- Spring 2025
- |
- Early Learning Centre
Circles Growing in Broader Fields
Naomi Wright, Director of the Murray E Verso Centre for Early Childhood Learning
Belonging and Becoming at Trinity Grammar ELC
At Trinity Grammar School, the line “Till in life’s broader fields” from our school song speaks to a journey of growth, connection and readiness. It evokes the image of students being nurtured in a safe, intentional environment before stepping into the wider world – equipped with values, relationships and a strong sense of self.
In the Early Learning Centre (ELC), this journey begins with a small circle – a child arriving, often not knowing anyone, stepping into a new space filled with possibility. This year, our ELC team has embraced the metaphor of circles as our guiding lens, inspired by the book The Circles All Around Us. The story begins with one person in a small circle and as they build relationships, their circle expands – to family, friends, community and beyond.
Our learners begin with just one person in their circle. Through play, shared experiences and meaningful relationships, those circles begin to grow – as children form friendships, engage with educators and begin to understand themselves as part of a learning community.
Throughout the year, these circles widen again – through specialist lessons, visits from older students and interactions with Fergus, our therapy dog. These experiences connect our learners to the broader Trinity community. These experiences expand their sense of identity, belonging and learning within the school.
ELC educators walk alongside our learners as coresearchers, listening closely to children’s theories and offering materials that extend their thinking. We provide thoughtful provocations that respond to children’s interests and questions, embedding these opportunities into our everyday practice. Daily checkins and intentional teaching of emotional regulation strategies support our learners’ social development in authentic, practical ways. Outdoor experiences nurture whole-body development, literacy and numeracy, while weekly visits from Fergus and our growing understanding of Indigenous culture are woven into the fabric of our curriculum.
As our learners prepare to transition into Junior School, we hope their circles continue to widen – filled with wonder, learning and connection. Not just within the school gates, but through many experiences in life’s broader fields. We aim to nurture lifelong learners who can linger in the complexities of life and continue to strive for truth, service, courage and community – becoming globally minded citizens, as the Primary Years Programme (PYP) reminds us to be, throughout the many fields they will one day explore.
ELC Cauliflowers
There are some investigators in the ELC researching, gathering data and working out how and what is eating our cauliflower plants.
They discovered that it was a caterpillar and a possum and they have researched bug spray and learnt that rosemary and eucalyptus oil are good deterrents for caterpillars. They were worried about the possum as the bug spray was to scare bugs away… they decided that ghosts scare things, so they might scare the possums away but they need to make sure they are protecting all nature, so they don’t want to hurt the bugs or possum so also added yarn for laser beams.
Our investigators have added rubber bands so the bugs can sling shot away. And drew ghosts, as they are scary.
We have since observed that a bird has been visiting and has taken some yarn for their nest!
