Traditions
Enterprise
Held on the last Friday of each month, stalls open for selling at 3pm and are set up in the YAC Veranda.
These are a school educational initiative; learning outcomes in the maths curriculum, marketing, supply and demand concepts, communication outcomes and financial literacy are all addressed. It involves the whole school including families. Children set up a simple stall selling their home-made or home-grown wares, and are responsible for their own money float and posters to market their product. Keep it simple and enjoy learning through preparing wares and participating on the day as either a seller or a purchaser.
Ideas for stalls include:
• Fruit, vegetables, seedlings, herbs, flowers, eggs
• Home-made baked goods
• Home crafts
• Busking
• Jams, preserves, chutneys
• Favourite recipes with take-home packs
Easter brunch
On the last day of Term 1, families come together to share food and build connections around the concept of Easter as renewal and time of growth. All families contribute ‘brunch’ food to our table and bring along anything personally symbolic for themselves or their family’s around Easter, to decorate the tables. After the shared breakfast we all walk together around the lake with instruments (thunder) to symbolically invite and welcome the winter rains which sustain all life and promote growth of our vegetation, flora, grasslands to feed our animals and crops.
Christmas Spiral
At the end of the school year the Child Side community comes together to celebrate the journey each individual has been on, and what is yet to come. This tradition was created by our school at a time when we had nothing. We had to create everything for our selves, even find a building to work in and to find like-minded people who were willing to work hard and commit (there were plenty of like-minded people who liked our ideas but not that many willing to work hard, pay money, travel and commit!) So once we had the basics of a building and a small community trickled together, we created this simple symbol of thanks and gratitude – a Christmas Spiral. Families and friends join together for an evening of sharing, singing and giving gratitude for our daily lives and all that we DO have.
Fire Twirling
The annual fire-twirling YAC exhibiton of learning at Child Side is a symbolic journey for YACs transitioning into adolescence, celebrated with the entire community. This fun-filled occasion emphasizes learning and growth through performance, showcasing the YACs’ documented process and planning skills. Participants are encouraged to bring picnic blankets and enjoy a relaxed evening with food and children’s performances that promise to ignite hearts with joy and atmosphere. This event underscores the curriculum’s focus on ‘The Arts’ and life skills development, emphasizing collaboration, personal responsibility, and teamwork. Supervision is crucial throughout, ensuring safety and creating lasting emotional connections among families and the Child Side community.