Our Philosophy

We wish to express our gratitude and appreciation to First Nations people and will continue to learn on and from Country each day. We acknowledge the history and relationship of the landscape and river around us here in Swan Hill on ‘Wamba Wamba’ Country and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

 OUR HISTORY

Here at Swan Hill South Kindergarten, we value our past which offers a story for our present location. Swan Hill South Kindergarten was built and opened in 1970 and has been operating as a Kindergarten for 3, 4 and 5 year old children since then. Our history has helped us observe and understand strong cultural connections by learning deeply with our local Indigenous people. Together we share the rivers and waterways which hold great cultural significance to the landscape of our First Nations people. Wamba Wamba straddles both sides of the Murray River and takes in Swan Hill, Moulamein and Deniliquin. We value how river connects us to our surrounding community, Latji Latji, Tati Tati, Barapa Barapa and the Wadi Wadi Nations and to our leading provider, Shine Bright EYM whom we have travelled with on Dja Dja Wurrung country since 2006.

OUR PLACE

 In our place, we tell stories, we notice the land and the changes each season brings. We recognise the land belonging to Wamba Wamba people. We come together to share meals, stories and knowledge. We ask questions and investigate ideas. Our place is where we all belong.

 OUR LEARNING COMMUNITY

 We value and recognise all former and current children, families and educators attending our service and the diverse backgrounds and cultures they come from. Our relationships give meaning and richness to our Kindergarten community by providing an environment that encourages children to talk from the heart about family.

Strong ties with family, friends and community are important to us. Together, we will keep the lines of communication open to best plan for children to achieve educational success, building on the strengths of each individual child. This will be shared in partnership with children, families, kinship members and professionals through a child led program that ensures consistency and predictability.

We are reflective of the Code of Ethics, intended especially for early childhood based on the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1991). Collectively we act in the best interest of all children including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditional ways of being.

Each day we uphold these core values in the following ways:

• Each day we are committed to respect and maintain the rights and dignity of children, families, colleagues and communities in a safe space that creates a sense of joy, curiosity and wonderment.
• Each day we travel together as a collective of thinkers.
• Each day the natural environment is evolving and supports ongoing learning and development of children.
• Each day we will devote our time to observing children, taking notice, documenting, interpreting the meaning, then working on effective strategies to help children understand.
• Each day children will be encouraged to develop their interests and capabilities through self-direction, placing specific emphasis on play-based learning entwined with intentional teaching and children’s voice.
• Each day children will explore cultural, sustainable, wellbeing and awareness programs to develop dispositions for learning such as curiosity, cooperation, confidence, creativity, commitment, enthusiasm, persistence, imagination, and reflexivity.
• Each day children will be encouraged to develop a range of skills and processes such as enquiry, experimentation, hypothesising, researching, and investigating.