News from Learning Community 1
Bell Yett and Stonyfell Rooms
We warmly welcome all children and families to the Stonyfell and Bell Yett rooms for the year ahead. Whether joining us for the first time or returning to a familiar environment, it has been a pleasure to see children settling in with growing confidence and curiosity as they explore their learning spaces and begin forming meaningful relationships with peers and educators. Acknowledging that this transition can bring a range of emotions, we take a calm, unhurried approach, remaining closely attuned to each child’s cues and rhythms. Through shared daily rituals, play-based experiences, and opportunities for children to bring aspects of their home lives into the learning community, we intentionally nurture a strong sense of belonging that supports wellbeing, learning, and social competence.
As we begin Term 1 in Learning Community 1, our Central Idea is Welcoming environments can nurture relationships and build a strong sense of identity and community. Within Learning Community 1, we will explore this Central Idea through the following lines of inquiry:
- How spaces and materials communicate welcome and possibility
- How relationships shape identity and a sense of belonging
- Why shared experiences and participation build community
Through these inquiries, our intention is for children to develop a strong sense of belonging, form secure connections with people, spaces, and shared rituals, and confidently express themselves as capable contributors to the learning community. We aim to nurture children’s curiosity as it sparks wonder, creativity, and a sustained desire to learn.
This thinking is closely connected to the 2026 ELC Research focus, The Body in Relation. In welcoming environments, the child’s body is understood as the first site of exploration, communication, and belonging. Before language and formal routines, children come to know themselves and others through movement, gesture, proximity, and shared experience. These embodied encounters support the development of trust, empathy, agency, and collaboration, contributing meaningfully to the collective life of the community.
Our learning environments have been intentionally curated to invite participation, collaboration, and dialogue, recognising the environment as an active partner in learning. As educators, we will continue to observe, listen, and thoughtfully document each child’s journey through daily rituals and collaborative projects, making learning, relationships, and belonging visible as they evolve throughout the term.
We are looking forward to a wonderful term ahead with you and your children.
Kathy McCabe, Olivia Buttery, Nell Tierney and Monique Gannon
Learning Community 1 Teachers
Vacation Care
Learning Community 1
Learning Through the Hundred Languages of Summer
Children and educators returned to the ELC refreshed after a two-week Christmas break, bringing with them a wealth of summer memories. The spaces quickly filled with excited conversations as children shared stories of beach visits, family traditions, shared meals, and celebrations with family, friends, and the wider community.
These meaningful experiences became a starting point for connection and learning, supporting children’s understanding of community and belonging. As we begin the new year, we continue to honour our ELC rituals—shared play, music, sustainability practices, celebrations, and engagement in the community garden—strengthening children’s connection to place and one another.
Guided by the Reggio Emilia approach, we explored these summer experiences through the senses. Children listened closely as they held seashells to their ears.
“I can hear waves,” said Allegra.
“The sea,” added Hallie.
Role play became a language through which children revisited their beach experiences. In the beach inquiry space, children recreated familiar summer moments:
“I went swimming and drank the sea water,” said Aaryush.
“I built sandcastle,” shared Teagan.
“I ate ice cream and pancakes at the beach,” Demi recalled.
“I found seashells,” added Leo.
The community garden, one of the most treasured spaces within our ELC, offered further opportunities for inquiry. The children noticed changes after the holiday break—some plants had grown tall, while others appeared “brown” and “falling down.” Through discussion, children identified heat and lack of water as possible causes. Harvesting an abundance of tomatoes led to cooking experiences such as tomato tarts, focaccia, and tasting tomatoes fresh with salt. When tiny holes were discovered, the children joyfully concluded that The Very Hungry Caterpillar had paid a visit.
Food became a strong thread throughout our learning. As children engaged in pretend play making smoothies, lemonade, and pizzas, educators extended this interest into real cooking experiences, allowing children to explore taste, texture, and smell through the language of food.
Using clay as one of the Hundred Languages of Children, we offered another creative outlet for expression. Children created sun catchers, persevering through challenges to shape precise forms. As their confidence grew, they requested to make vases and plates to hold the tomatoes and flowers they had gathered from the community garden.
Through these experiences, children demonstrated curiosity, creativity, problem-solving, and a strong sense of connection to their environment and each other. As we look forward to the new ELC year, we are excited to continue building on these rich foundations—embracing children’s ideas, honouring their many languages of expression, and learning together through shared experiences, wonder, and joy.
Valentina Fernandes
ELC Key Co-Educator and Vacation Care Leader
Learning Community 2
Our Vacation Care program was a rich and joyful summer journey shaped by children’s ideas, interests, and lived experiences. Inspired by conversations about holidays, the beach, and the ocean, children engaged in meaningful dramatic play—creating beach picnic tents, sharing stories, and collaborating with peers in imaginative and purposeful ways.
Children explored natural processes through hands-on water and ice experiences, observing melting, movement, and colour changes. These sensory investigations encouraged curiosity, problem-solving, and shared thinking as children tested ideas and discussed their observations together.
Creative expression was woven throughout the program, with children representing their understanding of the beach and ocean through painting, collage, and large-scale collaborative artworks. Using materials such as sand, watercolours, and transparent surfaces, children explored texture, flow, and movement, making their thinking visible in diverse and creative ways.
Literature also inspired deep thinking and play. Following the story, Louie and Snippy Saved the Sea, children engaged in an ocean-themed provocation featuring sea animals, seashells, and recycled plastic materials. Through role play and storytelling, children retold the story in their own ways and shared thoughtful ideas about how they can help protect the environment when visiting the beach.
Cooking experiences were a highlight, especially on hot summer days. Children worked together to prepare banana smoothies and frozen yoghurt, developing confidence through measuring, mixing, and teamwork. To celebrate Christmas, children also baked cupcakes, sharing in the joy of preparing food, decorating, and celebrating together as a community.
Throughout the holiday period, children developed a strong sense of connection—to one another, to nature, and to their wider world. The program was filled with collaboration, creativity, and meaningful learning, truly celebrating summer through shared experiences.
Catherine Jiang
ELC Key Co-Educator and Vacation Care Leader
ELC Teaching and Learning Evening & Junior School Twilight Tour
We warmly invite our ELC families in our Learning Community 1 and Pathway Ferguson and Hallett to join us for a Teaching and Learning Evening on Tuesday 10 February 2026.
The evening will begin in the School Chapel at 6:30pm, where families will meet Director of Early Learners’ Centre, Liz Schembri, and learn more about how St Peter’s Girls’ ELC supports each child’s learning and development. Families will then visit their child’s room to explore the learning environment and hear from the teaching team about how units of inquiry are planned and delivered. As this is a formal presentation, parents and guardians only are recommended to attend.
Prior to this, ELC families are also invited to attend the Junior School Twilight Tour from 5:30pm–6:15pm, led by Head of Junior School, Marika Taylor. This tour offers a valuable opportunity to experience the Junior School environment, view learning spaces and connect with staff and other ELC families. Light refreshments will be provided, with families gathering in the ELC Piazza at 5:30pm before walking together to the Junior School.
Event details:
- Junior School Twilight Tour: 5:30pm–6:15pm (meet at ELC Piazza)
- Teaching and Learning Evening: 6:30pm (meet in the School Chapel)
- Families invited: Learning Community 1: Bell Yett, Stonyfell, Pathway Ferguson and Pathway Hallett
We look forward to welcoming you to this important evening.
ELC Twilight Family Picnic
Dear ELC Families,
Join us for a delightful evening on Friday 20 February from 5pm to 7pm on the School’s Chapel Path and Lawns for our annual ELC Twilight Family Picnic.
Bring along a picnic basket and rug to enjoy this relaxed, family-friendly event. While you’re welcome to pack your own picnic, we’ll also have:
- Sausage sizzle available with pre-order required. Click here to pre-order (bookings close Monday 16 February)
- Gelato van on-site for families to order a delicious gelato on the night
- Games and activities for the children to enjoy
Please bring your own drinks and note that glassware is not permitted on the lawns as we prioritise everyone’s safety.
The Twilight Family Picnic is a wonderful opportunity to connect with other ELC families and strengthen our community. We look forward to gathering together for this special evening.
ELC Twilight Family Picnic
Friday 20 February 2026
5pm – 7pm
St Peter’s Girls’ School – Chapel Path and Lawns
Warm regards,
Liz Schembri
Director of Early Learners’ Centre
Upcoming ELC Events
| Tuesday 10 February | ELC Teaching and Learning Evening & Junior School Twilight Tour |
| Friday 20 February | ELC Twilight Family Picnic |
| Monday 9 March | Publilc Holiday (ELC Closed) |
| Tuesday 24, Wednesday 25 and Monday 30 March | Parent-Teacher Conversations |
| Thursday 2 April | Coffee Van for ELC Families |
| Tuesday 7 – Friday 17 April | Vacation Care |
ELC closed Friday 3 April and Monday 6 April (public holidays).