SEŽANA

KINDERGARTEN SEŽANA JOŽETA PAHORJA 1 6210 SEŽANA

Phone No.: 05 731 02 20 Fax No.: 05 731 02 26 [email protected] www.vrtec-sezana.si

PUBLICATION ABOUT US KINDERGARTEN’S ADMINISTRATION

Kindergarten Sežana was established by Municipalities of Address: Jožeta Pahorja Street 1, 6210 Sežana Divača, Hrpelje- Kozina, Komen and Sežana. Web site: www.vrtec-sezana.si/ Phone No.: +386 There are 12 locations where our kindergarten is based: 5 7310 220 Municipality of Sežana – with its units in Sežana, Lehte Email: [email protected] Sežana, Dutovlje, Tomaj, Lokev and Povir Head teacher: +386 5 7310 222 Municipality of Divača – with its units in Divača and Accounting department: +386 5 7310 228 Senožeče Dietician and health care: +386 5 7310 234 Municipality of Hrpelje-Kozina – with its units in Hrpelje and Materija Municipality of Komen – with its units in Komen and Štanjel

OUR COMMITMENT Helping parents with comprehensive child upbringing, Improving the quality of family life and the life of children as well, in order to create conditions for an optimum-result child development

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Being in a kindergarten is a very important life event of a child. It is a place where interesting, exciting and fairy-tale like things take place. In our public institution Sežana Kindergarten we offer a variety of educational program. In that way children have many opportunities to get new experience and to develop their competences. We offer the possibility for an optimum-result development to children. And we help parents with a complete child care. Through cooperation with other participants in our environment, we put our commitment to effect. We are happy to make our kindergarten a place where children feel good, accepted and safe.

Head teacher: Radica Slavković

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Municipality of UNIT POVIR Municipality of Povir 24, 6210 Sežana SEŽANA +386 5 73 10 230 HRPELJE-KOZINA UNIT SEŽANA UNIT HRPELJE Jožeta Pahorja Street 1, 6210 Sežana D.B. Brkina 4, 6240 Kozina +386 5 73 10 220 UNIT TOMAJ +386 5 68 90 240 Tomaj 63, 6221 Dutovlje +386 5 73 18 295 UNIT LEHTE UNIT MATERIJA

Regentova 1, 6210 Sežana Bač 28 a, 6242 Materija Old part: + 386 5 73 10 229 +386 5 68 90 242 Municipality of New part: + 386 5 73 10 237, + 386 5 73 10 231 DIVAČA Municipality of KOMEN UNIT DIVAČA UNIT DUTOVLJE Kosovelova 24, 6215 Divača UNIT KOMEN Dutovlje 136, 6221 Dutovlje +386 5 73 18 292 Komen 61 b, 6223 Komen +386 5 73 18 294 +386 5 73 18 296

UNIT SENOŽEČE: UNIT LOKEV Senožeče 103 a, 6224 Senožeče UNIT ŠTANJEL Lokev 124, 6219 Lokev +386 5 73 18 290 Štanjel 75, 6222 Štanjel +386 5 73 18 298 +386 5 73 18 299

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ABOUT US Kindergarten Sežana is an independent public educational Kindergarten in Sežana is open from Monday to Friday establishment for preschool education. It carries out a throughout the whole year. The exceptions are units in publicly valid program for preschool children. The program Tomaj, Povir and Materija which are closed during school is approved according to the law. The professional basis for holidays. Kindergarten Sežana has the autonomy to the educational work is our national document Curriculum decide about the opening hours of each unit. The for kindergartens. This document was approved by opening hours are announced at the beginning of a Slovenia’s Pre-School and Basic Education Directorate in school year. Work in our kindergarten is planned ahead, March 1999. for every day of the year, for the school holidays as well. Preschool education proceeds in two different age brackets: Our employees take great care of children’s wellbeing and safety. We offer children different experience and knowledge for them to get an optimum-result • first age bracket: development. Our professional work strives for positivity children from age 1 to 3 and developing confidence together with self-esteem of each individual. • second age bracket: children from age 3 to school age

5 OUR PROGRAMMES THE CONTENTS WE OFFER Full day An organized preschool education completes family upbringing.  First age bracket (children from 1 to 3 years of age), It offers important experience and knowledge that one cannot four meals included. get from a family. Knowing the facts about a child’s evolution,  Second age bracket (children from 3 to 6 years of age), from social, emotional to motoric development, is of key three meals importance. It enables an encouraging environment for included. children to learn. We try to carry out a quality education in accordance to the Curriculum for kindergartens. The Curriculum for Half a day program and half a day program with lunch kindergartens is a national document which guarantees the included are only organized if there are a sufficient number of preschool’s quality. Its execution needs to be professional. children enrolled for an independent half a day section. Kindergarten year plan Adjusted program (KYP) is a document that serves as a is carried out in our “developmental” section in Unit guide throughout the whole school Sežana. year. Goals and tasks are set in advance, the programs and activities An induction free of charge are defined and so is the whole For all children who are enrolled for the first time, a organization. Planning our work in four day induction free of charge is offered. The advance enables the working introduction hours are from 9.30 to 11.00. During conditions undisturbed throughout that time, the children with their parents get to know the whole year. Planning includes the establishment, the daily routine and the different fields of activities (indoor classrooms. They also make first contacts to the and outdoor activities, language, Arts, kindergarten workers. social skills, nature, Maths) and the Playing hours ways they are correlated. It also are meant for the children that are not enrolled to a includes playroom organization, kindergarten. The time and place of playing hours are resting hours, meals and other announced through public media and posters. everyday activities. Kindergarten workers act according to the goals and principles set in the Curriculum. The goals and principles are the ones

ENRICHED ACTIVITIES guiding our decisions and activities. We strive for the possibility Enriched activities are a part of each kindergarten’s curriculum. to organize such activities that enable the children to learn They can be executed for a shorter or a longer period of time, through games and experience and to be independent, active, depending on children’s and parents interests. They are initiative, creative and participative. All mentioned according to carefully prepared by professional workers within one’s age and developmental stage. The children are a part kindergartens. Their goals and principles are in complete of our activity planning and evaluating. They can also accordance to the national document - curriculum for offer suggestions and ideas. All of that is implemented kindergartens. Enriched activities can be held in the into our work. Individuals and groups are all included. kindergartens working space, through different projects or Children have a chance to choose the activities, place ad workshops within daily activities, or they can take place materials. When working with children, social and somewhere else. Parents cover the costs of different enrollment emotional atmosphere is very important and so is the part fees, transportations if necessary. Otherwise, enriched activities when children learn about the environment. We prepare are free of charge. regular quality programs enriched with different celebrations The enriched activities are all thoroughly described in a (Culture day, National day, Birthdays, times of the year, end Kindergarten’s year plan. The quality programs that we of school year,…) and activities. offer are: “The green rucksack” – a project of environmental educations executed in collaboration with intermunicipal society Friends of the Youth Sežana and a program called “The reading dwarf” which is carried out together with Kosovel’s Library Sežana. Another program is seasonal tickets for the plays in Kosovel’s culture center in Sežana. Our professional workers are mentors to a children’s folklore group, hiking club, etc.

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PROJECT 8 S Projects are a part of our kindergartens’ daily life. The purpose of projects is to make the quality of our work better. They are tightly related to the developmental goals that are the main theme of life and work in a kindergarten. Some of the recent projects that have already raised the quality of our preschool work are:  EKO Project – ECO School as a way of living  Project Pollen-Fibonacci – early science teaching  The Unicef projects  Exercising Fit 4 kids  Reading comprehension  Project »Language and Culture of environment«  Projects in cooperation with faculties and societies  Playful architecture  Living landscape (international project)  Innovative project Out and about (project o f imposition of a foreign language)  A wave to the world  Friendship circles (international project)

Current projects:  Exercising Fit 4 kids (international exercising project) • Ethics and values • Self-evaluation • Traditional Slovene breakfast • Safe under the sun • “The armadillo”

Possible new projects are described with aims and principles in each year’s Kindergarten year plan. We offer a lot of other activities that are being carried out in the afternoons by different local individuals or groups. They are not a part of our daily activities. parents or their legal guardians. FOOD AND HEALTH Our menu is carefully prepared by our diet expert. He or she follows the dietetic guidelines suitable for different ages of children. The food we offer combines a variety of foodstuff from the nutritional pyrami d. Children with specific health problems (allergies, etc.) are offered an adjusted diet. All kinds of local and ecologic food are included in children’s meals like seasonal fruits and vegetables, milk and bread. We also include integrated apples and honey from local farms. The menu is published on our website weekly. In case of infectious diseases we consider expert’s advice. When it comes to injuries, we offer first aid help with our team of first aid professionals. We take care of high rate hygiene and we take measures of preventing spreading diseases.

CHILDREN’S and PARENT’S RIGHTS

A kindergarten is an institution which is obligated to take care for the basic children’s rights. Their rights are represented by their • a broad-minded neutral education;

• gradual development of critical mind, personal decisions and Convention of the rights of the child is a basic document autonomous judgement. regulating our work with children. PARENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO:

• insight the program of their child’s group; CHILDREN HAVE THE RIGHT TO: • be informed about daily activities and life in a kindergarten;  have a possibility for an optimum-result development, • protect the privacy, especially personal data; regardless the gender, social and cultural origin, • take part in planning and organizing group activities; religion, nationality, physical and emotional • face authorities; constitution; • be present in a playroom with a class teacher; • equal rights with abiding differences;  a four day free induction for their child before entering • choosing diversity that should be enabled by the organization kindergarten. of life and work in a kindergarten; • education for tolerance, support and responsibility;

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PARENT’S OBLIGATIONS ARE: • to be informed with working organization and 10 employees of a kindergarten;  to sign a contract of mutual rights and obligations;  to pay fees regularl y and on time; • to provide teachers with a doctor’s certificate of their child’s health;  To inform teachers of new data (phone numbers, address, etc.); • To respect personal integrity of professional and other kindergarten’s workers.

ENROLLING YOUR CHILD TO A KINDERGARTEN

Once a year, usually in February, we publish the list of free spaces-available for the upcoming school year. We enroll children from 11months, after their parents finish maternity leave. We also enroll children during the year, but only to the groups with free spaces available, according to the law.

In order to enroll a child into a kindergarten, parents must fill out an application, which they can get in all our units or on our website. Based on the application, you get the answer. You get an answer at least a month before the enrolling date provided in your application. Placing an application does not already mean that your child has been accepted. In case that there is no space available, you will be put on a waiting list for enrollment until we can offer you the first space that is available. If you wish, you can be offered a apace available in the nearest unit. You are enrolled with the day that a Contract of mutual obligations is undersigned from both parts. If we do not receive the unde rsigned contract in due time – not later than 15 days – and if the kindergarten is not informed of the reasons for not enrolling a child to the kindergarten, we cancel the application. If parents chose to enroll their child to the kindergarten again, they have to file an application all over again. Parents can file an application for a benefit rights when it comes to kindergarten's expenses. They can do that at the local Social services. Based on that application, the Social services issue an order of placing parents into a specific salary grade. The Social services notify both, the kindergarten and the parents. A child needs to be medically examined before entering a kindergarten. Parents have to provide a doctor's certificate on the first day of coming to the Kindergarten. We are not allowed to accept your child without a doctor's certificate.

FIRST TIME TO Let your child bring his or her favorite toy to the kindergarten or any other subject that might make them feel more A comfortable. Try not to make any other changes in your lives KINDERGARTEN in the time of induction to the kindergarten. That might make them confused (leaving diapers, soothers, etc.). We are Our recommendations for an easier induction to kindergarten: aware that you might be facing some strong feelings of Enroll your child gradually, according to our induction separation. However, always bear in mind that our preschool program that lasts for 4 days from 9.30am to 11.00am. Take teachers have the knowledge and experience to take care of enough time, do not hurry. Be there for your child. Some your child in a proper way. children adjust quickly, while others do not. Some children respond by crying, they demand a lot of attention and they can also reject food. They need a lot of comfort, support, company of other children. Some even set different conditions. It is a hard period of being separated from their parents. Always take than into account. In the induction time, talk to your child’s teacher; inform him or her about your child’s characteristics such diet, favorite toys, plays, sleeping time and health issues. You should inform yourself about everything that goes on in a kindergarten. Don’t leave your child in the kindergarten for too long at first. Keep his or her confidence and help him or her overcome the fears. You should extend the time you leave your child in the kindergarten gradually, each day. Make kindergarten an everyday habit. As for coming to the kindergarten and leaving for home, both should be at about the same time of day. Keep the promises you make to your children, to preserve the feelings of safety and confidence. Otherwise, children can start to feel uncertain. Morning goodbyes should not be too long or they might sense that you are having a hard time leaving and things might get worse.

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KINDERGARTEN FEES, ENROLING, When a child is withdrawn and then enrolled back in a period of time that the Social services documents are still valid, it is SIGNING OUT OF KINDERGARTEN considered according to the Law of public asserting rights, that In order for parents to assert lower kindergarten fees, they need they renounce those rights and are therefore charged full 77% to fill out a form and submit it to the local Social Services (an program price fee. application for public assets rights.) If the application is not If one wants to cancel their child’s submitted, the fee is 77% of the economic program price. When kindergarten enrollment, they parents and children are citizens of another country, they have need to do that up to 15 days no rights to public assets and they have to pay the full fee. The before the actual admission. application needs to be submitted one month before enrolling Otherwise they have to pay the to the kindergarten. After that, an order will be issued and valid fee for the first month of their with the first day of the following month. child’s inclusion to the Until the kindergarten receives a valid document issued from the kindergarten. Cancelling the part of the Ministry of Education, parents will be charged with a enrollment means, that the prepayment (35% of the full program price). Once the Contract of mutual obligations has kindergarten is presented with a valid application form, parents will already been undersigned and be issued a final assessment. Parents can also pay the fees by returned. instalments. You can withdraw your child at least 15 days before the actual date. The withdrawal is then final. If you want to withdraw your child during the school year, you can later enroll him or her back after 6 months. If this is the case, then the application form needs to be submitted all over again. If one wants to enroll a child before the 6 months due, they have to pay 50% of the full price on a monthly basis. The issued social services documents are considered when it comes to sorting parents into salary grades. 12

notice. A reservation form needs to be filled out. The form for Parents whose full program fee is partly covered by summer reservations needs to be submitted 15 days before the municipalities of Komen, Sežana, Divača and Hrpelje-Kozina, actual reservation date. The fee during reservation period is can assert reservations for a temporary withdrawal once a 50% lower, due to unused foodstuff costs. The withdrawal year, during the summer from July 1 to August 31. This goes needs to be announced in a written form at least 15 days in for a continuous absence of a child for up to 2 months and advance. The form for withdrawal is available in the playrooms due to health issues for at least 21 days with a doctor’s and at the administration offices of the kindergarten. A playing day is meant for parents and children together. By

organizing playing day we want to create a pleasant afternoon COLABORATION WITH for the both together with kindergarten’s workers. These activities take place outside the working hours, two or three PARENTS times a year at different occasions. Parents sometimes present their professions, hobbies, etc. Parents have the right to collaborate when planning live and School for parents is meant for the parents of children enrolled work in the kindergarten and different sections. They work to the kindergarten. If there are a sufficient number of parents together with the preschool teacher when it comes to enrolled, we organize lectures. The lecture topics are based on educating. However, they need to take in mind the parents’ interests (psychology, therapy, pediatrics, etc.). kindergarten’s autonomy. PTA (Parent teacher meetings) is Parent’s corner is placed for different annunciations, magazines organized two or three times a year. The first one is mutual for and articles about education and health. all units’ parents. The rest of the meetings are later on Our website is www.vrtec-sezana.si organized in departments. If you are interested in the novelties of our Office hours take place once a month. They can take part kindergarten, then you should visit it. You will find according to agreements with parents individually as well. different forms, photos and a weekly menu Office hours are meant to be individual conversations between there. a preschool teacher and parents. Notice boards are placed in front of every playroom for everyday information.

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KINDERGARTEN’S COUNSELING DEPARTMENT Counseling is meant for all children. We emphasize prevention and developmental fields. Our counselor works is involved in conversations, always searching for better ways of solving children’s needs and issues. Children that have the paper issued by the Commission for classification are entitled of counselling help. You are more than welcome to get a piece of advice if you have any concerns about your child. Make an appointment by calling our counselor.

Counselors:

• Teja Čeh Svetina: +386 5 7310 239; Email: [email protected]

• Marjeta Škrlj: 041 302 132 Email: [email protected]

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OUR VISION

Our kindergarten: IS PROFESSIONAL- highly professional personnel, constantly educating and inducing novelties ENSURES A VARIETY OF PROGRAMES - different programs and enriched activities. IS OPEN TO OTHERS- institutions and people IS UP-TO-DATE WITH FURNITURE AND PLAYGROUNDS- playrooms and playgrounds ENABLES CHOICE AND RESCPECTS DHE DIFFERENCES HAS GOOD ATMOSPHERE- good work management and good mutual relations

OUR VALUES

Respect, TOLERANCE, understanding, trust, proficiency, reliability, honesty justice, cooperation, mutual help, TAkiNG RESPONSIBILITY,taking care of fellow men humanity, friendship, eliminate fear from differences, integrity, culture, tradition, work and creativity, knowledge and wisdom, life, nature, health and many others, are the values, we plan to respect and LIVE when it comes to our work. We will encourage that with everyone that sets foot into our kindergarten.

15 - I love playing with my friends - We often discover the environment and surroundings of - Exercising is the best our kindergarten. We use computers, too. - I found out that trees provide oxygen and they are our - We love playing in our playing corner, where we keep lots of friends. adult dresses and shoes.

- Summer water games are super - - We go for a walk even if it rains. - We especially enjoy snow. We bring extra - I love doing puzzles most clothes and have snowball fights. - The food is great - We cycle outside with our own - I was so happy when we went bicycles. for a bus and a train trip. - We make puppets and sew. - I have so many friends. - Being loud and screaming is - We share many different toys. annoying. - I love building houses, cars and planes with legos.

- I love playing musical instruments - I DON’T LIKE PARENTS PICKING ME - Kindergarten is very nice. UP TOO EARLY. - There is always something new placed on Girls cry more than boys do. our walls. - - We go to the theater together. We - We laugh a lot. - I love playing in the sand and making sand castles. travel far away by bus.

- We read a lot of fairytales. - We go to concerts to musical school. A lot - We like drawing and coloring in so many different ways. of tight staircases are there. - I would rather rest in the morning then after lunch. - We saw a display at school - We sometimes go to the big called A Frozen country. gymnasium right next to school and to the - There is a true pirate’s ship in our new playground. stadium as well. – I get sad sometimes, too. I want to stay at home.

KINDERGARTEN CHILDREN SAID...