June 2007

Kinder teachers honoured

Denise Rundle of North Richmond’s Boroondara Kindergarten and Maree Sheehan of West Heidelberg’s Audrey Brooks Memorial Preschool have received a 2007 National Excellence in Teaching Awards (NeiTA) State and Territory Teaching Excellence Award.

Boroondara Kindergarten has a strong reputation as the first community to welcome and accept North Richmond’s refugee and asylum seeker children and families.

Half the assistant teachers at the kindergarten and the majority of families have been refugees or asylum seekers.

Ms Rundle was nominated for the NeiTA award for her role in implementing first language reports to families—crucial to families understanding and participating in the kindergarten program.

Currently 17 language groups are represented at the kindergarten.

Audrey Brooks Kindergarten is located in West Heidelberg, one of the most disadvantaged communities in metropolitan Melbourne.

To overcome these challenges, Ms Sheehan has instigated several programs to boost attendance and participation at her preschool.

Recognising that many of the preschool’s students were arriving at 9 a.m. without breakfast, Ms Sheehan offered a nutritious breakfast in a setting to foster learning and communication skills.

The Australian Scholarships Group formed the NEiTA Foundation in 1994 to conduct a program of national awards honouring exemplary teachers in Australian schools and early childhood centres.

The awards promote public recognition of the teaching profession and specifically those teachers who have demonstrated excellence and commitment in their work.

In total, 50 teachers have been recognised across Australia in 2007 as teachers of distinction who make an exceptional contribution to the lives of students, parents and their schools or early childhood centres.