Term 1, Week 3

13 February 2025

From the Head of the ELC

Dear Parents and Carers, 

It has been wonderful to hear that the children are expressing their sense of joy and happiness at the ELC to parents at home. Expressions like ‘I love Miss…’ and ‘I love going to the ELC’ reflects the strong, positive bonds the children are forming with their teachers and classmates. 

The stories shared at home are a testament to the resilience and adaptability of the children’s social and emotional competence. Your children have been navigating and settling into new class dynamics that challenge and stretch their social and emotional development. They are developing a deeper understanding of peer interactions, participating in both small and large groups and are learning about citizenship in ways that are suited to their individual levels and abilities. These are heartwarming moments that highlight your child’s connection with their peers – an important aspect of human development that plays a key role throughout life. They showcase your child’s desire to stand out and connect with others, to be themselves and to feel a sense of belonging. Children are primed for social interaction and connection from the moment they are welcomed into the world¹.

Seeing this in young children is always awe-inspiring. Whilst our role as dedicated educators is crucial, we do it with privilege and pleasure, knowing that children are just as passionate about defining their sense of self within the connectedness they experience with their educators and peers. We are here to lay the solid foundation for your child’s identities to be gradually realised, as they find their sense of place within their peer groups, their class and the wider ELC community. 

1. Emde, R., Infancy to Early Childhood: Genetic and Environmental Influences on Developmental Change, 1st edn (Oxford University Press, 2001.

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

Parent Information Evening – Thursday 20 February 2025

As noted on the ELC calendar, please save the date and RSVP via this link by Friday 14 February. The evening will provide families with the opportunity to meet the ELC team, meet each other and gain insight into our educational program for each class. Please note that this is a parent-only event and that light catering and refreshments will be provided.

Anaphylaxis Prevention

Please be informed we have children at the ELC who have anaphylactic reactions to eggs, nuts and sesame. We kindly request that you avoid packing any of these allergens (in any form) on Thursdays and Fridays.

We also request that birthday cakes/cupcakes you provide for your child must not contain eggs, nuts and sesame if brought in on Thursdays and Fridays.

We thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Excursion Authorisation Form Update 

We have updated our Excursion Authorisation Form. Please read and sign the updated version by clicking here. It will also be available for families at the front desk.

ELC News & Parent Resources

The ELC New Weekly will be emailed to ELC families during term time on Thursday each week and is also available here on the website. It will outline important dates and information to note.

Parent Resources can be found on ELC New Spaces and in our Parent Hub located in the ELC piazza. The Parent Hub has articles, brochures and information leaflets on various topics. This space will also serve as our QIP station where you can view the National Quality Standards and information on the Seven Quality Areas.

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?

We will display one Quality Area for you to focus on over a two-week period, commencing as of next week.

Storypark

Please engage with us via Storypark and support the building of community by sharing special moments from home/holidays or memorable occasions. We also encourage you to respond to posts shared by your child’s teachers – individual or group learning stories, and partner with us in celebrating your child’s educational journey. We look forward to reading your thoughts, feedback and any insights you may like to provide.

Specialist Lessons (Music, French and Library) and Chapel

Music Specialist Lessons are a highlight for all classes. Chapel commenced this week with Pastor Richard La’Brooy. French lessons will take place in the coming weeks with Ms Emilie Montusclat. 

Library lessons will commence in Term 2 for the Eagle and Goanna classes. Please ensure library bags are purchased from the uniform shop by the start of Term 2. 

Holiday Programs 

During Wyvern House term breaks, the ELC provides two weeks of Holiday Program. When there are three weeks of Wyvern term break, the last two weeks will be allocated for the ELC Holiday Program.   

The Holiday Program outline for each term break will be available to families a week before the program starts. Children can attend the ELC in their normal clothes and are not required to wear uniforms during this time. 

Signing In/Out

Please ensure you sign your child in and out each day they attend. If you have delegated pick-ups or drop-offs to a family member or friend and they are on our records, please provide your access details to Xplor sign-in/out. Stephanie at the front desk will be available to assist should they require support.

This week, we are profiling Stanmore’s beloved Science teacher, Vatche Ansourian. A former television presenter, Vatche is known for his passion and charisma, contributing every day to making the campus a more vibrant place. With his infectious enthusiasm for science, he inspires students to explore, question and discover the wonders of the natural world.

Q. What is one of your favourite memories of being a student? 

A. One of my fondest memories is the thrill of group work – those moments spent huddled with friends, tackling tricky problems, writing a group play or designing a model, and even turning our collective confusion into outright hilarity. I remember vividly a play we wrote about consumerism in English that had us in stitches. Was it the best? Of course it was. Was the acting on point? You betcha! But it wasn’t just about cracking the lesson. It was about teamwork and thinking on our feet, skills that have served me well both in and out of the classroom.

Q. Did you have a favourite teacher growing up and why?

A. I was incredibly fortunate to have a couple of standout teachers who truly shaped who I am today. The first was my Year 6 primary school teacher, Ms Perantuono, and the second was my Year 7 science teacher (no surprises there!), Mrs Smith. Both gave me the freedom to explore and make my own decisions about learning. Ms Perantuono taught me how to set my own learning goals and explore my interest in the human body. Mrs Smith was always there to answer any question and made me think. Their trust and encouragement turned every lesson into an exciting adventure rather than just another day at school.

Q. If you weren’t a teacher, what other career would you imagine yourself in?

A. If I wasn’t teaching, I’d probably want to be a full-time kids’ science show host. Having had a stint in kids’ TV before, the idea of mixing humour with hands-on science to spark curiosity in the next generation is still incredibly appealing. Given that’s not happening, I’ll take a full-time kids’ science teacher any day #same.

Q. What’s one piece of advice you’d give to students that you wish you had known when you were in school?

A. My top piece of advice is simple: consistency. It might not sound as glamorous as a flashy study hack, but steady effort and regular practice lay the foundations for genuine understanding and long-term success. I’ve found that setting aside a bit of time each day to review notes or tackle practice problems builds a solid foundation, much like regularly hitting the gym builds strength over time. Each small, steady step helps you better understand complex ideas and reduces the need for stressful, last-minute efforts. Trust me, your future self will thank you for the effort you put in today.