King Street Community Preschool

Ms JENNY AITCHISON (Maitland—Minister for Roads, and Minister for Regional Transport)—Congratulations to King Street Community Preschool on achieving national certification through Little Scientists Australia's prestigious Little Scientists House program, a milestone that recognises excellence in inquiry-based STEM education for young children. This certification reflects the preschool's commitment to providing best practice early learning that fosters essential skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, and creativity—vital tools for success in today's modern world. As part of this certification, the dedicated team at King Street Community Preschool developed an innovative inquiry-based STEM project, "What is it like to be an Astronaut?" Engaging children aged 3-5 years, the project allowed them to explore the wonders of space and the exciting world of astronaut life. Through hands-on experiments, investigations into the aerodynamics of space travel, live streams of space craft launches, and creative research on the planets, the children actively brought the universe closer to home. Their drawings and interpretations encapsulated a fresh perspective on space exploration, sparking curiosity and a love for learning. This achievement not only highlights the transformative power of early STEM education but also sets a high standard for learning in our community. Congratulations to King Street Community Preschool on this well-deserved recognition.