From the Director of Early Learning
Dear Families
The half way mark of a year always makes us reflect – the year is half over, have we achieved what we intended and what plans do we have for the second part of the year? The answer is yes, we have achieved what we intended and I will list the areas below to give greater clarity:
- The implementation of our Learning Community model has been successfully embedded across the centre, with feedback from families and staff informing us that this model is indeed working for them. The benefits are endless, but in particular we have achieved a much improved flow to our day, and offered our children differentiated and diverse learning experiences both indoors and outdoors in a variety of grouping options.
- The ELC continuously maintains a high level of academic rigor for both staff and students as well as placing student wellbeing at the centre of all that we do.
- Our values written in our ELC mission are holding us true to our everyday practice, embedding an open-minded and optimistic mindset, and ensuring we are inclusive in our practice and upholding respectful relationships across the centre.
- The teachers are receiving outstanding professional learning opportunities offered by the school with 9 ELC staff travelling to Perth these upcoming holidays for the Reggio Emilia Conference held by REAIE. In addition, we have worked with two independent consultants during the year and represented South Australia at the Project Quattro Conference. Mel Angel attended the Reggio Emilia Study Tour and led professional learning for the entire staff upon her return.
These successes have enabled us to deepen the foundation upon which we build our practice and theory. This then transpires into daily life for your children ensuring the quality of education is the highest it can be, catering for all of the essential areas of development in the early years.
Moving forward we aim to continue deepening our strong foundation. We believe that change needs time, reflection and ongoing research to ensure its success. We are excited about the future as we begin to see more and more positive gains from our courageous transformation.
Farewell to our Mid-Year Reception Families
This time of year brings such exciting opportunities for our girls starting school in July. Most of these girls have been with us from either Playgroup or as 2 year olds. Their time in the ELC has celebrated their childhood and we are so fortunate to have partnered with families throughout their journeys.
We wish you all a wonderful and effective transition into your next chapter and look forward to many visits. Thank you for your contributions to our ELC community.
Centre Operations During Holiday Period
Vacation Care begins on Monday 1 July. During this time Henrietta Balnaves and Danni Capaldo will be running the centre. The school holiday period extends for three weeks with Term 2 commencing on Tuesday 23 July . Please ensure you have filled out your Vacation Care booking form if you require care.
I wish you all a wonderful holiday period as you spend time with your families.
Kate Mount
Director of Early Learning
Professional Learning in the ELC
The ELC is committed to continuous professional learning for all its staff members, building a supportive and engaged community focused on lifelong learning and ensuring each educator has the most up-to-date skills and knowledge. Watch our video below to see the rich learning our team members have experienced so far this year.
Save the Date
Monday 1 July: Vacation Care begins
Tuesday 23 July: Term 3 begins
Vacation Care Bookings
Vacation Care begins next week on Monday 1 July. If you require care for your child and haven’t made a booking, you can download the booking form here.
Please note that we have a three week break commencing on 1 July, and Term 3 begins on Tuesday 23 July.
Mid-Year Reception Transition Visits
Over the past four weeks, the Hallett friends who will be starting school next term have undergone their Mid-Year Reception Transition Visits. They have spent three mornings in their new classroom, meeting their new teacher Mrs Sarah Lane, and the Head of Junior School Ms Suzanne Haddy and preparing for the ELC Hat Ceremony. These transition visits are such a valuable and important process for the children, as you can see from the video below.
ELC Hat Ceremony
‘Congratulations! Today is your day.
You’re off to great places! You’re off and away!’
– Dr Seuss
At St Peter’s Girls’ Early Learners’ Centre we are committed to ensuring that any child leaving our community has a smooth transition to their new environment. We feel this is an essential part of a child’s foundation to their education. We aim to work in partnership with the new educational setting where information is communicated to the educators to provide a seamless transition for both the child and their family.
Next term, a group of Learning Community 2 girls will be joining the St Peter’s Girls’ Reception community on the Junior School campus. Many of the girls’ journey at St Peter’s Girls first began when they attended playgroup as a young toddler or in Learning Community 1. Over the last few weeks the girls have been reminiscing about the special times that they have had throughout their time at the ELC and the special friendships that they have made along the way. The girls have engaged in transition visits where they have had the privilege of meeting their new school teacher, Mrs Sarah Lane. Transition visits are extremely important for the children to familiarise themselves with their new environment, teacher and peers. It is also a wonderful opportunity for the children to have time to discover school life and begin to recognise new expectations.
The ELC children are formally welcomed into the St Peter’s Girls’ School Community at a school assembly and presented with a very special gift from a member of the senior leadership team. When communicating with parents and families of children involved in this presentation in the past they have placed high importance on the sense of community and belonging that this gives the children when entering a new environment. Children and families’ sense of belonging in a setting is strengthened by the transition practices that identify and place the child at the forefront.
On Monday 24 June, the Mid-Year Reception girls, along with a group of their peers and teachers attended the school assembly, another component in their transition journey to school. Ms Suzanne Haddy, Head of Junior School presented the girls with their special gift of a school bag and hat to celebrate their transition to school. We were thrilled to share this special moment with them and as you can see by the photographs the children were beaming with pride. We wish all girls a wonderful start to school next term and look forward to hearing more about their continued journey at St Peter’s Girls’ School.
Kirsty Porplycia
Assistant Director of Early Learning
End of Term Morning Tea
Thank you to everyone who joined us this morning for a special End of Term Morning Tea. The weather was spectacular and it’s always fantastic to see the rich connections being made within our community.
Enrolments for 2020
At St Peter’s Girls’ Early Learners’ Centre, we are currently working on our enrolments for 2020. As such, please advise us if you plan on making changes to your enrolment status, including not returning, or if you require additional days. Please note: whilst we make every endeavour to meet the needs of our families, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to accommodate every request as places are limited.
Should there be any changes to your enrolment status, please advise us in writing to Sarah Elliott, ELC Enrolments and Finance Officer, via selliott@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au by Friday 28 June 2019. Any requests for change of days or additional days received after this date will be placed on a waitlist.
Please also note that the ELC requires a full term’s notice from those who are not returning to the ELC in 2020.
If you have any questions regarding our programs, attendance days or any other concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Elliott on 8334 2271 and she will be happy to assist.
Kate Mount
Director of Early Learning
来自黄老师的信息
那些曾经熟悉的笑脸，
眷恋不舍。
但请我们别难过，
让我们快乐勇敢地去面对这即将到来的新乐章。
亲爱的家长朋友们，您们好：
七月，在这个令人激动的日子里，我们ELC的一些小朋友们将进入学校年中学前班学习，开启他们的新篇章。升学的小朋友中大部分从学前活动班或2岁就来到了我们的ELC。一路走来，我们很高兴能有这儿样的机会和家长朋友们一同陪伴他们学习成长，也很荣幸能有这样的机会见证了他们的童年成长的点点滴滴。我们祝愿小朋友们有一个美好的新开始，期待下一次的相聚。在这里还要感谢我们的家长朋友们，感谢您们为我们ELC学习社区做出的贡献。
从7月1日起，我们的假期日托班又开始了。在此期间，Henrietta Balnaves 和Danni Capaldo将会负责ELC假期日托班的各项事宜。此次假期日托班一共三周的时间。7月23日，第三学期开始。请家长朋友们尽快填写假期日托班表格并递交给我们的老师们。
2020年招生事宜：
如果小朋友需要离开ELC，请家长朋友们提早一个学期告知我们学校。如果有任何出行或者其他安排计划请提早给Sarah Elliott发邮件selliott@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au .
在这里提醒家长朋友们，3岁班的小朋友一周可以安排至少2天的日托，4岁班的小朋友一周可以安排至少3天的日托。如果有任何变化，同样可以给Sarah发邮件询问。
在这里，预祝大家渡过一个愉快的假期。我们期待在第三学期和你一同分享假期的喜悦。
Emma works in Learning Community 2 on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9am – 5pm, and Jade works 11am – 6pm every day in Learning Community 1.
Learning Community 1
News from the Stonyfell Room
The end of a term is an opportunity to reflect on what we have experienced as a group of people who live a portion of their lives together. There has been a combination of special events and the activities of our daily life that have excited, inspired, challenged and nurtured us. Some highlights were welcoming our Mothers and Special Friends for a beautiful afternoon tea event, and witnessing our flags being raised for the first time during Reconciliation Week. We were especially proud to be the first ELC to fly the Aboriginal Flag and it was a privilege to have Tamaru share his culture with us by performing a smoking ceremony and giving a Welcome to Country.
In the Stonyfell Room we welcomed a new team member, Miss Emily Downie, who has brought her imagination and creativity to curating a beautiful and welcoming space for us to enjoy every morning. We have watched with pride the children grow and transform, each of them bringing their unique presence to our group and, in doing so, giving us our identity as a learning community. We are so appreciative of what they bring to us as educators to shape our growth and transformation as well.
We will farewell six of our friends as they move across to Learning Community 2 – Angelique, Armelle, Barrett, Zoe, Maddie K and Maia. We will miss you but we are excited to see you move to a new stage of your life. We thank all of your families for what you have brought to our daily life. Next term we are welcoming new friends and another chapter will begin!
We have been busy organising documentation for the children’s Portfolios. This includes information about our research, our observations of work that has been done by the children, photographs and art work. We invite you to share these with your child and celebrate their achievements.
We would like to thank you all for participating in the life of our school through your interactions with us, your support and the time you give to us. We value our connection with you as a family and look forward to more conversations next term. In the meantime we wish you a safe and happy July, and we hope you enjoy our vacation care program and your time at home with your child.
Mel Angel
News from the Bell Yett Room
A celebration of us
There are mixed emotions in the air for the educators in the Bell Yett room and Learning Community 1 as we approach the end of the semester. We are preparing to farewell a group of very special friends as they transition to Learning Community 2, about to embark on their next ELC journey. Their transition is full of excitement and new opportunity, but we will miss having them by our side each day.
The last couple of weeks have been a celebration of ‘us’ in the Bell Yett room and across Learning Community 1. We have been reflecting on the huge amount of learning that has taken place over the past two terms and have celebrated our Gardening and Kaurna Culture inquiries and the connection we have created with Ferguson Park. We have reflected on our cooking and baking experiences with Miss Capaldo, dance days with Miss Sims and all we have learnt about emotions with Miss Brown and Miss Connolly. Entering Term 2 we focused on what democracy skills are present in our everyday, and what we can grow. Evident to us on a daily basis was the strong presence of awareness and respect our children have for one another, social skills key to creating a strong foundation for which to grow close relationships.
Educator alongside child, we have grown an inclusive and special family in the Bell Yett room. We have our own stories, our own songs, our own rituals and our own special and unique interactions. We know our children and their families, and we treasure these relationships. We have connections to Ferguson Park, the Kaurna culture and our learning. But our strongest connections, and what we seek the most, is the company of one another.
During our transition visits, many of our friends moving to Learning Community 2 have insisted that they will still see us during their ELC days, evidence of their strong sense of community that spreads beyond the intimate space of the Bell Yett room and across the whole ELC. We are ready to welcome a group of new friends into the Bell Yett room and Learning Community 1, excited to introduce them to our community and looking for opportunities to deepen our understandings of the strengths of a mixed age group. As educators in our ELC, one of our deepest values is to foster the feeling of belonging to community amongst our new children and their families.
The feeling of belonging is evident in our everyday. Upon our departures of Ferguson Park, we sing a song in Kaurna which translates to:
Hello, how are you?
Hello, how are you?
I am good,
I am good.
Where do you go?
Where do you go?
I’m going home,
I’m going home.
Last Friday as we walked back to the ELC, Spencer pondered the ‘I’m going home’, going on to confirm ‘that’s the Bell Yett room, isn’t it’.
Annabelle Redmond
Learning Community 2
News from the Ferguson Room
Democratic Participation – What does this look like in our everyday life at ELC?
Term 2 has provided us with a wonderful opportunity to focus our thinking and support the children to work together in a democratic way.
When we hear the word ‘democracy’ it can be hard to think how it correlates into early childhood.
We as the educators have been thinking about this value for a long time and it is often an area, we discuss in our meetings together when planning for your children. We live in a democratic society and being part of this way of life brings about certain ways of thinking and skills we can implement to be active citizens. Every day we are part of an array of democratic processes and for most of us these values shape our lives. Our ELC environment offers us many ways to explore democracy and to support your children to build on their skills that hopefully will support them as they move forward in their lives and through their educational journey.
What does this look like in the ELC? This term the children have been exploring and engaging with Ferguson Park both in the ELC and in the park itself. This is their passion and motivation and through this ongoing research together the educators have been able to support democratic thinking and action. For example:
Workings in collaboration with each other: The children have been working in small groups to create information books about Ferguson Park. The work that has gone into these books will be used to inform the creation of one book to share with the community.
Working on a group task with a shared goal in mind: An example of this was inviting the children to work together to construct one Wodli in the park.
Building the skills to listen to and respect the voice of others: Through their documentation of the park the children have been sharing their ideas, thoughts and knowledge of this space. They have been supported to take turns sharing, to actively listen and to think whether these ideas could build on their own.
Making group decisions: The children have been exploring the concept of taking a vote to make a decision and then to respect this result. The children have been building on their understanding of the rules involved in this process and the importance of making it fair.
This is a value that we place a huge amount of emphasis on at the ELC and you can see how your child has been involved by looking through their portfolio and reading their summative assessment also located in their portfolio. This is an area that we will be constantly and actively engaging with and we hope it provokes your thinking and offers you a chance to reflect on the importance of these values and see the lifelong skills we are developing every day.
Laura Reiters
News from the Hallett Room
Throughout the term the children have been involved in a range of ongoing projects, each one slightly different but all connected by the common thread of stories. The removal of the large gum tree from the Hallett Garden became a vehicle for the children to develop and share their empathetic and ecological thinking.
Through democratic participation, the children have thought carefully and selected the invitation that ignited passion within them:
- How can we remember the tree?
- Can we communicate to the tree and the animals that live in it?
- What language would we use?
- How could the tree and the animals receive the messages?
- How old do we think the tree is?
- What stories could the tree tell us?
Each question supported the children with opportunities to develop the skills needed to communicate and collaborate in a democratic learning community as they worked alongside their peers. The children engaged with a variety of languages through which they were able to create permanent memories of the tree. Through sculpture, painting, photography, dance, drawing and storytelling, they began to understand that art and stories are a way of capturing our memories forever.
Whilst we encouraged the children to return to projects regularly, to deepen their understandings, they were free to move between them, sharing and creating new perspectives. As the children connected with each experience, the thread of the story grew and a common narrative was created. This will live on in the story of ‘The Twisty Tree’.
We invite you to celebrate your children’s learning with them through:
- Entering our Atelier to see the memorials to the tree created by the children
- Asking your children to share with you the story of ‘The Twisty Tree’
- Sharing your children’s experiences captured in their portfolios.
This week we farewell a group of friends who are heading off to Reception. We wish them well as they continue their learning journeys equipped with the values and skills needed to be confident and involved learners. After the holiday break we welcome new families and children transitioning from Learning Community 1. We look forward to greeting them and you on Tuesday 23 July.
Nell Tierney and Leanne Williams