Warracknabeal Banksia Room
The Banksia Program of the Warracknabeal Memorial Kindergarten is a three- and four-year-old kindergarten program, located in a small township in rural Northwest Victoria. We operate Monday to Friday, from 8:30 to 1:30, on a sessional model, with 3-year-old kindergarten children attending for three sessions per week and 4-year-old kindergarten children attending four sessions per week. Students are supported by a team of four educators.
Our program is a beautifully situated kinder, at the far end of Werrigar St, sitting alongside the Yarriambiack Creek. This outlook sets the tone for our program, which seeks to embrace and inspire a love of nature and the environment. We love our Eco- Garden, where we keep chickens, plant various fruit and veggies, and simply enjoy the outdoors. Similarly, a key part of our program is our Bush Kinder excursions. During cooler months, we head off on excursion, into the bush, where we build cubbies, look for bugs, roll down hills, and climb trees, as well as everything in-between. Through this, and back at kinder, children are encouraged to gain a deeper respect and understanding of our local indigenous heritage, with a daily Acknowledgment of Country and building connections with local indigenous Elders. Music and the Arts are also vital to our program, in addition to our daily music sessions and general arts exploration, the children experience various musical incursions throughout the year, and we showcase the children’s work to the wider community through our annual Kinder Arts Show.
Our program aims to be very flexible, driven by the interests of the students. We provide an emergent curriculum, with flexible mealtimes and an indoor/outdoor routine. Our routine in generally framed by two group times, one with a music and movement focus and the other with a literacy focus. A key focus for our learning centres on our three "Kinder Values" of respect, responsibility and co-operation. We work extensively to support children's emotional regulation skills, with the language and strategies of the Zones of Regulation taught explicitly to enable the children an in-depth understanding and capacity for self-regulation. Keyword Sign is used throughout the program, with all staff trained in its implementation, and modelled to all children to support communication and processing support needs.
Teacher: Kate Williamson
Educators: Jill Adams, Natasha Hallam, Kimberley Phelan.
Days of operations: Monday-Friday
Phone: 03 5398 1747
Mobile: 0437 104 101
Email: Warracknabeal.kinder@yarriambiack.vic.gov.au
Warracknabeal Wattle Room
The Wattle Room at Warracknabeal Memorial Kindergarten is a welcoming and nurturing space thoughtfully designed to support the growth and development of 3- and 4-year-old children. Here, children are encouraged to explore, create, and learn through a balance of child-led play experiences and intentional teaching practices delivered by our team of dedicated and qualified early childhood educators.
Our program is grounded in the belief that children learn best when they feel safe, supported, and respected. We focus on creating an environment that is rich in curiosity, creativity, and discovery, where every child is seen as capable, competent, and full of potential. Through play-based learning, children have the opportunity to build foundational skills across all developmental areas—social, emotional, physical, language, and cognitive.
In the Wattle Room, we place strong emphasis on the values of Respect, Responsibility, and Cooperation. These values are woven into everyday interactions and learning experiences, helping children develop a strong sense of identity, empathy, and belonging. We support children to form positive relationships, make choices, express themselves, and solve problems with guidance and encouragement.
Our team of passionate, caring, and motivated educators are committed to fostering a positive, inclusive, and joyful atmosphere where every child’s voice is heard and celebrated. Through intentional planning, responsive interactions, and reflective practice, we aim to build strong foundations for lifelong learning.
Families are seen as partners in the learning journey, and we actively encourage open communication and collaboration to ensure the best outcomes for each individual child. The Wattle Room is not just a space for learning—it's a place where children feel safe, happy, and inspired to be themselves.
Teacher: Loretta Leith
Educators: Stephanie Powell, Hanna Morcom and Brodie McCredden
Days of operations: Monday-Friday
Phone: 03 5398 1747
Mobile: 0408 751 193
Email: 3YOkinder@yarriambiack.vic.gov.au