Benowa Children's Centres 1.39

Benowa Children’s Centre is committed to providing an environment that stimulate the senses, invites exploration and discovery, and challenges children as active learners. We endeavour to be a centre of excellence within our community providing children with as many opportunities to engage in our local surroundings, community organisations and local schools as possible.

We provide delicious and nutritionally balanced meals for our children designed to reflect a variety of multicultural flavours, and special dietary requirements can be catered to.

Benowa Childrens Centres are one of three education and care centres on the Gold Coast that offer the Bush Kindy Explorers program to children as part of their standard curriculum. Bush Kindy Explorers introduces and extends childrens knowledge of their environment and natural surroundings. The program is offered to our Preschool children and involves activities outside the centre, with full risk assessment as required. The program recognises the significance of land in Aboriginal culture and encourages children to reconnect with and appreciate nature while learning how to work together and take turns in a small group environment.

Before & After School Care and Vacation Programs are available throughout the year. The programs include participation in activities such as excursions, drama, dancing, cooking and sport, and incorporate the National School Aged Frame Work “My Time My Place”. Please call the office for the latest Vacation Care program.

Our Educators will demonstrate your child’s development and progress during the year with written reports and teacher interviews. These are based on daily observations that are collated at weekly programming meetings to help develop an individual program to meet your child’s needs.

The centre actively communicates with families through Facebook and a monthly newsletter detailing upcoming events and information relating to the children’s activities and programs from each room. The newsletter incorporates articles of interest in areas such as behavioural management, food, nutrition, and children’s health and development.

Each year the centre hosts an ‘End of Year Christmas Celebration’ for all the families with entertainment and concerts performed by the children celebrating their achievements throughout the year.

Our Parent Meetings and Resource nights offer families opportunities to become involved in fundraising events and learning programs through the centre, such as cooking, arts/crafts and story times. We provide resource nights for parents, including first aid courses, workshops and community speakers.
Parent Information Sheets are provided by wider community groups through our centre. Educational materials are located in our foyer and cover areas such Centrelink, Queensland Health and Nap can.

Community visitors such as; Police, Fire, Ambulance & various Health professionals are a part of our educational shows that are provided each month.

Sustainability
• Recycling materials for curriculum and learning activities.
• Recycling Program in each room.
• Minimising waste and effectively using service resources.
• Turning off equipment and lights when not in use.
• Using the least hazardous cleaning substance appropriate for the situation, for example, ordinary detergent for cleaning dirt from tables and other surfaces.
Composting
• Incorporating water wise strategies ensuring taps are turned off and leaks fixed.
• Using food that we have grown in meals on our weekly menu.
• Implementing environmentally friendly pest management.

Extra Curriculum activities at the centre may include
• Tennis with Mr Rod
• Concerts and Shows to reflect children's interests
• Music/Art with Miss Fiona
• Bush Kindy with Mr Mario (Excursion)