Early Learning Centre
ELC 4
The ELC 4 children had the opportunity to assist the Year 9 students in packing the CarePacks with Purpose. Over the last few weeks of Term 2, the College community collected essential items for those in our community who need them most. All donations were distributed to theFrankston Winter Shelter and Transit Soup Kitchen & Food Support. The ELC students visited L block, where the Year 9 students led them to the packing area. The children walked around the room collecting items for each bag: soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes, toothpaste, sanitary items and hair care products. The ELC children and Year 9 students’ faces shone with joy as they worked together and assisted one another to help members of our community in need. In this wonderful display of active citizenship, the College packed over 1,000 care packs for the local community. This experience allowed the children to see themselves as active contributors to their world, working towards the biblical thread of Building Community.
The community connections continued with a special visit from the Year 9 students to our ELC. The ELC children thoroughly enjoyed playing active outdoor games, chatting and building relationships with the Year 9 students, and praying together as a group. These interactions provide peer scaffolding, where older students model social skills, and the children learn to interact with care, empathy, and respect. We look forward to more opportunities to build community throughout Term 3.
ELC 3
Our ELC 3 children have had a wonderful start to the term as they explore the important topic of feelings and emotions. Together, we have been learning that everyone experiences a range of emotions, including happiness, sadness, excitement, anger and loneliness, and that all feelings are a normal part of life. Through class discussions, the children have been identifying safe and positive ways to respond to big emotions, such as taking deep breaths, asking a teacher or friend for help, going for a run outside, having a snack, finding a quiet space and using kind words.
Our theme for this term is inspired by Psalm 139:14:
"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made."
Even as the youngest learners in our College, the children are beginning to discover the wonderful truth that each one of them has been lovingly created by God. Through their curious eyes, they are learning to notice and appreciate the beauty of God's creation all around them - from the tiniest seed beginning to grow, to colourful flowers, towering trees, birds in the sky and even the magnificent whales in the ocean. As they explore the world around them, they are also learning that they, too, are a unique and precious part of God's creation.
To celebrate this special message, the children created self-portraits using a variety of craft materials, including paper plates, wool, googly eyes and pipe cleaners. Each portrait was wonderfully unique, reflecting the individuality and creativity of every child.
Building positive relationships will also be a strong focus in ELC 3. Through songs, puppets, role playing and a variety of collaborative activities, the children will learn to work together, to share, take turns, ask, patiently wait and problem solve. These experiences will help to lay the foundations for empathy, respect, kindness, cooperation and a strong sense of belonging within our classroom community.
Amy Hu
ELC Director