Chapter 1 Early Learning

At Chapter 1 were proud to acknowledge and celebrate National Reconciliation Week as an opportunity to learn, reflect, and grow together. Throughout the week, children engaged in meaningful experiences including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories and books, creative craft activities, music, and group conversations that promote respect, inclusion, and understanding of Australia’s First Nations cultures. These experiences help support children in developing a sense of belonging, empathy, and appreciation for the rich histories and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

Exploring Italian in the Kindergarten Room

Following our recent Inquiry Project focusing on diversity in the classroom, our wonderful Assistant Director Christine has kindly offered to provide ongoing Italian lessons for our kinder children.
Christine will visit the classroom on different days each week to ensure all children have the opportunity to participate and begin learning basic Italian language skills.

Each week, the children will explore different aspects of the Italian language and culture, beginning with colours (“colori”) and nursery rhymes.

This week, the children explored colour mixing using water, food dye, and pipettes. They worked together to mix colours in containers and, with guidance, practised recognising and naming the colours they created using Italian words.

It has been wonderful watching the children engage so enthusiastically in this learning experience, and we look forward to sharing more of our Italian language journey with you over the coming weeks! This is also a wonderful transition opportunity for our Kindergarten children as they prepare for primary school, especially as many local schools offer Italian language classes.

Learning another language helps build children’s confidence, communication skills, and understanding of the world around them while making the transition to school more familiar and exciting.

Just another way Chapter 1 Montmorency supports your child’s learning journey and helps prepare them for the world around them!

Learning About the Wurundjeri Seasons 🍃

Our children have been exploring the Wurundjeri seasons and what they mean within the local Aboriginal community. This learning has become a meaningful part of our daily conversations, with children regularly discussing the seven seasons, identifying which season we are currently in, and recognising the changes happening around them.

Through this, the children are developing a deeper understanding of the natural environment—observing shifts in weather, animal activity, plant life, and how these connect to each season. They’ve been making thoughtful links between what they see in their everyday surroundings and the knowledge shared by First Nations peoples.

This learning is helping to build respect for Aboriginal perspectives and a stronger connection to the land we live and learn on. It’s been wonderful to hear the children confidently talking about the seasons and sharing their observations with one another.

We look forward to continuing this journey and deepening the children’s understanding of the world around them 🌿

Chapter 1 Early Learning Chapter 1 offers quality Early Education and Preschool to children aged from 6 weeks to 6 years old

Exploring Family Cultures in Our Kinder Program

Our Kinder children have been deeply engaged in a meaningful inquiry project centred around family cultures and heritage. This has grown from rich discussions about countries around the world and what life, traditions, and daily experiences can look like in different places.

What has made this project truly special is the involvement of our families. We’ve had parents come into the room to share their culture in hands-on and memorable ways—singing songs, helping the children cook traditional foods, and reading stories in different languages. These experiences have sparked curiosity, built understanding, and created a strong sense of belonging for all children.

Through this project, children are not only learning about the wider world, but also developing a deeper appreciation of their own identity and the diverse community around them.

A big thank you to all the families and staff who have contributed so far—we look forward to welcoming more of you to share your stories and traditions with us.

School Readiness

At Chapter 1, we believe that school readiness is about more than academic skills alone. It is about supporting the whole child and fostering confidence, independence, resilience, and a positive sense of self as they transition to school.

Developed in collaboration with local primary school teachers and principals, our program aligns with current school expectations while embracing a play-based learning approach. Each week, children engage in hands-on, interest-based activities that help them grow at their own pace and build the skills they need for a smooth and successful start to school.

We support all developmental levels, learning styles, and individual needs through targeted small group learning, designed specifically for children aged 3–5 years.

We love sensory play!

Creative and sensory play provides children with opportunities to explore, experiment, and express themselves using a variety of materials and textures. Through activities such as painting, building, water play, and sensory exploration, children develop important skills including fine motor coordination, problem-solving, creativity, and language. Sensory-rich experiences also support emotional regulation and curiosity, encouraging children to engage confidently with their environment and learn through hands-on discovery.

Last week was a busy one here at Chapter 1 Early Learning!
Here’s a small glimpse into what we’ve been up to across the centre.

If you’re interested in enrolling your child aged 0–6 years, we’d love to hear from you.
Please email [email protected] or call us on 8582 7040 to find out more.

Chapter 1 Early Learning is now accepting enrolments!

With the addition of two new purpose-built preschool rooms, along with enhanced outdoor areas and facilities, our recent expansion now offers enrolment opportunities for children aged 0–5 years.

Places are limited, so we encourage you to book a tour today by calling 8582 7040 or emailing [email protected].

🌿 Children’s Committee Update! 🌿

Big things are happening — our second Children’s Committee meeting was full of brilliant ideas.

The children want a dramatic play area outdoors — a space to role-play, imagine, and tell stories. Their ideas will help shape our updated outdoor curriculum.

We also started creating a child-friendly complaint process — a simple way for children to share if they feel sad, worried, or unsafe. They helped design a poster to make sure every child’s voice is heard

Well done to our committee for helping create a safer, more empowering space for everyone… (and yes, milk and biscuits were a highlight!)

We’d love to hear your feedback — your input helps us keep strengthening children’s voices in our service.

Kinder Excursion – Bakers Delight Montmorency

Our Kinder children had such an exciting day at Bakers Delight in Montmorency!
They got a special behind-the-scenes tour of the bakery, learning how bread is made and even getting hands-on with some baking! The children:
🍕 Made their own pizzas, finger buns, and knot rolls
🥖 Practiced rolling and shaping dough
⚙️ Used a dough roller to prepare pizza bases
🎨 Chose their own toppings to decorate their creations
To top it all off, they each came home with a Bakers Delight hat, bag, stickers, and pencils.
We also have free bread vouchers available at reception for families to take home!
It was a fantastic opportunity for the children to learn new skills, explore their creativity, and connect with our local community.
A huge thank you to Bakers Delight Montmorency for hosting us and providing such an amazing experience for our Kinder children. A special shout-out to Alysha, Jas, and Rachel for organising everything and going above and beyond to make it such a wonderful day.