What Learning Happens at St Mark’s Preschool?
Transition to School Program - The children participate in a variety of planned and spontaneous learning experiences that are intentionally considered each day by the teaching staff. We offer a variety of different learning areas such as dramatic play, the visual arts, music, and movement, play dough, clay, loose parts, physical activity, literacy, numeracy, and STEM. A favourite play space is our new climbing fort in the playground! The children also develop self-help skills throughout the daily routine and "listen to their body" to manage such tasks as toiletting, maintaining proper hygiene, care for their belongings.
Assessment and Planning - The program is designed each week with children’s strengths, educational goals, interests, and culture in mind. At the end of each semester, educators collate data that has been documented for each child and a summative assessment is written and shared with families via Story Park. In addition, biannual meetings with families enable the teaching staff to learn about the child and to support parents in their role as their child’s first teacher. Each week families receive a learning story on the key curriculum highlights for the whole class via Story Park.
Family engagment with the service - Family members are welcome to participate in "Family Storytime" at 11:00am every day (on odd weeks) or "Stay and Play" at 2:00pm on Tuesday and Thursday (on even weeks). This year (2023) we will host a working bee as part of our continual improvement plan.
Munch and Move - St Mark's Preschool implements Munch and Move experiences every day that align with its principles - such as "Vegetable of the Month", "Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) development" and a coming this year; a recipe book of our favourite recipes this year. There is also a quiet space available for breastfeeding mothers.
Community Engagement - We take pride in hosting several annual events and celebrations at St Mark's Preschool. One tradition is the annual Family BBQ in term 2 where everyone is invited to enjoy a night of entertainment, full dinner buffet, jumping castle and more! The other is the Spring Fair on a Saturday morning mid September in partnership with St Mark's Church.
Sleep and Rest - Children are given the opportunity to sleep or engage in quiet play as per our Sleep/Rest Policy. We provide all linen and ask that families was them at the end of their week with us, as we do not have laundry facilities on site.
What to bring to preschool?
A wide-brimmed sunhat, plenty of spare comfortable clothes & underwear, a water bottle, and a healthy "nude food" morning tea and lunch (please label these items with your child's name).