TERM 4 NEWS
Well who can believe that term 4 is nearly over and there are less than 4 weeks left until Christmas!! We’ve had another hectic term full of activities! Most families have enjoyed the additional money from Carer Links North by going out with their group. It is an important time to reflect and recognise the sometimes hard but rewarding job you do as carers.
We have had one of our Dads join the Committee of Management for 2012!! It is fantastic to have new members join the Committee. Welcome!! If there are any other interested families wanting to join the committee please speak to either Georda or Melinda. Your help is certainly appreciated.
RCH SAFETY CENTRE
The Safety Centre is moving to the new Royal Children’s Hospital.
Website: www.rch.org.au/chas
Visit the website to have a look at the fact sheets and other information about the safety centre
Safety Centre: 50 Flemington Rd Parkville-Ground Floor in Main Street west side. A map is available on the website. Ph: 9345 6429
Families are able to visit the Family Resource Centre where some products are installed and on display
Make an appointment: PH: 9345 5085
Families are able to make an appointment to discuss their individual needs.
RESEARCH AT NORPARRIN!!
At the end of every year we ask families to complete a Questionnaire to give us feedback on Norparrin’s program and how we can improve. This year we have Helen Farrell, a renowned University Researcher, helping us to deliver the questionnaire for two reasons. As well as being a way to evaluate the Norparrin service, we are also aiming to collect some information about Norparrin as a whole. The evidence collected will inform us about best practice and how the future of Norparrin may look. There are 3 ways that you can be involved in giving us your feedback:
1. Face to face– every group is going to be visited by a Norparrin staff member for a group discussion
2. Written survey– copies will be given out in groups for you to complete either within group or at home
3. Online survey– we also have an online survey available on the Norparrin webpage. The link is located on the bottom of the homepage under ‘Tell us what you think’.
AMAZE
Autism Victoria has changed their name to Amaze. Have a look at the new website for a wealth of information about Autism.
www.amaze.org.au
EARLY CHILDHOOD INTERVENTION AUSTRALIA (ECIA)
CAMPAIGN- “OUR CHILDREN CAN’T WAIT”
ECIA will receive a Statewide Campaign on Saturday 3 December to coincide with the International Day of Disability. The campaign aims to raise awareness of Early Childhood Intervention Services called “Our Children Can’t Wait”. The campaign encourages parents to tell their stories on Facebook by ‘liking’ the site and also to write to their local Member of Parliament (see attached letter)
To access the Facebook page please follow the link:
http://www.facebook.com/OurChildrenCantWait
CARER CARD
Have you got a Carer card? Are you an unpaid primary carer of a person with a disability? Then you could be eligible for many discounts on products and services!
Visit www.carercard.vic.gov.au or see Norparrin staff for a form!
FOCUS ON FEELING GOOD!
We have had a successful year of the Focus On Feeling Good! Group. Our weekend events have featured a wide range of activities, including a footy fun day, pamper sessions for parents, guest speakers on humour and caring and fussy eaters and our most popular event, the children's farm.
Parents have valued the chance to come to a supportive, safe environment and meet other parents. We will be starting up again after Christmas, so we look forward to some more events. All current and past Norparrin families are invited to be involved, so you are still welcome to come, even if your child moves off to school next year.
Huge thanks to Tracey, Maria, Oly and Kylie for all of their hard work in making the Focus on Feeling Good! Group so successful.
PARENT LIBRARY
We have a fantastic resource in the way of a Parent Library at Norparrin. As we are approaching the end of the year we have noticed that a number of families have resources on loan.
Could all families please return any books, DVD’s, etc to Norparrin so that they are available for other families to borrow in the new year. However, if you are still using the resource-just let us know! Thank you so much for your support!
FAMILY PICNIC
We had a great turn out for our Family Picnic on Monday 14 November and the weather was also kind to us. Many families enjoyed the Sausage Sizzle, playground and each others company. Thank you to all the families that attended and made the night a great success. A special thank you for the donation of sausages, cooking the sausages and to everyone else who helped with the running and organisation of the night. Congratulations to all the raffle winners and we hope you enjoy your prizes.
ACTIVITY IDEAS around your home
Threading
Try threading some shoelaces with odd things around the house such as milk bottle tops, pasta, cut up straws, patty pans, beads.
Pasting
Use up scraps around the house such as old magazines, old birthday cards, material, wrapping paper, cellophane and so on. You could also do a pasting with leaves and flowers you have collected after a walk.
Puppets
Use paper bags, old socks, boxes and wooden spoons. Paste, paint or draw
faces and features!
Jigsaws
You could use old birthday cards or pictures from magazines. Why don’t you even try a photo of your family or your child. Stick the picture onto cardboard for extra strength then cut out the picture into different shapes.
Spray bottles
Fill some spray bottles with water that the children can spray on each other or onto fences. You could even put some food colouring into the water and spray a large cloth attached to a fence.
Water painting
Small bucket with water and paint/pastry brush to paint the fence, side of the house or whatever is safe to paint.
Cubby house
Use some sheets, tablecloths or large cloths to make a cubby house. You could even hang over a clothes line to create an instant cubby house!
Teddy bears picnic
Have a Teddy Bears Picnic! Invite all your favourite bears, dolls and friends for a special feast.
Junior Masterchef!
Become a Masterchef!! Simple foods such as muffins are good because they are mixed by hand and are quick to cook. You can also make savoury and sweet muffins.
Drawing and colouring in
Try colouring in, cutting and pasting with many of the pictures that can be downloaded from the following sites
http://www.crayola.com/free-coloring-pages/
http://www.abc.net.au/children/play/print_and_colour.html
http://www.educationalcoloringpages.com/freecoloring.html
Activity ideas outside your home
Local library
Check out the local library-they have lots of books, CD’s and DVD’s to borrow-some even have toys! Each of the toy libraries may have some membership fees so be sure to check with them. Some libraries have story time where
families can listen to stories and do some craft activities.
CITY OF DAREBIN
www.darebinlibraries.vic.gov.au
Northcote 32-38 Separation Street Northcote
Fairfield 121 Station Street Fairfield
Preston 266 Gower Street Preston
Reservoir 17-21 Ralph Street Reservoir
CITY OF BANYULE, CITY OF WHITTLESEA and NILLUMBIK SHIRE
www.yprl.vic.gov.au
Ivanhoe Rosanna
255 Upper Heidelberg Road, Ivanhoe, 9497 5780 Turnham Avenue, Rosanna, 9459 6171
Watsonia Diamond Valley
Ibbottson Street, Watsonia, 9435 2397 Civic Drive, Greensborough, 9434 3809
Eltham Lalor
Panther Place, Eltham, 9439 9266 May Road, Lalor, 9465 2353
Thomastown Mill Park
52 Main Street, Thomastown, 9464 1864 394 Plenty Road Mill Park 9437 8189
Tram, train or bus ride
Some children love going on public transport and exploring the world. You don’t have to go very far –even just one or two train stops. Go to the park, to the shops or even a café. A trip to the city could also be fun but may require a little more planning and organisation.
Park
There are many parks in Melbourne. A good website is MELBOURNE PLAYGROUNDS
http://www.MelbournePlaygrounds.com.au
Melbourne Playgrounds is a free on-line guide to thousands of Melbourne activities for the entire family! Activities cover playgrounds (more than 2100 reviewed with photos), Play Centres, Aquatic Centres, Skate Parks, BMX tracks, miniature train rides, sport & recreation, nature activities, hobbies and cultural activities such as music & dance. Melbourne Playgrounds is unique in that it provides reviews ratings & photos of activities. There is also an extensive list of family activities outside Melbourne covering all of Victoria which is useful when planning a day trip or longer holidays within the State.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Wishing all the families of Norparrin a very special Christmas and happy holidays. Thanks to all the families who have shared 2011 with us. We have received enormous pleasure in being a part of your child’s growth. For those moving onto school– our best wishes to you and your child as you move onto the next phase in your lives. Please keep in touch!
We are looking forward to an exciting 2012.
Norparrin staff and Committee of Management
DATES TO REMEMBER
Siblings Night
Monday 5 December
Party Week
12 Dec-16 Dec
Last session for children and families Fri 16 Dec
Norparrin closes on Thursday 22 Dec
Norparrin reopens on Wednesday 1 Feb 2012 and sessions commence on Monday 20 Feb 2012
Holiday program 11-1pm (weather permitting)
Mon 9 Jan 2012
Tues 17 Jan 2012
Wed 25 Jan 2012
Thurs 2 Feb 2012
Friday 10 Feb 2012
Mon 13 Feb 2012
