Learning Across the ELC

Preschool Blue Explores Symbolism

Our Preschool Blue children were curious about Shane Cook’s Indigenous mural in our Senior School campus and the symbolism in our Indigenous Garden. We also investigated the Burnside Council Indigenous artwork that features First Creek which runs through our College campus. They wondered why we didn’t have a Preschool mural, so we began brainstorming what our own Preschool Blue Mural might include, along with ideas for bringing the artwork to life. It was an evolving collaborative process that combined 2D/3D shape, spatial awareness, letter recognition, fine motor strength and control, creative thinking and problem solving. Children developed their understanding of land, rights, significant people in the History of Loreto, and First Nations people and culture, as they worked together in areas that sparked their curiosity. Our mural showcases Preschool belonging, through relational responsiveness and College connections. 

The connections represented on our mural included: 

Colours and Patterns of our Preschool Uniform

• Olivia: "Stripes on our t-shirt, yellow white and blue"
• Kai: "Yellow, white and blue stripes"

The Loreto Crest

• Willow: "Our badge"
• Mackenzie: "White anchor"
• Shelley: "Two love hearts"
• Sophia: "Letters"

First Creek

• Eddie: "Blue water, lines"
• Jamie: "A tunnel, water goes under the road. Brown." 

• James: "A circle for the tunnel. Black"

   

Mary Ward Statue

• Shelley: "Mary Ward"

• Henry: "She made this school"

   

Preschool Yarning Circle

• Willow: "The meeting circle"

   

PE 

• Scout: We can put sports day on there"
• Evaliah and Lillian: Ward"
• Dolly: "Barry"
• Shelley: Mulhall"
• Olivia: McGrath"

Music Class

• Edwina: I know how to draw music"

   

Chinese Class

• Neve: "Chinese, Golden"
• Henry: "Chinese New Year, Red is the lucky colour"
• Sophia: "Red and yellow"
• Doris: "Xǔ lǎo shī"

Flags 

• Kai: "Acknowledgment of Country"
• Mackenzie: "Kaurna Yerta"
• Lillian: "Ngaityala"
• Isobel: "Red, blue and white stars"
• Vanessa: "Torres Strait Island"
• Raffy: "Aboriginal flag, red, black and yellow circle"

• Lenny: "The Kaurna people, we share the land"

   

Fishpond Statue

• Doris: "A fishpond with a statue with Mary"
• Kendah: "Mary holding a baby"

Assembly/Liturgy/Buddies/Mass

• James: "People"
• Shelly: "In a circle"

Library Class

• Lenny: "Mrs Kirk sit on a tree"

• Shelley:  "I maked three books. One with letters and words, I make one with Aboriginal symbols and this one has love heart people. I got my name on it"

   

Our Dog Felicity (whose name they phonetically sounded out and wrote).

• Scout: "She needs to be furry"

   

The Preschool Team