A NEW weekly story time session at a local school is all about building community connections.<\/p>\n
Tooborac Primary teacher Cheryl Ward said the event was something she had been wanting to do for many years.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s for parents of young children to get together because there are no other groups for them in Tooborac itself,\u201d she said. \u201cWe’re hoping that it will also engage grandparents.<\/p>\n
Ms Ward there were many benefits for pre-schoolers taking part in the story time sessions.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt familiarises them with school and they get to learn that it’s a friendly and safe place,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey develop a rapport with the other children and adults and form little routines.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a fairly informal but safe, nurturing, friendly environment and it connects the community with our school and with our children.\u201d<\/p>\n
Story time at Tooborac Primary includes listening to a story, singing, craft and other play-based activities.<\/p>\n
Ms Ward is hoping that the sessions will help boost pupil numbers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe heard about what another small school in a country district has achieved and we\u2019re hoping we can do the same,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir numbers were getting low, and story time was a means of getting people to engage with the school again.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey started with one parent and they’re now getting a weekly attendance of 30.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hope to build it and grow it so that it becomes a regular occurrence, whether it’s just story time, or a playgroup, or a combination of both.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some of the school\u2019s current students help out each week.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been running an Auslan program for the last 18 months,\u201d Ms Ward said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEach week there’s a theme and our students will teach a song while doing Auslan signs, so it’s educational and fun.\u201d<\/p>\n
Story time is from 9.30 to 10.30am every Tuesday during term time; children and their carers from across the district are welcome.<\/p>\n
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