[ HoLidaY caMp daY 3 - 5 sePteMbEr 2007 ]

Activity: Children's Treasure Hunt

Oh dear! Sara, the forgetful dinosaur has left some eggs in the Singapore Botanic Gardens and she couldn't find it anywhere. She was getting very worried and she needed some help in finding all the eggs. But WHO could she ask?

Of course! They were Jason, Justin, Brandon, Jolene, Julia, Roxanne, Manfred, Irina, Megan, Miah, Samuel, Ashley, Shu Yi, Wen Pei, James and Vanessa!

During this guided tour, the children would discover some interesting members of the plant kingdom as they helped Sara to find her missing eggs.

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On the bus ride to Singapore Botanic Gardens

Wen Pei

Jason

Roxanne

Brandon

Vanessa & Julia

Justin & Jolene

Megan & Shu Yi

James & Ms Nisha

Manfred & Irina

Samuel & Miah

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Singapore Botanic Gardens ( The Green Pavilion)

Uncle Joseph was welcoming the children to Singapore Botanic Gardens.

Miah & James were paying close attention.

Uncle Joseph was surprising the children with Sara the Dinosaur's badge.

The children were getting anxious to write their name on Sara the Dinosaur's book.

Irina & Manfred were getting ready to write their names.

After writing their names, the children were waiting for Uncle Joseph's instruction.

Uncle Joseph was reading the story of Sara, the forgetful Dinosaur to the children.

The children were listening to the story quietly.

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Singapore Botanic Gardens - The children took a walk by tracing the roots of a BIG tree.


Megan, Jason, Mandred, Jolene, Julia, Irina & Wen Pei

Uncle Joseph & the children.

Jason

Manfred

Irina, Jolene, Roxanne

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Singapore Botanic Gardens - The children did tree rubbing.

James & Julia

Ashley

Megan

Julia, Vanessa & Irina

Miah

Wen Pei, Jolene & Ashley

Jason

Uncle Joseph & the children

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Singapore Botanic Gardens - The children drew 'Cannon Balls' on their tree.

The children

Julia

James

Vanessa

Samuel

Manfred & Shu Yi

Miah

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Singapore Botanic Gardens - Children's Treasure Hunt

The children were all ready to look for Sara's eggs.



Mission completed!

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For parents:

It was absolutely a perfect day to go on an excursion. We were blessed with good weather, warm sunshine and cooling breeze. Hurray!

After our scientific experiment on 'Volcano's Eruption', we ate some egg mayonnaise sandwiches before boarding the bus to go to Singapore Botanic Gardens.That really gave us all the energy we needed!

It was a short bus ride to Singapore Botanic Gardens but the children couldn't contain their excitment at all. Like the previous excursion, they kept on asking, "Are we going to reach soon?" And my answer, "Definitely! In a jiffy!"

Uncle Joseph recieved us at the Green Pavilion when we arrived at Singapore Botanic Gardens. He brought us to sit down at a cooling spot of the Pavilion and began to brief the children on the coming attractions. Uncle Joseph built rapport with the chidlren very easily because he was like a Santa Claus, giving out a lot of goodies for them. Each child receives a Sara the forgetful Dinosaur's book and badge, a set of crayons and not to mention their favourite sweets. No wonder, he was so popular!

Next, we embarked on the guided tour around Singapore Botanic Gardens. There were 4 activities wating for us, including a walk on the roots of a GIANTIC tree, tree rubbing on a HISTORIC tree and drawing 'cannon balls'. OH YES! And finding Sara's missing eggs!

GOSH! The children have managed to complete ALL the above activities effortlessly! And the bonus was they have learned something new about plants as they went through this treasure hunt. Not only that, they also practised their gross motor skills in balancing when they walked on the roots of the tree.

It was indeed a very enriching and entertaining way to acquire knowledge. While enjoying themselves, the children were also engaged in learning. It fits perfectly well with this idiom that says, 'One stone kills 2 birds'. Isn't it? You bet!

Cheers
Angeline

[ HoLIdaY caMp daY 3 - 5 SePteMbeR 2007 ]

Activity: Volcano's Eruption!

Bubble, Bubble, Bubble.
See the Volcano!
Bubble, Bubble, Bubble.
Hear the Volcano!
Bubble, Bubble, Bubble.
See the Volcano!
Lava spilling out, again and again.

An action song by the famous group Hi-5 and it connects perfectly well to the scientific experiment that the children had conducted. Using household cooking ingredients like bicarbonate soda, vinegar and red food colouring, the children created red bubbling lava spilling out of their volcanoes!

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Isn't it amazing? The children used materials, such as plasticines, glass bottles, styrofoam boards, masking tapes and recycled papers, to build their own volcanoes from scratch! Let's take a look together!

Ashley

Julia

Megan & Julia

Jolene

Shu Yi & Wen Pei

Brandon & Jason

James & Miah

Irina & Megan

Wen Pei

Roxanne

Shu Yi, Wen Pei, Brandon & James

Irina, Megan & Julia

******************************************

Now, it's time to see and hear the volcanoes erupting!
Ready? 1-2-3!


Justin

Jolene

Jason

Shu Yi

Brandon, Irina, Megan & Julia

Ashley, Samuel, Manfred & Wen Pei

An example of the experiement

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For parents:

This scientific experiment gave young children a new avenue to explore the amazing world that they live in. It helps them to assimilate the newly acquired information and also gains hands-on experiences at the same time.

Language & Literacy also come into play during this experiment. For the younger children, they picked up new vocabulary, such as 'volcano', 'eruption', 'lava', 'molten substance', 'bicarbonate soda', 'vinegar' and 'food colouring'. The older children were able to reinforce their concepts of 'letters and phonics'. For example, when I asked them to name words that starts with the letter as 'Volcano', most of them raised their hands and answered spontaneously.

Naturally, ALL of them were extremely excited throughout this experiment. They were eager to see the reaction between the bicarbonate soda and vinegar. When I asked questions to stimulate their logical thinking, most of them applied their inference skills adeptly. For example, their answer was red when I asked them to predict the colour the lava that would flow out from their volcanoes. Bravo!

Lastly, nothing makes learning more interactive and motivating for young children than engaging them actively in experiences that interest them.

Cheers,
Angeline

[ HoLidaY caMP daY 2 - 4 sePTeMbeR 2007 ]

Activity: Little Puppets on my Fingers!

What is needed for this art activity? Is it a pair of gloves? Is it lots of shiny sequins? Is it scary wiggly eyese? Is it cut-outs of clothes?

No. No. No. No.

This art activity just need children to express their creativity freely. Yeah!

Megan

Wen Pei

Ashley

Irina

Justin

Jolene

Yu Han

Vanessa

Jason

Brandon

James

Shu Yi

Ashley

Miah

Julia

Samuel

For parents:

Using a range of different art materials, this activity aims to practice young children's fine motor skills. These materials included gloves, felts, wiggly eyes and sequins of different shapes, sizes and colours. Some of these materials were very fine and it required the children to exercise great patience and good eye-hand coordination to pick them up and paste on the gloves independently. This was espcially so for the much younger children. So here is a big pat on all their back!

Not only that, this activity also encourages the children to be as creative as possible. The child could select various art materials provided and used them to make their own finger puppets. Needless to say, the children perfectly displayed their creativity in many possible ways. One look at the end products, and you will know why.

In a nutshell, I encourage young children to learn concepts and to develop holistically through their acive participation in a wide range of learning experiences.

Cheers,
Angeline

[ HoLiday CaMp daY 2 - 4 sEpteMBer 2007 ]

Activity: Excursion to Thow Kwang Industry Pte Ltd

Hiden somewhere at 85 Lorong Tawas in Singapore, Thow Kwang Industry serves the public in its own quiet way. Other than providing exclusive potteryware, such as latex cups, water jars, flower pots and a wide range of local flavoured decorative display products, it also caters educational tours for children to visit the site. So here we are,all ready to explore!

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On the BUS

Megan & Ashley

Manfred & Irina

Shu Yi & Wen Pei

James & Yu Han

Roxanne & Wen Pei

Brandon & Jason

Vanessa & Julia

Justin & Jolene

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Tour at Thow Kwang Industry Pte Ltd

Uncle Todd was introducing the Dragon Kiln to the children.

All ready to enter the Dragon Kiln.

In the Kiln itself.

Uncle Todd was working on the potter's wheel with clay.

Some products from Thow Kwang Industry Pte Ltd

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Hands-on Clay Experience

The art materials

Irina

Ashley

Miah

Brandon

Yu Han

Samuel

Vanessa

Julia

Roxanne

Jolene

Justin

Megan

Shu Yi

Wen Pei

Manfred

James

Jason

Irina, Megan, Justin & Jolene

Miah, Shu Yi & Wen Pei

Julia, Vanessa, Samuel & Yu Han

Ashley & Miah

**********************************************************

For parents:

It was a fun-filled bus ride to Thow Kwang Industry Pte Ltd. The children simply couldn't contain their excitment. They kept asking, "How long more are we going to take?" and more questions kept on popping out throughout the bus journey, such as "What are we going to do there?" and "What can we see there?" To entertain the children, I suggested singing songs that we have learnt on the first day of the camp. Their favourites include [I'm bringing home a bumble bee], [B-I-N-G-O] and [Down by the river].

Upon reaching the place, the children were thrilled to witness a pair of Mummy monkey and Baby monkey walking on thin wire above their heads. And it was sure hard for the guide (Uncle Todd) to get their attention.

Finally, the tour began with an introduction of the Dragon Kiln and followed by a tour of an operating kiln. Uncle Todd explained that it acts as a giantic oven that helps to bake the potteries that are made. The entrance of the Dragon Kiln was just the right size for the children to enter and they squealed with excitment!

Next on the agenda was the demonstration on the art of pottery making. Uncle Todd took a lump of clay, placed it on the potter's wheel and began working on it. Totally awesome! The children were captivated by the speed of the wheel and they kept asking him what is going to happen next. As he worked on the clay, Uncle Todd explained the entire procedure to the children and answered most of their inquisitive questions.

Last but not least, the children were bought to a raised platform where they could work on thier clay work. Each child was given a box containing a clay ornament, red paint, blue paint, yellow paint, a paintbrush and a pallet. Uncle Todd briefed the children on the activity before leaving them to paint the clay ornament independently.

I believe the pictures above have said it all. The children had definitely enjoyed this clay painting experience thoroughly!

Soon, it was time to pack up and head back to school for LUNCH! Gosh, everyone was starving after a session of intensive concentration on their clay work.

Let's look forward to more of these excursions!

Cheers,
Angeline

[ OuR LoCaTiOn ]

25 Gilstead Road
Singapore 309070

[ OuR eVenTs ]

Date: 07 August 2007

Day: Tuesday

Event: ACES Day - Get Up, Go Out & Play







Date: 08 August 2007
Day: Wednesday
Event: National Day Celebration







Date: 09 August 2007
Day: Thursday
Event: National Day Holiday







Date: 30 August 2007
Day: Thursday
Event: Teachers' Day Celebration / Last Day of Term 3






Date: 31 August 2007
Day: Friday
Event: Teachers' Day Holiday







Date: 01 September 2007 to 09 September 2007
Day: Saturday to Sunday
Event: Term 3 Holiday







Date: 10 September 2007
Day: Monday
Event: First Day of Term 4








Date: 28 September 2007
Day: Friday
Event: Children's Day Celebration









Date: 01 October 2007
Day: Monday
Event: Children's Day Holiday

Date: 08 October 2007 - 12 October 2007
Day: Monday - Friday
Event: Parent-Teacher Conference (PTC)

Date: 13 October 2007
Day: Saturday
Event: Hari Raya Puasa Holiday






Date: 08 November 2007
Day: Thursday
Event: Deepavali Holiday







Date: 16 November 2007
Day: Friday
Event: Year-End Party / Last Day of Term 4







Date: 17 November 2007 - 31 December 2007
Day: Saturday - Monday
Event: Term 4 Hollidays









Date: 20 December 2007
Day: Thursday
Event: Hari Raya Haji






Date: 24 December 2007
Day: Monday
Event: Christmas Party






Date: 25 December 2007
Day: Tuesday
Event: Chirstmas Holiday







Date: 28 December 2007
Day: Friday
Event: Professional Development - Teachers






Date: 01 January 2008
Day: Tuesday
Event: New Year Holiday

Date: 02 January 2008
Day: Wednesday
Event: First Day of Term 1

[ OUr cONtacTs ]

Gracefields Childcare - Gilstead

Person-in-charge : Ms Angeline Goh
Tel : 62566018
Fax : 62566062



Gracefields Kindergarten - Gilstead

Person-in-charge : Mrs Joyce Teo
Tel : 63542822
Fax : 63542922

[ OuR tHEmeS - 2007 ]

01 August 2007 - 10 August 2007




The Story of Singapore





13 August 2007 - 24 August 2007




Old Singapore & Modern Singapore





27 August 2007 - 31 August 2007



My Teacher My Friend





03 September 2007 to 07 September 2007



What's in Outer Space?





10 September 2007 - 14 September 2007




The Story of Mid Autumn Festival





17 September 2007 - 28 September 2007



Children of the World






01 October 2007 - 12 October 2007




Community Helpers






15 October 2007 - 26 October 2007




Fantasy & Fairy Tales






29 October 2007 to 31 October 2007




Hari Raya & Deepavali






01 Novemebr 2007 - 09 November 2007



Under the Sea





12 November 2007 - 16 November 2007




Animal Kingdom - Creepy Crawlies






19 November 2007 to 30 November 2007




The 4 Seasons : Spring, Summer, Autumn & Winter






03 December 2007 - 28 December 2007




All About Christmas

[ oUr fEes ]

Registration Fees : S$50.00

Refundable Deposit : S$990.00

Yearly Insurance (Optional) : S$4.00

3 Hours Flexi Care : S$247.50

4 Hours Flexi Care : S$330.00

5 Hours Flexi Care : S$412.50

Half Day Care (AM) : S$590.00 (*)

Half Day Care (PM) : S$590.00 (*)

Full Day Care : S$990.00 (*)

Before School Care: S$550.00

After School Care: S$550.00






Please Note:

1. The services that are marked with (*) are entitled to monthly subsidy of S$75.00 (Half Day Care - AM & PM) & S$150.00 (Full Day Care).
   


2. Cheques are to be made payable to Gracefields Childcare - Gilstead.



3. The school fees reflected above are based on monthly basis.
   


4. All fees are subjected to 7% GST.

[ OuR seRvICes ]

3 Hours Flexi Care : 11.30am to 2.30pm or 3pm to 6pm

4 Hours Flexi Care : 11.30am to 3.30pm or 3pm to 7pm

5 Hours Flexi Care : 11.30am to 4.30pm

Half Day Care (AM) : 7.00am to 1.00pm

Half Day Care (PM) : 1.00pm to 7.00pm

Full Day Care : 7.00am to 7.00pm

Before School Care : 7.00 to 1.00pm

After School Care : 1.00pm to 7.00pm

[ OuR ProGraMMe ]

18 months to 2 years old
Pre-Nursery Tulips







2 years old to 3 years old
Nursery 1 Sunflowers







3 years old to 4 years old
Nursery 2 Lavenders







4 years old to 5 years old
Kindergarten 1 Lilies








5 years old to 6 years old
Kindergarten 2 Daisies







6 years old to 12 years old
Before & After School Care Orchids

[ OuR PhiLOsOpHy]

To provide a graded programme of pre-school experiences that would promote the development of a whole child.

We endeavour to offer quality, comprehensive, practical and reliable child development programme in a supportive and stimulating environment.

We emphasise the total development of the child focusing on:

Cognitive (Intellectual) Self Development

Creative Self Development

Social and Moral Development

Emotional Health Development

Physical Development

We are committed to ensure that our qualified teaching staff assists the child to realise his or her maximum potential for growing and learning.

[ HoLidaY caMp DaY 1 - 3 SeptEmbEr 2007 ]

Activity: Buttons on Frames

Buttons on Daddy's shirts, buttons on Mummy's blouses, buttons on your school uniform! Buttons are everywhere. Of course, they can be used to decorate photo frames too! And the effect is definitely FANTASTIC!

Manfred

Jason

Justin

Roxanne & Megan

Jolene

Wen Pei

Shu Yi

Irina

Julia

Yu Han & Jerry

Miah

James

Brandon

Samuel

For parents:

Buttons come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and colours. This activity provides young children with the opportunity to reinforce these concepts when they used the buttons to decorate their photo frame.

On top of that, their spatial concept is further strengthened when they have to decide the number of buttons that will fit into each frame perfectly.

Last but not least, learning is made fun through the exploration of interactive art experiences. It becomes more meaninful to the children and it helps them to retain the information more explicitly.

Cheers,
Angeline

P/S: Please keep a lookout for more updates on this blog. Thank You!

[ HoLiDay caMp daY 1 - 3 sepTemBer 2007 ]

Activity : Clay is for?

Let the fingers do ALL the job! Using colouful clay to design own creation spontaneously, it can be anything under the sun!

Jolene

Justin & Brandon

Jason

Ashley

Shui Yi

Miah & James

Samuel

Wen Pei

Megan

Manfred

Jerry

Julia

Roxanne

Yu Han

For Parents:

To add on to the children's excitment, the teachers invited the children to participate in a contest. This contest aims to encourage young children to utilize all the provided clay and make as many intereting creations as they can.

The children were sure excited about this contest. They spent a good quantity of time moulding their clay into desired creations patiently. This contest also helps to promote young children's fine motor skills, as they manipulate with the clay skillfully.

Of course! There were 3 winners for this contest!

Drum ROLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And they were

SHU YI,

JUSTIN &...............

IRINA!

3 cheers for the WINNERS!

HIP HIP HURRAY!

HIP HIP HURRAY!

HIP HIP HURRAY!

Ultimately, all the children have enjoyed themselves tremendously throughout this activity and in fact they were cheering for their friends who won the contest!

Cheers,
Angeline

[ weLcoMe tO gRacEfiElds aT gILstEad ]

A warm welcome to all parents.

This is the first time that Gracefields has adpoted such a methodalogy to communicate with parents. I hope this new-age IT experience will bridge the partnership between school and home.

I always welcome parents to leave comments after reading entries. Your feedback is greatly appreciated and it will help me to make improvments and address concerns more eficiently.

Thank You.

Cheers,
Angeline