The Arcadia Public School Band visited Galston Early Learning Centre (GELC), treating the children to a live concert of songs and solo performances. Flutes, clarinets, saxophones, trumpets, guitars and drums all featured, and the young audience listened closely to the wide mix of music on offer.
The visit carried extra weight for the centre’s educators, who spotted familiar faces among the performers. Several of the students on stage, and some of their families, had once been part of the GELC community.
For the centre, it was a living example of an idea that guides its work: children leave like birds from the nest, and some return again, just as birds do when they migrate. The image captures how GELC hopes to prepare children for school, helping them grow and spread their wings while staying connected to the place where their learning began.
Strong ties with local schools sit at the heart of that approach. Moving from early learning to school is a big step, and opportunities to meet and spend time with a local school community can help children feel familiar with it, as though they already belong.
That sense of ease builds confidence as they approach the new chapter. By working with schools such as Arcadia Public School, GELC aims to strengthen the bridge between early childhood education and primary school, celebrate each child’s learning journey and make the transition a positive, connected one for children and their families.
GELC has thanked Arcadia Public School and its band members for sharing their love of music with the children, and says it looks forward to more chances to connect, learn and celebrate with the wider local community.
