GEKA Sacred Heart

New Beginnings

Janine Bird, Early Childhood Teacher

During our first weeks as Educators our aim has been to create a nurturing environment for our children, one which creates a sense of community and fosters meaningful relationships. 

Our children can feel overwhelmed, unsure, excited and nervous all at once. Starting kindergarten is a big step into a child’s learning journey and one which we strive to make as positive as we can.

As a new GEKA teacher, I too felt all of these feelings. I was about to start my GEKA journey at a brand new kindergarten, with a brand new team, on a school site with a whole new community of children and families. I was excited, and hopeful! From the very first day I felt like I belonged! The warmth, care, guidance and support from everyone I came in contact with during those first days was like nothing I had experienced in my many years of teaching. 

From the GEKA Management team, to my new team mates, to the families and the broader Sacred Heart Community. Collaboration and Community was everywhere I looked.

It was the little things that made me feel this sense of belonging so quickly. 

Mel and Corey were on hand to deliver us all the resources we needed, from plants to computers, with as much excitement as we felt. Their enthusiasm was infectious! Dana being so patient as we ordered additional supplies, Josephine guiding us through orientation, Carol and Paula sharing programming advice and answering my 1000’s of questions daily! Vanessa and Sally delivering bags of goodies from their service, bags full of baskets, fabrics, wooden boxes and my all time favourite, a roll of hession!  Families and children, who I had taught many years ago, walking past the fence on their way to our school. Leanna creating beautiful clay nests with children after I discovered she is a visual arts creative genius. 

Gurmeet working her magic at our collage/creative art and creating beautiful displays throughout our room. And finally Kim, our amazing label and organizer! Already, we are a passionate and connected team who all form an important part of our new GEKA Sacred Heart Kindergarten Community.

As I reflect on the past term, I have gained an insight into how new families and children feel as they too enter an unfamiliar environment.  I hope they have also felt the support and the sense of community through the genuine care and respect we foster each day. There is a warmth which is being created in our physical space which lends itself to a calm and inviting place to grow and learn. A place where we celebrate each child’s unique and amazing learning journey. A place where they are free to discover, investigate, create, imagine and play! I am blessed to be embarking on this journey alongside them every day!