Over the Years
"Wahroonga"
The word Wahroonga is an Aboriginal word that means ‘Our Home.’ At Wahroonga Pre School, we are honoured to have such a special name that is embedded in Australian culture. We feel the name encapsulates our community centred and homely pre-school, where everyone has a place and everyone belongs.
Our kindergarten was established in 1983 by the Diamond Valley Shire, along with a group of dedicated parents and educators, who were passionate about creating a high-quality kindergarten for the new and thriving community of Greensborough.
Since then, Wahroonga Pre School has seen many changes in its community, surroundings, educators and of course, families and students.
This history can be seen as you walk the brick path to our front door. Each brick is inscribed by children and parents who attended the kindergarten in the 1990s.
Over the years the kindergarten has been managed by many, many different parent committees, all made up of hardworking volunteer parents who wanted to give back to their community.
Wahroonga Pre School has also been lucky enough to have a history of experienced, enthusiastic and energetic educators who brought the kindergarten to life so that each cohort of children could be nurtured and excited by learning about the world around them.
The legacy of these parents and educators can be seen and felt all around the kinder:
- Many internal renovations have occured within the building. The children’s playroom, as well as the bathrooms, kitchen and kitchenette, office spaces and storage areas have all been upgraded over the years.
- The outside of the building has had an aesthetic update with the addition of an amazing bush mural that was commissioned and painted by local artist, Paul Round from Urban Enhancement and was funded by a grant awarded by Watsonia RSL.
- Wahroonga’s outdoor space is ever-evolving and now includes a sensory area, mud patch, vegetable garden, and flourishing flower beds, along with its sandpit, brand-new climbing structures, ride on vehicles and natural cosy spaces.
- The program is rich with learning and play experiences, in part due to the resources collected over the past 40 years. The children enjoy using a huge range of new resources along with puzzles, books, blocks and toys that have been looked after and loved by many generations of children.
- A ramp at the entrance to the kinder making the building accessible for everyone.
Many of the parents who send their children to Wahroonga Pre School attended the preschool themselves years ago. It’s always heartwarming to hear the memories of parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents when walking back into the kindergarten for the first time since their first experience here.
“I have fond memories of Wahroonga Preschool in the early 80’s. I loved dressing up in the home corner and adored my teacher, Mrs. Lorenzini. I remember the beautiful wattle in the outdoor area and standing amongst it on photo day, having my photo taken. Bringing my Grandparents along to Grandparents day was a highlight. I painted a picture while they watched, I was as proud as punch!”
“Not only did my husband and I go to Wahroonga, both of our children have too! As a child I loved kinder, particularly the home corner and playing inside and outside. As a parent you see the other side and want what’s best for your child. From my experience Wahroonga is a wonderful kindergarten with supportive staff, a great community feeling, a place where you know your child’s needs are being considered and a place where you feel your voice is heard!”
“My kinder memories are a little hazy because they are starting to blend with the great memories I have of my 3 children attending Wahroonga, which is actually pretty cool. However, I do remember the Christmas concert, singing carols to the parents at the end of the year. I also remember playing with my mates who I stayed friends with throughout my school years.”
“My children attended Wahroonga Preschool in 1983 and 1986, which were the early years of the kinder. I put my hand up to be on the Committee of Management and recall assisting with resourcing the kinder. I particularly remember purchasing a set of large wooden blocks which I believe are still in use at the kinder today. We held many fundraising events including fashion parades, where the mothers modeled the clothes and trivia nights, which were attended by many. My children and I really loved the teachers, particularly Andrea Lorenzini. The kinder gave my children, and my 3 grandchildren, a lovely first step away from home.
“The sense of connection I formed to Wahroonga Pre School when I attended in the ’80s was fundamental. Growing up around the corner and walking past the kinder regularly as I grew older, meant the kinder was a fixture in my childhood – my kinder. The feelings of being at home, in the warm, wooden indoor play spaces as well as the amazing large yard remain strong. I still remember the tyre swings and of course the Home Corner. When I had the option to send my own children to a stand alone kinder, there was no other choice for me, it was only Wahroonga. Walking in some 30 years since I’d been a student couldn’t have been more familiar. It felt the same and no doubt I had sat on those same chairs! The chairs, tables, puzzles and much more are now new but all 3 of my children have embedded their own sense of belonging to Wahroonga. It’s now their kinder too and I was able to contribute to that by volunteering my time as a Committee member and President, showing my children how important their kinder was to me too.”
