Our early learning programs are supplemented by opportunities for the children to participate in incursions and excursions as a way of connecting with community. Throughout the year, a selection of experiences are planned both within the Early Learning Centre (ELC) and out in the wider community. There are times when we invite an expert to come in to the centre to implement a workshop with the children where they share their knowledge or resources. There are also times when the children venture outside of the ELC on an excursion to engage in rich, hands-on learning in the wider community. All of these opportunities are carefully designed to connect with and support the children’s current learning and inquiries.

Recently, we were fortunate to have Indigenous educator, Jaeden Williams, from ‘Bunjil’s Biik’ come to the ELC to share his Indigenous language, culture and history with the children. Jaeden introduced the children to the history of the Boonwurrung, Melbourne’s first people. The children learnt some words in the Boonwurrung language and practised an acknowledgement of country. Jaeden retold the story of creation and the children participated in the storytelling by joining in with the words and actions.

Indigenous educator, Jaeden Williams, shares his Indigenous language, culture and history with the children in the St Catherine’s ELC.

This cultural workshop came to a significant close as Jaeden performed an Indigenous smoking ceremony to bless the land on which we live, learn and play. As Jaeden moved around the circle, the children were invited to cup the smoke in their hands, hold their hands to their hearts and make a wish. This proved to be a very moving experience as the children wholeheartedly embraced the ceremony. The children will now take this experience and use as it as inspiration for further learning about the Boonwurrung people and language.

Jaeden invited the children to make a wish as he performed an Indigenous smoking ceremony.

Such experiences provide incredibly rich opportunities to extend the children’s learning, connect with experts and engage with the local community. They expose the children to a range of new and different experiences and help them to make sense of the world in which they live.

The ELC children will use this experience as inspiration for further learning about the Boonwurrung people.

ELC Illness Policy

As the weather begins to change, and various illnesses begin to emerge, it is timely to remind families of our illness policy here at St Catherine’s ELC.

If your child is sick or unwell, please do not bring them in to the ELC. It is important that children are kept at home until they have fully recovered so that such illnesses are not passed on to other children and staff. The children need to have the opportunity to rest and recuperate in the comfort of their own home and receive the individual care that they need at such a time. Please phone your child’s classroom in the morning to let staff know that they will be absent.

Parents are also reminded that you must inform the ELC if your child has or has had an illness which is deemed infectious by a doctor so that we can notify other families and minimise spread of infection within the centre. We would appreciate your cooperation with this so that we can ensure a healthy environment for all.