Laura Edstrom
Little Saints Early Childhood Teacher & Pedagogical Leader
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Hello, I'm Laura Edstrom (Miss Laura), I believe early childhood education should be playful, meaningful, and built on strong relationships. Children thrive when they feel safe, connected, and confident, and my role as an Early Childhood Teacher is to nurture that sense of belonging while fostering curiosity, creativity, and a love for learning. Play is at the heart of my teaching. It is the most natural way for children to explore, test ideas, and develop essential life skills. Through open-ended, hands-on experiences, I encourage children to take risks, ask questions, and follow their own learning journeys.
My approach is child-led and strength-based, ensuring each child’s strengths and interests are recognised and celebrated. I am passionate about developing right-brain learning before left-brain learning, allowing children to build creativity, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving skills. Before children write, they must squeeze, mix, roll, and manipulate materials, strengthening their fine and gross motor skills through rich sensory experiences that lay the foundation for future learning I am committed to inclusivity and respect for diversity, creating a learning environment where every child feels valued. Relationships are central to my philosophy, and I believe learning happens best when children feel emotionally secure and connected to those around them.
Partnering with families is key, as they are a child’s first and most important teachers. Above all, I want children to leave my care feeling capable, confident, and excited about learning. My goal is to create a space where they feel empowered to explore, grow, and develop a deep sense of self that lasts a lifetime
Penny Pettit
Little Saints Service Leader
Hello everyone, my name is Penny Pettit (Mrs Penny), and I am the Service Leader of Little Saints Preschool. I have been working in the early childhood education sector for 13 years, and throughout this time I have developed a strong commitment to inclusion, best practice, and teamwork.
I truly enjoy working alongside educators, children, families, and the wider community to create a space where everyone feels safe, respected, and valued. I believe that meaningful relationships are at the heart of quality education, and that we are constantly growing and evolving as educators as we lead the learning that matters.
My philosophy of education is influenced by Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences, the Reggio Emilia approach, and The Curiosity Approach. Together, these perspectives reflect who I am as an educator and leader, valuing children as capable, curious learners and recognising the importance of personalised, responsive learning environments.
When working alongside children, families, and educators, I strongly advocate for creating environments where respect and diversity are celebrated, and where children feel safe and secure to take risks, explore, and succeed.
Providing open-ended, play-based experiences and child-led provocations encourages children to collaborate, research, and enquire within their learning. Educators co-construct learning alongside children by listening, responding, and creating environments that stimulate curiosity and deep thinking.
I am passionate about promoting Little Saints Preschool as a learning community and value our strong connections with St John’s Lutheran School and the wider Jindera community. My goal is to continue providing a safe, nurturing, and engaging space for all children, families, and community members—past, present, and future.
Amy Sonter
Little Saints Educator
Bridgette LeeLittle Saints Educator
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Hello, I’m Amy Sonter (Miss Amy) and I am an educator in Little Saints full time. In my preschool philosophy, I believe in creating a nurturing and inclusive environment where every child feels valued and supported. My goal is to foster a sense of belonging and encourage each child to embrace their unique qualities and abilities. Love, laughter, and joy are essential to me, as I strive to create a fun and engaging atmosphere where children can freely express themselves and explore their creativity. Building strong relationships with children and their families is at the heart of my philosophy, as it promotes their growth and development. I also believe in promoting kindness, and empathy, and celebrating diversity in the preschool room. Teaching children about compassion and understanding helps them develop essential social skills and build positive relationships with their peers. I also value the importance of outdoor play and free play, by providing opportunities for hands-on exploration, open-ended activities and projects that inspire their natural curiosity. By encouraging children to ask questions, problem-solve, and find their own solutions. I aim to instil a sense of wonder and environmental and cultural understanding in young minds. Additionally, I strongly believe in giving children a voice and ensuring they are heard and understood with a sense of agency. I value their perspectives and provide a safe and supportive environment where their voices truly matter.
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Hi families, my name is Bridgette. Many people know me as Bridge, Bridgey or Bee. I’m a diploma-qualified Early Childhood Educator with many years of experience working with children from birth to five years.
Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work across a range of age groups and roles, which has helped me build a strong understanding of early childhood development and the importance of supporting each stage with care, intention, and patience. Outside of work, you'll find me at the gym most mornings before work, On the weekends I enjoy keeping busy and active, you’ll usually find me working at my family business or playing league tag.
This active lifestyle reflects the energy, teamwork, and strong sense of community I bring into my work with children and families. No two days are ever the same in early childhood and that’s what I love most. Children bring so much joy through their laughter, curious questions, imaginative play, creative art, and endless enthusiasm for movement and fun. I believe every child is a unique individual, shaped by their own interests, culture, religion, values, and family background. As an educator, it’s my role to respect, nurture, support, and celebrate these differences, while helping each child feel safe, valued, and confident in who they are. I strongly believe in the power of play-based learning.
Through play, children are given opportunities to explore, discover, imagine, create, and develop essential life skills in a meaningful way. My goal is to provide a warm, inclusive, and engaging environment where children feel encouraged to try new things, build on their strengths, and take pride in their achievements. Supporting children as they grow, learn, and develop a strong sense of self is why I do what I do, and I feel incredibly grateful to be part of each child’s journey.
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Melisa Russell
Little Saints Educator
My name is Melisa Russell (Mrs Mel.) I have a family of four. We have 3 dogs Tipsy, Cookie and James. In my free time, I like going for walks, spending some quiet time on my own and camping at relaxing spots close to water to be able to relax and wind down. As an educator for nearly 8 years, my passion is building great connections with children to enable children to feel safe and secure in their environments so they can learn and build on their strengths with supportive educators. I also have a strong belief in working in a strong team environment in which we as a group can be involved in children’s daily routines to observe children build and grow into strong individuals. My passion as an educator is building great connections with families to ensure all families and children feel they are in an environment that is like a home away from home setting. I believe great care for children includes collaborating with parents and allowing parents to input regularly on what is happening at home and asking parents for regular input on what they would like to see in the room setups to build on children’s development and learning. As a previous family daycare educator, I enjoyed connecting with the local community and allowing children to explore nature utilising natural resources for experiences letting children be children understanding their abilities and taking risks with the guidance of a supportive educator.