Big Fat Smile

Throwback to NAIDOC week at Bingara Gorge Community Preschool 😊

Form Director Paige Willingham: 'Our service celebrated NAIDOC week along with the NAIDOC theme "Keep the Fire Burning Blak, Loud and Proud". Although Indigenous culture is recognised daily at Binagra Gorge Community Preschool honouring and celebrating NAIDOC week was incorporated by setting up different activities and experiences throughout the week for the children to explore Aboriginal culture . During NAIDOC week we had one of our Indigenous family members come into the service in which she brought in some of her Aboriginal artefacts to show the children. One of the artefacts she showed us was different animal fur which the children got to feel. Ochre was used on the faces of individuals who identify and as it was painted on the face we repeated "know the truth" as the forehead was painted. Then under our eyes we repeated " see the truth" and then above our chins where we repeated "speak the truth". We then made rain sticks. The preschool room 2 children appeared to enjoy this experience. As an extension of learning from NAIDOC week we will continue to embed Aboriginal culture into our service.'

Simultaneous story time visit to Warrawong library 📚

From Director Belinda McGranahan: 'We love books and story time at Warrawong Community Preschool. Recently a group of children from our preschool room attended the Simultaneous Storytime event at the local library. The children loved engaging in the Storytime along with other children and families from the community, having a quick tour around the library and then also engaging in play with a variety of activities planned for children their age at the library. Such a great way for our children explore language and literacy with their peers at this wonderful local resource."

Koonawarra Community Preschool attended the Koonawarra Careways NAIDOC Family Fun Event 😊

From Director Sharon Collier: "Highlights were listening to the Welcome to Country and being involved in the smoking ceremony and dancing with Gumaraa. The weather was perfect and the children enjoyed many of the interactive stalls. We love being involved in our local community and appreciate the efforts of Community Careways in providing this well organised fun event."

Celebrating NAIDOC Week at Port Kembla Community Preschool! 🎨🖌️

The children from Port Kembla Community Preschool have been joyfully engaging in in the program during NAIDOC week. They've been getting creative with Indigenous symbol drawing on boomerangs and expressing their artistic talents through Indigenous symbol candle watercolor painting.

Today, we celebrated NAIDOC week at Bellambi Neighbourhood Centre!

The event featured a smoking ceremony, a dance performance, and a variety of engaging stalls and activities.

Our Community Programs Team was excited to be a part of it, offering fun activities at our own stall.

Afternoon tea smoking ceremony event at Warrawong Community Preschool ☀️

From Director Belinda McGranahan: "Recently at Warrawong community preschool we had our families attend an afternoon tea open classroom event, which started with a smoking ceremony conducted by Jake from Gumaraa. This event provided the opportunity for our service to learn about the use of smoking ceremonies by our First Nations people. Our children and families then spent time connecting, enjoying afternoon tea and exploring a range of experiences throughout the preschool."

Today, we had a fantastic time at the NAIDOC Family Fun Day at Koonawarra! 🌟

Hosted by CareWays Community at the Koonawarra Community Centre, the event was filled with cultural experiences, workshops, a dance troupe, various stalls, and a reptile show.

Check out our Community programs stand at the event!
A group of children from Dapto Community Preschool and Koonawarra Community Preschool also had the pleasure of attending the event.

Gardening at Bellambi Point Community Preschool 🌿🥕

At Big fat Smile, we believe in the power of nature to inspire and educate young minds! Bellambi Point Community Preschool offers a beautiful outdoor area with veggie patches where children can connect with nature, learn about planting and nurturing plants.

All smiles at our Cobblers Hill Community Preschool service 😊

At Big Fat Smile, we believe in the wonder of the great outdoors 🌱

Our outdoor spaces are designed to inspire play-based learning and foster a love for nature. Check out the beautiful veggie patch at Manooka Valley Community Preschool, a place where the little ones explore and learn!

NAIDOC Week 2024 👣

Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud

This year's theme celebrates the unyielding spirit of community, inviting everyone to stand in solidarity, amplifying the voices that have long been silenced.

The fire represents the enduring strength and vitality of Indigenous cultures. It is a symbol of connection to the land, to each other, and to the rich tapestry of traditions that define Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

"Blak, Loud and Proud" encapsulates the unapologetic celebration of Indigenous identity, an empowering stance to honour heritage and assert a place in the modern world. This theme calls for a reclamation of narratives, an amplification of voices, and an unwavering commitment to justice and equality. It invites all Australians to listen, learn, and engage in meaningful dialogue, fostering a society where the wisdom and contributions of Indigenous peoples are fully valued and respected.

Through collective efforts, this NAIDOC theme highlights a future where the stories, traditions, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are cherished and celebrated, enriching the fabric of the nation with the oldest living culture in the world.

We cannot wait to see how our services celebrate NAIDOC Week

Ever wondered what a day is like for a Big Fat Smile team member? Hear the inside word from Alicia Doolan, one of our awesome Centre Directors.

From the early morning hustle to the moments of laughter and learning, Alicia’s blog provides an insider's perspective on the joys, challenges, and rewards of working at Big Fat Smile.

💖 Heartwarming moments with the children and epic camaraderie among the team - every day is an adventure worth smiling about 🤩

Click to read more: https://bigfatsmile.com.au/from-the-inside-outa-peek-into-life-at-big-fat-smile-with-alicia-doolan/

Outdoor play at Warrawong Community Preschool 🌳🪣🌱

At Big Fat Smile, we're dedicated to building a nurturing and caring environment that allows children to develop and build their curiosity and social skills. Our environment encourages exploration of the natural world, creating unforgettable experiences and meaningful connections.

Gymnastic event at Bingara Gorge Community Preschool 💪

From Director Paige Willingham:
“Recently the children have showed a large interest with their balance and gross motor skills. From the children's interest educators decided to organise a gymnastic company to come into the service and support children to have the opportunity to participate. The children have seemed to enjoy this experience extending on their gross motor and balancing skills as well as showing their peers and educators what they can do. We look forward to when the gymnastics event arrives each week.”

Introducing the New Doctor’s Office at Thirroul Fun Club 🩺

From Director Bridy Salazar:
'We would like to introduce our new doctor’s office that we have created in collaboration with the children. We had extra bandages that we could not use for first aid due to them expiring and we decided to repurpose them. We introduced the idea to the children at the end of last term and the feedback we got was: ‘This is so cool’ and ‘I love it’.

The children worked with the educators to create doctor’s ID badges as seen in the photos. We have also been creating and adding all the things the children thought the doctor’s office needed. For example, the children asked for a clip board and paper so that they could record their patients’ injuries.

This new addition has introduced new learning opportunities such as learning how to wrap a bandage, as well as new social emotional experiences. We have observed children engaging in dramatic play in the doctor’s office offering assistance to their patients whether they are other children, the educators or the service dinosaur toys.

We value the voices of our children and this opportunity for collaboration has been a great way to allow the children to share their voices and have it heard and put into action.'

Enjoying a joyful day at Barrack Heights Community Preschool 📚 💐

Here at Big Fat Smile, our commitment to advocating for children and families in our communities never stops. See this incredible piece by our CEO Kim Bertino in partnership with Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)'s Kelly Fuller on the placement shortages in the Illawarra-Shoalhaven region

Summer May knew a lack of childcare was harming her career. So she teamed up with another parent to find the proof Determined parents battling childcare waiting list stress have gathered crucial data to advocate for solutions ahead of a Productivity Commission report into the sector.

Our commitment to excellence shines through our values, guiding every step we take at Big Fat Smile.

From our Head Office to our dedicated Educators and Teachers, these principles are woven into the fabric of our organisation, ensuring the best for every child in our care.

Our values:
🛡️ Safety: We are dedicated to child safety and wellbeing.
💼 Integrity: We are consistently respectful, honest, ethical, and accountable.
🧒 Child-centric: We put our children at the centre of our relationships, philosophy, quality practice and innovations for education and care.
🤝 Inclusion: We embrace the diversity of our children and colleagues and provide authentic opportunities for participation.
🏆 Leadership: We lead through excellence in practice.
💞 Connection: We recognise connection as a foundational element to authentic relationships.

At Big Fat Smile we focus on delivering:
👩‍👧‍👦 The best possible staffing ratios
🧑‍🏫 Highly qualified teachers and centre staff
🛝 Beautiful play environments that nurture children and facilitate their creative expression

Stirring up creativity and fun 🍳👩‍🍳
From preparing tea to discussing their favourite food, our little chefs from at Cobblers Hill Community Preschool learned about dishes from different countries while having a blast!

Friends diving into a captivating book about spiders at Cobblers Hill Community Preschool 📚

We recognize the importance of books in facilitating children's learning. That's why our preschools provide a wide-ranging collection of books covering diverse subjects. We believe that books play a crucial role in nurturing children's curiosity and fostering their thirst for knowledge. Our young learners are always encouraged to choose the books that intrigue them.

Meet the Director 📚🍏 🐛

Let us introduce you to our wonderful Cassie. A shining example of a leader, a passionate educator and a proactive member of the community.

Meet The Director- Cassie Edwards of Bellambi Point Community Preschool Meet our incredible Cassie and hear all about her passion for Early Childhood Education, the Ballambi Community and her role as a leader

Pride Month at Thirroul Fun Club 🌈

From Director Bridy Salazar:
"For Pride Month we are creating our own Pride Flags using the Progress Pride Flag as inspiration. The Progress Pride Flag uses the colours of the rainbow to represent different elements important to the LGBTQIA+ community. After having the colour meanings of the flag such as Red = Life, Blue = Serenity explained to them, the children were asked to create their own Pride Flags that used colours and symbols to represent what makes them happy and proud to be themselves.

Some children found this concept a little confusing and initially chose to copy the flag or simply paint a flag shape. With some guidance we were able to begin building the concept of using symbols. The children began to use their favourite colours or images such as the Sun to "show happiness" or a flower to show "that I love nature".
It helped students understand more when an Educator created an example and explained when it meant to them. This made the idea that it was our own individual Pride Flag clearer."

World Environment Day 🌎

On Wednesday, June 5th, World Environment Day was observed to raise awareness about safeguarding the environment. At Manooka Valley Community Preschool, educators organised an activity where children explored the community and collected objects that contributed to pollution.

From Assistant Director Tamara Martin:
"In 2024, the theme of World Environment Day is all about finding solutions to . Teaching the next generation about the environment and how we can protect it has never been more essential. To mark this day educators from Manooka Valley Community Preschool encouraged waste-conscious habits in the children by exploring the community and collecting objects that we all felt were is pollution."

Candle making at Thirroul Fun Club 🕯️

This activity blended science, creative arts, and sustainability!

1. As the wax melted from solid to liquid, children explored the effects of heat, transforming white solid wax into an opaque yellow liquid. Adding colour and watching it solidify again sparked curiosity about chemistry.
2. Choosing their preferred scents and colours allowed them to exercise creativity and strengthen connections by making personalized gifts.
3. Using sustainable soy wax and upcycled jars, this activity highlighted eco-friendly practices.
4. Children developed autonomy and responsibility, handling hot wax safely and following instructions.
5. Decorating their candles with Posca Pens and colourful twine showcased their creativity and innovation.

1, 2, 3, 4… steps to start creating a sandcastle! 🪣

With buckets and spades in hand, our little architects from Barrack Heights Community Preschool are busy crafting their dream sandcastles 🐚

Check out our latest blog, Supporting Access to Early Education: Understanding Start Strong Funding. In this piece we explain the funding, and how it applies to different service types.

Supporting Access to Early Education: Understanding Start Strong Funding - Big Fat Smile Visit the Supporting Access to Early Education: Understanding Start Strong Funding page of the Big Fat Smile website. Quality preschools, daycares and school holiday care across Sydney, the Illawarra and South Coast.