New teacher is

By Mara Pattison-Sowden
ANNETTE Day loves kindergarten, and not just because she gets to play all day.
The new teacher had careers in tourism, accounting and retail, before realising working with children made her happy.
Ms Day has been looking after several groups of three and four-year-old preschoolers at Montrose Pre-school since March.
“I liked primary school but I love it here. I love the kinder age,” she said.
“This is where it starts, with play-based activities. We’re building the structure to enable children to hold a pen when they get to prep.”
Ms Day said preschoolers are constantly discovering and learning in the transition to primary school.
“The children all learn at a different pace, and we need to build those skills so they can recognise their name and words,” she said.
Ms Day spent four years as a mature-age student at Melbourne University, studying a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education.
She said it was nice to see the parents being very active in their children’s education.
Ms Day said the preschool had a welcoming and friendly, family environment. “And the yard. That is one great yard,” she said. Preschool vice-president and mum Bree Kuffer said the parents were delighted to welcome Ms Day to the school. “Annette is full of new ideas and enthusiasm, which beautifully complements the extensive knowledge and experience of our much loved, long-standing teacher Sharleen,” she said.