Sleep Over
Sleepover Guidelines
Each year we have a fabulous time sleeping over at the school. The purpose of the sleepover is to:
- build group harmony and
- to allow the kids to make some decisions together
- to build independence
- to learn to prepare food and wash up
The Big Cats and Kestrels have a late night. Check below for Basecamp variations.
Rules
The same rules as during school time BUT, if you don’t follow instructions then you have to go straight home!
Food
You cannot bring gum, coke or other soft drink, or too much sugary food. You can bring chips, and carbs galore! Please only provide the equivalent of a cup of your family’s sweet treat.
The dinner and breakfast will follow the food policy BUT will consequently be focused on the curriculum goal of the sleepover, to empower kids to make choices. This means that sometimes, it is not super healthy but allows them to experience making a choice. Make sure they are clear about your family values around food. We ensure that we follow any allergy advice as well.
Food choice is a key part of the experience. We will decide together what we are going to have for afternoon tea, dinner and breakfast and all the kids will be involved in the preparation and serving. Treat food is also part of the sleepover. Consequently we allow students to bring the equivalent of a cup of sweet treat (a treat that fits their family values), giving them the chance to make some choices.
Remember, the curriculum goal of the sleepover is to empower kids to make choices, so if your family allows chocolate, then it is great for them to have chocolate in their “cup-o-treat” to make a choice over how and when they will eat it.
Bed times
Everyone sleeps in the classroom. You must ensure that you tell the teaching staff if your child has sleep issues so we can keep them safe and well. Teaching staff sleep across the doorways so we always wake up if they need to go to the bathroom.
Group cohesion, understanding others and self-awareness will be the key thinking process behind bed times.
Younger students have 8pm sleeping goals with the Late Night students heading home from 7pm. Check below for this term’s specifics. Lights off for all around 10pm…unless a senior as sometimes they get to have an all-nighter. Check below for details.
Please remember that they are tired after both the late night AND the sleep over. If you must have them at school the next day there will be a base camp open but we advise keeping it as a recovery day.
Movies
The children will make their suggestions for movies (and the dinner menu) prior to the night. The movies will be G rated for the early session, or sometimes PG rated depending on the film (pre-watched by teachers). Popcorn is fine to feast on during the film.
We know that some students have a lot of difficulty watching films with drama, stress or anything that triggers their fears. We will always check with the cohort to try and find a film that would be okay for all but if we can’t find one for our particularly over sensitive students, we will make sure they have a calm space for drawing or reading out of range of the film.
Games
Running around games like spotlight and capture the flag may be played in the afternoon. They MUST have covered shoes to play these games!
Equipment:
A checklist to tick off when they are packing up
- Named torch (let’s repeat that…a NAMED torch….and everything else),
- Pyjamas,
- Toothbrush,
- Bedding (including a pillow) and a mattress that does NOT require us to pump it up – ensure that the bag you provide can house their bedding without help from grownups. We want them to do it alone!
- A “snuggle”,
- Snacks – carbs and 1 cup of sweet treats,
- Drink bottle (A MUST),
- Change of clothes,
- Please include a plastic bag for clothing, in case of accidents.
Please note, the staff can’t help with inflating sleeping mats….because the whole purpose of this event is to encourage them to be self-sufficient so they MUST be able to get their bedding together. They don’t need giant beds 🙂
Breakfast is from 7am.
Beds packed up by 8am.
Pick-up time: 8am-9am – if possible please don’t pick up your child until after 8am as there is always lots to tidy and pack up that they need to help with as part of the experience.
Invoicing will be out at the end of term and approximately $17.00!
Big Cats
Big Cats have a late night.
Purpose
Big Cats are learning how to be “at home” at BIS and how to connect home and school. This is the first step into being a little independent.Things to Remember
They still want to feel like they are having a really late night.They will be tired the next day so if you can keep them home then please do so.
Kestrels
Kestrels have a late night.
Purpose
Kestrels are having their first big late night without their parents having to stay. They can explore the night time walks, choosing their dinner and movie. Their independence is incrementally increased.Things to Remember
Be on time for pick up as they will worry if they are last!They will be super tired the next day so if you can keep them at home.
Penguins
Penguins have a sleepover.
Purpose
Penguins are having their first sleepover and they are trying to do it without their parents. This is a big step in their independence and not all the Penguins make the whole night. They help with washing up and getting their own breakfast.Things to Remember
Be ready to come and pick them up late at night if they decide to go home. Also make sure you are on time in the morning as they are always tired, even with an early bedtime, as they wake up during the night and wake up really early.Dolphins
Dolphins have a sleepover and next day off.
Purpose
The Dolphins, tackling camp this year and the seniors moving to a new school, these peeps need to have the freedom to make some choices. The Dolphins need the opportunity to decide on what, when and how to eat. To experience food prep and washing up as well how to get breakfast.The choice over when to go to sleep is also open for the seniors, many of them wanting to stay up and see the dawn. The younger students are expected to be asleep by 10.
Things to Remember
Packing and unpacking their own bedding is key, as is finding all their stuff. This is a chance for them to have a checklist to tick off. Please give them one to check off as they pack up.Please don’t pick them up too early as they need to help with the BIG clean-up.