Palm Grove Preschool

We have have something to share with our neighbours:

📚📚📚 Little Library is officially OPEN! 📚📚📚

Massive thank you to Gary, Trevor and Leckie for installing our Little Library made by the Morrison Men's Shed, Mt Evelyn! ⚒️

It looks absolutely adorable!😍

Special thank you to Jess for securing the Yarra Ranges Monthly Grant to fund this project. We are thankful for their generous funding to make this Library possible. 💰 A formal unveiling with the Mayor and Gary from Morrison's Men Shed will be held at our 80th birthday celebration. 🥳

We've labelled collected or community donations and there's just over 300 books that's been popped in for everyone to enjoy. There are spare labels on the top shelf for anyone wanting to donate some more. 🏷️

Please enjoy reading our selection. 📖

Last term we celebrated Harmony Day and the children created these beautiful handprint plates, each decorated with their own words about what makes us both different and connected.
Surrounding a world map, every plate is a reminder that no matter where we come from, everyone belongs here together.

Meet "Waa" the crow, created by the Gumnuts group in 2025! 🐦‍⬛

The children worked together to bring Waa to life using feathers, fabric, bark and natural materials. We love how much detail and creativity has gone into this piece.

What do you think of our resident crow?

Thank you for having us today Gladesville Primary School, Kilsyth

If you are looking for a local school for your little one be sure to check out this local gem. A small school with a big heart and so much to offer.

We look forward to our next joint adventure together.

On Friday the Gumnuts headed out for a neighbourhood walk to put into practice the rules we had been learning about.

We are so proud of the children for listening, following instructions and staying with their partners the whole way. Along the way they spotted trees, mushrooms, pink flowers, a dog in an orange and black coat, people who waved from their window and even a monkey! They also tuned in to the sounds around them, noticing traffic noise and dogs barking.

A wonderful way to explore our local community!

80 years ago, a young woman named Norma Jeeves stood up at the first annual meeting of the Kilsyth Pre-School Centre and read out her report on the year just gone. It was 1947. The kinder had been open barely a year.
In her own words, the purpose of what they were doing was simple: to provide "social contacts for the pre-school child" and to help prepare them for "the great adventure of school life."
Seventeen children were on the roll. They met four afternoons a week, from 2pm to 4.15pm, in the three rooms of founder Dr Deborah Buller Murphy's home. The children were, as Norma put it, "all bright and happy and they play very well together." They climbed, played in the sand, worked with clay, painted, and spent time in the Dolls Corner. The children chose their own activities, "except for the time set aside for music, story, and play lunch." Play lunch was fruit only.
Behind the scenes, the community was already rallying. A local man made "delightful symbols" for the children's coat and towel racks. A neighbour donated gramophone records. The Health Department supervisor came to visit. People helped fill the roster week after week.
Norma closed her report with thanks to all the friends "who have helped and shown their interest in the children, and the Centre." Her final words: "I say, Thank You."
This photo was taken shortly after Norma finished her time at the kinder. We are grateful to her son for giving us permission to share it as part of our 80th anniversary history.
That same spirit of community has kept this place going for eight decades. As we mark 80 years in 2026, we're going back to find these stories and the people behind them. If you have a connection to Palm Grove, we'd love to hear from you.
Image: Norma Jeeves on her wedding day. Digitally restored using AI enhancement.

"In 1994, my eldest daughter attended Palm Grove Kinder, her teacher's name was Pat Dunn. In the pictures I have shown their special days at kinder, including them dressing up as clowns (I think for Red Nose Day), the end of year Christmas concert which was a nativity play, and a group photo outside enjoying their lunch on the old play equipment.
Now just over 30 years later, I have a sense of nostalgia as I get to walk my granddaughter into Palm Grove. Although times have changed and Palm Grove has evolved, it has kept the same love and charm within its walls."
-Sharon Carmody

We love hearing stories like this from our Palm Grove families, past and present. Do you have a memory to share? We would love to hear it, head to our website to share yours.

And save the date we are celebrating our 80th birthday on Saturday 10 October, 2pm to 5pm. We hope to see you there!

Last week we joined thousands of children across the country for a live reading of Luna Roo the Kangaroo Baller! 🦘
Authors Adam Jackson and Adrian Lloyd read the story live at midday, and illustrator Jake A. Minton then showed everyone how to draw Luna Roo.
Missed it? The recording is available on the ALIA YouTube channel and on SBS On Demand.

🌴 Palm Grove Preschool Kilsyth 🌴 warmly invites you to our 🌞Open Day, Saturday 16th May! 🌞

Come and discover our hidden gem 💎 — a nurturing, play-based preschool where curiosity grows, friendships blossom, and little learners thrive. 🌱✨

Meet our wonderful educators, explore our beautiful learning spaces, and see what makes Palm Grove Preschool such a special place for children and families.

🙋‍♀️We’d love to welcome you! 🙋‍♀️

⌨️Pre-register your interest here:
https://www.palmgrovekinder.com

📍21 Palm Grove, Kilsyth 3137