Term 3 #1
Dear Parents,
Welcome back to The Village Eco-Preschool – your child’s second home!
We trust you all had a restful holiday filled with precious family time. We are looking forward to another exciting term of learning, discovery and adventure.
A very warm welcome to our new families: Rachel Mudge, Fitz Trautman, Ongkara Fina and Ella Cullinan. We hope you enjoy many happy years as part of The Village Eco-Preschool family.
TERM DATES
Term 3: 21 July 2026 – 23 September 2026
Term 4: 13 October 2026 – 9 December 2026
BURSARY MUSIC FUNDRAISER & MINI AUCTION
Saturday, 1 August 2026
Our Bursary Music Fundraiser, is taking place on Saturday, 1 August 2026 in The Lower Lookout Deck Venue.
Join us for an enjoyable evening of live music by Johan Rautenbagh and the Bitou River Band, delicious food, and our exciting Mini Auction, featuring a wonderful selection of generously donated items. All proceeds from the evening will go towards our Bursary Fund, helping provide quality early childhood education for children in need.
We have some truly wonderful items on our auction list this year, offering something for everyone. You can view all the auction items HERE.
Important Ticket Information:
• Parents who have already paid for their tickets and confirmed their attendance will automatically be booked for the new date. Please keep your tickets safe, as they remain valid.
• Parents who have not yet paid for or returned their tickets are kindly asked to hold onto them and make every effort to sell them and attend the event.
• Families who donated cash for tickets but were unable to attend the original date will have their tickets returned to them. Please confirm that the new date will allow you to join us.
Please let us know by Wednesday, 29 July, whether you will be attending the event and hand in any outstanding ticket money by this date. If you would like to be seated with particular friends or another family, please let us know and we will do our best to allocate your tables accordingly.
ENROLMENTS FOR 2027
Enrolments for 2027 are now open.
Please note that places are limited and we already have a waiting list.
Enrolment Forms will be sent home next month. Your child’s place for 2027 cannot be confirmed until the completed enrolment form and the top-up deposit have been received by the deadline.
A reminder that one full term’s written notice is required should you wish to withdraw your child from the school.
Thank you to all our Grade R families who have already completed their enrolment forms.
AUDIOLOGIST & HEARING SCREENING
Melanie de Freitas, our local Audiologist and Speech-Language Pathologist, will be conducting hearing screenings in August at a cost of R100 per child.
Hearing plays a vital role in children’s language development and learning. Routine hearing screening is an effective way of identifying possible hearing difficulties early, allowing intervention where necessary so that children can participate fully in the classroom.
If you would like your child to participate, please complete the consent form which we will send on the WhatsApp group and return it together with payment by 10th August.
Parents requiring a printed consent form should please notify their class teacher by 6th August so we can get the form printed for you and give it to you on the 7th August.
SCHOOL T-SHIRTS
Many thanks to the parents who supported this fundraising initiative. There will be a slight delay on the delivery of the T-shirts and we will let you know as soon as they are ready.
SPRING PLANTING DAY
Wednesday, 2 September 2026
To celebrate the arrival of Spring, the children will once again help beautify our school gardens.
Children are welcome to bring a donation of R10–R50, which will be used to purchase seedlings from our local nursery. Alternatively, families are welcome to donate plants, cuttings, seedlings or seeds from their own gardens.
This is always a wonderful opportunity for the children to care for their environment while creating colourful gardens for everyone, including the birds and butterflies, to enjoy.
SPRING CLEAN DAY
Friday, 4 September 2026
Our annual Spring Clean Day is always a favourite!
Please dress your child in old clothes and send along a sponge, cloth or scrubbing brush. The children will be washing, polishing, dusting and cleaning the classrooms and outdoor environment.
Practical life activities such as these help children develop responsibility while learning to care for their surroundings.
ARBOR WEEK OUTING
Monday, 7 September 2026
To celebrate National Arbor Week, our preschool classes will be visiting the forests of Nature’s Valley.
• May’s Class: Nature’s Way Farm
• Claire’s Class: Kalander Kloof
We will require parent drivers to assist with transport. If you are able to help, please let your class teacher know.
SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHS
Professional photographer and fellow parent Stephan van Wyk has once again captured beautiful portraits and class photographs of our children.
The photographs will be on display from 7 September, with orders closing on 18 September.
All proceeds will go towards our Bursary Fund, new educational equipment and improvements to our playground.
Thank you for your continued support.
GRANDPARENTS’ SPRING TEA
Thursday, 17 September 2026
We are looking forward to welcoming grandparents to our annual Spring Tea.
Children will be giving invitations to their grandparents. Please encourage them to RSVP so that we can cater accordingly.
This special morning gives grandparents the opportunity to spend time with their grandchildren, observe them in the classroom and experience a little of their daily school life.
We will also be asking a few parents to donate a small plate of tea-time treats.
AFTERNOON CLUBS
Our afternoon clubs begin next week.
Places are limited, so please WhatsApp the school phone to reserve your child’s place.
Fees are payable in advance and will be added to your school statement.
Monday ~ Nature Club ~ 12:45–2:15 ~ R1,280
Tuesday ~ Dance & Movement ~ 1:15–2:00 ~ R1,008
Wednesday ~ Art Club ~ 1:15–2:00 ~ R1,440
Thursday ~ Science & Sports Club ~ 1:15–2:00 ~ R896
TERMLY REQUIREMENTS
Please remember to send the following termly supplies:
• 1 box of tissues
• 1 bar of soap
• 2 packs of wet wipes
• A pack of nappies (for children who are not yet toilet trained)
Tuck costs R80 per term, payable in advance, or R8 each Friday.
Thank you to all the families who support our tuck initiative.
As winter continues, please ensure your child has:
• Gumboots for outdoor play
• A warm pair of slippers for indoor use
• A labelled change of clothes
SCHOOL FEES
Term 3 fees are now due.
Only families who have signed a Monthly Payment Agreement may pay monthly.
Monthly payments for July are due immediately.
If you have not yet received your statement, please contact May at maydonegan@gmail.com.
SCHOOL HOURS
School hours are 8:30 am – 12:30 pm.
Teachers use the time before school to prepare the learning environment and will begin welcoming children from 8:30 am.
Our Early Bird service is available for parents needing an earlier drop-off.
Please ensure your child is collected promptly at 12:30 pm.
AFTERCARE
Children not collected by 12:40 pm will be taken to the Toddler Classroom for aftercare.
Parents collecting between 12:40 pm and 1:30 pm should enter through the side gate next to May’s classroom or via the Toddler entrance.
Children collected after 12:45 pm will be charged the aftercare fee.
If your child requires occasional aftercare, please notify the class teacher when dropping your child off in the morning. Ad hoc aftercare will be billed at the end of the month.
SICK POLICY
Winter brings an increase in colds and flu, and we ask for your support in helping us keep our children and staff healthy.
Please keep your child at home if they:
• Have a fever or have had one within the previous 24 hours.
• Have vomited within the last 24 hours.
• Have heavy nasal discharge.
• Have a persistent cough.
• Are unusually tired, miserable or irritable.
• Simply need rest to recover.
Children recover much more quickly when given adequate time to rest at home.
TERM 3 BIRTHDAY CALENDAR
July
• 13 July – Maya Joy [Surname]
• 21 July – Hannah van der Walt
August
• 3 August – Savannah Viljoen
• 6 August – Olivia Heydenrych
• 8 August – Ella Daley
• 15 August – Amelia Russell White
• 25 August – Harvey Craig
September
• 2 September – Atlas Joao Gil
• 2 September – Boe Trautman
• 7 September – Willow Stodel
• 13 September – Lyra Rowlands
• 19 September – Rose Kosior
• 21 September – Klara Danecke
To celebrate birthdays while helping grow our classroom libraries, each child is encouraged to donate either a book or a plant on their birthday.
In keeping with our Healthy Food Policy, we do not allow birthday cakes or sweets at school.
Thank you for your continued support, encouragement and commitment to our school community. Together we continue to make The Village Eco-Preschool the unique, vibrant and nurturing environment that it is.
We wish you all a wonderful Term 3.
Warm regards,
May & Inge
