Learning Across the ELC
From the Head of Junior School & Early Learning
If you go down in the woods today, you're sure of a big surprise
If you go down in the woods today, you'd better go in disguise
For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain because
Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic…
We are delighted to invite all Loreto Early Leaning Centre families (from Gumnut, Wattle, Banksia, and Preschool) to our Teddy Bears’ Picnic, to be held from 2.30pm-4.30pm on Saturday the 26 March. The picnic will be held on our Early Learning lawns underneath the big oak tree, with access to our nature play space, sandpit and surrounding play areas. This will be a wonderful opportunity for families to connect with each other and enjoy our beautiful outdoor learning spaces. To register, visit: https://events.humanitix.com/loreto-elc-picnic
In the early years it is important children develop a sense of belonging to a community - knowing where and with whom you belong is integral to human existence. When children feel accepted, develop attachments and trust those that care for them, they feel safe, secure, and supported to grow in confidence to explore and learn (Early Years Learning Framework). We hope many families, and teddy bears, join us on this day.
A reminder, from the 7 March families with more than one child aged 5 or under in care may be eligible for a higher Child Care Subsidy (CCS) for their second child and younger children. Families may be eligible if they: earn less than $354,305 and have more than one child aged 5 or under in childcare. For more information, please visit the Services Australia website. https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/your-number-children-care-can-affect-your-child-care-subsidy?context=41186
This week we warmly welcomed our new nurse, Alice Graljuk, to the College. Alice runs our Health Care Centre, located in the Junior School, during school hours. Alice is a Registered Nurse with extensive experience working at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Alice will be contacting ELC families to request updated vaccination records, to discuss medical health plans when necessary, and to inform parents if their child is unwell.
We wish all families a fabulous long weekend!
Ms Marika Snell
Head of Junior School & Early Learning
Preschool Blue: They all saw a cat
As part of our Inquiry this term we have been exploring our Identity.
Preschool Blue have been exploring the concept of perspective and uniqueness. We read the story ‘They All Saw a Cat’ by Brendan Wenzel. This story explores what a cat might look like from the perspectives of various animals' and their points of view. We used this story as a platform to lead a discussion about how we all see each other and things differently, and that’s ok. We all do things differently, and that’s ok too.
Leading from this the children were encouraged to draw their own cats. We then used our drawings to create our own version of the story.
The next day we looked at our drawings and acknowledged that while they were all different, they were all still cats. This is because everyone is different, everybody draws differently, thinks differently, has different strengths and this is what makes us special.
We did this experience once more but this time we all drew Ms Christou. We then used the children’s drawings to create another book called ‘They all saw Ms Christou’, modelled from our original story ‘They all saw a cat’.
Our story is included for your enjoyment below.
Ms Amanda Lee
Early Learning Teacher