get ahead kids magazine - vol 5, no. 6, november/december 2013

EDUCATING FAMILIES ON THE GO

Vol. 5 • No. 6 • Nov/Dec 2 013 ®

9 771839 149000

06

November/December 2013Subscription $6.60 AUD INC GST

An Interview with

Shannon Noll

Summer Learning

Special

Teaching Your Kids During the Holidays

2014 Brings Forward New Beginnings

Summer Recharge

Giving Pets as Gifts

The Australian Reptile Park has been recognised for excellence, being announced as a finalist in the 2013 NSW Tourism Awards. The Park is hoping to win the Tourist Attractions category when the winners are announced at the Gala Dinner on Thursday 28 November at Royal Randwick.

The Park’s Marketing Manager, Libby Bain states “It’s rewarding to be acknowledged for our efforts in business planning, marketing, customer service and professional development, environmental sustainability and innovation”.

The Reptile Park introduced two new attractions during the qualifying period; Nature Walk with Noctarium was opened in April and a new playground, featuring a reptilian theme followed in June.

The Park has also enjoyed success with its marketing initiatives, especially with social media, and sustainability has been a focus, with environmentally friendly soap, napkins, toilet paper and hand towels.

The Park works closely with the local community, with baby animal bags hand knitted by committed enthusiasts from retirement villages across the Central Coast and supports many local charities including Zoo and Snooze, which has raised $150,000 over three years.

Customer Service is a priority for the Reptile Park and a Certificate of Excellence was presented by Trip Advisor, with an overall rating of 4.5 from 5.

More Information

www.reptilepark.com.au

With special thanks to The Australian Reptile

Park, Get Ahead Kids has 5 family passes to

The Australian Reptile Park valued at $68.00

each to giveaway!

Each pass allows a family of 2 adults and 2 children (3-15 years) a wildlife

experience at the Australian Reptile Park.

Visit www.getaheadkids.com.au and click the giveaways link for a

chance to win this fantastic prize!

Reader

Giveaway

Australian Reptile Park

5 x Family

Passes to

Giveaway!

www.getaheadkids.com.au 3

Editorial

Your Letters

Spotlight

An Interview with Shannon Noll

Summer Learning


2014 Brings Forward New Beginnings

Summer Recharge

How to Spend Your Last High School Summer Vacation

Giving Pets as Gifts

Reference

Major NSW/ACT Boarding Schools’ Research

Health

Babies & Chiropractic

Chronic Pain

News

B-Active Keeps the Whole Family in Shape

Angelina Ballerina to Appear at Baby Ballerinas & Co Concert

RIP IT UP Reading: Australia’s Leading Researched Working

Memory Reading Program

Giveaways

The Australian Reptile Park Family Passes Giveaway

Casting Your Memories Giveaway

Air Hogs Hover Assault Eject Giveaway

Taronga Zoo Family Passes Giveaway

Poem

The Turkey of Christmas Past

Reviews

Advertisers Index

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24

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27

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35

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34

An Interview with Shannon Noll

ContentsNov/Dec 2013

FOR FAMILIES ON THE GO

®

This Month’s

Get Ahead Kids®

© MAP Marketing 2013

PublisherMAP MarketingABN 38 003 493 007Villa Franca, 2 Scott St.Newcastle NSW 2300P: 02 4929 7766 www.getaheadkids.com.au

Managing EditorMaria CharltonMAP MarketingABN 38 003 493 007Villa Franca, 2 Scott St.Newcastle NSW 2300P: 02 4929 [email protected]

Graphic DesignKatie HurstMAP MarketingP: 02 4929 7766

AdvertisingMaria CharltonMAP MarketingABN 38 003 493 007Villa Franca, 2 Scott St.Newcastle NSW 2300P: 02 4929 [email protected]

Get Ahead Kids® is published by Marketing Advisers for Professionals Pty LtdT/A MAP Marketing. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. The publisher does not accept responsibility for the opinions, errors or omissions.

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Get Ahead Kids® Nov/Dec 134

In this issue Shannon Noll provides an interesting interview that reveals information about his family, life on the road, aspirations, and his upcoming music ventures.

The riveting Summer articles include topics such as chiropractic care for babies, teaching your kids during the holidays, how to spend the last school year, recharging your energies over summer and the joys and responsibilities of receiving pets as Christmas gifts.

Editorial

Get Ahead Kids provides a variety of Facebook, digital subscriber and reader giveaways in this issue.

On behalf of the team, I am endlessly grateful for the generosity of the many companies that provide giveaways to Get Ahead Kids especially the regulars such as Taronga Zoo and the Australian Reptile Park.

Maria Charlton Managing Editor P: 02 4929 7766 [email protected] www.mapmarketing.com.au

I was so relieved that Get Ahead Kids brought the topic of multitasking and how our children respond to the expectations that can be placed upon them. It was a breath of fresh air to hear that the concept of multitasking doesn’t always work for everyone, and that we should be considering the consequences that our children may encounter as a result of us constantly expecting them to be able to juggle too many tasks at once.

E. Webby, Elanora Heights NSW

‘Focus on What You Want, Not on What You Don’t Want’ gives a great insight into the importance of goal setting and the need to prioritize daily events.

C. Halkett, St Marys NSW

Please send letters and stories with

your name and contact details to

Get Ahead Kids®

Villa Franca, 2 Scott St.

Newcastle NSW 2300

F: 02 4929 7827

[email protected]

The article ‘How Parents Can Help Their Primary School Children Learn Their Tables’ has helped us explain this better to our children and given us hope. We struggle with this nightly and have lost sleep and had tears over the issue.

M. Harris, Kidman Park SA

I enjoyed the article about preparing students for the HSC as it provided useful tips in stress and the HSC. It was useful as I took part in the HSC this year and I really benefited from this article.

R. Wagataff, Mona Vale NSW

‘The Tortoise and the Hare’ was an interesting article. At school I always left studying and assignments to the last minute but was always confident in my study/assignment techniques but was always roused on by my parents, my results were always above average. With my eldest starting school next year, its nice to know that there is a name for this tortoise or hare. Thanks for the great read.

J. Sellers, Thirroul NSW


News

School holidays are just around the corner, which means your family exercise routine can quickly turn into a whirlwind of kids entertainment and solving the eternal problem of kids being bored.

Balance Mayfield’s B-Active kids program is designed to keep adults and kids active and entertained this school holidays. Aimed at children aged 5 to 16 the B‐Active program includes climbing walls, sportswall, Xbox 360 Kinect, resistance training, exercise games and mobility exercises.

The program combines the latest technology with fun and fitness and also allows parents a gym workout while they wait.

The B-Active program runs Monday to Friday 4pm and 5.30pm and Saturday’s at 8am, 9am, 10am and 11am. Balance Mayfield’s aquatics centre is also a great place to keep the kids entertained these holidays, while avoiding the risk of sunburn! Once school goes back, they can keep up their swimming at learn to swim classes that cater for all age groups, from Aqua Babies aged 6 months through to adults.

B-Active Keeps the Whole Family in ShapeIf you need a solution that allows you to catch up with your friends while your kids catch up with theirs, head to Raw Express, which will soon have a kids playground right next door where your youngsters can entertain themselves for ages.

So this school holidays, don’t let the kids complain about being bored.

More Information

www.balancehealth.com.au


What inspires you when writing new songs?

It happens differently every time. Sometimes you see a situation between two people or hear about a situation somebody is in and you get an idea and you build that idea into a storyline. It can be one of many things, just watching someone or something you have actually lived through yourself.

What has been your career highlight so far?

Probably taking consecutive top 10’s for me. I wasn’t counting too much and somebody told me and it blew me away! They were the first top ten singles I released.

What is your favourite song and why?

That’s a hard one; I love them all in different ways. I love ‘Now I Run’ - there is such a personal connection with that song because it is about my dad.

An Interview with

Shannon Noll

I also love ‘Lift’ because of the difference that people have told me it has made to them and the situation that they are going through, and the same with ‘Shine’. To pick one out of them would be really difficult because there are a few that spring to mind.

‘Drive’ is a fun one too, it’s so much a part of people’s lives in the bush because their car is their life.

My favourite song of somebody else’s:

I always have a soft spot for ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’ by Guns n Roses because to me it has such a great guitar hook and a brilliant vocal and lyrical hook; it has the essence of a terrific song.

Please tell us about your family

I have three kids, two boys and a girl. They are very sporty, just as my wife and I were when growing up - my wife was a gymnast and I played cricket, tennis, golf and footy every chance I got my kids they love the same stuff. They also have interests in music and drama as well so they get right into anything they possibly can at the moment - definitely all rounders.

I have two brothers - they actually had an album out in the country charts that went brilliantly a couple of years ago - The Noll Brothers - it was called ‘A Country Heart’ and it is a really good album. I wrote a couple of songs and I also sang on the album title song.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I’m an outdoors person, we have motorbikes and horses and that sort of stuff across ten acres just outside of Melbourne. We muck around in the veggie patch or down in the back paddock or go out bush camping. I like to get outside whenever I can. Kids learn a great amount of life skills by being able to do that sort of thing.


Where is your favourite holiday destination and why?

My wife and I went to El Questro Wilderness Park in The Kimberleys for our honeymoon and I adored it and had a great time. So that would probably be my choice I reckon.

What was your favourite subject at school?

I probably liked drama the most just because it was a great way to express myself and I liked plays and acting - I did a lot of that after school as well and that’s how it started - I did drama at school then I went into a little production company in my hometown and we did some small productions.

If you weren’t a musician, what would you like to be?

I’d love to try acting. It would be something I’d like to test the waters in - I think it would be a lot of fun.

I did a lot of shearing as a young bloke too. It’s a really hard profession but you see a lot of the countryside and meet some True Blue Aussie people, but that would have been fun for about a day I think – you learn about hard work for sure!

If you could sing a duet with anyone of your choice, who would it be?

I would love to sing a duet with P!nk if I had the chance, I think we have very similar vocal ranges and vocal sounds that would complement each other. Elvis would be great too!

What can we expect from you in the future?

I’m writing a new album at the moment - I’ve been writing with Jon Hume from Evermore and Ilan Kidron from The Potbelleez trying to get as much material as we can together. I’d love to have a single out by the end of the year or early next year. But we will definitely have an album out next year and a tour to follow.

Shannon Noll... So FarAuthors: Shannon Noll with Alan Whiticker

This book tells the whole story of Shannon Noll - about his role as a brother, son, father and husband. It explores Shannon’s transformation from the family farm near Condoblin, to one of Australia’s premier recording and performing artists.

The book also investigates Shannon’s darker times - after suffering the loss of his father, Shannon struggled with depression and drug abuse.

This book is ideal for Shannon Noll fans, those interested in the Australian music industry and anyone who enjoys a successful story about hard work and perseverance.

Age Guide: Open Extent: 256 Pages (Paperback)ISBN: 9781742573243 Price: AU $32.95 Publisher: New Holland Publishers Australia P: 02 8986 4700 www.newholland.com.au

Tell us about your life on the road

My routine goes in cycles - you have some quiet time when you are writing and suddenly it takes off and you are on tour and the promo trail - there’s never a boring moment.

I don’t get to take my family on tour with me - they have school and so many activities they do on the weekend it doesn’t really work. I try and get home on my days off so I’m getting home once or twice a week.

What are your top tips for someone seeking a career in the entertainment industry?

1. Learn your craft as best you can 2. Do as many live gigs as you

can to get a handle on live performances

3. Get used to performing in front of people

4. Write as many songs as you can

About Shannon Noll

Shannon Noll has a knack for striking a chord with his legions of music fans, tapping into pure emotion that’s both his own and instantly relatable.

His fourth album, A Million Suns stays faithful to his classic rock roots while ramping up the pace like never before.

Shannon reached No.3 in the ARIA album chart with Turn It Up, and despite having clocked up 10 consecutive top 10 ARIA chart singles, the country boy from Condobolin, NSW remains unaffected by success and committed to his hard-working rock ethic.

More Information

www.shannonnoll.com.au

Spotlight


As parents, we are usually required to help our kids learn academically by supporting them when doing their homework. A large number of parents work either full-time or part-time, so time with their kids is precious and by the time they get home from work, prepare dinner and help their children with homework, there is not much time left for “extra-curricular” activities.

A number of parents organise their annual holidays to coincide with the school holidays in order to spend time with their children.

For this reason, school holidays can be the ideal time to get involved with the kids, doing lots of things that are not possible during school terms. Things like a trip to the lake or beach, fishing, camping, walking, movies, visits to museums and art galleries are only some of the myriad of things that can be done when time is available.

By Dr. Joan Brien

shower or toilet instead of these things being instantly available, learning ways of making friends with total strangers and investigating a new environment, which may include previously unknown plants and animals.

Even the joy of walking and discovering new things when on foot - we see more things while walking than when we are driving past in a vehicle.

This is in addition to the increased health benefits that come with regular exercise, which may not be easily achieved during term time.

Fishing can contribute to an increased knowledge of the range of fish that live in a particular area and how these are part of the “web of life”. That is, each type of fish is both prey and predator and if one of these fish species were to die out, then those they prey on and those that prey on it, would both be affected.

During these activities, parents can provide their children with education that can then supplement what they learn at school. These educational experiences add to the child’s general knowledge, which is just as important as the academic knowledge that they gain at school.

At the beach, they can learn about what causes the ocean tides, look at the shellfish that live at different levels on the rocks, see what types of creatures live in the rockpools, look at the different types of seaweeds, look at the range of seabirds etc.

Camping provides the opportunity to learn about how to live without the “normal” everyday conveniences of a suburban home.

They may learn other ways to keep warm or stay cool other than turning on the air-conditioner, understand that living in a camping ground may require waiting for an available



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They may learn about fish that are poisonous and those that are suitable for food.

Enjoy your time with the kids and you may find that as well as you educating them, they may actually educate you in ways that you never thought possible!

Checklist

❑ Learning things to do at the beach

❑ Survival skills to be learnt at camping

❑ Fishing can be used to learn about the web of life

More Information

Dr. Joan Brien Certified Irlen DiagnosticianIrlen Diagnostic ClinicSuite 3/136 Nelson St.Wallsend NSW 2287P: 02 4955 6904F: 02 4965 [email protected]

Summer Learning

Go higher

Higher EducationGlendale Campus

BACHELOR OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE (BIRTH - 5)

INFORMATION SESSION: Will be held at Glendale Campus. For more information phone 4979 1402 or email [email protected]

Scholarships may be available for this course.

TAFE NSW now offers a range of higher education coursesBachelor of Early Childhood Education and Care (Birth - 5) and will be offered to read and is being offered at Glendale Campus.

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Graduates.


The 2013 school year is almost over. For some this means a new school or a new class next year.

For others it means a new beginning as they enter the workforce.

Whichever the case, there will be many new uncertainties. Dealing with the expectations of parents, teachers, workmates and employers, at one level or another, will test every student as the New Year starts.

New classmates, unfamiliar schools, TAFE or Universities; all with different routines and new expectations will have their own pressures.

For those starting a career there will be demands of a very new type awaiting them.

The summer break is the best time to start prepare for the New Year ahead.

For those going from being a senior in primary school to being the “new kid on the block” in high school can be exciting, but it can also be very daunting. Meeting new class mates can challenge the student’s confidence levels and make the building of new relationships a “hit or miss” proposition, raising many questions for them. Questions like “will the other kids like me”, “will I get on with them”. The need for being liked has become the greatest worry for these kids. Learning about themselves; understanding their own personalities and what pushes their buttons is the first step to dealing with difficult new classmates and unfamiliar situations. What better time to learn about this than over the Christmas holidays.

For those moving into their senior year, it’s not only a time of new responsibilities, it is also a time for choosing a career direction. There is so much to be considered before taking on further studies or going out and joining the workforce. Before the New Year starts, take the time to consider the things you like to do, the activities you enjoy, and look through the Job Guide. Look at the personal requirements of each career and find the ones that will let you feel the way you would prefer to feel on a daily basis. This way you will find careers and jobs that fit your personality and you can choose subjects that will prepare you for your career. You will also have found subjects you’ll enjoy learning, making the coming years more enjoyable.

2014 Brings Forward

New Beginnings

Summer Learning

By Alan Stevens


About Alan Stevens

Alan Stevens, the Face Profiler, is a coach and trainer in the Art of Reading People, based in Newcastle NSW. He has developed Social Emotional Learning programs for school teachers and corporations including programs to recognise what other people are not telling you, what they are concealing, and how they are likely to behave in any situation. His programs are delivered locally in schools and to businesses locally and internationally through the internet. He was described by the Newcastle Herald as “The Mentalist meets Dr. Phil meets Dr. Cal Lightman from Lie To Me”, and his passion is to share these skills throughout the community. To find our how other people see you and how to recognise what makes other people tick, contact Alan now.

More Information

www.alanstevens.com.au

Going into (or thinking about going into) the workforce also has a number of issues.

The Australian Human Resources Institute recently stated that 82% of people don’t enjoy their work. The October 2012 Parliamentary report recorded workplace bullying to be at an all time high with as many as 1 in 3 people reporting being bullied in the workplace.

I couldn’t imagine anything worse than being bullied and feeling stuck while doing work I didn’t enjoy. Find yourself a guide, a coach who can help you deal with those issues before they arise. Take the summer period to understand your personality traits, protecting yourself from bullies and creating the future that you will enjoy.

Checklist

❑ Students going into Year 7 need to prepare for a new environment & friends

❑ Year 12 students need to plan for further education, travel or the workforce

❑ Research what you want from work & what you are prepared to sacrifice

Summer Learning

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Summer Learning

Let’s begin right now

As the school year ends, parents, students and no doubt teachers are beginning to look forward to the end of year summer break.

End of year exams, concerts, presentations, report writing and the myriad of last minute assignments and tasks can take their toll on tired teachers, parents and students.

These can lead to high stress levels and illness, often manifesting as the holidays begin.

Summer break can be an ideal time to recharge the batteries, mentally, physically and emotionally.

Here are some actions which can be implemented right now to ensure a fun-filled, stress-free, healthy, happy and energetic summer break:

1. Pamper Your Tummy

Start now with some regular health boosters, lots of water, plenty of vegetables and a balanced diet with low sugar, salt and fat content. Add any nutritional supplements that may be required.

2. Have Some “Me” Time

Spend 10 minutes each day in silence, by yourself, or spend time doing things for you without any rush, any pressure. Even better, learn to meditate.

3. Reward yourself

Often we reach goals and make no time to acknowledge our hard work and achievement. Apart from the mental pat on the back, it is important to reinforce our self-worth with a deserved reward. This could be a special treat like a head massage, a couple of hours at the beach, a good book or a movie.

Summer RechargeBy Michelle Lee


By implementing these 7 tips, parents, students and teachers will feel empowered and energised. These will lead to happier and healthier connections within and around you. Students and parents will be relaxed and ready for the new year. Teachers will be recharged, refreshed and have renewed passion for what they do, ready to inspire the next round of students.

About Michelle Lee

Michelle Lee is a Transformational Life Coach at UpnAway Career & Life Coaching, based in Newcastle NSW. She successfully guides adults and teens to transform their lives and to pursue their passion and purpose. Michelle has developed programs to assist her clients to become clear on what they want and to build their purpose and confidence.

More Information

www.upnawaylifecoaching.com

Summer Learning

4. Move Your Body

Regular exercise keeps the doctor away. Even if it is a focused 10 minutes a day, you have set the foundation to make 30 minutes a day an easy next step during the holidays.

5. Express Your Frustrations

Research has shown that safe expression of irritations, frustrations, anger have the power to heal you or prevent disease and illness. Boxing is one excellent way to do so. With the added grunt and scream, this exercise can do wonders for your emotional and physical well being.

6. Pursue Your Passions

We love our life when we are doing things we enjoy. So make time to do the things you love. It might be reading, fishing, gardening, playing with your dog. Whatever it is, pursue it as often as you can.

7. Practise Mindfulness

Focus your complete attention as often as you can on your present experience. Your increased awareness and non-judgmental acceptance of your thoughts, feelings and experience will bring you to a higher state of thankfulness for what you already have.

www.faceofthefuture.com.au

• Strong positive student & social connections• Improved self-confidence & self-worth• Awareness of strengths, skills, attributes• Improved focus and motivation• A more enjoyable school life

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Open DayNewcastle Grammar School will be holdingan Open Day on Wednesday, 20 Novemberfrom 8.00am to 10.30am and3.30pm to 5.00pm.

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NewcastleGrammarSchool


There is an ocean of time in-between the end of HSC exams and the beginning of University.

Rather than catching up on sleep, get the most out of the time you have before University.

Get a Summer Job

Managing your own budget when you’re at University will be much easier if you have some extra money saved up from working a summer job. A little extra cash will go a long way when assignments pile up and you need to focus all your efforts on studying.

Working will also provide you with valuable time and people management skills that will be a huge advantage at University and hopefully equip you with the skills to manage University study commitments, part time work and still maintain a social life.

Clean Up Your Online Act

University is the time where you start building your professional identity. In a couple of years you will start applying for internships or part-time jobs that are relevant to what you’re studying.

So give yourself a head-start by giving your online identity a professional makeover. Take a few minutes to make sure your social media privacy settings are up-to-date and your personal content is private. It may also be a good time to get a new email address. Keep it simple and stick to a classic variation of your full name.

Learn to Cook

It’s an old cliché but a healthy body is a healthy mind. And rather than living off two-minute noodles, learn a few basic recipes to keep you going through University.

How to Spend Your Last

High School Summer VacationBy Tim Laurence

Study

As horrid as the idea might be, many Universities offer bridging programs over January and February for students who haven’t studied the subjects that are listed as “Assumed Knowledge” for many University courses. If you really want to succeed in your first year at University it is a great idea to gain this extra knowledge over summer, you can always take a holiday in your mid-year break.

Travel

You don’t need to have an entire Gap Year to experience the benefits of travel and see the world after you’ve finished high school. With the Australian dollar still relatively high, there are plenty of student-friendly travel destinations close to home that are perfect for a quick break while broadening your world view. A deeper understanding of Australia’s position in the world will prove useful when you need to frame your future at University in an international context.


Attend O-Week

Once you have completed your enrolment you need to start thinking about your new life at University. Orientation week is about much more than campus parties and late nights. O-week is a vital time for students to familiarise themselves with on-campus clubs and societies, all the University services and get to know where things are on campus. Getting off to a good start during orientation week will put you in a good place for the rest of Semester.

About Tim Laurence

Tim is the Dean of Studies at UTS:INSEARCH, the premium pathway provider to UTS. He is responsible for the delivery and quality assurance of all

Summer Learning

UTS:INSEARCH pathway programs both locally and internationally. He has 26 years’ experience in higher education teaching and management. With a background in design, he is also an Adjunct Professor of Design at the University of Technology, Sydney and a Fellow of the Design Institute of Australia.

More Information

www.insearch.edu.au

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With Christmas fast approaching, many parents will be considering buying pets as a gift. While this is a great idea and pets often morph into an extra family member, pets are a long term responsibility and need lots of care and attention.

Deciding on a family pet is a big decision and there are lots of factors to consider including:

• Can you afford the cost of a pet?• What kind of animal do you

want? • What breed should you choose? • Do you want a baby animal?

Summer Learning

Giving Pets as Gifts • Should you consider adopting a

rescue animal? • Do you have the space for the

animal to roam?• Do you live in strata that has

restrictions on animals?

It’s important to choose an animal that will fit with your family and lifestyle as well as your physical environment - for example, a large dog may not be ideal for your family if you have a very small backyard, if you go away a lot, or do not have time to exercise it.

Remember to take care of the miscellaneous requirements that come with pets - this includes ensuring they are wormed regularly, vaccinations are kept up to date and that they are micro chipped.

It is also important to seriously consider desexing your pet, especially if you live in an area where your pets can come into contact with other animals in the neighbourhood. While these tasks might seem a bit of a pain and require expensive visits to the vet, they are essential to ensure your new pet can remain healthy and safe.


If purchasing a dog, it is necessary to take it to puppy school to get it trained and socialised so there are no issues at parks and dog beaches.

If space permits, and your kids are desperate for a pet of a bigger variety - a horse - it is recommended that you take your kids to riding lessons and/or lease a pony for a few months to ensure the novelty of horse riding doesn’t wear off. While you can find great beginner ponies at reasonable prices, the add on costs of horse riding can be astronomical - think clothes, helmet, boots, saddle, bridle, rugs, feed and farrier costs as well as a horse float if you intend to go to pony club and gymkhanas.

If you are unsure whether your family is ready to commit to a high-maintenance pet such as a cat, dog or horse, start off smaller with a goldfish, chicken, rabbit or guinea pig.

These types of pets generally take up less space, require less care and attention and are not as expensive to maintain.

Checklist

❑ Ensure you can afford the pet - vet bills, micro chipping, vaccinations & pet food are expensive

❑ Research the type of animal & breed you want - do you have time for a big dog that requires a lot of attention & exercise?

❑ Create a duties chart so the kids take it in turns to feed, groom & walk your pet

❑ If you don’t want your pet to multiply, get it desexed! This will eliminate the risk of one pet turning into seven

❑ Visit your local pound or vet & consider adopting a rescue animal. There are lots of advantages to adopting a rescue animal - older animals may already be house trained & socialised & baby animals are also often available at rescue shelters

❑ Kids haven’t had much interaction with animals? It’s worth getting them allergy tested prior to purchasing that big fluffy cat you have your eye on

❑ Remember! Pets are a lifetime commitment - not a novelty!

Summer Learning

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pioneering change for good


Abbotsleigh Senior School

Primary & Secondary GirlsMax. 170 Boarders / 4 Boarding HousesBoarding Years: 7-12 Boarding Quality: Very High Contact: June Brown - Registrar1666 Pacific Hwy, Wahroonga NSW 2076P: 02 9473 7777 | F: 02 9473 [email protected] www.abbotsleigh.nsw.edu.au------------------------------------------------------

All Saints’ College

Primary & Secondary Co-educationMax. 100 Boarders / 2 Boarding HousesBoarding Years: 7-12Boarding Quality: Very HighContact: Michael Hissey - Registrar70 Eglinton Rd, Bathurst NSW 2795P: 02 6331 3911 | F: 02 6332 2236michael.hissey@saints.nsw.edu.auwww.saints.nsw.edu.au------------------------------------------------------

Ascham School

Primary & Secondary Girls Max. 100 Boarders / 4 Boarding HousesBoarding Years: 6 -12Boarding Quality: Very HighContact: Myfanwy Stanfield - Registrar188 New South Head Rd, Edgecliff NSW 2027P: 02 8356 7000 | F: 02 8356 7230registrar@ascham.nsw.edu.auwww.ascham.nsw.edu.au------------------------------------------------------

Barker College

Primary Boys & Secondary Co-educationMax. 50 Boarders / 3 Boarding HousesBoarding Years: 10 -12Boarding Quality: Somewhat HighContact: Elizabeth Harrison - Dean Of Enrolments 91 Pacific Hwy, Hornsby NSW 2077P: 02 9847 8399 | F: 02 9447 [email protected] www.barker.nsw.edu.au

Canberra Girl’s Grammar

Secondary GirlsMax. 92 Boarders / 1 Boarding HouseBoarding Years: 7-12Boarding Quality: Very HighContact: Barbara Connolly - Director of AdmissionsMelbourne Ave, Deakin ACT 2600P: 02 6202 6400 | F: 02 6273 [email protected]

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Calrossy Anglican School

Secondary GirlsMax. 245 Boarders / 4 Boarding HousesSecondary BoysMax. 42 Boarders / 1 Boarding HouseBoarding Years: 7-12Boarding Quality: Very HighContact: Miriam Knight - Registrar140 Brisbane St, Tamworth NSW 2340P: 02 6766 2965 | F: 02 6766 2439admin@calrossy.nsw.edu.auwww.calrossy.nsw.edu.au------------------------------------------------------

Cranbrook School

Primary & Secondary BoysMax. 100 Boarders / 2 Boarding HousesBoarding Years: 7-12Boarding Quality: Somewhat HighContact: Deborah Woodward - Director of Admissions5 Victoria Rd, Bellevue Hill NSW 2023P: 02 9327 6864 | F: 02 9327 7619enrol@cranbrook.nsw.edu.auwww.cranbrook.nsw.edu.au------------------------------------------------------

Frensham

Secondary GirlsMax. 305 Boarders / 6 Boarding HousesBoarding Years: 7-12Boarding Quality: Very HighContact: Joy Stewart - RegistrarRange Rd, Mittagong NSW 2575P: 02 4860 2000 | F: 02 4860 [email protected]

Kambala

Primary & Secondary GirlsMax. 100 Boarders / 2 Boarding HousesBoarding Years: 6 -12 Boarding Quality: Somewhat HighContact: Tracy Mulligan - Director of Enrolments794 New South Head Rd, Rose Bay NSW 2029P: 02 9388 6844 | F: 02 9371 8604enrolments@kambala.nsw.edu.auwww.kambala.nsw.edu.au------------------------------------------------------

Kincoppal - Rose Bay

Primary & Secondary GirlsMax. 155 Boarders / 2 Boarding HousesBoarding Years: 7-12Boarding Quality: Very highContact: Michael Jones - Marketing & CommunicationsNew South Head Rd, Rose Bay NSW 2029P: 02 9388 6000 | F: 02 9388 6001admissions@krb.nsw.edu.auwww.krb.nsw.edu.au------------------------------------------------------

Kinross Wolaroi School

Secondary Co-educationMax. 330 Boarders / 7 Boarding HousesBoarding Years: 7-12 Boarding Quality: Very high - Somewhat High Contact: Graham Jacques - Registrar 59-67 Bathurst Rd, Orange NSW 2800P: 02 6392 0300 | F: 02 6392 0410registrar@kws.nsw.edu.auwww.kws.nsw.edu.au------------------------------------------------------

Knox Grammar School

Secondary BoysMax. 160 Boarders / 1 Boarding HouseBoarding Years: 7-12Boarding Quality: Very HighContact: Martin Gooding - Head of EnrolmentsPacific Hwy, Wahroonga NSW 2076P: 02 9487 0122 |F: 02 9487 [email protected]

Major NSW/ACT Boarding Schools’ Research

Reference

By MAP Marketing


Reference

MacKillop College

Secondary GirlsMax. 70 Boarders / 1 Boarding HouseBoarding Years: 7-12Boarding Quality: Very HighContact: Vicky Evens - RegistrarTenison Woods Ave, Perthville NSW 2795P: 02 6337 6900 | F: 02 6337 [email protected] ------------------------------------------------------

New England Girls School

Primary & Secondary GirlsMax. 300 Boarders / 4 Boarding HousesBoarding Years: 5 -12Boarding Quality: Very HighContact: Alice Schmidt - EnrolmentsUralla Rd, Armidale NSW 2350P: 02 6774 8700 | F: 02 6772 7057enrolments@negs.nsw.edu.auwww.negs.nsw.edu.au------------------------------------------------------

Newington College

Secondary BoysMax. 50 Boarders / 1 Boarding HouseBoarding Years: 7-12Boarding Quality: Very HighContact: Yvonne Kaloterakis - Director of Admissions200 Stanmore Rd, Stanmore NSW 2048P: 02 9568 9333 | F: 02 9569 [email protected]

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PLC Armidale (Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Armidale)

Primary & Secondary GirlsMax. 75 Boarders / 3 Boarding HousesBoarding Years: 5 -12Boarding Quality: Very HighContact: Fiona Mullen - Enrolments Manager Crest Rd, Armidale NSW 2350P: 02 6770 1700 | F: 02 6772 [email protected]

PLC Sydney (Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Sydney)

Primary & Secondary GirlsMax. 65 Boarders / 1 Boarding HouseBoarding Years: 7-12Boarding Quality: Very HighContact: Catherine Marvell - RegistrarBoundary St, Croydon NSW 2132P: 02 9704 5666 | F: 02 9744 6614cmarvell@plc.nsw.edu.auwww.plc.nsw.edu.au------------------------------------------------------

Pymble Ladies’ College

Primary & Secondary GirlsMax. 120 Boarders / 3 Boarding HousesBoarding Years: 7 - 12Boarding Quality: Very HighContact: Vickii Scott - Enrolments Avon Rd, Pymble NSW 2073P: 02 9855 7799 | F: 02 9855 7766enrol@pymblelc.nsw.edu.auwww.pymblelc.nsw.edu.au------------------------------------------------------

Ravenswood School for Girls

Primary & Secondary GirlsMax. 32 Boarders / 1 Boarding HouseBoarding Years: 10-12Boarding Quality: Very HighContact: Enrolments TeamHenry St, Gordon NSW 2072P: 02 9498 9908|F: 02 9498 9999enrol@ravenswood.nsw.edu.auwww.ravenswood.nsw.edu.au------------------------------------------------------

Snowy Mountains Grammar School

Primary & Secondary Co-educationMax. 50 Boarders / 2 Boarding HousesBoarding Years: 7-12Boarding Quality: Very highContact: Joan Herringer - RegistrarKosciuskzo Rd, Jindabyne NSW 2627P: 02 6457 1022 | F: 02 6457 [email protected] www.smgs.nsw.edu.au

St. Catherine’s School

Primary & Secondary GirlsMax. 70 Boarders / 1 Boarding HouseBoarding Years: 7-12Boarding Quality: Very HighContact: Trish Wilson - Director of Boarding & Enrolments26 Albion St, Waverley NSW 2024P: 02 8305 6200 | F: 02 9369 2470 stcaths@stcaths.nsw.edu.auwww.stcaths.nsw.edu.au------------------------------------------------------

St. Ignatius’ College, Riverview

Primary & Secondary BoysMax. 340 Boarders / 6 Boarding HousesBoarding Years: 6 -12Boarding Quality: Very HighContact: Guy Masters - Director of BoardingTambourine Bay Rd, Lane Cove NSW 2066P: 02 9882 8222 | F: 02 9882 8588 [email protected]

Why Ravenswood?Ravenswood is a remarkable school. We offer a unique combination: quality teaching and outstanding academic results; a school that is just the right size, small enough for individual care but large enough to offer choices; and a focus on the development of a girl’s character and values in a Christian environment.

Why not visit Ravenswood to find out more about our school, and what it can offer you and your daughter?

Ravenswood is…• The right size

• A welcoming and open school community

• A school that provides opportunities to shine

• Committed to choice, offering both the HSC and IB

• Proud of its strong academic results in a non-selective environment

• Engaged with the wider world through a clearly defined global connections programme

To find out more… Call 9498 9908. Just minutes from the Gordon rail and bus interchange.

Full details www.ravenswood.nsw.edu.au

A Uniting Church school Kindergarten to Year 12Henry Street, Gordon NSW 2072

Enrol now for 2014 & 2015Limited places available for

Kindergarten, Year 3 and Year 7

RED, BLUE or BLACK lettering woven into white tags.

Easy, permanent, cost effective identification for schoolwear, workwear and sportswear.

P: 02 9699 8805 E: [email protected]

www.wovenlabelsdirect.com.au

JESSICA WHITEWOVEN NAME TAGS


Reference

Scholarships

Find out about Wenona’s scholarships, Residential Program, impressive results and caring community, close to Sydney’s cultural centre.

Visit www.wenona.nsw.edu.au to apply online. Email [email protected] or telephone +61 (02) 9955 3000.

Wenona School, 176 Walker Street, North Sydney

@Wenona_School

WENONAJoin our global learning community, educating and

empowering young women to serve and shape their world.

St Joseph’s College

Secondary BoysMax. 750 Boarders / 6 Boarding HousesBoarding Years: 7-12Boarding Quality: Very HighContact: Ross Tarlinton - HeadmasterMark St, Hunters Hill NSW 2110P: 02 9816 0900 | F: 02 9879 [email protected] www.joeys.org------------------------------------------------------

St. Paul’s College

Secondary Co-educationMax. 62 Boarders / 2 Boarding HousesBoarding Years: 7-12Boarding Quality: Very highContact: Jennifer Golenberg - Registrar Klemke Ave, Walla Walla NSW 2659P: 02 6029 2200 | F: 02 6029 2410admissions@stpaulscollege.nsw.edu.auwww.stpaulscollege.nsw.edu.au------------------------------------------------------

Shore (Sydney Church of England Grammar School)

Primary & Secondary BoysMax. 200 Boarders / 4 Boarding HousesBoarding Years: 6 -12Boarding Quality: Very HighContact: Mahdi Deaton - RegistrarBlue St, North Sydney NSW 2060P: 02 9923 2277 | F: 02 9922 2689registrar@shore.nsw.edu.auwww.shore.nsw.edu.au------------------------------------------------------

Tara Anglican School for Girls

Primary & Secondary GirlsMax. 60 Boarders / 1 Boarding HouseBoarding Years: 5 -12Boarding Quality: Very HighContact: Kath Marshall - RegistrarMasons Drv, North Parramatta NSW 2151P: 02 9630 6655 | F: 02 9683 [email protected]

The Armidale School

Co-educational to Yr 5, Middle & Senior BoysMax. 250 Boarders / 5 Boarding HousesBoarding Years: 6 -12Boarding Quality: Very HighContact: Pip Warrick - Registrar87 Douglas St, Armidale NSW 2350P: 02 6776 5823 | F: 02 6776 5830info@as.edu.auwww.as.edu.au------------------------------------------------------

The King’s School

Primary & Secondary BoysMax. 575 Boarders / 5 Boarding HousesBoarding Years: 5 -12Boarding Quality: Very high - Somewhat High Contact: Bruce Hilliard - RegistrarPO Box 1, Parramatta NSW 2124P: 02 9683 8555 | F: 02 9683 8488enrol@kings.edu.auwww.kings.edu.au------------------------------------------------------The Scots College, SydneyPrimary & Secondary Boys Max. 240 Boarders / 5 Boarding HousesBoarding Years: 5-12Boarding Quality: Somewhat HighContact: Melissa Capel - Manager of Admissions Victoria Rd, Bellevue Hill NSW 2023P: 02 9391 7624 | F: 02 9327 7584admissions@tsc.nsw.edu.auwww.tsc.nsw.edu.au------------------------------------------------------

The Scots School, Albury

Junior & Senior Co-educationalMax. 100 Boarders / 2 Boarding HousesBoarding Years: 5-12Boarding Quality: Very HighContact: Robyn Smith - Enrolments Officer393 Perry St, Albury NSW 2640P: 02 6022 0000 | F: 02 6041 [email protected] www.scotsalbury.nsw.edu.au

Trinity Grammar School

Secondary BoysMax. 50 Boarders / 1 Boarding HouseBoarding Years: 7-12Boarding Quality: Very HighContact: Craig Sandwell - Registrar119 Prospect Rd, Summer Hill NSW 2130P: 02 9581 6000 | F: 02 9799 [email protected] www.trinity.nsw.edu.au------------------------------------------------------

Tudor House School

Primary & Secondary Co-educationMax. 50 Boarders / 1 Boarding HouseBoarding Years: 3-6Boarding Quality: Very HighContact: Jock Bidwell - Registrar6480 Illawarra Hwy, Moss Vale NSW 2577P: 02 4868 0000 | F: 02 4868 [email protected] www.tudorhouse.nsw.edu.au------------------------------------------------------

Wenona

Primary & Secondary GirlsMax. 50 Boarders / 2 Boarding HousesBoarding Years: 7-12Boarding Quality: Very HighContact: Lynn Siebels - Registrar176 Walker St, North Sydney NSW 2060P: 02 9955 3000 | F: 02 9959 4460registrar@wenona.nsw.edu.auwww.wenona.nsw.edu.au------------------------------------------------------

More Information

Maria Charlton MAP Marketing P: 02 4929 7766 [email protected] & omissions excepted.


Reader

Giveaway

Casting Your Memories specialises in casting baby hands, feet and bottoms and pregnant bellies. It also designs personalised stamped jewellery.

As a great supporter of Sids and Kids in the Hunter and Newcastle area, Casting Your Memories is now donating a percent of every frame sold to this charity.

Casting Your Memories is located in Singleton and attends markets all across the Hunter Valley.

More Information

Casting Your MemoriesP: 02 6571 2591M: 0422 433 [email protected]

Contact Belinda P: 02 65712591 M: [email protected]

www.castingyourmemories.com.au

Capturing Your Forever Memory

100% non toxic, TGA approved moulding material suitable for newborns & sensitive skin.

Newcastle • Hunter Central Coast

Casting Your MemoriesWith special thanks to Casting Your Memories, Get Ahead Kids has one framed hand and foot casting including plaque and 5x7 photo valued at approx $150 to giveaway!

Visit www.getaheadkids.com.au and click Giveaway button to enter.

1 x Framed

Casting to

Giveaway!


Babies & Chiropractic By Dorte Bladt

Health

Many years ago, in my first real job as a chiropractor, I was sitting in my adjustment room waiting for my next patient.

Suddenly I heard this loud baby screaming coming past my window “Oh, I hope they are not coming in here” I thought.

Sure enough, next thing I know there is commotion and wailing in the reception - the screaming baby had arrived. “Oh, I hope this baby is not coming in to see me!”

Minutes later the screaming baby arrives in my room in the arms of an exhausted looking mother.

She hands over the screaming bundle saying: “Peter has been screaming non-stop for the past 5 days, since the moment he was born. He hasn’t slept for more than 20 minutes at a time. I can’t get him to feed. I can’t stand seeing him in such pain. Please help me”, she said.

I have always been very keen to help babies and children achieve optimal health through chiropractic care; have taken extra paediatric courses at and after university, and have been taught how to assess and treat such a young spine and nervous system - which is very different to an adult spine.

However, being handed this screaming baby was still a bit of a challenge to me, he was so upset and cried incessantly!

To assess the health of this little guy I looked at his colour, posture, muscle tone and positioning. All these tell me how well his nervous system is working. Then I tested his cranial nerves and the primitive reflexes, which both show how the brain and spinal cord work.

A primitive reflex is a survival mechanism for a baby, for example the rooting reflex: stimulation of the baby’s cheek will cause the baby to turn his head and open his mouth ready to suckle, and sucking reflex itself. These should be hard wired. I also checked the range of movement of Peter’s neck; it is important to be able to turn fully both ways so the baby is able to feed on both breasts.

I carefully felt for the position of the cranial bones, to make sure they had come back out properly after being folded in on each other as the baby’s head passed though the birth canal.

Finally I palpated for the movement between each of the bones in Peter’s spine, using very gentle pressure, making sure there was nothing that disturbed the very delicate nerve flow of the spinal cord or spinal nerves.

Peter had a different birth. He was stuck in the birth canal for several hours while the labour stalled and this had caused a small misalignment of one of the vertebrae in his neck as well as a slight strain of the upper neck muscles–called subluxation. I gently adjusted this little boy, using my fingertips on the vertebra, with about the pressure we would use on our own eyeball.

Within 10 minutes, as I was talking to mum, Peter fell into an exhausted sleep. And he slept non-stop for the next 14 hours, woke up starving, and never looked back.


Health

Since then, I have adjusted thousands of little babies suffering colic, feeding problems, sleeping difficulties, reflux, plagiocephaly (flat heads) and constipation.

They all had subluxation and nerve interference in common. The chiropractic adjustment is a safe, gentle and natural way of improving nerve function and relieving symptoms.

Dr. Gutmann (an orthopod) and Dr. Biederman (a surgeon) are specialists in manual medicine in Germany and they have assessed and adjusted thousands of newborns. Dr. Gutmann found, when he did research on over 1000 newborns, that 80% of them had some form of nerve dysfunction, and that this could cause many types of symptoms such as stated above.

Dr. Biedermann has found that intrauterine constraint or the birth process itself can cause a misalignment in the upper neck vertebrae and aberrant movement of the neck muscles (he calls this KISS syndrome; Kinematic Imbalance due to Suboccipital Strain). He explains that some of the signs and symptoms of KISS in a baby are torticollis, problems with breastfeeding, irritability (colic), sleep disorders, C-scoliosis, hypersensitivity of the neck, extension posture, refusal to lay on the back, facial/cranial asymmetry and reduced cervical range of motion. He also found that the babies respond very favourably to adjustments.

Interestingly Dr. Biederman states that uncorrected subluxation can lead to restlessness, slow motor development, poor coordination, asymmetric posture, functional scoliosis, difficulty concentrating, easily distracted and difficulty with balance and coordination and attention deficits in the older child or adult.

A colleague of theirs, Dr. V. Fryman, did research on 1250 five day old babies. She found that 95% of the babies had a subluxation following birth as well as neck muscle strain, and noted that the babies responded well to adjustments of the subluxated vertebra with immediate muscle relaxation and better sleep.

The miraculous improvement for little Peter was wonderful to experience for me, and more importantly for his family. So many important developments happen in those first few weeks: the bonding between mother and baby (as well as father/baby, new mother/father), the breast feeding and the sleep routine - a delicate time that needs no extra stress!

About Dorte Bladt

Dorte specialises in paediatric spinal and nervous system health. She checks your spine to assess if the bones, muscles or ligaments are working properly and will gently, safely and naturally correct it to allow the body and the nervous system to function better. Dorte also provides advice on which exercises would be beneficial as well as which position to sleep, stand and sit in for the best possible posture.

More Information

Dorte BladtDoctor of ChiropracticFamily Chiropractic Centre Charlestown2 Lincoln St, Charlestown NSW 2290P: 02 4942 [email protected]

www.familychiropracticcharlestown.com.au

Safe, gentle and effective methods for optimal functioning

and wellbeing for the whole family.

P: 02 4942 48422 Lincoln Street, Charlestown

www.familychiropracticcharlestown.com.au

Family Chiropractic CentreCharlestown

Our Family Cares for Your Family

Well Adjusted Kids

Does Your Child Lack Concentration at School?

Glasses or vision therapy may be the answer.Behavioural Optometry Vision Therapy • Ortho-K Contact Lenses

245 King St, Newcastle NSW 2300Appointments 02 4926 4799

specialeyes OPTOMETRISTSSusan K Walton B Optom FACBO


Although it’s uncomfortable, pain can be very useful. This is because it acts as a warning system that alerts you to things that may cause you harm. For example, touching a very hot object causes pain. Your body then reacts almost immediately by pulling your hand away, thus protecting your body from any further damage.

However, pain is not always so helpful.

What is chronic pain?

Chronic pain is pain that lasts longer than it should. Anyone, young or old, can suffer from chronic pain, although it is more common in older people. In Australia, one in five people, including children and adolescents, suffer from chronic pain and one in three of those over 65 years live with it.

How does it affect you?

Chronic pain can be felt in almost any part of your body. It can be continuous or intermittent.

Chronic pain can have a very big impact on your life. It can stop you having a good night’s sleep, so you feel tired all the time. It can also make it more difficult to do the things you normally like to do, which makes you feel sad or frustrated.

How can the doctor tell it is chronic pain?

First of all, the doctors ask some questions about the pain, about where it hurts and what makes it better or worse. They may then do some tests, like scans and blood tests, to try and work out what is going on.

The tests do not always show up what is causing the pain, but the doctors can still treat it.

What happens in chronic pain?

Your skin contains millions and millions of nerves, which are like telephone wires carrying messages from one part of your body to another.

When you hurt yourself, these nerves send a message to your brain, which then processes the message. This is the point at which you ‘feel’ the pain. Next, your brain instructs your body to take action. The pain messages stop once the injury stops.

In chronic pain, however, the warning system becomes extra sensitive. As a result, pain messages are continuously sent to the brain, even when there is no injury to trigger it.

This means that in chronic pain the pain never goes away completely, or goes away for a little while but then comes back.

Chronic PainBy Dr. Shen Satkunarasa


There are also things you can do yourself, such as exercise and learning relaxation techniques. Joining a support group and talking through the impact pain has on your life may help too. It is important to remember that pain is not something you can see, so it can be very difficult for others to understand what someone with chronic pain is going through.

About Dr. Shen Satkunarasa (MBBS)

Dr. Shen Satkunarasa is a medical writer at Medikidz, an organisation that provides children with informative, accessible and fun comics to help them understand health and illness.

More Information

www.medikidz.com

Health

Providing specialist dental care

for infants, children, adolescents & those with specialist needs.

Teen dental is also available.

KidsSmile

Dr. Helen CornwellPaediatric DentistDr. Mark Williams

DentistP: 4962 7300

40 Brown Rd Broadmeadow NSW 2292

www.kidssmile.com.au

What treatments are there for chronic pain?

One way of treating chronic pain is to use medicines. The type of medicine depends on the individual and on the type of pain. Most medicines come as pills, although some are given as injections.

Sometimes an operation might be needed. For example, if the pain is due to arthritis in a joint, an operation to replace the painful joint with a new one may help.

Apart from doctors and nurses, there are many other specialists who can help with pain management, such as psychologists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists. They help find ways of coping with the pain.

What’s Up With Moira’s Granddad? Medikidz Explain Chronic PainAuthors: Dr. Kim Chilman-Blair & Shawn deLoache

To Moira’s disappointment, her granddad has cancelled their outing for the third time. Moira is hurt and thinks her granddad doesn’t want to spend time with her.

The Medikidz superheroes are on hand to take Moira on an exciting trip to Mediland, a planet shaped like the human body, where she learns all about chronic pain. Moira gets to understand all about her granddad’s condition. Later, she explains chronic pain to her granddad and its treatment paths available.

This comic book offers an important insight into chronic pain, which is a common problem, especially amongst the aged. What’s Up With Moira’s Granddad? is an enjoyable

and easy to read book that is invaluable for educating health professionals, schools, families and friends about this health condition.

Age Guide: 9+ Years Extent: 32 Pages (Paperback) ISBN: 9781906935863 Price: AU $19.99 Publisher: Medikidz Limited P: +44 (0) 2073766630 www.medikidz.com

After-Hours (Newcastle) Medical Service


News

Baby Ballerinas & Co is Newcastle’s and Lake Macquarie’s own Angelina Ballerina Academy.

Angelina Ballerina, star of the best-selling children’s books and popular television show, is a remarkable little mouse who wants to become a prima ballerina.

A little star with big dreams, she inspires little girls and boys to go after their big dreams too!

At Baby Ballerinas & Co, your child will learn ballet techniques in a creative, caring and fun way. Classes include some Angelina themed activities and incentives, combined with the unique Baby Ballerinas & Co teaching program. Students will be able to earn ‘little stars’ stickers and rewards for great dancing and ballerina-like behaviour.

Angelina Ballerina and Miss Kim are delighted to be compering this year’s exciting two hour Christmas Concert at the Civic Theatre presented by the students of Baby Ballerinas & Co.

Every ballerina will receive their trophy from Angelina and photo opportunities for student and audience members. There will be lucky seat prizes, as well as a “Grand Angelina Raffle”. Angelina will enjoy meeting audience members and every child will receive an autographed post card.

Tickets are available from Ticketek.

Enrolments are filling quickly for 2014, so ensure your spot and enrol early by visiting the Baby Ballerinas website.

More Information

www.babyballerinas.com.au

Angelina Ballerina to Appear at Baby Ballerinas & Co Concert

Photos courtesy of Baby Ballerinas & Co.

Sunday 8th December at the Civic Theatre


10% of children in every mainstream class have deficits in their Working Memory and this impacts on their learning - specifically in reading and mathematics.

Working Memory is the ability to work with information - that is the conscious processing of information - in other words what we do every day. For kids, they need to follow multi-layered directions in the classroom: get out the right textbook, turn to the right page, follow the order of instructions whilst trying to remember the previous instruction in an environment where distraction, both auditory and visual are at times excessive.

RIP IT UP Reading is a researched reading intervention program that has been designed to focus particularly on those children who have deficits in the way they process, file and retrieve information.

RIP IT UP Reading is not a Band-Aid program, it takes those bottom 10% of children with deficits in their Working Memory and teaches them to read.

When we say read, we mean it! No guessing, no substituting, no using a picture for prompting, no guided reading… real reading!

RIP IT UP Reading is now available in schools.

More Information

www.ripitupreading.com.au

News

RIP IT UP Reading: Australia’s Leading Researched Working Memory Reading Program

Australian Literacy Clinic Pty Ltd

Assessment, Planning & Intervention for Children with

Reading Difficulties.

Specialist Clinics Located in Maitland & Newcastle

P: 1300 869 [email protected]

www.auslit.com.au

ACN: 147 916 676


Air Hogs

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a remote

control (RC) beginner or an advanced remote

control hobbyist; Air Hogs has a fleet of vehicles

ready for any mission.

Planes. Rockets. Intelligent hovering technology.

Air Hogs is constantly expanding the boundaries

of control, performance and play.

Combining all the features of the original Hover

Assault… RC car, heli and missiles… now you

can eject your wheel base! The Air Hogs Hover

Assault Eject is designed for more devastation

and more aggressive takeoff and flight! Drive,

Jump, Blast, Fly and Eject!

The next iteration of hybridised flight and ground

RC, the Air Hogs Hover Assault Eject also has

adjustable missile bays for precision firing.

More Information

www.missionfuturetoys.com.au

Facebook

Giveaway

Hover Assault Eject

With special thanks to Air Hogs, Get Ahead Kids has one

Air Hogs Hover Assault Eject valued at approx $74.99 to

giveaway.

Visit www.facebook.com/GetAheadKids and click the like button for a chance to win!

Like Get Ahead Kids on Facebook to Win!

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Redcap’s ChristmasAuthor: Susan CasonIllustrator: Ben Wood

Redcap’s Christmas is a quirky tale about a young forest elf named Redcap, who gains a job in Santa’s workshop just in time for Christmas.

Redcap has the ability to solve problems in the middle of an often frantic and chaotic workshop. The book features robotic tigers, a missing list, polar bears and even a mysterious case of Yule Fever.

The beautiful black and white sketches brilliantly complement the fun Christmas tale.

It’s a perfect stocking filler for young readers.

Age Guide: 6+ YearsExtent: 128 Pages (Hardback)ISBN: 9781742990217Price: AU $15.99Publisher: Omnibus BooksP: 02 4328 3555www.scholastic.com.au

We Wish You a Ripper Christmas + CDAuthors: Colin Buchanan & Greg ChampionIllustrator: Roland Harvey

Santa wombat has lost his naughty and nice list and enlists the help of various Australian animals to try and find the list in time for Christmas.

This is a new Aussie Christmas tale based on the classic song ‘We Wish you a Merry Christmas’.

With the bonus sing along CD included, this book will make an ideal

Christmas gift for young readers.

Age Guide: 3+ YearsExtent: 24 Pages (Hardback)ISBN: 9781742837239Price: AU $19.99Publisher: Scholastic AustraliaP: 02 4328 3555www.scholastic.com.au

Where’s Santa? Around The World Author/Illustrator: Louise Shea

Santa and Mrs Claus are relaxing on an around the world cruise after another busy Christmas.

Each stop has a unique set of funny things to find and with over 600 items to discover. Readers of all ages will be entertained for hours.

The Turkey of Christmas Past by Celia Berrell

A turkey is invited to our favourite festivities.The centre-piece of Christmas feasts to eat with friends and families.

You know that quaint tradition where a bone is snapped in two?They say who gets the biggest piece has wishes that come true.

This wishbone, called a furcula, has opened up time’s doorsand shown us that all birds descend from ancient dinosaurs.

Therapods like big T-Rex had wishbones in their chests.And walked upon their two back legs just like our turkey guests.

Imagine going back in time to capture Christmas dinners.To find a one-tonne Therapod in duckling-fuzzy feathers.

This pretty feathered dinosaur’s a Turkey from the past.Its drumstick legs and wishbone were interminably vast.

There’s Fuzzysaurus sandwichesfor breakfast lunch and tea.Yutyrannus hualiis Turkey Christmas - totally!

More Information

Celia Berrell www.sciencerhymes.com.au

Celia Berrell’s Science Rhymes

@ScienceRhymes

Facebook “f ” Logo CMYK / .eps Facebook “f ” Logo CMYK / .eps



Baby Elephant WalkAuthors: Hal David & Henry ManciniIllustrator: Rhiannon Mowat

The baby elephants are on a journey through the jungle, meeting lemurs, flamingos and other exotic animals.

The included CD offers lively reading of the book, transporting readers into the jungle to dance and sing along with the animals.

The beautiful illustrations bring to life the classic music and original lyrics.

This hardback book is a perfect addition for the home library.


The OctopuppyAuthor: Martin McKenna

Edgar wants a new puppy but his life changes when Jarvis the clever octopus arrives.

This is a quirky story that sees Edgar trying to change Jarvis into his much wanted puppy. It’s not until Jarvis leaves that Edgar realises that he has lost the world’s best octopuppy and looks for his friend everywhere.

Children will love the illustrations and instantly want an octopus like Jarvis!

Age Guide: 4+ YearsExtent: 32 Pages (Hardback)ISBN: 9781742990156Price: AU $24.99Publisher: Omnibus Books for ScholasticP: 02 4328 3555www.scholastic.com.au

Book Uncle and MeAuthor: Uma Krishnaswami

This is a story about Yasmin, a 9 year old girl with a passion for reading and her ambitious plan to read a book a day for the rest of her life. Only with the help of Book Uncle, a local man that runs a free lending library on a street corner, will her book reading plan become a reality.

I Got This HatAuthor: Jol & Kate TempleIllustrator: Jon Foye

Hats come in all shapes and sizes and allow children to transform into pirates or even Vikings during play time fun.

With large typeface and colourful illustrations, this rhyming tale is perfect for young readers aged 4-8 years.

To support this book, the ‘I Got This Hat’ free iPhone app has been developed and allows users to create their very own hat.

Age Guide: 4+ YearsExtent: 28 Pages (Hardback)ISBN: 9780733332067Price: AU $24.99Publisher: ABC BooksP: 1300 551 721www.harpercollins.com.au

Yasmin becomes lost in the pages of the borrowed books, unaware of troubles around her such as the election, her best friends family problems and the city permit injunction enforced on her favourite book lender. Taking her nose out of the books, Yasmin begins to help those in need.

This book shows how one person can spark a community into fighting for justice and what’s right. The story also provides an insight into life in modern india.

Age Guide: 8+ YearsExtent: 112 Pages (Paperback)ISBN: 9781742836720Price: AU $12.99Publisher: Scholastic AustraliaP: 02 4328 3555www.scholastic.com.au

Don’t Wake The Troll! Author: Ben KitchinIllustrator: Ben Redlich

A few bold dwarves decide to go deep inside the mountain to get their stolen treasure back from a sleeping troll.

Featuring a fearsome troll and some unusual dwarves, this action packed picture book will enchant young readers.

Age Guide: 3+ YearsExtent: 32 Pages (Paperback)ISBN: 9781742760605Price: AU $14.99Publisher: Koala Books P: 02 4328 3555www.koalabooks.com.au


Hannah’s Night Author/Illustrator: Komako Sakai

Hannah wakes during the night and discovers a new world ready to explore. With no one to supervise her, Hannah wonders around the house eating cherries with Shiro the cat and borrowing her sister’s doll and pencils.

This book uses a combination of simple language and peaceful textured images to capture the inquisitive, playful nature of a child.

Age Guide: 3+ YearsExtent: 32 Pages (Paperback)ISBN: 9781877579554Price: AU $16.99Publisher: Gecko PressP: +64 4 801 9333www.geckopress.com

Optimum Health the Paleo WayAuthor: Claire Yates, BHSc

You may be thinking ‘here goes another lifestyle diet plan’. But eating the Paleo way is about getting back to natural, seasonal produce, and tasty foods. It’s also about consuming less sugar, avoiding preservatives and processed foods.

In Optimum Health the Paleo Way, nutritionists Claire Yates states that this eating plan can help improve your health as well as your lifestyle.

Even if you are cynical, the 100 delicious recipes are easy to make and they look and taste great.

Age Guide: All AgesExtent: 336 Pages (Paperback)ISBN: 9781921966262Price: AU $35.00Publisher: Exisle PublishingP: 02 4998 3327www.exislepublishing.com.au

The Boy on the PageAuthor/Illustrator: Peter Carnavas

This book begins with a young boy landing on a blank page. Drawing a parallel to new life, at first there is nothing on the page but then life begins to appear around him ready for him to grow and discover.

The layered story follows the boy from riding a horse in his youth to falling in love as an adult, the whole time the boy is searching for the answer to ‘Why Am I Here?’.

This tale explores the question of life in a sensitive yet lighthearted way by combining well written text and attractive illustrations. It is an enchanting read for all ages.

Age Guide: 5+ YearsExtent: 32 Pages (Hardback)ISBN: 9781921928468Price: AU $24.95Publisher: New Frontier PublishingP: 02 4953 1525www.newfrontier.com.au

Wombat Goes To SchoolAuthor: Jackie FrenchIllustrator: Bruce Whatley

Mothball the wombat is back and in this adventure she finds her way into the local school.

While at school, Wombat’s love for carrots and grass lands her in some tricky situations and teaches her some valuable lessons.

This is a delightful read and will be loved

by young children and their parents.

Age Guide: 3+ YearsExtent: 36 Pages (Hardback)ISBN: 9780732295493Price: AU $24.99Publisher: HarperCollins PublishersP: 1300 551 721www.harpercollins.com.au

WeirdoAuthor: Ahn Do

Weir Do is not only a weird new kid at school, he has a weird unforgettable name as well!

This is a hilarious story that shows the difficulty of fitting in. Readers will meet Weir’s crazy family, experience his life at school and unusual habits.

Packed with funny illustrations and easy to read type this is a great book for young readers.



Reviews

Alice Miranda 2014 DiaryAuthor: Jacqueline Harvey

Make sure your daughter is super organised for 2014 with this Alice-Miranda diary!

The diary has ample room for scheduling important dates and extra notes and also includes delicious recipes, quizzes, and inspirational quotes.

This diary is an ideal gift for young girls, as it’s age appropriate and comprehensive.

Age Guide: 6+ YearsExtent: 160 Pages (Hardback)ISBN: 9780857980526 Price: AU $17.95Publisher: Random HouseP: 1800 222 444www.randomhouse.com.au

Ava Anne Appleton: Accidental AdventurerAuthor: Wendy Harmer

Ava Anne Appleton is perfectly happy living an orderly life at 3A Australia Avenue with her Mum, Dad and dog Angus. But everything is turned upside down when the Appleton family decides to go off on a grand adventure in a motorhome for a whole year!

A reluctant Ava meets a new friend, the wild and zippy Zander and stumbles on an accidental adventure. Will she decide that a little disorder isn’t as bad as she first thought?

Star Wars: Jedi AcademyAuthor: Jeffrey Brown

Roan has one dream - to attend Pilot Academy just like his older brother, father and grandfather. But Roan is denied entry to Pilot Academy and is invited to attend Jedi Academy; a mysterious school he didn’t apply for and one that usually only recruits children from an early age.

This story follows Roan’s first year at the Academy where he is tutored by Master Yoda in the ways of the Jedi while coping with the fun, awkwardness and frustrations of growing up, fitting in and attending school.

Told through comics, doodles, letters and journal entries, readers see Roan humorously juggle fencing with Light Sabers and slow dancing with girls in a novel that will appeal to both younger generations and original Star Wars fans alike.


How to Wash a Woolly MammothAuthor: Michelle RobinsonIllustrator: Kate Hindley

Does your woolly mammoth need a wash?

Giggles will ensue when reading this endearing step-by-step guide to washing your pet mammoth.

With short, easy to read text and hilarious illustrations, young readers will enjoy seeing what comes next- just don’t get soap in his Mammoth eyes or it could get messy!

Age Guide: 3+ YearsExtent: 32 Pages (Paperback)ISBN: 9781742760773Price: AU $14.99Publisher: Koala Books for Scholastic AustraliaP: 02 9667 2997www.koalabooks.com.au

With easy to read chapters and cute illustrations, Ava Anne Appleton: Accidental Adventurer is perfect for the young reader to explore the real life themes of friendship, family and belonging.

Age Guide: 7+ YearsExtent: 96 Pages (Paperback)ISBN: 9781742838755Price: AU $9.99Publisher: Scholastic AustraliaP: 02 4328 3555 www.scholastic.com.au


Reviews

hey dee ho music runs music programs for 1 - 5 year olds. There are franchise opportunities in the inner

Sydney suburbs & the northern suburbs of Adelaide.

Franchise Enquiries:(03) 9786 3104 | [email protected]

www.heydeehomusic.com.au

Get Ahead Kids®

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What Do Werewolves Do When It’s Not Halloween?Author: Heath McKenzie

This is a funny story featuring vampires, witches, zombies and of course werewolves and what they get up to after Halloween is over.

The vibrant illustrations and rhyming text makes this the ideal book for parents to read out loud to their young children.

The Book of You: JodieAuthor: Randa Abdel-Fattah

Jodie and her best friends Rania and Deyana have just started year six and things are hectic! Jodie is struggling to come to terms with her parents’ divorce and the idea of having a step-mum and step-sister, and to make matters worse, she also has an anonymous online bully to deal with.

Foremost in Jodie’s issues is when the girls discover a mysterious book in the school library that seems to write personal messages only to Jodie. What does the book want, and why is it writing to Jodie?

This is the first book in a series of four that is written for young female readers. Readers will identify with the characters and the strong themes of friendship and family.


Welcome Home Author: Christina Booth

This is a short story about a young boy and a whale that swims into the river looking for safety.

The book portrays the violent relationship between whales and men in a sensitive way.

The watercolour illustrations in soft tones create reader reflection and harmony.

The last two pages of the book are filled with information about the Southern Right Whale and events that inspired the writing on the story.

This book is a great introduction to whaling and its horrific consequences.

Age Guide: 7+ YearsExtent: 32 Pages (Paperback)ISBN: 9781925000092Price: AU $16.95Publisher: Ford Street PublishingP: 03 9481 1120www.fordstreetpublishing.com

Age Guide: 4+ YearsExtent: 24 Pages (Paperback)ISBN: 9781742838793 Price: AU $14.99Publisher: Scholastic PressP: 02 4328 3555www.scholastic.com.au

AIE Optical 13

Alan Stevens - The Face Profiler 11

Andrew Smith Timber Creations 4

Australian Literacy Clinic Pty Ltd 27

B-Active Balance Mayfield 5

Baby Ballerinas & Co 36

Casting Your Memories 21

Doctors Home Visit Service 25

Family Chiropractic Centre Charlestown 23

hey dee ho music 33

Hunter TAFE 9 & 15

Hunter Valley Grammar School 11

Hunter Wetlands Centre 17

I Can Read System 33

INParenting 33

Irlen Diagnostic Clinic 9

KidsSmile 25

Lifestyle Solutions 17

NCP Printing 17

Newcastle Family and Sports Podiatry 15

Newcastle Grammar School 13

Ravenswood School for Girls 19

Rosie’s Closet 11

Schoolchoice.com.au 33

specialeyes OPTOMETRISTS 23

UpnAway Career & Life Coaching 13

Wenona 20

Woven Labels Direct 19

Advertisers Index

Index

Article Themes 2014January/FebruaryBack to School - Curtis Stone

Ad Booking Deadline Nov 22, 2013

Editorial Deadline Nov 27, 2013

March/AprilPhysical Education - Hayley Lewis

Ad Booking Deadline Feb 7, 2014

Editorial Deadline Feb 14, 2014

May/JuneLanguage & Communication -

Ita Buttrose

Ad Booking Deadline Apr 11, 2014

Editorial Deadline Apr 17, 2014

July/AugustLearning Innovations & Technology -

Tom Williams

Ad Booking Deadline Jun 13, 2014

Editorial Deadline Jun 20, 2014

September/OctoberStudy & Assessment - Jessica Mauboy

Ad Booking Deadline Aug 8, 2014

Editorial Deadline Aug 15, 2014

November/DecemberSummer Learning - James Mathison

Ad Booking Deadline Oct 10, 2014

Editorial Deadline Oct 17, 2014

For more advertising information please contactMaria Charlton | [email protected] | P: 02 4929 7766Advertisers media kit & booking form at www.getaheadkids.com.au

EDUCATING FAMILIES ON THE GO

Vol. 6 • No. 1 • Jan/Feb 2 014®

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January/February 2014

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Back to School Issue out

December 2013Get Ahead Kids® Nov/Dec 1334

Celebrity Spotlight Curtis Stone

Australian Celebrity Chef


With special thanks to Taronga Zoo, Get Ahead Kids has 5 family passes to Taronga Zoo valued at $112.20 each to giveaway!

Each pass allows a family of 2 adults and 2 children (4-15 years, under 4 years free) a wildlife experience at either Taronga Zoo Sydney or Taronga Western Plains Zoo.

Visit www.getaheadkids.com.au,

follow the subscribe link and sign up

to the free digital magazine (must

be signed up by 11 December

2013 to be eligible). Subscribers will

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entry to the giveaway.

Due to the Christmas break, winners will not be announced until after January 13, 2014.

Taronga Zoo is celebrating a new addition to the Zoo’s renowned Chimpanzee group, an infant born to mother, Kuma.

Keepers had just arrived at the Chimpanzee Sanctuary to start their daily routine and observations when Kuma delivered a healthy young male.

The experienced mother cradled the infant close to her while other chimpanzees including her son, Furahi, 10, looked on with interest.

Taronga primate keeper, Katie Hooker, said: “At 7.30 am, we were continuing to monitor Kuma’s pregnancy in the exhibit where she was sitting on one of the climbing structures, about eight metres off the ground. Suddenly, she gave birth, easily reaching down to bring her new baby up onto her chest. It took about four minutes.”

Chimpanzees have highly structured family groups and mothering is a learned experience. As the

granddaughter of the former matriarch, Fifi, Kuma is well-placed in the hierarchy of the Chimpanzee group.

Zoo visitors will be able to see the infant clutching close to Kuma’s chest while out on exhibit with the rest of the Chimpanzee family.

Taronga Director, Cameron Kerr, said: “This is great news for our chimpanzee group, and adds to our conservation efforts both here at the zoo and in the wild.

Chimpanzees are humans’ nearest relatives sharing over 98.5 % of the same DNA. In the wild, they are endangered from loss of habitat, the prevalence of the bush meat trade and the rise of the illegal pet trade.

Taronga Zoo’s chimpanzee community is renowned worldwide and this new birth brings a welcome promise for the growth of the Taronga chimpanzee community.

More Information

www.taronga.org.au

NEW Baby Chimpanzee

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• Free Trial Classes • Morning Classes • Safe Off-Street Parking • Purpose Built, Air Conditioned Studio• Enrol Online Now

• Baby Ballerinas is a unique pre-school dance program for 3-5 yr old children. Baby Ballerinas & Co is a specialist Pre-School Ballet Studio. Don’t settle for copy programs, start with the creators. Parents welcome to watch.

• Baby Jazz classes are ideal for 3-5 yr old boys & girls.

• Little Cherubs classes are for 2-3 yr olds. Parents join in the class.

• Central School of Dance classes are for dancers above 6 yrs.

• Baby Ballerinas & Co is an Angelina Ballerina Academy - exclusive to Newcastle & Lake Macquarie.

Oakdale Studios, Unit 4/9 Oakdale Rd, Gateshead NSW 2290

Ph/Fx: 02 4948 2953 • www.babyballerinas.com.auENROL NOW

FOR 2014

Christmas Concert Sunday 8 Dec that will include an appearance from Angelina Ballerina. Tickets are available from Ticketek.

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