By Tyler Wright
Menzies Creek Preschool is set to shut at the end of 2023, the Menzies Creek Primary School council has announced.
Primary school principal Dale McInerney made the sad announcement to parents via email on 28 July in a letter sent to the families of the school community.
“We are communicating with you that Menzies Creek Primary School Council has made the difficult decision that from the commencement of the 2024 school year the Menzies Creek Preschool will no longer operate,” the letter read.
“In previous years, the School Council has been committed to providing a Preschool program to our community.
“We have always been very proud of the Preschool program that we have been able to offer to children and families.”
The letter said the recent outcome of the service’s assessment and rating process saw the preschool rated as exceeding the national standard in all seven quality areas of the National Quality Standard.
“This result is a testament to the hard work of the teaching team and their commitment to high quality early childhood education and care, and an achievement we are very proud to share,” it read.
“The Preschool has been a feeder to the Primary School since 2013, the Menzies Creek Primary School Council initiated the lease through the Menzies Creek Hall.
“However, in recent years, there has been a need to closely monitor and reflect on continuing to operate the Preschool for multiple reasons.”
Mr McInerney said not being able to have a facility solely dedicated as a preschool setting has been a “constant challenge” and it has now become “untenable”.
“There is also a continuing reduction in enrolments, which is something that all Preschool and Primary Schools across the Dandenong Ranges are experiencing,” he wrote.
“For these reasons, we have determined that [it] is no longer viable to continue to operate the Preschool moving forward.
“There have been many options investigated over the last several years, but unfortunately none were deemed as a sustainable solution.”
Mr McInerney said the school council would like to express to the community that closing down the preschool was “not an easy decision”.
“However, we understand that the current situation is no longer sustainable.
“We want to acknowledge the enormous efforts the Preschool and Primary School staff as well as School Council members have gone to, to try and continue to operate a Preschool.
“With that, School Council, in discussions with Preschool teaching staff as well, were unanimous in making this difficult decision.”
He said the school council wanted to share the news as soon as possible to “provide families that have enrolled their child to attend the Preschool in 2024 as much notice as possible so that they can make alternative arrangements”.
“We appreciate that news of the Preschool closing at the end of the year will raise concerns for many members of our community.
“We would like to assure you that we will continue to work with the Shire of Yarra Ranges and the Department of Education to support a smooth transition for children and families to a new preschool in 2024.
“Lastly, we want to acknowledge our amazing Preschool teaching staff, for their passion, commitment, and ongoing drive that has made our Preschool a credit to not only the Menzies Creek Primary School but our community as well.”
At the conclusion of the letter, Mr McInerney said the school will continue to provide updates to families and the community regarding any new information arising, “including enrolment options for 2024”.
“In the meantime, please reach out if you have any questions or you would like to discuss the Preschool further.”
