27 February 2025
From the Head of the ELC
Dear Families,
Thank you for attending our ELC Parent Information Evening last Thursday. Your presence was tremendously appreciated. We hope the evening was informative and insightful, provided you with an overview of our educational program and that any queries you may have had were answered. The energy, optimism and genuine engagement contributed to the event’s success. I would like to extend my gratitude for your presence and for being available for the evening.
Families who were unable to join us, we appreciate and understand that time can be scarce in the busyness of life. We hope to see you at the various special events as we progress through the year.
During the Parent Information Evening, I briefly spoke about the ELC Parent Hub situated in our piazza. It is an area where our parents can pick up any articles, brochures or information leaflets on various topics that may be of interest. This space also serves as our QIP (Quality Improvement Plan) station where you can view the National Quality Standards and information on the Seven Quality Areas.
As you will know, the quality of education we provide is of great priority. I am sure you would agree that children in their early childhood years have the right to firm foundations of learning in all developmental areas to set them up for success not only for formal schooling years but for life-long learning. Our educational program is encapsulated in the quality of the service that we offer. This ‘quality’ is measured in line with the ACECQA National Quality Standards (NQS). The objectives of the NQS are to:
- Ensure the safety, health and wellbeing of children attending education and care services.
- Improve the educational and developmental outcomes for children attending education and care services.
- Promote continuous improvement in the provision of quality education and care services.
Therefore, the NQS guides our Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) that steers our delivery of quality education and care. Our ELC QIP, a working document, is currently registered on the Department of Education website.
We welcome your feedback, ideas and thoughts on our strengths and any areas of improvement we can work on. We are also developing an age-appropriate QIP for the ELC children so that their views and ideas can be evident in our QIP journey. Therefore, your collaboration will be a valuable and meaningful initiative in further advancing the quality of education and care we provide.
In each of the ELC classrooms, there is a QIP for staff and a separate QIP for the children. The QIP consists of the following seven quality areas:
- Educational program
- Children’s health and Safety
- Physical environment
- Staffing arrangements
- Relationships with children
- Collaborative partnerships with families and communities
- Governance and leadership
The QIP is a platform to define who we are as a community, demonstrating how the ELC will continue to improve and refine what we do and how we do things in pursuit of greater quality. We envision a QIP that will emanate ‘quality’ that is unique and contextual to Newington ELC.
We kindly ask that you engage with us in this space by looking at each of the Quality Areas, which are clearly displayed to guide your feedback on:
- What are our strengths?
- What improvements can we make?
Images from the ELC’s Parent Information Evening
ELC Email Address
Should you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us at elc@newington.nsw.edu.au and we will respond to you as soon as possible.
What’s Happening This Term
Co-Ed Scholarships for Year 5 2026 Now Open
Become a part of history with the Pioneer Scholarship, created to celebrate Newington College’s transition to co-education and support girls and boys who are ready to lead, innovate and inspire. This is more than just a scholarship—it is an opportunity for trailblazers who are eager to make a lasting impact.
This scholarship is available to existing and prospective students (both boys and girls) currently in Year 4 (entering Year 5 in 2026). This prestigious opportunity is designed for students with a balanced range of achievements who will benefit from the outstanding opportunities at Newington College while enriching our vibrant school community.
Current and new students can apply here.
Chapel Thought
In every Chapel Service, we have three symbols on our Chapel Table that guide our reflections. The prime symbol is the Cross, the central symbol of our Faith, reminding us of Jesus’ death and resurrection. We have our Light, our Christ Candle, reminding us of God’s light shining in even the darkest places. And our third symbol is our symbol of Love, the figure of the Risen Jesus ‘reaching out his arms to give the world a hug’.
This phrase, ‘Jesus reaching out his arms to give the world a hug’, may seem trite at first but at its heart is a deeply theological message. This symbol and these words are part of our foundational stories that we explore in RE and Chapel and remind every student of God’s love for all of us. They remind us that no matter what, God loves us simply as we are.
Central to our exploration of Faith at Newington is that all in our community know the all-inclusive love of God. This is a love that doesn’t discriminate based on our background or experience, our past, our present or our future. God simply loves us just as we are.
When we see so much turmoil in our world or face our own personal challenges, it’s important to be reminded, no matter our age, that God loves each of us, just as we are.
– Pastor Richard La’Brooy
Harmony Week
Monday 17 March – Friday 21 March
Harmony Week is about celebrating the vibrant cultural diversity of our ELC community. We value the cultural diversity we have and it is a great strength that enhances the inclusiveness, respect and sense of belonging we strive to cultivate in our community.
We invite you to share your cultural heritage with the ELC children. You can do this by emailing your interest to elc@newington.nsw.edu.au. Here are some ideas on how you can share your culture:
- Show or wear your cultural attire and come share it with the children.
- Bring in items that represent your culture.
- Read a story or teach simple songs/words/phrases in your language to the children.
- Prepare a short presentation (photos of food, places, traditions) that showcases your culture.
- Prepare a cooking experience in your child’s class and engage the children in making a cultural dish (ingredients must not have nuts or peanut oil, pork/ham or egg).
Our aim for Harmony Week is to build a sense of community with our families through these connective threads of experience. Children’s connectedness and varied ways of belonging within our setting will help them to learn ways of being which reflect the values, traditions and practices of their families and communities. We believe this learning transforms the way they interact with others, develops their ability to value and respect different cultures and communities and builds their confidence to respond to diversity as socially adept members of society.
We look forward to immersing the children in the rich cultural experiences that our families can offer as significant members of our ELC community.
Staff Profile
This week, we shine the spotlight on Rebecca Gianakoulias, a Year 5 Classroom Teacher at Wyvern House. Known for her inspiring teaching methods and warm demeanor, Rebecca fosters an engaging learning environment where every student feels valued. She believes that teaching is not just a career but a calling, driven by a contagious passion for learning that sparks curiosity in her students.
Q. Which book, movie or TV show do you think every student should experience at least once, and why?
A. One book that really stands out to me is Wonder, which also has a movie adaptation. It’s a story that captures your heart and stays with you. The author R.J. Palacio described it as a ‘meditation on kindness.’ The book follows a boy with facial differences as he navigates joining a mainstream school and experiences the powerful effects of both kindness and unkindness. A key precept of the book is that ‘your deeds are your monuments’ which I think is such an important message for young people. I’ll admit, I can’t help but shed a few tears every time I watch the movie.
Q. What are some of the qualities that make a great teacher?
A. Let’s be honest, teaching is not for the faint-hearted. A passion for teaching is the most critical quality for success. I firmly believe teaching is a calling, not just a career you choose ‘because’. You need a passion that’s contagious, one that sparks curiosity and a genuine love for student learning. That’s the key to longevity in teaching. Empathy is also vital. The ability to understand students’ feelings, challenges and perspectives helps a teacher build meaningful relationships, which are at the heart of everything in a classroom. I always tell my students that we carry a ‘virtual school bag’, one that we can’t see but that holds all the baggage we bring with us. As teachers, it’s our job to help students navigate that because after all, we’re dealing with young human beings who each enter the class with their own unique experiences.
Q. What’s one piece of advice you’d give to students that you wish you had known when you were in school?
A. School truly holds some of the best moments in life. As a mum now, I often find myself asking, ‘Why is time going so fast?’ and this feeling is especially strong when I reflect on my school years. You spend five days a week with friends, engage in subjects you enjoy and form friendships that can last a lifetime. In fact, some of my best friends today are the ones I made in Kindergarten, and they’re still by my side. A quote that’s always stuck with me is, ‘I wish I knew I was in the ‘good old days’ when I was in them.’ So, my advice to students today is this: one day, these will be your ‘good old days,’ so cherish every moment.
