ROOBY ROO’S BIRTHDAY

Rooby Roo celebrated her birthday at North St Marys Neighbourhood  Centre surrounded by local residents who enjoyed many free activities that were on offer throughout the morning. 

Smiling faces clapped and jumped to the sound of music played by Vintage FM.  We sung Happy Birthday to Rooby Roo and enjoyed eating her birthday cake, which was kindly donated by Caths Cakes St Marys.

CELEBRATING NAIDOC

NAIDOC was celebrated at North St Marys Neighbourhood  Centre, were there were activities for all

ages to enjoy.  These included painting, badge making, bracelet making and traditional games. Izaac come along on the day,  demonstrated and displayed how the Yidaki (didgeridoo) is played. He  explained some of the traditions of the Yidaki and gave a lesson to some willing young people.

LINKS TO LEARNING BOYS SHED

The Links To Learning ‘Boys Shed program’ is made up of young men in grades 7-10 along with 2 youth workers who work on a meaningful project throughout the term, while at the same time discovering different aspects of what it means to be a man.

The grade 10 St Clair Boys Shed group  decided it would be great to learn how to cook while learning how to help people for their meaningful project.  On Tuesday 15 August the Boys Shed groups hosted a community lunch for the ‘Cecil’s Place Men’s social group’ that runs every

Wednesday fortnightly at the Autumnleaf Neighbourhood Centre. 

The boys organised a popup  burger café, with for the day nicknaming themselves ‘the burger boys’ where they served food and had great conversation. It was a great day where the boys hosted both Community Junction staff and the Men’s group. One of the men mentioned it was “great food” and another said “great interaction- very polite, respectful and we want them back every fortnight.

NORTH ST MARYS CHILDREN’S CENTRE

Last term at North St Marys Children’s Centre we had some exciting additions to our environment! We have increased creativity in our art area with a new wooden easel, promoted our literacy development with a new  paper mache tree, promoted positive meal times in our eating area with our new natural furniture layout and new nutrition policy, and added a computer to our technology station for children to promote inquiry, fine motor development and problem solving skills! 

Our newest staff members Kate and Jayden are settling in with great relationships with children and families and implementing exciting new experiences and practices within our centre!  

We celebrated ‘Reconciliation Week’ through Maureen’s telling of the Emu Egg story and the Rainbow Serpent, painting with branches, a Tiddalick the Frog puppet story, mapping our addresses on a directory, clay representations, bark painting and using children’s handprints to create their own Aboriginal Flag. 

During experiences across the week, Educators  discussed the meaning of reconciliation and how we should treat everyone with kindness and respect. What an exciting, educational and motivational term!      

                 

For more information on our services please call the Children’s Services Team on 9623 0331

A Koori Vest for Rooby

Rooby got the biggest surprise at the launch of her new Koori Vest last term when she thought that she was going along to North St Marys Neighbourhood Centre to  visit and read with a few of her friends, when in actual fact Rooby was given a Koori Vest that was especially designed by Aboriginal students from St Marys North Public School.

Over two days the students created 48 designs, and 20 of those designs were chosen by Elders of the area to be put on the vest. Students and teachers from St Marys North Public School and their families, Elders and supporters of the project all came along to the launch to celebrate the great collaborative efforts of our community. 

Community Junction Inc. would like to thank Penrith City Council’s Community Assistance Program (CAP) for funding received for this project, Mission Australia and Paint the Town REaD for supporting the launch, Sean Mitchell Agencies for donating the students  'thank you' gifts and all of the students who were involved in creating the designs.

The Village Cafe to engage older generations in North St Marys

The Village Cafe was recently launched at Park Lawn Place North St Marys to engage older residents. 

http://www.stmarysstar.com.au/story/4716938/engaging-an-ageing-suburb/#slide=1

Youth Team thanks St Marys Rotary Club

Community Junction’s Youth Team had the privilege of attending the Rotary Club of St Marys in term 2 to accept a $500 donation towards our annual Youth Camp. We appreciate the continuous support and generosity of the Rotary Club members who tirelessly fundraise throughout the year, then distribute their fundraising to meaning causes in our local community.

This year our Youth Team will take 20 young people from our St Clair, Erskine Park, Colyton, Werrington and North St Mary’s Youth Space programs on a Leadership Camp to Collaroy Beach in October. To find out more about our Youth activities please like our Facebook page ‘Community Junction Youth Spaces’