Collaroy Plateau Community Kindergarten is a pre-school built around a strong sense of community. The question is, how do you maintain that sense of local, family connection in a year like 2020?
In a normal year this community kindergarten hosts Mothers and Fathers Day events, grandparents days, working bees, BBQs and Christmas dance parties where everyone is welcome. There are always parents in the classroom and playground, talking and laughing with staff, and alumni coming back for a visit in their ‘big school’ uniforms.
This year, CPCK got creative.
A Sports-a-thon event, held across a full week and outside in the playground allowed one parent per child to come and enjoy the space with their children. There were running races and tree climbing events, sandpit challenges and even a giant dodgeball event. Children were able to show their carers many of their favourite outdoor activities, from the rowing boat to caring for the native bee hive.
Celebrated with a medal ceremony, it was a great way for parents, teachers and the kids of CPCK to build local community together, even in the midst of a global pandemic.
CPCK offers a play-based, child-initiated preschool curriculum across three key environments. We provide a social environment that fosters a strong sense of community and belonging, an emotional environment that is beautifully nurturing and a physical environment that is natural and inspiring.
We provide care and learning under the unique community-managed, not-for-profit service delivery model. Community management facilitates child-centered decision making that complements and reflects the local community. There is a strong sense of connection for families as CPCK nurtures relationships and networks that support children through the transition to school and society.
The sense of community at CPCK is enhanced by its over 60-year history of caring for Northern Beaches preschoolers. Many families continue to open the CPCK doors across multiple generations.
Children attend on the same days each week, interacting with the same classmates and teachers. Our long-established teachers are experienced, passionate, energetic and dedicated. In this social context, children are able to develop a sense of belonging that extends outside of the family unit. Their experiences are meaningful, their independence grows and they develop ownership of their learning.
We provide two-day and three-day programs for children aged 3.5 – 5 years at our location of Hall Avenue, Collaroy Plateau. Application is free and can be made online. We invite families to visit our preschool and experience first-hand the unique learning environment we have created for our children.