Philosophy Statement

Kindergarten Philosophy Statement

Box Hill North Kindergarten is an integral part of a K-6 Government school. We provide families with a unique experience in which kindergarten and school are integrated in one location. This promotes a sense of journey and connection as we progress together from 3-year-old kindergarten through to year 6. There are strong links between the kindergarten and the school allowing the kindergarten children and families to feel a part of the wider school community.

At Box Hill North Kindergarten, we see all our children as confident and capable being who thrive in a nurturing, supportive and fun learning environment.  Our learners are encouraged to be the best versions of themselves through a play-based program full of inquiry, investigation and interest-led experiences.  Each child has the opportunity to be involved in the decision-making of the program, and be a key stakeholder in scaffolding our kindergarten program. We support the children in developing their independence, resilience and a positive self-image. We teach them about friendship, kindness and respect and how to express their emotions in socially acceptable ways.

Box Hill North Kindergarten publicly dedicate our service to the safety of all our children through our policies, practices and procedures; ensure our classrooms, environment and community are supporting each child’s cultural and personal safety. We champion equity and inclusion through all we do, as we celebrate diversity and recognise the unique set of values and beliefs that every child brings with them into the learning environment.

We highly value the links between home, kindergarten, school and the wider community and work in partnership with all of these groups to provide the best start for each child. Building relationships and connections with the children, families and community is a key part of what we stand for. We believe that to truly create a strong start to any child’s learning journey, families should be integrally linked in with this process.

Providing an environment that is rich in learning, interest-based experiences and aesthetically pleasing is a key part of our program. Staff believe that both the indoor and outdoor learning spaces play an important role in children learning.  As the environment is viewed as the “third teacher”, we ensure our environments are set up to evoke curiosity, enthusiasm and a love of learning. We promote our love for nature, animals and environment through sustainable practices, and encourage our learners to be active advocates for our world.

 Our team thrives on ensuring we can be the best teachers of our learners, so we seek our opportunities to develop our own professional knowledge, reflect on our program and practice, as well as seek feedback from our children, families and community.

We celebrate and acknowledge the Wurundjeri people as the traditional owners of the land our kindergarten resides.  We place high importance of celebrating and demonstrating a deep connection with the heritage of the land and creating an inclusive environment for all.

 The voices from our children, families and staff:

CHILDREN:

The children at Box Hill North Kindergarten were asked “What makes our kindergarten a happy place?”. The below are their responses:

“We get to see all our friends and play together”

“There are lots of toys to play with”

“We can make friends”

“We learn how to be kind to each other and look after each other”

“We are always playing outside and get to visit the chickens”

“We can cook”

“We can learn together and make things”

“We do Japanese, science, dancing, excursions and games”.

“We can visit school park, the gymnasium, the library and play basketball at the school”

“We can play and read with the big kids at school”

FAMILIES:

The parents were asked the questions “What are your hopes for the children at Box Hill North Kindergarten?”. The below are their responses:

“To develop confidence, creativity, friendships and a sense of self but most importantly to have fun!”

“I hope the children will have fun while developing a love of learning”

“I want my child to build social skills and friendships”

“To be confident and resilient”

“I want the children at box hill north to learn about being kind and respectful, learning how to take turns when playing with others.”

“To learn skills of independence and organisation allowing them to be ready to transition to school”.

TEACHERS:

The teachers at Box Hill North Kindergarten were asked “What do you want your kindergarten children to learn or achieve at kindergarten?”. The below are their responses:

For our children to be happy, confident and involved learners

For our children to develop a strong understanding of their emotions, to develop resilience and regulation.

For the children to develop strong social skills and have a strong sense of identity.

For the children to demonstrate confidence showing kindness and respect to others and responding positively to others.

For the children to learn how to take care of the environment and understand the connection between people and environment.

For the children to be excited about learning, accept challenges and develop problem-solving abilities.

For the children to have a strong sense of wellbeing

For the children to learn about and celebrate diversity and difference within the world around them