A Word From The Local OSCAR Advisor
Professional Development Opportunities
A Word From The Local OSCAR Advisor
Visiting OSCAR Programmes
I really enjoy this time of year as the summer holidays and long daylight hours are a great opportunity for me to get out and about visiting OSCAR programmes. I’ve seen some fantastic things happening and am always inspired by the creativity and dedication of OSCAR professionals. Some things that I have enjoyed seeing are:
- The creative use of space – not every programme is lucky enough to have their own venue and I have seen some great examples of making the best of what you have got. Some programmes have a set of bean bags and cushions that they use to create a chill out area. Others use portable notice boards to display children’s artwork if they do not have wall space. The space that you create for your children helps to set the tone for the programme – take a look with fresh eyes and consider how you could make the most of your venue.
- Community involvement – programmes have told me about having a stall at the school gala, fund raising for the SPCA, picking up rubbish from their local beach and putting on a kapa haka performance at a rest home.
- Children taking the lead – I have seen programmes where children take responsibility for inventing and running games, planning the afternoon tea menu, setting the programme rules and planning the day or week’s activities (with adult support and encouragement). This increases ownership in the programme and it is amazing what children can achieve when given the opportunity.
- Recycling and reusing – one person’s junk is an OSCAR programme’s treasure!
Many programmes have turned odds and ends such as cardboard boxes, broken electronics, sewing materials and wood into art. If you have done something at your programme that you would like to share, please show me when I come to visit or send me an email (photos are great!).
Children's Day
Did you know that in Japan Children’s Day is a public holiday? Although we aren’t quite that lucky in New Zealand, there are a number of events happening on the 7th of March. This year’s theme is ‘praise and encouragement’ – have a think about how you might incorporate a celebration of Children’s Day into your programme. For some ideas and a list of events, see www.childrensday.org.nz
Networking and Training
We will be celebrating the Wellington/Kapiti/Wairarapa regional OSCAR award winners at this term’s networking meeting. There have been a lot of award nominations for our region, which is an indication of the fantastic programmes that we have here. Congratulations to all those who have been nominated and good luck! The topic of rewards will continue with a discussion on ways to focus behaviour management on rewarding positive behaviour.
I’ll also be going over to the Wairarapa for a training and networking event in Masterton. I’ll give a presentation OSCAR in Australia, share some ideas for games and there will be a morning tea and networking opportunities. I look forward to catching up with Wairarapa OSCAR providers.
Odette Yates, the OSCAR Advisor from the Northland region will be coming to Wellington to share her ‘Boy-lingual’ workshop. This workshop has been presented at several locations around the country, and has had very positive feedback. The workshop will start slightly earlier than usual at 9:30am. Here’s some information from Odette:
“Science shows us that boys and girls are very different in the way their brains are built and the way they react to things around them. To build strong relationships with boys, OSCAR workers need to be boy-lingual. Explore some characteristics of boys and how we can use that knowledge to offer great OSCAR experiences for boys”.
It’s not long until the OSCAR Conference here in Wellington. There will be a wide range of workshops and opportunities to network, share ideas and generally have a fantastic time (the Saturday night awards dinner is legendary!). Registrations will be taken online through the OSCAR Foundation website from 22nd of February. I’d recommend getting in as soon as possible to ensure that you get your first choice for workshops – early bird registrations will also be cheaper.
Marnie
Professional Development Opportunities
Network Meetings
This term we will be celebrating the Regional OSCAR Award winners and having a discussion about rewarding positive behaviour in OSCAR programmes.
Wellington
| Date |
Tuesday 16 February |
| Time |
10.00am - 12.00pm |
| Venue |
Johnsonville Community Centre, Frankmoore Avenue, Johnsonville |
| Cost |
Free with morning tea provided |
| RSVP |
Friday 12 February |
