As 2025 drew to a close, the Montessori Minds community in Norlane came together to celebrate a big milestone: our Kindergarten Graduation Ceremony and Annual Concert. It was a day of caps, costumes and a fair share of happy tears, and it gave our Geelong families a chance to see, in one afternoon, so much of what their children had been learning and practising all year.
We’re sharing this recap and the video highlights below as a thank-you to every family, grandparent and educator who made the day so special, and as a small window into what community and belonging can look like at a local childcare and kindergarten service.
A Fairyland Celebration to Remember
This year’s concert theme was Fairyland, and each room brought a different story to life using props and costumes the children and educators made in-house from recycled and repurposed materials:
- Baw Baw Room — a fairy ramp walk with a castle entrance
- Cradle Room — Tinker Bell
- Bimberi — Cinderella
- Twynam — Snow White
- Woodridge — Frozen
- Feathertop — Little Red Riding Hood
Every performance involved weeks of practice in dialogue, acting and dance, and the whole centre joined together for a group performance of the Kindness Song. Our graduating children then took part in the graduation ceremony itself, sharing what they were grateful for and, for many, a proud sense of being “ready for big school.” For the full story of the day, including the acknowledgement ceremony and annual report highlights, see our Annual Concert & Graduation Ceremony 2025 recap.
What Families Told Us
Afterwards, we heard from a number of parents and carers about how the day felt for their family. In general terms, families spoke about feeling welcomed and included, about noticing their child’s growing confidence speaking and performing in front of others, and about appreciating the relationships their children had built with educators and friends over the year. Several parents also commented on the effort that went into the sustainable, handmade costumes and sets, and on how the ceremony helped mark a meaningful transition for children heading off to primary school.
We want to be transparent that every family’s experience is different, and every child develops at their own pace — the reflections above describe general themes in the feedback we received, not a promise of any particular outcome for every child or family. If you’re a Montessori Minds parent and would like your feedback featured here with your permission, we’d love to hear from you via our contact page.
Watch the Highlights
You can watch highlights from the 2025 Kindergarten Graduation Ceremony and Fairyland Concert below, filmed at our Norlane, Geelong service.
Why Moments Like This Matter
Days like our graduation and concert aren’t just for the photos, although we do love the photos. Under the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF v2.0), a sense of community and belonging is one of the key learning outcomes educators plan for, alongside identity, wellbeing, learning and communication. Events that bring children, families and educators together also reflect the National Quality Standard’s emphasis on genuine, collaborative partnerships with families (Quality Area 6) and on a strong sense of community within the service (Quality Area 6.2). We see these bigger events as one part of the everyday relationship-building that happens at Montessori Minds — not a substitute for it.
Thinking About Montessori Minds for Your Family?
If you’re exploring childcare or kindergarten options in Norlane or greater Geelong and would like to see our environment, meet our educators and ask about our approach, we warmly invite you to arrange a visit. You can find out more about our service on our Norlane and Geelong pages, learn about our team on the About Us page, or go ahead and book a tour to see us in person.
On behalf of everyone at Montessori Minds, thank you again to our 2025 families for such a joyful end to the year. We’re looking forward to more shared moments, growth and community in 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who takes part in the Montessori Minds graduation ceremony?
Children in their final kindergarten year before starting primary school take part in the graduation ceremony, alongside their families, educators and the wider Montessori Minds community.
What is the Annual Concert at Montessori Minds?
The Annual Concert is a whole-centre event where each room presents a short performance built around a shared theme — Fairyland in 2025 — using costumes and props the children and educators help create, often from recycled materials.
How can I share feedback or a testimonial about my experience with Montessori Minds?
We’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch via our contact page, and with your permission, we can feature your feedback on our website or social channels.