March 2018
Swan Hill Out of School Hours Program newsletter
Inside this issue
Our programs 2
Sun smart 2
Vacation activities 2
Come visit us 2
Accounts 3
Vacation program 4
**Bookings for the April Vacation Program close on Friday,
23 March 2018**
Bookings cannot be accepted after this
date.
Changes to Child Care
Benefits/Rebates
Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate are subsidies available through Centrelink, and can reduce the cost of child care for families.
The Government’s new Child Care Package, which replaces the current Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate subsidies, comes into effect from 2 July 2018. Your level of subsidy under the Child Care Subsidy is assessed by your family income and the activity test for all parents/guardians.
A broad range of activities will meet the activity test requirements including: paid work, being self employed, looking for work, volunteering or studying. Talk to Centrelink about how this will effect you.
Program information
The Swan Hill Out of School Hours Program offers child care for school children through its After School and Vacation programs.
Our programs are open to all primary school children and operate from the Art Room at Swan Hill Primary School in Gray Street, Swan Hill.
All children must be signed in and out by parents or guardians. The sign in/out area is located in the Art Room.
Afternoon snacks are supplied at the after school program. During the Vacation Program all meals are supplied and included in the fee.
Our service is an approved child care service and is currently rated as exceeding National Quality Standards.
Enrolment and booking forms are available from program staff during operational hours in the Art Room or from Swan Hill Rural City Council offices.
Page 2
Our programs
Sun smart
Absences or
cancellations
Please leave a message on the program’s mobile -
0418 558 994
for any absences or cancellations.
Families can also advise of absences or cancellations by sending an email to:
To contact program staff during session times please telephone
0409 236 541
Our Sun Smart policy is enforced from September through to May each year and requires children to wear broad brimmed hats at all times when outdoors.
We supply hats and sunscreen for the use of children at the program, however children are able to bring their own if preferred. If your child is sensitive to sunscreen, please send along a sunscreen that they are able to use.
Hats must be broad brimmed, with the brim being at least 6cm around the entire hat, such as a bucket style hat.
Caps are not suitable and will not be allowed.
Our program includes outdoor activities. Please ensure that your children arrive with sunscreen applied and that clothing is Sun Smart, covering shoulders, back and upper arms.
Swan Hill Out of School Hours offers after school care during school terms, and vacation care during most of the school holidays. All programs operate from the Swan Hill Primary School.
After school care
The After School Care Program operates from the conclusion of school until 6pm.
Bus pick up is offered from Swan Hill North Primary School, St Mary’s Primary School, Son Centre Christian College and Specialist Development School.
A bus transfer is also available from the Woorinen District Primary School to attend the After School Care Program.
Vacation care
Vacation Care operates from 8am to 6pm through each school term break and for approximately three weeks in January.
What to wear Children will be very busy with all of the activities available for them.
Please dress them in clothes that will allow them to participate in active and messy play, but also provide good sun protection.
Shoes should be secure fitting on the foot eg, sandals or runners that enable them to run and climb without slipping. Thongs are not suitable.
Vacation program
The April program is packed full of wonderful activities to occupy your children over the term break.
A massive range of art and craft to challenge your child’s creativity will be on hand.
We look forward to visits from Miss Natasha with Hip Hop dance, Natalie with Yoga and a tennis clinic with David Jonkers from VIDA. We will also venture off to the Pioneer Settlement for a day trip.
There will be lots of great indoor and outdoor games and challenges, fun in the Ga Ga ball pit and some cooking as well.
Some extra activities have limited numbers, so get booking forms in early to ensure your child doesn’t miss out.
Bookings for the April vacation program close on Friday,
23 March 2018
Come visit us!
We welcome families to call in for a visit, especially if you are considering attending either our after school or vacation program.
Children are much more comfortable about going somewhere new if they are familiar with where they are going and what is happening there.
No appointment is necessary - just call in to meet Rebecca, Jo, Nadine and staff and have a look around.
Program closure
days
Programs will not be
running on the following
dates:
Monday,
12 March 2018
Friday,
30 March 2018
Monday,
2 April 2018
Wednesday,
25 April 2018
Monday,
11 June 2018
Page 3
Child Care Subsidy
Childcare subsidies of Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate will
be replaced by a single payment called Child
Care Subsidy from 2 July 2018.
The Child Care Subsidy will be paid direct to services and will be deducted from your
account.
The amount of subsidy you receive will be
assessed by your family income and the number
of hours you work/study/volunteer. Contact
Centrelink if you require further
information on these changes.
For further information,
enrolment and booking forms call in to the after
school program at the Art Room at Swan Hill
Primary School or Council offices at
45 Splatt Street, Swan Hill or telephone
Rebecca Carmichael on 0418 558 994.
Accounts
Accounts are issued each fortnight and must be paid within seven days. Bookings for further care cannot be accepted unless outstanding accounts are paid. Failure to pay accounts on time will result in cancellation of care and debt collection proceedings.
Witches and wizards day
CUTTING EMISSIONS AT HOME Burning fossil fuels such as natural gas, coal, oil and gasoline raises the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Carbon dioxide is a major contributor to the greenhouse effect and global warming.
You can help to reduce the demand for fossil fuels, which in turn reduces global warming, by using energy more wisely.
The following is a list of 10 steps YOU can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions:
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Use less heat and air conditioning
Replace your light bulbs
Drive less and drive smart
Buy energy-efficient products
Use less hot water
On this themed day during the January Vacation Program, children participated in many activities.
They played witch games in the gym and stimulated their imaginations with spell books and potions, along with face painting and hair spraying.
Creative opportunities arose with their creations of witches and wizards hats and wands and ended with a parade of their creations and a ‘witchiest witch’ competition.
Learning outcome 1—Children have a strong sense of
identity.
The children showed interest in other children and being part of a group whilst engaging in and contributing to the play and leisure experiences
Hunter had a great time when he donned on the protective glasses and got to work with the hammer and nails to create his timber sculpture.
Learning outcome 4—Children are confident and
involved learners
Hunter freely followed and extended his own interests with enthusiasm, curiosity, energy and concentration.
Construction
Use the "off" switch
Plant a tree
Get a report card from your utility company
Encourage others to conserve
Fun
gam
es in
th
e g
ym
Gre
at fu
n g
am
es in
th
e g
ym
Leg
o c
halle
ng
e.
Wha
t ca
n y
ou
cre
ate
?
Ou
r o
wn
ta
lent
sh
ow
to
da
y!
Ba
ke
sco
ne
s f
or
aft
ern
oo
n t
ea
Ap
ril 2018
vacati
on
pro
gra
m
Mo
nd
ay,
2 A
pri
l 2
01
8
Th
urs
da
y,
5 A
pri
l 2
01
8
Fri
da
y,
6 A
pri
l 2
01
8
We
dn
es
da
y,
4 A
pri
l 2
01
8
Tu
es
da
y,
3 A
pri
l 2
01
8
Mo
nd
ay,
9 A
pri
l 2
01
8
Fri
da
y,
13 A
pri
l 2
01
8
Th
urs
da
y,
12 A
pri
l 2
01
8
We
dn
es
da
y,
11 A
pri
l 2
01
8
Tu
es
da
y,
10 A
pri
l 2
01
8
Su
bw
ay
lunch
Mu
sic
an
d
gam
es f
or
a
fun f
ille
d d
ay
Easte
r M
ond
ay
Public
Ho
lida
y
No p
rogra
m
toda
y
Taco
Tue
sda
y
Da
nce
with
Mis
s
Na
tasha
. M
ove
to t
he g
roo
ve!
Yo
ur
favou
rite
gam
es in
th
e g
ym
So
me
activitie
s o
r e
xp
erie
nce
s m
ay
ch
an
ge
due
to
circu
msta
nce
s o
ut
of
our
co
ntr
ol e
g w
eath
er,
sta
ff s
ho
rta
ge
Co
okin
g m
ini
piz
za
fo
r lu
nch
Y
um
my b
ake
d
pota
toes t
o m
ake
for
lunch
Yo
ga
with
Na
talie
Se
nso
ry f
un w
ith
clo
ud
do
ugh
BE
YB
LA
DE
TO
UR
NA
ME
NT
Bri
ng
yo
ur
bla
de a
nd
le
t it
rip
!
PIO
NE
ER
SE
TT
LE
ME
NT
excu
rsio
n -
dep
art
10.3
0a
m
Hip
Ho
p d
an
ce w
ith
Mis
s N
ata
sha
. M
ove
to t
he g
roo
ve!
De
cora
ted
cu
p c
ake
co
mp
etitio
n
Ten
nis
clin
ic
for
every
on
e
Fun
ch
alle
ng
es -
are
yo
u u
p f
or
it?
Yu
mm
y p
an
cake
s
to c
ook f
or
mo
rnin
g t
ea
A g
rea
t tim
e in
th
e
Ga
Ga
ball
pit
Pa
inte
d r
ock
pho
to h
old
ers
with
bea
din
g
Cre
atin
g w
ith
pla
stic
eggs
Ga
Ga
ball
tourn
am
ent
Sa
lt a
nd
wa
ter
co
lour
pain
tin
g
Bu
nn
ings w
ill v
isit
the p
rog
ram
w
ith
a n
ail
and
str
ing
art
activity
Be
cre
ative
makin
g
these
duct
tape
va
ses
Ma
ke
slim
e f
or
a
slip
pe
ry t
ime
to
da
y
Ma
ke
a d
ream
ca
tch
er
Ha
ve f
un c
reatin
g
yo
ur
ow
n f
eath
ers
Co
okin
g m
ini q
uic
hes
for
lunch
Yu
mm
y p
an
cake
s
to c
ook f
or
mo
rnin
g t
ea
Yu
m!
Ba
con
,
ch
ee
se b
urg
er
wra
ps f
or
lunch
Ma
ke
a f
risb
ee
and
wa
tch
it
fly
Cre
ate
a f
air
y w
ith
pop
sic
le s
ticks
Ma
kin
g u
nic
orn
pup
pe
ts
Lots
of
art
and
cra
ft a
ctivitie
s
Cre
ate
with
autu
mn
le
ave
s
Min
ute
to
win
it
ch
alle
ng
es
Gre
at fu
n w
ith
mu
sic
al g
am
es
Cle
ver
ca
t cra
ft-
Me
ow
!!
Mu
sic
al
gam
es