Last Year of Kindy: 2022 Kindy Kids are ready for big school
Thousands of toddlers will leave daycare and start a new education journey to ‘big school’ next year but before they do, here are the words of wisdom from the kindy class of 2022. VIDEO
Logan
Don't miss out on the headlines from Logan. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Our 2022 kindy kids are growing up and getting ready to start a new school chapter next year as they begin their first year of prep.
Kindergarten has been an exciting time for these youngsters — some have learnt to write their names, have started reading, or have learnt all the colours in the rainbow, but putting on their big school uniforms will be a whole new adventure.
Students at Avenues Early Learning Centre Paddington donned graduation gowns Tuesday night for an emotional ceremony before their transition to ‘big school’.
Children performed an end of year concert before graduating in front of tearful parents.
Enthusiastic renditions of I Can Sing a Rainbow and Pink’s Cover Me in Sunshine filled the hall before the final graduation ceremony, which included a video montage of each child telling the audience what they want to be when they grow up.
Many wanted to be teachers — a fitting homage to the kindy educators who lead them patiently through the night’s proceedings.
“This is the first group we’ve had since they were babies,” centre manager Kim Shepherd said.
“It’s going to be hard but we are excited for them to go to big school and have a new adventure.”
To celebrate kindy graduates across southeast Queensland, we have asked some excited little ones what they liked about kindy and what they were looking forward to next year. Some have even made up their mind about what they want to be when they grow up while others are not quite ready to grow up just yet.
BREMER COMMUNITY CHILD CARE CENTRE
“I used to work in the baby room, and this will be my last lot of my babies graduating! So it’s pretty big and pretty special. This year we raised over $1000 with ‘big walks for little kids’ for Camp Quality, we've gone on a cultural journey to imbed the importance of culture with the kids and had Important speakers who visited us include Morris Woodley and Aunty Sharon.” – Teacher Natalie Fenech
Lincon Hartley
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I don’t know
What are you most excited for at big school?
Excited to be going to Bundamba … Now
What did you like most about kindy?
The blocks
Chase Bengowski
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Spider-Man
What are you most excited for at big school?
To make friends and play
What did you like most about kindy?
Playing with John, Liam, and Hayden
Hayden Slater
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A police officer
What are you most excited for at big school?
Excited to do stuff. I’m going to St Mary’s, my sister’s going to pick me up at boys school.
What did you like most about kindy?
My favourite thing in kindy is the blocks
John Williams
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A soccer pro
What are you most excited for at big school?
To play with everyone
What did you like most about kindy?
Building with Lego with Liam, Chase and Hayden
Liam Dong
What do you want to be when you grow up?
To work on the garbage truck
What are you most excited for at big school?
To play
What did you like most about kindy?
I like it so much, playing with John
Sunny McSweeney
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Police
What are you most excited for at big school?
Excited to go to prep
What did you like most about kindy?
Nat and Saroj
Alyrah Gannon
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A boss
What are you most excited for at big school?
I can’t wait to play with new best friends
What did you like most about kindy?
Playing with Frayer, and Natty does fun things
Frayer Bryant
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A witch
What are you most excited for at big school?
Play with my friends and have birthdays there
What did you like most about kindy?
Eating fruit
Henrey Riley-Singh
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A fireman
What are you most excited for at big school?
To be with my big sister
What did you like most about kindy?
Playing on the slide and playing with my friends
Olivia Santana
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Nothing … I don’t want to grow up!!!
What are you most excited for at big school?
Play, running … ice cream
What did you like most about kindy?
The sand pit and slide
Remy Pegoraro
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A mum
What are you most excited for at big school?
My mum’s a teacher there
What did you like most about kindy?
My teachers, discos and dress up days
COMMUNITY KIDS CABOOLTURE EARLY EDUCATION CENTRE
Community Kids Caboolture Education Centre Assistant Centre Manager Melanie Hodge said some highlights of the kindy year have been excursion walks.
“We went down to the post box to post a letter, around streets near the centre exploring nature as well to the local primary school to explore and get ready for prep next year.
“Another highlight has been the Deadly Kindy program that has come in to work with the children to further explore and learn about Indigenous culture.
“The most important things the kindergarten children have been learning through the year have been their social skills.
“In particular the way they engage with each other, educators and problem solve conflicts.
“I believe that kindergarten is very important for a child to experience as it helps build social and emotional skills that prepare them for the rest of their schooling years.”
Nevaeh Downes
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be a doctor or a vet.
What are you most excited for at big school?
It will be fun.
What did you like most about kindy?
Playing with my friends
Cyrus-Phil Hynard
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A ninja.
What are you most excited for at big school?
To make new friends.
What did you like most about kindy?
Home corner where I play.
Malakai Mariekore
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Spider-Man
What are you most excited for at big school?
We will learn fun things and I will enjoy playing with my mum when she drops me off.
What did you like most about kindy?
Mobilo.
Winter Wheeler
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Princess Elsa.
What are you most excited for at big school?
To play and chat with friends.
What did you like most about kindy?
Taking photos and home corner.
COMMUNITY KIDS WATERFORD EARLY EDUCATION CENTRE
“This year we have learnt how to sing the song ‘Can you sing a rainbow’ in Auslan which the kids will be performing at their graduation! They have loved learning about the sea and sea life with Ocean Life Education even coming to the centre so the kids could touch, see and feel real sea life. They’re all pretty keen for big school”. – Teacher Chantel Royal
Elijah Leadbetter
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A chef!
What are you most excited for at big school?
My class
What did you like most about kindy?
Playing and eating
Vaiolette Tanoa‘i
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be a chef
What are you most excited for at big school?
Playing with my big brother
What did you like most about kindy?
Singing songs, reading books and going down the slide
Anay Kumar
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be a superhero!
What are you most excited for at big school?
Playing in the big playground
What did you like most about kindy?
Construction and climbing
Eric Wateron
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Spider-Man!
What are you most excited for at big school?
Knowing my teacher
What did you like most about kindy?
Cooking, sandpit and playing in the mud kitchen
Taya Harawira
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be a big girl
What are you most excited for at big school?
To play with toys
What did you like most about kindy?
Making friends and going on excursions
Harrison Harper-Rendle
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to work at McDonalds so I can get some money
What are you most excited for at big school?
To learn stuff, play with some trucks, make new friends
What did you like most about kindy?
Looking for different bugs in the gardens
Peyton Wheatley
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A scientist
What are you most excited for at big school?
Packing my lunch box each day and wearing my school uniform
What did you like most about kindy?
Having water play
Folasiaimalae Kisina
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A scientist
What are you most excited for at big school?
I love big school and I’m going to see my cousin Pedro
What did you like most about kindy?
All my teachers, visiting the local school and craft
C & K KEDRON CHILDCARE CENTRE
“Many of the kindy kids that are graduating have been here since they were 10 months old! They were our first babies and have been here since we opened in 2018, we have been able to see them grow and we’ll miss them dearly. We’ve become a family and it’s sad to say goodbye to the parents also. The kids have enjoyed learning through play. It helps them learn and grow at their own pace. We’ll be celebrating their graduation with a kindy disco!” – Director Jeannie Prangell
Alexis Rogers
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I wanna be a vet and take care of all the cats that need help.
What are you most excited for at big school?
Reading books, I love Pepper Pig! And my friends will be in the same class as me.
What did you like most about kindy?
Playing! I love playing with my friends.
Stella Riley
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to draw and do art!
What are you most excited for at big school?
I’m going to school with my friends and I’m so excited!
What did you like most about kindy?
Seeing all my friends and the day I got my uniform for prep!
Georgia Moulds
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be a vet at Australia Zoo working with the big animals, but no crocodiles!
What are you most excited for at big school?
Learning to read, playing with friends and I’m excited for when my brother Max comes to big school.
What did you like most about kindy?
Playing with my friends Connor and Megan.
Finn Moore
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be a scientist! I want to make robots that take out the bins!
What are you most excited for at big school?
Learning to read and learning science!
What did you like most about kindy?
Playing with fiends and drawing, I like drawing Creepers from Minecraft!
Ethan Alviar
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be a fireman! I already have a fireman costume.
What are you most excited for at big school?
Meeting new friends and seeing my kindy friends!
What did you like most about kindy?
Having fun and playing with my friends Finn and Josh.
LEAD CHILDCARE CABOOLTURE
Lead Childcare Caboolture assistant manager Taihla said kindergarten is the most important time of their lives to build their emotional wellbeing while developing those core foundations needed for secondary schooling of independence, communication and social connections.
“Our highlights for the year have been, beginning of our swimming program where the children travel to our LEAD Burpengary service to complete their swim lesson,” Taihla said.
“The most important skills our Kindy’s have learnt is a strong grasp of their emotional wellbeing along with building a strong sense of security and independence in themselves and their abilities.”
Lucius Dragunaitis
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A teacher.
What are you most excited for at big school?
Everything.
What did you like most about kindy?
Playing with people.
James Shaw
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Teacher.
What are you most excited for at big school?
Everything.
What did you like most about kindy?
Tuesday and Wednesday I have a lot of fun.
Amelia Bray
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A big sister.
What are you most excited for at big school?
It’ll be fun.
What did you like most about kindy?
I like to watch the worms in our worm farm.
STONES CORNER COMMUNITY KINDERGARTEN
‘Our highlights with the kindy kids this year were making lots of local connections, including Brisbane council with our creek project, the local men’s shed building new benches for us and class visits from emergency services. Every year we have an art show and a fate day which the kids enjoy. We will miss our kids so much, we love our kindy family, but we are excited for them to have their new adventure.’ – Director Sarah Cameron
George Keith
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A person who goes in the wild.
What are you most excited for at big school?
Playing with my friends.
What did you like most about kindy?
Playing on the monkey bars.
Etta Bullot
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A doctor.
What are you most excited for at big school?
I can see my sister and my cousin.
What did you like most about kindy?
Do painting and play cafes.
Lexi Siely
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A speech pathologist.
What are you most excited for at big school?
Doing arts and crafts.
What did you like most about kindy?
Making things and colouring in.
Rose Neville
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Paint the house.
What are you most excited for at big school?
To play with my brother and sister.
What did you like most about kindy?
Drawing and music time.
Billie Staniford
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A scientist.
What are you most excited for at big school?
To do Reading Eggs on the computer.
What did you like most about kindy?
Playing in the hospital.
Isadora Spiro
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A nurse.
What are you most excited for at big school?
There’s a climbing thing with rocks.
What did you like most about kindy?
Cooking in the sandpit.
Jordan Paz
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I don’t know yet.
What are you most excited for at big school?
Play on the playground.
What did you like most about kindy?
Reading books.
Cameron Brown
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to look after people.
What are you most excited for at big school?
I will learn how to read.
What did you like most about kindy?
Music time when we play instruments.
Nate Gaffney
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A scientist.
What are you most excited for at big school?
Playing with their Mobilo.
What did you like most about kindy?
Cube-i (robot) and the swings.
JJ Ifeakor
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A policeman
What are you most excited for at big school?
Playing with my friends
What did you like most about kindy?
To be with my cousins
Remy Meyer
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I’m not sure what to be as there are so many options
What are you most excited for at big school?
I’m excited to borrow books
What did you like most about kindy?
Going on the swings
Mack Luciow
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be lots of things, especially a police officer and a drummer
What are you most excited for at big school?
That I know lots of kids and I can play with them
What did you like most about kindy?
I always have good friends to play with
Nahla Hatch
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be two things, a hairdresser and a Ballerina
What are you most excited for at big school?
Excited to see new friends and play games
What did you like most about kindy?
I loved all the stuff
More Coverage
Originally published as Last Year of Kindy: 2022 Kindy Kids are ready for big school
Protest erupts over claims Bayside Mayor ‘gagged and sidelined’
Redland Council has tabled a new portfolio structure voting 7-4 for the overhaul and triggering public protests over claims the move unfairly sidelines Mayor Jos Mitchell. WATCH THE VIDEO
Hunt for rider after horror hit and run leaves man with serious injuries
A pedestrian is fighting for life after he was hit by an unregistered trail bike in a horror hit and run at an intersection south of Brisbane.