Please find below an email from Coliban Water.
Hi Teachers,
Just getting in touch with a quick update to help with your planning.
First things first though – I wanted to acknowledge what a YEAR it has been. Kindergartens and Early Learning Centres are always busy places – adding a pandemic to the mix was huge. As a mother of a kindergarten child I say a heartfelt ‘thank you’ and as a teacher I say ‘kudos on a marathon effort’.
It was with great trepidation that I offered online kindergarten sessions this year –how could I engage with young children through a screen?– and I learnt lots along the way. I offered some Zoom sessions and webinar MS Teams broadcasts with colleagues supporting me as producers. We had 34 groups attend Water Hero and 39 attend Flushed! in September and November 2020. Thanks for the feedback on the sessions – suggestions for timing were taken onboard and I also had a coaching session with Jessica Staines at Koori Curriculum to respectfully include perspectives from First Nation people (and I have further PD in this area planned). My favourite feedback was hearing children were getting involved, answering my questions and saying hello when I mentioned their group or kindergarten name and trying out the science experiments I demonstrated.
2021 bookings – in-person
Hopefully I can visit kindergartens ‘in-person’ in 2021. Early in the school year I plan to send out details about booking a Term 2 or 3 session.
– I am currently putting together my Covidsafe plan for kindergarten visits. Please let me know if there is anything in particular I should include. At the moment:
– Provide copy of Working with Children Check via email, prior to session.
– Sanitise hands before entering the centre and as needed.
– Wear mask when setting up / packing up.
– Bring own pen for sign in.
– Teacher email sign up / student numbers – provide pen to keep or I write these in.
– Change session so there is less touching of resources – or resources are easily sanitised / disposable.
– Outdoor sessions where possible – use sand pit and sit around edge (set up model water getting to tap – still working on practicality of this!) or other space.2021 bookings – online
I will offer some Water Hero online sessions in the week of 22 – 26 March 2021, to coincide with World Water Day on March 22. These sessions would suit groups who are keen to lock in a session now and early enough in the year to set up some great habits around saving and drinking water. Please let me know if you are interested in this option – and feel to provide feedback on a suitable time/day.
Also – I have attached a possible newsletter item for an upcoming back-to-school financial online session on Friday 15 January 2021 Registration link here.Please share the information within your kindergarten community, if you think it is suitable. Coliban Water is co-delivering the sessions with Anglicare Victoria. Alternatively there is a link to the Facebook event here: https://fb.me/e/1UbavIKrO. Plus a reminder there are lots of videos and resources on our Early Childhood page – including the Water Hero Kindergarten resource with ideas and local examples for saving water and promoting water as a drink in kindergartens.
The team at Coliban Water would like to wish you all a Happy Christmas and a wonderful well-deserved break.
Kind regards,
Alice Rowbottom | Corporate Education Officer
p 03 5434 1248 | m 0419765879
