UPCCC participated in two excellent training evenings with Marc Armitage from Malarkey Playworks in Melbourne. The focus was on showing Educators how to step back and allow children to play in a way that is spontaneous and child directed.

UPCCC welcomes Helen Chan, and congratulates her on being appointed as Director of UPCCC. Helen is being mentored into her role by Lynley who will retire on 29th June following 15 years of dedicated service to the UPCCC community.

Today we farewell our Director Lynley Rees - it is retirement time for Lynley following 15 years of dedicated service at UPCCC. Thank you for your leadership, support and care for our community. We wish you every happiness for the future.

UPCCC's Annual Staff Development Day was held on 13th July. This year our focus was on Nature Play and Outdoor Learning. Thank you to the UPCCC Management Committee and parents for your continued support in providing Professional Development opportunities for your Educators.

A busy week at UPCCC included Food Week, Tiffany's singing session, a visit from Constable Kenny Koala, gymnastic classes for the preschool children and for the Echidna's a trip to the ANU Grocery shop for bread, milk and fruit and a babyccino!

A very big THANK YOU to the Griffith Butchery for donating delicious sausages for our 'Buy a Bale' fund raiser in support of the Australian farmers and farming communities suffering from the effects of the drought. The UPCCC community raised $680, a tremendous effort.

Thank you to ANU Campus Traveller for taking our Bilby room children & teachers for a bus ride around campus. The route chosen by the driver was ideal- Sullivan's Creek to see the ducks, to a construction site full of trucks and graders and past the Satellite Dish. A great trip.

The UPCCC Preschool children & teachers are attending the Family-Friendly Picnic with the VC, Monday, 24th September-1.30- 2.30 in the garden of University House. The event celebrates the launch of the ANU Family Friendly Committee and ANU's commitment to the needs of families.

Today ends another successful Food Week at UPCCC. A big 'thank you'to all our teachers who participated in preparing the menu and the food for the children. Food Week is a great Fund Raiser for the centre, and the children enjoyed their choice of meals.

Our friends from Goodwin Nursing Home in Ainslie joined the UPCCC community to celebrate Halloween. The preschool children and teachers went 'Trick or Treating' throughout the centre which brought a smile to the faces of our visitors. A good time was enjoyed by all.

3 UPCCC Educators are currently attending the Childspace Study Tour in Wellington New Zealand. We are excited and grateful for this opportunity to participate in workshops, discussions and centre tours, and to meet with significant educators involved in Early Childhood Education.

Our Annual Christmas Party to be held on Friday, 30th November. The Gecko Gang will join us and of course, a 'special' guest may arrive. We look forward to the company of our families.

ACT Education Minister Berry invited UPCCC management, parents, teachers and children to take part in the Early Childhood Strategy Consultation.

Season's Greetings to all our families, staff, and friends of UPCCC. We wish you a happy and peaceful Christmas and a great 2019. Stay safe on your travels over Christmas and the New Year.

Happy New Year to all our families and UPCCC friends. We look forward to a wonderful 2019, the year we will celebrate our 50th birthday.

We hope you have a happy and safe Australia Day long weekend.

UPCCC welcomes our auditors who will be auditing our books for presentation at our AGM on Friday, 29th March 2019.

UPCCC Annual General Meeting will be held on Friday, 29th March at 12.30 in the Gecko Room. A light luncheon will be available from 12.00 noon. All welcome to attend.

Thank you to the parents who attended our AGM and to those parents who nominated for this years committee. We appreciate the ongoing commitment to the management of UPCCC by our parent committee.

ANU Vice Chancellor Brian Schmidt officially opened our new Nursery/Toddler Playground. The preschool children presented an Acknowledgement of Country and Aboriginal Elder Shane Mortimer performed a Smoking Ceremony. A breakfast BBQ made this community event very special.