Currambena school blog

There’s been a hum of excitement in preschool this week as we continue exploring our wider community through art, conversation, and shared experiences. With Art Week in full swing, the children have had the opportunity to take part in crafting beautiful paper lanterns for the upcoming Lantern Social at Tambourine Bay on Tuesday, 24 June. As the pieces come together, so does the anticipation—we can’t wait to see our creations glowing alongside those from the wider Currambena community in a joyful celebration of light, creativity, and connection.

During group times, our conversations have turned to the importance of inclusive play and celebrating gender diversity. We’ve been listening to each other’s ideas, reflecting on what it means to be kind and welcoming in our play, and learning how our words and choices can create spaces where everyone feels seen and respected. These discussions are shaping not just our play, but our shared understanding of community and identity.

A growing interest in fire has taken hold in our outdoor play, sparking thoughtful questions and imaginative scenarios. We’ve reached out to Lane Cove Fire & Rescue to invite a visit from the fire truck, fingers crossed we’ll hear back soon! Meanwhile, we’re also planning a special firepit experience at preschool, where children can safely gather to roast marshmallows and learn about fire safety, cooking, and working together. We hope to take our proposal to the school meeting next week for approval, democratic learning in action.

Looking ahead, there will be a small staffing change as Lisa prepares to take some well-deserved leave from Friday of Week 10 (4 July 2025), returning in Week 2 of Term 3. During this time, Abby and Michael will support the program alongside me, and we’ll also be joined by May, a trusted casual educator, who the children already know.

We look forward to sharing stories and photos from the Lantern Social, our communal fire, and more next week. As always, thank you for your ongoing support and the warmth you bring to our preschool community.

Love

Katrina, Lisa, Abi and Michael

Hello Everyone,

This week in preschool has been full of dramatic play, conversations, and confident performances as the children continued to explore self-expression, voice, and identity across a range of experiences.

A strong focus throughout the week has been our ongoing work around body autonomy and protective behaviours. During group times, we revisited important stories from the Office of the Children’s Guardian, including Andy Learns the Undies Rule and Fiona Finds Five Heroes. These stories prompted meaningful discussion among us around private body parts, personal boundaries, and the importance of speaking up. We also introduced the idea of each child identifying their own five trusted adults, people they can go to if something ever feels unsafe or uncomfortable. The children took this seriously, thoughtfully tracing their hands or drawing and naming people who make them feel safe and supported. These sessions are part of our ongoing commitment to helping children understand that they are the boss of their own bodies.

Another highlight this week has been puppetry with Abi, who has been working closely with small groups of children to develop some amazingly creative puppets. These sessions have been creative, and often very funny. Puppet play provides children with a safe and expressive avenue to explore social interaction, humour, and voice.

On Wednesday, we had our final session with Mayuko from Cool Planet, where we began exploring the concept of the circular economy. The children were introduced to the idea that instead of following a traditional “take, make, dispose” model, we can find ways to reuse, repair, and recycle materials to reduce waste and protect the environment. Through discussion and hands on activities, we started to unpack what this means in everyday life and how small actions, like composting food scraps or reusing materials, can contribute to a more sustainable future.

In the afternoons, we’ve continued inviting children to take centre stage if they wish, as part of our calm end-of-day routine. Many children have taken up this invitation to sing or perform for the group, with a growing sense of confidence and pride. These moments have been a great way for children to support one another with quiet attention and applause.

On reflection it’s been a week of children claiming space, expressing themselves, and building a stronger understanding of themselves and others, through both playful exploration and important conversations.

Warmly,

Katrina, Lisa, Abi and Michael