Campbell House News
Re-connecting
It has been wonderful to observe the sights and sounds of happy chatter and smiling faces filling the Early Learning Centre this week as the children returned from the term break. The children are certainly feeling relaxed and refreshed, and have returned with many stories to share of their exciting adventures.
Our focus as Educators for this first week of term has been on supporting the children to re-connect. This involves re-connecting with the educational program and current interests and inquiries. It also involves re-connecting with peers and educators to re-establish these connections and relationships after the break. The children also need to re-familiarise themselves with classroom routines and expectations as they adjust to being back in this group learning environment.
We have an exciting Term of learning planned for the children. There are many interesting ongoing inquiries occurring in each classroom and many more will evolve as the children’s natural wonderings lead to further discussion and learning. This Term our full complement of specialist classes will commence with the addition of French for the four year old classes and Library and PMP (perceptual motor program) for the three year old classes. We also look forward to connecting with our ELC families as the children host various Mother’s Day celebrations and we welcome guests for our Grandparents’ and Special Visitors’ Day events.
Natural Materials
Our Early Learning programs are inspired by a nature-based approach. We use a range of natural materials for a range of purposes within both the indoor and outdoor educational programs. We are always on the hunt for additional natural materials such as sticks, branches, pine cones, seed pods, shells, rocks etc. If you happen to collect any of these items on your visits to local parks, gardens, farms or the beach, we would welcome contributions of any of these items to add to our collection.
Ms Sarah Bethune
Acting Head of ELC
News from the Banksia Room in Term 1
Children’s interactions with family members, their educators and the environment are particularly important as they learn primarily through these relationships. In Term 1 the children become increasingly confident with their peers and teachers and this influenced their engagement in the program and willingness to explore the world around them. Together they shared many nature items from home and extended their understanding through discussions, observation, researching and investigating.
This has been particularly evident through their interest in birds, which commenced when Aalto brought a nest to kindergarten. The children began analysing different types of bird nests and have begun drawing their interpretations of birds in preparation for decorating their own fabric bird models, creating a collection of feathers and using collage materials to create their own bird nests. Outdoors, however, the children have discovered a problem… very few birds visit our playground. Occasionally they observe birds flying past and hear the sound of birds nearby but the children are wondering why the birds do not visit?
The children are now discussing how they can encourage the birds to return. They are working collaboratively to resolve the problem and will continue their investigation in Term 2.
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Alice, Eve and Oliver searching the sky for birds flying overhead.
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Elizabeth began to make a bird nest as she carefully wrapped strips of hessian around a balloon.
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Henry used the clay to create a bird and nest.
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Myron used pictures and models of birds to inspire his drawing.
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Simona expressed her understanding of birds as she painted a parrot.
Mrs Penny Campbell
Banksia Room
Save the Date – 4YO ELC to Year 4 Father/Daughter Afternoon
Dads and their daughters are invited to join us for an afternoon of fun, laughter and family at the Father/Daughter Afternoon on Wednesday 30 May.
The afternoon will feature ‘Alex the Magician’ as seen on Kids WB and will also include light refreshments.
When: Wednesday 30 May 2018, 3.15pm–4.30pm
Where: St Catherine’s School Hall, Dorothy Pizzey Centre, 17 Heyington Place, Toorak
Price: $20 per child, $40 father/special friend
Invitations and booking details will be released shortly.
St Catherine’s Co-curricular Survey
Thank you to those parents who have completed the Co-curricular Survey. We welcome those who have not yet completed the survey to do so by Friday 20 April.
This survey seeks to further understand the additional programs your children may be interested in participating in and provides the opportunity for you to guide the future program offerings and scheduling of additional opportunities. Please select the preferred programs for your child that align with the Fundamental Motors Skills Program that may be offered in the future in addition to identifying the programs your children already participate in via the survey link here.
