A Farewell from St Peter’s ELC

“We think of a school for young children as an integral living organism, as a place of shared lives and relationships among many adults and very many children. We think of school as a sort of construction in motion, continuously adjusting itself.”

– Malaguzzi, 1998

This year certainly took us all by surprise, as we were faced with challenges and conquered each one. Through the power of technology, we were able to stay connected, keep relationships and community intact, and when we returned on site in Term 4, returned to our new normal with ease.

Our return to Loreto Toorak in Term 4 was a bittersweet one. We knew this was our final term here before returning to 581 Toorak Road, but it was also to be our final term in our partnership in education with Loreto Toorak. Much discussion and brainstorming occurred by our teacher researchers, trying to think of how best we could say farewell, but also leave a little piece of St Peter’s behind.

Our project began with the children, and asking about our fish. What do they mean? Why are they different sizes? Who could they be? Frazer – “They’re fishes.” Asher – “There’s three fish.” Maya – “Yeah, a daddy, mummy and baby fish.” Do you know what a group of fish swimming together are called? Frazer - “A school of fish.” Isabella - “They are the students.”

The children then noticed our fish throughout their day. The flag blowing in the wind at our ‘new normal’ entrance to the ELC, on their bags, signs around the classrooms, papers. Isabella – “We’ve got St Peter’s fish on our backpacks!” We started to think differently about the fish, and that perhaps the three fish could be something different, not a family in the traditional sense, but a school – our St Peter’s family. Allegra – “The group of the fish. The little one is the Kinders, the medium one is the Pre-Preps and the big one is the teachers.”

We thought, if we were to say goodbye, and thank you to Loreto Toorak, then giving a gift, and a collection of memories and our time together would be best. Gigi – “Giving a present is a really nice thing to do, and it will fill up someone’s bucket.” On a large piece of fabric, the children and educators of St Peter’s ELC added their own fish, and all together in our school, we swim together. Hendrix – “It might look like a family.” James – “‘Cause we’re all friends.” Todd – “It’s a school.”

In our final weeks together, we shared a liturgy with the children, educators and members of our St Peter’s ELC Board of Management. Due to our ‘new normal’ in 2020, our liturgy was recorded to share with our families and community. It was during this service, that the children each shared themselves, a self portrait was added to our memory box, alongside each and every child and educator that has been a part of the educational journey from 2002 to 2020.

Placed over the items, was our ‘School of Fish’, and as Andreas shared, “My fish is powerful, he has heaps of stuff to protect all the fishes”, we placed the fabric on top to keep it all safe. As we continue to adjust ourselves, we say thank you and farewell to Loreto Toorak for our many years together in partnership. On behalf of all those that have been on this journey - we say thank you and goodbye.

Above (L-R): Anneliese, Frazer, Lilly, Bailey Below: ELC Children at the Farewell Liturgy held in the Chapel of Christ the King at Loreto Toorak.

KATHLEEN BROHIER - HEAD OF ST PETER’S ELC