In this edition
Dear Families
As we farewell Term 1, I’d like to take the time to say how appreciative I am for our wonderful ELC community. With one of the smoothest starts to a school year, and children settling into their new environments quickly, we were able to give a greater focus to building rituals that helped the children to come together and become a group. This laid the foundation for rich learning and collaboration to occur across each Learning Community, which was truly incredible to witness on a daily basis.
This also had a flow on effect as our teachers and educators were able to maximise all learning opportunities this term from Ferguson Park, the ELC Community Garden and, in particular, literacy and mathematical inquiries.
We hope you enjoy our Term 1 snapshot video in lieu of updates from the learning communities. After a stellar start to 2021, our team is looking forward to continuing our learning journey together in Term 2.
Kate Mount
Director of Early Learning
Important Dates
April 2 – 5: Easter (ELC closed)
April 6 – 16: Vacation Care
Monday 19 April: Term 2 Commences
Monday 26 April: Public Holiday (ELC closed)
Vacation Care Bookings Closed
Thank you to our families who utilised our new online booking system for Vacation Care. As bookings are now closed, and Vacation Care is staffed based on these bookings, any cancellations will now incur the full day’s fee.
Cancellations or changes must be communicated via the dedicated Vacation Care email address: ELCVacationCare@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au or by phone: 8334 2265.
During Vacation Care at St Peter’s Girls’ ELC, children are able to take their time to explore their environments and build a deeper connection with their space, surroundings and co-educators. We also use this time to provide rich collaborative opportunities between our two Learning Communities through shared experiences and explorations, which allows our oldest children to act as leaders to their younger peers.
If you have booked your child into Vacation Care these holidays, you can expect us to continue our wonderful daily rituals which focus on numeracy, literacy and a foundation of deeply embedded Kaurna culture, along with our sustainable practices and a hands-on exploration of our ELC Community Garden and outdoor environment.
We will be sharing our holiday fun in the foyer displays, so be sure to take a look!
Henrietta Balnaves and Danniella Capaldo
Extended Hours Care Team
ELC Enrolment Requirements
Thank you to those families who have let us know your requirement for days of enrolment moving forward. We are currently preparing our 2021 mid-year intake offers and need to ensure our current families have their allocated days in place.
Please notify me via selliott@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au if you require additional days moving forward in 2021.
Sarah Elliott
ELC Enrolments and Finance Officer
Our End of Term Morning Tea
Thank you to our wonderful families who were able to attend our End of Term Morning Tea earlier today. The children love sharing their learning environment with their treasured friends, and our team enjoys having the chance to chat with you all.
Thinking Like Mathematicians
For the past 12 months, the ELC teachers have been working closely with Lisa-Jane O’Connor. Lisa-Jane is an independent consultant who works alongside teachers as they build mathematical understandings with children. Her role as mentor has been pivotal in building a strong foundation for our students, who are learning to confidently ‘think like Mathematicians’.
Lisa-Jane is hosting an information session for our ELC families on Wednesday 21 April from 4.45-5.45pm. This will be an excellent opportunity for families to gain a deeper understanding into how we teach Mathematics in the ELC. Having Lisa-Jane’s expertise in our ELC will provide another wonderful bridge to Mathematics at our School.
Please register your interest on the sign-in sheet in the foyer of the ELC. Due to space restrictions, we encourage only one parent from each family to attend.
Kate Mount
Director of Early Learning
来自黄老师的信息
亲爱的家长朋友们，
即将告别第一学期，我想借此机会感谢ELC这个大家庭。这一学年顺利开场，孩子们快速适应他们的新环境，使我们能够将更多重点放在聚集孩子，建立团队感上。 这为我们的每个学习团队的学习和合作打下了坚实基础，我们每天都能见证到点点滴滴。
这也映射到了我们的老师和教育工作者身上，她们能够最大化地利用各种教学机会，来进行各种教学，无论是在Fergunson公园，在ELC的社区菜地，还是每个读写和数学探究活动里。
在我们的各学习社区的更新之后，我们放上了我们的第一学期的精彩片段录像，希望大家喜欢。在2021年的优秀开端之后，我们的团队期待在第二学期能够继续保持着良好势头。
Emma Huang works in Learning Community 2 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9am – 5pm.
Staff Spotlight
With more than 10 years experience, Ellen has been part of Learning Community 1 for over a year and loves the warmth of our wonderful Centre. There isn’t a day where she walks in without an enormous smile on her face – as we’re sure our families have noticed!
What is your teaching background?
I have worked in early childhood education for over a decade, starting with four years at Precious Cargo before moving to Prince Alfred College’s ELC where I spent nearly six years in the 2 year old classroom. I’ve been happily settled at St Peter’s Girls’ ELC for over a year now. I can still remember walking into the Centre on my first day and feeling a great sense of warmth and welcoming.
What is your favourite part of working in St Peter’s Girls’ ELC?
My favourite part is the strong sense of community. Children are able to explore and investigate within their own community and connect with each of the staff members and their peers. This is something that is so important to me, coming from a very big Greek family!
Why are you passionate about working with children?
I love being able to see young children reach their full potential throughout their time in a classroom or learning environment. Witnessing the children in the ELC grow from the moment they start to when they finish and are off to school for their next chapter is such a heartwarming and rewarding experience.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I enjoy spending time and cooking with my family – as I mentioned, I’m from a big Greek family! I also love keeping fit and going for long walks on the beach. I do also have a very big sweet tooth (if you didn’t already know) so I enjoy going out for delicious treats.
Save The Date – Family Yum Cha Lunch
Save the date for our upcoming Friends of the ELC event, a family yum cha lunch on Sunday 6 June from 10.30am – 12.15pm. Details will be released early next term and places will be limited, so be sure to book in early.
The Friends of the ELC
Starting Reception at Saints Girls
Are you considering Reception or Mid-Year Reception for your daughter at Saints Girls? If so, we warmly invite you to our Reception Twilight Tour on Wednesday 28 April at 5pm.
Meet our Reception teachers, view our Junior School facilities and hear about the opportunities on offer for your daughter’s future education at St Peter’s Girls’ School.
Click here to book your place on the tour.
Find Out What Happens Throughout
the Day at ELC
The ELC Learning Community Home Page is a dynamic online sharing space that invites you to participate in the communities’ learning as it happens. We use this tool to communicate important information with families and provide a window into the children’s life at the ELC, as educators share documentation of teaching, specialist lessons and spontaneous moments.
Accessing myLink for the first time:
- Visit https://mylink.stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au
- To set your password, click the link located below the sign in section
- Your user name was emailed to you upon your child’s commencement (see Helpdesk contact details below if you cannot source your user name)
- Enter your unique user name, click ‘Next’
- Enter the security code sent to your mobile
- Enter the password you would like to use and press submit
- Return to the login screen at https://mylink.stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au to access myLink
- Several instructional videos are available via the Welcome page if you click on the ‘HELP’ menu tab
Accessing the Learning Community Home Page through myLink:
- Access myLink as per the above instructions
- Click on the ‘MYLINK HOME’ tab
- Click on your child’s name tab
- Under ‘Class Contacts’, click on the ELC room name (you may need to enter your user name and password again)
If you have any issues accessing or navigating myLink, please contact the IT Helpdesk via helpdesk@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au or 8334 2227.
ELC’s Online Etiquette Policy:
Please note that the ELC Learning Community Home Page and ELC News contain images and videos of other children. We therefore ask that you do not copy or share images or videos, especially on social media, if they contain other children.
Absences in the ELC
Student Absences
Please notify the School via one of the following methods for late arrivals/early departures and absences, ensuring a reason for the absence is included.
Text: 0428 601 957 (save to phone contacts as SPGS)
Email: attendance@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au
Phone: 8334 2200 or phone the relevant room as per the contact list below.
Please include the relevant room teacher when sending via email.
ELC Room Contacts:
Bell Yett – 8155 5777
Ferguson – 8155 5776
Hallett – 8155 5775
Stonyfell – 8155 5778
ELC Immunisation Policy
Under the Government’s No Jab No Play policy, families must meet immunisation requirements to attend the ELC and receive the Child Care Subsidy. Families are required to provide all approved immunisation records to the ELC. Further information is available by clicking here.
Children who are suffering from illnesses such as those listed below must be excluded from ELC in line with our Exclusion Policy:
- Influenza
- Chicken Pox
- Conjunctivitis
- Diarrhoea
- Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease
- High Temperature
- Infectious Hepatitis
- Measles
- Meningitis
- Mumps
- Rubella (German Measles)
- Scabies
- Scarlet Fever
- School Sores (Impetigo)
- Upper Respiratory Tract Infection
- Vomiting
- Whooping Cough