ELC
Our Wattle and Eucalypt classes recently embarked on an exciting journey into the heart of the jungle, thanks to a captivating visiting specialist The Drama Toolbox. Through imaginative play and movement, our young explorers transformed into jaguars, monkeys, and macaws, and other fascinating jungle creatures. This immersive experience not only sparked their creativity but also fostered teamwork, empathy, and a deeper appreciation for the natural world. The experience filled the Piazza with joy and laughter!
As part of the Round Square 100 Mile Challenge, our learners engaged in a collaborative threading activity using bottle caps and other recycled materials. This hands-on project not only contributed to our collective goal of representing 100 miles but also promoted environmental awareness and teamwork among the children. By repurposing everyday items, students learned the value of sustainability and creative problem-solving, aligning with the principles of the Round Square IDEALS.
We are thrilled to announce the launch of our Pre-Prep Nature Program! A heartfelt thank you to all the parents who attended our recent information session. Your support and enthusiasm are greatly appreciated. This program offers children regular opportunities to explore and learn in natural environments, fostering curiosity and a deep connection with the world around them. Engaging with nature has been shown to enhance children's physical health, cognitive development, emotional resilience, and social skills. We look forward to the adventures and growth this program will bring to our young learners at the ELC.
Yours in Partnership,
Katarina Hills
Director of Early Learning Centre
Banksia
The Banksia class continues their exciting journey across Australia! After exploring, Victoria, South Australia, we’ve now headed west to discover the wonders of Western Australia.
Through An Amazing Australian Road Trip, the children are learning about famous landmarks and unique places across the country. They’ve been full of questions and ideas, sharing what they know and imagining what it would be like to visit these amazing spots.
A couple of weeks ago, the children created the Twelve Apostles out of clay, bringing one of Victoria’s most iconic landmarks to life. They loved shaping the formations, engaging in sensory play while deepening their understanding of our natural environment.
More recently, we made a beautiful collaborative grape tree inspired by the Barossa Valley. Each child painted a bunch of grapes using cork stamps and added it to our class tree. This creative task supported fine motor skills, pattern recognition, and early numeracy as they practised backward counting from 5 to 1.
We’re now excited to continue our adventure through Western Australia, discovering its unique animals, landscapes, and culture through more fun and engaging activities!
K3 Eucalypt
Exploring Emotions Together
As part of our inquiry topic on feelings, the children in Eucalypt were invited to draw their own faces, expressing how they feel, and then stick them onto ice cream sticks. The children drew different emotions like happy, sad, excited, or silly.
We will be using these face sticks each day as part of our morning feelings check-in. The children will place their stick into a labeled cup that best represents how they're feeling that day. This helps build emotional awareness and encourages self-expression.
It’s a wonderful way to help our children to understand and communicate their emotions and they had so much fun making their own “feeling faces”!
Moreover, the children were also invited to the art and craft table, using all blue and yellow resources to express their learning on this topic, which will be displayed and placed in the classroom to fill up the sad/blue jar.
Andrea Kartika and Sofia Bisht