Happy Lunar New Year — welcoming the Year of the Horse, known for its strength and determination!
We wish all our children, families, and our wider community a wonderful and prosperous Lunar New Year!
We are delighted to celebrate this important occasion together, sharing meaningful rituals, symbols, and cultural traditions.
Across the ELC, the children explored the Lunar New Year through a variety of engaging experiences that invited them to delve into the history and symbolism of Chinese culture. Our menu was also thoughtfully adapted to honour the customs and practices of this special celebration.
祝大家新春快乐！喜迎马年——象征力量与坚毅的吉祥之年！
我们向所有的孩子、家庭以及更广泛的社区致以最诚挚的祝福，祝大家农历新年快乐、幸福安康、万事兴旺！
我们非常高兴能与社区一起庆祝这一重要的节日，共同分享富有意义的仪式、象征与文化传统。
在整个 ELC，孩子们通过丰富多样的体验，深入探索了农历新年的历史与文化象征。我们的菜单也特别进行了调整，以致敬这一特殊节日的风俗与传统。
News from Learning Community 1
Learning Community 1 has been exploring Lunar New Year through movement, music, shared stories and sensory experiences. The children have been introduced to the idea that families around the world celebrate in different ways, developing an understanding of cultural diversity through meaningful, hands-on learning.
Research highlights that music and movement are powerful forms of expression, allowing children to communicate joy, excitement and emotion beyond words. Through dance, gesture and dramatic play, they are discovering that celebrations are not only spoken about, but also felt, heard and experienced through the body.
As part of our ongoing action research, we are exploring the body in relation to identity, expression and connection. We are observing how children use movement to make sense of cultural experiences — imitating actions, experimenting with rhythm and responding physically to music and storytelling. In doing so, the body becomes a meaningful tool for communication, belonging and shared understanding.
We have also greatly valued the involvement of parents who have joined us in the classroom as volunteers, sharing their time, stories and cultural knowledge. These contributions strengthen the connection between home and school and enrich our shared learning experiences. We warmly welcome further parent involvement as the year continues, whether through participating in celebrations, sharing traditions or spending time engaging with our learning community.
The Reggio Emilia philosophy reminds us that learning emerges through relationships and shared experiences within a social and cultural context. As Loris Malaguzzi shared, “Our task, regarding creativity, is to help children climb their own mountains, as high as possible.” By embracing cultural diversity and working in partnership with families, we broaden children’s perspectives, nurture empathy and strengthen their sense of belonging within our community.
Through these embodied experiences, children are not only learning about Lunar New Year, they are also learning about one another, the richness of diversity and their place within a connected, respectful world.
Olivia Buttery, Kathy McCabe, Nell Tierney & Monqiue Gannon
Learning Community 1 Teachers
Upcoming ELC Events
| 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).