Our Teaching Team
Kirsty Halliday
Director & Early Childhood Teacher
With a background in secondary education before retraining in early childcare, Kirsty brings to the preschool, teaching experience, a passion for working with young minds, an appreciation for the outdoors and nature, highly developed organisational skills and a commitment to lifelong learning. Since teaching at Kendall Community Preschool in 2017 and working alongside inspiring and talented educators, as well as undertaking extensive professional development, her teaching philosophy has evolved to encompass the educational approaches of Reggio Emilia, Montessori and Clair Warden’s nature-based models. When not at preschool tending to the preschool chooks and gardens, she enjoys spending her recreation time discovering beautiful places in nature, growing fresh produce to cook with at home, travelling and eating adventurously at new local restaurants when the opportunity arises.
Helen Brockbank
Office Manager
Helen is the very efficient Office Manager at Kendall Community Preschool. She always has her ‘finger on the pulse’ and juggles budgets and wish lists with great prowess! Her helpful nature means that she can answer the trickiest questions – even the ones to do with Child Care Subsidy!! Although she has travelled extensively & loves the environment in Africa, Helen and her family enjoy caring for all of their animals on the family farm and living sustainably.
Donna Gudgeon
Educator
Donna is proudly local to the Kendall community and is a thoughtful, warm and experienced educator. Young children’s literacy is her passion and strength. Reading beautifully and uniquely illustrated story books that engage children and spark their broader thinking and imagination is of special delight to her. Donna enjoys healthy eating and the outdoors, and can regularly be seen pursuing hiking, water-skiing, pickleball and more recently cycling. She loves to hang out with her adult children (both past Kendall Preschool students) and her husband Gav. A good coffee is her addiction!
Kate Burton
Educator
Kate is an enthusiastic educator who loves to engage in meaningful experiences with children, supporting them to develop sense of self and wonder about the world, and build the confidence to be creative, share their ideas and make personal decisions. When not in the classroom, Kate enjoys time outdoors with her husband and son exploring the country and beautiful local waterholes, waterfalls and bushland in her 4WD. She also enjoys some quiet time recharging her batteries through yoga, walking and hanging out with family and friends.
Sharon Ward
Educator
Sharon’s recent appointment early in 2023, to our teaching team after previously working casually was exciting news for us all. Her quiet, hard-working, patient and creative nature sees her effortlessly engage with children through actively listening to their wonderings and stories. She builds genuine connections with each child and always gets plenty of cuddles each week when she arrives at preschool! Outside of work, Sharon has a busy family to care for, whilst fitting in time to enjoy exploring new places together in the outdoors.
Janeece Adcock
Educator
Janeece came to our team in 2023 after teaching at Comboyne and Port Macquarie Community Preschools. She is a dedicated educator whose calm and cheerful manner is a wonder. Many children flock to Janeece for quiet play, conversation of a good book on the lounge. She is an active community member participating in programs in teh Bella Bago Community Choir, Landcare Australia (bush regeneration) and Wauchope Arts Council. In her leisure time she enjoys photographing nature, bush and beach walks, word games and working with natural fibres.
Cathy Steinmetz
Preschool Assistant
Miss Cathy has been a member of the preschool team since the preschool opened in 1988! She has always been a favourite with the children, having ‘eaten’ more sand pies and cups of tea specially made for her than she can remember. Her life-long connection to the Kendall community is very strong and she is often seen out at local cafes savouring their cakes, tarts, muffins and coffees. Her favourite… a good carrot cake!
The Preschool Chook Flock
Feathered Professors
The Kendall Community Preschool chooks have a special role at preschool! Not only are they our chief food scrap recyclers, they teach the preschool children how to nurture, to develop empathy, and to take care and enjoy closeness with living things. Under their expert tutorage, all aspects of chook care, responsibility and love are mastered by each preschool group!
