In this edition
Dear Families
I hope you’re enjoying the warm change in the weather. It’s a wonderful time to be out in Ferguson Park and the ELC Community Garden. Both environments provide a wonderful opportunity for children to engage with concepts of sustainability and responsibility. These areas have also supported the Central Idea for our current unit of inquiry ‘Our actions can impact our world’. It has been wonderful to observe the rich investigations that have been occurring and how these have been shaped by the children’s curiosity and questions. I know that the teachers are looking forward to sharing the children’s learning at the upcoming Parent Teacher Conversations. If you haven’t booked a time yet to meet with your child’s teacher, please visit the following link to do so: myLink Parent Portal
On Friday 1 September, we hosted the Father’s and Treasured Friends’ Afternoon Tea. It was fabulous to see this event so well attended. Building a welcoming and inclusive community where families feel they belong is a priority at St Peter’s Girls’ ELC. The pride and excitement on the children’s faces as they spent time in the ELC with their fathers and special friends was an absolute highlight. I thoroughly enjoyed engaging with families and observing the rich connections that were formed and built upon with this wonderful opportunity to gather as a community.
Liz Schembri
Director of ELC 
Important Dates
Tuesday 19 September, Wednesday 20 September & Monday 25 September: ELC Parent-Teacher Conversations
Monday 2 October: Public Holiday (ELC closed)
Tuesday 3 October – Friday 13 October: Vacation Care
Sustainability in Learning Community 1
This term, Ferguson Park has provided us with rich learning opportunities as we explore the Central Idea, ‘Our actions can impact our world.’ The Learning Community 1 children have been working like botanists in the park, researching the common and scientific names of the plants and trees. We have also been connecting this learning to Kaurna culture and history as we learn how Kaurna people lived with a sustainable mindset.
The teachers have created a book that highlights the actions identified by the children that can be taken to ensure the plants and animals will not be impacted by rubbish found in the park. They have used their knowledge of bin systems, recycling and reusing to help combat our war against waste. This has empowered the children to feel a connection to the land and develop their sense of responsibility to care for the world.
Nell Tierney and Jessica Catt
Learning Community 1
News from Learning Community 1
Learning Through Storytelling
‘The human species thinks in metaphors and learns through stories.’ – Mary Catherine Bateson, Writer, and Cultural Anthropologist.
Throughout the year, educators and children are witnesses to the magic of stories and their impact on our learning at ELC. Storytelling plays a powerful role in supporting and driving inquiry themes and concepts. It invites excitement, provokes curiosity and ideas, and sends messages for further thought.
Across Learning Community 1, children are invited to storytelling experiences each day through reading books and engaging at story tables where they can retell familiar stories and create their own narratives. Participating in storytelling develops early literacy skills and foundational pre-reading skills. Educators seek to develop listening comprehension, phonological awareness, the understanding of cause and effect, and the ability to predict sequence and retell a story. Engaging in storytelling each day supports a lifelong love for books and reading.
This term’s Central Idea ‘Our actions can impact our world’ was introduced with the storybook Not a Box. In this story, a rabbit uses his imagination to transform a simple box into a playful creation. Quickly, the story became a contagion for which children began using boxes and other recycled materials to design new creations to use in their play, just like the rabbit. The children began to see the possibility in everyday materials, and understood the materials could be reinvented and reused, rather than being put into the rubbish. We saw the connection with a storybook transform imagination and creativity.
Working with ELC teachers and our Atelierista, Caterina Pennestri, we have collated images of the children’s recycled creations, using them to create our own storybook ‘It’s Not Rubbish’. The book follows the same theme as Not a Box, supporting children to connect, compare, and make predictions in the storytelling process. Sharing our book ‘It’s Not Rubbish’ has been a powerful learning experience for the children in Learning Community 1. It has allowed them to see the outcome of their actions in their ability to reduce, reuse and recycle waste in a fun and creative way. The children have demonstrated a sense of pride in creating their own storybook, evident in the buzz of excitement each time it is read and retold.
Please keep an eye out for updates on our MyLink Homepage and notifications on the classroom doors for the official launch of our story ‘It’s Not Rubbish’.
Annabelle Redmond, Nell Tierney and Jess Catt
Learning Community 1
News from Learning Community 2
The Development of Our Ecological Identity
Observations taken during the early days of exploring our Central Idea ‘Our actions can impact our world’, provided educators with a broad snapshot of children’s prior knowledge. The children across Learning Community 2 could demonstrate an understanding of surface level issues such as food waste and why they need to recycle, but what was missing was their connection to and deeper understanding of ‘what’ they are trying to protect through their sustainable actions.
This gap in children’s knowledge inspired us to begin our frequent encounters to Ferguson Park. Through these opportunities of complete immersion in nature, children have begun to develop a strong Ecological Identity by cultivating ‘a love of place’ and connection to the park. As the term has progressed, educators across Learning Community 2 have noticed a vast difference in children’s knowledge surrounding how their actions impact their world and sustainability, which is linked to their new relationship with Ferguson Park.
During our encounters in Ferguson Park, children have been taking on many roles such as botanists through the exploration of different plants, ornithologists by documenting the different birdlife and hydrographic surveyors through the discovery and mapping of the different water ways in the area. Taking on these roles has further supported children to develop their ecological identity by deepening their knowledge as they have had to research, problem solve, formulate ideas and test hypothesises related to their natural environment.
Developing a meaningful connection with Ferguson Park through an ecological identity is vital as ‘obligation grows from love’. As educators, our intention is for children’s sustainable actions to be fuelled by their passion for nature, love of place, and connection to Ferguson Park.
Chloe Skoss and Laura Reiters
Learning Community 2
News from Pathway to School
As teachers, we always try extremely hard to find the hook, the spark that is going to create an excited contagion amongst the children, where everyone is eager to involve themselves and contribute. The Pathway teachers used the ELC Community Garden as the vehicle to support the children to have a concrete experience, which forced them to ‘take action’ and show their responsibility towards the environment. Whilst our aim was to have the garden as the hook, the children showed us that it was through making scarecrows to protect the garden from crows, birds and other living creatures. The children have immersed themselves in a rich inquiry understanding why scarecrows are in gardens, how to make a scarecrow, and mathematical concepts such as measurement and spatial awareness. We have made stories about our scarecrows’ lives and included them in our dramatic play.
In Early Childhood Education, teachers plan intentions and link them with learning and teaching outcomes. However, the true magic is when the children take the inquiry in a direction that is much more meaningful and engaging than we envisaged. Each week, we’ve received emails from families explaining that their child has spoken about our scarecrow inquiry, made one at home or found one in their local community that they wanted to photograph and share with their classmates. We have started planning our next scarecrow and have enjoyed the opportunities we’ve had to connect with families and invite them into the learning environment.
Kirsty Porplycia and Kathy McCabe
Learning Community 2 (Pathway)
Staff Spotlight: Elina Qian
Having transitioned from being a High School Teacher in Shanghai to becoming a qualified Early Childhood Educator and registered teacher in Adelaide, I have dedicated 15 years of my life to nurturing and learning with young minds. It has been a rewarding and fulfilling path, and I want to express my passion for this field to our ELC families and fellow staff members.
My journey into Early Childhood Education began in 2009 and since then, I have found immense joy in being around young children. The foundation of my career rests upon the strong relationships I build with them. These formative years, the first five, are undeniably the most crucial and essential period in one’s life. It is an honour and a privilege to work alongside these young minds, learn from them, and watch them grow.
This is my fourth year at St Peter’s Girls’ ELC and it has been an exciting year of growth and learning. I have had the opportunity to engage in various professional development activities that have enriched my capacity as an educator. In April, I had the privilege of joining the Reggio Emilia Australia Study group’s visit to Reggio Emilia, Italy. This trip was a remarkable experience, providing me with valuable insights into the Reggio Emilia approach and broadening my horizon to another level.
Additionally, in June, I attended the REAIE (Reggio Emilia Australia Information Exchange) national conference in Melbourne. This conference brought together educators from all over the country to explore innovative teaching practices and share ideas. It was an inspiring event that allowed me to connect with like-minded educators and further enhance my skills and knowledge. One of my aspirations is to become an outstanding Atelierista, akin to our esteemed Caterina. I believe in the power of creativity and artistic expression in early childhood education, and I am committed to developing this aspect as my personal and professional goal.
This year marks a significant milestone in my journey as an Early Childhood Educator as I transitioned from LC1 to LC2, where I have the privilege of working alongside Laura Reiters in the Hallett Room. This transition has been a transformative experience, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of this new chapter in my career.
A quote that resonates deeply with me is by Loris Malaguzzi: “Your image of the child is where teaching begins.” This quote encapsulates our shared belief that understanding and respecting each child as a unique individual is the foundation of effective teaching. I believe that every child has their own strengths, interests, and potential, and it is our responsibility to nurture and guide them on their educational journey. The more opportunities we offer children, the more possibilities they create. I understand that exploration and discovery are fundamental to a child’s learning process. Therefore, in addition to my prior research and practical experience in the field of the ‘Language of Light,’ I have worked with my team to seamlessly incorporate a range of pedagogical approaches and methodologies into our daily inquiries. These include the strategic utilisation of loose parts, the integration of digital landscapes, and the intentional practice of mark-making techniques. These diverse educational tools and strategies have been carefully selected to enrich the learning experiences of our students, fostering holistic development and a deeper engagement with the curriculum. We work diligently to create an environment rich in opportunities for hands-on learning, creativity, and critical thinking.
Early Childhood Education is not just a profession for me; it is a passion and a lifelong commitment. I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had for professional development, and I look forward to continuing to grow and evolve as an educator, contributing to the bright futures of the children we encounter at the ELC.
Meet Student Teacher, Luxi Luo
Luxi is a final year student at UniSA, majoring in Early Childhood Teaching. We are pleased to have Luxi working in the Hallett Room as a preservice teacher until the end of term.
About Me
My name is Luxi and my preferred name ‘Lucy’ has a similar pronunciation to my Chinese name. I was born in Northern China and grew up in a city close to Beijing. I can speak both Mandarin and English, as well as a little bit of Spanish.
My parents and I love pets and we keep two dogs, Summer and Winter, a few goldfish and a calico cat named Piggy in our house.
My Teaching Goal
In my upcoming teaching experience, I will make every endeavour to be supportive by embedding fun, engaging and playful learning in line with the Early Years Learning Framework.
I firmly believe that each child’s unique interests and abilities should be valued and extended to reach their full potential. Every child should be viewed as competent and capable learners to take control of their own learning.
I am looking forward to building genuine relationships with children, parents and staff members, and I will be making active contributions to work collaboratively with others when planning, implementing and documenting children’s learning.
Fun Facts About Me
1. I love playing the piano
2. I love travelling with my parents to different places in China and all around the world
3. I love tidying my house in my free time
Vacation Care – Term 3 Holidays
Vacation Care will run from Tuesday 3 – Friday 13 October.
Please note: Monday 2 October is a public holiday and the ELC will be closed.
Families must book the days they would like their child to attend Vacation Care.
To access our online booking form, click here
Alternatively, you can contact Wolita Harding via ELCVacationCare@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au
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 typical ELC days, children will need to bring their own packed lunch, hat, water bottle and a change of clothes. 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: As Vacation Care is staffed based on bookings, please make your Vacation Care bookings by Friday 29 September (Week 10). Due to limited spaces during vacation care, please book early. Any bookings made after this date will incur a late booking fee of $5 added on top of the daily rate per child.
Parent-Teacher Conversations
Bookings for ELC Parent-Teacher Conversations are open, and conversations will take place on the following dates:
Hallett and Ferguson Rooms:
Tuesday 19 – Wednesday 20 September
Bell Yett, Stonyfell and Pathway Rooms:
Tuesday 19, Wednesday 20 and Monday 25 September
There are designated 15-minute face-to-face time slots to meet with your child’s teacher. Bookings can be made via myLink and will close at 5pm on Thursday 14 September (today).
We strongly encourage you to book a meeting as it provides us with the opportunity to share your child’s learning journey and significant moments, and the documentation we have supporting this. From these discussions, future goals for your child may be created to ensure they reflect the perspectives of parents and educators.
How to access myLink for bookings:
• Log in to the myLink parent portal using your username (your ID number) and password. Your ID number was sent to you in a previous email. If you don’t know your password, use the link provided on the login page.
• 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 to 5pm on Thursday 14 September.
If you require myLink assistance, please contact the IT Helpdesk via helpdesk@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au or 08 8334 2227.
Upon arrival for your meeting, we ask that you please enter the ELC via the Hallett Road entrance, follow our sign in procedure and wait in the foyer to be met by your child’s teacher.
来自ELC园长：
亲爱的家长朋友们，
希望大家正在享受这逐渐变暖的怡人天气。这正是来到弗格森公园和ELC社区花园的美好时光。这两个环境都为孩子们提供了一个很好的机会，让他们了解可持续发展和责任的概念。这些领域也支持了我们当前探索学习的中心思想“我们的行动可以影响我们的世界”。观察孩子们的好奇心和提出的问题是一件美好的事情，也正是因为如此，创造了丰富多彩的探究学习。我们的老师们都很期待在即将到来的“家长与老师一对一交流会”中分享他们的探索成果。如果您还没有预约与您孩子老师见面的时间，请访问以下链接: myLink家长门户网站。
在上周，我们为父亲们和孩子的“特别的朋友们”准备了下午茶。看到这么多家长和孩子的“特别的朋友”来到这个活动，真是十分令人高兴的事。建立一个包容的社区，让家庭感到受欢迎和归属感是圣彼得女校ELC的优先事项。当孩子们和他们的父亲以及特别的朋友们一起在ELC共渡这美好的时光，他们脸上洋溢着的骄傲和快乐绝对是一个亮点。我喜爱和孩子们以及家长们互动，通过这样丰富的互动联结，创造了机会让大家凝聚在一起，形成了一个社区。
园长
Liz Schembri
Emma Huang works in Learning Community 1 on Mondays and Tuesdays from 8:30am – 4:30pm.
Car Parking Notice
Families are reminded to be extra vigilant when parking on Hallett Road, Stonyfell Road and within the School car park during drop-off and pick-up times. The health and safety of our community is our highest priority, and we ask families to park in a safe and designated parking space on these roads and neighbouring streets. With a constant flow of traffic on the main roads surrounding our School, and families and children present in this vicinity, it is crucial for all drivers to move in and out of parking spaces with caution.
Please supervise children closely when getting into and out of the car. Families are reminded to use the pedestrian crossing to safely cross Hallett Road and Stonyfell Road and model appropriate road safety behaviour. Please do not leave siblings or other children in the car when dropping off or collecting your child.
Ladies’ Night Out
Date: Wednesday 20 September, Week 9
Venue: Regal Theatre, 275 Kensington Road, Kensington Park
Time: Foyer opens at 6.30pm (movie starts 7.30pm)
Movie: My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3
Cost: $25 per person
Raffle tickets: $5 for 1 ticket, $10 for 3 tickets
Grab your girlfriends, mothers and sisters and get ready for a fabulous night celebrating the power of family and laughter at our ‘Ladies’ Night Out’ with the highly anticipated My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3. You’ll be welcomed onboard with a complimentary glass of bubbles and chocolate bar, ready to transport you to Greece with the hilarious Portokalos family as they embark on another antic-filled adventure.
Raffle tickets are available to purchase online with your tickets. Prizes include tickets to Choral Night 2024 and this year’s Carols in the Cathedral – waltz past the queues straight to your reserved seats with the VIP guests! We also have 4 x one month OSX Outdoor Group Fitness Training vouchers (each voucher is for one person and valued at $160 each) kindly donated by Susanna Parkinson (current Year 9 parent). This wonderful community event is hosted by The Friends of The Arts group with all proceeds going directly to support the many wonderful Arts programs Saints Girls enjoy. Join us for an evening to remember. To book tickets – click here
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
Thank you for your understanding.
Sun Smart Practices in the ELC
Following Cancer Council advice, our Centre has strong guidelines for sun protection, mainly on days the UV is 3 and above. Recently, the UV has been high for small parts of the day; therefore, it is important for families to be aware of the following. We ask all families to please return your child’s hat to the ELC, so our Centre can be prepared for warmer days throughout the term as well as Term 4. It’s important that children access the outdoor spaces and Ferguson Conservation Park, which requires children to wear their hats depending on the weather. Please ensure your child’s hat is labelled clearly with their name. Thank you for supporting our sun safe practices. For more information, please visit the Cancer Council website.
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).
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