In this edition
Dear Families
You may have noticed exciting developments happening across the Centre. Our new Atelier space is under construction, the Stonyfell Room veranda is being updated and we are adding a reception desk in the foyer. These changes and additions have been carefully considered in line with our St Peter’s Girls’ ELC philosophy and the needs of our children and families.
We are very fortunate to have our Atelierista, Caterina Pennestri, at the Centre. Caterina works with staff and children to ensure engagement with creative materials and experiences. She plans alongside staff to support pedagogy and practice, and develops curated creative spaces within the learning environments. Our new Atelier will strengthen our commitment to children’s creative expression through the ‘Hundred Languages’. I look forward to seeing the wonderfully rich learning opportunities this space will offer the children. Their passions, creativity, theories and ideas will be nurtured as they are supported to discover, create and explore their understanding of themselves and the world around them.
Improvements to the Stonyfell Room veranda include a roof to offer shade and make this space more versatile and available to children. From the veranda, there is a wonderful view of our neighbouring Ferguson Conservation Park. These updates will maximise children’s engagement with this space and provide further connection to their natural environment.
It is exciting to see all these developments at St Peter’s Girls’ ELC, and I cannot wait to witness the children utilising these spaces and engaging in rich, authentic and meaningful learning experiences.
Liz Schembri
Director of Early Learning
Important Dates
28, 29 March & 3 April: Parent-Teacher Conversations
7 – 10 April: Easter (ELC closed)
11 – 24 April: Vacation Care
Tuesday 25 April: Public Holiday (ELC closed)
Wednesday 26 April: Term 2 commences
Friday 12 May: Mothers and Treasured Friends’ Afternoon Tea
Life and Learning in Ferguson Park
Where we are located at St Peter’s Girls’ ELC, we are in the unique position to learn in and learn about nature every day. Ferguson Park is central to our lives at the ELC. When the children and educators venture into the nature reserve, it is apparent that bodies, hearts and minds are engaged.
We have worked in collaboration with Kaurna elders to create rituals that are spiritual and meaningful as we strive to be inclusive of each other and to acknowledge, celebrate and embrace Aboriginal culture and languages. The children begin their excursion sitting together on the logs in a Palti Circle, sharing our Acknowledgment of Country in Kaurna and in English. We also share histories and stories in our Banbanbalya (meeting) and learn how our first nations people lived and how the land was their mother as it provided them with everything they needed.
We have many projects that have evolved from our learning and the embedding of Kaurna culture and language. These include:
- Gathering in the Palti Circle speaking and singing in Kaurna language
- Climbing the logs and carrying sticks
- Exploring the Wodli (traditional shelter)
- Feeling the hnum hnum (sap) on the trees and learning about its rich history
- Looking for evidence of animals and photographing bird and insect life
- Searching for kulu (koalas), learning that they sleep in the male trees and eat in the female trees
- Identifying and labelling the native plant species and fungi
- Understanding why native trees and bushes are grown and what food or medicine they provide
Our senses and thoughts are absorbed in what is around us. What we experience both individually and as a group has an impact on us emotionally, as we develop a love for the land so that we look after it for future generations.
Visiting and revisiting the same place means that the children notice all of the little things that may ordinarily go unnoticed in the busyness of our lives, such as:
- A tiny ant running along a log
- The edges of a gum leaf that has been nibbled by a creature long since gone
- A honey glass that was so plentiful a few weeks ago has now all but disappeared
- An abandoned spider web
- The rainbow lorikeets that keep returning to the same hollow in a flurry of feathers and chatter
This noticing of all of the tiny signs of life helps create empathy and a longing to protect. The value of caring for everything on the land is central to the way we co-construct our community. This is the most significant work we are doing together with the children in Ferguson Park.
Our ELC Twilight Family Picnic
It was lovely to spend time with our ELC children and families at our Twilight Family Picnic. Gathering as a community builds connections and adds to the rich tapestry of who we are. Creating a warm and welcoming environment where children and families feel a sense of belonging is central to everything we do. Connection and belonging are vital to establish a flourishing community and we look forward to continuing nurturing this throughout 2023 and beyond.
Thank you to our Friends of the ELC (FOELC) for the work they put into preparing for this event. It was wonderful to hear from Angelica Mesisca about the FOELC and what they do. If you are interested in joining this group and connecting with other families, please contact Angelica via 0434 832 127.
Parent-Teacher Conversations – Bookings Close Today
ELC Parent-Teacher Conversations will take place on 28 and 29 March and 3 April, and bookings close today at 5pm.
Last minute bookings or changes can be made via myLink:
- Log in to the myLink Parent Portal with your username and password. The username is your ID number followed by @stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au
- If you don’t know your password, use the link provided on the login page to reset it
- Once you have logged in and arrive on the Welcome page, click the ‘Community Portal’ tab in the top menu, then click the ‘Interviews’ tab and select the required cycle; you can log in and change your booking any time up until 5pm today.
If you require myLink assistance, please contact the IT Hub via 08 8334 2227 or helpdesk@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au.
Vacation Care – Bookings Close Tomorrow
Vacation Care will run from Tuesday 11 to Monday 24 April, and bookings close tomorrow at 5pm.
Families must book the days they would like their child to attend Vacation Care. To access our online booking form, click here
Vacation Care runs similar to a normal day within the ELC, led by Valentina Fernandes in Learning Community 1 and Alexandra Portus in Learning Community 2. Our days are filled with a range of creative, inquiry-based and hands-on experiences, using our indoor and outdoor spaces as well as our ELC Community Garden and the School lawns. Children will frequently participate in music, dance, picnics on the lawns, gross motor skills and cooking experiences.
Similar to a typical ELC day, children will need to bring their own packed lunch, hat, water bottle and a change of clothes each day. Due to allergies, we ask that you do not pack nuts. A healthy morning and afternoon tea and late snack will continue to be provided to children.
If you need to make changes to your booking, please email ELCVacationCare@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au.
Please note: due to staffing requirements, cancellations made after the booking period ends will incur the full day’s fee.
Mothers and Treasured Friends’ Afternoon Tea
On Friday 12 May at 2pm, we will hold our annual Mothers and Treasured Friends’ Afternoon Tea in the ELC. We will be celebrating Mother’s Day and the inspirational women in the children’s lives including mothers, grandmothers and aunties. Please save the date!
End-of-Term Coffee Van
The coffee van is returning to the ELC. We invite parents and caregivers to stop by and enjoy a complimentary coffee and hot cross bun to celebrate a successful first term:
Thursday 6 April
From 7.30am
ELC Hallett Road Entrance
来自ELC园长：
亲爱的家长朋友，
你可能已经注意到ELC的各处都进行着令人期待的改建。我们的新艺术空间正在建设中，Stonyfell教室外部与公园连接的露台正在更新，并且我们在门厅里增加了一个接待台。这些变化和新增区域是经过深思熟虑的，符合我们的圣彼得女校ELC的理念以及我们孩子和家庭的需求。
在我们ELC，我们十分幸运能与我们的艺术教育专家Caterina Pennestri一起工作。Caterina与孩子们和教师们一起工作，鼓励他们参与到创意材料的运用和体验。她同教师们一起支持教学实践的设计，并在学习环境中开发有目的的创意空间体验。我们的新工作室将通过“百种语言”加强我们对儿童创造性表达的承诺。我期待看到这个空间将为孩子们提供丰富的学习机会。他们的激情、创造力、理论和想法将得到培养，因为他们被支持去发现、创造和探索他们对自己和周围世界的理解。
Stonyfell教室与公园连接的露台的改建始于去年年底，其中包括一个提供遮阳的屋顶，使这个空间更多功能，更适合孩子们使用。从阳台上还可以看到邻近的Ferguson公园的美景。这些更新将最大程度地提高孩子们对这个空间的参与度，并提供与自然环境的联系。
看到圣彼得女校ELC的这些更新是令人十分激动的，我迫不及待地想看到孩子们利用这些空间，参与丰富、真实和有意义的学习体验。
Liz Schembri
园长
Emma Huang works in Learning Community 1 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9am – 5pm.
News from Learning Community 1
As part of our focus on sustainability at the ELC, we have been engaging the children in our ‘garden to plate’ inquiry, developing their awareness of where food comes from and their understanding of sustainable practices.
This term’s inquiry has strengthened children’s connections to spaces within the ELC, including the Community Garden and growing spaces in the Learning Community 1 outdoor area. They have been involved in harvesting the tomatoes from last year’s crop, clearing the garden beds and pots, and preparing the soil for new planting.
The gathered produce has been examined closely, with children documenting their observations using markers and watercolour paints. The fresh tomatoes have been used for a range of delicious recipes including tomato focaccia, bruschetta and gazpacho. The children have observed how foods can be transformed through chopping, blending, mashing and mixing. They have explored mathematical concepts as they measure and weigh ingredients and consider shape and size. Following a recipe has developed their understanding of the written word and how it can be used to communicate. Children have also been encouraged to taste ingredients and food they may not have tried before.
Now that the garden beds have been cleared, we are planning what our next crops will be. The children have been making suggestions of produce and have been involved in a democratic voting process. We are examining the science of growing and discussing how the plants will need daily care, water and sunshine to thrive and grow. We are excited to commence the next ‘garden to plate’ cycle and can’t wait to share our journey with you.
Nell Tierney, Henrietta Balnaves and Jess Catt
Learning Community 1
News from Learning Community 2
Although the teachers in Learning Community 2 meticulously plan and curate intentional daily learning activities, we often find ourselves delivering the most relevant learning experiences through spontaneous teachable moments. Early childhood teachers know there is a specific art to ‘letting go’ of the plan we created the day before and acknowledging that sometimes there are moments throughout the day that can be seized upon to deliver organic learning experiences. These teachable moments don’t occur every day, but when they do, children enjoy such special and authentic opportunities to develop their knowledge.
An example occurred last week when a spontaneous conversation about children’s different coloured ‘plush bunnies’ was overheard, sparking a 35-minute conversation and mini lesson that supported children to further explore the concept of ‘uniqueness’ and multiculturalism. This conversation also encouraged children to think about their ideas through a critical lens to understand ‘why’ we are each unique.
Learning Community 2 friends Ariella, Willow, Qing, Emma R and Clara were overheard discussing the differences between their plush bunnies before our morning Banbanbalya, when they suddenly and excitedly came to the conclusion that even though their plush bunnies are different sizes and colours, they are all still bunnies! After further discussion, the children then came to the realisation that people are also the same. This realisation inspired us to lie down in a circle and reach our hands out into the middle, to closely observe our different skin colours and question why some people have different coloured skin. We discussed how our skin colours actually relate to where our family is from. The children then further developed their understanding of multiculturalism by listening to the storybook I’m Australian Too to understand how many of us have come to Australia from different countries, yet we are all Australian now.
Although this organic experience unfolded spontaneously, it tied in beautifully with our current IB inquiry into ‘Who We Are’. As we have celebrated Harmony Day, we have also been exploring our diversity in the ELC through a range of artistic languages to support the children to understand this year’s theme of living in harmony together.
Chloe Skoss and Laura Reiters
Learning Community 2
News from Our Pathway Room
This week in the Pathway Room, the educators shared with the children their portfolio documentation. We realised that it represented ourselves as an individual, but questioned where was the evidence of our friends in each other’s portfolios. We are keen for the children to see themselves as an individual within a group and recognise that they are a valued member of our classroom. We have been engaging the children in various experiences where we are collaborating, sharing ideas, challenging perspectives, problem-solving and learning positive social interactions.
We reflected on our self-portraits in our portfolio and wondered how we could include our friends. Henry commented, ‘We could do a group picture.’ We discussed together the difference between a self-portrait and portrait. We decided to take Henry’s advice and capture some class portraits. Organising our portraits for photographing was such a fun and enjoyable experience as it encouraged the children to work together to ensure they were all visible in the photo. Then, we printed the photographs and encouraged the children to draw their representation of the class portrait. Our inquiry is moving us from the ME to the WE.
Kirsty Porplycia and Kathy McCabe
Pathway Room
Sun Safety in the ELC
We have a Sun Safe Policy to ensure that each child minimises any health risks due to sun exposure. We ask that you support this policy by:
- Providing your child with a named wide brimmed hat.
- Applying sunscreen before your child comes to the Centre
- Dressing your child in the ELC uniform to ensure that their skin is appropriately covered when outdoors.
Children not wearing a hat will be required to play in an area protected from the sun. If your child has any sensitivities to the SP50+ broad spectrum and water-resistant sunscreen provided by the Centre, we ask that you supply an alternative for us to use throughout the day.
Appropriate footwear is also required and we ask that children wear sneakers or sandals that have a backing to them. For visits into Ferguson Park, long pants and closed-toed shoes are required.
Important Allergy Information
Please remember allergy awareness when packing food for your child.
We kindly ask you to refrain from packing nuts or nut products in your child’s lunch box.
We have members of our community across the Centre with severe food allergies to the following:
- Nuts
- Dairy
- Sesame
- Fish and shellfish
- Egg
- Banana
Due to the severity of these allergies, we are asking that you be mindful of this when packing food for your child. Please ensure food is safely packaged and/or contained.
If you have any questions, please see your child’s Room Teacher. We appreciate your cooperation in keeping our community safe.
COVID-19 Information
Please find the latest guidance from SA Health:
- It is strongly recommended that students stay home if they have cold or flu-like symptoms, and test for COVID-19.
- Whether they receive a positive or negative result, they should stay home until symptoms subside (usually five to seven days).
- It is strongly recommended that parents/guardians inform the School if a student is a close contact. For further advice regarding close contacts, click here
If your child tests positive to COVID-19, please notify the School. Please also notify the School each day of absence, or provide the expected period of absence.
You can notify us via one of the following methods. Please include the name of the ELC Room. If emailing, feel free to ‘CC’ the teacher/s of the room as well.
Email: attendance@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au
Text: 0428 601 957 (save to phone contacts as SPGS)
Phone: 8334 2200
If children are displaying symptoms, it is mandatory that we send them home. SA Health guidelines advise that symptoms include:
- Fever (a temperature of 37.5˚C or higher) or chills
- Cough
- Loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Tiredness (fatigue)
- Runny or blocked nose
- Shortness of breath (difficulty breathing)
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea
- Headache
- Muscle or joint pain
- Loss of appetite
For more SA Health information, click here
Please note that if your child is unwell, they should remain home until they have recovered, irrespective of the illness.
Find Out What Happens Throughout the Day at ELC
myLink is our School’s parent portal, where families have access to a range of resources including the ELC Home Page. Our ELC Home Page is a dynamic online sharing space that invites you to participate in our learning. We use this tool to house important information for families and provide a window into your child’s life at the ELC, with educators sharing documentation of teaching, specialist lessons and spontaneous moments.
This page can also be accessed through your smartphone, via the Canvas App.
Accessing myLink for the first time:
Each parent has an individual username to access our myLink Parent Portal. Please note that the username is your ID number followed by @stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au Your ID number has been provided to you in an email from the School If you have not accessed myLink before or have forgotten your password, please follow these steps:
- Visit https://mylink.stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au
- Sign in with your parent username
- Click on ‘Forgot my password’
- Make sure the ‘email’ address is your parent username, type in the code, then click the blue ‘Next’ button
- Enter your mobile number registered with the School, with the area code (Australia is +61), dropping the 0 at the beginning (e.g. +61 400000000). Then select ‘Text’
- Enter the security code sent to your mobile number
- Enter the password you would like to use and click ‘Finish’
- Return to the login screen at https://mylink.stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au to access myLink
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)
Accessing the Canvas Parent App for the first time:
- Ensure you have previously logged in to myLink on a PC
- Download the Canvas Parent App from your App Store
- Click the ‘Find School’ button
- Look up: stpetersgirls
- Log in using your parent username and password
- Tap on ‘ELC 2023’
- Click on ‘Front Page’ on the top right-hand side
- Here, you can navigate the page through the app
Please note: we do not use the message feature on this app, and ask families to contact their child’s teacher via email rather than this message feature.
If you have any issues accessing or navigating myLink, please contact our IT Hub 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
If your child will not be attending ELC due to illness or otherwise, please notify the School via one of the following methods and include the name of the ELC Room.
If emailing, feel free to ‘CC’ the teacher/s of the room as well. Please also provide a reason for the absence as the School requires this for government reporting purposes.
Email: attendance@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au
Text: 0428 601 957 (save to phone contacts as SPGS)
Phone: 8334 2200
ELC Room Contacts
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- Stonyfell – 8155 5778
- Bell Yett – 8155 5780
- Ferguson – 8155 5776
- Hallett – 8155 5775
- Pathway – 8334 2250
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
As part of our approach to prioritising health and safety, we implement effective hygiene practices and work to prevent and effectively deal with any infectious disease in line with the Education and Care Services National Regulations and the advice of health experts. If your child has one of the following, chickenpox, measles, rubella, meningococcal or tuberculosis or any other vaccine preventable diseases we ask that you inform the Centre as soon as possible.