My goodness, we have reached the end of another year! Flinders is always a hive of activity, but particularly as we wind down for the holiday break. There are many things to complete; portfolios, summative statements, transition planning, end of year party planning…and all the while making the most of these final weeks with many of the children and families who make up our community before they move on to their next adventures.
During this busy and often overwhelming time, it is important for us all to take a moment to reflect on the amazing year that was 2015, and to remember what we value the most. We would like to take a moment to thank you all for being active and enthusiastic participants in the Flinders community over the past year. We would like to highlight a couple of events that symbolise what community and the holiday period mean to us.
To celebrate the end of the year, we hold an End of Year Party. We opened the gates between Toddler and May Mills House this year and welcomed over 500 people through our doors. We shared food, enjoyed entertainment from The Amazing Drumming Monkeys, had our faces painted, and enjoyed frozen yoghurt together. It is wonderful to see families, children and educators spending time together and celebrating the end of the year with joy. Thank you for coming, and a very special thank you to our family, owners of Yo-Get-It! who donated the delicious frozen yoghurt for everyone to enjoy.
We would also like to highlight the work of the Sturt House children, educators and families for their work on the Art Gallery and Indigenous Literacy. Driven by the children’s interest, the Sturt House children have sold their art by donation, with all proceeds raised going to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. They have raised in excess of $500! We would like to acknowledge the generosity of our families, the empathy and activism of our children, and the insight of our educators. As one child thoughtfully wondered; “What would it be like if we didn’t have any books?”
Next year brings many wonderful adventures, and we would like to wish you well for whatever comes your way. For those who are leaving us, good luck! For those who are returning, we look forward to another exciting year.
We wish you happy holidays and hope your break is filled with joy, love, family, friends, generosity and good food.