Ashhurst Playcentre Newsletter

19th December 2011

Kia ora tatou Hello everyone
Christmas is almost here it is so exciting to hear the countdown in our house each morning. There has been a lot of discussion about reindeer, santas sleigh, presents and cookies but the most excitement is surrounding having nanas, pops, aunties, cousins and everyone together for a party I hope that everyone has time to relax with family, friends and/or love ones after such a busy year. Before you totally relax dont forget to mark the play centre clean up on your calendar for Wednesday the 25 January.
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Thanks
Thanks to Louise for organising a fabulous night out at Fusion Caf. Thanks to Juanita for donating the tractor to playcentre. It has been a hit with everyone! Thanks to Helen, Tina, Novena, Jackie & Kathryn Blackwell for providing food and/or helping out at the Christmas Stall. Thanks to Ginny for the fantastic drums she made for sale. Thanks to Jenny aka Sophies Nana for walking around selling goodies to everyone at the Christmas Parade. Thanks to everyone for your support during ERO and relicensing it went really well. Extra thanks in particular to Novena, Mary, Kathryn & Jackie. Thanks to all those people who have paid their fees.

There are lots of jobs still free and if you want to go at alternative time/day just let myself or Novena know so you can grab a key. If anyone is keen to stain the area around the sandpit and/or swings and paint the outside playhouse - please contact Kathryn Blackwell for more information. Have a safe and happy festive season and great start to the New Year. Seasons greetings, Toni.

There are lots of jobs not yet taken for playcentre clean-up. It is important that a small team of people arent left to do a job that benefits all our children. Please have a look and see if there is a job you can take home, do during clean-up day or at a time which suits you better. (keys can be grabbed from Jackie, Toni or Novena just to name a few). There is also staining and painting from the working bee that did not get done due to lousy weather if this sounds like you please contact Kathryn Blackwell for more detail.

Clean-up Wednesday 25th January 10am or 7pm

Business Meeting Snapshots fully minutes can be read online and at playcentre.
Business Meeting was held during Session on Wednesday 14th December. Consenus Decision Making. Property/Equipment: From email. $250 of the McCarthy trust money to go towards the equipment team wish list from parents/caregivers. General Business: 1. Changing Banks. Kiwibank; Wesptac 2. CDPA Policy Review Comment and review 3. Term 1 Dates Monday 30th Jan Start date Thursday 5th April End of Term date as Friday 6 th April is Good Friday. 4. Photocopier Contract vs Domestic. Contract $60 1.6c B&W 13c Colour Photocopier approved for independent copier services. 5. Airconditioning Mary to get advice. 6. Course 1 Need to ensure we have enough people. 7. ERO report has arrived, will be read send back then formal copy arrives approx Feb. Next meetings are February 13th Business Meeting 7:30pm. February 15th Planning Meeting 7:30pm. February 16th Learning Story Workshop. (TBC)

Holiday too long... check out this plan...

Playcentre will be open on Tuesday 10th January, Tuesday 17th January, Tuesday 24th January from 9am 12 noon. Children from any session are welcome to attend. This session will be run by parents so you cannot leave your child, but you can bring along any siblings or children staying with you over the break. We will need to cleanup at the end, especially food scraps as the cleaner will not cleaning after us. So this will including sweeping etc. There will be $1 charge per child to cover the cost of resources used on session. Thursday 12th January, Thursday 19th January, Thursday 26th January from 9:30am -12 noon at the Ashhurst Domain. Bring along any sports gear or simply come and play in the playground. Great coffee can also be brought at the re-opened cafe at the domain.

New Years Eve Invite...

Hey guys if you have no plans for new years eve come join us for a bbq :) we have mini golf on the lawn, skateboard ramps in the garage, room for tents and beds inside available for whoevers first in :) child friendly :-D we would LOVE to see yas! BYO drinks and bring something for the bbq, shall be nice and relaxed :) ... and hopefully heaps of fun! turn up any time in the avo and we'll be here. From Crystal & family.

Ashhurst Playcentre Christmas Party

Many thanks to all those people who came along to the Christmas Party. Great to see extended family/partners and husbands. It was great to see so many people attend. We would love any feedback about the evening so we can improve aspects of the night/keep any parts that worked to toniali@clear.net.nz Feedback so far: Santa having photos with children and sold for 50c maybe.. cheaper than town!!. Try for the domain again. Organise $2.50 chips/hotdog or chips/fish packs that can be pre-organised. Different night as end of week too busy. Too crowded at playcentre.

Ashhurst Playcentre Family BBQ

Friday 2nd March 2012 There will be a casual family BBQ at the domain. Bring along your sausages/picnic tea/sports gear from 5pm onwards. A chance to meet any new families to playcentre, & to relax in the fine weather (hopefully!!). More details next newsletter.

From Novena...
We would like to give a huge shout out to Toni and her exceptional organisational skills for organising the table at the Xmas parade to promote our playcentre. Also to Tina for her delicious marshmallow sticks, her time & energy being Toni's right hand lady. Good work ladies, as a bonus we made $114.00. Also thank you to Toni for organising an amazing childrens Xmas party, even though the weather was not on our side. It was a great idea and it was tremendous to see soooo many dad's there, plus a Nana.

Coming Events
20th December 2011 (Tues) End of Term 4 2011 30th January 2012 (Mon) 13th February 2012 (Mon) 15th February 2012 (Wed) 5 April 2012 (Thurs) 3rd March 2012
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Start of Term 1 2012 Monday 30th January Ashhurst Playcentre Business Meeting 7:30pm at Playcentre Ashhurst Playcentre Planning Meeting 7:30pm at Playcentre End of Term 1 2012

Submissions for Issue 143 Playcentre Journal. Looking for stories and photos about: Literacy and pre-literacy on session Rural centre challenges & celebrations Meeting & Volunteer Challenges and how you overcame them Inspiring Playcentre members at your centre/association PAW (playcentre Awareness Week) what did your centre or associate do to celebrate PAW?

If you have an idea for a journal article but dont have the time or the knowledge to write it, send us your idea we may know or be able to find the right person to write the story. Please send contributions to pcjournal@gmail.com