Building Bonds: How Friendship and Connection Shape Our Young Learners
Connection and friendship play a vital role in children’s wellbeing, fostering a strong sense of belonging and identity. Our inquiry in Learning Community 1 is naturally evolving to focus on the connections children have with their peers and educators.
Friendship and connection play a crucial role in fostering a supportive learning environment, which are key components of our six ELC pillars of learning and assessment, enabling deeper engagement, reflection, and growth.
We have created a variety of shared play spaces across both rooms to encourage collaborative, open-ended play, allowing children to move between spaces and meet new friends. As educators, we have observed many children forming strong new friendships, expressing joy when seeing a peer at morning drop-off and embracing each other throughout the day. These connections help children feel valued and secure, strengthening their sense of self and reinforcing their identity as capable, confident learners within their community.
Through these new friendships, children are also developing empathy and important social skills that will support them in forming lifelong relationships. While they occasionally encounter social challenges, we are noticing growth in their ability to use language and patience to express emotions and navigate difficult moments together. By fostering these skills, we are helping them build a strong foundation for meaningful connections now and in the future.
When the School Tour came through Learning Community 1 last week, our children had the opportunity to share with prospective parents the things they love most about ELC. Their voices provided an authentic insight into the joy, connection, and sense of belonging that make St Peter’s Girls’ ELC a special place to learn and grow.
Evie (3.2): My friends Max, Annabell, & me
Annabel (3.4): Sienna my friend
Maxwell (3.1): Mrs Subhani and Evie
Lillibet (2.9): Tegan’s my best friend
Juniper (3.3): ALL my friends!
Learning Community 1 Teachers
Kathy McCabe, Annabelle Redmond and Nell Tierney
Joy and Connection at the ELC Disco
On Sunday, the School Chapel was filled with music, laughter, and a wonderful sense of community as families gathered for the ELC Disco, hosted by our dedicated Parent Representatives. This vibrant event was more than just a celebration—it was a true reflection of the strong, connected, and supportive community we strive to foster in the early years.
From the moment the first song played, the energy was electric. The DJ, live musicians, and singing performances set the tone. There was pure joy in the children’s faces as they danced in a fun and relaxed atmosphere with parents sharing in the excitement. We extend a heartfelt thank you to Entertainment Adelaide, who provided the music and entertainment and made the event truly unforgettable.
After all the excitement on the dance floor, families gathered on the lawns to enjoy a relaxing picnic together. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, filled with conversations, laughter, and the simple pleasure of coming together. Ovo Gelato was in attendance, providing delicious and refreshing gelato—a perfect way to cool down after an afternoon of dancing.
Celebrating the Role of Our Parent Reps
None of this would have been possible without the incredible efforts of our Parent Representatives, who worked tirelessly to bring this event to life. Their dedication to building and strengthening our community is invaluable. Parent Representatives play a vital role in fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment, serving as a key point of connection for families within the ELC. Through events like the disco, they help create opportunities for new friendships to form and for families to feel a true sense of belonging.
We are deeply grateful for the time, energy, and enthusiasm of our Parent Representatives, and we thank them for their continued commitment to making our ELC a place where children and families thrive together. This was a wonderful way to come together, connect, and create lasting memories. We look forward to many more opportunities to share in these moments together!
Liz Schembri
Director of Early Learners’ Centre
ELC Twilight Family Picnic
At St Peter’s Girls’ ELC, fostering a strong sense of belonging and connection is at the heart of everything we do. Events like our annual Twilight Family Picnic provide a wonderful opportunity to nurture and strengthen our community.
Last Friday, the excitement was palpable as children eagerly anticipated welcoming their families to this special gathering on the lawns along the Chapel Path. A highlight of the evening was the ELC Acknowledgement of Country. Led by our Pathway children, this was a meaningful moment of acknowledging the Kaurna people, the Traditional Owners of the land, and recognising our shared responsibility to care for and respect our environment. It was truly special to hear all our ELC friends join in, embracing this shared moment of reflection and respect.
As the sun set and a warm glow filled the evening, families took the time to pause, connect, and enjoy each other’s company away from the busy rhythms of daily life. Laughter, stories, and shared experiences filled the air, reinforcing the strong sense of community that defines our ELC.
Cultivating meaningful relationships is a core priority for us, and we look forward to many more opportunities in 2025 to gather, celebrate, and grow together.
Illness in the ELC
In line with national laws and regulations, children are required to be fully vaccinated (unless they have a medical exemption). Children must be kept at home if they have symptoms of an infectious illness.
Please keep your child home for 24 hours after the following symptoms cease, to reduce the spread of diseases:
• Persistent coughing/runny nose/sore throat
• High temperature
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Fatigue
• Conjunctivitis/eye discharge
• Head Lice (your child may return once treatment is administered)
• Fungal infections (your child may return once treatment is administered)
• Hand, foot and mouth disease (your child may return once all blisters have dried)
Exclusion from Centre
Children with high risk conditions, as well as children who are not immunised, may be excluded from the Centre if there is an outbreak of a vaccine preventable illness.