BUZZ JUNE 2015

Randwick
BUZZ
TIPS ON
KEEPING
WINTER
BUGS
AT BAY
How To Raise
Kids That Are
NOT Spoilt
Ways To Stay
Connected 8With Your Kids
TEACHING
KIDS TO SAVE
BROUGHT TO YOU BY RANDWICK PUBLIC SCHOOL • JUNE 2015

putting your neighbours to work

From The Editor
Welcome back to yet
another issue of Buzz
our last for Term 2
Contents
••
Presidents report keeps
us up to date with what’s
going on around the school.
••
8 ways to stay connected
with your kids.
••
A delicious, healthy and
nutrient packed Minestrone
Soup recipe that will keep
the family warm this winter.
••
How to raise kids that are
not spoilt.
••
Dr Joanna McMillan gives us
tips on how to keep winter
bugs at bay.
••
Strategies that will help
teach your kids how to
save.
••
Why goal setting is
important for kids – and
ways we can help them
achieve them.
••
The fun and popular
Michael Palmer from Year 1
hits the Swell Hot Seat.
••
We meet Adam Stott from
the innovative and fresh
living herb company,
Poppin Pods – this month’s
Supporter in the Spotlight.
It is hard to believe that it is already
the middle of the year and we have
reached the half way mark!
2015 is literally flying by …
Winter has certainly arrived and
Sydney is experiencing a definite
drop in temperature and with the
chilly weather comes the dreaded
coughs and colds and winter bugs.
In this issue, Dr Joanna McMillan
gives us some very helpful advice on
how to boost our kid’s immunity this
winter and keep the lurgies at bay!
We also cover a variety of other
topics from how to teach your kids
to save, to ways to stay connected
with our children and so much
more.
I hope that you enjoy this issue of
Buzz as much as I have enjoyed
compiling it and I wish you and your
family a wonderful winters break.
See you next term!
GEORGINA SENES
ABOUT OUR EDITOR
Georgina Senes has had more than 15
years as a journalist writing for some of
Australia’s leading parenting and family
Magazines including: Australian Parents
Magazine, Pregnancy Magazine, Family
Living Magazine. As well as that she has held
editorial roles at one of Australia’s largest
niche lifestyle publishers. As a mother of
three girls she lives and breathes parenting…
Created, Designed & Delivered By...
themillenniaproject.com
For All Advertising Enquiries Call 1300 900 171
3

HOW TO
Choose Educational
Apps,Games and Websites
Brought To You By Common Sense Media
Despite the claims of certain products that they teach your baby to read or
do math, media that’s really good for learning may not produce immediate,
observable results. Instead, websites and apps with the most learning potential
help your child learn how to learn -- and makes her want to come back for more.
It’s a bit tough to find the good stuff, but
it’s worth it. Many of the apps, games, and
websites that Common Sense reviews also are
rated for learning potential, so check our lists
(https://www.commonsensemedia.org/bestfor-learning-lists)
and reviews (https://www.
commonsensemedia.org/learning-ratings/
reviews) for hand-curated good stuff.
Products that lay the foundation for lifelong
learning encourage questions, foster curiosity,
and support critical thinking. They teach
by engaging kids, building concepts and
deep understanding, providing feedback
about performance (and adjusting difficulty
accordingly), and providing opportunities to
strengthen learning beyond the play session.
A few that incorporate these qualities include
open-ended sandbox games such as Minecraft
andAlgodoo, creative games such as Faces
iMake and Curious World, and math apps such
as DragonBox and Get the Math.
4

Use these pointers for finding apps and websites that are
really good for learning:
Choose age and developmentally appropriate products
Consider what you’d like your kid to learn. Are you interested in boosting
certain academic subjects such as math and reading, or are you looking for
skill builders for creativity, logical thinking, or social-emotional learning? Or
a combination of these? Common Sense’s learning ratings evaluate each
product’s potential for facilitating your child’s learning in these broad areas.
Let your kid’s interests be your guide
No sense insisting your kid play a dinosaur game such as Ansel and Clair:
Triassic Dinosaurs when she really prefers the cute pups in Pet Bingo.
Investigate independently.
Dig deeper than the developer’s description in the app store. Read
unbiased reviews (such as ours), and download a demo if possible or
play on the site.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org
5

FIGHTING
WINTER
BUGS
Winter is upon us and with it comes a whole host of cough, cold and flu bugs for
families to contend with. So is there anything we can do to help our kids catch
fewer coughs and colds this winter, and not get so sick when they do?
I can’t talk about nutritional links
without first reminding us all of how
these bugs are transmitted. Despite
the name “the cold” kids (nor adults)
catch the cold by getting cold. The
cause is a virus (and there are many)
and spread through infected others
coughing and spluttering near us.
Most viruses cannot live for long,
if at all, on inanimate surfaces, so
spraying every surface in the house
with chemicals is not the answer.
Since we cough into our hands,
and kids are likely to be wiping
their noses on their hands, frequent
hand washing with soap is a major
line of defense. I am not a fan of
using antibacterial soaps, sprays and
potions. These have not been shown
to be any more effective than good
old-fashioned soap and water. In
fact they may be more harmful by
eliminating good bacteria around us
and why introduce a whole host of
chemicals to our kids environments?
You can have a clean house without
the use of chemicals that are harmful
to our kids, our environment and us.
But I digress, back to kids immunity.
Good nutrition provides the building
blocks of a strong immune system.
Kids that eat poorly are far more
likely to pick up every bug going
around, and when they do get sick
they will tend to be sicker for longer
than healthier kids. There are of
course other reasons why immunity
can be affected, but there is no doubt
that being well nourished is key. The
nutrients the immune system needs
is extensive and includes vitamin
C, zinc, iron, vitamin A, vitamin E,
calcium, selenium and numerous
phytochemicals (plant chemicals).
What this means is that there is no
one food that can boost immunity,
rather a whole host of different
nutritious foods are required. That
is good news. It means it doesn’t
matter if you can’t get your kid to
eat an orange, if s/he will eat a range
of other plant foods. To get you
started here are my top 10 immunity
boosters for kids:
1
2
3
4
6
Carrots: one of the richest sources of betacarotene,
an antioxidant in its own right but
can also be converted to vitamin A in the body.
Try grating or finely chopping them into stews,
Bolognese or soups, or serve them raw as batons.
Avocado: although not as high in vitamin
E as seeds, that they do contain is far more
available since it is not taken up protecting the
polyunsaturated fats in the food. Vitamin E is
critical to the anti-viral defense mechanisms of
the body.
Onions, leeks and garlic: from
the same family these vegetables contain the
antioxidant quercetin which is antibiotic and
anti-viral. It is not destroyed by cooking – thank
goodness as not many kids I know will crunch on
raw onion in a salad. But try making a leek and
potato soup, or throw onion and garlic into their
pasta sauce.
Cauliflower: often ignored in favour of its
greener cousin broccoli. That’s a shame as most
kids I know happily eat cauliflower. Cauliflower
contains a group of phytochemicals called
glucosinolates, as well as B group vitamins and
fibre, all-important for immune function.
5
6
Dark leafy greens: including spinach,
watercress and cabbage. OK so you’re thinking
there is no chance your child will eat any of these.
My kids are just the same and will not touch
them if they are served up as salad (although
keep persevering – older kids will generally start
to like salad). But think outside the square and
blitz them up with stock to make “green soup”
(yes they’ll rename it but so long as they eat it so
what” or finely shred it and add to sauces and
stews. Make a paste of wilted greens blended
with ricotta cheese, a little grated nutmeg and roll
up in lasagna sheets to make cannelloni or make
a green sauce for ravioli or gnocchi.
Beans, chickpeas and lentils: 70%
of the immune system is in the gut and so good gut
health is at the core of strong immunity. Legumes
are rich in soluble fibre and resistant starch, both
of which fuel the good
bacteria in the gut and in
turn boosts immune
function. They
also provide
plant protein
and an array
of nutrients.

7
8
Nuts and seeds: these foods are serious
nutritional powerhouses. It’s such a shame that
with the risk of allergy many kids are not eating
them. If your own kids are not allergic then
make the most use of these foods outside of
school. They provide vitamin E, fibre, healthy
fats, magnesium, zinc and healthy fats. I sprinkle
home roasted nuts over my kids porridge, give
them a ramekin mix of nuts, seeds, dried fruit
and dark chocolate pieces for afternoon tea,
spread pure nut butter on toast or in sandwiches,
and drizzle nut oil over their vegies.
Kiwi fruit: berries become so expensive
over winter I stop buying them fresh. Kiwi are
great at this time of year however and in terms
of vitamin C content, they rate only behind
guava! I simply half them and serve them to
my kids with a spoon.
Probiotics: a good body of evidence now
shows that children given a good probiotic
experience fewer respiratory infections and when
they do catch a cold they kick it into touch faster.
You can choose from giving them a probiotic
supplement drink or supplement or a probiotic
yoghurt. What is crucial is that you use a tried
and tested bacterial strain – look for the evidence
behind the product – and give it to them daily.
Turkey leg: most kids love poultry but we
tend to rely on chicken. Give turkey a try and go
for the brown meat. It provides more iron and zinc
than the breast, and provides selenium, B group
vits and other immune-boosting nutrients. It’s
also cost effective with a couple of turkey
legs easily feeding the whole family. Plus
the Fred Flintstone connection will get
the kids tucking in happily!
Finally don’t forget the importance of making sure your kids get enough sleep. Being run down
and tired is the fastest route to depressed immunity. A well-nourished and well-rested body is
the one that can most readily stave off this years winter coughs and colds.
Dr Joanna McMillan
Registered Nutritionist and Accredited Practising Dietitian.
For more information on 'The Dr Joanna Plate' go to www.drjoanna.com.au, your trusted nutrition and healthy lifestyle hub.
9
10

This month your P&C has been focused on a couple of important issues that
are affecting the whole school community.
The first relates to some road safety concerns at the corner of Avoca St and Cowper St. It has
become apparent that the small pedestrian island at this intersection can get overcrowded, and this
may place kids at risk. The school and the P&C have been working to get this arrangement changed,
with the aim to make this a safer place to cross. In the meantime we ask parents and kids to take
extra care, and stay on the footpath if the pedestrian island looks crowded.
In regards to the campaign to gain additional classroom facilities to cope with our ever expanding
school population. You may remember that our local member Bruce Notley-Smith made an election
commitment for Randwick Public School to transition to the Open High School building next door.
Since his re-election, we have met with Mr Notley-Smith to gain a firm timetable for gaining access
to this building, and additional playground area. He has undertaken to provide us with an update in
the near future. He has also offered to take up our request for a safer way to cross Avoca St with the
relevant council and state government authorities.
Lastly we are have also been challenging the Eduction Departments proposal to alter the school
catchment area. Some members of our school community have raised concerns that this change
will exclude some families who are located close to the school, but allow for an expanded catchment
from much further away in Kensington. If you are interested, the revised school catchment has been
placed on the canteen noticeboard.
We will keep you updated on this matters as more information becomes available.
Also can we extend a big thank you to Damian Lucas and the large contingent who turned out for
last Sunday's working bee. The school grounds really received a welcome dose of TLC.

8W
A
Y
S
TO STAY CONNECTED
WITH YOUR KIDS
by Georgina Senes
Every parent cherishes those moments when they feel connected with their kids – those
are the times when it feels like it’s all worthwhile and that your heart could just melt.
Connection is as important for parents as it is
for our children. It is the link that keeps your
relationship strong and healthy and which
allows you to be a trusted guide to your child. Kids
who feel strongly connected to their parents want to
cooperate. They trust their parent’s judgement and
respect their advice. Once parents start focussing on
connecting instead of correcting the whole dynamics
of their relationship with their child changes – for the
better.
Parenting is the toughest job on the planet and there
are days when we all do it brilliantly and others when
1
Quality One-On-One
Time Is a Priority
Whilst family time is essential, most
children also crave and actually need, individual
quality time with their parents without the
diversion of other siblings. Spending some one on
one time with your child allows you to really tune
into how they are feeling and what is going on in
their world. Giving them your undivided attention
makes them feel special and lets them know how
important they are to you.
Share A Meal Together Every Day
can barely cope with the basics of feeding, bathing
and getting them to bed– its part of being human and
it’s a side effective of our insanely busy lives that see
parents trying to juggle too many balls whilst at the
same time trying to keep the whole family happy.
The key to developing a strong bond with your
children is to incorporate connection into your families
every day routine and build daily habits that help you
to feel closely linked to one another.
Here are some simple every day strategies that
you can do to help you connect with your kids:
Practice Gratitude
Help your child to develop the gift of
gratitude and you will find that it will
help them to develop an optimistic attitude and a
greater appreciation for life. Asking your child to
tell you three things each day that they are grateful
for is a great way to start promoting thankfulness
and appreciation. Likewise you should tell your
child the three things that you are grateful for each
and every day and they will hear first hand what it
is in life that makes you happy.
Amongst hectic work and school schedules and the demands of life in general, sharing a meal
together as a family is often a herculean task – but one that is both necessary and worthwhile.
Meals together give a family time to nurture connection between each of its members and to
share stories and events from the day. It is a time to focus on each other, to share, to listen and
most importantly to connect.
10
2
3

4
Listen and Show
Empathy
The key to connection is listening. Sometimes
you might need to bite your tongue and
resist the temptation to offer up advice and
solutions and just listen. It is also useful to be
able to look at the situation from your child’s
perspective – put yourself in their shoes and
try and imagine how it is that they are feeling.
Trying to understand how your child is feeling
will go a long way towards you being able to
see and understand the reasons for certain
behaviours and will also help you to regulate
your responses to them.
6
Take a Technology
Time Out
We are all guilty of over indulging in
technology, constantly checking our mobile
for messages or sneaking in some extra time
on the ipad. Take time out of your families
week to switch off all devices and have a
technology ban. Turn the TV off and get
outside and throw a ball with your kids,
play some games or have a chat. Spending
time together without the distraction of
technology enhances both communication
and connection.
Be Present
Play
Laughter and roughhousing help
keep you connected with your child
by stimulating endorphins and oxytocin in you
both. There is nothing more bonding than
a good laugh and play with your kids – its
physically and emotionally satisfying. Making
playfulness a regular feature in your child’s day
helps them to work through any of the stresses
and anxieties that they may have experienced –
it gives them a much-needed release!
Have a Snuggle
For many parents and children the
sacred snuggle up in bed at the end
of the day is the sweetest time they every have
together. Those quiet, companionable, safe
moments of connection allow you and your child
to really bond and savour the love and warmth
of your relationship. When you lie with your child
in a darken room and relax together you will be
surprised at what communication can take place.
Children tend to use this time to confide in their
parents, let their guard down and open up about
how they are feeling. This is a precious time
between parent and child and should feature
regularly in your nighttime routine. Don’t give it
up as your child gets older – late night is often
the only time teens will open up.
Most of us muddle our way through life being half-present. Rushing from one thing to
the next, so busy trying to tick all the boxes that we forget to savour the moment. Your
child is only a child for a very brief window of time and before you know it they will be all
grown up and you will be left wondering where all the time went? Try to slow things down
and to actively engage with your child when you are with them – right here, right now. Its
unrealistic to be completely and exclusively engaged with your child all of the time – life
simple gets in the way but try and do it a little bit every day and you will soon find yourself
naturally doing it more and more. The results will be those heart warming moments of
connection that makes parenting all worth it.
5
7
8

oom or bust?
there has been some speculation from certain
sections of the media that we are soon about
to see the end of the property boom and
some commentators are suggesting we are
in a property market bubble which is about to
burst. this doomsday message is particularly
strong from overseas commentators who have
experienced the pain of a property market
bubble bursting.
in my opinion, there are a couple of reasons why i
believe the australian property market differs from
the overseas property market, which will see the
local market inevitable experience a plateau or a
downturn with a soft landing.
firstly, from a cultural perspective australians have
grown up with “the great aussie dream” of owning
their own home and are prepared to make
sacrifices and work hard to achieve this goal. the
fact that tenants in this country are usually only
offered 6-12 month leases, can not make ‘homely’
changes to the property they are leasing, in some
cases can not have pets, and the property can
be sold during a tenancy with the disruption of
inspections while a tenant only serves for tenants
to get out of that cycle and own their own home
also. while investors owning property in europe
and other parts of the world are happy to offer
tenants 5-10 year leases and i some cases can
be home for 20 years or more.
this cultural difference always serves as an
underlying buyer demand for home ownership
in australia.
secondly, we saw during the gfc a key difference
between australian banks & some overseas
banks who offer “hand back the keys loans”,
which simply means if the value of the home
drops below the loan amount, borrowers can stop
paying the loan and simply ‘hand back the keys
to banks’. this fuelled a stampede of properties
being put on the market by the banks which
only served to make the situation much worse.
in australia, borrowers do not have that choice
and must choose to either ‘ride the market out’
or default on their loan and have the banks
chase them for the shortfall and then be placed
on a default credit register for 5-7 years. most
borrowers, if possible, choose to ride it out and
not realise their ‘paper loss’. this stops the rush
of banks selling properties and an oversupply of
properties o the market.
my advice to buyers is to think long term when
buying a property, to find a property that suits
their needs and one they can afford. then it
doesn’t really matter what the market is doing – it
will likely change many times over the lifetime of
your loan.
Shane VincentPrincipal
Belle Property Randwick,
Shop 1, 25-31 Perouse Road, Randwick NSW 2031.
Office 02 8988 5688 Mobile 0425 333 400
Fax 02 8988 5699
Web belleproperty.com/randwick
p 02 8988 5688
e randwick.info@belleproperty.com
w www.belleproperty.com/randwick

when choosing your new home…
consider location, style and size!
when choosing your new home, the three key elements to consider are location,
style and size.
these three fundamentals have substantial impact upon your comfort and satisfaction
levels, as well as the market value of your home.
location
location is crucial to the re-sale value of your
home, so make sure you think ahead and
look for areas that will serve you well in the
future.
when deciding on a location, your belle
property agent knows the area extremely
well and are also aware of any proposed
changes that are likely to affect your asset in
the future.
on a personal level, you should consider
things like;
• distance from your place of work
• nearby educational facilities
• availability of recreational facilities
• the local town-planning scheme
• and the development potential of the land.
style and size
when determining the style and size
of your home, the top five questions to
consider before making a decision are;
1. how many bedrooms do we want?
2. do you want an extensive garden or low
maintenance surrounds?
3. what are your expectations for your
main living areas?
4. do you want indoor and outdoor
entertaining areas?
5. does the home have the capacity to
extend?
it’s also a good idea to speak with the
seller’s agent who can inform you of any
issues you should be aware of.

RECIPE
Chunky
Minestrone Soup
Packed
full of vegetables
this tasty and simple to
make minestrone soup
is both nutritious
and delicious. The
addition of pasta
transforms a
simple soup into
a hearty meal.
By Georgina Senes
Ingredients
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 brown onion, finely diced
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 200g bacon, trimmed and coarsely
chopped
• 2 celery sticks, chopped
• 3 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 6 cups of chicken stock
• 700ml Passata
• 150g green beans, trimmed and cut
into 3cm pieces
• 400g tin Borlotti beans, rinsed and
drained
• 2 zucchini, chopped
• 1 cup small pasta shells, spirals or
macaroni
• Shaved Parmesan to serve
(optional)
Method
1. Heat the oil in a large heavy based saucepan over a medium-low heat. Add the onion and garlic and
cook for a few minutes until the onion softens.
2. Add the bacon, celery and carrot and cook for 5 or so minutes, stirring frequently, until ingredients soften.
Add the Passata and chicken stock and increase the heat to medium. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to
low and simmer for a further 30 minutes.
3. Add the green beans, Borlotti beans and zucchini and cook for a further 4-5 minutes. Add the pasta
and cook for a further 10 minutes or until the pasta is al dente.
4. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Place the soup into serving bowls and top with shaved Parmesan if desired.
Serve with thick crusty bread.

How To Raise Kids
That Are Not Spoilt
By Georgina Senes
One of a parent’s worse
nightmare is having a child
who comes across as spoilt and
ungrateful.
We all struggle to provide
our children with all of life’s
advantages and to give them
everything that we can – we
want them to have every
opportunity and to be able to
get the most out of life.
That is why for many of us we
find it so disconcerting when
we see our or other children
who have been given every
advantage act like eye rolling,
feet stomping, spoilt brats.
Its an awful feeling when you
see your children behaving
like selfish, entitled creatures,
constantly demanding more
and more and not realising
how lucky they are to have
what they have and realise
how much more they have
compared to so many. Any
mum of dad who has a had a
child cry or throw a tantrum
when you have told them that
you wont buy them another
toy or piece of clothing
knows the feeling.
Most parents will regretfully
admit to feeling that at one
time or another their child
is spoilt and ungrateful. Its
part of the parenting code of
conduct – something we all
experience.
Luckily, there are many
small things that you can
do and strategies that you
can implement that will help
to encourage your child to
appreciate their life and to
grateful for all that they have.
Like most things in the
parenting world it takes time
and consistency so don’t
expect a miracle overnight.
Plug away and enforce the
following techniques and
lifestyle tweaks into your
family’s routine and hopefully
at the end of the day your
child will be thanking you!
Make manners count:
The three most important
words in the English language
are without a doubt “Please”
and “Thank You”. No three
words have more power or
more magic. Be absolutely
vigilant with ensuring that
your children use these three
magical words and that
they use them often. Lead
by example and make sure
that you mind your manners
and speak to people politely.
You are your child’s greatest
teacher and best example – so
set the standard high.
16

Ensure your child knows what to truly be
grateful for:
If you ask your child what makes them happy
and what they are most grateful for most of
the time they will answer you with a material
possession. They are grateful for their ipad or
their scooter and buying the latest video game
makes them happy. Try and encourage your child
to know what is really valuable in life and teach
them that material objects are simply replaceable
possessions. The most important things in life are
not tangible – teach them to be truly respectful
and grateful for things like health, family, friends,
feeling safe, going to sleep at night in a warm
bed with a full tummy. These are the things that
we want them to value the most.
Make sure that they really listen and
that they “get it”:
One of the biggest roadblocks in training your
kids to be thankful is self-absorption. Most kids
are so caught up in what they think, how they
feel and what they want that they often forget
that many people make the world go around and
all the people in it have feelings and desires too
– parents included. Often kids can only identify
and relate to how things impact on their own
lives, their own little universe and often fail to
see the effect that it may have on others. Teach
your children that they are one small part of a
much bigger picture and encourage them to look
at situations from not only their own but also
others perspectives. Emphasise them importance
of listening to others and taking the time to
consider things from another’s point of view.
Often children do not even realise that they are
being self absorbed and selfish they simply get so
caught up in how an event or action has affect
them that they forget to put it in context and look
at the wider scenario.
Teach them the value of a dollar:
Adults are all too aware of how hard they have
to work to make a dollar. Kids on the other hand
think that money grows on trees, that ATM’s
simply print money and that using credit cards
is like getting something for free. From an early
age it is important to teach children the value of
money and the importance of contributing. A
child as young as four is more than capable of
putting their plate in the sink whilst a child of
nine can unstack a dishwasher and a teenager
can competently wash a car. As part of a family all
members need to contribute and learn that there
is no such thing as a free lunch.
Give them a social conscience:
All children need to be taught the importance of
giving back. They need to know how
lucky they are and they need to
know that not everyone is as
fortunate as them. Children
also need to be taught that
their actions can make a
difference and small things
that they do and changes that
they make can have a huge
impact on others. Get your
children to regularly clean
out their clothes and toys
and donate them to
charity, sponsor a
child through World
Vision, volunteer
your time and let
your kids see the
difference that one
person’s actions
can make.

S
UPPORTER IN THE
POTLIGHT
Adam Stott
General Manager at Poppin Pods
Buzz is a big fan of anything fresh and
natural, anything that will get our girls
eating healthy and anything that is
Australian owned and gown. Poppin Pods
ticks all those boxes and more, which is
why we are really excited to introduce this
month’s supporter in the spotlight; Adam
Stott, General Manager at Poppin Pods, a
company that is dedicated to producing
fresh living herbs that you can use in your
kitchen!
Here we chat to Adam about the Poppin Pods
products and about what sets this business ahead
of the rest.
18
BUZZ : Hi Adam, thanks for agreeing to be
this month’s Tara Talks Supporter in the
Spotlight. Behind every great company is a
story. Tell us the story behind Poppin Pods?
Adam: Over the last 5 years there has been a huge
push towards fresh. Consumers were demanding
fresher food with real taste. Herbs were near the top
of this list after enjoying increased demand due to
the success of cooking shows and the trend toward
healthy eating.
Retailers were trying everything to achieve fresh,
convenient and longer lasting herbs. Cut herbs die in
the fridge, tubed herbs surfaced, however, they had
huge amounts of preservatives added so the taste
inherently suffered. Lightly dried herbs were tried,
but they missed the point as they were dead as well.
Consumers were asking how long had the herbs been
packaged and what nutritional value had they lost?
Living herbs had to be the answer as they provide
maximum nutritional value and taste however they
were messy, awkward and the pots were too big to
handle in your shopping.
We identified all these issues and came up with the
solution that provides a clean easy and convenient way
for you to enjoy living herbs from the convenience
of your kitchen top. We took all the benefits of cut
and potted herbs, and removed the negatives.
BUZZ : Explain to us how Poppin Pods
works? What kind of care and maintenance
is involved?
Adam: Poppin Pods is all about choice. First you
pick your Display Shell that suits your kitchen. Then
you choose the herbs you like, pop them into your
Display Shell. Today we range about 20 different
varieties of herbs and that is still growing.
You will find that because the herbs are there, you
use them more. You try new combinations and add
them to everything from smoothies to salads and
every meal in between. When you have used all of
the herbs you simply replace it on
your next shopping visit.
As far as care and
maintenance goes it’s
really easy; a bit of water
and a bit of sunlight (it
doesn’t even have to be
direct sunlight), that’s it.
All of our herbs are grown
in natural soil, so unlike
hydroponic varieties, our
pods are full of nutrients
that last for weeks.

BUZZ : What are some of the advantages
of Poppin Pods herbs?
Adam: They are grown ready to eat. Unlike herbs
that are grown for planting in your garden, our herbs
are grown big and bushy, ready to harvest from the
day you buy them.
There is no mess with Poppin Pods. Unlike normal
potted plants, the pods don’t have drainage holes
so they don’t flood your benchtop when you water
them. They keep small reservoirs of water in the
bottom to keep them alive longer without drowning
the root system of the herb.
Our herbs are grown the natural way! The cost
pressures of the past have steered other growers to
move into temperature controlled growing sheds,
some even use ultraviolet light at night to grow
faster. No thanks! Poppin Pods provides the real taste
that comes from being grown the natural way in
natural soil.
BUZZ : Tell us a bit about the range of
products that Poppin Pods has?
Adam: You start with the Display Shell. We have
everything from plastic, tin, revived wood, timber
cradles and to the top of the range Bamboo. You
really have to see the bamboo! So firstly pick your
shell.
Then you choose your herbs. We have around 20
varieties at the moment from the common ones such
as mint, rosemary, basil, coriander, parsley, thyme,
chives etc to some others like Vietnamese mint,
sorrel, chervil and soon to be released edible flowers.
BUZZ : Why do you think that is so
important to eat fresh?
Adam: There are a number of reasons but the top
two are taste and nutritional value.
I think a lot of people have grown up having a
tomato plant or strawberries grown at home in the
past. What is the thing you remember the most?
TASTE! The difference in taste is so significant which
is why all the retailers are claiming to be the freshest.
From a nutritional value point of view we are all still
learning. We are finding out new things all the time.
I applaud the Mushroom Growers Association who
joined together and commissioned a food scientist
to research the nutritional value of mushrooms at
different stages. What they learnt was fantastic.
If you leave your mushrooms in the sun the day
before eating, they will have the equivalent vitamin
D nutritional value as they did when fully grown.
That’s not the same if you eat them straight out of
the fridge.
BUZZ : What are some of your favourite
dishes that you use Poppin Pods herbs in?
Adam: It’s really funny, because these days I don’t
have anything cooked at home without herbs.
My salad sandwich wouldn’t be the same without
basil or coriander. My fish can’t be cooked without
thyme. The kids mash always has chives. Mums and
dads have some of the best recipes because they
constantly trying new things.
Stay tuned to our website as we always have recipes
from our brand ambassador Luke Mangan up there
and there will be a lot more coming soon.
BUZZ : What makes the Poppin Pods range
so special? What sets it apart from other
companies producing similar products?
Adam: We listened to what the consumer wanted.
They were sick of herbs dying in the fridge so they
only bought them when they knew they were going
to use them in a specific meal. Consumers wanted
real taste and nutrition, which they weren’t getting
in a clean easy and convenient way. They now can.
BUZZ : How do we find out about Poppin
Pods or purchase some of their great
products?
Adam: www.poppinpods.com.au is best, or you
can find us on Facebook. Register on our website
and you will be kept up to date. There are some very
big things around the corner. Does anyone buy cut
flowers? That’s all I’m saying right now.
www.poppinpods.com.au
BUZZ : Thank you so much Adam. It has been really great to talk to you and
to find out about the Poppin Pods range and some of the advantages of living
fresh herbs. Buzz feels certain that lots of Buzz’s mums and dads will be keen to
explore the Poppin Pods product range – you might even have inspired some
creative cooking!
19

component
1
Helping children connect
across cultures
“Would you like to come to my party?” Ella asked Sefra. “It’s on Sunday in two weeks.”
“Thanks Ella, I’ll ask my parents if I can come,” said Sefra.
Sefra wanted to go to Ella’s party, but it was at the same time as her weekly language
class. Sefra’s parents always told her how important it was to keep up her culture and
language. Would they let her miss the language class and go to Ella’s party instead?
Sefra hoped they would.
Though she was excited about the party, Sefra also felt nervous. Not everyone who might
be going was as good a friend as Ella. Some children in Sefra’s class teased her because
she didn’t look or speak like they did. They stopped when Ella told them not to be mean,
but it still hurt.
Sefra hoped the other children at the party would be friendly and play with her.
20
Being part of two cultures
Being part of two cultures can get complicated at times.
Children may nd there are differences in values and
expectations. Sometimes there might be dif cult choices.
When different sets of expectations don’t match, it can
make it hard for children to feel like they belong.
When cultural differences are respected and a sense of
belonging develops, there are many bene ts to mental
health and wellbeing for children, families and schools.
By working together, schools and families can help
children from all cultural backgrounds to understand,
respect and appreciate diversity in others. Helping
children to understand difference encourages them to
feel good about themselves, understand where they t
in the world, and appreciate diversity in others. When
adults behave in ways that are open and accepting
it can help to teach children to respect diversity and
embrace individual differences.
Everybody needs to feel accepted, respected and
included. Feeling welcome and at home in both cultures
is very important for positive mental health
and wellbeing.
Australia is home to people from many different cultural
backgrounds. Creating a positive sense of community
for everyone involves learning to understand and
appreciate others’ values, experiences and beliefs
so that together we can build a caring and accepting
society that supports mental health and wellbeing.
Parenting is rarely easy
Being a parent in a new country has added challenges.
Just as it can be dif cult for children to learn to be part
of two cultures, learning to parent ‘between’ cultures can
be stressful for families too. Being open to adapt your
parenting to suit your child’s individual needs, and your
own, can be bene cial for all families.

How parents and carers
can help
• Tell your children stories to help them to develop
a strong cultural identity and share a sense of pride
in your culture.
• Talk to children about the Australian cultural values
you appreciate. This will help them see how they
can be part of both cultures.
• Seek support and advice from people you trust.
Talking with relatives and friends who understand
your values can help you think through the different
problems you might face as a parent.
• You can contact your child’s school if you have
any questions about your child or their education.
Schools welcome questions from parents and carers.
• Take an active interest in activities at your child’s
school. Get to know your child’s teacher and look
for ways to get involved at school, for example,
by helping in the classroom or by joining parent
working groups.
• If children complain of being teased or bullied,
be sure to tell your child’s teacher so the school
can take action to stop it.
Things schools can do
• Provide opportunities for students to express
and listen to different people and their cultural
perspectives to develop respect for and appreciation
of diversity.
• Talk to parents, carers and families about their
cultural values and needs.
• Respect individual differences – don’t assume that
membership of a cultural group means everyone has
the same values and needs.
• Invite family members into the classroom to observe
and participate.
• Promote and model inclusive behaviour, for instance,
by providing information and school correspondence
in a number of appropriate languages for parents
and carers.
• Work with interpreters or multilingual aids to ensure
accurate communication with parents or carers
whose English language skills are limited.
• Encourage social opportunities for parents, carers
and families to support and learn from each other.
• Link families with local services to provide
culturally-appropriate support and assistance.
The following websites may be of interest
About diversity:
www.cyh.com
Translated materials on parenting:
www.kidscount.com.au
Raising children in a different culture: www.raisingchildren.net.au
This resource is part of a range of KidsMatter Primary information sheets for families and school staff.
View them all online at www.kidsmatter.edu.au
Copyright: © Commonwealth of Australia 2012-13. This work is copyright. You may use this work in accordance with the terms of licence available at www.kidsmatter.edu.au
21

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HOT SEAT
This month Buzz sits down with the much loved,
Mr Michael Palmer from Year 1
MR MICHAEL PALMER
BUZZ: Tell us a little bit about your
childhood. Where did you grow up
and what is your favourite childhood
memory?
Mr Palmer: I grew up just down the road in
Bondi and I’m lucky to say I’m still living in that
area now. I am very much a water baby so some
of my favourite childhood memories include
heading down to the beach with my friends after
school in Summer to swim and play sport on the
beach.
BUZZ: Where did you go to school and
did you enjoy your time there?
Mr Palmer: I really enjoyed school and I went to
Bellevue Hill. It’s weird when we verse them in
PSSA because I want Bellevue Hill to do well but
at the same time I want Randwick to win.
BUZZ: What was your favourite
subject? You are on the technology
committee – have you always
been interested in information and
technology?
Mr Palmer: I was very good at Maths and sport.
If I could have played sport all day long I would
have. I have only recently joined the technology
team so I am still learning a lot from the other
teachers. I think it’s cool that we get to use iPads
in class because when I was in school we only
had one computer in each classroom so you were
lucky if you got a turn.
BUZZ: What do you love the most about
being a teacher?
Mr Palmer: I love when a student accomplishes
something they may have originally thought they
couldn’t do. Watching them succeed and seeing
how excited they get makes me really love my
job. I also like watching the students grow over
the years. My first year 1 class is now in year 5 so
it’s fun watching their personalities develop over
the years as they become older.
BUZZ: What is the hardest thing about
being a teacher?
Mr Palmer: I wouldn’t say it’s the hardest but
there is a lot of marking involved with being a
teacher.
BUZZ: You take PSSA cricket – do you
love all sport? What’s your favourite
sport and who do you barrack for?
Mr Palmer: I love all sports and have enjoyed
coaching the cricket teams the past few years. I
made a few grand finals when I played PSSA but
I never won one, so to watch the cricket teams
work and train so hard all season and win the
final is a great feeling. I still play rugby on the
weekends but my favourite sport to watch is NRL
and I support the Broncos while all my family and
friends cheer on the Roosters.
BUZZ: If you can pass on just one piece
advise to the kids at Randwick Public
School what would it be?
Mr Palmer: Do your best and just enjoy yourself.
I always tell my class that it’s ok to make mistakes
as long as you learn from them.
BUZZ: Thanks so much for the chat
Mr Palmer. It has been great getting to
know you a bit better!
HS
23

24
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You can’t stop the music at Randwick Public School.
This year the school’s two bands - the Performance
and Training Bands – are bigger than ever. There are
over 100 students playing 10 different instruments.
Next year, there’ll be a third band, with Year 3
students invited to join Music the jam. That’s a lot of noise!
But it’s all music to the ears of Megan Lipworth, our
passionate and dedicated musical
director. Megan has been in and
around school bands nearly all
her life. She loves the challenge
of transforming these budding
musicians into professional players.
Megan and the Performance Band
at the Leadership Ceremony
So watch the bands rock at school
assembles and presentation days.
See them swing at local fetes and
fairs.
From the Bandmates Special Morning Tea:
spot the conductor!
27

Teach
By Georgina Senes
how and why it’s important
YOUR KIDS
TO SET
GOALS:
Having goals is a terrific way to give you direction, motivation and focus. It helps
you to see clearly what you want to achieve, gives you the opportunity to work out
what you need to do to achieve it and helps you to make things happen.
Same goes for our kids.
Setting goals and knowing what skills you need to achieve them is an important
life skill – one that we need to teach out kids and the earlier the better.
Goal setting can really help children when
• They feel overwhelmed by how much they have going on.
• If they are lacking direction and focus.
• When they have a big project or something difficult or challenging that they need to get done.
How you can help your
child to set goals
When your child has the idea of what they want
to do then there are three simple steps that you
need to help them take to set their goal:
• Make the goals their own: Let your child work
out and decide what they want their goal to
be. Don’t force your ideas onto them. They
are much more likely to succeed in achieving
their goals if they are passionate about them
and if they come from their heart. You can
always prompt them and help motivate and
guide them in a particular direction but at the
end of the day let them decide for themselves
what it is that they want to achieve.
• Make the goals realistic: Start small, keep it
simple and make sure that your child’s goals
are age appropriate.
• Act as a mentor: When your child sets goals and
works towards achieving them they need you
to be their cheer squad, support crew and
mentor. Show enthusiasm for your child’s
achievements and celebrate progress along
the way. Encourage them to keep going
when they face obstacles and keep them
motivated when they start to waiver.
30

5
Simple steps that
will help kids
achieve their goals
1. Set the goal: Get your child to choose a goal
and then write it down. Stick the goal
somewhere prominent where your child will
see it often.
2. Work out your timeframe: Figure out how long
you and your child think it will take for them
to achieve their goal and set a date that you
want it accomplished by.
3. Work out sub goals: Help your child to work out
the steps that they need to take to achieve
their goal and write down everything that
needs to be done. From here you can work
out sub goals that will act as stepping-stones
to achieving the final goal.
4. Plan: No goal will be achieved without a plan
of attack - so don’t let your child try and
wing it! Encourage your child to work out
exactly how they are going to make their
goal a reality and plan how they are going to
make it happen.
5. Celebrate achievements: When your child
achieves their goal no matter how big or
small make a big fuss and celebrate their
achievements!
Key points to remember
when teaching kids
about goal setting
Be realistic: Start small and you can go bigger
when you get better at setting and reaching
your goals.
Keep positive: Don’t let people or hiccups along
the way deter you.
Keep on track: Every day reconfirm your goal.
Believe: Know that you CAN do it!
Confide in someone: Talk to someone you trust
about the goal that you have set and what you
want to achieve. Support can be really helpful.
Keep going: At times you might feel like you are
not making much progress but don’t stop – keep
moving forward. Small steps are better than no
steps!
Don’t stress: Relax and enjoy the process!

Teaching
KIDS TO
$AVE MONEY
Teaching kids how to save money is not
easy. Most kids have an “easy come,
easy go” approach to money. They like
to spend it as soon as they get it – you
can virtually see their pocket money
burning a hole in their pockets!
1. Lead by example:
Keep a money box at home somewhere
visible where the whole family can see
it. Get into the habit of regularly using it
and putting coins and small notes into it.
Also talk to your kids about things that
you are planning and budgeting for.
2. Give rewards:
Giving your child a financial reward for
jobs they do around the house is a good
way to teach them the value of earning
their own money. Likewise, giving your
children a weekly or monthly pocket
money is also a handy way to teach
them how to budget and save.
3. Set goals:
Most kids have plenty of things that they
are desperate to purchase or for you to
purchase for them! Encourage your child
to identify what particular thing they
wish to save for, to prioritise, and help
them work towards achieving it.
By Georgina Senes
Regardless of age, the best way to
teach any children about the value and
importance of saving is to start small and
to keep it simple.
Here are some tips that you can follow
that will help encourage your children to
start saving:
5. Let your child make mistakes:
Some times the best lessons come from
a poor decision, especially when your
child is young and the financial loss will
be relatively insignificant. If your child
gets money for their birthday and rushes
out and spends it immediately only to
realise that they have
no money left
for the new
game that
they really
want they
may make
different
choices the
next time.
4. Match them:
A great way to motivate your child to
save is to match them dollar for dollar. If
your child is aiming to save $100 to take
on your end of year family holiday then
offer to match the same amount once
they have reached their goal. Similarly,
if your child is saving for a new game
offer to meet them halfway. This concept
works well and helps to keep kids
motivated to save.

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Because there’s
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www.kumho.com.au
communications@kumho.com.au
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INGREDIENTS
500g minced beef, 1/4 cup grated
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Pepper, Plain flour (for rolling), 2
tablespoon oil, 450g canned tomato
soup, 1/2 cup water
1. Mix mince, onion, rice, salt and pepper to
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2. Fry in hot pan with oil until balls are brown
3. Mix soup and water and pour over balls
4. Cover and simmer for approximately 45
minutes until rice is tender
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