University Preschool & Child Care Centre

Our AGM was successfully held on Friday, 30th March. Thank you to all those who took the time to attend and a special thank you to those parents who have nominated and re-nominated to be a part of our Management Committee. I look forward to another successful year with UPCCC and working closely with our Management Committee – Lynley

Why is it important to attend?
As a Community Based Not-For Profit Incorporated association we are legally bound to hold an Annual General Meeting for our members every year, within 3 months of the end of our financial year and we need 15 members of the association to form a quorum. Our financial year is January to December so the 30th March 2012 is absolutely the last day that our AGM can be held.
What happens at the AGM?
At the AGM reports on the previous year are presented by the President, Director & Treasurer, the Treasurer also presents the Audited financial report for the previous financial year. Also as required by our rules of Association, our current committee stands down and nominations are received for the new committee. Existing committee members are able to re-nominate.
Who can nominate to be a Member of the Management Committee
To be a member of the Management Committee you need to first be a member of the association. If you have at least one child currently enrolled with UPCCC you are automatically a member of the University Preschool and Child Care Association, so any of our current parents/carers are eligible to nominate or be nominated as a Committee Member.
Why should you nominate to be a Member of the Management Committee?
Firstly, our Management Committee is named as the licensee on our License to operate a Child Care Centre, if we are unable to form a Management Committee the Centre’s License is revoked, the centre is no longer able to operate and all of our families have to find alternate care for their children and all of the educators have to find new jobs.
Secondly, not only does the Management Committee hold the license for the Centre it is also responsible for the overall management of the centre and in this capacity is responsible for Policy decisions, financial decisions (such as setting fees), is involved in the selection of new staff and managing staff issues; and, is ultimately responsible for the learning programme. Of course the Management Committee do not do all this on their own, they are supported by several people. Lynley as Centre Director, who is responsible for the day-to day management of the centre—ensuring legal requirements are met, dealing with day-to-day staff issues, making policy recommendations, ensuring enrolments and oversight of the learning programme; Eileen as Lynley’s assistant; Jo-Ann who does the day-to-day book-keeping and reception work; Gaby who oversights the bookkeeping; and the Auditors who ensure that the books are all in order and compliant with Australian Standards.
So as you can see being part of the Management Committee means that you have a real say in the quality of child care your child receives.
How much time is involved in being on the Management Committee?
We realize that working and being a parent means that you do not have a lot of time to spare. Committee meetings are held once a month for an hour and a half over lunchtime (12.30 –2.00pm—we can care for your children in their room if necessary). Much of the ground work is done by Lynley, who communicates with the Committee between meetings by email when necessary. We do have Sub-Committees for staffing and Policies however these do not meet every month and not all committee members need to commit to a sub-committee as well—this depends on your interest, time & prior commitments.
For more information why not talk to Lynley or an existing Committee member—contact details are in each room.

Congratulations to Katie, Marcus & ‘big brother’ Callum, on the birth of Oliver Warren, born at 9.30pm on Monday 27th Feb. All the family are well and so happy baby Oliver has arrived.

EasyCare Landscapes have successfully tendered for the upgrade of the Preschool outdoor play area. Work will commence on a new bike track & surrounding garden at the end of April, early May. We shall keep you informed as to the commencement date, as we may need to redirect your entry path during the construction stage. Not only will this be an exciting improvement to the current play area, it will be make the entrance to our centre visually more appealing and welcoming

Welcome to a new year at UPCCC. I hope you all managed to have wonderful break over the Christmas/New Year period and managed to catch up with family and friends. I have to say that for me the break was welcome but over all to quickly, however the staff and I are all looking forward to working with all our families during 2012, renewing relationships with continuing families and getting to know our new families, thank you for allowing us to be a part of this very important stage of your children’s learning and development.

We firmly believe that educating and caring for your children is a shared responsibility between you as parents and all the staff at UPCCC and hope that your involvement with University Preschool and Childcare Centre is a positive and rewarding experience for both you and your children. We recognise that nobody knows your children better than you do so we value your input – the more information and insight you can provide us about your children the easier it is for us to provide continuity between home and Centre. We would love to hear your ideas on activities or different experiences we can provide for the children and if you are interested you are welcome to come in and share your interests/culture/talents with the children. We also appreciate being able share information with you about your children’s experiences and progress while they are with us, verbally and through the Daily Journals and Individual Children’s Journals.

The beginning of the year can often be a trying time for parents, children and staff as many of our current children are changing groups and we have several new children attending for the first time. This involves adjustment for both children and parents as they adapt to new routines and establish new relationships with both the staff and other children. It also means adjustment for the staff as they endeavour to get to know and build a rapport with the new children and their parents. It is normal for children at this time to become anxious about being separated from parents and to cry when parents leave. It is also normal for parents to feel anxious about leaving their children in the care of someone with whom they are not familiar particularly if their children are distressed. If you are worried about how your children are coping through the day feel free to call and talk to the staff as often as you like. If you are worried that your children do not seem to be adjusting to the changes please talk about this with the staff. All children are different with some taking longer than others to adjust to change and the staff may be able to give you some ideas on making the adjustment easier on both of you. If you would like to read more about children and “separation anxiety” go to Separation Anxiety.