End of Term 1 2016

Campbell House staff and I wish all families a very relaxing Easter period and School holiday break. We hope there will be opportunity for family time, laughter, hugs and fun as well as time to catch up with good friends. Holidays provide children a chance to play and enjoy a break from the programs, tasks and activities experienced each day in the Early Learning Centre. They usually begin to miss it after a few days of holidays though!

Learning is around us all of the time! We encourage families to encourage children’s curiosity and interest in the world around them whilst on School holidays. Whether they be at the beach in their own garden, in the country areas or in a playground. By encouraging children to question, hypothesise, link information and investigate, greatly assists them to continue the quest for further knowledge and continued learning. Time to play is essential.
Staff look forward to meeting up with our Campbell House learners again on Monday 11 April. Traditionally, the excitement of everyone meeting up after a break, hears the sounds of happy chatter and laughter fills the air. Always a wonderful time!

The Reggio Emilia Approach

The Reggio Emilia approach to learning encompasses and embraces the findings of educational researches Dewey, Vygotsky, Piaget and numerous other learning experts especially those investigating the way in which the formative years are so critical to effective and further learning.

The Wattle Room children engaged in their Morning Meeting and Reggio Emilia inspired circle of inquiry

Loris Malguzzi, a young teacher in Italy, just after the Second World War, encouraged families with young children to join him in a highly charged pursuit for excellence in childcare. He did this in the knowledge of the findings he undertook himself and from the learning experts already mentioned. They were of the one voice in the notion that the impact of early learning is huge and that best practice must always be central to all that is offered to young learners.

Reggio Emilia is a city which is located in Northern Italy in Emilia Romagna. It houses, in purpose built rooms and spaces – including carefully planned outdoor spaces, many young learners who experience early learning immersed in the Reggio Emilia Philosophy.

In the centre of the Reggio Emilia system, is what is known as the powerful image of the child. Never seen as an empty vessel waiting to be filled with facts and information from adults, but seen as being full of potential, also competent, capable and confident. The firm belief being that educators and parents must place higher value upon the search for constructive strategies of thinking and action rather than the direct transmission of skills and knowledge.

Portia Carosa-Koziora and Finley Thomson experimenting and learning in collaboration

Campbell House staff work with enthusiasm and passion to ensure the learners in Campbell House are immersed in activities and tasks and offerings which are approached in the Reggio Emilia traditions and the image of the child always central. Competence, capability and confidence always treated with care and great respect.

The photos in The Blue Ribbon today demonstrate just a snapshot of the way learners in Campbell House immerse themselves in investigative pursuits, filled with wonder and purpose at all times.

Willow Rice and Olive Nantes exploring nature through open-ended sensory play and learning

Uniform Term 2, 2016

Uniform in Terms 2 and 3, in particular, are the winter ELC uniform as listed below:
• St Catherine’s track pants
• St Catherine’s skivvy/polo shirt
• St Catherine’s fleecy top
• Sneakers (of own choice)
• School sports socks
Optional: St Catherine’s spray jacket

Given the early start to Term 2 this year, the weather may still be warm in the first few days or weeks of the new Term. Given this, we ask parents to be guided by weather conditions and forecasts at this time. Summer uniform may be worn for up to two weeks at the commencement of term.