Weekly email 24 January 2012. Drop in coffee groups, join the committee, fitness, yoga, classes and February event.
Hello, happy anniversary to Wellington and happy Chinese New Year. Its the year of the Dragon, said to be very auspicious and so we will be roaring our way through 2012! As mentioned several times, this is our Diamond Jubilee year so we are hoping to put on some really exciting events and competitions. We look forward to seeing you at our events and getting to know you better.
During the course of the year we will be attempting to get feedback from you on the services we provide, new services that you would like to see and any general improvements we can make. Surveys will be issued in the next few months and we would be delighted to have as many replies as possible so please get thinking about what you want to let us know. If any of you would like to join the committee and implement some of your ideas, we would love to hear from you!
In this email:
Drop-in coffee group
Starting the last week of February, come along and meet other parents in the Northern Suburbs. Bring yourself and your child(ren) to 1841 bar, Disraeli Street, Johnsonville on the last Friday of the Month from 10 am. Anyone can come and there is no need to RSVP. Buy your own coffee and cake, and WNPC will provide massages for tired parents (Gold coin donation for non-members). Anyone is welcome, no RSVP required.
Health and fitness
Shane Tindall is a former butcher, smoker and fast food junkie who started Specifics Training Group several years ago. Being a single father of two, he has an almost unique understanding in the fitness industry of the need to balance family and the need for our own life. He has represented New Zealand at the International Triathlon World Championships and is a REPS qualified independent mobile personal trainer based in Johnsonville.
Specifics Training Group runs a number of diverse fitness groups and individual personal training programmes. The Specifics Training Group ethos is for you to work hard, be dedicated but most of all to have fun and achieve your goals. WNPC members are invited to take part in:
Swim squad: Saturdays 7.30 am at Keith Spry Pool Johnsonville. Cost $10 for an hours coached swimming plus pool admission.
Ladies fitness groups: Wednesday 5.30-6.30 PM either at City Fitness Johnsonville or out and about. Cost $200 for ten small group sessions (you do not need to be a gym member to take part in gym based sessions).
Personal: You name the time and place! Cost from $35 for a half hour session. Great for either getting familiar with the gym and equipment, programme development, or on-going training.
WNPC and Specifics Training Group have joined forces to offer WNPC members some special fitness deals. Sign up in January and receive 10% off personal training sessions and 20% off the first session! Take a mate to spin and get the class half price! For more details contact Shane Tindall on 027 461 6003.
De-stress
Diane Clark Manley is a qualified Yoga instructor based in the Ohariu Valley. She runs Pregnancy Yoga Classes together with lunchtime yoga sessions and one on one sessions aimed at de-stressing the body and mind. Sessions are reasonably priced with a set of three 1 hour one-on-one sessions priced at $105. Pregnancy yoga is aimed at couples preparing for birth and is a 6-week course. For more information contact Diane.
Give Back
Come along to one of our events or classes and you can't help but be impressed by the dedicated hard-working team that run WNPC. What may surprise you is that apart from the class tutors, there are re no paid staff! All our events, classes, resources, libraries etc are organised by volunteers. So, if you have been to one of our classes/events, loved it and want to give back, or if you have a long list of how it could be better, WE WANT YOU!
Committee members get free membership, free parent education classes plus access to lots of other courses run by head office. Come along to a committee meeting or, better yet, take a look at the list below and see if anything takes your eye!
Parent Education Enrolments Convener
This is a great role for someone wanting to join the committee but who can only spare an hour or so a week. The role involves taking enrolments for parent education classes, checking payments have been made, sending reminders and organising one of the attendees to be class helper. You will liaise with the Parent Ed Convener and the entire role is email/internet based. For more information contact Angela.
CBE Convener
We really need a volunteer (or two) to arrange the CBE class volunteers, make up the contact information sheets and organise briefing and debriefing sessions. The role would suit someone with 1-2 hours to spare every 6 weeks. If you can in any way help us, please get in touch with Angela.
Resources Co-Coordinator
We need someone with a spare hour or two a week to photocopy class resources and prepare the CBE class volunteer boxes. The role involves ordering printing from the printers, picking it up and packing the CBE resource boxes. Please contact Angela if interested.
Special Events Sub-Committee leader
Enjoyed the Christmas Party? Want to offer your ideas for improvement? Special events are put on by WNPC and attendance is free for members. We are looking for someone to take over our Special Events Co-coordinator role to lead the events sub-committee which comprises 2-3 other committee members. If you want experience in planning and running events and project management this could be the role for you. Please contact Angela if interested.
Sandbox advertising co-coordinator
The Wellington Region Parents Centres are currently recruiting for an Advertising Co-coordinator for the Sandbox. Anyone who is interested in doing the marketing/advertising for this should contact the Sandbox Editor for more details.
Upcoming Parent Education Classes
Email Rebekah to book. Remember, if you volunteer to be 'Class helper' (open up and put out tea and biscuits etc) you can do the class for free.
Moving & Munching
Discover what your child will be doing developmentally in their first year, and get tips and tricks for introducing and continuing solids. This course is held in two sessions: Munching & Moving.
Session 1: Munching Tuesday evening
The Munching session is taken by Jeanette and covers introducing solid foods to your baby in stages (Stage one - 6 months; Stage two - 7-8 months; and, Stage three - 8-12 months). The session covers:
- cooking baby food
- continuing your baby’s milk feeds
- storing and freezing baby foods safely
- using commercial baby foods
- progressing towards finger foods
- progressing to family meals.
Session 2: Moving - Wednesday morning
The Moving session is taken by Alena and gives information on your baby's physical development and lots of ideas to encourage your baby's movement.
CPR for Babies & Toddlers - Tuesday 31 January
Learn exactly what to do if a baby or child stops breathing for any reason, or chokes. Gain confidence by practising these vital skills on CPR baby manikins.
Tinies to Tots
Tinies to Tots is a new informative programme for parents of children aged from 10-18 months. There are two evening sessions: Tuesdays 12 and 19 April. This class is run by Lena Florence who also runs Baby & You. Tinies to Tots will cover topics including those listed below and there will be lots of opportunity for asking questions.
* Moving from first solids to family foods * Safety * Common behaviour issues - including biting/tantrums * Feet & teeth care * Pets and our tots * Milestones and play * Things to do around town
Speech & Language Development - Tuesday 28 February
Children learn to communicate in different ways at different ages so it can be difficult to know what is 'normal' and when to be concerned. This workshop will give you the opportunity to learn practical skills to help support your child's communication.
The content will include:
- how language typically develops;
- ways to promote and develop emerging language skills;
- what to do if you have concerns about communication development; and
- how to support development of speech sounds and how to respond to speech sound errors.
February event
As the weather did not play ball for the previous two events, February's event will be under cover! Join us at Te Rauparaha Arena Aquatic Centre Porirua from 2 PM for fun and frolics in the water followed by afternoon tea (outside if warm and sunny, inside if otherwise). WNPC will provide pool entry and afternoon tea to members. Non-members pay own pool entry and $2 per child and adult for afternoon tea. RSVP to Angela.
Items to Hire
Please note that hire items re-open on 9 January.