Rivermount Seedlings Prospectus

RIVERMOUNT COLLEGE

WELCOME TO KINDY AT RIVERMOUNT COLLEGE

Flexibility to choose from Full-time or Part-time attendance

Government Accredited and focusing on the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF)

Sensory rich program designed to ignite curiousity and imagination

Become a valued member of our dynamic and caring community

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DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE At Rivermount Seedlings, we aim to encourage and inspire every child to realise their full potential. We offer an inquiry approach towards learning that allows children to make meaningful connections between their own prior experiences and new knowledge, as well as giving them diverse opportunities to explore and investigate through play. Our emergent curriculum identifies children’s current interests and abilities in order to thoughtfully plan learning experiences that are sensory rich and provoke curiosity, imagination and excitement.

We provide children with a nurturing environment based on Christian values, where every child can feel a sense of belonging and be supported and respected as individuals with unique learning goals and dreams.

We are a vibrant learning community who take pride in our holistic approach, focusing on students physical, personal, social, emotional and spiritual wellbeing as well as cognitive aspects of learning.

Rivermount Seedings has a strong commitment to Reconciliation and we strive to engage, embrace and embody the heritage of the Indigenous culture in our everyday practice.

We believe it is vital to build a genuine partnership with families where parents, teachers and children can collaborate in order to create an authentic, consistent learning environment where children can become the best version of themselves.

Our Queensland Government Approved Kindergarten Program is informed by the Queensland Kindergarten Curriculum Guidelines, the National Quality Standards and the Early Years Learning Framework, which views children as ‘active participants and decision makers’ in their own learning.

Our beautiful, inviting indoor and outdoor spaces will foster a love for the natural environment and encourage children to respect and understand the connection between all living things. We have passionate, qualified teachers who endeavour to guide, scaffold and extend each child’s thinking, whilst catering for a diverse range of learning styles.

We teach children routines and life skills that will enable them to make a seamless transition into Prep. Each child’s learning journey continues and grows during their time at Rivermount Seedlings. We endeavour to inspire a genuine love for learning and a positive attitude towards school in every child. It is hoped that their experience with us will inspire a lifelong curiosity, the ability to thrive in an ever-changing world and a firm belief that they have much to offer.

Rivermount Seedlings is the beginning of a unique and truly memorable experience that will pave the way for your child’s future journey at Rivermount College.

Alana Allen Director of Kindergarten Rivermount Seedlings

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OUR PROGRAM Rivermount Seedlings is located in our Early Learning Centre.

Our centre provides a safe learning environment with specialist facilities and ease of parking for families.

ATTENDANCE Rivermount Seedlings offers families a flexible option of either part-time or full-time attendance.

Part-time: 5 day fortnight with option to choose either Mondays, Tuesdays and alternate Wednesdays or alternate Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Full-time: Monday to Friday weekly The program will run during the Rivermount College school term with adherence to Public Holidays. In 2021 the term dates are as follows: Term 1: Wednesday 27 January – Thursday 1 April Term 2: Monday 19 April – Thursday 17 June Term 3: Monday 12 July – Friday 17 September Term 4: Tuesday 5 October – Friday 3 December HOURS OF OPERATION: Our Kindy will operate from 8:20am to 3:00pm. Supervision will be provided for students from 8:00am until 4:00pm OUTSIDE SCHOOL HOURS CARE: Families are able to use the College OSHC provider, TeamKids. The program runs from 6:00am to 6:00pm and is charged at an hourly rate.

Details are available on the College website at www.rivermount.net

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FEES AND PAYMENTS INDICATIVE FEE STRUCTURE * Subject to change and confirmation by the College Application Fee: Confirmation Fee:

$50.00 (online application process) $200.00 (payable after enrolment interview and offer of a place)

Fees: * Please note that CCR (Child Care Rebate) is not available for this program * Sibling discounts will not be applied to the Kindy program Per Term

Per Annum

Part-time Program

$1140.00

$4560.00

Full-time Program

$2280.00

$9120.00

Rivermount College will provide confirmation of the 2021 Fee Schedule for Kindy in November 2020

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING FEES AND PAYMENTS •

The fees and charges provided are indicative only and subject to change. The fee schedule for 2021 will be available for release in November 2020 following final approval by the College Board of Directors.

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Rivermount Seedlings is not operated as a long day care program and as such, eligibility for Child Care Rebates and Child Care Assistance by the government is not available to families enrolled in the program.

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Fees and charges are invoiced to families at the commencement of each school term.

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The cost of Outside School Hours Care, operated by Teamkids, is a separate cost.

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The confirmation fee of $200.00 per student is payable following a successful enrolment interview and is non-refundable if enrolment is withdrawn. The cost of the confirmation fee is a once only payment to secure a place in our program and is not deducted from future fees.

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Sibling discounts are not applied to the annual fee for Rivermount Seedlings.

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The cost of uniforms and other requirements is not included in the fees for the year.

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EARLY YEARS LEARNING FRAMEWORK (EYLF) Rivermount Seedlings is excited to offer a dynamic program that focuses on the Early Years Learning Framework. Belonging, Being and Becoming are the essential principles, practices and outcomes that support and enhance young children’s learning and provide a smooth transition into schooling.

BELONGING

BEING

Children belong first to a family, a cultural group, a neighbourhood and a wider community. In early childhood and throughout life, relationships are crucial to a sense of belonging. Belonging is central to being and becoming in that it shapes who children are and who they can become.

Childhood is a time to be, to seek and make meaning of the world. Being recognises the significance of the here and now in children’s lives. It is about the present and them knowing themselves, building and maintaining relationships with others, engaging with life’s joys and complexities, and meeting challenges in everyday life.

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BECOMING Children’s identities, knowledge, understandings, capacities, skills and relationships change during childhood. They are shaped by many different events and circumstances.

Becoming reflects this process of rapid and significant change that occurs in the early years as young children learn and grow. It emphasises learning to participate fully and actively in society.

CLASS SIZE There will be two classes.

Each class will have 22 children.

STAFF In each room there will be a qualified Early Childhood Teacher and a qualified Educator/ Assistant.

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DIRECTOR Our Kindy Director is Mrs Alana Allen, a qualified and highly experienced teacher and early childhood educator.

OUR PROGRAM STRUCTURE Rivermount College is well supported by a team of highly professional educators and administration staff. The College has two registered nurses, an Indigenous Education Support Officer and a dedicated Wellbeing Team comprising an Occupational Therapist and qualified Counsellors.

SPECIALIST LESSONS • Japanese • Health and Physical Education (including swimming lessons in Term 4) • Music • Library These lessons will be taught by the Primary School Specialist teachers and students will be accompanied by their Educator when they attend these programs.

CULTURAL AWARENESS AND BUSH KINDY We will be providing a Bush Kindy program, led by our College’s Indigenous Educational Support Officer, where students will take part in nature walks around the beautiful College campus and participate in a range of activities that promote Cultural Awareness.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM At Rivermount College, caring for the environment is an integral part of our mission. Our Kindy students will be involved in taking care of the environment within the Kindergarten itself and within the College. Activities will include planting and maintaining gardens, composting and other sustainable practices.

BUDDY PROGRAM Throughout the year, Kindy students will have the opportunity to join their ‘Buddies’ from the Primary and Secondary School for activities and games.

TRANSITION PROGRAM Being a part of our school community is an exciting experience and students will participate in events such as school assemblies so that they can become familiar with the College. This paves the way for a smooth transition into the next phase of learning at Rivermount College.

: EXAMPLE ROUTINE The classroom routine is flexible and caters for the needs of all children, considers the weather and provides an array of experiences.

8.00am - 8.45am Outdoor Community Time (Greeting children and families, outdoor experiences) 8.45am - 9.00am Morning Meeting (Good Morning Song, calendar, weather, sign in check, daily schedule, Brain Booster exercises) 9.00am - 9.20am Mini Lesson (new skill relevant to inquiry, Mystery Box to introduce new resources, literacy, numeracy, social/emotional development, technology, Christian Living or 6Cs monthly trait) 9.20am - 10.20am Indoor Activity Time (learning centres, project work, discovery time) *Fruit Trolley is available 10.20am - 11.05am Transition to Morning Tea and Outdoor Play 11.05am - 11.55am Outdoor Classroom/ Specialist Lesson 11.55 am - 12.45pm Inquiry (working through LAUNCH Cycle based on children’s interests) 12.45am - 1.05pm Transition and Lunch 1.05am - 1.15pm Stretching, Meditation, Story, Mindfulness 1.15pm -2:00pm Rest and Relaxation

TECHNOLOGY Technology will be imbedded into the program and students will have many opportunities to use iPads, cameras, the Interactive Whiteboard, printers, iPods and other exciting devices as part of their learning experience.

2:00pm - 2.30pm Quiet Activities

INCURSIONS AND EXCURSIONS There will be many opportunities for our Kindy students to visit exciting places through organised excursions and to experience a range of interactive incursions on the College campus.

2.50pm - 3:00pm Pack up routines, afternoon jobs

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2.30pm - 2.50pm Daily Reflection Meeting/Journals

3.00pm - 4.00pm Outdoors for pick up and goodbyes

UNIFORM AND RESOURCES Kindergarten students will wear the College Sports Uniform along with a Rivermount Seedlings hat and backpack.

Each student will require the following: • • • • • • • • •

RMC sports shorts RMC polo shirt RMC sports socks Rivermount Seedlings Bucket Hat RMC Tracksuit for cooler days Velcro sneakers Rivermount Seedlings Backpack Sheet Set Navy Swimmers and Rashie (Term 4 Swimming)

Please note that Play hats and Sheet sets will stay at the Centre until the child’s last day of the fortnight, when they will be taken home for a wash and returned with the child on their next school day.

All uniform items can be purchased through the College Retail Centre prior to the beginning of the school year.

You will need to pack the following for your child each day: • A labelled drink bottle filled with water • A healthy morning tea and lunch in separate, labelled containers (cold food will require icepacks) • An extra fruit /or vegetable snack for ‘munch and crunch’ • The Rivermount Seedlings backpack with a spare uniform and also a set of clothes for messy play

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OUR KINDY FACILITIES Our new Early Learning Centre is currently under construction and will be ready for our first intake in January 2021.

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OUR COMMUNITY Belonging to the Rivermount community is a wonderful and rewarding experience. We value our families and encourage all parents and caregivers to become actively involved in the life of the College. The partnership between home and school is essential to the successful and positive relationship needed to ensure each student at Rivermount College is given the opportunity to realise their unique potential.

COMMUNICATION AND INVOLVEMENT FOR KINDY FAMILIES:

APP • • • • •

Notices Reminders Alerts News Calendar

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Each family has access to the College App, closed facebook groups and our Parent Lounge portal.

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Rivermount Seedlings will provide a special communication tool so that families can read a daily write up about their child’s day, along with photographs.

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Regular emails and newsletters will be communicated to all families.

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Each child will have their own Portfolio that will accumulate art work, work samples, photos, observations and other documents throughout the year. The teacher, child and parents are asked to contribute to these portfolios. There will be ‘Portfolio Open Days’ where parents are invited into the classroom to view and contribute to their child’s Portfolio.

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Transition Statements are given to parents in November.

These are essentially progress reports that provide a brief statement about how your child has progressed in each learning area.

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Parent/Teacher Interviews will be held mid-year.

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There will be activities throughout the year that parents will be invited to participate in as well as the opportunity to become involved in all College events.

PORTAL • • • • •

Family Account Student Information Payments Correspondence Approvals

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WEBSITE • • • • •

Calendar News Events Policies Essential Information

NURTURE | LEARN | GROW At Rivermount Seedlings we have a very special focus on social/emotional wellbeing and teaching children life skills and routines such as sharing, conflict resolution, self-regulating behaviour, self-help skills and independence.

We prepare children for Prep by focussing on the Rivermount ‘PIE’ System (based on our School Motto, Perseverance, Integrity and Excellence) which encourages children to; • • • • •

Communicate respectfully Solve Problems peacefully Play safely and move sensibly Respect and care for property Show Perseverance, Integrity and Excellence

Rivermount Seedlings Program builds upon the 6C’s of Education; • • • • • •

Creativity Communication Critical Thinking Character Citizenship Collaboration

We will also use ‘The Launch Cycle’ by John Spencer and AJ Juliani to guide us through our Inquiry Projects. The Launch Cycle is used within the College with many of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) activities.

Rivermount Seedling students will benefit from early access to this program.

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ENROLMENT PROCESS

STEP TWO

STEP ONE •

Complete the online Application Form

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Pay the $50 Application Fee

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Ensure all required documents are attached

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Book your enrolment interview

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Complete the ‘All about Me’ form emailed by our Enrolment Team

STEP THREE •

Attend your enrolment interview with the Director.

The student is required to attend

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If offered a place, secure your enrolment with the $200 Confirmation Fee

IMPORTANT: Please note that admission to Rivermount Seedlings does not guarantee that the student will be automatically enrolled into our Prep Year.

An interview for Prep will be required at the completion of the Kindy Program. An additional confirmation fee is not payable if accepted into Prep. As per our enrolment policy, siblings are given first preference for places at Rivermount College.

APPLICATION Visit our website at

www.rivermount.net to complete the Application for Enrolment

CONTACT US

Phone: 3287 0000 Email: enrolments@rivermount.qld.edu.au Facebook: facebook.com/ rivermountcollege Web: www.rivermount.net

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OUR TEAM Ms Roslyn Young Director of Enrolments & Marketing Mrs Dani-L Distefano Enrolments Assistant