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Written by Amie Andrews, Nominated Supervisor | Castle Hill
ANZAC Day at Dashing Ducks: A Week of Remembrance at Our Castle Hill Child Care Centre
ANZAC Day child care programs often stop at a poppy craft. At our child care Castle Hill centre, ANZAC Day this year wasn’t a single craft activity. It stretched across a full week, and a lot of what happened, the children led themselves.
Here’s what they did.
Baking biscuits, then taking them to the RSL
A few days before ANZAC Day, our children joined our chef Miss Anchalee in the kitchen to bake ANZAC biscuits from scratch. They mixed and rolled and baked together. While the biscuits were cooling, the group made a handmade “Lest We Forget” sign.
On ANZAC Day morning, a small group of families, children, and educators walked to Castle Hill RSL to donate the biscuits and sign to veterans returning that Saturday.
It was such a moving experience to have staff from the RSL be so welcoming to our parents and children, and we’re glad that our wonderful families were able to experience this together.
A remembrance garden the children designed
Earlier in the week, our preschool class sat together and talked through what they wanted to do for ANZAC Day. The educators listened. The children came up with the remembrance garden idea on their own.
In our outdoor space, they planted rosemary for remembrance and scattered red poppy seeds across the soil. The garden is still growing at 14 Garthowen Crescent. The children tend it. It will be there all year.
This is the kind of learning the Early Years Learning Framework describes at its foundation, where children build understanding through genuine experience rather than following instructions someone else wrote. When a child decides what a memorial garden should contain, and plants it with their own hands, something actually sticks.
Letters written to Service Members and actually posted
Our preschool children also spent time in the days before ANZAC Day writing letters to service members. The conversations that led up to it were honest and age-appropriate: what the red poppy means, who served, why we pause.
Then they wrote. Some letters were a few words. Some were longer.
After the letters were finished, the children visited their local Australia Post and put them in the postbox themselves. There’s something about that step, envelope in hand, walking up to the slot, that makes it real.
Why ANZAC Day child care learning like this matters
If you are planning ANZAC Day child care experiences of your own, the Australian War Memorial has age-appropriate background reading, and your local RSL sub-branch is usually glad to be asked. You can also see how we approach the rest of the year in our preschool program.
Want to see our community for yourself?
Dashing Ducks is a family-owned child care centre in Castle Hill with over 30 years serving families in the Hills District. CCS-subsidised, EYLF-aligned, and built around real community — the kind that shows up in a yarning circle on a Tuesday afternoon.
Dashing Ducks
Friendly, Experienced Team
Family-Owned, always
Nutritious Meals daily
Our learning environment is designed to inspire curiosity and creativity, fostering a love for exploration while supporting every child’s.
01
Holistic Learning
Approach
We focus on nurturing the whole child—academically, socially, and emotionally ensuring they develop essential skills.
02
Safe & Supportive
Learning
We prioritise safety and well-being, providing a secure online space where children can explore, learn, and grow.
03
Proven Adaptive
Learning
Focusing on each child's strengths, boosting confidence and academic performance with measurable progress.
