Glen Education Newsletter

CEO Report

CEO: Samantha Kolasa

As the year ends, its incredible to look back over the past 10 months and all that we have achieved as a community. The children have been engaged in so many amazing activities and experiences, and will no doubt tell stories in the years to come of their many adventures. As I reflect on GEKA’s contribution to the Glen Eira community this year – I wanted to mention a few highlights:

  • We participated in research with Monash University, specifically - the Monash Climate Change Communication Research Hub.  The purpose of the research was to collect quotes from a diverse range of people in the community about their personal experience of climate change at a local level for publication. Our GEKA Green Team Lead this project and some of our observations about climate change were published in the Glen Eira Leader.
  • ALLPlay Learn Research participation with Deakin University.  We participated in a project aimed at developing a relatable, relevant, and evidence-based program to support teachers, and make early childhood education and care settings much more inclusive for children with disabilities and developmental challenges. 
  • A film crew from Metro attended GEKA Bentleigh kindergarten to find out more about the impact of the grant funds they provided the kindergarten, as well as the subsequent and lasting benefit to the kindergarten community.   
  • Partnership with Family Life to support GEKA families through the delivery of professional development to families from GEKA and those in the local community.
  • Expressions Australia – (Early Childhood Language Program) partnership with GEKA Glover Street Kindergarten to deliver Auslan in both four-year-old kindergarten programs in 2019. 
  • Partnership with Playgroup Victoria to deliver a program at GEKA Orrong Road to support families with a child that has an additional need. 
  • South Oakleigh Bunnings - provided further support to GEKA Centre Road kindergarten by selecting them as the community group to receive a major outdoor upgrade.
  • GEC’s Party in the Park held earlier in the year where we again had a stall and handed out over 100 show-bags.
  • GEC project on ageing where we had a display at Carnegie Library throughout October.
  • Murrumbeena City Scape:  Know your street project (in partnership with Caulfield Rotary) throughout November.
  • Nick Staikos’ annual Easter egg hunt.

The list above is by no means complete! Every day I hear stories of one of our kindergartens participating as active community members – from trips to the local library, walking to a nearby park, catching public transport…..the list goes on.

All these experiences enable us to be active citizens in our community and provide a range of positive outcomes for everyone involved.

 

I wish our four year old groups the very best as you transition to school, and look forward to seeing our threes further develop in 2020.