In this edition
A warm welcome to current and new families to the St Peter’s Girls’ ELC Community. I hope you have settled in well and are enjoying Term 3 so far.
Our educators have been working hard to create strong relationships with each child, so they feel secure and connected. Our team is looking forward to working closely with all families to support their child on their learning journey.
Vacation Care was a huge success these school holidays. I would like to thank Alexandra Portus and Valentina Fernandes who did a tremendous job working in collaboration with teachers across the Centre so they could continue to build on the rich learning opportunities that occurred throughout Term 2. The children engaged in many wonderful activities such as music, clay, cooking, dance and so much more.
Since returning to the new semester, we have been busy as we have had our assessment and rating through the Education Standards Board South Australia. This occurs on a cyclical basis for all Early Childhood services. One of the things that the assessor noted when observing practice within the learning environments was how embedded the Kaurna culture is at our Centre. As finalists in the Narragunnawali awards in 2021, we are very proud of our reconciliation journey and the way that we continue to draw on our knowledge of Kaurna culture, language and symbolism to enrich children’s learning. This weekend I was reading about Early Learning Matters Week on the Early Childhood Australia website and the importance of learning through connection. It was wonderful to reflect on how supporting children’s knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and perspectives has a tremendous reach and impact. I found the below paragraph very significant as it aligns with our values at the ELC:
‘By learning about the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and experiences including the value of caring for Country and community, children gain a deeper appreciation for the importance of social justice, active citizenship and sustainability. This can foster a sense of belonging and social engagement and promotes active and respectful participation in shared efforts to build a sustainable and inclusive future.’
We are looking forward to an exciting and eventful Term 3 as we celebrate the opening of our Atelier, embrace the way books enrich our imagination and creativity through Book Week, as well as celebrating our Fathers and Treasured Friends.
Liz Schembri
Director of ELC
Important Dates
Friday August 4: ELC Coffee Van, 7.30am
Wednesday August 9: Meet the Teacher Information Evening, 6.30pm
Friday September 1: Fathers and Treasured Friends’ Afternoon Tea, 2pm
Wednesday 23 August: Book Week Dress Up
Joy at July Vacation Care
We created a ‘produce market’ in the ELC, where children selected their fruit and vegetables and served it in their ‘home’. We also set up a live food observation station. Here we talk about where food grows (above soil or under soil) and the children paint, draw and discuss what dish we can prepare during the week using that produce.
Learning Community 2 continued to explore the function of water and food through cooking experiences and using the vegetables from our Community Garden. The children were also thrilled to curate their own ELC restaurant and share their mealtimes and learning with Learning Community 1. The book Rain Child by Clare Thompson was the inspiration behind our inquiry into the function of water. The children in Learning Community 2 have been using the language of watercolours and loose parts to tell stories and create worlds. The Ferguson room was also transformed into a space for water discovery where children were invited to explore water and its function in the world through dance, meditation and art.
The children also enjoyed music, dance and yoga, which really got everyone moving! They also explored their creativity through paint and clay.
Our Centre is excited for Term 3, and we can’t wait for the next Vacation Care in October.
Valentina Fernandes and Alexandra Portus
ELC Co-Educators & Vacation Care Leaders
News from Learning Community 1
A very warm welcome to Term 3 in Learning Community 1! Welcome to our new families who are starting their journey with us at St Peter’s Girls’ ELC. Welcome back to our families continuing with us in the Bell Yett and Stonyfell rooms.
We began the term with an open mind and excitement for what the semester ahead has in store for our ELC’s youngest learners. The mid-year break gives our staff an opportunity to gather and intentionally discuss the remainder of the year. It’s also a time that allows us to review the new group of children and families who will be joining our ELC. We look at where their needs sit and how we can sufficiently assist these. Cinzia Innerti, an Early Childhood Teacher and Consultant from Reggio Emilia, Italy, tells us that arriving in a new place is complex. You need to refine your heart and mind. As we begin this new semester, we acknowledge the emotions of our new families as they experience many ‘firsts’. The first full day apart and the first few weeks in a new space with many new faces.
A strong sense of community underpins every aspect of our ELC lives, and a sense of belonging felt by all in our community is at the forefront of our practice as educators as we welcome young children and their families. We treasure that school is a place where people live a portion of their lives together, and we hope for our youngest learners, that it begins to feel like an extension of the home. This term, our learning and interactions will be guided by the central idea Our actions can impact our world. We will be exploring how children develop their understandings of how to build sustainable practices in our everyday lives to look after our world. Our early lines of inquiry will include:
- The purpose of reducing, reusing and recycling
- What happens if we don’t manage our waste?
- Reflecting on our responsibilities within our community, at home and ELC
Over the coming weeks, we will share our learning with you through conversation, documentation in the rooms, our online MyLink page and in your child’s individual parent teacher conversation.
Nell Tierney, Annabelle Redmond and Jess Catt
Learning Community 1
News from Learning Community 2
At this point of the School year, we welcome change and transition into the first few weeks of the term. We know that change can be a challenge and we, as adults, can find change difficult and unsettling. Some of us avoid it as much as we can; however, like most things in life, it is inevitable. How we manage change can really impact how our children manage change. We often want to smooth their pathway, take out the bumps and make it as easy as possible. We need to ask ourselves: What do they learn from this approach? What happens when we are not there to do this for them?
As your child develops and grows, we want them to build on their strategies and ability to work through these times and feel confident that change can be a positive experience and we can learn something from facing times of challenge.
Over the mid-year break, we have been embracing change in our Learning Community. The biggest change that has occurred has been the Ferguson and Pathway Room swapping locations. Alongside this physical change in spaces, we warmly welcome all our children and families who have transitioned from Learning Community 1. We are excited to build our relationships with you and your children. We look forward to working with you to embrace this time of transition and change and seeing the positive aspects and learning moments that will occur with your children.
Chloe Skoss and Laura Reiters
Learning Community 2
Pathway to School
Welcome to Pathway to School for Semester 2, 2023. As a part of Learning Community 2, we have created a flexible learning space to provide targeted support for children during the six months prior to their commencement to school. Last week, we welcomed the second group of children into the Pathway to School classroom, as these children will be eligible to start school from the beginning of 2024.
This semester, we embrace our new learning environment which was previously known as the Ferguson Room. The children have quickly shown us why the move was beneficial as they have had the opportunity to break into smaller, more intentional learning groups, maximise learning spaces and access other areas with ease such as the Piazza and Atelier. The children have quickly shown their interest and curiosity towards the invitations for learning within the environment and the opportunities and possibilities that lie ahead.
As a group, we have actively begun accessing the wider school spaces and it was a touching moment as our existing Pathway friends from last semester reconnected with their peers who have recently transitioned to Mid-Year Reception.
We look forward to working in partnership with families to best support your children in these six months prior to their transition to school. We feel privileged to be able to work so intentionally with your children and look forward to sharing the learning with you via our homepage, newsletter, parent teacher conversations and room documentation.
Kirsty Porplycia and Kathy McCabe
Learning Community 2 (Pathway)
Playgroup in the Atelier
This week at Playgroup, we welcomed many new families into the ELC and celebrated our current families returning from holiday. We began Term 3 by exploring the inquiry of Who we are and the children took time to look at themselves through mirrors, explore their facial features with playdough, and changed their image of self through dress up.
We also had the opportunity to explore the new Atelier and meet our Atelierista, Caterina. Caterina took the children on a journey to discover more about the 100 Languages and encouraged them all to play and learn in this new ELC space.
Kathy McCabe
Playgroup Coordinator
Tomorrow – ELC Community Coffee Van
The ELC Coffee Van is here once again tomorrow – Friday 4 August from 7.30am (Hallett Road entrance).
This is a wonderful opportunity to engage with the ELC community and enjoy a hot drink on us at morning drop off. We hope to see you there!
Save the Date – Meet the Teacher Information Evening
We invite you to attend our our Meet the Teacher Information Evening on Wednesday 9 August, 6.30pm in the ELC (enter via Hallett Road).
This is a unique opportunity to see the learning environments, hear from the teaching team about how we plan and implement our units of inquiry and gain a better understanding of the teaching and learning within our ELC.
We recommend parents/guardians only attend this event, as it is information based.
Celebrating the Opening of the Atelier
An Afternoon in the Atelier: Thursday 17 August, 2 – 6pm
Meeting the Hundred Languages in the ELC
We invite ELC children and parents to visit the new Atelier on Thursday 17 August from 2 – 6pm.
Your child will lead you through the Atelier space where you can explore the materials and resources together.
Our Atelierista Caterina and the ELC Staff will be available to support you and your child during this exploration of our new Atelier.
We hope to see you there!
Book Week Dress Up – Wednesday 23 August
We invite your child to dress up as their favourite Book Week character on Wednesday 23 August.
We would love for you to come and watch our Book Week Parade at 9:30am at the ELC on this day.
Fathers and Treasured Friends’ Afternoon Tea
Friday 1 September, 2pm in the ELC
We invite you to our Fathers and Treasured Friends’ Afternoon Tea. We will be celebrating Father’s Day and the inspirational men in the children’s lives including fathers, grandfathers and uncles. We hope to see you there!
来自ELC园长：
亲爱的家长朋友们，
热烈欢迎我们现在和新家庭来到圣彼得女校ELC社区。我希望从上周到现在大家已经逐渐适应了并开始喜爱上第三学期的学习。我们的教育工作者一直在努力与每个孩子建立牢固的关系，让他们感到安全、信任、联结。我们的教师团队期待着与所有家庭密切合作，支持他们孩子的学习之旅。
假期日托班在这学期假期取得了巨大的成功。我要感谢Alexandra Portus和Valentina Fernandes，他们与ELC的老师们共同合作，让他们能够在第二学期丰富的学习基础上有机会继续学习。
开学以来，我们ELC一直致力于迎接来自南澳大利亚教育标准委员会的评审团的考察。这在所有幼儿服务中都是定期发生的。在观察学习环境时，评估员注意到原住民文化植根于我们ELC日常实践中。作为2021年Narragunnawali奖的决赛入围者，我们对自己的“和解之旅”以及利用我们对原住民文化、语言和象征意义的了解来丰富孩子们的学习而感到非常自豪。
这个周末，我在澳大利亚早教网站上阅读了关于早教课题周的内容，以及通过建立连接关系在儿童学习中的重要性。令我感到十分重要的是，支持儿童了解和理解原住民和托雷斯海峡岛民的历史、文化和观点对孩子的学习具有巨大的影响。我发现以下分享内容非常重要，因为它符合我们在ELC的价值观:
“通过了解原住民和托雷斯海峡岛民的历史、文化和经历的多样性，包括关心国家和社区的价值，孩子们对社会公正、积极公民身份和可持续性的重要性有了更深的认识。这可以培养归属感和社会参与感，共同努力促进积极并尊重地参与性，建设可持续和包容的未来。”
我们期待着一个激动人心的第三学期，我们将庆祝我们学习工作室正式开启孩子们的学习之旅，拥抱书籍来丰富我们想象力和创造力，并庆祝我们的父亲节以及欢迎那些在孩子生活中重要的家人朋友的到来。
园长
Liz Schembri
Emma Huang works in Learning Community 1 on Mondays and Tuesdays from 8:30am – 4:30pm.
Child Care Subsidy (CCS) Update
We wish to inform you that from July 10 the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) increased. This means that most families using early childhood education and care will receive an increase to their CCS. In addition, families who were previously not eligible for CCS may now be eligible.
If you currently receive CCS and would like to know more about these changes, please refer to the following fact sheet Fact sheet – Do you already get Child Care Subsidy? – Department of Education, Australian Government
If you do not currently receive CCS and would like to know if you are eligible, please refer to the following fact sheet Fact sheet – Are you eligible for help with child care fees? – Department of Education, Australian Government
For any queries with regards to these changes, please do not hesitate to contact our ELC Enrolments and Finance Officer Sarah Elliott via selliott@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au
Late Fee Reminder
A reminder to all families that a late fee is applied for any pickups after 6pm, Monday to Friday in the ELC.
The fee is as follows:
$15 per every 15 minutes after 6pm.
We ask all parents to remember to sign their children in and out when arriving and departing from the Centre. This helps to ensure that we have an accurate record of all children who are present at any given time.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our ELC Enrolments and Finance Officer Sarah Elliott via selliott@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au
We thank you for your understanding.
School Health Centre Notices
Minimise the spread!
To minimise the spread of illness please keep your child at home if they have:
- received Panadol or Nurofen in the morning
- a fever of 38 or above. Children can return to the Centre 24 hours after their last elevated temperature
- swollen glands
- a continuous runny nose
- a sore throat
- a consistent cough without a doctor’s clearance
- been unusually tired or lethargic
- been vomiting or have diarrhoea. Children should be kept home until the these symptoms have been absent for at least 24 hours.
- an undiagnosed rash
We look forward to your child returning once their symptoms are cleared so they can be happy and engaged in learning.
Remember to cover coughs and sneezes with your elbow and wash hands regularly for at least 20 seconds.
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.
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.
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.
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