Glen Education Murrumbeena 

Sustainability, Wellbeing and Belonging 

Vibha Jain, Early Childhood Teacher and Sally Vega, Early Childhood Educator

The term 2 Newsletter focuses on Sustainability and Supporting Children's Wellbeing, Belonging and Positive Relationships. Glen Education’s philosophy on sustainability and children's wellbeing, belonging and positive relationships, is deeply embedded in our early childhood programs. 

"We are aiming to instill in children a love of the natural world." 

We teach children daily about caring for our land, the trees, and plants in the yard. We remind them not to tread on the plants, to keep watering them and discuss how we will soon begin planting seeds in the veggie patch. 

Another very important area of the curriculum is the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in Australia, their language and cultural practices.  In the spirit of recognition and reconciliation, Glen Education acknowledges the traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We respect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture as a source of strength to children, families and communities. (Glen Education Strategic Plan 2025-2029- Our Purpose)  

Focusing on Sustainability 

This term, the children have demonstrated an interest in rainbows and different colours. They have listened to an indigenous Dreamtime story called; “How the Birds Got Their Colours” by Mary Albert. In the story, all birds were black until a dove was injured. He had a swollen foot which burst open, releasing the colours onto the other birds. The children have shown an interest in learning about birds and animals which live in trees. Our focus on birds has been teacher led through planning interesting and engaging experiences for the children, in addition to following children’s interests. This can result in learning following a different path, but as it reflects children’s voices and is what they want to learn, it is very important to include it. They examined a real bird’s nest and used natural materials to create their own. Some of the children wanted to make birds for their nest. Their creativity was sparked after listening to how the birds got their colours and they used brightly coloured feathers to decorate their birds. What is interesting and rewarding is to observe the different ways that children demonstrate their learning and creativity in different ways. One boy was not interested in creating a colourful bird, preferring to use the natural materials to form a bird’s body and add the features with a pencil.  

In the following weeks, the children will be introduced to a variety of Australian birds and learn about the quirky habits of the magpie and bowerbird that collect unusual objects to attract a mate. Recently, the children explored the outdoor area carefully as they looked for bugs. They used a magnifying glass to observe the characteristics of the insects they found and discovered that there are many areas within the outdoor space with a variety of bugs. They had to consider where insects may hide from predators in order to find them. The children were excited to find ants, a moth and a small flying insect hiding under a leaf. Being immersed in this natural setting encourages children to explore, discover and understand how important the natural world is to people’s wellbeing.  

National Quality Standards  

Quality Area 6: Collaborative partnerships with families and communities  

6.1 Supportive relationships with families  

Respectful relationships with families are developed and maintained, and families are supported in their parenting role. 

The Jar of Happiness and Kindness

At kindergarten, we have been exploring emotions, wellbeing, and positive relationships through our Jar of Happiness and Kindness project. This inquiry began after reading “The Jar of Happiness”, a story that encouraged children to think deeply about what happiness means and where it comes from. 

During group discussions, the children explored the story’s message that happiness is not found in objects, but in the people, experiences, and relationships that surround us. Children shared their own ideas about what makes them feel happy, safe, and connected. These conversations led to the introduction of our own Jar of Happiness and Kindness. 

Each day, children are encouraged to contribute happy memories, acts of kindness, positive observations, and encouraging messages for their peers. Together, we are creating a collection of positive experiences that celebrate friendship, positivity, and a sense of belonging. Once the jar is full, we will celebrate this achievement as a group. The children are very excited about contributing to the jar and recognising the positive actions of others. 

This project aligns closely with one of our curriculum goals of supporting children's social and emotional wellbeing, promoting kindness, and fostering a culture of inclusion and participation. Through intentional teaching and ongoing reflection, we are supporting children to recognise emotions, build empathy, and develop positive relationships with others. 

Children’s voices have been central to this project. 

They have enthusiastically shared ideas about how they can help others feel happy, how they show kindness, and how they can look and spread positivity throughout the day. 

Some of the children's contributions include: 

Noah: “I love kindergarten.” 

Amber: “Bobby helped me build a castle in the sandpit.” 

Ryder: “I like coming to the kindergarten.” 

Grace regularly checks with the teachers how she can help with tidying up and supporting others. 

These special messages are written on sticky notes and added to the jar which allows children to see how their words and actions contribute to a positive and caring environment. 

We have reflected on how children respond to opportunities to recognise kindness and express their emotions. We have also observed increased confidence in sharing feelings, stronger peer relationships, and a growing awareness of how small acts of kindness can positively impact others. 

Through this project, children are developing the skills, dispositions, and understandings that support kindness, positivity, respectful relationships, and a strong sense of belonging within our kindergarten community. 

Links to EYLF Outcomes 1, 2, 3, 5 and Quality Area 1, Educational Program and Practice. 

We hope you enjoy reading some of the learning experiences and projects that have inspired the children this term.