The IGS Early Learning Centre has been recognised as a finalist in the awards at a grand ceremony and dinner for hundreds of masked guests from around NSW who gathered at the Hyatt Regency.
“It was a privilege to attend and represent IGS and our Centre,” said Head of School Early Learning Sarah Herbert.
“IGS was a finalist in the Multicultural Program Excellence category together with several other finalists.
“The evening was a wonderful celebration of the importance of early childhood education – with particular acknowledgement of the essential work early education services have played in caring for children during the pandemic and helping our communities continue to function.”
Australian Childcare Alliance NSW President Lyn Connolly described the awards “as a wonderful opportunity to recognise the great work that educators do and the role they play in the lives of children, their families and the broader community”.
Speaking via video, Education Minister Sarah Mitchell described those present as “awesome, loyal and simply the best”.
“You are much more than just childcare workers and much more than just childcare centres,” the minister said, adding that the contributions of the sector during COVID remained “vitally important to our nation”.
Education Minister Sarah Mitchell praised attendees for inspiring their communities and developing the next generation.
Parliamentary Secretary for Education Kevin Connelly described the sector’s workers as “heroes” for ensuring that our communities continued to function during the pandemic, as educators shared their education, compassion and expertise, even as rules and structures continued to change.
Sarah said she appreciated the opportunity to articulate and reflect on her team’s “incredible work teaching young children languages and the way this contributes to living the IGS values of inclusivity and diversity”.
IGS Head of Languages Junior School Vilma Rotellini praised “the outstanding work of all our language educators, both experienced and those who have joined us more recently”.
“Their passion and commitment to their craft makes me proud to be a part of this community,” Vilma said.
“Another winning aspect for us at IGS is the fact that all of the Early Learning staff are part of and understand the impact that our languages program has on our philosophy of Unity Through Diversity in all areas of Early Learning and beyond.
“This love of language we share permeates throughout the entire school which is what makes us unique.”
Congratulations to all the IGS ELC staff.