Birthday celebrations for Little Collies

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LITTLE Collies, the St Columba’s Memorial School-based playgroup, has recently celebrated its third birthday.
During that time it has welcomed more than 100 different families through the door for the play-based activities for the children and barista made coffee for the mums, dads and grandparents.
“In 2019 we overhauled our current toddler-based program Ready Set Go, for a new program designed to be more inclusive of all people in our community,” school principal Scott March said.
“The casual nature of the playgroup has proved incredibly popular.
“The activities are set up for children to play at their own leisure, rather than have structured activities that don’t suit all children.”
Little Collies runs for 90 minutes from 9.30am every Wednesday and caters for newborns to pre-kindy students.
During the pandemic, the playgroup has responded to various challenges.
In 2020, convener Gabi Schmidt and Mr March travelled across southern Yorke Peninsula dropping off care packs to families experiencing the first lockdown.
More recently, the playgroup won the Tom French Award for parent engagement.
“The proudest aspect of the playgroup for me is that most of the people who attend our playgroup aren’t current school families,” Mr March said.
“The playgroup has always been intended to support parents in the community by giving them a place they can come and meet other parents, build connections and friendships.”
Children celebrated the third birthday with allergy friendly cupcakes and further birthday games and celebrations.
“It was a great acknowledgement of the Collies family that has been created during the past three years,” Mr March said.
“Some of the children who attended the birthday have been attending since they were newborn babies all the way through to now being ready to attend kindy.”
All are welcome to attend the playgroup from 9.30am at the St Columba’s Memorial School Hall each Wednesday.
For more info follow Little Collies on Facebook.