Welcome back to another exciting term at CCC Early Learning Centre! It's already shaping up to be a busy and rewarding term, and we're looking forward to sharing the journey with you.

One of our greatest joys this term is welcoming Jade Mahaffey back from maternity leave. Many of our families will fondly remember Jade from her time as Director of CCC ELC during 2024–2025. Jade will now be joining us each Wednesday in Administration and teaching Kindy in our Sprouts room each Friday. We are so blessed to welcome Jade back into our CCC ELC staff family and are incredibly grateful for the wealth of knowledge, care and experience she brings as she supports our Centre in a variety of areas.

We are also thrilled to share some very special news from another member of our team. Congratulations to Courtney and her family, who are excitedly awaiting the arrival of a precious new baby! We are so excited for Courtney as she embarks on this wonderful new chapter, and we look forward to celebrating with her as her family grows. We pray God's blessing, protection and health over Courtney and her little one throughout the months ahead. We know many families will be pleased to hear that Courtney will be remaining with us until the conclusion of 2026, so there is still plenty of time to enjoy this exciting journey alongside her.

Many of you will remember our exciting plans to renovate our playground (particularly the fort area) as part of our ongoing focus on Quality Area 3 – Physical Environment. Unfortunately, this project experienced an unexpected delay when the company we had engaged ceased operations before the work could be completed. The good news is that we have now partnered with a fantastic local business to continue the project, and we're hopeful we'll be able to share some exciting updates with you very soon. We can't wait to see this outdoor space transformed for our children!

Although the playground project was paused, our commitment to Quality Area 3 certainly wasn't. During Term 2, our educators participated in professional learning focused on Creating Engaging Environments, exploring new ways to enrich children's learning through thoughtful, inviting spaces. Behind the scenes, Tarah, our Assistant Director, has worked tirelessly cleaning, reorganising and stocktaking every storage area throughout the Centre. Our workspaces have been thoughtfully reconfigured with clear purpose, improved organisation, and streamlined cleaning and storage systems. While much of this work happens out of sight, it plays such an important role in ensuring every child enjoys the highest quality environment in which to learn, play and grow.

As many of you will have seen through our recent emails and Centre signage, we are currently managing an outbreak of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease, and have also received notification of a confirmed case of chickenpox. We appreciate the support families have already shown in helping us minimise the spread of illness. We particularly encourage families of children who are unvaccinated or immunocompromised to seek advice from their child's doctor and to remain at home if recommended by their medical professional. Thank you for continuing to work with us to keep our Centre community healthy and safe.

On a personal note, I've absolutely loved the addition of the new glass door and window in the Director's office! While I've been told more than once that I now resemble a goldfish in a bowl, I genuinely love being able to wave hello, share a smile, and connect with families as you arrive and depart each day. If my office door is closed, it usually means I'm on a phone call, in a meeting, or tackling some of the less glamorous compliance and documentation that comes with my role. But whenever you see the door open, please know you're always welcome to pop in for a chat. Building relationships with our families and spending time with your children is, without question, the very best part of my job.

Thank you, as always, for your ongoing encouragement, partnership and support. We truly value the trust you place in us each day. If you ever have any questions, concerns, feedback or simply want to make a time to chat, please don't hesitate to get in touch. Your voice matters, and we genuinely appreciate the perspectives and ideas of our wonderful Centre community.

God bless,

Emma

Items to Bring Every Day - ALL labelled with your child's name:

• Cot-sized sheet x2
• Hat
• Water bottle
• 3 sets of spare clothes and small towel (hand towel size)

Tuckshop can be ordered through the Flexischools app. Download the app and follow the prompts. 

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart.” – Colossians 3:23

TOTAL TIME 30 min | MAKES 25 fritters

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 cups (180 grams) spelt flour (or plain wholemeal flour)

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon bicarb soda

pinch of salt and pepper

2 eggs

1 cup (250 ml) milk

1/2 cup (60 grams) tasty cheese, grated

1/2 cup (75 grams) parmesan cheese, grated

1/2 cup chopped fresh herbs (we used dill, mint and basil)

3 cups (375 grams) corn kernels

1 cup (150 grams) grated zucchini (approx. 2 zucchinis)

METHOD:

Place the flour, baking powder, bicarb soda, salt and pepper into a large bowl and whisk to combine creating a well in the centre. Add the eggs and milk and whisk to create a smooth batter. Add the tasty cheese, parmesan, herbs, corn and zucchini and whisk to combine. Heat a large fry pan over low-medium heat and add a drizzle of olive oil to grease. Ladle 1/4 cup measurements of the batter onto the fry pan.

Cook for 2-3 minutes or until bubbles begin to appear on the surface of the fritter and the edges begin to set. Carefully flip the fritters and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Or until the fritters are golden and bounce back to touch. Place the cooked fritters onto a plate lined with kitchen paper and continue frying until no batter remains. Serve the fritters warm or cold. Freezer friendly. Enjoy x

Recipe from: mylovelylittlelunchbox.com.

OSHC // Our Winter Vacation Care program was filled with fun, laughter and meaningful learning through play. It was wonderful to see children enjoying time with friends across different year levels, building new friendships and developing a strong sense of belonging within our OSHC community. 

Some of the many highlights included delicious cooking activities, scooter fun on Wheels Day, designing and programming robots using LEGO Spike kits, and creating erupting volcanoes. Watching children work together to communicate ideas, solve problems and celebrate their volcanoes erupting was a real highlight! 

Throughout the holidays, children were encouraged to explore their interests, develop confidence, work collaboratively with others and build valuable life skills through engaging, hands-on experiences. Most importantly, woven throughout every activity was the opportunity to learn more about their identity in Christ, reminding each child that they are uniquely created, deeply loved and valued by God. 

Thank you to all our families for allowing us to share such a fun-filled holiday with your children. We can't wait to welcome both familiar and new faces for more exciting adventures at our next Vacation Care! 

If you have a preschooler, you have probably heard a lot of questions. Why is the sky blue? Where does the rain go? Why do ants walk in a line? Why do I have to sleep? Why can’t I wear gumboots in the bath?

Sometimes these questions are funny. Sometimes they are exhausting. Sometimes they come at the exact moment you are trying to cook dinner, answer an email or get everyone out the door. But behind every “why?” is something important: your child is trying to make sense of the world.

Young children are natural researchers. They notice things adults often walk past. They test ideas, make predictions and look for patterns. When a child drops a spoon from the highchair again and again, they are not simply making a mess. They are learning about cause and effect. When they mix mud and water, they are exploring texture, change and measurement. When they ask why the moon follows the car, they are trying to understand space, movement and perspective.

Curiosity is one of the foundations of learning. Before children can read textbooks, solve equations or write reports, they need to wonder. They need to ask questions, experiment, make mistakes and try again. These early habits help build problem-solving skills, confidence and flexible thinking.

As adults, it can be tempting to answer every question quickly. Sometimes we know the answer. Sometimes we do not. But children do not always need an instant explanation. In fact, some of the best learning happens when we wonder with them. Instead of giving a quick answer, you might say:

“I wonder what you think?”

“How could we find out?”

“What do you notice?”

“What do you think might happen next?”

“Should we test it?”

These simple responses show children that their ideas matter. They also help children slow down, think carefully and see themselves as capable learners.

Of course, there will still be times when a simple answer is enough. Children also need adults to share knowledge and language with them. But curiosity grows when children are given space to explore, not just receive information.

Families can support curiosity in everyday moments. A walk around the block can become a chance to notice shadows, leaves, birds, clouds or sounds. Bath time can become an experiment with floating, sinking, pouring and bubbles. Cooking together can introduce counting, measuring, mixing and observing change. Gardening can help children learn about seeds, soil, insects, water and time.

You do not need special equipment to encourage curiosity. Often, the best learning comes from ordinary things: cardboard boxes, sticks, stones, water, leaves, cups, spoons, magnets, fabric, torches, mirrors or recycled containers. Open-ended materials allow children to explore in their own way and use their imagination.

It is also helpful to let children see that adults are still learners too. Saying “I’m not sure, let’s find out together” teaches children that not knowing is not a failure. It is the beginning of discovery. This helps children feel safe to ask questions, make guesses and change their thinking when they learn something new.

Curiosity also supports language development. When children ask questions and explain their ideas, they practise using words to describe, compare, predict and reason. Conversations about everyday discoveries help build vocabulary and confidence. Most importantly, curiosity helps children stay connected to the joy of learning. When children feel that their questions are welcomed, they are more likely to keep asking, exploring and trying.

So the next time your child asks “why?” for the tenth time in a row, take a breath. You do not need to have all the answers. Sometimes the most powerful response is simply to pause and wonder together.

Because every big idea starts somewhere — often with a small child, a simple question and an adult who was willing to listen.

Retrieved from: raisingchildren.net.au

We will often place information about the coming week or photos of things happening during the week. Please find the link here to check it out. 

• Thursday 30th July - International Friendship Day and Teddy Bears Picnic
• Thursday 6th August - Ocean Life Visit
• Friday 7th August - Jeans for Genes Day
• Saturday 8th August - Little Kids Day Out
• Monday 10th August - Library Reader Visit
• Monday 17th - Friday 21st August - Whole Centre Photos
• Monday 24th - Friday 28th August - Book Week

Our CCC Playgroup is on Thursdays! Designed to encourage children's learning and development through engaging, hands-on experiences and structured story times, our Play Friends program follows the mainly play curriculum. We follow monthly themes, with new story and songs each week. Come to find community and build connection here at Cooloola Christian College. All parents with pre-school aged children welcome. $2 entry per child, capped at $5 per family. We look forward to seeing you there! 

Parents, please be advised that the P&F meeting scheduled for Friday 31 July has  been cancelled and reschedued for Tuesday 8 September at 5.30 pm.