Early Learning Centre

ELC Director Update

'But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.'- Ephesians 5:13

Another fortnight of learning has quickly passed us by and I am pleased to write how well the orientation sessions have been, and now that they are finished, we are blown away with the children’s resilience and bravery as they begin their educational journey at Bayside and dive into play. It has been wonderful to see both Mums, Dads and Grandparents attending the sessions, sitting on the floor playing, or digging in the sandpit, playing games with balls or going shopping in our dramatic play grocery store. 

Thankyou to everyone that moved their schedules around, we are grateful for you and your attendance to help the children settle in so well this year. 

The 3-year-olds have been introduced to new routines, toilet training, building trusting relationships with the teachers and educators and learning to interact with their peers. 

The 4-year-old class has been action packed with laughter, routines, outdoor activities and learning new songs and what the “Bayside Way” represents. 

It has been a privilege to witness our youngest students build relationships while their loved ones are at home, working or doing their “grown up things like paying bills” as one precious student said. 

ELC School Photos

ELC student photos will be taken later in the year. The date is still being confirmed with the photography company. When it is announced, the children will have their photos taken and you will receive a proof sheet with ordering information a few weeks later.

Important Reminder

Please return your child’s updated enrolment form and funded Kindergarten form as handed out at Orientation.

3-Year-Old Kinder

“Gail the Snail” is one of the ELC’s “Social and Emotional Puppets”. Educators use the puppets to explore feelings and emotions with the children, mirroring feelings that the children may be experiencing. This week as a group, we discussed feeling tired, as many of the children are adjusting to their first full week of ELC.

The group were also introduced to the parachute, and began by practising making waves. The children made little waves, bigger waves, and sang “Here is the Sea”. The children lifted the parachute high above their heads to wave one another under the parachute. 

4-Year-Old Kinder

We have been learning about the primary and secondary colours, along with shades this term. To explore yellow the children learnt that there was paint with different names which help to tell the colours apart. Warm yellow, Golden Yellow and neon yellow were offered along with black and white paint for the children to explore scientific opportunities and experiment to make their own shade of yellow. 

They then were able to label their colour. Pollyanna created “planet earth yellow”, Pearce “pizza yellow” and Audrey “Queen yellow.”

Rather than the teachers choosing paint colours, the children picked themselves and learnt the names on the bottles.  Levi chose “candy apple green” and Kaius asked for “brilliant blue”. 

Mrs Nisbet was teaching for Mrs Kidney on Friday and brought along very excited 3/4K students into the ELC in the afternoon. Many students had been past ELC students and were eager to reflect on what they remembered, what was new or what was here last time they ventured inside. 

It was delightful to see the students take on leadership opportunities and share their learning as they read to the 4 year olds a picture story book before going to play indoors and outdoors. Thankyou 3/4K for a terrific start to Buddies!