Kookaburra Teacher

I have been a preschool teacher for over 20 years and started teaching at Watsonia Preschool in 2019.

I love working with children and feel lucky to share a role in their early education. Making connections with the families is very important to me. Living in the local area, means I am lucky enough to continue seeing many children and families that I have taught.

Preschool is such an exciting time for children. I love providing a program that delivers a broad range of experiences and most of all gives the children a really fun and engaging year of kinder.

I have 4 children off my own who all attended Watsonia Preschool. My children have great memories of their time at kinder and I hope everyone walks away from their kinder year with the same feeling.

Koala Teacher

I have been an Early Childhood Educator for nearly 15 years. After graduating from the University of Melbourne with my Bachelors of Early Childhood Education I began my career working with children with additional needs and then took a leap of faith and moved to London where I lived and worked for nearly 5 years. I taught in some amazing schools and taught both Pre-school and Prep aged children.

I love being a part of this community and have even extended our program to utilise the local area and what it has to offer. I have enjoyed using such facilities as the local library and school to help enrich the program we run.

I love watching the children immerse themselves in our Bush Kinder program. Being out in nature seeing the children discover, explore, take wonder in and be part of the world around us is truly why I love what I do. Children just being children in the great outdoors.

Kangaroo Teacher

My name is Grace Debono. I am the three-year-old teacher here at Watsonia Preschool. I have a Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood, and I have worked in early childhood education in various capacities for over thirty years. Our three-year-old program commenced at Watsonia Preschool in 2022 and I feel very proud and privileged to be here and part of such a dynamic team and community!

Being able to extend the children’s curiosity in play, by encouraging their interests, in various ways, enables me to create insights of discovery; those little ‘light bulb’ moments, which always fill me with such delight and joy. This is at the heart of my philosophy and the reason why I have remained in early childhood education for so long!

I live in the local community and have two grown children and a fur baby named Kenzi, who rules our lives and our home! In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, home decorating, reading and going for walks along the beach.

Co-Educator

My name is Melissa Loche and I am an Early Childhood Educator at Watsonia Pre-School. I have a Diploma in Early Childhood, and have been working in the industry for the past five years.

At Watsonia Pre-school I will be working alongside the team in both the 4 year old groups on a Wednesday. As well as assisting with their Bush kinder program. It is a privilege to be apart of this program and I love seeing the benefits children gain from spending time outdoors using only what nature provides.

Co-Educator

Being offered a role at Watsonia Pre-School with this team and these kinder groups was and remains a dream come true! .

I see each day here as a wonderful privilege to co-create enriching learning journeys through play; to help build genuine belonging and becoming for each and every child, and our community; and am very intentional, always aiming to connect and assist through positive, thoughtful interactions.

I absolutely love helping children and teams thrive; and reflecting back to children their many strengths, uniqueness, capacity for learning, kindness, curiosity and care

My former background as a journalist means I still have boundless curiosity and am always keen to discover play-based learning with my fellow explorers for life at kinder - whether we are inside, outside, at Bush Kinder and main-site. My six years as an Integration aide and additional assistant across many Melbourne kindergartens - and more than a decade as a parent myself, also informs my care ethic, understanding and genuine desire to support children.

I regularly learn more from the kinder children here, and my colleagues, than whatever I can contribute! It sure is a privilege and I look forward to our partnership in helping your child have a wonderful preschool year.

Co-Educator

I have been an Early Childhood Educator for over 20 years and I wouldn’t change it for anything. I have been part of the WPS team since 2019 and what an incredible team it is. The part I love most about my job is that no two days are ever the same. I just love working and playing along side our beautiful children. I am married and have 3 grown up boys, so when I’m not at kinder I love spending time with them and my gorgeous grandson.

Co-Educator

After loving every aspect of my own children's kindergarten years, I left my banking career to become an Early Childhood educator in 2013. I have worked locally in both sessional kindergarten and occasional care since 2015 and was fortunate to join the exceptional team at Watsonia Preschool in 2022.

I absolutely love the supportive community here and the connection to Gresswell Forest through our Bush kinder program.

Engaging and supporting children with care and empathy as they explore and make connections with nature and each other is a wonderful privilege.

Co-Educator

I began my journey in early childhood several years ago as an integration aide providing inclusion support, as a co-educator I remain passionate about ensuring each and every child experiences their kinder years to the fullest, feeling all the joy and wonder that kinder offers in an environment they feel safe and can call their own.

I have three children of my own and ever since my youngest attended (what seems like many years ago) I have loved Watsonia Preschool and all it offers. The caring and fun atmosphere is evident, a highlight for my family has always been Bush Kinder; the rich learning opportunities nature provides and the freedom and curiosity the program instills.

To be a part of the wonderful team at Watsonia and contributing to my local community, connecting with the families and sharing in the care and learning of their children is a privilege I value and love.

Office Manager

I am a local mum who sent my children (Jack 8 and Ryan 6) to Watsonia Preschool and now have the great pleasure of helping and supporting the fabulous teaching team.

My role is to work closely with the educating team and the committee to ensure our children get the best of what Watsonia Preschool has to offer.

I love our community and always enjoy seeing our little people learn and grow through a fabulous program.

On the weekends I love watching my boys play sport (Basketball and Football). I am a Collingwood supporter and love watching them play at the MCG with my friends and family.

The beach is my Happy place and try to get down to Jan Juc as often as we can.

Co-Educator

I decided to pursue a career in early childhood after working in community health for many years and having three children of my own. These experiences inspired a growing interest in children’s play and how play supports learning, development, health and wellbeing in so many important ways.

I love having a job where I can bring my own enthusiasm for learning in responding to children’s questions and ideas and seeing their confidence grow in a welcoming, supportive environment.

My two youngest children attended Watsonia Preschool, and I’m delighted to have the opportunity to work with such a fantastic team, supporting a program that includes so many varied experiences and connections to the local community.