Early Learning (ELC) at Genazzano
Welcome to the Genazzano FCJ College
Early Learning Centre
During early childhood, children experience more rapid brain development and acquire more skills and knowledge than in any other period of their lives. They are engaged in rich and meaningful experiences and learn through their ability to touch, manipulate and experiment; by being actively involved with materials, new ideas and through interactions with others.
Our ELC is a place of wonder, where children can be observed deeply engaged in learning that stimulates, challenges and provokes their thinking, curiosity and inquiring minds. The valued partnership with families and our ELC team supports each child to gain a greater understanding of themselves and their world, becoming competent, compassionate and community-minded young citizens.
We deliver a personalised approach to learning, offering small class sizes with a maximum of 20 children in each group and only 40 across the whole program.
The ELC is a part of the Genazzano Junior School, which ensures we have a strong school readiness program and can leverage school teaching and learning environments, as well as community resources. A Genazzano Early Learning Centre education is a wonderful gift and we look forward to providing your child with limitless opportunities to grow as they embark on their journey as a young learner.
Children who belong to the ELC at Genazzano are welcomed into a learning community that:
- Builds secure, trusting relationships with every child
- Recognises the importance of listening to children
- Values reflection for a balanced life
- Captures the heart of play and learning
- Uncovers the creativity in each child.
During early childhood, children experience more rapid brain development and acquire more skills and knowledge than in any other period of their lives. They are engaged in rich and meaningful experiences and learn through their ability to touch, manipulate and experiment; by being actively involved with materials, new ideas and through interactions with others.
Our ELC is a place of wonder, where children can be observed deeply engaged in learning that stimulates, challenges and provokes their thinking, curiosity and inquiring minds. The valued partnership with families and our ELC team supports each child to gain a greater understanding of themselves and their world, becoming competent, compassionate and community-minded young citizens.
The ELC Program
Our ELC provides choice for families, while considering the benefits for children, that reinforces the acquisition of skills for life and learning. You may select for your child to attend three, four or five days for both our Kinder and Pre-Prep programs. Before and after school care is also available.
Genazzano is proud to be an authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) World School offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP). Our commitment to providing a world-class education that fosters intellectual, personal, emotional, and social growth is reflected in our adoption of this prestigious programme. Our early years curriculum at Genazzano is guided by the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF) and the PYP Curriculum Framework. Our educational program inspires our learners to inquire, learn and play in experiences that promote innovative, knowledgeable, creative, and globally minded thinkers.
Our dynamic inquiry-based programs provide a balance of child-led play-based learning, guided play, and teacher-led instructional learning. The learning environment and curriculum is designed around the individual strengths, interests and needs of each child, whilst viewing the group as a whole community. We know children learn best in an environment in which they have strong relationships with their teachers and there is a combination of predictability and new challenge. The ELC program follows a daily schedule and routine that offers a balance between the following types of activities:
- Active and quiet times
- Large and small group activities, time to play alone and with others
- Relaxed informal gatherings and formal group times
- Indoor and outdoor program times
- Time for children to select their own activities and time for teacher-directed activities.
Our educational experiences are enhanced by a range of specialist programs. These include:
- Languages
- Library
- Music
- Creative Arts
Learning Activities
Children are given key responsibilities in the program and provided opportunities to be responsible for daily jobs such as acknowledgement of country, prayer, compost bin, calendar, lights and lunch jobs. The children engage in a range of open- ended learning experiences designed to maximise learning and stimulate curiosity, wonder and exploration. The outdoor environment provides opportunities for social interactions and mixing of the ELC3 and ELC4 programs.
The teachers and co educators use intentional teaching strategies to support, scaffold and consolidate children
developing their knowledge, skills, approaches and abilities. Activities include imaginative play, arts and craft, construction, loose parts play, sand pit, climbing frames, group games and more. Each term we connect incursions and excursions to our inquiry project exploration to deepen the children’s understanding of how their learning in the classroom is linked to the broader community. The children engage in a variety of exciting opportunities that take them walking or taking transportation to expand their understanding of the world around them.
A Typical Day
A typical day in the ELC starts with drop off. This is an opportunity for families to share information about your
child. Children put their bags in their lockers and organise their snack, lunch and drink. The day starts with a structured morning meeting in which children and their teachers share information and discuss the day ahead. Specialist subjects are scheduled across the week based on a fortnightly format.
Play-Based Learning
Our indoor and outdoor learning environments are play-based, open-ended and specifically designed to cater to the individual and group learning needs of the program.
Morning Tea & Lunch
Children bring their own morning tea and lunch each day and are encouraged to bring these in one lunchbox to support self-management and independence.
Structured Whole Group Learning
Structured whole group learning times develop children’s ability to concentrate, follow instructions, self-regulate and learn as a part of the group. These sessions often involve an early literacy focus and build children’s skills in reading to learn and learning to read.
Rest Time
Children are provided with a short rest time each day.
Specialist Subjects
Each day, our ELC children engage in specialist subjects with specialist teachers from the Junior School. These sessions provide opportunities for focused and structured learning experiences that broaden children’s knowledge and interests.
Reflect
At the end of the day, children gather to reflect on their learning and their day and prepare for pick up.
Pick up Time
Family pick up is again a time for shared conversations with teachers and an excited greeting from your child.
ELC Hours
The ELC operates from 8.15am to 3.45pm each day. The extended hours are optional, with the ELC doors opening at 8.15am each morning and families are welcome to arrive anywhere from 8.15am to 9.00am. At 9.00am, the children begin their formal group learning session. At 3.00pm, the ELC doors will be open for pick up, and families can collect their child anytime between 3.00pm and 3.45pm.
GOSH
Genazzano’s Out of School Hours Program (GOSH) is administered, organised and supervised by Camp Australia, a national provider of quality care, activities and entertainment for children. The program runs from 7.00am
– 8.15am and 3.45pm – 6.00pm each school day. A specialist room within the Grange Hill Building is provided for the ELC children to gather to engage in play based activities. On days when formal classes conclude prior to 3.45pm, the GOSH Program runs from the finish of lessons until 6.00pm.
Beginning ELC and Transitions
When to Start Kinder
Each child is different and we recommend carefully considering your child’s readiness before commencing in the ELC. Your child must be 3 years of age on or before 30 April to be eligible to attend kindergarten in that year. If you enrol early, your child’s place will be held until they turn 3 years old and fees will only apply once they can start attending. If your child is born between 1 January and 30 April, your child can begin kindergarten in the year
they turn 3 or 4.
When to Start Pre-Prep
Each child is different and we recommend carefully considering your child’s readiness before commencing in the ELC. Your child must be 4 years of age on or before 30 April to be eligible to attend our Pre-Prep program in that year. If your child is born between 1 January and 30 April, your child can begin Pre- Prep in the year they turn 4 or 5.
Transitions into ELC
These transitions provide opportunities for families to explore the program with their child and encourage family
discussions leading into this new experience. In the first two weeks of Term One, orientation sessions involve staggered starts and shortened sessions in ELC3 and for any new ELC4 children as needed. This allows children to begin with a manageable and positive experience as they get to know their new environment and
teachers. Research suggests two years of formal early learning, is optimal for the forming of neural pathways and social skills.
Two years of learning allows children the time to develop and consolidate the necessary skills to prepare them
not just for school but also for life. Starting in the ELC Kinder Program provides the opportunity for children to begin their formal learning in a supportive and nurturing environment. Our teachers understand the developmental needs of this age group and routines and tasks are broken down to support learning and provide consistency and predictability. The ELC is positioned in the Junior Grange Hill building. Our Kinder and Pre-Prep children begin to
build their sense of belonging to the school community from their first days of kinder.
Our Community
Keeping Our Children Safe
As a Catholic school in the FCJ tradition, we have a mission-driven, moral and legal responsibility to provide a safe and secure environment for children and young people and to protect them from all forms of abuse and neglect. We are steadfast in our resolve to honour this responsibility and promote the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of all children and young people.
As a childsafe organisation, Genazzano FCJ College is committed to providing a welcoming, safe, inclusive and accessible environment where children feel valued, listened to and considered in decisions that affect their lives. All children have the right to be protected from harm and to be treated with dignity, respect and integrity. The need to remove or reduce the risk of child abuse informs our decision-making concerning children in our care. We have specific policies, procedures, and practices in place to support our school community to achieve these dreams.
Families and Celebrations
Families are encouraged to participate in College community social events organised by the College and family representatives. The College benefits from both the Genazzano Mothers’ Association and Genazzano Fathers’ Association, in recognition of the different but equally important roles played by parents in the upbringing and education of their children. The associations offer tremendous support to the College and provide parents a ready-made network of friendship, professional connections and shared parental experiences. At the start of each school year, the Mothers’ and Fathers’ Associations collaborate with the College for the GenWelcomes event, where hundreds of current parents and community members welcome new families to the College. Celebrating the new College year, this spectacular event is held on Circular Drive at the entrance of the historic Wardell Building.
The ELC is an important part of our Junior School and all families are invited to share in celebrating special occasions at the College like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and more. Keep an eye out for invitations and dates on our intranet, GenConnect. Our Stay and Play program begins in term two and provides an opportunity for families to come into the classroom to develop a deeper understanding of their children’s learning. We also encourage families to come in and share special skills or cultural celebrations with the group. In addition, families are often asked to participate in excursions. Incursions and excursions are usually arranged to extend the children’s learning in the program based on current projects and interests and vary year to year.
Entry Requirements
The Early Learning Centre is co-educational and accepts both boys and girls. Your child must be 3 years of age on or before 30 April to be eligible to attend in that year. If you enrol early, your child’s place will be held until they turn 3 years old and fees will only apply once they can start attending. If your child is born between 1 January and 30 April, your child can begin kindergarten in the year they turn 3 or 4.
Progression to the Pre-Prep program in the ELC and Prep will be based on the College Enrolment Policy and then on the date of initial application for the kindergarten program. Preference is given to those who intend continuing their child’s education at Genazzano.
The Victorian Government introduced its Vaccination legislation commonly known as ‘no jab, no play’, effective as of 1 January 2016. This legal requirement means that no child will be admitted to a childcare, pre-school or kindergarten without having been vaccinated. An updated copy of your child’s immunisation is to be included with the enrolment application and any updated certificate provided again at the time of a request for enrolment interview.
Our Staff
The ELC Team includes a Director, and ELC3 and ELC4 teams who collaborate with the Prep Teacher and other
Junior School staff to plan and implement the program using PYP.
The ELC program also utilises the specialist teachers of the College and engages in Library, Mandarin,
Perceptual Motor Program (PMP), Art and Performance Psychology. These specialist experiences broaden
children’s learning and focus on key learning curriculums.
Alison Teece — ELC Director
Bachelor of Early Childhood and Master of Educational Leadership Over 30 years’ experience in the early years’ sector as a teacher, leader and consultant. Started at Genazzano in June 2021
“Beginning children’s formal learning and setting their journey as successful and engaged learners for life is a magical opportunity. Working alongside families to share in the joyful and challenging experiences of early learning is very rewarding.”