RENOWN TEAM

Passionate, dedicated, and caring, Renown teachers love their work, and it shows in everything they do. Our goal is to create a safe and supportive environment that provides a positive difference to all children who walk through our doors.

Renown is overseen by a Committee of Management comprising of families and friends of Renown. The day to day running of the Kindergarten is overseen by the Senior leadership team which is made up of The Director, Business Manager, Educational Leader and Quality Officer.

SALLY

Director

Nominated Supervisor
Teacher - 3 year old - Possum

Hello! My name is Sally and I am a teacher and Program Director at Renown. Working in Early Childhood Education has been a lifelong passion for me and I am lucky enough to work alongside these future scientists, explorers, artists, politicians, performers and amazing citizens on a daily basis. My love of literacy is one that I take great pride in sharing with my class. You can often find me with a classic fairy tale in hand or teaching the basics of reading and writing.
As teachers we have the important role of intertwining concrete learning with a play based curriculum, one which encourages risk taking, exploration, discovery and wonder. Making the most of the great outdoors is essential in tapping into the children’s imagination and creativity. It is for this reason that when I am outdoors there is nothing better than getting all messy in our mud kitchen!

VANESSA

Business Manager

Hi, my name is Vanessa and you will find me in the office on Monday to Thursday. I am often a family’s first point of contact with the kindergarten answering most of your questions via email or on the phone. As well as enrolments, I also get to do all the fun admin things like invoices, payments and payroll to name but a few.

I can happily help any French speaking family as I am fluent in French - N'hésitez pas à me contacter pour toutes questions relative à la maternelle !

MONTANA

Educational Leader

Teacher - 4 year old Wombats

Hello I'm Montana,
I have been at Renown since 2018, I have had the pleasure to be a student teacher and assistant teacher across all the Renown Kindergarten programs. Having completed my studies in 2020, as of 2021 I undertook the role as one of the lead teachers in the Wombat Program.

I am passionate about play-based learning, and providing exciting learning and development opportunities that are inspired by the children’s interests. In the classroom I aim to create endless opportunities for children to take ownership for their learning and allow their voices and ideas to shine through the programs we plan.

I also am very passionate about Reconciliation in Australia and embedding learning about Indigenous Australian culture and history through everyday experiences across all aspects of the kindergarten program. In my spare time I love to hang out at the beach with my family, go camping with my friends and travel!
I look forward to getting to know you and your child over the coming year.

CECILE

Teacher - 3 & 4 year old French Les Coccinelles

Bonjour! My name is Cécile and I am one of the French teachers, I currently teach the Coccinelles on Thursdays and Fridays at Renown. In our class the children have been passionate about science and understanding the world around them, especially bugs! I enjoy observing and sharing my knowledge with children! I love seeing the children improve their French speaking skills and I am passionate about linguistics. Helping children to develop language skills through the approach of learning different languages at the same time is a key component of why I love my job.

LAURA

Teacher - 4 year old Koalas

Hello!

My name is Laura and I am the teacher of the Koala program! I have been teaching at Renown since 2016 and have taught in a variety of programs including the 3s and the bilingual program. I have a background in special needs, spending some years teaching in an early intervention program. This is an area that I am passionate about and believe in implementing many strategies to assist a variety of learners in my classroom. I love to cook and you will always see me cooking with the children! I love literacy and all stories and it is one of my favourite things to do with my class. I spend a lot of time focusing on developing the social and emotional skills of my students and assisting them in developing stronger self regulation skills.

I am married and have a one year old daughter named Rose and a cat named George :) I love to go on walks, go to the park and have fun with my family. I love summer and the sun. I love eating and cooking, it’s one of my passions to cook for my family. I love to travel and have enjoyed seeing many parts of the world!

LEIGHA

Quality Officer

Teacher - 4 year old Kookaburra

Hello, my name is Leigha!

I have had the pleasure of working in early childhood for 10 years.

I am passionate about play-based learning, and providing children with rich and exciting learning and development opportunities that are inspired by the children's interests.

In the classroom, I am to foster children's independence and confidence through building social-emotional skills. I love to embed the exploration of culture and diversity in our communities, celebrating the uniqueness of every child. Kindness, compassion, empathy and respect for ourselves as well as others are essential qualities, I hope to encourage in my practice each data at kinder.

Observing every child learn, grow, and develop as they progress through their educational journey at Renown is forever fulfilling.

I look forward to getting to know you and your child over the coming year!

ALICE

Teacher - 3 year old Echidna

*Maternity leave in 2024

Hello!

My name is Alice and I am a 3 year old Teacher at Renown. I first started at Renown back in 2015 as a student Teacher, where I then

worked for 3 years before moving to Adelaide.

I have been lucky enough to come back to Renown to work once again! I am passionate about play based learning and the importance it has on children’s ability to build social and emotional development as well as sparking creativity and curiosity.

I love having fun and being active with children. I enjoy reading stories, arts and crafts as well as exploring all areas of our outside learning environments.

DOLLY

Teacher - 4 year old Les Coccinelle

I have been teaching ballet for 10 years before I came to Melbourne and completed a Master of Teaching (Early Childhood) at the University of Melbourne in 2020. It is a great pleasure for me to join the team of Renown and assist all the little learners here to achieve their best. I love embedding dance and music experiences in the play-based curriculum as I believe children can develop their literacy, numeracy, cognition, and motor skills while having fun.

SHANIA

Teacher - Wallaby Aftercare

Educator - 3 year old Possum

Hello, my name is Shania and I am one of the activity group leaders for the Wallaby program. I am currently studying a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Birth to Five) and I am excited to complete my course in 2024!

I am extremely passionate about supporting each child on their learning and developmental journey. I believe I have an important role as a teacher to build partnerships with the children and support them to love learning and I believe this is achieved through exploring the children’s interests. I view each child as unique, knowledgeable and capable and want to foster this in the classroom.

I am passionate about literacy and love reading books with the children! I believe it is an excellent way for them to explore the world around them, and use their incredible imaginations. I also enjoy supporting children to engage in active play experiences and helping them to learn how they can move their bodies in a range of ways.

IRENA

Teacher - 4 year old Koala

Hello there, my name is Irena and I am extremely excited to join the Renown team as a Teacher in the Koala Room.

I started working in Early Childhood Education in 2018, and since then I have absolutely loved watching children grow and develop each day, and it brings me so much joy to be part of their amazing learning journey.

I am passionate about providing a fun, inclusive and healthy environment for children, while actively supporting their social and emotional development. I highly encourage critical-thinking and emotional development through a variety of experiences, and you can often see me engage in meaningful conversations with each one of the children.

I am currently doing my Master of Learning Intervention and would love to use my knowledge and skills to provide better learning opportunities through inclusion and ongoing support. In my spare time, I love reading books, catching up on TV shows, going for long walks, road trips, and exploring different cuisines with my friends. I cannot wait to see what the new year brings and I am looking forward to meeting you all in the year ahead.

ANUJA

Teacher - 3YO Possum

Hello!

My name is Anuja.

End of 2022 marked the beginning of my employment with Renown, and I recently assumed the position of Activity Group Leader for the Aftercare program.

I've been employed in the early childhood field for more than five years, and I adore going on the learning journey with the kids. I have a strong interest in art, math, and science, and I adore discovering new places and picking up new skills outside. I support intentional teaching because it inspires me to create learning opportunities for the kids based on their interests. In my practice, I make sure that every child has the right to participate in educational opportunities that are significant and meaningful to them, enabling them to develop greater mental independence.

I am looking forward to getting to know you and your children in the year ahead.

RHEDYN

Educator - 4YO Koala

Hi! My name is Rhedyn. I completed my certificate III in children services in 2010 and have been working with children ever since.
My favourite things to do with the children are arts and craft, cooking, sports and science experiments.
I believe kindergarten is the most important time in a child’s life so I look forward to making it an unforgettable learning and playful experience.
I look forward to meeting all the children and families and watching each child reach their full potential.

DANIELA

Educator - 3 year old Echidna

I would like to introduce myself to you all, my name is Daniela. I will be the new educator in the Echidna Class. I am excited and cannot wait to start this new adventure with you all.

I am Chilean, and my mother language is Spanish. I have a Diploma in Early Childcare Education and care, which I obtained here in Australia. I have been working with children for over five years. My previous experience was the room leader in the toddler room.

I love working with children and seeing them grow in their day to day. I am a great fan of relationships that can be built with parents and the community.
I look forward to meeting you soon and that we can do great things together for our children.

TAKAKO

Educator - 3 & 4 year old French Les Coccinelles

Bonjour!

My name is Takako. I am Japanese but I lived in Paris for almost 14 years. I speak English, French, and Japanese is my mother tongue. I live in South Yarra and I am very happy to work with the local children. Renown Kindergarten was my first workplace as an educator when I started in 2013. I was very lucky to start my career in a wonderful environment with such a rich history. I have also worked at other kindergartens since then.

I like drawing and painting. I sometimes organise or participate in exhibitions. I also offer art lessons afterschool for primary-aged children.

I would like to deliver lots of art experiences to kinder children, Art for young children is a language, a way to express themselves for healing and fun,

IVANA

Teacher - Wallaby Aftercare

Hello everybody! My name is Ivana, and I am thrilled to introduce myself as an educator in the Kookaburra program at Renown Kindergarten.

Currently I am completing my Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Education and Primary. I am passionate in fostering a safe and inspiring environment for children to learn and develop, as I believe that every child is a unique individual with endless potential.

I am focused on fostering curiosity, creativity and the disposition for learning. As the first five years of a child’s life are the building blocks of their identity, character and cognitive capabilities in later years. I am looking forward to supporting and working collaboratively in the Kookaburra class to provide the best possible educational experience for our children.

Since I am from Indonesia, I enjoy travelling around Melbourne to find good local restaurants.

Saya berharap untuk mengenal anak-anak Kookabura dan kalian semua selama tahun ini. Saya akan melihat kalian di kelas. (I am excited to getting to know the Kookaburra children this year. I will see you in class.)

KATHERINE

Educator - 4 year old Kookaburra

I will be one of the educators in the Wombat room in 2023. I'm very excited to meet you all and getting know the children this year. My teaching career has started since 2016 which come from the love with children naturally.

I am passionate about the children learning, I love to see how children grow and develop every day. I enjoy spending time with children when we can share interests, hobbies and everything in life together. I love to hear about their daily activities, their stories and their ideas which I can expand it into their learning programs.

I prefer the outdoor areas where we can explore the endless resources, be active with lots of laughter. I also passionate about the Sustainability learning where we can reuse the recycle materials for learning and protect our environment.

BETH

Educator - Wombat

I have been working at Renown kindergarten for the last 3 years, I have worked in a number of different capacities in this time including kindergarten administrator, settling in the classroom and educator in the 3 y.o and 4 y.o rooms. I am currently studying my certificate III and will complete this in 2021.

Before working at Renown I worked as a teachers aid with a child on the spectrum for 3 years at Kindergarten and primary school.

In my spare time, I enjoy skiing with my family and volunteering at my children's school.

Daniele Borghi

Teacher - 4 year old Wombat

Ciao! I’m Dani, I am the Wombat teacher.

I am originally from Tuscany, in Italy, and I moved to Melbourne a year ago, after spending 20 years in London (UK). I have many years of experience working with school aged children with learning needs and autism, both as a specialist Primary teacher and as an advisory teacher. believe all children are competent and capable of making decisions about their learning and I view my role of teacher as a facilitator in their journey of self-discovery and growth.

I enjoy cooking and I like to share my passion for food with the children as it provides endless learning opportunities and it’s also a lot of fun!

As someone who has only recently moved to Melbourne, I often wonder at the marvels of Australian nature and, together with the children, I like to find out more about all the different plants and animals and learn how to look after such an incredible environment, as the Traditional Owners of the land have done for centuries.

I advocate for the awareness and celebration of children’s individuality and diversity, and I am passionate about developing an inclusive environment which allows every child to reach their full potential.

Developing strong and trusting relationships with the children and their families is at the core of everything I do, and I really look forward to meeting and getting to know everyone.

Nikki Ali

Educator - 4 year old Wombat

I have been part of Renown Kindergarten family for the past 3 years. I am looking forward to getting to know the children and assisting in their learning and development.

I am a mum of two and have know joined back after being on Maternity leave for 10 months. I have two beautiful girls. My oldest is 7 and my youngest is 8 months old. I am of Fijian Indian background and speak Hindi, English and Bit of Fijian as well. I am a social person and enjoy chatting with everyone.

Some of my hobbies are cooking and doing Yoga with the children.

I love working with children and enjoy getting down to their level and to be able to see what their curious little minds can do using their imagination.

Looking forward to getting to know you all and to be able to familiarise myself with the children and their families.