Yarra Ranges Kindergartens

10/09/2025

The team at YRK would like to acknowledge RU OK Day? Which takes place today 11th September. While today serves as a reminder, every day is an opportunity to check in and offer support to those who may be struggling.

Take a moment to check in with your family, friends, colleagues, or anyone who might need a reminder that they are not alone. You do not need to know all the answers – sometimes, just being there will make all the difference. And start the conversation with these 4 simple steps. See image.

10/09/2025

🌸 Spring has finally arrived! ☀️
The sun is shining, the air is crisp, and the birds are singing — it's the perfect time to get outside and enjoy everything our beautiful region has to offer.
At Yarra Ranges Kindergartens we're thrilled to support Cherry Hill Orchards in Wandin East and Coldstream as they kick off their spectacular blossom season events! 🌺
From family-friendly fun to unforgettable photo ops, there's something for everyone:
🍃 Bloom & Graze – Picnic among the blossoms
🌸 Blossoms by Night – A magical after-dark experience
🍒 And don’t miss cherry picking later in Spring and throughout Summer!
Children go FREE for their Bloom & Graze event, as well as free through the week for their Blossom Festival (running during the school holidays).
It’s the season to explore, connect, and celebrate nature. See you under the blossoms! 🌼✨
www.cherryhill.com.au/events

03/09/2025

Today is the day Wednesday, 3rd September—Australia celebrates Early Childhood Educators’ Day!

It’s the perfect opportunity to show appreciation for the incredible work these dedicated professionals do every day. Let’s come together to recognise and thank our amazing early childhood educators!

Discover how you can get involved and make a difference at www.EarlyChildhoodEducatorsDay.org.au.

20/08/2025

This week we have celebrated book week at MECEC! Hanna from Mooroolbark Library came and ran a story time for all of the groups, reading award winning books and some old favourites! Some of the staff also got into the spirit by dressing up!

14/08/2025

This week has been national science week. The children at MECEC have embraced this by being involved in numerous science experiments. We watched the chemical reaction of vinegar and bicarbonate soda when making volcanos erupt in the sand, we repelled colour with magic milk, we created rain using shaving foam and watched baloon rockets blast off!

01/08/2025

This Children's Day on Monday 4th August Yarra Ranges Kindergarten proudly celebrates the strengths, stories and culture of our children and communities.

This year’s National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day theme is Little Footsteps, Big Future. This theme honours the journeys our children take as they grow - each step guided by culture, community and connection to Country.

We invite you to join us in recognising the importance of nurturing children’s voices and dreams. Together, we can support a future where every child walks strong in their identity and is empowered to shape their own path.

Happy Children's Day from all of us at Yarra Ranges Kindergarten

21/07/2025

Over the last couple of months, MECEC has undergone assessment and rating from the department of education.

We are very excited to share that we have received a rating of exceeding across all 7 areas of the national quality framework! This means that we have shown that we go above and beyond in providing children with quality care, learning and development experiences.

Assessment and rating is a process where an authorized officer from DET, observes and evaluates the quality of an early childhood education and care service against the National Quality Standard.

To learn more about this process please see link below
https://www.vic.gov.au/assessment-quality-rating-early-childhood-services

11/07/2025

🌿✨ Celebrating NAIDOC Week 2025 | 6–13 July at YRK ✨🌿

This NAIDOC Week, Yarra Ranges Kindergartens proudly celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We’re especially excited NAIDOC Week is celebrating 50 Years! This year’s theme, “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy,” is all about celebrating the amazing stories, knowledge, and culture being passed down to children — our future leaders. 🌟

We honour the strength, wisdom and connection to Country of our First Nations communities. At YRK, we are committed to respectful learning, inclusion and partnership — not just during NAIDOC Week, but all year round.

🖤💛❤️ Happy NAIDOC Week from all of us at Yarra Ranges Kindergarten!

25/06/2025

This week all the groups at MECEC got to participate in a gymnastics excursion run by Glitz Gymnastics Academy in lilydale.
We traveled via chartered bus which was a highlight for the children, some even falling asleep on the way home.
While at gymnastics, the children got to take part in jumping, balancing, climbing, swinging and other movement activities.
This is the third year a row we have attended this excursion, and each time a wonderful time was had by all!

25/06/2025

MECEC is home to two beautiful outdoor yards, designed for play, exploration and learning.

All groups share both spaces throughout the year, which include sandpits, swings, covered decking, and climbing equipment.

🌿 The 3-year-old yard features a cubby house, slide, basketball ring and bike track.
🌱 The 4-year-old and mixed-age yard includes monkey bars, a pirate ship and a veggie patch.

Families are welcome to book a tour and see what makes this space so special.https://loom.ly/r46whzU

22/06/2025

Every day is an opportunity to play, learn, and grow together. 💛

19/06/2025

🦕 Dino fun at Montrose!

The children have loved exploring Dinosaur Land, building small worlds, telling stories, and learning through play.

Songs, puppets and stories helped bring the theme to life and extend their literacy learning.

17/06/2025

⭐️What a great start to the year at Joy Avenue Kindergarten!

Their first working bee was a huge success, and the yard looks amazing with fresh tanbark and new sand.
Huge thanks to the families who came along to help. It’s looking fantastic out there! 👏👏

10/06/2025

Some days are just made for heart-shaped sunnies and big energy!
Let’s go, kinder crew! 💜✨

08/06/2025

What’s your child’s favourite thing to do at kinder?

We love hearing from families, pop it in the comments below! 👇

📸 This snap’s from Mount Evelyn Memorial, where painting is always a favourite 🎨

05/06/2025

⭐️Thank you to everyone who joined us at our recent Kinder Open Days!

We’re thrilled to welcome your little learners as they embark on their school journey.

If you couldn’t make it, don’t worry, we’d still love to show you around.
👉Find your nearest location and get in touch here: https://www.yrkinders.com/find-a-kinder

Yarra Ranges Kinders | Situated in Melbourne’s Yarra Valley, Yarra Ranges Kinders is an Early Years Manager for kindergartens in the Yarra Ranges Council area.

26/05/2025

On Wednesday, Pembroke Primary School came out to visit some of our 4 year old children.
They introduced us to the world of STEM by using bee bots! The children were able to have a go at coding the bee bots with assistance from some students from the primary school. We watched the bee bots buzz around the room and go in circles. The bee bots were then equipt with a special shell that holds pencils and then were coded to go in all directions. We then were all involved in using the bee bots to draw shapes and lines on a large piece of paper.

The children at MECEC had a wonderful experience learning with Pembroke Primary!

24/05/2025

Thanks to everyone who came down to see us for our open day! It was so nice to meet everyone and answer your questions!
If you couldn’t make it to our open day, you are always welcome to contact us and book in a private tour!

22/05/2025

On Tuesday, some of the children in the Koala group went on an excursion to the Mooroolbark Community Garden to celebrate world bee day!

There, they met Helen, a beekeeper, who spoke to them about the importance of bees and how honey is made. Helen dressed in her beekeeping suit and demonstrated how she collects honey from the beehives.

The children enjoyed playing games, dancing, trying some honey and eating apples. They were also gifted a pair of gardening gloves, and we received some sunflower seeds to plant together at kinder.

15/05/2025

On Wednesday the 21st of May, the children and staff at MECEC will be coming together to participate in National Simultaneous Storytime. This event is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places. It is in its 25th successful year and aims to promote the value of reading and literacy. This year, we will be reading, ‘The Truck Cat’, by Deborah Frenkel and Danny Snell.

Register online and you can join in from your very own loungeroom! https://alia.org.au/Web/Web/Events/Event_Display.aspx?EventKey=NSS25

14/05/2025

Our open day is coming up! We would love to see you there! FREE KINDER! LONG AND SHORT DAY OPTIONS! 15 HOURS FOR BOTH 3 AND 4 YEAR OLD KINDER!

12/05/2025

The children in all groups have been cooking chocolate chip banana muffins!
They have helped with mashing, measuring, cracking eggs, pouring, mixing and scooping!
We regularly do cooking experiences with the children through our breakfast club program!

09/05/2025

We have 2 beautiful yards here at MECEC! Both yards are shared by all groups throughout the year.
Both have sandpits, swings, covered decking and climbing equipment.
Our 3 year old yard offers a cubby house, a slide, a basketball ring and a bike track!
Our 4 year old and mixed age yard offers monkey bars, a pirate ship and a veggie patch!
Cone down to see for yourself during a tour or at our open day on Saturday the 24/5 from 2-4!

25/04/2025

Unsure when to send your child to kinder? Please see flyer for free community information session.