2022 Kindy graduates: Hundreds of Toowoomba kids take next step

These are the Glenvale World of Learning Centre kindy students who are set to attend big kid school next year. See what some of them had to say and check out our photo gallery here.

The graduating class of the Glenvale World of Learning Centre is expected to achieve big things when they grow up, with the sweet bunch sharing a diverse combination of career ambitions.

Hard worker Hunter has committed himself to two jobs, working at Bunnings Warehouse during the day and as a crab catcher on weekends.

(back from left) Prazyan, Rylan, Ryan and Summa. (front from left) Hunter, Talayah, Emily and Frankie. Glenvale World of Learning. Kindergarten graduations. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Not fussed about a specific career, Summa just wants to be like her mum.

Rylan has plans to be a ninja, while Frankie hopes to be a school teacher and Ryan is set to join the police force.

Freckles Kindy and Learning Centre

The Chronicle sat down with hundreds of kindergarten students who are set to embark on the next phase of their education journeys when they attend big kid school in 2023.

Joining the masses are the graduates from the Freckles Kindy and Learning Centre including Lettie Gebbie, Clementine Kavanagh and Claire Bass.

(from left) Claire Bass, Lettie Gebbie and Clementine Kavanagh. Freckles Kindy & Learning Centre Toowoomba. Picture: Nev Madsen

While little Claire is still figuring out what career she would like to pursue when she’s older, Lettie and Clementine are eager to help others.

Animal lover Lettie hopes to become a vet so she can look after animals, while Clementine is looking forward to becoming a doctor so she can help sick people feel better.

Oak on South

The kindy graduates from Toowoomba’s Oak on South centre could barely contain their excitement when discussing their move to big kid school next year.

Kirra Loy said she was looking forward to reading books, playing with toys and “listening to the teacher.

When she grows up she plans to open her own shop which sells a variety of produce, baked goods, soup and “fish fingers”.

Elana Cooper said she would like to become a nurse so she can help patients with “wobbly teeth” and Ryal Mortensen just wants to get paid for “playing on the iPad”.

Meanwhile Ramsey Dalzell who loves playing with LEGO, wants to be a race car or train driver and Elijah Reimers is a scientist in the making.

As for Nina O’Dempsey, she plans to live on a tropical island where she can direct traffic and “tell cars to go left or right”.

LEAD Childcare Toowoomba

Garden enthusiasts from across the country visit the region every September to check out the flowers on display – but there may be a new star of the show.

When Sophia Quast, 5, grows up she said she wants to be a fairy for the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers.

In addition to wearing sparkly dresses and wings, she said the benefits of the job would include “not having to do anything”.

LEAD Childcare Toowoomba pre-Prep students (from left) Harlix Coutts, Sophia Quast, Pippa Knight, Georgia Ryan, Avaleigh Dixon and Hunter Arthur. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Joining Sophia when she graduates from the Toowoomba LEAD Childcare kindergarten, will be Avaleigh Dixon who wants to be a firefighter and Hunter Arthur who wants to go to the gym and lift weights all day.

Meanwhile Georgia Ryan hopes to become a police officer so she can “catch robbers” and spend time with police dogs.

Oak on Erin

You probably think personal trainers and magicians are at opposite ends of the scale, but one kindy graduate from the Oak on Erin Early Education Centre thinks differently.

Unable to choose between the diverse professions, Willow Rhodes, 4, managed to combine the two, inventing a concept which is likely to gain the attention of many clients.

Willow said she will use her magician tricks to help people get strong, without the need to exercise or modify their diet.

She said while she hadn’t tested out these powers yet, she planned to test them out on her parents, grandparents, two pet dogs and cat.

Oak on Erin pre-Prep students (from left) Spencer Strugnell, Aniyah-Lopa Levaai and Willow Rhodes. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Her friend Spencer Strugnell plans to be a professional football player who represents Australia in the World Cup, while Bailey Steemson wants to play with toy cars and get paid for it.

Ava Kneller dreams of becoming a nurse so she can make people feel better and give them lollipops and Amity McHugh, who loves Elsa from Frozen, plans to become the Disney princess one day.

Animal lover Aniyah-Lopa Levaai wants to be a vet to help pets who require surgery and wants to “put bad guys who hurt animals in jail”.

Springs Early Education on Donahue

For Evelyn Furey and Victoria Kizito, when they grow up they want to follow in the footsteps of their parents.

Little Evelyn, 5, said she wanted to work on a computer like her mum, but when asked why that job sounded fun, she sighed and said “it would be boring, but I just want to be like mummy”.

Meanwhile, Victoria, 5, said her mum is a nurse and believes if she follows the same path, her mum will give her “all her earrings and make-up” and take her to the park without her brother.

Springs Early Education pre-Prep students (from left) Elora Presland, Victoria Kizito, Hunter Lawson and Evelyn Furey. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Joining the two Springs Early Education kindergarten graduates is Hunter Lawson, who wants to be Sonic the Hedgehog when he’s older so he can turn into a ball, do big kicks and run faster than his pet dog.

Malakai Schilg plans to be a fireman and said while fires would scare him, his tactic would be to “just run at it and wet it” and Bronte Gainey wants to be a nurse to look after “cute babies”.

The group are from the Donahue St centre.

Vera Lacaze Memorial Community Kindergarten

Toowoomba is full of kids with many talents, but very few hold the title of a “paper plane making expert” like Finneas Martin, 5.

The Vera Lacaze Memorial Community Kindergarten graduate has even perfected the art of handmade plane launchers, using just paper and rubber bands.

He discovered his love for planes after he flew in one from Brisbane to Sydney with his family and could see the ocean from his window seat.

But Finneas was quick to remind his kindy teachers he was on a real plane, not one made out of paper.

Vera Lacaze Memorial Kindergarten pre-Prep student Finneas Martin. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Eager to turn his paper plane making hobby into a career one day, Finneas is proud of his collection which currently consists of 50 models.

His peers are heading into a slightly different direction, with Isla Geronimos, Hania Alnaggar and Judah Cochrane all considering a career in science.

While Madeleine Venz believes she is a natural at taking photographs, as well as posing for them.

Kath Dickson Education and Care Centre

Working out what career to pursue is a challenge for most people, but the kids from Toowoomba’s Kath Dickson Education and Care Centre seem to have it all figured out.

Leo Sullivan plans to become a police officer, and while he admits chasing “baddies who take things from people’s homes” would be scary, he said he would just “face the fear”.

Meanwhile, Lise Levale believes she will go on to become an astronaut, and has already volunteered her dad to go to space with her.

Toowoomba Central Kath Dickson Education and Care Centre Toowoomba pre-Prep students Nina Ward-Pearson (top), Eloise Goos and Leo Sullivan. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Nina Ward-Pearson, however, would prefer to keep her feet on the ground and follow in the same footsteps as her mum, who is an educator, while spending all her money on high-heeled shoes because “they’re pretty”.

Sweet tooth Eloise Goos hopes to become an ice-cream delivery driver, while Ezekiel Heslop said he would open a cake shop with his mum.

While both admitted they loved the respective snacks, they promised not to eat all of their stock on the job.

The education centre’s kindy class is set to graduate this month.

Oak On Jellicoe

Keen to master the karate chop, fight crime and eat pizza for the rest of their lives, Finn Kropp, Archie Firth and Logan Krisanski are destined to become Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

The trio of best friends who are set to graduate from their kindergarten at Oak on Jellicoe this month, have always enjoyed watching the humanoid turtle superheroes on television.

Oak on Jellicoe pre-Prep students (from left) Finn Kropp, Archie Firth and Logan Krisanski get into Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle mode. Picture: Kevin Farmer

With plans to follow in the footsteps of the fictional characters and become ninja turtles themselves, the boys have even discussed their costume choices.

Wearing the red suit will be Archie, while Finn and Logan are battling it out to wear blue.

“Our favourite turtle is Leonardo because he’s the boss,” Archie said.

“We want to learn karate, fight bad guys and eat pepperoni pizza.”

Oak on Jellicoe pre-Prep students (from left) Rosie Bethel, Finn Kropp, Ava Huth, Logan Krisanski, Addelyn Olsen and Archie Firth. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Meanwhile their classmates plan to head into different directions with Rosie Bethel hoping to perform ballet on Broadway, Ava Huth looking to teach science and Addelyn Olsen interested in being an artist who specialises in “pink unicorn” drawings.

Toowoomba Anglican School

Forty-four eager kindergarteners will graduate from Toowoomba Anglican School this year and have exciting career aspirations.

Harry McIntyre hopes to become a scientist so he can “make explosions” while Kit Swanwick wants to design and make jet packs for a living.

Toowoomba Anglican School Kindergarten. Picture: Nev Madsen.

When he isn’t attending kindy, Harrison Jarvis spends his time listening to Linkin Park and Disturbed in the car with his parents and has led to his dream of becoming a drummer.

Ashleigh McNamara, Ruby Eales and Harriet Wagner all plan to follow the career path of a veterinarian to help “kittens, rabbits and leopards.”

And fashionista Isabelle Pascoe believes she is destined to become a fashion designer and make “lava lamp dresses” for her mum to model.

Springs Early Education on Jewell

For Cara Roberts and Katherine Olive, they have already mapped out their entire lives.

The pair who are graduating from the Springs Early Education on Jewell kindy class this year, said they can’t wait to grow up.

With plans to marry two of the boys in their kindy class, the two friends said the four of them will then move into the same house, cook dinner for their children every night and attend “disco parties”.

Content with being a stay-at-home mum, Cara said she “talks too much” to work in an office.

As for Katherine, she plans to become a professional gymnast, as well as a rugby union player.

“(Cara) just doesn’t want to do work,” she said.

“I don’t mind as long as I get nap time.”

Meanwhile their peer Kairo Mahler aspires to make people laugh by becoming a comedian.

And Connor McEwan who backs the NSW Blues in league and Queensland Reds in union, wants to play football for either team when he’s older.

Little Miracles Community Kindergarten

They may have years to decide on the career path they wish to follow, but for the graduating kindy classes at Little Miracles, they have a pretty clear idea of their dream professions already.

Ruby Maben, believes she has what it takes to be a professional gymnast and plans to enter the Olympics.

While Leo Bento, dreams of one day working in a toy shop so he can play with all the merchandise.

His friend Ruby was quick to inform him this may result in getting fired though.

Mia Smith-Jones, and Maddie Todd, hope to become police officers so they can “catch baddies” while Jack Fry and Michael Blumke want to build houses for people to live in.

Keen to follow in the footsteps of his dad who works at Toll, Ajeet Mann, is certain he will one day be driving the company’s delivery truck.

Cherubs Early Learning and Kindergarten

It’s been an eventful year for the students from Cherubs Early Learning and Kindergarten who are just weeks away from graduating.

For William Cameron, his favourite memory from the year has been playing in the sandpit and creating fake snow out of water and baking soda, as part of a Christmas craft activity.

“It was the first time I’ve been to the snow,” William said.

Despite his love for dinosaurs and fossils, little William plans to become a builder when he’s older.

While Heidi McDonell who is a self-proclaimed fashionista, hopes to design clothes for a living.

A fan of pink or purple sparkly dresses, Heidi said her favourite accessories to pair the outfits with were her earrings and pink cape.

Best friends Huckleberry Vincent and Anastasia Trevisani are excited to attend prep next year because they will “get to eat snacks at break time” and play with Transformer toys.

Anastasia said she wants to be a nurse when she grows up so she can help people.

While Huckleberry hopes to become a space explorer because he wants to “see what is far away in the galaxy”.

His favourite planet is Neptune because “it’s the coldest planet and the wind goes fast up there.”

Rosemont Cottage Kindergarten

Some kids dream of becoming teachers, nurses and doctors, but Rosemont Cottage Kindy graduate Patrick Taylor plans to be Spider-Man when he grows up.

The four-year-old is thrilled to attend prep next year as he will be joining his big brother who Patrick says he loves because he’s a “good boy”.

With too many Spider-Man suits to choose from, Patrick said he loves the superhero because of how he swings from webs in the air.

Fully committed to the job, Patrick said he was looking forward to the moment he gets bitten by a spider to give him his “spidey senses.”

Joining him at the graduation ceremony on December 2, are five other kindy students including Tyler Lovedee and Alexander Cochrane.

Tyler, 5, hopes he’ll learn to ride big bikes at school and wants to work with trucks when he’s older, while Alex, 5, hopes to be a professional motorcycle rider.

The trio agreed they were most excited about the cake being served at their graduation afterparty.

Concordia Lutheran Kindergarten

Excitement is high in the classrooms of Toowoomba kindergartens with the region’s next batch of graduates set to attend prep next year.

Thirty-nine students from Concordia Lutheran Kindergarten on Warwick St, are set to progress to prep next year including Scarlett Van Drimmelen, Makinlay Bailey and Aurora Williams.

While it’s been a year full of highs for Scarlett, 5, who loves rainbows, unicorns and getting her face painted, it has also been one of her hardest.

In July she was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome – a rare condition where the body’s immune system attacks the nerves, and was sent to a Brisbane Hospital for treatment after losing all motor functions.

The inspiring little trooper has defied all odds in a matter of months, teaching herself how to walk, eat and write again.

Enthusiastic about attending prep next year, Scarlett hopes to learn how to climb the monkey bars, but is adamant her favourite animal is a turtle.

Her classmates Makinlay and Aurora have loved playing on the swings and slides at kindy this year.

The pair who are both older siblings also enjoy role playing “mums and dads” because it reminds them of looking after the younger members of their families.

Aurora who achieved her kindy goal this term of learning to write her full name, hopes to be a zookeeper when she grows up so she can look after the “big cats”.

While Makinlay intends to work in a hospital because she “loves ambulances”.