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TRANSCRIPT
South Eastern
Connect Dec 18 Families
The Families Newsletter of South Eastern Community Connect
Independence, wellbeing and quality of life.
Get your next Connect Newsletter by email
The Summer
Issue
2
In this issue
3 What’s On
4 Our 40th Party
6 Parents Only
8 SMOOSH News
10 Positive Parenting
12 Classes and
Workshops
16 Calendar
Contact us
South Eastern Community Connect Shop 84, Eastlakes Shopping Centre Newsletter copy & design: Alison Leader
02 8338 8506
Mon-Fri 9am to 4.30pm
themed activities—as well as the
amazing Hot Potato Band and the
outdoor cinema with colourful
beanbags everywhere. The kids
loved the screening of Sherlock
Gnomes as the sun went down.
We look forward to even more
events in the coming year, and we
hope you’ll share the journey with
us.
Until next issue!
Welcome! Hasn’t this year flown by? Mine
certainly has, with my little one
growing up so quickly! It feels like
one minute ago she was a new-
born… Now she’s a big eight-
month-old, standing up, crawling
and wanting to talk!
Parenting is such an incredible
journey, isn’t it? But it’s far from
easy. In this issue we offer you five
ways to start connecting better
with your little one as you help
them to be happier, less anxious,
and more resilient in a busy world.
We also give you the rundown
on our 40th anniversary celebra-
tion, held as a Locals Picnic on Sat-
urday 10th November. It was an
unforgettable day, with perfect
weather and a big cross-section of
the community taking part. Our
team loved meeting families from
the area and seeing the kids enjoy
drumming, balloon animal-making,
the two jumping castles, outdoor
family yoga, and heaps of carnival-
Catherine Fraser, Editor.
Find us at:
SECC.Families &
SECC.Community
Welcome to the team Tina started as our Aged Care Marketing Coordinator earlier this year, working to develop our Home Care Package offering. She loves seeing people support their families with services that enhance their quality of life. Tina says her favourite treat is the Strawberry Watermelon Cake from Blackstar Pastry. “Fresh, and with my favourite rose smell, it is both romantic and warm!”
Above: Tina Tung
3
What’s On
Wise Choice Kids program
In this specialised program, you’ll learn how to help
your child develop empathy, resilience and self-control
through the day-to-day things they experience.
Running over four weeks from Tuesday 12th February,
the program will cover ways to help your child care for
others, create beauty in the world, think critically,
solve problems, and much more. Call us on 8338 8506.
Play Power for Dads
Sometimes implementing small changes and new
ways of doing things can make a big difference in
the parenting role. We will be running a free
workshop on 9th March which helps dads make
the most of everyday moments with children
from birth to three years. Participants will learn to
build loving relationships with their children and
capitalise on daily routines. There will also be
talks on play; and healthy brain development.
Dads and Bubs Bonding
This workshop will cover the practicalities of feeding, settling, sleeping, infant communication, baby massage and infant play. It will help dads, grandads and carers gain a basic understanding of infant development as well as exploring what it means to be a father today. Mums are also welcome to come on the third week with the baby massage therapist. Held over three Saturdays, Dads and Bubs Bonding is run on 19th February, 23rd February, and 2nd March at Gardeners Road Public School. Contact Bronwynn for more information on 8338 8506.
4
F our decades is a long time in anyone’s
estimation – and that’s how long South
Eastern Community Connect (SECC)
has been supporting the local
community with services that address people’s
needs at every stage of the life journey. It’s been
a fantastic journey—and we thought it was
worthy of recognition in 2018.
Our 40th anniversary celebrations kicked off in
October with a Photo Exhibition in collaboration
with Crown Group and Eastlakes Shopping
Centre. Here, we told the story of the Bayside
area over 40 years, displaying fascinating images
and histories of streetscapes and historic
landmarks around the centre and on shopfronts.
Next on the agenda was our Annual General
Meeting, held on 17th October. A cake was cut in
celebration of SECC’s 40th anniversary, and two
new board members were announced. Iris Knight
was awarded the Maisie Foster Volunteer Award
How we celebrated 40 years of
supporting the community It’s been a big four decades for South Eastern Community Connect, and we
decided to throw a big outdoor party last month to celebrate.
for her varied volunteering roles, including
shopping assistant, “grandparent” support at the
intergenerational playgroup, and her work baking
cakes for the Beaconsfield lunch group.
On Saturday 10th November, we celebrated 40
years of supporting the local community with a
Locals Picnic and Family Fun Day. The event was
supported and funded by major sponsors Crown
Group and its subsidiary Eastlakes Shopping
Centre. Running from 2pm to 9pm in Eastlakes
Reserve, the event included a variety of engaging
activities for all ages which reflected and
celebrated the quality and impact of our services.
Visitors were treated to a free performance from
the Hot Potato Band, and the sweet sounds of
Sarah Parkin. Entertainment was also provided by
students of Gardeners Road Public School and JJ
Cahill Memorial High School.
Our staff and volunteers worked hard all day,
providing a sausage sizzle and a range of
workshops including drumming and outdoor yoga
(below). A fantastic day was had by all. An image from the Photo Exhibition
5
At our 40th Anniversary event in Eastlakes Reserve, our drumming workshops attracted participants of all ages.
The Urban Gardening Workshops were popular throughout the day. Our Tai Chi demo reflected our involvement in community wellbeing.
The lines were long for the two jumping castles, which kept the kids happy. The Hot Potato Band had fun roaming the park and engaging with families.
The bean bags, provided by Outdoor Movies Australia, offered endless
entertainment for kids from 2pm to 9pm.
Our 40th Anniversary event finished with a screening of Sherlock Gnomes
under the stars.
6
Parents only
Tai Chi for relaxation
Experience the health benefits of Tai Chi with experienced instructors.
Beginner Classes Wednesday 12:30 to 2:00pm
Advanced Classes Monday 10:00 to 11:30am
Eastlakes Scout Hall
Form-filling support in Eastlakes
Are you having trouble filling out official forms and applications?
We can help you understand the process, guide you through to
completion, and help you submit your official forms and
documentation.
Monday to Thursday by appointment.
COMING SOON: Outdoor exercise classes
Watch this space for an announcement on new exercise classes for the whole community. We’ll help you get fit and stay fit as you socialise with friends and build your strength.
Contact us on 8338 8506.
Community gardeners wanted
Your community garden provides fresh produce and plants to share and connects us with the environment and other people in our community. Do you want to take part?
Contact us on 8338 8506.
NEW Sewing classes for parents
Learn to make or repair clothes, hem uniforms and sew basic projects.
Beginner Classes: Fridays 10am to 12pm during term time.
Eastlakes Shopping Centre
7
Y ou can also find us on
Instagram at secc_eastlakes
or sign up for our email list at
8
SMOOSH NEWS
Welcome! We hope you’re enjoying the beautiful onset of Summer.
SMOOSH refers to the Safe Multicultural Out of School Hours Childcare Centre program run by South
Eastern Community Connect at Gardeners Road Public School and Eastlakes Public School.
Kindergarten 2019 places are filling fast, so if you have a child who will be starting school in 2019,
please complete your enrolment form as soon as possible and return to the SMOOSH office.
CHRISTMAS PARTY!
SMOOSH will be organising an end-of-year party for all children and families from both services to thank
them for all their help and support this year. The party will be held on 19th December , and Santa will be
visiting SMOOSH to entertain the children on the day.
SUMMER HOLIDAY PROGRAM The Summer 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. There will be lots of
great indoor and outdoor water games, and some cooking as well.
To secure a place, please book early. You can download the vacation care form at www.secc.sydney or
call us on 02 8338 9678. We have some new excursions such as Cool Cats indoor play centre, Santa’s
Workshop in Centennial Park and plenty of old favorites such as Luna Park, Sky Zone, and the movies.
9
SMOOSH NEWS
SMOOSH NEWS
SMOOSH won a big award! South Eastern Community Connect has been announced as
the overall winner in the Excellence in Education and Child
Services category of the inaugural Bayside Business Awards.
Bayside Council partnered with the Bayside Business
Enterprise Centre (BBEC) to recognise local businesses that
have made a positive contribution towards making Bayside a
dynamic and vibrant place to live, work and shop.
Bayside Council engaged ACA Research to accept the award
nominations and conduct the judging process. The award is a
fantastic recognition of our SMOOSH service, and we’re very
grateful to our SMOOSH Families and the community for their
ongoing support of our service.
(Left): Our team: Kate, Rekkha, Bronwynn and Ashleigh.
Kicking sustainability goals Sustainability is a continuous part of the SMOOSH
curriculum. We encourage children to use the compost and
help us make sure food scraps are put into the compost
when possible. Children also assist in looking after our
chickens at the centre, which is lots of fun.
New ideas for our
older kids Throughout the term we’ve been discussing with the seniors
(years 5 and 6) what activities they’d like to engage in at
SMOOSH as part of After School Care.
It was clear the children wanted more independence and
trust in their abilities.
Beginning in Term 4, we trialled this program, with one
optional excursion per week that was within walking distance
from the school, accompanied by SMOOSH educators.
10
Positive parenting
When parents play with their children, it helps
boost their self-esteem and teaches them how to
interact with others. So why not brainstorm ways to
play, and enjoy acting like a kid again yourself?
2. Allow your kids to do things
for themselves.
Allowing your child to test the waters will give them a
sense of independence. I know it’s hard sometimes,
but it helps teach them that making mistakes is OK.
Think back to the first time you successfully rode a
bike, or made pikelets. Maybe it took a few times to
get it right. But in the end, you felt good. This is the
feeling you want your child to have. It will help them
try new things as they get older.
Five ways you can start raising
happier, calmer children While kids don’t exactly come with an instruction manual, there are ways
you can improve the happiness levels in your home. Alison Leader reports.
W e all want our kids to be happy,
but sometimes we don’t know
where to start in the journey to
becoming better parents.
It’s well understood that over-scheduling our kids
with sports classes, music lessons, and art classes
can cause kids to be stressed and anxious. But we
don’t always know what the alternative is.
Sometimes we forget that most children are
actually happy by nature. They don’t have the
pressure of the world on their shoulders. They’re
able to experience joy through the small things in
life. They enjoy learning and seeing new places
such as the shopping centre, especially when
they’re young.
So how can we tap into our child’s innate
happiness? How can we form a bond with our kids
that will last a lifetime?
Here are five tips for boosting your child’s
happiness levels in simple, inexpensive ways.
1. Play with your child.
Play is your child’s language. And by play I mean
getting down on the floor and interacting with
them. Take delight in playing with your child. Start
by playing at the park or pulling out a board game.
11
Positive parenting
3. Set limits for your child.
You don’t have to be the parent that says “yes” to
everything. Most children don’t like to go to bed or
do their chores. This doesn’t mean you let them off
the hook. It’s alright if they get upset with you.
Have you considered
SMOOSH? We run a Safe Multicultural Out of School
Hours Childcare Centre (SMOOSH) program
at Gardeners Road Public School and
Eastlakes Public School.
SMOOSH caters for children from the schools
in term time, and all schools are welcome to
participate in vacation care.
Call the number below for more info:
02 8338 9678
4. Read to your child.
Reading helps children’s brains develop and builds the
bond between parent and child. Let your son or
daughter help with picking stories for you to share,
and make a space for Storytime every day.
Make reading a part of your routine and it will
become an activity you both look forward to.
5. Make time for yourself.
As a parent, it’s easy to put yourself last. But you need
to spend time doing things you find fun and fulfilling
outside of the role of Mum or Dad.
Even when you find your time stretched thin, add a
little space for yourself, even if it’s only 10 minutes.
Take a bubble bath, go for a walk, or watch a funny
YouTube video. Happy parents make happy kids.
As parents we need to make time for ourselves
because if we're not taking care of ourselves we're not
teaching our children how to take care of themselves.
Rather than overscheduling our kids, we need to raise
resilient kids who know how to rest and recuperate—
and whose parents know the value of self-care.
As a parent, you’re doing the best you can. Nobody
expects you to be perfect. We all make mistakes.
Psychologists often tell parents that “good enough”
parenting is the goal. A good-enough parent is a
parent that makes mistakes. It’s OK to mess up
sometimes, and it’s even better if you can admit to
your child that what you did was wrong.
Remember to go easy on yourself. Talk to your
friends and family about your struggles. Be open, and
ask for help when you need to. Maybe your friends
need your support too, and you can share each other’s
burdens. We’re not meant to do this journey alone.
12
Classes and workshops
What else is on offer?
CPR and First Aid for Babies and Children: 13th February, 27th March, and 8th May. When? 10am-12pm.
Early Communication in Babies and Children: 18th June, 10am-12pm.
Playgroup fun ahead
Mondays
10AM to 12PM
Gardeners Road Supported Playgroup,
Gardeners Road Public School
Term 1: 4th February till 8th April
Term 2, 6th May till 1st July
Tuesdays
10AM to 12PM
Eastlakes Supported Playgroup,
Eastlakes Public School
Term 1, 5th February till 9th April
Term 2, 7th May till 2nd July
Wednesdays
10AM to 12PM
Kensington Park Supported Playgroup,
Kensington Park Community Centre, Kingsford
Term 1, 6th February till 10th April
Term 2, 8th May till 3rd July
Thursdays
10AM to 12PM
Green Square Supported Playgroup,
Green Square Community Centre, 3 Joynton Avenue
Fridays: Coming Soon
10AM to 12PM
Lexington Hub Supported Playgroup, 3-7 Lexington
Place, Maroubra
We offer a range of supportive and expertly run
playgroups for the community Why not join us?
Need a bit of extra support?
We offer Family Case Management
assistance to families who need a little
extra help. Call us on 8338 8506 to find
out how we can support you.
13
Classes and workshops
SECC’s English Classes
South Eastern Community Connect (SECC)
runs English classes with childcare every
Friday for parents and grandparents.
Running from 10am to 12pm during
school term in Eastlakes, the classes include
an interactive lesson which involves both
parents and their children (under five).
For the first 90 minutes we provide an
English class, while our childcare staff take
care of your children. The last part of the
class is an interactive lesson which includes
the kids and involves singing, reading and
learning new words and themes to help
with preparation for pre-school. We also
provide help with parenting, integration
and socialisation. Cost: Only $15 per term.
Triple P Program
We will be helping families address
everyday issues with their kids in a
series of sessions in March. The Triple P – Positive Parenting Program has been shown to help reduce kids’ problem behaviours and also address children’s emotional struggles. The evidence also shows the program helps parents feel more confident, less stressed, less angry and less depressed. Join our FREE seminars for hands-on strategies to raise your child in an environment that’s safe, loving and predictable. If you have children between the ages of 2-12 years, we have the support you need. Tuesdays, 12,19 & 26 March, 5.30pm-7.30pm
14
Survival tips for parents
in The Silly Season
How can you embrace the
holidays while keeping a routine
and structure in place as much
as possible? Here are our tips.
Get the kids involved in
preparations and decorating, or
even making Christmas cards to
send. Help them to feel included
and responsible for a task. Maybe they can even help you shop for
your Christmas cooking, help make the Christmas pudding or cake,
and set the table on the day.
Depending on their age, your kids could write a list of things to do
before Christmas, or a shopping list.
If you don’t have a family tradition for the holidays, make one.
Include the children in the decision making around what the
tradition could be. Give them a couple of choices that you have
already decided upon, such as what to cook for dinner or how the
family is spending their time on Christmas Eve. Maybe you could
agree to open one present on Christmas eve.
Don’t forget to go with your child’s strengths when deciding what
they can help with. This will boost their confidence, self-esteem,
and pride in their accomplishments, as well as making Christmas
happier for all involved.
Happy Christmas,
Bronwynn Jursik, Families and Children’s Services Team Leader,
South Eastern Community Connect
15 12
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