番茄社区's Melbourne Kindergarten turns learning into an exciting and vibrant adventure for your little ones! Our state-of-the-art facility is brimming with natural light and thoughtfully designed spaces that encourage exploration and creativity.
To make sure every child gets the attention they deserve, our caring educators work with families to create a personalised learning journey.
Our Melbourne kindergarten program is designed to prepare kids for their next big steps, giving them a strong start and setting them up for future success.
For children aged two to four, our kindergarten offers a stimulating environment that supports their development while making each day a delightful blend of learning and play.
At 番茄社区, we believe that children actively participate in their learning journey. We recognise that each child has the potential, interest, and capability to shape the direction of their education.
Our Melbourne Kindergarten environment is thoughtfully designed to encourage exploration and sensory engagement, as we understand that young learners thrive through experiences that involve touching, seeing, and hearing.
As part of the Junior School Quartet and at the heart of the Reggio Emilia approach, our Early Learning Centre has the belief that children are full of curiosity and creativity, and that they have the powerful potential to gain a life-long passion for learning and exploration.
In these years the academic, physical and socio-emotional learning process begins to evolve and at 番茄社区, we inspire children to flourish in ELC allowing for a smooth transition to Prep.
番茄社区 is inspired by the Reggio Emilia Philosophy within our Melbourne Kindergarten and encourages a child鈥檚 natural curiosity and creativity, whilst also 鈥楨mpowering Young Minds鈥.
The curriculum is flexible and emerges from children鈥檚 ideas, thoughts and observations, with emphasis on the idea that they have the capabilities to learn from their surroundings.
The Reggio approach is not a philosophy with a set model. It is an approach based on certain fundamental values about how children learn.
The Reggio goal is to cultivate within children a life-long passion for learning and exploration. During their early years of learning, children are encouraged to explore and question their world. They are viewed as capable and valuable members of their community.
At our Kindy, kids can enjoy learning Greek as part of a fun, play-based program. All four Melbourne kindergarten groups get to explore the language in an engaging way, following the that keeps them excited about learning.
番茄社区 ELC teachers work collaboratively to prepare our students to be school ready. We听offer a more structured learning program in our K4 group which includes, music, dance, language, science and English, streamlining the students鈥 progress to Prep.
This innovative and inspiring approach to early childhood education lays the foundation for learning. Students who attend our ELC are immersed in our School鈥檚 educational programs, culture and community.
We ensure the transition to the early years of Junior School is developed through an enhanced Prep readiness and transition program, which occurs throughout the 4-year-old ELC school year.
This program aims to ensure that each child is confident and equipped to commence this next step in their learning journey.
We provide various expressive opportunities, from drawing and painting to dramatic play and construction, allowing children to communicate their understanding and creativity.
This emergent curriculum, enriched by cultural awareness and respect, is a strong foundation for the “Leader in Me” program, a core component of our Junior School curriculum.
At 番茄社区 we know that learning is best when teachers, parents, and kids work together. By respecting each other and sharing responsibilities, we help children think for themselves and connect with others.
We offer lots of ways for kids to express themselves, from drawing and painting to building and pretending. Our approach focuses on discovering what interests each child and celebrating our diverse community and cultures, making learning a fun and supportive experience for everyone.
At 番茄社区 Early Learning Centre, we understand the significant role we play in a child鈥檚 early educational journey. Our ELC team are guided by the principals of relational pedagogy, emphasising the importance of building strong relationships with children to foster trust and a sense of belonging to our learning community. We believe that when children feel safe and are recognised as unique individuals, they are in the ideal environment for learning and skill development.
As part of our 番茄社区 Junior School Quartet and at the heart of our Reggio Emilia inspired approach to early childhood education, we view the child as a competent and capable citizen. We believe children have the powerful potential to guide their learning as active collaborators and explorers. We strive to offer an emergent play-based curriculum, that is drawn from children鈥檚 exploration and wonderment of their world. The Victorian Early Years and Development Framework is used to guide our curriculum decision making and provide intentionality to our education programs, we use the planning cycle to plan, evaluate and reflect on
children鈥檚 learning and development to ensure there is progress towards curriculum outcomes. We proudly use our 番茄社区 Teaching and Learning Model (TLM) and it鈥檚 four phases, connect, purposeful teaching, active learning and reflection to guide our teaching strategies and to ensure a consistent and best practice approach to teaching and learning across 番茄社区.
番茄社区 ELC proudly offers the Early Childhood Language Program to our Pre-Prep learners. We endeavour to immerse our whole learning community in Greek language and culture. We also value our beautiful diverse learning community and the positive learning experiences and opportunities multiculturalism brings. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the traditional custodians and strive to teach our young learners to see similarities and embrace differences to prepare them to be a part of a kinder, more connected and globalised world.
Inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, we believe that children possess 鈥100 languages鈥 and that 鈥榯he environment serves as the third teacher.鈥 We aim to create an environment that allows children to express their wonderings, experiences and learning through a range of languages, including visual art, sculpture, dance, drama, storytelling and most importantly through play.
At 番茄社区 Early Learning Centre, our Orthodox Christian values are embedded into our play-based curriculum. We are dedicated in imparting humility, aspiration, respect and kindness to our young learners through an array of positive and engaging
experiences that aim to build the foundation of living an Orthodox Christian life. We believe that parents are their child鈥檚 first and most important teachers, our goal is to foster a trusting and respectful partnership between the ELC and families. We embrace the Reggio view that parents, family members, teachers all play vital roles in the educational journey, acknowledging that it takes a collective effort to nurture a child.
We hold the belief that early childhood is a unique and precious stage that requires slowness, playfulness and wonderment. We also understand that the ELC is an exciting beginning for our young learners. As the foundation of 番茄社区 and an integral part of the school, we strive to provide a strong pathway from our ELC to the broader school community, offering opportunities for children to build connections with the junior school and to ensure a seamless transition, we focus on nurturing each child through fostering a love for learning, and building strong, supportive relationships. By the time our young learners move on to
primary school, they are well-prepared, confident, and eager to embrace the next chapter of their educational journey at 番茄社区.
番茄社区 Early Learning Centre is a nurturing environment where children are inspired, supported and prepared for lifelong learning. Our commitment to pedagogy, the Reggio Emilia approach, and Orthodox Christian values ensures that each child is seen, heard, and valued. Our ELC team are dedicated in providing a welcoming, empowering, and enriching learning experience that not only prepares our children for primary school years but also lays the groundwork for them to become compassionate, curious, and capable individuals.
Mrs Sarah Boardman
Head of Early Learning
As an educational leader, I feel privileged to be able to work alongside children as they build their knowledge and understanding of the world around them at school.听 Celebrating the diverse range of 鈥淲ow鈥 moments that occur with our students each day, brings great joy to me both personally and professionally. I strongly believe in the importance of building solid foundations for children鈥檚 ongoing learning, focussing on developing thinking and inquiry skills in partnership with literacy and numeracy skills, in a meaningful, rigorous and authentic way for all children. Furthermore, I value the opportunity to build beneficial, ongoing partnerships with families, working together with them to encourage all children to consistently challenge themselves, as they holistically develop a solid understanding of how they learn best.
I studied a Bachelor of Education at the University of Tasmania, before working in a range of different school settings, both nationally and overseas.听 This hands-on experience with a range of educational approaches, supported by my ongoing work at the University of Tasmania as a Unit Coordinator as part of the Bachelor of Education degree, has given me the opportunity to continually reflect upon evolving current best practice in education, based upon relevant, research.听 I have been part of 番茄社区 since 2014, working as the Early Learning Centre Coordinator before becoming the Acting Head of Junior School in 2018. Within these educational leadership roles, I have developed in many ways whilst working within 番茄社区鈥檚 dynamic and collaborative community of learners.
Mr Peter Cummins
Deputy Principal – Teaching & Learning
Peter Cummins took up his position as Deputy Principal in 2012. Prior to this he was Deputy Principal (Curriculum) at Leibler Yavneh College (2008-12) and Head of Curriculum at Mentone Grammar (2004-08). He began his career at Scotch College Adelaide and later returned as a boarding housemaster after teaching in the UK at Bromsgrove School and Wellington College.
Peter is passionate about developing the learner in every child and giving them a sense of responsibility to play an active part in making the world a better place for all human beings. He believes that the focus must be on our students developing the agility and imagination needed for living productively in a complex world.
Peter is married to Sharon (Kindergarten Director) and has three adult sons: Andrew who is a senior project manager in construction; Tom who works at Michigan State University in communications; and Alex an industrial designer.
Mr Luke Preston
Business Manager
Luke Preston is an experienced business and finance manager with a background in Not for Profit, specifically Education and Sport. Luke has most recently been the Finance manager at Melbourne Grammar School (2016-2019) and prior to that, the Business Operations manager at Tennis Victoria (2012-2016).
Before moving into the education sector in 2016, Luke worked in sport for 7 years 鈥 at Tennis Victoria and Cricket Australia – in financial and operational roles.
He worked in the corporate sector for 15 years prior to that, at major organisations across multiple sectors in both Australia and the UK, covering banking, consulting, retail and logistics.
Luke is passionate about the Education sector and the important community role played by schools and not for profit organisations.
Luke is a CPA and a UK ACMA and also holds a BSc (Social Science) from the University of Southampton.
Outside of work, Luke enjoys spending time with family and friends, and is alway kept busy with his two school age children: Alex and Jessica, and his lovely wife Kellie.
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