From the Director of Early Learning
Dear Families
I would like to thank everyone for a wonderful 2018 in the ELC. It has been an action-filled year and we can reflect on many special moments. One of my personal favourites was the ELC Festival and the creation of our special Path. The lovely thing about this event was that we had nearly our entire community present.
The only other event that attracts such a large group of people is our ELC Christmas celebration. What a magical evening that was!
The children and families enjoyed a beautiful picnic together after our carols and soaked up the Christmas festivities. Thank you for embracing our community events throughout the year.
I would like to thank The Friends of the ELC for supporting every event with their smiles, amazing catering and community spirit.
Your partnership in our ELC has been very special and we are extremely proud to have such a vibrant and caring community. We wish you all a wonderful Christmas and holiday period with your families and loved ones.
Kind regards
Kate Mount
Director of Early Learning
ELC Staff Update
At the conclusion of the 2018 school year, we are farewelling two of our ELC staff members.
Miss Natalie Lockwood
Natalie has been with us for four years and during this period, completed her teaching degree and began her career as an ELC co-educator. This has enabled Natalie to grow her skillset as a teacher working alongside the experienced team at our ELC. Natalie has been an integral part of our Centre, leading Vacation Care and assisting across the ELC in numerous roles. I am sure you will join with me in wishing her well on the next chapter of her journey.
Ms Sophie Yu
Sophie joined us two years ago and has become an important member of our team. She greets many of our families at the commencement of the day doing the early shift in Ferguson. Sophie has embraced all aspects of ELC life and we are very sad to be saying goodbye. She will be pursuing her teaching career next year.
New Staff
We are excited to welcome the following staff to our 2019 team as they join us for the next 12 months:
Miss Danni Capaldo
Miss Haylee Hunt
Miss Esther Nimmo
Mrs Wolita Harding
Mrs Julieanne Thomas
We wish Julieanne, Russell and Eddie all the best as they await the arrival of their new baby. Mrs Thomas will be on leave next year.
Kate Mount
Director of Early Learning
Farewelling Families
We would like to share significant gratitude for the families departing our Centre at the conclusion of 2018. For many, the bond has been over several years and we are so appreciative of the beautiful relationships formed. We celebrated our children and families leaving with a beautiful afternoon tea.
Uplifting Scenes at Hat Ceremony
Our ELC graduates were excited to celebrate their Hat Ceremony with the School community at a special assembly.
As is tradition at Saints Girls, our Prefects and Head of Junior School presented the children with a school hat and bag to mark their transition to Reception in the ‘big school’ next year.
As the children prepare for Reception, they’ve already been given a head start in recent weeks.
Our School places great emphasis on a smooth transition, ensuring our girls are ready for the next step in their learning journey.
Simple Steps for iCheck-In
As you are aware, St Peter’s Girls’ Early Learners’ Centre has introduced iCheck-In – new easy-to-use software that will enable you to digitally sign in and out of our ELC, bringing us in line with updated Government regulations.
You will now need to sign in on the iPad provided in your child’s room each day. On your first login, you will be asked to enter your mobile phone number and a password will be sent via SMS which you will need to use every time you sign your child in or out of the ELC. Each family member will need to enter their own phone number and password when signing in/out, so please do not give your password to others.
Please refer to this instructional poster to familiarise yourself with the new procedure. This will also be on display next to the iPad when you sign your child in or out.
If you have any queries, please contact Sarah Elliott via 8334 2271 or selliott@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au.
Save the Date
Friday 7 December: Last day of Term 4
Monday 10-21 December: Vacation Care
Monday 7 January 2019: Vacation Care re-commences
Wednesday 30 January: Term 1 commences
早教中心院长
亲爱的家长朋友们,
我要感谢大家2018年参与到我们ELC生活的方方面面。这是一个充满活力的一年，我们有许多特殊时刻值得回顾。我最喜欢的一个是ELC音乐节和我们园内特殊小路的创作。这次活动的可爱之处在于我们整个社区几乎都来了。吸引如此多家长及朋友们的另外一个活动是上周五晚上举行的ELC圣诞节庆祝活动。那真是个神奇的夜晚！
在我们的颂歌之后，孩子们和家人们一起享受了美妙的野餐，并享受了圣诞节庆祝活动。感谢您全年积极热情的参与我们的社区活动。
我要感谢ELC之友支持每一项活动，他们以微笑，美妙的餐饮和社区精神感染着我们每一个人。
您在我们的ELC社区中的合作关系非常特殊，我们非常自豪能拥有这样一个充满活力和关怀的社区。我们祝愿您与家人和亲人共度美好的圣诞节和假期。
ELC员工
在2018学年结束时，我们将告别2名ELC工作人员。
娜塔莉洛克伍德小姐
娜塔莉已经和我们在一起工作了4年，在此期间完成了她的教学学位，并开始了她作为ELC共同教育者的职业生涯。这使得娜塔莉能够在我们的ELC中与经验丰富的团队一起成长为一名教师。 Natalie一直是我们ELC不可分割的一部分，领导Vacation Care并在多个角色中协助整个中心。我相信你和我一起祝愿她在旅程的下一章中做得很好。
苏菲女士
索菲两年前加入我们的工作人员，并成为我们团队的重要成员。索菲在弗格森的早期班次开始迎接我们的许多家庭。索菲已经接受了ELC生活的各个方面，我们很难过说再见。索菲明年将继续她的教学生涯。
新员工
我们很高兴欢迎以下员工加入我们的2019团队，因为他们将在未来12个月加入我们
Danni Capaldo小姐
Haylee Hunt小姐
Esther Nimmo小姐
朱莉安娜托马斯夫人
我们的Julieanne，Russell和Eddie明年将开心的等待他们新生儿的到来。托马斯太太明年将休假。
告别家庭
我们想在2018年结束时提到离开我们中心的许多家庭。对于许多人来说，这种美好的关系已经持续了好几年，我们非常感谢所形成的无价的关系。我们庆祝我们的孩子和家人们带着美丽的下午茶离开。
News from the Stonyfell Room
Our school year is coming to a close as we inch towards the end of Term 4. This term has been full to the brim with our inquiry focus and our preparation for Christmas.
This time of the year is always conducive to us reflecting on the events of the past 12 months. We have experienced highs and lows as we watched and worked alongside your children. We have seen tears and triumphs, we have celebrated milestones and seen your children progress and develop.
Last week, we celebrated our ELC Christmas Carols. This event was a focus for much of our term’s inquiry as we wanted the process to be just as important as the end product. The educators and children worked hard to learn our songs and our dance, and this time spent together was full of laughter and smiles from all. The children were delighted to hear the songs played and would even come running to join in our dance, busting out the moves and singing the lines. On numerous occasions, we were joined by many other children from across the ELC and this made the experience even more fun and exciting. The Stonyfell children were even keen to learn the Hallett children’s drumming song and they quickly picked up on the beat and rhythm.
This process allowed the children to experience the work that goes into such an event and we were able to work as a community, coming together from each room of the ELC to participate. Even though the event is over, the songs and dance still live on and many of the children have asked to relive the night, and we are continuing in the fun and joy of preparing for Christmas time.
From all us in the Stonyfell Room, we wish you all a wonderful and safe Christmas full of family, friends and fun. Thank you for the year that was and we look forward to what lays ahead in the new year.
Laura Reiters
News from the Bell Yett Room
As Term 4 winds up, the Bell Yett friends and educators have been mindfully reflecting on all of the wonderful experiences and rituals they have participated in over the past eight weeks.
The friends have continued to build on their room rituals from previous terms, honouring the importance of these daily actions and the everyday. They have come together each day for morning meetings and a Ban Ban Balya, welcoming and acknowledging country. They have helped prepare and set tables for meal times, taking pride in preparation, presentation and aesthetic beauty. The children have also been cherishing the art of conversation, inclusivity and togetherness during rest and relaxation times, when applying sunscreen and while collaborating with the Ferguson friends in dynamic multi-age learning experiences.
The Bell Yett Room has not only explored ELC rituals this term, but we have also shared and participated in educator rituals, family rituals and cultural rituals:
– Italian cooking rituals with Ms Caterina: Pizza, pasta, coffee
– Making a traditional Indian dish called Roti with Ms Samuels
– Aboriginal dance with Tamaru
– Cooking gingerbread with Ms Brown
– Family rituals: Traditional Sri Lankan dish called Milk Rice with Ruchira, by Tiara’s mother
Providing our children with time, space, opportunities and invitations to partake in rituals has allowed them to ask and pose questions, shift and challenge their perspectives, and stimulate curiosity and deepen their understandings. The children have not only strengthened their relationships with their peers and fellow teachers, they have also become more mindful about their surroundings, and thoughtful about their intentions and actions, constantly reflecting on their daily or weekly experiences.
“Miss Ash, can I please help you clean the tables for lunch time? I can get the paper towels.” – Ava V
“I liked the Christmas concert. I liked the singing and how the friends dressed up.” – Alessia
“How much do we need? What is this for?” – Mavis
“My mum makes pasta at home.” – Sophie S
“My mummy and daddy came to watch me.” – Kanade
“I liked Santa Wears his Shorts. Can we sing it now?” – Ada R
Nell Tierney and Jess Ash
News from the Ferguson Room
In Australia, the end of our school year also coincides with Christmas. Along with celebrating our time together as a class and beginning the transition to the year ahead, we are also preparing for an exciting season of festivities. Whether or not we identify as Christian, the celebration of Christmas is a big part of our lives in this country, as it is in many countries around the word. Our exploration of rituals and the values that sit behind them has given the children a foundation to engage more deeply with the rituals of Christmas. In our small group discussions, the children have identified the rituals that are central to this celebration. Top of the list is of course the presents! There is also the tree, the carols, Santa and the telling of the Nativity story.
Oral storytelling is traditional in many cultures and so it is in ours when it comes to the Nativity story. The circumstances of the birth of Jesus are captivating for the children. In any language and in any era, a couple expecting a baby who find themselves in a strange city with nowhere to shelter is appealing to the children’s imagination and sense of empathy. This story has been handed down through generations, and each day we are retelling the story as a group. We share the amazing event of the Angel Gabriel informing Mary she will have a baby who must be named Jesus; of the journey she and Joseph must make to Bethlehem to pay their taxes; and how they arrive, exhausted, to find themselves homeless. Then there is the baby who must be laid in a manger among the gentle animals; the visits made by humble shepherds, and kings bearing exotic gifts. The children are now very familiar with the elements of the story:
• “Mary is the one who has the baby and the Angel said you must call it Jesus.” – Molly
• “Joseph was a builder.” – Elijah
• “I want to be the Star!” – Eloise
• “I want to be the sheep.” – Ruby
• “The kings come from the desert with camels.” – Eric
During our rest time ritual, the children were invited to make a Christmas wish:
• “I wish for lots and lots of dinosaurs! – Tommy
• “I wish my mummy will be with me.” – Scarlett
• “I wish to be with mummy and Tina.” – Torrence
• “I wish Charlie and Ava will come to my house and play with my toys.” – Elly
• “I want mummy and daddy and I to wrap presents together.” –Emma
• “I want mummy to put some presents under the tree for me.” – Olivia
Our children will receive many gifts at Christmas time. But the gifts of our stories and our traditions, our time and our love are what will sustain them beyond the 25th of December.
From all of us in the Ferguson Room, we thank you for the precious days we have been able to spend with your child. We feel privileged to be a part of this special time in the lives of your family and we wish you much joy at this most wonderful time of the year.
Mel Angel
News from the Hallett Room
We began the term with the intention of enhancing the rituals that honour our learning community and its values. We knew the children had an innate connection and sense of responsibility to the birds living in our local environments and we hoped that by investigating them further, we could develop the understanding that participating in rituals can be a way of expressing ourselves and our values. The children’s first idea was to create a home for the birds.
Their designs included birds living in safe homes, in families and communities, each having rights and responsibilities. Over time, we began to realise the children were using the birds as a way of making their values visible to us. As we ventured into Ferguson Park to observe the birds more closely, the children began documenting the voice of the birds. We started to see evidence of the children valuing communication as a ritual.
To enhance these experiences and deepen the children’s knowledge and understandings, we thought carefully about how we could curate our environments and materials. We took easels into the park and we transformed the light room into a studio for music and movement. We invited the children to document the language of the birds. The birds became a vehicle for the children to express their values, their rituals and their emotions.
Children have an innate sense of empathy and they soon decided that they should gift the birds with a song. This gave us the opportunity to explore social rituals, the complexity of drawing a sound and the use of symbols to create a common code. The children are currently composing their songs and are using the keyboard to perform them.
This week, our inquiry turned full-circle. We drew the children’s attention back to their original ideas for new homes for the birds. Through a rich discussion with the children, we have decided to create a Christmas Tree for the birds.
“The birds didn’t like living in the cages I don’t think.”
“That’s why it’s a tree now.”
“They would like that way more.”
“Pretend it’s snowing! We need to decorate their home like a Christmas Tree.”
“It needs stars and decorations.”
“And put some things out for the birds to eat.”
“And some presents.”
“We should make some stockings for the birds.”
As you can see, it has been a rich and joyful term in the Hallett Room. We invite you to spend some time sharing some of these moments with your children via their ePortfolio. We wish you a wonderful Christmas, sharing precious rituals with family and friends.
Rituals sustain (and grow from) a community’s wellbeing, its integrity and its alignment with the values at its heart.
Leanne Williams