At the beginning of this school year, our 3-year-old and 4-year-old students embarked on enriching learning journeys that fostered self-discovery, community connection, and the development of their foundational skills.

For our 3-year-old learners, the term topic of Marvellous Me helped them explore and understand their own identities, bodies, preferences, emotions, and social connections. Through this exploration, children gained a greater sense of who they are and how they relate to those around them.

Our 4-year-old cohort engaged with the Being and Belonging term topic, which focused on their identities and the communities they are part of, such as family, school, and the wider community. This exploration fostered a deep sense of belonging and an understanding of their role in different social contexts, promoting both personal and social growth.

In addition to exploring identity, we prioritised community awareness and personal safety with incursions from the Fire Brigade and Surf Lifesavers. These engaging sessions taught the children about essential safety practices and the important role of community helpers.

Key safety messages from the Fire Brigade included:
• “Get down low and go, go, go.”
• “Get out and stay out.”

The Surf Lifesavers reinforced essential water safety messages, such as:
• “Swim between the flags.”
• “Stay close to your parents.”
• “Stay calm and raise your arm” when seeking assistance in the water.

Throughout these activities, the Reggio Emilia approach was embraced, which views children as capable, creative learners. This approach facilitated investigative learning through play, allowing children to explore new concepts and ideas in a hands-on and engaging way.

In doing so, the development of essential skills in literacy, numeracy, social interactions, oral language, emotional understanding, and physical growth was supported.

It has been a wonderful start to the school year, with many opportunities for growth and discovery for our students.

Diane Vithoulka
Academic Leader of PreKinder