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As we edge closer to summer, it’s a timely reminder of the need for all who attend After School Care and/or Vacation Care to bring along their own bucket hat. In future, those who attend the Vacation Care Program without a hat will be given a hat of their own to keep, the cost of which will be added to your account. These hats will also be available for purchase at any time.

A water bottle is another important necessity at After School Care and Vacation Care. The supply of a water bottle will incur an account charge of $3.

Term 4, 2017

So, here we are in November…. and there’s no denying that Christmas is coming fast, with decorations up in many shops, and some even playing carols!

In this edition we will address some important end of year dates in regard to school closure and commencement dates for the Vacation Care Program. We will also provide some information on the new Child Care Package commencing July 2018.

Please keep in mind that if your child is currently attending 4 year old kinder and is enrolled in prep in 2018, then they are able to utilise the Vacation Care Program commencing January, 2018.

Once again, Vacation Care is approaching fast. Brochures will be handed to schools during the week commencing November 27. Please be aware it is up to schools to distribute these.There will also be plenty of brochure copies at the Stadium and After School Care. Bookings commence on December 4.

We have a huge and exciting Vacation Care Program lined up, with some of the following fun days to look forward to…

Superhero day

Aquazone

Super sensory surprise

Fun at Lake Pertobe

Cooking day

Photo booth fun

and the Amazing race at the Botanical Gardens

Important Upcoming DatesMonday 4th December - Dec/January Vacation Care bookings open

Wednesday 20th December - Last day of After School Care for 2017

Thursday 21st December - Vacation Care day 1

Friday 22nd December - Vacation Care day 2, and last day of Vacation Care bookings

Saturday 23rd December to Monday 1st Jaunary 2018 - Warrnambool Stadium closure

Tuesday 2nd January 2018 - January Vacation Care commences

Friday 26th January 2018 - Australia Day (no Vacation Care today)

Wednesday 31st January 2018 - Final day of Summer Vacation Care

Thursday 1st February 2018 - After School Care commences for 2018

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Housekeeping and account info

Vacation Care bookingsVacation Care bookings will be available during the last 3 weeks of term 4.Vacation Care fees are calculated based on the number of booked days, plus any excursion fees, with Child Care Benefit and Rebate status taken into account. These fees require payment at the time of booking. Spaces are not guaranteed until payment is received. Please also note that spaces are not guaranteed for late bookings.

Our fee estimates on booking/payment for Vacation Care are based on current information provided. The final fee can vary if circcumstances change.

Any account enquiries can be directed to our OSHC Admin Officer, Helen via email address: hsmith@warrnambool.vic.gov.au

Cancellation of Vacation Care bookingsIn the event of cancellation of Vacation Care, credit for cancelled days is only available if the positions/s can be filled from the waiting list. This applies for a period of 2 weeks from the cancellation date.

Absence due to illnessPlease note that credit for absence due to illness during After School Care and Vacation Care is available on presentation of a medical certificate. Certificates can be emailed to Helen at hsmith@warrnambool.vic.gov.au or given to Kathy at the Program.

Medication MattersMedication must be provided by the child’s parents including the following:* Original container. Medication will only be administered from the original container.* Original label that is clearly readable* Child’s name clearly on the label* Any instructions attached to the medication or related to the use of the medication.* Any verbal or written instructions provided by the child’s registered medical practitioner* Please also ensure any medications (ie. asthma pumps) are within the current date range and that management plans are dated within a 12 month period.* Any individual delivering a child to the service must not leave medications in the child’s bag. Medication must be given directly to an educator for appropriate storage upon arrival.

Santa is the worlds richest man

He may not be in the gift giving business for the big bucks, but Santa still needs money to keep his oper-ation rolling. (And to pay for the elves’ dental plan.

Those elf unions are ruthless.) Thankfully, Santa’s wealth surpasses even Scrooge Mc-Duck’s money bin. Forbes compiled a list of the world’s richest people and St. Nick topped it with a net worth of infnity. This beats the world’s current net worth record holder, Mexican investor Carlos Slim Helu, who

only topped out at a measly $74 billion. No wonder Santa’s so jolly.

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From 2 July 2018, there will be a New Child Care Package, providing more support for more families. As we approach the end of the year, you may be considering your child care requirements for 2018.An important consideration for you will be the Government’s [education.gov.au/childcare] New Child Care Package. Under the new package, the existing Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate will be replaced by a new Child Care Subsidy. The amount of subsidy that families will receive will be based on three things: 1. their combined family income2. the level of ‘approved’ activity they undertake3. the type of child care service they use. The easiest way to work out how much subsidy you may be eligible for is through the Family Child Care Subsidy Estimator which is available at https://www.education.gov.au/ChildCarePackage. It’s easy to use and only takes a few minutes to fill out.

Some basic requirements must be satisfied for an individual to be eligible to receive Child Care Subsidy for a child. These include:

* the age of the child (must be 13 or under and not attending secondary school)

* the child meeting immunisation requirements

* the individual, or their partner, meeting the residency requirements.

ResourcesA range of information resources are available to assist families and providers understand the details of the new package. These can be found on the above website link.

Lunchbox ideas for Hot Summer Days

It’s hot, it’s really hot! But kids still need lunches and they need to be kept cool. So what do you do as a parent to send lunches to school that are kept cool throughout the day? Whatever you can! And what are the best things to pack? Here’s some summer lunchbox ideas and tricks for ensuring your childs lunch stays cool and edible in the heat.• First of all, make sure you have a good cooler bag and ice pack. • Pack cold food! If food is room temp when packed, the icepack and cooler bag have to work to get them down to a cool temp before keeping them cool. So chop your fruit and veggies the night before and put in the lunchbox in the fridge for maximum coldness come morning time.• Some things can go in frozen! In summer, a frozen muffin will defrost despite the cooler bag and icepack before lunch time. They have the added benefit of keeping other things cold. Freeze some watermelon chunks or other fruits, they will still be extra cold come lunchtime.• Try to keep food light and fun in summer, as when it’s hot, kids are drinking a lot more and the heat can mean they don’t want to eat heavy food, so think salads with a protein hit rather than heavy sandwiches.

• The best drink for kids at Vacation Care is always water, so make sure their bottle is big enough to get them through at least their morning session. If your child isn’t drinking enough water, try adding a piece or two of cut up fruit to the water to infuse the flavour. Freeze the water bottle overnight to maintain coldness throughout the day.• Make your own fruit slushies. By blitzing some apple juice and berries, and freezing in reusable yoghurt pouches, you have home made slushies when stored in the cooler bag with lunch. Do the same with

yoghurt and berries, it ends up the consistency of soft serve by lunch time!

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Vacation Care Vox Pop

Children were asked what they enjoyed the most about Vacation Care?

Scarlett: I love painting

Kaiden: Going to get the chocolate ice-cream (during the Great Ocean Road trip)

Roxy: I enjoyed all of it

Trae: I like the variety of choices we have

Sam: I like the painting

Vacation Care 2017, the year that was....

Quarterly Newsletter m: 0400 928 454