Nina Marni Beautiful little learners and their amazing families. Welcome to our weekly blog.
“Every mark tells a story — a connection to Country, to culture, and to those who came before us. In every line, there is memory, meaning, and identity.”
– Inspired by Aboriginal ways of knowing and storytelling
| Learning Intention: 1 To support each child to deepen their emergent alphabetic phonic skills, aligning with their individual developmental stage, interest and dispositions. Why? Children require support to deepen their emergent alphabetic phonic skills because these foundational abilities are critical for the development of effective communication, reading, and writing. Early phonics skills help children understand the relationship between sounds and letters, enabling them to break down words (Decode) and make meaning from text. As children develop at different rates and bring unique interests and dispositions to their learning, intentional and responsive support ensures that each child can engage with phonics in ways that are developmentally appropriate and personally meaningful. By fostering these skills through tailored experiences, educators not only build literacy readiness but also nurture children’s confidence, curiosity, and love of language, setting a strong foundation for future learning success. |
Understanding that every child learns in their own time, in their own way. To support each child in deepening their emergent alphabetic and phonic skills, our approach is intentionally responsive—aligned with their individual developmental stage, interests, and dispositions. We observe and listen carefully to each child, recognising the unique ways they engage with language. Some may be drawn to environmental print, others to storytelling, mark-making, or song. By tuning into these interests and weaving them into meaningful, play-based learning experiences, we foster authentic engagement and deeper learning.
labelled spaces, sound games, cooking experiences, shared reading, and exploratory writing areas all invite children to explore sounds, symbols, and early word recognition in a natural and joyful way. Phonics is not taught in isolation, but in context, grounded in relationships and relevant to the child’s world.
| Learning Intention 2: Sacred symbols are special and important. Why? Doctrinal Insights from the Catholic Tradition that support this Enduring Understanding include:Sacred symbols remind us that God is close to us, and with us.In my Catholic learning environment, I can see many sacred symbols.Candle flames remind us that God is with us.The Bible reminds us of God’s love for us through special stories.The Cross reminds us of Jesus.Water is used for special blessingsSacred symbols are used in my school/ELC and in church celebrations, prayer and liturgy. (CCC1145)Other faith traditions also have sacred symbolsThe Sign of the Cross is a prayer to God.Doctrinal and Content Elaborations: Doctrinal Insights from the Catholic Tradition that support this Enduring Understanding include:The Sign of the Cross is a prayer with actions and words.The words remind us that God is called Father, Son and Holy Spirit.The actions represent the symbol of the Cross, and that prayer involves our head, heart and body. |
This morning, our group time began with a peaceful and joyful atmosphere as the children gathered together for our daily prayer. We opened our time of worship with the welcoming song “Come and Join the Circle”, inviting each child into a space of unity, love, and spiritual reflection. As we lit the prayer candle, the soft glow reminded us of Jesus, the light of the world. The children watched with awe, and we took a quiet moment to center our hearts.
Each child was given the opportunity to share a little about their morning—what they had for breakfast, how they felt, and what they were looking forward to. These small, meaningful exchanges helped build a sense of community and presence. With hands folded and hearts open, we thanked Jesus for all our blessings—our families, our homes, our friends, and everything we have. We sang the Five Finger Prayer Song together, It was a beautiful expression of praise and worship, filled with sincere voices and joyful hearts.
Following our singing, we listened to the story “I Wanted to Know All About Jesus”. The children were deeply engaged, curious and attentive, as we explored who Jesus is and how much He loves each one of us. To conclude our prayer time, we made the Sign of the Cross together—a gentle and reverent gesture marking the end of our prayer. Finally, we blew out the candle, symbolizing the end of our group time but holding onto the light of Jesus in our hearts as we moved into the rest of our day.
Each morning we are reminded how powerful and peaceful it is to begin with prayer, reflection, and community. We are so grateful for these special moments with the children as they grow in faith and love.
“Story Time Magic: Fostering Language, Imagination, and Connection”
Story time with our 3-year-olds is one of the most cherished parts of our day. At this age, children are naturally curious, imaginative, and eager to explore the world through words, pictures, and shared moments. Reading together not only nurtures early language and literacy skills but also deepens relationships and creates a sense of belonging.
“Walking, Wondering, and Belonging: Exploring Our School’s Shared Spaces”
Our consistent community walks around our shared spaces in the school are a valued part of our program, offering rich learning opportunities beyond the walls of our learning spaces . Whether we’re walking to the playground, visiting the log park, or exploring our fresh produce garden, these experiences connect children with their environment in meaningful and engaging ways.
These walks are more than just physical movement—they are invitations to observe, ask questions, and build a sense of belonging. As we move through familiar spaces, children develop spatial awareness, understanding safety, and social skills such as cooperation and responsibility. Each of these walks are guided by the children’s curiosity—spotting seasonal changes, discovering insects, or engaging in imaginative play.
This week has been filled with many special moments—our specks of gold—that reflect the joy, growth, and connection happening across our learning community.
One of the standout experiences was our transition visits to preschool. These visits are an important part of supporting children as they prepare for their next stage of learning. It was wonderful to see the children exploring their new environment with curiosity and confidence—engaging with new spaces, meeting Teachers, and beginning to form relationships with future peers. These gentle, supportive visits help build a sense of familiarity and belonging, making the transition process a positive and empowering experience for each child.
Some special rainbow butterfly specks to conclude this beautiful week of learning
As we come to the close of another meaningful week, we take a moment to reflect on the many ways our children have grown, explored, and shared in the joy of learning. To mark this special time, we celebrated with what we call “rainbow butterfly specks”—tiny moments of color, transformation, and wonder that have sparkled throughout our week.
Just like butterflies fluttering through a rainbow garden, each child has left their own unique trail of creativity, kindness, and curiosity. Whether through hands-on activities, prayerful moments, imaginative play, or heartfelt songs, these little “specks” represent everything beautiful about learning in a nurturing, faith-filled environment.
Ngaityalya
Hope you all have a relaxing weekend.