Early Learning Centre

Enrolments are open for free 3 and 4 year old sessional kindergarten.

Enrol through Casey Council for Hillsmeade Kindergarten.

Long Day Care enrolments with kindergarten is through the ELC office.

You can contact the ELC or pop in for a visit for enrolment inquires.

Phone: 9704 6313 - Option ELC

Email: elc@hillsmeade.vic.edu.au

What is happening in the ELC

Our Learning

Reading	Children have been tuning into a story using the illustrations to guide them and predict what will happen next Clapping the syllables contained in their names Identifying the first letter of their names in its written form and brainstorming other words that start with that letter
Writing	Developing and strengthening their fine motor skills through a wide range of activities Incorporating writing in their play as they use symbols and marks on paper to take orders in the cafe
STEM	Developing an understanding of the concept of size, classifying items and identifying these as being “small’, ‘medium’ or ’large’ Studying the life cycle of plants and investigating the different parts of these, their functions and what they require to grow. To facilitate their developing understanding, the children have begun to plant seeds in glass fronted containers, which they will be able to watch grow, documenting the changes through photographs and drawings.
Inquiry	This term the children in the ELC are undertaking a new Unit of Inquiry, Our World, Our Future, which will focus their learning on how our actions impact the environment and sustainable practices Through their engagement in small world play the children have begun to explore different types of environments, including bushland, farms and oceans, enabling them to begin to form an understanding of what we mean by the term ‘environment’ and the link that exists between the plants, animals and humans that inhabit it.
Social & emotional learning	Reflecting on how the children are feeling about their return to kinder following the holiday break and how they spent this time Reading stories that explore different emotions and how the characters deal with them Listening to different styles of music and exploring how this makes them feel and moving to this

News and Reminders

Mother’s and Special Others afternoon

Echidna Group – Wednesday 10 May 4:30-5:30pm

Bluebell- Wednesday 10 May 5.30-6.30pm

Bilby and Wombat Groups – Thursday 11 May 4:30-5:30pm

Koala and Joey Groups – Friday 12 May 4:30-5:30pm

Celebration of Learning

Through dramatic play and engagement in small world play, the children have begun to develop their understanding of different types of environments.

The children have been planting seeds to grow flowers and vegetables. They discussed what the seeds need to grow and then read books that depict the lifecycle of these.

The children engage in early writing experiences as they take customers’ orders in the café.

Developing an understanding of the concept of size as they sort items into the categories small, medium and large.

Children explore STEM activities outdoors