GEKA Glover Street

Support and Gratitude  

Cheree Yates, Early Childhood Teacher

I began my journey with GEKA at McKinnon in 2020, where I met and worked alongside some wonderful passionate educators and families. 

But oh boy, what a year it was to start a new teaching role among COVID!  

Coming from a small parent managed kindergarten, I was immediately grateful for the endless legwork that GEKA did on behalf of educators and families to keep us all safe and compliant. A job I would have had to manage myself in previous roles. A year not to be forgotten that’s for sure.

For 2021, I was offered the opportunity to move services to join the GEKA Glover Street team (a change is always good plus its closer to home which was a bonus). After only a few weeks at the service, I feel I am reaping the benefits of years of work from educators creating the warmest and most welcoming environment. Do you know that feeling you get when you walk into a new environment and it just feels right? An Instant connection!

The standout feature of the kindergarten for me so far has been the outdoor environment, starting right from the front courtyard. It’s so green, everywhere you look, from the classroom you feel connected to the outdoors. 

Running an indoor/outdoor program is a big part of my teaching practice as it offers so many benefits for children (choice, space, extended periods of play and connection with nature) and the work that has been put into the environment to make sure it is just as inviting and engaging as the indoors, is something I am grateful for and will enjoy continuing to contribute to. 

I have been amazed to discover that in the courtyard when I arrive to open the kindergarten, there are often a few Cockatoos feasting in the trees. They are completely unfazed by me walking right by as they keep eating. One day I spotted them in the trees next to the swing in the playground. The children noticed them too, those who had been to GEKA Glover Street in the 3 year old program were telling me that they had seen them before. How lucky are we that in an urban area we have this little pocket of space that attracts wildlife! 

I am looking forward to the many years ahead, as part of the GEKA Glover Street community.