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| Waikato / King Country / Taranaki |
Term 1, 2010 |
Up to date OSCAR news, events and activities in the Waikato, King Country and Taranaki regions.
 A Word From The Local OSCAR Advisor
Hamilton Network Meeting
Professional Development Opportunities
A Word From The Local OSCAR Advisor
Term 1 - Safe In The Sun
Welcome back everyone! I hope all have had a great holiday break and are now gearing up and looking forward to 2010.
I hope all the holiday programmes that have been running over the January holidays have gone without a hitch and the children have had great times and experiences whilst attending them. I would also like to thank those who made me feel welcome when I came to visit with you and the children at your venues.
Networking Meetings and Training Days
I would like to emphasize the need to keep in touch with what’s happening around your regions as far as OSCAR goes, and a good way of doing this is by attending the networking meetings and training days. These meetings are for your benefit and can be helpful with the general day-to-day running of your programmes. It also helps the newly approved programme providers who are coming through to gather information and insight to how other programmes run. Those whose programmes have been established for a while will have a wealth of information to pass on and I’m sure you all can relate to what it was like when you first started out.
Last year we trialed holding the networking meetings and trainings at different programme places and I felt this was very successful so I am again looking for anyone who would like to host a networking meeting or training day at their programme venue (please email me if you would like to host one at your place).
This year I would like to focus the trainings around programme content, up skilling of staff as well as looking at how we can make our policies work for our programmes. We are lucky enough to have joined with CPS (Child Protection Studies) and they have developed an OSCAR specific child protection study workshop that is more cost effective and caters to our specific sector.
I am also hoping to gather information from around the regions of any free or low cost workshops that are run through the community groups and have relevant information to the running or your programmes I will pass these on to you as I obtain them.
We have the OSCAR Conference coming up in May and this year’s theme is “Children First” I hope to keep everyone posted with information about the Conference as it becomes available. The OSCAR regional awards will be announced on 10 February and the information about the conference will be mailed out that day too, so keep an eye out in your letterbox!
Water Safety
We have again had a bad start to the year as far as water safety goes in our country, with a couple of drowning’s occurring where children are involved. Therefore, I would like to again emphasize the need to PLEASE be vigilant as to safety around water. Please make sure the children are wearing the correct swimming clothes and make sure your ratio’s are as per CYF standards. Don’t include the life guards as part of your ratio’s as they are not part of your staffing and have a responsibility to attend to the public who are using the pools.
If you’re venturing out to the beaches please remind your staff and the children to swim between the flags. Basically, it is all about planning ahead, doing your safety hazard sheets and risk management checks. Good preparation plus an awareness of what’s going on around you equals the “if only we had …” speeches not occurring. Also, don’t forget to slip slop slap and wrap! As I feel this is going to be a long hot summer so enjoy everyone and make the most of what’s going to be a good year!
All the best,
Tania
Hamilton OSCAR Network Meeting
Proudly Supported by Hamilton City Council
The theme for this network meeting is 'Planning Ahead'.
| Date |
Wednesday 10 February |
| Time |
10.00am - 12.00pm |
| Venue |
Glenview Community Centre, Cnr Tomin Rd and Glenview Tce, Hamilton |
| RSVP |
Monday 8 February |
Professional Development Opportunities
Waikato Training Workshop
The theme for this training workshop is 'Programme Content'
| Date |
Wednesday 10 March |
| Time |
10.00am - 12.00pm |
| Venue |
To be confirmed. |
| RSVP |
Monday 8 March |
Taranaki Training Workshop & Network Meeting
The theme for this training workshop and network meeting is 'Programme Content and Planning Ahead'
| Date |
Wednesday 24 March |
| Time |
10.00am - 12.00pm |
| Venue |
St Marys Church, Viviane Street, New Plymouth |
| Cost |
$10pp |
| RSVP |
Monday 22 March |
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