Scotch Reports Issue 178 (December 2020)

EARLY LEARNING CENTRE
Celebrating 25 years of
Early Childhood Education at Scotch
The Scotch College Preschool, located
in Argyle House (the main building of our
current ELC), was officially opened by
the Honourable Rob Lucas, Minister for
Education and Children’s Services on
28 May 1995. In 2020, celebrating the
25 th birthday of our ELC was high on our
list of important events.
The year has presented many challenges
and being able to celebrate on our actual
25th birthday was impossible.
When Covid-19 was still a little-known
illness and seemed a long way from
Australia, let alone Albert Street, Marc
Newton (recently retired and beloved
Senior School Art Teacher) had already
agreed to work with the children in the
ELC to create a sculpture to celebrate this
special birthday. Using the children as
inspiration, Marc designed a sculpture for
us that would represent Scotch College
(through colour), our 25 th birthday (25
ducks) and an aspect of our centre that is
truly unique and pivotal to the children’s
learning (Brownhill Creek and the ducks
that inhabit it and visit us regularly).
Marc began working with the children
on the sculpture in Term 1, but social
distancing restrictions soon prevented him
from coming into the centre. Thankfully,
the children had finished enough of the
project for him to be able to complete it.
The finished sculpture sits next to the
mulberry tree at the ELC entrance and
beguiles children and adults alike with its
mix of real-life detail and creative use of
colour. A small plaque will be placed in
front of the sculpture to remind future
generations of children of its significance.
We are very grateful to Marc for not only
working with our children but also for his
agile approach when restrictions were
imposed upon us suddenly.
On Friday 4 September, the sculpture was
officially unveiled by Dr Newton in front
of the ELC children, staff and invited
guests. Marc explained to the guests the
meaning behind the sculpture. After the
official unveiling, all of the guests were
presented with a 25 th birthday treat in the
form of individually wrapped, duck-shaped
shortbread biscuits, kindly baked by
College chef, Paul Wharram.
A number of other pieces of art that
have been created by the children along
with artists, teachers, Yalari students
and children’s picture book illustrators
are displayed throughout the centre.
These are not only stunning pieces of
work but are also a visual representation
of the world as seen through the eyes of
the College’s youngest students.
Throughout the last 25 years the ELC has
seen many changes. Upon opening in
1995, the ELC was known as the Scotch
Preschool with two teachers and a
handful of children. The ELC now has
approximately 100 children, 4 teachers,
7 educators, a full-time Administrator
and a full-time Director. The building
has been completely renovated and
the old Stables building was converted
into a classroom and staff office in 2013.
The ELC is a busy and dynamic centre of
education for children from the age of 3,
and a large percentage of the Reception
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