News from Learning Community 2
Literacy Rooted in Beauty and Expression
In our learning environment, literacy is understood not just as reading and writing, but as the ability to communicate, observe, and express in many ways. This term, the children explored these ideas through an inquiry inspired by the beautifully illustrated book ‘Planting a Rainbow’ by Lois Ehlert.
The book’s rhythmic language and vibrant visuals invited children into a world where words and images grow side by side. It became more than a story, it became a springboard for expression, creativity, and discovery.
In response to the story, children were invited to engage in observational drawing using real flowers, magnifying glasses, and high-quality art materials. This table, intentionally set up as a space of beauty and inquiry, encouraged careful looking and deep thinking. As children studied the curves of petals and studied the symmetry of leaves, they noticed the finer details of the natural world around them. Their understanding of both botany and visual literacy grew hand in hand.
This exploration didn’t stop with drawing. Children extended their thinking using a variety of expressive materials and methods. Using loose parts, they created flowers and compositions with natural elements. With light and shadow, they experimented using projectors to observe how petals transformed under different conditions. Through digital tools, they captured images, explored editing, and reflected on their creations.
In all of this, we saw the children using what Loris Malaguzzi referred to as the ‘hundred languages’ of the child – the many ways children think, communicate, and express themselves:
“The child has a hundred languages,
a hundred hands, a hundred thoughts,
a hundred ways of thinking, of playing, of speaking.”
This experience reminded us that literacy is not confined to written or spoken language. It exists in the way children arrange materials, tell stories with their hands, respond with emotion, and engage with the world through their senses.
‘Planting a Rainbow’ became a celebration of beauty, nature, and the diverse ways in which children make meaning. Through this journey, they learned that to “read” the world is to observe it with care, to respond with imagination, and to communicate with creativity.
Just like a flower, literacy grows when rooted in curiosity and nurtured by connection.
Laren Taverna and Monique Gannon
Pathway Ferguson Teachers
Congratulations to Caterina Pennestri on Receiving the 2025 EChO Award for Excellence
We are delighted to announce that Caterina Pennestri, our Atelierista and Pedagogical Coordinator, has been selected as the recipient of the prestigious 2025 EChO Award for Excellence. This honour will be formally presented by the Minister for Education at the Educators SA World Teachers’ Day Awards, taking place on Friday 31 October at Adelaide Oval.
This award recognises Caterina’s exceptional leadership and the significant impact she has made to St Peter’s Girls’ School and the Early Years Sector throughout 2025. Her contributions, including the recent Reggio Emilia Exhibition Mosaic of Marks, Words, and Material, have been truly inspirational.
We are incredibly proud of Caterina’s achievements and the way her work continues to enrich our educational environment.
Book Now For ELC Vacation Care!
Dear ELC Families,
School holidays are around the corner, so if you would like your child to attend ELC during this time, please click here to access our online booking form.
ELC Vacation Care will run from 29 September to 10 October. The ELC will be closed on Monday 6 October for the public holiday.
Our holiday planning builds and expands on the learning that has been happening across the term. Our Vacation Care leaders, Valentina Fernandes, LC1, and Catherine Jiang, LC2, plan closely with our Pedagogical Coordinator and classroom teachers so that they can implement engaging learning experiences that transition seamlessly into Vacation Care.
During Vacation Care, children are required to wear their ELC uniform to support consistency and continuity throughout the school year. Our ELC uniform provides a smart and cohesive look, simplifies the routine of getting dressed in the morning, and promotes a sense of belonging. Children will need to bring their hat, water bottle, and a change of clothes each day. A healthy morning and afternoon tea, lunch, and late snack will continue to be provided to children.
As ELC Vacation Care staffing and catering are based on bookings, please make your bookings by 4pm, Thursday 25 September 2025 (Week 10). Due to limited spaces during ELC Vacation Care, please book early! Late bookings and changes after this date will incur a late booking fee.
*Please note that ELC Vacation care is strictly for ELC-enrolled children.
Government Regulations – Personal Electronic Devices
Dear Families,
At St Peter’s Girls’ ELC, the safety, dignity, and wellbeing of your children remain at the heart of everything we do. As you may have seen in recent media coverage, the early years sector has been under increased scrutiny following distressing allegations in some services. We want to reassure you that child safety has always been foundational at St Peter’s Girls ELC, alongside delivering high-quality learning and care.
From 1 September 2025, new government regulations will come into effect regarding the use of personal electronic devices in early learning environments. Personal devices capable of taking images, recording video, or storing/transferring files, such as mobile phones, tablets, smart watches, digital cameras, SD cards, USB drives, and cloud storage accounts, cannot be in the possession of any person while providing education and care or working directly with children.
We have detailed more information here.
We thank you for your support in following these new guidelines and for your partnership in creating the safest possible environment for every child.
Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly.
政府规定 – 个人电子设备
亲爱的家长们：
在圣彼得女子学校幼儿早教中心（St Peter’s Girls’ ELC），我们始终将您孩子的安全、尊严与福祉置于首位。您可能已在近期媒体报道中了解到，早教行业因一些服务机构发生令人痛心的指控而受到更多审查。我们希望向您重申，孩子的安全一直是圣彼得女子学校幼儿早教中心的基石，与我们提供高质量的学习与照护同等重要。
自2025年9月1日起，政府将实施新的规定，限制在早教环境中使用个人电子设备。任何可拍照、录像、存储或传输文件的个人设备，如手机、平板电脑、智能手表、数码相机、SD卡、USB闪存盘和云存储账户，在提供教育与照护或直接与儿童接触期间，任何人不得携带或使用此类设备。
我们在此提供了更详细的信息。
感谢您遵守这些新规定，并与我们共同努力，为每一位儿童营造最安全的环境。
如有任何疑问，欢迎随时与我联系。
此致
敬礼！
Warm regards,
Liz Schembri
Director of Early Learners’ Centre
Important Allergy Reminder in the ELC
Several of our children live with allergies, and even small traces of certain foods can cause serious reactions. For this reason, we kindly ask that no outside food is brought into the ELC unless previously discussed with your child’s teacher. This includes children carrying food as they arrive in the morning. Our shared responsibility is to maintain a safe environment where every child can feel secure and cared for.
We greatly appreciate your support in this matter and thank you for helping us protect the health and safety of all children in our community.