Our Team
Amanda Sloan, Co-Director/Teacher & Educational Leader
"It is not what you do for your children, but what you have taught them to do for themselves, that will make them successful human being." Ann Landers
Amanda is our Kindergarten Director & Nominated Supervisor.
Amanda is also our Late Week Teacher and Educational Leader. She holds a Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood.
Amanda’s philosophy “My passion lies in nurturing and enriching the lives of children through play, investigation, inquiry and nature experiences. I aim to provide experiences that not only foster the development of the cognitive aspects of learning but also the growth of the social and emotional needs of the child. I create a safe and happy learning environment for all children and their families. I value conversations with children about their thinking and take time to observe them testing theories about how things work and why”.
Jane Lockyer, Co-Director/Teacher & Educational Leader
Jane is our Early Week teacher and Educational Leader.
Jane holds a Bachelor of Education and Diploma of Teaching Early Childhood Education.
I am a passionate Early childhood educator who views children as being capable and competent each with their own strengths and interests. I believe children learn best through play and it is my role to provide a safe, rich environment where they can take risks, test out their theories about the world and form friendships. I love to learn alongside children co constructing knowledge and assisting them to grow in all areas of their development.
I feel privileged to be a part of your children’s lives, to see the world through their eyes with wonder and curiosity. It is such an honour to be a part of their wonderful journey of learning.
‘While we try to teach children all about life, they teach us what life is all about’-Angela Schwindt
Lauren White, Educator
"Children co construct theories and knowledge through relationships they build with other people and surrounding environment." Vygotsky
Relationships have always been very important to me, to build respectful caring relationships with children and their families provides a strong base for optimal learning and growth and a sense of safety where children can be empowered to be capable, confident, creative, resilient, inquiring learners rich with wonder, who have respect for others, the environment and themselves. In my work I strive to support this growth.
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Annette Edwards, Educator (Early Week)
My interest in and passion for the early childhood field has continued to inspire me over my 30 years of experience in a variety of settings. I believe all children are unique yet equal and deserve to be guided, supported and valued as competent and capable in a nurturing environment where they can build lifelong skills. I feel privileged to have the opportunity to work at Mudjimba Community Kindergarten alongside a team of educators who all have their own interests and skills to share.
My mother said to me , "If you become a soldier , you'll become a general, if you become a monk you will end up as the Pope" . Instead I became a painter and wound up as Picasso. ---Pablo Picasso , author. I take from the quote: with support , guidance and belief children can become their "own greatness " which is not always the expected greatness.
Robyn Woods, Educator
‘Be careful what you teach, it might interfere with what they are learning’ Magda Gerber
As an educator of young minds, I want to inspire lifelong learning in our children. Learning happens all day, every day and by providing a diverse and changing learning environment we can, I believe foster learning through doing, imagination, empathy, opportunities to take risks and respectful connections with others and with that skill set we will support children to value lifelong learning and relationships.
I passionately believe that if we can foster a basic understanding of gratitude at a young age by supporting children’s physical, social & emotional wellbeing by providing an environment that nurtures connection with others (spiritual wellbeing) and our natural world we are preparing them for their future world.
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Cathy Strajnar, Educator (Late Week)
Children are learning all the time, about themselves, their world and the way the world sees them. Which is why I am passionate about the way we communicate with children and the messages we send out to them. The early years of childhood are the foundation upon which self confidence and belief is built. I believe that are children are competent and capable learners. By valuing a child’s unique learning style and supporting them in a nurturing, calm and warm environment children will become confident individuals and will continue to have a strong sense of self, as they mature.
I believe in fostering all areas of a child’s development, by supporting and encouraging them to become life long learners. I believe it is my job as an educator, to support and encourage each and every child to help develop a love of learning and a strong sense of self belief that remains strong and resilient.
“Our task is to help children communicate with the world using all their potential, strengths and languages and to overcome any obstacle presented by our culture” Loris Malguzzi