ELC

We are pleased to extend a heartfelt welcome to all returning ELC families and to warmly greet our new families joining the ELC community. The beginning of term one has been truly remarkable, with children adapting smoothly to their new learning settings. 

It has been a joy to witness the play and exploration taking place in each classroom as the children acclimate to their new teachers, classmates, routines, environments, and expectations.

We have dived right into learning with the K2 and K3 learning communities focusing on establishing routines and developing relationships with their teachers. Our Pre-Preps have enjoyed a visit from Seaweed Sally and had the opportunity to have hands on experiences with living and non-living sea creatures and have been collaboratively developing classroom expectations/rules to play by.

We are spending as much time outside as possible, please remember to provide an Oakleigh Grammar school hat (clearly labelled with your child’s full name) to be kept at the ELC and ensure you apply sunscreen to your child as part of their morning getting ready for ELC routine.

Yours in Partnership,

Katarina Hills

Director of Early Learning Centre

Pre-Prep Bluebell

The children have been actively engaging in an exploration of the ocean and sea creatures, building upon their recent experiences at the beach during the summer holidays. This inquiry has fostered their curiosity about ocean habitats, marine creatures, and the diverse life forms found beneath the waves.

On Tuesday, 19th February, the Early Learning Centre had the pleasure of welcoming a special guest—Seaweed Sally! This enriching and educational incursion provided the children with valuable insights into marine life. Throughout the session, they listened attentively, asked questions, and participated in discussions about various sea creatures and ocean ecosystems. 

A highlight of the visit was the hands-on experience with a touch tank, where the children had the opportunity to observe and gently interact with live rock pool animals. This interactive component allowed the children to develop a deeper understanding of different marine species, their unique characteristics, and their natural habitats.

Mrs Sally Cannon and Miss Enza Poci 

ELC:  Pre-Prep Waratah Group (4–5-year-olds)

Self Portraits

Each child used their fine motor skills to hold and control a black marker to create their own self-portrait. As they worked on their drawings, they engaged in conversation with each other and the teacher, describing their features such as hair length, eye colour, and the shape of their arms and legs.

This activity provided a valuable opportunity for the teachers to connect with each child as they begin the new year in their classrooms, gaining insight into how they see themselves. The self-portraits also serve as a tool to assess the children’s fine motor development. Furthermore, these drawings offer a snapshot of each child's self-awareness, and as their understanding of the world grows, the details in their portraits will likely expand as well.

Ms Kathryn McMullen and Mrs Ivana Momic