Welcome to Term 2!
Dear Families,
We warmly welcome you back to Term 2 of the School year. We hope this message finds you well and refreshed after a rejuvenating break. As we embark on a new term together, we are excited by the journey of discovery, growth and connection that lies ahead and look forward to reconnecting with each of our ELC families.
This Term, we farewell Rachel Li, who is moving to the United States with her family. Whilst we are sad to see Rachel leave, we wish her and her family every happiness in their new adventure.
We are also delighted to welcome several new staff members to our ELC community:
- Jean Sia will be joining the Bell Yett room as a Co-educator, replacing Rachel Li. Jean brings a wealth of knowledge and skills gained through her experience across both the health and education sectors.
- Grace Smyth has joined Learning Community 1 as a Co-educator on Thursdays and Fridays. Grace is a qualified Early Childhood Teacher who has recently worked within the Catholic Education and the Department for Education.
- We also welcome Aimi Edwards and Jing Chen in casual Co-educator roles. Aimi previously worked at Scotch College and brings a strong foundation in dance and the performing arts, while Jing is currently completing her Master of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) and holds a Master of Arts in Humanitarianism and Conflict Resolution, offering a global perspective to her work with children.
We are proud to share that St Peter’s Girls’ ELC has been selected to participate in the Educational Encounter program for the 2025 REAIE Landscapes of Collaboration Conference. This prestigious opportunity allows us to showcase our thoughtfully curated learning environments and the high-quality practice that reflects our commitment to excellence in early childhood education.
As part of the conference’s Mosaic of Marks, Words and Material exhibition, our talented Atelierista and Pedagogical Coordinator, Caterina Pennestri, will serve as the Integrity Supervisor. Additionally, Caterina, together with Monique Gannon (ELC Wellbeing Leader) and Elina Qian (Learning Community 2 Co-educator), will present a session titled ‘Walking with Us: Narratives of Collaboration.’ Our representation at the REAIE conference is a reflection of the exceptional work and professionalism of our staff.
Term 2: Unit of Inquiry
The Central Idea for our Unit of Inquiry this term is ‘Wellbeing can enhance discovery.’
Building on the strong foundations of belonging and connection established in Term 1, children are now confident and ready to explore, share theories and collaborate with peers and educators. Through observation, theorising and diverse forms of expression, children will investigate their world, strengthening both their wellbeing and their ability to discover new knowledge and skills as curious inquirers.
Photos
Our ELC photo sessions are scheduled for Week 2. Please take note of the designated dates for each Learning Community:
- Tuesday 6 May – Learning Community 1 (Bell Yett and Stonyfell)
- Wednesday 7 May – Playgroup
- Thursday 8 May – Learning Community 2 (Erindale, Pathway Ferguson, Pathway Hallett)
This year, the structure for photo sessions has changed. If your child does not usually attend on the designated day and you would like them to have their photo taken, please refer carefully to the information provided regarding times and processes.
Access ELC Photo Day Information here.
Mothers’ and Treasured Friends’ Afternoon Tea
We warmly invite you to our annual Mothers’ and Treasured Friends’ Afternoon Tea in Week 2. This event provides an opportunity for children to celebrate the special people in their lives. We look forward to sharing this meaningful occasion with you and expressing our gratitude for your ongoing support.
Celebrate Our Learning
During Week 3, we will host our Celebration of Learning. Families are invited to view their child’s portfolio and celebrate the investigations and inquiries explored throughout Term 1. We encourage you to join us in celebrating your child’s learning journey.
National Reconciliation Week
We invite our ELC families to join us in a special gathering at Ferguson Conservation Park during National Reconciliation Week. This year’s theme, ‘Bridging Now to Next,’ encourages a connection between past, present and future as Australians work towards reconciliation. Ferguson Park, on the ancestral lands of the Kaurna people, holds deep cultural, historical and spiritual significance.
As part of our gathering, Uncle Mickey O’Brien will conduct a Welcome to Country, and we are delighted to be joined by Kendall Fitzgerald, our former Cultural Liaison Officer. Together, we will go for a walk and reflect in the park, fostering respect and connection to the land and its stories.
Pathway Children Transition
As Term 2 draws to a close, our Pathway children will prepare to embark on the next stage of their learning journeys as they transition to Reception. We have planned several special events to celebrate their time at the ELC, including the Hat Ceremony on Monday 23 June. It is always with mixed emotions that we say farewell to our Pathway children, so we are glad that we still have a term of rich learning experiences, collaboration and fun ahead of us.
ELC Coffee Van
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the families who joined us for the ELC Coffee Van on the final day of Term 1. It was a delightful opportunity to connect, share a warm cup of coffee, and enjoy a hot cross bun together during the morning drop-off. Events like these offer a wonderful chance to strengthen our ELC community and spend meaningful times together. We look forward to creating more special moments in the terms ahead.
Upcoming Key Dates
- 6 May – ELC Photos (Learning Community 1)
- 7 May – ELC Photos (Playgroup)
- 8 May – ELC Photos (Learning Community 2)
- 9 May – Mothers’ and Treasured Friends’ Afternoon Tea, 2pm
- 12–16 May – Celebrate our Learning Week
- 14 May – New Family Welcome Evening
- 27 May – Reconciliation Week Gathering at Ferguson Park
- 2 June – Mid-Year Reception Transition Visits Commence
- 9 June – Public Holiday (ELC closed)
- 23 June – ELC Hat Ceremony, 12:15pm
- 24 June – LC1 Transition Ceremony, 2pm
- 26 June – Celebrating Our Pathway to Reception
- 27 June – Last Day of Term 2
- 30 June – 21 July – Vacation Care
Enrolment Changes
If you are anticipating any changes to your child’s enrolment, please notify Sarah Elliott at selliott@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au as soon as possible. This information is vital for maintaining consistency of staffing across the ELC, which is paramount to providing a high-quality, secure environment for our children. While we will do our best to accommodate requests, please note that availability is limited due to our extensive waitlist.
Thank you once again for your continued partnership and support. We are looking forward to a term filled with joy, growth, discovery and cherished moments with your children.
Warm regards,
Liz Schembri
Director of Early Learners’ Centre
Vacation Care – Learning Community 1
Easter Magic at the ELC
Celebrating New Life, Love, and Hope
This Vacation Care, Learning Community 1 was buzzing with the joy and excitement of Easter! Our room came alive as children and educators shared their special Easter traditions—egg hunts, time with family, church celebrations, and the ever-fun activity of decorating Easter eggs.
We embraced the season wholeheartedly with delightful Easter stories: Hunwick’s Egg by Mem Fox, baking sessions filled with the sweet smells of hot cross buns and cookies, and creative egg decorating using loose parts. The children even planted carrots in hopes of a visit from the Easter Bunny himself!
But the true highlight of our Easter experience came from the Erindale room, where a special project was quietly unfolding. For three weeks, a group of eggs sat incubating under careful watch. Children from Learning Community 1 visited them daily, sparking conversations and curious guesses—were they dinosaur eggs? Bird eggs? Maybe crocodiles or even frogs?
The Big Moment: New Life and Belonging
The big moment finally arrived: the eggs began to hatch, revealing tiny, fluffy chicks! It was a beautiful reminder of the wonder of new life—an experience that truly captured the heart of Easter. This moment also aligned perfectly with our central theme for Term 1: Belonging Supports Wellbeing.
Just like the chicks, who emerged into the world surrounded by care and warmth, we all thrive when we feel supported and connected. The sense of belonging not only nurtures our emotional wellbeing, but it also empowers us to grow, learn, and face new beginnings with curiosity and joy.
As we step into a new term, we’re filled with excitement about the new opportunities and fresh starts this season will bring. Here’s to more learning, growing, and celebrating the beauty of the world around us!
Valentina Fernandes
Learning Community 1 Co-educator and Vacation Care Leader
Vacation Care – Learning Community 2
Life, Colour, and Community
This April has been a month full of wonder, storytelling, and joyful discovery in our Learning Community 2 Vacation Care program. At the heart of our experiences was a very special event — the egg hatching journey, which captivated the children’s curiosity and imagination in the most delightful ways.
Egg Hatching Experience: A Journey of Discovery
What started with guesses — “What will the egg turn into?” — blossomed into a rich and meaningful learning experience. Inspired by the story Hunwick’s Egg by Mem Fox, the children made predictions, shared ideas, and closely observed real eggs placed in our incubator.
After three weeks of close observation, we are excited to share that eight chicks have hatched so far! The children were absolutely fascinated to witness the transformation and were thrilled to welcome the fluffy new arrivals. They joyfully decorated the chicks’ new home with soft hay, colourful materials, and gentle touches to make it warm and inviting. There was no shortage of creativity as they came up with a long list of name suggestions for our new babies — each name reflecting the children’s sense of care, imagination, and delight.
This experience offered more than just science learning. It supported our central theme of ‘Belonging Can Support Wellbeing’ by encouraging shared excitement, emotional expression, and community engagement.
Easter Traditions: Natural Egg Dyeing
Adding to our Easter celebrations, Miss Reiters shared her family’s tradition of dyeing eggs with onion skins and natural materials. The children were fascinated to see how nature can create such beautiful colours. Together, we explored textures, wrapped wooden eggs with leaves and petals, and watched the transformation unfold. It was a tactile, artistic experience that connected us to seasonal rituals and cultural traditions.
Storytelling and Play: The Easter Bilby and Beyond
Inspired by Mrs Young’s puppet shows featuring the Easter Bilby, the children were eager to craft their own stories. They built puppets, took on characters, and performed imaginative puppet shows filled with Easter animals and original adventures. These experiences strengthened their confidence, collaboration, and creativity — with lots of laughter along the way!
Storybooks, Playdough and Loose Parts Magic
Throughout the Term break, the children also created Easter-themed storybooks, shaped chicks and bunnies from playdough, and explored a sensory loose parts provocation with wooden bunny and egg plates. Each of these experiences gave them opportunities to express themselves symbolically, narrate their world, and deepen their sense of belonging.
We are so proud of the children’s thoughtful questions, imaginative play, and collaborative spirit this April. Thank you to all families for your continued support and enthusiasm. We look forward to more enriching experiences ahead!
Catherine Jiang
Learning Community 2 Co-educator and Vacation Care Leader
Join us for the Mothers and Treasured Friends’ Afternoon Tea
Dear ELC Families,
Join us on Friday 9 May at 2pm to celebrate the Mothers and Treasured Friends’ Afternoon Tea in the ELC!
Our Centre will be celebrating Mother’s Day and the inspirational women in the children’s lives including mothers, grandmothers, and aunties.
Make your bookings by Monday 5 May.
We hope to see you there!
ELC Mothers and Treasured Friends’ Afternoon TeaFriday 9 May2pm in the ELC
Warm regards
Liz Schembri
Director of Early Learners’ Centre
Celebrate our Learning
In Week 3, families and treasured friends are invited to spend some time looking through their child’s Portfolio during drop-off or pick-up.
At the ELC, we celebrate and document each child’s learning journey. The portfolio is a celebration of your child’s achievement, linking to curriculum frameworks and providing meaningful assessment for educators, families and the individual child.
Work samples, photographs, transcripts of conversations and reflections provide a rich insight into learning and involvement in our inquiry investigations.
We look forward to seeing you at the ELC, enjoying this special time with your child and celebrating their progress.
Monday 12 to Friday 16 May (Week 3)
The Piazza
ELC Reconciliation Week Gathering
ELC families are invited to join us during National Reconciliation Week for a special event at Ferguson Conservation Park on Tuesday 27 May at 9.45am, as we come together to celebrate this important occasion. We hope to see you there!