The written notice should include the dates and reason for the absence. Please let us know by contacting Student Services if your child is going away on holiday or has a protracted illness.

CHANGE OF CIRCUMSTANCESPlease advise the school office of any changes to your family details, including out of school care information. Your current address and contact numbers are essential in case of an emergency.

SUN SMARTWe encourage students to use their hats throughout the year during play. Sunscreen is available at the school office and school events.

MEDICATIONIf your child is taking medication, including paracetamol, please complete a Student Medication Request form. These are available from the Student Services office.All medication must be handed to the Student Services office.

RELATIONSHIPS WITH ADULTSWe value relationship. Our foundation of Christian faith means we aim to foster an attitude within the school that is ‘other-person-centered’. Students are encouraged to consider and respond to the needs of others, to show respect, to be tolerant, and to demonstrate care and understanding towards all people.

We hope to see our children value the notion of respect and honour. Our children are encouraged to practice first-time obedience and are to look for opportunities to show respect to others.

It is common for children to contract minor ailments, particularly if they have spent limited time in a group setting. Although it may be inconvenient, please do not send children to school if they are sick as this can impact on other families. It is also imperative that you regularly monitor your child for head lice.

The Community Health Nurse will check the children’s vision and hearing during the year. You will be required to complete a medical form and will be informed in advance when this will take place.

The Community Health Nurse cannot check children who do not have a signed medical form.

ACCIDENTSMinor accidents are dealt with by classroom teachers and teachers on duty. Any significant or serious accidents are managed by Student Services.Parents will always be contacted by the school office or classroom teacher for any incidents relating to a head injury.

LEAVE FOR APPOINTMENTSStudents leaving the school grounds during the day for an appointment must be picked up by a parent, guardian or adult delegate. Students are required to remain in their class until the person picking them up has attended the Student Services office to sign them out.

LATE, LEAVE AND VISITORS REGISTERStudents arriving late at school for any reason are required to attend the Student Services office to sign in using the leave register.

Students leaving the school grounds during the day for an appointment must be picked up by a parent, guardian or adult delegate. Students are required to remain in their class until the person picking them up has attended the Student Services office to sign them out.

Parents visiting throughout the day, outside of normal arrival and leave times, will need to register their visit on the visitor’s register.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

STAYING INFORMED

PARENT LOUNGEParent Lounge allows you to see more of what is going on at your school and provides more opportunities for better communication.

It also gives you access to many areas of your information including student reports, attendance data, excursion information and your current statement.

Parent Lounge can be accessed via the College website.

EMAILPlease ensure the office has your current email address. All school information is sent to you through email.

Our email address is: communications@southernhills.wa.edu.au

SCHOOL WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIAOur school website is the hub of school communication. Our Facebook comments will often link to our school website.

www.southernhills.wa.edu.au

SCHOOL APPOur School App makes it easy to stay up to date with notices, news, our school newsletter and more from your smartphone. It’s also the easiest way to view our school calendar on a mobile device. Search for “Southern Hills CC” in the Google Play Store or Apple App Store to install it today.

EARLY YEARSUNIFORM

The uniform requirements for Kickstart, Kindergarten and Pre-Primary, are as follows:

• School sports shirt/Kickstart shirt• Black taslon school shorts• White short or ankle socks• Non-marking velcro sneakers or joggers (no skate or tennis shoes)• College Hat• School tracksuit pants• School tracksuit jumper• Plain silver or gold earring studs• No nail polish • Please note that all hair ties should be black or white

A Southern Hills Christian College school bag is optional for Kickstart to Pre-Primary.Wellington Boots will be needed for Bushland Play in terms two and three.

Please ensure that all items of clothing and school bags are clearly marked with your child’s name.

The College hat is required for all outdoor play as well as physical and outdoor education.

UNIFORM SHOP HOURSPlease check the school website for shop opening hours.

Parents can also make appointments for fitting at other times. These appointments need to be pre-booked through the school office.

We acknowledge that due to food processing practices, it is impractical to eliminate nuts or nut products entirely from an environment where there is food. Many food packaging labels include the phrase ‘may contain traces of nuts’. These foods are acceptable.

If any children have critical allergies, parents of the year group will be notified of the allergy, and the appropriate strategies will be put in place to ensure the safety of our children.

BIRTHDAYSWe enjoy making children feel special as they celebrate their birthdays. You are most welcome to send a treat to share on your child’s birthday. The most manageable method is to send an iced cupcake for each child in the class. Please check with the teacher to determine if there are any allergies (e.g. Peanuts) or gluten intolerances before sending in the cakes.

If you are planning a party, please hand the invitations to the teacher who will discreetly place in the “Parent Communication Pockets”.

TOYSUnless children are requested to bring a specific toy for a learning activity or News (Show and Tell), please leave all toys at home. They can cause negative peer pressure and inappropriate play. Southern Hills Christian College accepts no responsibility for lost or broken toys.

The Early Learning Centre is a war-toy free zone, and violent role-play games will not be allowed.

USEFUL BOXYou can assist the Early Learning Centre by saving us your recycling (well, some of it anyway!). We would appreciate the following items to be placed in the box (Please ensure that all items are thoroughly cleaned before placing them in the box). If you have access to other items that you think may be useful, please ask us. It may be just what we are looking for. We have good imaginations!

Shoeboxes and Cardboard boxes Wool and StringCardboard Cylinders Buttons / Beads

Cotton reels Velcro off-cutsDress-up Clothes Small off-cuts of wood/dowel

WHAT TO BRING

Children are to bring the following items:• Healthy snack for morning tea• A water bottle• Lunch• School Hat• A spare pair of underpants and clothing to be kept in their school bag• A small pillow and blanket for rest time

All items as indicated on the Booklist. Stationery does not need to be individually labelled as items are shared. Please label the box or container that they are packed in. Please ensure all belongings are clearly labelled with your child’s name including clothing, food containers, bedding and bags.

HEALTHY SNACK TIMEWe wish to encourage healthy eating habits and as such children are asked to bring a healthy snack for each of the days they attend school. Kickstart and Kindy’s fruit will be cut up for a shared fruit time. Pre-Primary are to bring their own fruit, cut and ready to eat in a container marked clearly with their name. Please do not send fruit to school that is bruised or overripe as the children will not eat it, and it will be wasted. You are welcome to send Rice Crackers, Cheese and Vegetables (carrots, celery, etc.) from time to time.

LUNCHESPlease send your child’s lunch in a box or bag that they can easily open and close. Including healthy foods that they are familiar with and enjoy at home (e.g. Sandwiches, rolls, crackers, vegetable/fruit pieces). Please limit treats (e.g. Sweet biscuits)

RESTRICTED FOODSSouthern Hills Christian College strives to be a safe school for all of our students including those with severe food allergies. Toward this goal, we have adopted a ‘Nut and coconut Aware School’ policy. To support this, we encourage parents to avoid sending foods that contain nuts/coconut to school. This includes peanut paste, nut spreads such as Nutella and muesli bars.

(08) 9497 1751www.southernhills.wa.edu.au

86 Admiral Rd, Bedfordale WA 6112