Acacia Room
Our Acacia Room is home for up to 15 children, aged 2-3 years.
We pride ourselves on creating a fun, nurturing and educational atmosphere.
During this time in each of your child’s lives they are learning fundamental skills such as toilet training, recognition of letters and numbers, creating meaningful relationships with peers and so much more.
Our philosophy is to be role models and help guide each child’s learning so they can achieve goals and milestones to the best of their abilities.
We love to engage with our families and create a home like feel to our room to enhance each child’s ability to feel safe and supported.
Our Acknowledgement of Country
We in the Acacia family, would like to say thank you, To the Ngunawal people for letting us hare their land. We promise to look after it.
Acknowledgement of Country Ritual
Thank the Country: We ask the children where we live, talk about our land and what it offers us, talk about what we call it, and the traditional name for our land.
Thank the Animals: We ask the children what animals we share our country with. Thank them for what they provide for us. Thank them for letting us share the land with them and pay respect to them.
Thank the People: We ask the children who protects and cares for the land. Talk about the Ngunawal people, and show gratitude for their care of the land we are lucky enough to enjoy each day.
Hello land (touch the land)
Hello sun (reach for the sky)
Hello me (hug yourself)
Hello friends (open your arms)
Ask if anyone would like to share a time they were connected to country or share your own. Share family input, for example ‘Sonny’s family went to the coast on the weekend and went swimming. Sonny shared a connection with the water when he went swimming in the ocean.
+ Our Educators
SAMIKSHA PANDEY
Team Leader
VICKI JOYCE
Assistant Team Leader
Vicki has been a Baringa educator for over 25 years! She has a Diploma in Children's Services and is a favourite with children and a mentor for our team.
HAYLEY SMITH
Educator
Hayley is qualified with a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care.
LINDA HALL
Educator
Linda is qualified with a Certificate III in Early Childhood Educatoion and Care.
EMILY ACKROYD
Educator
Emily is currently studying toward a Certificate III in Early Childhood Educatoion and Care.
LEANNE NIVEN
Educator
+ Room Information
We encourage you to take this opportunity to familiarise yourself with our Centre Policies including our Exclusion Policy and Fees Policy and Food Menu. For new families, and those whose children are transitioning to a new room, we ask you to kindly fill in the following forms and return to your educator or the Baringa Office:
Collection authorisations (if required):
On-going collection via My Family Lounge (desktop not mobile)
Login and click QK enrol and first ensure the person you wish to authorise is listed as a contact. Once listed, click “edit” next to your child’s name, then under "authorisations” select and save the collection authorisation for the relevant contact.
+ Items to Bring
- A spare change of LABELLED clothes (including pants, undies, socks, jumper, shirt and shoes). If your child is toilet training it is suggested that you pack up to 3 changes of clothing.
- Winter clothes e.g. a beanie and a warm jacket
- Summer clothes e.g. a sun hat & long sleeved top or top that covers shoulders
- Nappies or pull-ups if needed
- A blanket if your child sleeps during the day and a pillowcase to store them in
- Any on-going medication (marked clearly with their name)
- Sensitive suncreen if needed - we provide standard sunscreen
NOTE: Please do not bring in any toys from home it can be distressing for your child if they are lost, broken or misplaced. ‘Home toys’ will be placed in a box beside the front door for collection. Attachment items are acceptable for rest time only (i.e. their teddy, blanket or dummy).
+ Daily Routine
7:30am // Arrival at Baringa - Children arrive in the Acacia Room for inside/outside play and toy exploration throughout the room with their peers from the Acacia room..
8:30am // Toileting/progressive nappy change.
9:00am // Tidy up/Grouptime and Morning tea – Children are encouraged to join their educators to tidying up their play spaces and then enter the group time room for storytelling and singing whilst morning tea is prepared At 9.15am children are encouraged to wash their hands and then find a seat in the dining area. After morning tea, the children are encouraged to wash their hands and wipe their faces before transitioning to outdoor play.
9:45am // Outside Play - Children are encouraged to choose what play experiences they want in their outside areas during this time. The children are also offered an experience that is derived from the program (set up inside to allow for focus).
11:20am // Toileting/progressive nappy change. Group time - Children slowly transition to inside to take their jacket, shoes and hats off. They are then encouraged to join in with group time in the group time room and in the Acacia room (the children are split into two groups to optimise focus and learning). These group times have a literacy focus. After group time children are transitioned to wash their hands before sitting in the dining area for lunch. Lunch – Children are encouraged to eat lunch and dessert. During this time, they are encouraged by the educators to engage in discussions about their day and the program focus.
12:00pm // Sleep time – Children transition to the sleep room and children who do not sleep are encouraged to have a 30-minute rest listening to soft music in the main room. They are then offered quiet activities. As children wake up they are encouraged to use the toilet and/or have their nappy changed. They then transition to indoor/outdoor play.
3:00pm // Grouptime and Afternoon tea– Children are encouraged to join their educators in the group time room for a group time that is music and movement-based whilst afternoon tea is prepared. At 3.15 children are encouraged to wash their hands and then find a seat in the dining area. After afternoon tea children are encouraged to wash their hands and wipe their faces before transitioning to an experience.
3:30pm // Indoor/Outdoor play - During this time, the children are offered an experience that is derived from the program.
4:00pm // Toileting/progressive nappies.
4:30pm // Pack-up back yard – Children are encouraged to pack away toys in the yard and then slowly transitioned inside to wash their hands and have a late afternoon snack.
4:45pm // Afternoon vegetables - Children are offered a mixed vegetable snack during this time.
5:00pm // Inside Play - During this time, the children are offered an experience that is derived from the program.
6:00pm // Centre closes.
