We provide an inclusive, safe, stimulating and caring environment for children by nurturing each child's sense of belonging, being and becoming.
Possums Community Preschool is a non-profit, community-operated preschool. We opened in 1986 and have been educating and caring for children from across the Tweed Shire for the past 25 years.
The service is managed by the parents of the children attending, and by community members who are committed to the quality of our children's education and care.
We encourage parents to be as involved as possible in the operation of the preschool and in the development of the program. The more each parent or carer cares about the quality of their child's education and experiences, the more successful the preschool will be.
Management Committee
The Management Committee is the Licensee of the preschool and are required to ensure that Possums is complying with the NSW Children's Services Regulations 2004, the Early Years Learning Framework, and the National Quality Framework.
The committee is comprised of a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, who hold a monthly meeting where all parents are welcome and encouraged to attend.
The 2012 Management Committee are:
At Possums we aim to provide a happy, secure and stimulating environment in which each child can learn his/her self-worth whilst also learning about others.
Providing opportunities for children to be investigators and make connections within a supported environment allows our children at Possums to be life-long learners. Being valued enables our children to become independent and responsible.
Our Mission
Our Vision
Our Values
Vision
Partnerships
Families
Community
Staff
History
Flexibility
Home
Karen Shackell
Director, Teacher, Authorised Supervisor
Karen joined Possums as Director in 2003 after working in an array of children's services. Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood), a Diploma of Community Services, and a Certificate III in Children's Services.
Karen is a dedicated educator. She is involved in early childhood education projects and groups across the Tweed Shire, ensuring the development of, and support for, an inclusive and caring community for its children.
Sharnah Bowen
Assistant Teacher
Sharnah commenced employment at Possums in 2010. She has completed her Diploma of Children's Services, and has an added skill of using MAKATON signing with children who need additional communication support.
Tammy Hamlin
Tammy has been employed at Possums since 2010. She has completed her Diploma of Childcare and Education, and brings to Possums a wealth of experience from the early intervention environment.
Peter Watts
Peter joined the Possums team in 2010 while completing his Certificate in Children's Services. He has had a number of years working with children in various services and we are pleased to have a male on the team!
Jill Tapp
Bookkeeper
Jill joined the team in 2005 as a bookkeeper and is only a phone call away when we need any help! She is only too happy to answer any questions we may have concerning budgets, finances or any other problem that may arise.
Open Position
We are currently interviewing for this position to commence in Term 1, 2012.
All educators receive training in:
We believe each child is a capable and resourceful individual with a variety of needs, abilities and interests. Possums offers a program that provides a wide range of activities and experiences to foster the child's physical, emotional, social and intellectual development.
Autonomy and independence is encouraged and supported to enable children to meet individual needs.
Our program identifies children with any special needs and provisions are made to address these before the child enters school.
Possums preschool terms and dates are determined by the official NSW government school dates.
Curriculum
Early Years Learning Framework
We are inspired and guided by The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia—Belonging, Being and Becoming 2009 (ELYF) where:
(For more information from the ELYF website click here)
Parental Involvement
Collaborative program development
Possums encourage all parents to be actively involved in the preschool in as many ways as possible. It is a proven fact that a child whose parents are actively involved in his/her education does much better than if they are not.
Each child's interests, skills and cultural background, as identified by their family, are integrated into our program.
We offer a parent library containing a variety of information on schools, programming and general child development (eg. the value of play; helping your child with early reading and writing; art development etc).
Possums has a family bulletin board for families to put up notices, ads, family photos and information of interest, and our newsletter distributed each term has a 'market place' section for inclusion of ads etc.
Program Experiences
Indoor Experiences
Outdoor Experiences
Whole Group - Small Group Experiences
A Learning Environment
What Your Child Learns at Possums
How Your Child Learns at Possums
Teaching in preschool involves careful observation of each child’s individual behaviours and planning experiences accordingly to help the children reach their full potential in all areas of learning. This can only occur when parents and teachers work together supporting, trusting and valuing each other.
We believe each child should have fun and develop in all areas whilst at Possums. The staff and management comittee are committed to providing a 'happy' learning preschool.
Your Child's Daily Requirements
What you need to supply
If your child is ill, has runny nose or has head lice (inluding eggs) please keep thm at home. Infections spread extremely fast throughout the preschool.
Please respect the other children and not put them at risk. You will be asked to collect you child if they are unwell or have head lice.
The NSW State government's Department of Education and Communities (DEC) provides about half of our budget needs. Fees and fundraising provide the balance of the budget needs for operating expenses.
Fundraising ventures are also necessary throughout the year to boost Possums' income to help maintain and improve facilities provided to our children.
Fee Schedule 2011/2012
Fees are set in accordance with DECs subsidy guidelines.
Where income is:
Fees are payable by the end of week 3 of each term and are calculated as a term fee, not a weekly fee.
Enrolment Fee
An enrolment fee of $50.00 is payable upon enrolment. For re-enrolment the following year, a $25.00 fee applies. A membership fee of $2.75 will be charged.
Each term's fees will include a $10.00 book and resource levy.
Parental Involvement Fees
As a community preschool, we rely on the contribution of parents and carers of children attending Possums. Therefore parents/carers are allocated one fundraising day per year and one maintenance day per year. A $50.00 fee applies where a parent/carer is unable to attend a fundraising event, and a $50.00 fee applies where a parent/carer is unable to attend a maintenance day or make alternative arrangements for completion of a maintenance task.
Hats and T-Shirts
Possums hats and t-shirts can be purchased for $10.00 and $15.00 respectively.
Out of Hours Fee
A fee will also apply if your child arrives before 9.00am or is picked up after 3.00pm.
The Possums Policy Handbook is available in the parents corner bookshelf for reference throughout the year. Please read these policies and ask any question you may have.
Our policies have been compiled over several years and are revised annually to comply with the current and relevant regulations of our governing bodies.
Parents/carers will be asked to review these policies as they are revised.
Shaded play
Smartboard
Cubby
Computers
Sandpit
Free Play
Story Time
Snack
Clean Up
Lunch
Instructional
Activities
Crafts
Click here to see photos of our preschool
Outdoor
Outdoor envrionment includes play areas, cubby house, shaded play equipment, herb garden, sandpit, deck, and sensory garden.
Indoor
Indoor environment includes an interactive Smartboard, computers, dress-up and book corner, make-believe area, and ample floor space.
We would like to acknowledge the following businesses for their generosity with donations and fundraising:
Newsletters
Newsletter - Term 3 - 2011.pdf
Newsletter - Term 4 - 2011.pdf
Events
Term 1, 2012
Possums Events
Fundraisers and Community Events
Possums provides opportunities for children to participate in events and activities within the wider community. Providing students with these experiences directly links to the outcomes in the Early Years Learning Framework: 'Children are connected with and contribute to their world'.
Possums has a close affiliation with Condong Public School (a 10 minute walk up the road), and throughout the year they engage in a diverse range of activities at the school. Along with getting a “taste of big school” the students are involved in educational and cultural programs such as NAIDOC week celebrations, Life Education and the school athletics carnival. The children absolutely love attending these events and find the walk up to the school a real thrill.
This year the students had the opportunity to participate in the Tweed Valley Banana Festival. The theme this year was “Musicals.” The Possums Staff, students and parents entered a float as 'Kids from Oz' and were lucky enough to be named “Best school float of the festival.”
There is a strong sense of community at Possums and we are lucky to have the support of local organisations. Condong Bowling Club regularly donates the use of their club for events such as our end of year Christmas Concert and our Family Disco.
Scroll through to take a look at our little possums in action, or to check out our preschool photos!
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9.00am - 3.00pm
Tuesday - Friday
20 McLeod Street
Condong NSW 2484
t. 02 6672 4744 f. 02 6672 7639
e. possumspreschool_bigpond.com
