Mindfulness and meditation are part of our daily morning practices. It brings calmness and focus to our classroom. It teaches children how to self-regulate their emotions, helps children learn how to concentrate and stay focused, encourages correct breathing, and helps relieve stress and anxiety.
Director / Nominated Supervisor (Grow ELC Girraween)
Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care
Pradnya has 7 amazing years of experience in the early childhood sector and has been working with Grow ELC since late-2017.
Pradnya started her journey with Grow ELC as an Educator in the toddler’s room, later becoming the Room Leader in the preschool room in 2021, and is now the Centre Director since 2024.
Working with Grow ELC, Pradnya developed her love and interest in working with children. Pradnya and her team are dedicated to building positive and trusting relationships and partnerships with the children and their families.
Pradnya is passionate about developing and implementing programs based on the children’s interests, which also support their cognitive, emotional, social, and physical development.
Pradnya’s mission is to provide meaningful early learning experiences for children to deepen their desire to learn about the world and develop a strong self-image as competent and capable human beings. Her belief in nurturing, healthy, safe and inclusive environments help children engage and expand their growing autonomy.
Founder & Managing Director of Grow ELC
Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education)
Master of Educational Leadership
Certificate in Growth Coaching
Sussana is the founder and Managing Director of Grow Early Learning Centre. She is a qualified Early Childhood Teacher with a Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Education and a Masters in Educational Leadership. Sussana has been a director and teacher in a range of centres since 1997, and also has experience teaching Certificate III in Children’s Services with a Registered Training Organisation.
With this range of experience as well as her knowledge in leadership, teaching and mentoring, Sussana – with the support of her qualified, experienced and passionate Directors / Nominated Supervisors – guides, trains and leads a dedicated team of educators to provide the best education and care in best learning and care environment for all children enrolled at Grow Early Learning Centre.
Sussana’s inspiration to create and develop her own Early Childhood Education and Care organisation is her belief and passion that children from a very young age deserve not only quality care, but education and opportunities for social and emotional growth, both at home and in an Early Childhood Education setting.
Sussana is passionate and driven to embed the skills within her staff to uphold her values and beliefs in providing the highest quality education and care at all her centres. She works enthusiastically within the communities of each of her centres and sees the families as being at the centre of any success. Her strong sense of commitment to her beliefs ensures that she is able to stay connected to the needs of each of her services and their communities in a way that enhances what they are able to provide, and the way they are able to meet the needs of each child and their family.
Director / Nominated Supervisor (Grow ELC Blacktown)
Diploma in Children Services
Mel has achieved 26 amazing years of her Early Childhood career and has been sharing her expertise, knowledge and substantial experience with her team at Grow Early Learning Centre – Blacktown.
Her endless passion for young people and taking part in their tremendous developments and growth drives her to provide the highest quality of service. She models respect, fairness, patience and care for the children, staff, parents and community members she interacts with.
Mel holds a deep belief, that as an Early Childhood Professional, she plays a crucial role in children’s lives by being responsible for providing them with positive learning experiences which allow them opportunities to discover, explore, create, learn and GROW.
Mel believes her role as an Early Childhood Professional is to ensure children’s rights are met; particularly, ensuring each child’s right to have their needs met, voices heard and receive the best possible care and education.
Mel believes that the most important aspect of being a Director in an Early Childhood Education service is to build a team of educators who are enthusiastic, passionate and professional. She guides the educators in her team to be knowledgeable in supporting each young child’s development in order to lay the foundation for lifelong learning and wellbeing.
Director / Nominated Supervisor & Educational Leader (Grow ELC Killarney Vale)
Diploma in Children’s Services
Working towards – Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education)
During her 17 years of working in Early Childhood Education and Care, Kat has gained extensive experience and knowledge in the field, working across a variety of settings including Long Day Care, Before & After School Care and Preschool.
Kat has worked in a number of roles in early childhood settings, beginning by studying her traineeship in Children’s Services to become a Certificate III assistant, then working her way up to become a Room Leader, Educational Leader, 2IC, and now, a Centre Director at Grow ELC.
Kat absolutely loves working with children and is grateful for the mentors she’s had, who have helped her become the passionate and confident educator she is today. Today, as a Nominated Supervisor and leader, Kat enjoys and is motivated by the opportunity to mentor her team of educators.
Kat believes that each child is infinitely capable and wonderfully unique. Her aim as an early childhood educator is to empower each child to become independent and motivated learners through taking a heart-centred approach and providing an educational curriculum which is holistic in nature.
As a Centre Director at Grow ELC, Kat aims to ensure that we have a connected micro-community that actively nurtures our partnerships with families. She believes that children’s learning environments should be an extension of the children’s homes and interests.
Kat continuously works closely with Sussana, the owner and Managing Director, to guide her team and help them on their journeys towards providing the highest quality care and education to young children by being the best educators they can be.
Kat’s early childhood philosophy agrees with the quote, “It takes a village to raise a child”. This is shown in the practices Kat and her team display at Grow ELC – Killarney Vale, where they believe in helping our families to do just that, by loving and educating each child as if they were our own.
4 November 2021: Diwali Celebration
Diwali is the festival of lights and a special cultural event we host each year. Children learn about this famous Hindu event through lovely art experiences, group times and videos to build knowledge and respect for the cultures of our world.
19 November 2021: Graduation Celebration
As the end of the year nears, it is time to farewell our school leavers and celebrate them as they move onto the next stage of their life! The children perform for their families, receive their graduation certificates, and finish off with a disco and luncheon. It is a lovely way to see them off to big school.
3 December 2021: Christmas Concert
This special event is our annual end of year party. The children perform for their families and finish up with a party. It is a time for families to come and enjoy themselves, and watch their children in a performance. It is very cute and wonderful to be a part of!
13-17 December 2021: Parent-Teacher Interviews Week
This is our final parent-teacher interview week for the year. Families will be allowed to book appointments for face-to-face conversations about their children and their development.
5 November 2021: Diwali
Staying connected within our Grow community, we dive into Diwali, the ‘festival of lights’ celebration. Children and educators will attend care in beautiful Indian cultural wear and throughout the day, will learn about the food and traditions of this spectacular festival.
12 November 2021: Graduation Day
Our school readiness children will showcase their skills and learning on 12/11/21 on Graduation Day! This is the last step for our graduands to finish their journey at Grow ELC Girraween and begin their new journey into big school. The children will perform a tasteful piece to represent their time at Grow ELC and enjoy this special celebration day.
6-10 December 2021: Parent-Teacher Interviews
Parents and educators gather for one last time in the year to formally discuss their child/ren’s growth and learning through parent-teacher interviews. Parents and educators collaborate together to build on their child’s present and future learning.
15 December 2021: Christmas Celebration
This is the last celebration of the year and involves a festive and fun collaboration between children, families and educators. The Christmas spirit flows throughout centre as children perform their special songs, participate in art and craft experiences, meet jolly Santa, attend Emma’s entertainment fun show, and finish off the special celebration with a Christmas picnic lunch.
4 November 2021: Diwali
This event also known as ‘the festival of lights’ will be celebrated at our centre with the families involved virtually, and the learning environments lit up with the children’s creative decorations.
16 November 2021: Graduation
Graduation is all about celebrating the success of our preschool children and having an unforgettable ceremony to add to their memories of their experiences at Grow Early Learning Centre.
10 & 13 December 2021: Christmas Concert & End of Year Celebrations
This will be our final special event of the year, celebrating the children’s and educators’ achievements, successfully ending another year together and farewelling the old year. Also, Santa will be visiting our service!
13-17 December 2021: Parent Teacher Interviews
This week is an opportunity where parents can meet one-on-one with their child’s educator/teacher to discuss (with no interruptions) their child’s progress and development.