Welcome
September has been a month full of celebration, connection and new beginnings across our Stride community.
We’ve had the opportunity to celebrate our incredible educators, connect with families out in the community and bring our teams together for a little fun outside the centres. We’ve also welcomed the next generation of early childhood educators through our Traineeship Assessment Day, an exciting step in helping young people begin meaningful careers in early learning.
With spring now here, there’s plenty to look forward to. Heart of Stride voting opens in October, the school holidays are almost upon us, and our centres are making the most of the warmer days with more opportunities for outdoor play, exploration and learning.
Inside this edition, we’re sharing some of the special moments from across Stride, important dates and reminders for families, and a few simple tips to help children stay happy and healthy as the weather warms up.
Thank you for being part of our Stride community. We hope you enjoy this month’s Scoop and celebrating all the little moments, big milestones and wonderful people that make Stride what it is.
The Stride Early Learning Team
THIS MONTH AT STRIDE
CELEBRATING OUR INCREDIBLE EDUCATORS
This month, we celebrated Early Childhood Educators’ Day, recognising the incredible people who bring so much care, energy and dedication to our centres every day.
Across Stride, our educators were celebrated with lots of thoughtful gestures from families and children, including cards, drawings, gifts and, of course, cake! At Stride Baldivis, there was plenty of love throughout the week, with beautiful creations and heartfelt gestures making the celebrations extra special.
A big thank you to our families for taking the time to show their appreciation, and most importantly, to our wonderful educators for everything you do for our children and families each and every day.
TEAM STRIDE OUT AND ABOUT
Team Stride was out and about at the Whiteman Park Milli Markets, with our Dayton team chatting with local families about what makes Stride different.
It was a great opportunity to share more about the support available to Stride families, including Allied Health, swimming lessons, sick day replacement and more, all built into the Stride experience, not added extras.
Our team also swapped centres for the streets of Perth for a morning of laughter, friendly competition and team building at our Amazing Race event.
From city landmarks to Elizabeth Quay, teams raced, problem solved and cheered each other on along the way. Medals were earned, balloons were waved and popped, and plenty of fun was had.
Moments like these are a great reminder of what makes Stride special. It is not only the incredible care our teams bring to our centres each day, but also the connection, energy and heart they bring to each other and everything they do.
HEART OF STRIDE
It’s almost time to recognise the people who make Stride what it is.
Voting for the 2026 Heart of Stride Awards opens on the 1st of October and will run throughout the month, giving our team the opportunity to recognise colleagues who go above and beyond and bring the Stride values to life every day.
We’ll be sharing more information with the team about how to vote, but for now, start thinking about the people across Stride who deserve to be recognised.
DATES & REMINDERS
Heart of Stride Awards Voting Opens – Thursday 1 October 2026
Heart of Stride Awards Voting Closes – Saturday 31 October 2026
UPCOMING PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Spring School Holidays – Saturday 26 September to Sunday 11 October 2026
King’s Birthday Public Holiday – Monday 28 September 2026 – Stride centres will be closed
All centres will be closed for the public holiday. Please keep this in mind when planning your week.
Note, as part of our initiatives you can select a replacement day via our Holiday Notification Form
Enrolments & Schedule Changes
If you are considering changes to your child’s days or looking to secure additional bookings, we encourage you to speak with your centre team early to ensure availability.
SAFETY & CULTURE
INVESTING IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF EDUCATORS
This month, Stride welcomed a group of young people for our Traineeship Assessment Day, giving them their first real look at what a career in early childhood education can offer.
The day brought together our centre teams, RTO partners and future educators for a hands-on introduction to life in a Stride centre. Rather than sitting through classroom-style sessions, participants worked through real scenarios, had genuine conversations with our educators and gained a better understanding of what the role involves day to day.
Our own educators helped lead the experience, supporting the students throughout the morning and sharing their knowledge of working in early learning.
For many of the participants, this was more than an assessment day. It was their first real step towards a future career.
At Stride, we’re proud to invest in the next generation of educators and help create pathways for young people to build meaningful careers in early learning within their own communities.
HEALTH & WELLBEING
SPRING IS HERE
With the warmer weather arriving and the days getting longer, spring is a great time for children to spend more time outdoors, exploring, playing and enjoying everything the new season brings.
As we move into warmer days, a few simple reminders can help keep everyone happy and healthy:
Sun protection
Please remember to pack a labelled sun-safe hat each day and apply sunscreen before arriving at your centre. Our teams will continue to support sun-safe practices throughout the day.
Spring allergies
Spring can bring an increase in pollen and seasonal allergies. If your child experiences hay fever, asthma or other seasonal symptoms, please ensure your centre has their most up-to-date health information and any required medication.
Stay hydrated
As temperatures begin to rise, regular water breaks become even more important. Please make sure your child brings their labelled water bottle each day.
More time outdoors
Spring is the perfect season for outdoor learning and play. Our educators will continue making the most of the warmer weather with opportunities for children to explore, move and connect with nature.
HERE’S TO A BRIGHT START TO SPRING AND ANOTHER MONTH OF LITTLE MOMENTS, BIG MILESTONES AND PLENTY TO CELEBRATE ACROSS STRIDE.
TASTY VEGGIE TACOS
Ingredients
- 8 cups of rice
- 2 red onions
- 3 capsicum
- 400g mushrooms
- 2 packets taco mix
- 2 tins black beans
- 300mL vegetable stock
- Soft tortillas
Method
- Place rice into the slow cooker and cook until fluffy.
- In a large pot fry onions capsicum and mushrooms until softened.
- Add black beans, corn, vegetable stock and taco mix.
- Add in cooked rice and mix well
- Serve with sour cream, salsa and cheese.
With thanks to Stride Early Learning Ardross for sharing this recipe.
QUICK LINKS & CONTACTS
We always value open communication with our families. If you have any questions about your child’s development, daily routines or upcoming programs, please feel welcome to speak with your centre team.
Parent Hub and Resources
Available via the website or through your centre team
Contact Us
Phone: (08) 6285 7400
