Firstly I would like to welcome everyone to the NRPG, for the year.

For both our new and existing members, we hope that you and your children experience a wonderful and enjoyable time at PG for 2012.

You may be aware that we advertised for an attendant late last year to replace Jenny Fantin who stepped up into the role of coordinator, replacing Vicki Ladson who retired at the end of last year. After an extensive search we were happy to appoint Carolyn Fisher as the attendant for Wednesday and Thursday. However, Carolyn has decided to resign, to follow her true vocational calling of that of an integration aide, when a position was offered to her. I’m sure that playgroup members will agree that even though she was only with us for a short time that she will be missed, and will join with the committee and Jenny in wishing her well.

Attendant’s Report Fundraising Report “Sweet treats for Mum” Playgroup song 6

North Ringwood

Playgroup

Term 1 Newsletter March 2012

Inside President’s Report 3

4

North Ringwood Playgroup Term 1 Newsletter March 2012

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Term Dates Term 1:

6 Feb - 30 Mar Term 2:

16 Apr - 29 Jun Term 3:

16 Jul - 21 Sep Term 4: 8 Oct - 14 Dec

Term Fees Term 1 fees are

now overdue

Got some Feedback? Any questions or details on issues you would like

to be addressed are most welcome any time of the year. Please place your

questions/thoughts in the box provided

Advertising Advertise with us in our newslette for only $10 and you will reach over

120 families! Contact us now at

enquiries@northringwoodplaygroup.com.au

I would now like to announce the appointment of Andrea to the position of Attendant, replacing Carolyn. Andrea has had a long association with playgroups as both a mother of children attending playgroups, as well as performing as a volunteer attendant. Andrea will be training with Jenny over the next coming weeks, so I’m sure you will all join with the committee in making her feel welcome. A huge thankyou to both Vicki and Merwin for helping to cover a few sessions this term, whilst we made a few staff adjustments, as mentioned above.

So, along with the new faces, I’m sure you have noticed a few cosmetic changes around the playgroup, from the entrance to the room divider and the cubby house. We also have two new baby mats, obtained from SoftMats Pty Ltd, which I’m sure you will agree brighten up our baby corner, as well as being very functional. Thank you to John from Softmats, who was a great help in choosing the mats and supplying them.

We also have a Facebook page (North Ringwood Playgroup), so feel free to ‘friend’ us. Don’t forget if you have any suggestions feel free to drop us a line via the red box on the servery counter. Warm Regards

Leeanne Lindorff

North Ringwood Playgroup Term 1 Newsletter March 2012

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Dates to remember

End of Term 1 Friday 30th March

Christmas Party

Due to a lack of show at the last Christmas party, we are considering having individual

Christmas parties during each playgroup session

rather than a large external outing at the end of the

year. Any suggestions are welcome

Having a baby?

A reminder to members to please inform Enrolments

Officer should you be pregnant so that we can monitor the numbers of

each session

Attendant’s Report

What a great feeling there is around playgroup as we start a new year together. We are delighted to welcome many new children to our playgroup and hope they enjoy all that North Ringwood Play Group has to offer. We are also very excited to see returning families and it is always a surprise to see how the children have grown and developed over the holidays.

There has been a couple of staff changes at Playgroup this year. With Vicki leaving us, after 5 great years, I am now doing her Monday, Tuesday and Friday Groups and we have the very nice Carolyn doing the Wednesday and Thursday Groups. Please be patient as we get to know faces and learn everyone’s names.

Once again the term promises excitement, fun and learning new skills. Our Pink Love Hearts went well for Valentine’s Day! This was followed by our Picture Frames in our Fire Drill Week and our colourful Octopuses. This Term we will also be trying our hand at “Spiders in their Web” and “Tissue Paper Fish”.

We also have photos this term in the week beginning the 19th of March so bring your biggest smiles!

We will finish the term with an Easter Egg Hunt after making beautiful baskets to put them in and “Bunny Ears”.

All the best for the first term!

Jenny and Carolyn!

North Ringwood Playgroup Term 1 Newsletter March 2012

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Fundraising Report

2012 is off to a sweet start with Term 1 hosting two of our most popular fundraisers for the year – the Cadbury Chocolate Drive and Easter Raffle. Cadbury Drive Members would have now received a box of delicious Cadbury goodies to take home and sell to friends, family and neighbours. Personally, I send the box straight back out of the house to my husband’s work for fear of eating the lot myself! You have until Friday 23 March 2012 to sell your box of chocolates and return funds raised to Playgroup. Additional boxes are available – simply speak to your attendant. Easter Raffle Soon, members will receive a book of 10 raffle tickets for our Easter raffle. Tickets are 50 cents each ($5 for the book) with all sold tickets and money due back at Playgroup by Friday 23 March 2012. There are two hampers up for grabs filled with loads of things to help you get through the school holidays. Winners will be announced during the last week of Term 1. Coming soon – Mother’s Day This year, Playgroup will release a cookbook for Mother’s Day. ‘Sweet Treats for Mum’ will consist of a collection of member recipes for delicious cakes, slices, biscuits and desserts.

The cookbook will be available to purchase (for a small cost) during Term 2 and kids will have the ability to decorate the front cover themselves during session. A fantastic gift for all mums. We are now asking for your help to make ‘Sweet Treats for Mum’ something to be cherished for years to come. Please send through your favourite recipes to enquiries@northringwoodplaygroup.com.au. Submissions close 30 March 2012. If you’re a terrible cook, feel free to borrow a recipe off a friend and submit it under your own name. We will not ask too many questions and you will forever be known as a whiz in the kitchen :) Thanking you in advance for your fundraising support in 2012.

Kate French Fundraising coordinator

Sub-committee: Amy Ferris, Lona Pennell, Jane Carmody, Carolyn Martin, Fiona Staples and Corinne Unwin.

North Ringwood Playgroup Term 1 Newsletter March 2012

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softmats.com.au

Makers of soft, non-toxic and durable play mats

A Special thank you to SoftMats The suppliers of our latest play mat acquisitions

RINGWOOD OFFICEWORKS Cnr Pratt St & Maroondah Hwy

Ringwood VIC 3134 03 98716400

Opening Hours

Mon-Fri: 7am-9pm Sat: 8am-6pm Sun: 9am-6pm

Morning Tea

Please add your name to the morning tea roster on the kitchen bench to bring a plate for the adults to enjoy – don’t forget that

we are a nut aware playgroup

Pockets Your pockets are hanging

up next to the sign in table, please make sure that you check them

before you leave as they contain important

information

Nappies Please remember to put all soiled nappies in the

large wheelie bin outside. DO NOT use

any of the rubbish bins

Parking

Please reverse park when you arrive to

ensure a safe departure and keep your speed to

walking pace only

North Ringwood Playgroup Term 1 Newsletter March 2012

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Know someone who wants to

join playgroup? We still have spaces available on Tuesday

afternoon (1130-130) and the “Tiny Tots”

session on Wednesday afternoon (1130-130)

Quotes “Making the decision to

have a child is momentous. It is to

decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your

body” Elizabeth Stone

“The quickest way for a parent to get a child’s attention is to sit down and look comfortable”

Lane Olinghouse

Our Playgroup Song

For all our new members, and those who have forgotten, here is our Playgroup Song

“Our playgroup time is over, and we are going home

Goodbye, Goodbye, it was lovely seeing you Goodbye, Goodbye, hope to see you next week too”

PO Box 2315 Scout Hall North Ringwood Reserve Wonga Road Ringwood North VIC 3134 www.northringwoodplaygroup.com.au enquiries@northringwoodplaygroup.com.au Phone. 0422671812

North Ringwood Playgroup

Term 1 Newsletter March 2012