News from Learning Community 1
Celebrating a Wonderful Term
As we come to the end of Term 2, we would like to take a moment to reflect on the wonderful learning, growth, and connections that have taken place throughout our community. Throughout the term, children have explored how communities are built through communication, collaboration, and shared experiences, guided by our central idea: “Community can grow through communication, shared ideas, and coming together.”
Through our Reggio Emilia-inspired approach, children have explored what it means to belong to a community and how relationships are strengthened through listening, sharing, and collaboration. One of the highlights of our term has been gathering around our fires, which have provided a meaningful space for connection. These experiences encouraged children to demonstrate courage as they shared stories, ideas, questions, and experiences with their peers while also developing their capacity to listen respectfully to others.
The children have embraced their role as curious and inquisitive researchers, exploring the world around them with enthusiasm and wonder. Our regular visits to Ferguson Park provided rich opportunities for children to investigate the natural environment, collect specimens, and share discoveries with one another. These experiences sparked many questions and theories, which we continued to explore back at the ELC through observation, discussion, and research.
Equipped with research tools, children extended their investigations into the Community Garden, where they discovered caterpillars and other living creatures. These encounters sparked further inquiry as children closely observed, documented, and shared their findings with peers and educators. As part of these investigations, children also planted and cared for seeds, observing the changes that occurred over time. Through drawing, documenting, and sharing their ideas, they developed theories about what plants need to grow and explored different methods of supporting plant growth. These experiences encouraged children to think like researchers, asking questions, making predictions, and reflecting on their discoveries.
As the term draws to a close, we would like to wish all the children moving to Erindale every success as they begin this exciting new chapter. We have loved watching their confidence, independence, and sense of identity grow and know they will continue to flourish in their new environment.
To the children remaining with us, we look forward to welcoming you back next term as we continue learning alongside one another. We are excited to see how your ideas, theories, and questions evolve and where our shared inquiries will take us next.
Thank you to all our families for your ongoing support, partnership, and contributions throughout the term. We wish everyone a safe, restful, and enjoyable holiday break.
Liv Buttery, Nell Tierney, Kathy McCabe and Monique Gannon
Learning Community 1 Teachers
The Hat Ceremony – A Celebratory Milestone
There was a palpable sense of joy and celebration as our Pathway girls proudly received their hats and bags during the much-anticipated Hat Ceremony. This cherished tradition represents more than a transition; it honours the rich learning journey that each child has undertaken and the capabilities they have developed, which will support them as they step into the next chapter of their education.
This was a special milestone for our ELC girls as they prepared to take the next step in their learning journey. Joined by their Year 12 Prefect buddies, the students celebrated the friendships, confidence and sense of belonging they have developed during their time in the ELC. The presence of these Senior Leaders highlighted the strong connections across the School and the supportive community that will continue to guide them as they move into Reception.
Our Year 5 leaders hosted the ceremony with confidence and enthusiasm, while musical performances from Aimee in Year 4 and the Junior String Quartet, featuring Mathea, Grace, Ariel and Esther, added to the celebratory atmosphere, making the occasion even more memorable for our students, families and staff.
While we are sad to farewell the families leaving our ELC community, we do so with gratitude for the time we have shared and the memories created together. As our Pathway children move on to their next chapter, they do so with a strong foundation of confidence, curiosity and connection, qualities that will support them throughout their learning journey and beyond.
We look forward to hearing about their adventures to come and to celebrating the many milestones and successes that await them.
Liz Schembri
Director of Early Learners’ Centre