Nurturing Relationships

The start of the preschool year is often characterised by mixed emotions, experienced both by the children and their families. Although there is often a sense of excitement, joy and sometimes relief, there can also be elements of uncertainty, sadness and overwhelm. The importance of developing a sense of belonging cannot be understated. The level of connectedness we experience is a direct reflection of the depth of relationships that we hold and we know that connectedness is more than just greeting, communicating or playing with others.

At the heart of our ELC, is our relationship with the person of Jesus Christ and our Catholic identity.

“It is essential that teachers and educators get to know the children and their families, as well as their religious traditions. It is equally important that children and their families become familiar with the Catholic identity of the centre, as well as the central place of Jesus in the setting” (Grajczonek, 2022, p24).

Our three ELC classes have prioritised building relationships with each other and establishing important classroom routines. The children have been working collaboratively to create a class prayer cloth as part of their faith learning. Each child added a personal touch by drawing themselves, making it both unique and meaningful. When we set our Sacred Space, we place the Bible, the Cross, and a candle, learning about their significance in our prayer routine.

Grajczonek, J. (2022). Exploring, Learning & Wondering: Early Years Religious Education Curriculum, Resources & Liturgy. Canberra, ACT: Catholic Education, Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn.

Stay and Play 

Stay and Play has launched again for 2025!

The intention of Stay and Play is to provide a place for connection for families within our Woden-area community and an opportunity for them to connect with Catholic education. It offers young children the opportunity to play, explore and learn, and for parents, it is an opportunity to connect with other parents and ELC staff. Feel free to share the details of Stay and Play with your friends and family, as it is an open opportunity for all.

We look forward to welcoming pre-preschoolers, toddlers and babies with their parent or carers for this community playgroup.