by Joanne Wallace | Aug 20, 2021 | Common
Bring a simple jar to life with this cute DIY. You can either use it as a vase or pop a tea light candle in it.
You will need:
• Different colours of oven-bake clay. We used a variety of 7 different colours
• Skewer
• Preserving Jar (so it can be set in oven)
STEP 1:
Begin with some greenery! Break small chunks of clay off the packs and warm them up by rubbing in your hands. This allows the clay to be easily moulded.
STEP 2:
Start with long green shapes and build up a small patch with different leaves, flowers and grass. Try not to leave too much space between each new element and press the clay firmly to the jar to hold. You can add simple imprints with the skewer, however the rest if the sculpting can simply be moulded with your fingers.
STEP 3:
Once you have completed a small patch, just replicate the shapes you have already made until the entire jar is covered.
STEP 4:
Preheat oven to 130 degrees celsius. Place the jar on a cookie baking tray lined with baking paper (waxed). Bake for approx 25 mins. This will set your design.
by Joanne Wallace | Aug 16, 2021 | Common
This project kept our kids amused for hours! First designing the town buildings and offering them an invitation to play with their very own creation.
First, just gather any bits of craft objects you can get your hands on. We used paint, oil pastels, glue, material pieces, pom poms, glitter shapes, glitter glue, cardboard pieces, straws, sequins and buttons. There are no limitations.
Next you can use either recycled cardboard or purchase some board from your local Officeworks. Cut them into basic building shapes of different heights. We painted the bases different colours and also loved creating windows with plain white paper so that the kids can get creative, thinking about what might be in these buildings.
Secure your windows and doors onto the bases and you are ready to decorate!
Ask your child to think about what all the buildings will be. We decided on a school, hospital, vet, candy factory and a house. Then think about what might be seen on the inside of those buildings and get drawing and gluing!
Once your creations are dry, have fun playing!!!
You can also add extra accessories to expand your town! We added a road and some cars.
by Joanne Wallace | Aug 13, 2021 | Common
LEGO has long been a fantastic resource to practice some creativity. Our Art Teacher ‘Lee’ shares an inspiring way to transform LEGO into a fun piece of room decor. Lee runs her own creative business ‘You Give Me Grace‘ when she isn’t teaching at the Hive. Check her out to see some more exciting DIY’s to do with your kids. Being the mother of a 5 year old girl herself, she knows just what little projects are suitable and achievable! Have fun!!
THE WINTER THEME CHALLENGE
- Collect all your ‘cooler’ colour LEGO pieces. This includes Blues, Whites, etc.
- Place a 6×4 photo (or whichever size you like) flat on the ground and build up the first layer of your frame to make sure there is enough of a ‘window’ to see the photo.
- Once you have the first layer complete. Build up with different sizes, shapes and colours.
Check out Lee’s example…
THE GARDEN THEME CHALLENGE
- Collect all your brighter ‘Spring’ colour LEGO pieces. This includes pinks, purples, yellows etc.
- Place a 6×4 photo (or whichever size you like) flat on the ground and build up the first layer of your frame to make sure there is enough of a ‘window’ to see the photo.
- Once you have the first layer complete. Build up with different sizes, shapes and colours. You can include flowers etc too!
Check out Lee’s example…
THE GRADIENT THEME CHALLENGE
- Collect 3 shades of 3 different colours of LEGO to build your gradient. Lee has used 3 shades of blue, 3 shades of pink/purple and 3 shades of orange/yellow .
- Place a 6×4 photo (or whichever size you like) flat on the ground and build up the first layer of your frame to make sure there is enough of a ‘window’ to see the photo.
- Once you have the first layer complete. Build up with different sizes, shapes and colours.
Check out Lee’s example…
There are so many LEGO colours and shapes you can build frames with and they make super cute accessories in your room!!
Don’f forget to check out more from Lee at ‘You Give Me Grace‘…
by Joanne Wallace | Feb 18, 2021 | Common
Hive is now using the new ‘School Stream’ app to communicate with parents. Keep in the loop with the latest news and your Child’s class updates.
Simply download the App on either of the following formats:
iPhone / iPad iOS
- From your mobile device click the DOWNLOAD NOW link below.
- Tap the FREE/GET button to the right of the School Stream listing
- Tap the INSTALL button
- Enter your Apple ID and password & tap OK
- Wait for the install icon to change to OPEN
- Tap the OPEN button
- You will be prompted to accept push notifications, you will need to select OK
- Start typing your school into the search then SELECT your school
DOWNLOAD NOW
Android / Tablet
- From your mobile device click the DOWNLOAD NOW link below.
- Tap the School Stream listing
- Tap the INSTALL button
- Tap the ACCEPT button
- Wait for the app to install then tap the OPENbutton
- Start typing your school into the search then SELECT your school
- Tap the DONE button in the top left
DOWNLOAD NOW
by Joanne Wallace | Feb 18, 2021 | Common
We couldn’t be happier with our Creative Play program which launched last year.
A programme created by Hive to engage babies, toddlers and their carers in cleverly crafted educational play. With a fun new theme each week, families can look forward to original and surprising learning opportunities.
Our highly trained and talented staff host a vibrant gathering time with a focus on language and literacy through books, rhymes and songs. They use instruments, group sensory play and movement to meet in joyful learning.
Afterwards, during your rotating playtime, you can make those essential connections with other parents over barista made coffee and hot drinks (yes the coffee is good and delivered straight to your classroom!). Creative sensory and messy play is offered alongside opportunities to climb, balance, swing and build, all in a beautiful, safe and accepting environment.
by Vanessa Lynch | Jun 3, 2020 | Common
COVID safe policy:
Physical distancing measures taken
- No waiting inside the building: arrive on time or wait outside.
- Kindermusik classes: 1 adult only in building per child
- Bee-School: Drop off / Pickup from courtyard, Arrive exactly on time, do not wait in courtyard. Adults may not enter the classrooms.
- All classes have a break between to allow for students to exit and enter without overlap.
- Floor Dots placed 1.5m apart – please sit on a dot.
- Enter and exit your classroom from its own external door. Don’t walk through classrooms.
- The foyer play area has been removed and clients are asked to wait off site or outside.
- The outdoor play area will continue to be available, please use the disinfectant wipes provided to wipe play equipment down before your child uses it. Please BYO picnic rugs if meeting up with friends outside.
- Small Class sizes: ALL STUDENTS must be on the roll, this includes babies as younger siblings. Students will only be accepted into a class if their name is on the roll. This is imperative for meeting the max number per class as well as for tracking of COVID 19.
- Room capacities have been calculated. Please keep in mind, these totals include babies and children:
- Hive 1: 15
- Foyer: 9
- Hive 2: 19
- Art Space: 12
- Hive 4: 8
Hygiene policy & changes to classes
- Hive cleaning: a daily and hourly COVID cleaning & disinfecting routine has been implemented.
- Clients entering class must use hand sanitizer at entry. Use hand sanitizer as you leave class.
Kindermusik Classes:
- BYO soft packs include: 4 scarves, 4 wrist ribbons in a Hive backpack. This will be added to your enrolment fee when you enrol ($29). Bring it to class every week.
- Baby classes: BYO rug.
- All equipment used during your class is SINGLE use. This means that equipment is quarantined until disinfected. Viraclean is the disinfectant being used on our equipment: it is proven to remove the COVID 19 virus and is safe for use on equipment used by babies and children.
Art Classes:
- Art students to BYO own resource pack to minimize sharing of equipment (purchased from Hive)
Drama & Musical Theatre Classes:
- No equipment is being used.
Piano Lessons:
- Piano keys are wiped over between students
Health policy
- Teachers will be turning away any clients entering who are visibly unwell
- Staff & clients who are displaying ANY of the following symptoms: fever, cough, sore or scratchy throat, shortness of breath: are NOT to attend Hive. Staff must have a COVID 19 test and may not return to the workplace until a negative test result is returned.
Makeup Classes policy
While class sizes are restricted we are not able to offer any makeups or trial classes however you can do any makeups in the coming months as class sizes are allowed to increase.
Teacher illness: If your teacher is unable to attend Hive due to having symptoms, Hive will either: 1. Provide a substitute teacher or 2. Your teacher will teach the class online.
COVID 19 shut down and reopen plan
In the event that a case of COVID 19 occurs in our Hive community the following plan will be carried out:
- Staff and clients who were in attendance on that students day are notified. This includes:
- Their own class
- The class next door to them (in case of shared bathroom use)
- All staff
- Staff who were in contact with the infected person must have a COVID19 test and may not return to teaching until a negative test result is returned. Clients who were in contact with this infected person will be advised to follow this procedure.
- The entire Hive building will be closed for 48 hours to allow for deep cleaning.
- All classes to run online during the 48 hour period.
- A substitute teacher to replace any teacher in quarantine is Hive’s plan A. If this is unable to be achieved, teaching online classes is Hive’s plan B.
by Vanessa Lynch | Jun 2, 2020 | Common
Hive is reopening on Monday June 15
Today the NSW Government has announced that indoor classes can reopen from the 15th of June with max capacity of 10 participants per class.
We are so excited that we can reopen our amazing creative classes for face to face learning!
We are aware that some of our students prefer to learn online or live to far away to attend our face to face classes, and we would like your input so that we can cater for every student. Look out for our survey and for enrolment confirmations which will be sent to your inbox by the 4th of June.
by Vanessa Lynch | May 21, 2020 | Common
With the announcement that travel will be allowed and other restrictions will be lifted from the 1st June we have enquired with the NSW government business help centre as to when Hive classes can reopen.
We were advised that all information about which businesses can reopen and which must stay closed will be released ON the 1st of June.
As Hive is NOT classified as an educational facility, but a private business running indoor classes, we are waiting further instructions.
Thank you for your continued support of our online classes. Your support is enabling Hive to continue operating in this difficult time, and helping to keep Hive available to our community for the future.
by Vanessa Lynch | May 11, 2020 | Common
Following the Government announcement on Friday about the stages of reopening Australian businesses, Hive will have a staggered re-opening of school age classes once NSW moves into stage two. There is currently no date set for stage two by the NSW Government – follow our news posts for more information as it comes available.
A reminder that Hive is in a similar category to private indoor gyms : we are not classed as an educational facility and therefore cannot reopen yet.
Our Hive staff are working hard on creating and implementing a COVID safe plan for when we do reopen to ensure our classes are safe for students and teachers to attend.
