Kornmehl
Terry Aizen – Director of Kornmehl
Transition to school
Starting school is a significant event in the life of children and their families. We know that strong relationships and information sharing between families, early childhood settings and schools help support a child’s successful transition to school. It is a period of change that can be both challenging and exciting.
At this time of the year, we focus on the children’s transition to school. We believe the more we discuss ‘going to school’ and the feelings and emotions associated with starting school, the better prepared and equipped the children are. For this reason, a lot of focus is given to the children’s transition to school this term. We spend time talking about what to expect and how we are feeling, as well as go on walks with the children through the campus.
The transition from Pre-school to school offers opportunities and challenges. We acknowledge that different places and spaces have their own purposes, expectations and ways of doing things. For this reason, we aim to build on the children’s prior and current experiences to help them feel secure, confident and connected to familiar people, places, events and understandings. We are all important contributors (the children, families and early childhood educators) in a successful transition to school (EYLF, 2009).
We need to think about giving children a positive understanding and experience of school as a safe, enjoyable place. We need to acknowledge that children have individual needs, interests and skills and allow and encourage positive communication between children, families and Early Childhood educators. We also need to make time for the children to visit their new school environment before starting (orientation visits). The children have all enjoyed their first orientation visit up to Emanuel School over the past two weeks.
Shabbat Project
Parents are invited to join the Emanuel School community, together with 340 cities across the globe, to bring thousands of people together to celebrate Shabbat on 6 and 7 November 2020.
This year’s Shabbat Project might feel a little different without live events and huge Shabbat tables filling up around the world. But in truth, as cities shut down, during this time of COVID-19 one of the things that remained consistent was Shabbat. An anchor in all the crazy. The irony is that this year we may be closer to each other than ever before. Whether we are in Israel, America, London or Australia – we are all home. The year has reminded us that our homes are our anchor. And it’s clear that our anchor needs even more Shabbat. Shabbat has a unique rhythm, which flows from good meals and company to prayers and downtime. This year – come 6 November 2020 – let’s flood our homes with the light, life, meaning, warmth and depth of Shabbat. This year let’s bring it home – that’s where it belongs. Visit The Shabbat Project website for a lot of interesting information.
Bush School visits 
Bush School continues to be a highlight for all three groups. The opportunities and benefits for the children and educators is invaluable. The children are always excited to walk out the gate and confidently and independently carry their own backpacks to and from Bush School. The children are extremely familiar with the spaces and challenges that the Bush School classroom offers them. It’s rewarding to see how many of the children are now capably able to climb trees and navigate their way back down again – a skill they might not have been able to do previously. The Starfish and Dolphins challenged themselves this week by visiting the fig tree with large roots growing out of the ground. Many of them climbed up high on the root and slide along, inch by inch to the end. The height of the roots is taller than the teachers. An amazing achievement of skill and resilience.
We are thrilled to have Bush School as an embedded part of our Kornmehl philosophy and are constantly amazed at how much we learn about the children, their strength, capabilities and interactions when in this natural, peaceful space.
“ In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.”
John Muir
