News from Learning Community 2
Circle of Belonging: Honouring Culture, Identity and Community
Each day, we begin together with deep respect for the Kaurna people, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we learn and play. Through our daily Palti Circle and Ban Ban Balya, we are not only gathering as a group but participating in practices that honour Aboriginal ways of being, knowing and belonging.
The call of “Ngunkinna miyurna” invites us to come together, and as we gather, we exchange greetings: “Niina marni”, and how we are feeling: “Marni ai” or “Kuku ai”. Alongside our daily Acknowledgement of Country, these shared rituals offer the children authentic opportunities to engage with Kaurna language and culture, nurturing respect, curiosity and a growing sense of connection to place.
Through a Reggio-inspired lens, this experience has unfolded as a collaborative project shaped by the children’s ideas, choices and relationships. Over several weeks, the Palti Circle was constructed, with each child thoughtfully selecting and tying fabric to contribute to the final creation. In this way, the Palti Circle has become a personal expression of our Pathway community – reflecting the belief that children are capable, creative and deeply connected to one another.
The children were then invited to design their own wooden discs, representing themselves through Kaurna symbols for “boy”, “girl” or “person”, alongside their names. This symbolic work invites children to explore identity – who they are, how they see themselves, and how they are seen within a group – an idea closely connected to our ongoing inquiries.
Each morning, as the discs are placed around the circle, the children engage in the art of the Ban Ban Balya – noticing and recording who is present through symbols and counting. This shared ritual reflects the IB PYP’s emphasis on relationships, agency and belonging, as children see themselves as valued participants within a community of learners.
The photograph captured here offers a quiet and powerful moment. As the children lie together, hands resting gently on their discs, there is a visible sense of connection – to self, to others, and to the shared space they have created. It is within moments like these that our central idea is truly lived: welcoming environments nurture relationships and build a strong sense of identity and community.
As we moved through Harmony Week last week, this experience takes on an added layer of meaning. It reminds us that belonging is not only about being included, but about being recognised, respected and celebrated for who we are – within a community that honours both its shared connections and its rich diversity.
Edel Lilley and Stasia Vigor
Pathway Teachers
Join us for the ELC Coffee Van
All ELC families are warmly invited to join us on the final day of Term 1 for a relaxed morning coffee.
Enjoy a complimentary coffee and a delicious hot cross bun while connecting with other families in our ELC community as we celebrate the end of a wonderful term.
Location: Lawns on the Chapel Path
Date: Thursday 2 April 2026
Time: 7.30am – 10.30am
Easter Activity for Pathway and Reception Children
At 8:45am our Pathway Ferguson and Hallett children and their parents are invited to join our Reception students and families for a special Easter activity.
This will be a lovely opportunity for our children to come together, connect with the School community and enjoy some festive fun.
Please register here for catering purposes. 2 adults per student.
ELC Vacation Care – Bookings Open Monday 16 March
School holidays are around the corner, so if you would like your child to attend ELC during this time, please click here to access our online booking form.
ELC Vacation Care will run from 7 to 17 April 2026. The ELC will be closed during the Easter long weekend, including Good Friday.
Our holiday planning builds and expands on the learning that has been happening across the term. Our Vacation Care leaders, Valentina Fernandes, LC1, and Catherine Jiang, LC2, plan closely with our Pedagogical Coordinator and classroom teachers so that they can implement engaging learning experiences that transition seamlessly into Vacation Care.
During Vacation Care, children are required to wear their ELC uniform to support consistency and continuity throughout the school year. Our ELC uniform provides a smart and cohesive look, simplifies the routine of getting dressed in the morning, and promotes a sense of belonging. Children will need to bring their hat, water bottle, and a change of clothes each day. A healthy morning and afternoon tea, lunch, and late snack will continue to be provided to children.
As ELC Vacation Care staffing and catering are based on bookings, please make your bookings by 4pm, Wednesday 1 April 2026 (Week 10). Due to limited spaces during ELC Vacation Care, please book early! Late bookings and changes after this date will incur a late booking fee.
*Please note that ELC Vacation care is strictly for ELC-enrolled children.
Upcoming ELC Events
| Tuesday 24, Wednesday 25 and Monday 30 March | Parent-Teacher Conversations |
| Thursday 2 April | Coffee Van for ELC Families & Easter Activity for Pathway Children |
| Tuesday 7 – Friday 17 April | Vacation Care |