The learning in the Early Learning Centre over the last fortnight has been rich, varied, fun and most importantly, developed based on the interests of the girls and their families. Please read below for a tiny snapshot into some of the incredible learning that has taken place.

Over this past week, connecting with and caring for our country has been a theme that has continued to deepen in the hearts and minds of our Mamie girls. Together, they have developed a promise, which reads as follows:

We can promise to look after the land. – Anastasia

I promise to look after the dolphins so they will not get sick. – Grace

I will take all of the rubbish out of the sea when I am a superhero. – Thea

I promise to free the whales with my scissors. – Tess

I promise I will look after the animals … I will be a doctor. – Annabelle

I want to be a superhero and save them. – Frankie

We can’t put rubbish on the ground ’cause the animals can get sick … I will tell other people to put their rubbish in the bin. – Ava

I will look after the whales … they can get tangled up in the rubbish! I will need to cut it up with scissors. – Harriet

I promise I will take all the rubbish out from the sea, to keep the animals safe. – Ida

I promise to look after the animals … I will not put rubbish in the water. – Tegan

We need to listen to Aboriginal peoples … they will tell us what we need to do. – Estella

I promise to look after the trees … I will protect them. – Willow

Kaurna land is the Adelaide land. – Astrid

It is hard to believe that these responsible citizens who are deep and critical thinkers are only three- and four-year-olds. We cannot wait to see where the girls and their teachers and co-educators take this learning next.

Learning in the Annie House over the past week has taken many unexpected twists and turns due to the incredibly talented and inspiring special guests (all Annie House family members) who have generously given up their time to work with the girls.

These special guests have included:

• Gio Musolino, who has baked with girls, sharing his expertise as a chef
• Dr Alicia Cheong, who brought in a baby possum and shared her knowledge as a vet
• Deb (Isla’s grandma), who has been spinning her own wool from sheep, alpacas and goats for many years, and was kind enough to bring that amazing experience
• Felicity Jewis, who, as a chemical engineer, was very inspiring for our girls during Science Week.

Thank you very much to these special guests for sharing your knowledge, enthusiasm and expertise in your specialist fields with our girls. Not only have our visitors enhanced the curriculum, but they have also inspired the girls. You are all most welcome and encouraged to visit our ELC to share your special interests, culture and knowledge with our girls. Please do come forward and we will organise a time for your visit.

Finally, I would also like to extend a big thank you to everyone (educators and parents) who prepared and supported the girls for their 2022 school photos. On behalf of the teachers, we thank you very much for dressing your girls beautifully for the photos. On behalf of all parents, though, a bigger thank you goes out to the teachers and co-educators—we simply do not know how you manage to have everyone looking and (mostly) smiling all at the same time, it is hard enough to do that with two children! Thank you again.