East Timor kinder teachers visit Casey

CASEY mayor Colin Butler has welcomed two East Timor kindergarten teachers to the city.
Noemia Ximenes and Francisca da Silva have travelled to Australia to take part in a six-week professional development program. They are part of a five-person delegation organised by the Friends of Ermera.
The group will visit various kindergarten and prep classes around Melbourne and learn how to plan and run activities for children.
Ms Ximenes, whose travel costs have been paid for by the City of Casey, and Ms da Silva will also learn how to manage groups of children as well as catering for the needs of individual children.
When they return to East Timor they will share their experiences with kindergarten teachers in their districts to help establish better teaching programs.
Casey mayor Colin Butler said the exchange of information between two countries was enriching and educational.
“It’s wonderful that two very different countries can share knowledge and, in this case, for the benefit of children,” he said.
“The City of Casey has one of the largest populations of zero to four-year-olds in Australia, so the teachers are in a great place to learn about children.
“We have excellent services and programs for young children so I know that Noemia and Francisca will learn much in their time here.”
Cr Butler presented Ms Ximenes and Ms da Silva with a small gift as a memento of their time in Australia during a meeting at Woodbine Road Kindergarten, Cranbourne.