Happy Valley Early Learning Centre

Despite the soggy weather, there was a great turnout this morning for Nillumbik’s Reconciliation Week flag raising ceremony. Christine and Jenni along with Taylah and Narrelle braved the wet weather to show their support!

Wurundjeri Elder, Aunty Annette Xiberras delivered the Welcome to Country, and Mayor Cr Naomi Joiner and Youth Mayor, with students from Eltham High, Catholic Ladies College and Eltham East Primary led the ceremony and raised the flags.

Reconciliation Week is a time to reflect on our shared history and the role we all play in moving forward together.

The Chocolate Lilies choir closed the ceremony with an incredible rendition of Midnight Oil’s Beds are Burning.

🎉💛 Our Community Day is getting closer!

Join us on Saturday June 13th from 10am–12pm for a fun and relaxed morning for the whole community 🌿

We’ll have:
🎶 Live music
🎨 Face painting
☕ Coffee
🌭 Sausage sizzle
✨ Henna
🤝 Local community supports
…and more!

Come and explore our learning spaces, meet our educators and enjoy a welcoming morning with us at Happy Valley 💛

We can’t wait to see everyone there!

Today we watched with inspiration and deep respect as the National Walk for Truth arrived at Parliament House in Canberra.

Kerrupmara Gunditjmara man Travis Lovett has walked more than 840km from Narrm (Melbourne) to Canberra, with thousands walking alongside him in support of truth-telling for First Peoples across this country.

This powerful journey shines a light on the importance of listening, learning, healing and walking together towards reconciliation. As Travis arrived at Parliament House today, we reflected on the strength, courage and commitment behind this movement and the growing support for a national truth-telling process.

Today we attended the National Sorry Day Healing Ceremony at the City of Banyule’s Malahang Reserve in Heidelberg West.

It was a meaningful opportunity to come together, reflect, listen and honour the strength, resilience and stories of Stolen Generations survivors and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We are proud to have been represented by our Reconciliation Champion, Jenni, who attended on behalf of our service and community.

Events like these are an important part of our ongoing commitment to reconciliation, learning and walking alongside First Nations communities with respect and understanding.

Community

After noticing the children’s growing interest in light and shadows, our educators extended the experience further through playful shadow exploration together 🌑

By observing children’s interests and engaging alongside them, educators help create meaningful learning moments built on curiosity, connection and strong relationships 💛

Today is National Sorry Day.

A day to acknowledge the strength and resilience of the Stolen Generations, and to reflect on the lasting impact of past government policies that caused profound grief, loss and trauma for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.

National Sorry Day is an important opportunity for all Australians to listen, learn and continue the journey of truth-telling, healing and reconciliation.

The Kimberley Native Violet, the official symbol of National Sorry Day, represents the resilience and survival of the Stolen Generations.

As we approach National Reconciliation Week, we encourage everyone to take a moment to reflect, acknowledge the past and commit to building a stronger future together.

🌿 Focused, curious and deeply engaged

Some of the most meaningful learning moments happen when children become completely immersed in their play.

In this moment, deep concentration, problem-solving and creativity were all unfolding naturally through exploration and discovery 💛

When children are given the time, space and support to follow their interests, they build confidence in their thinking, develop persistence and experience the joy that comes from learning through play.

At Happy Valley, we value creating environments where children feel confident to explore, create and become fully engaged in the moment ✨

If you are exploring early learning options for your child, we would love to welcome you for a visit and share more about our learning community.

When a child is given the freedom to make choices, explore their interests, and express themselves in their own way, their confidence begins to grow. In an early learning environment that values agency, children feel seen, heard, and capable. Their self-expression shines through in the way they play, create, communicate, and connect with the world around them. Empowering children to lead their own learning nurtures not only independence, but also a strong sense of identity and belonging.