Start Shining Tutoring has been operating since 2020 and is run by Daniella Halakas, a primary school teacher with 25 years experience. Daniella provides pre-k sessions for 4 and 5 year olds, in addition to Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 tutoring classes.
Daniella has created a pre-k program based upon the literacy and numeracy skills children require to be confident and independent learners, as they begin their schooling journey. In addition to completing three stencils each week, Daniella covers sound work, phonics, reading and comprehension, writing, number work, addition and subtraction, shapes, cutting and patterns, with a focus upon improving children’s fine motor skills!
Start Shining also offers kindergarten, year 1 and year 2 tutoring sessions. All lessons are programmed according to the NSW Education Standards Syllabus and provide children with the essential skills required to achieve all grade outcomes in literacy and numeracy.
Educator
My name is Daniella Halakas and I am the educator at Start Shining Tutoring. After teaching in primary schools throughout the Hills District for 20 years, I opened start shining to support young children in the early years of their schooling journey. As a mother of three children, I have first-hand experience of what happens when you prepare children for school and the passion they have for learning each day! I am very passionate about helping children shine at school, and love watching the confidence of my students grow each week, as they learn new skills and share their knowledge with myself and their peers. Start Shining will forever hold a very special place in my heart and I am so grateful to be given the opportunity to educate these children and provide them with the best start to school!
Building Bright Futures
Pre-K & School Readiness Classes
(4 & 5 year olds)
Kindergarten,
Year 1 &
Year 2
Group Classes
Classes run Monday through to Saturday - There are morning and evening classes available
There are a maximum of 6 children in each class to ensure your child receives one-on-one attention
Literacy skills
Phonics
Letters (A-Z)
Reading
Writing
Sound work
Sight words
Speaking clearly
Comprehending stories
Listening and talking to the teacher
Following teacher instructions
Numeracy skills
Counting
Number work
Addition
Subtraction
Shapes
Seasons
Months of the year
Days of the week
Colours
Fine Motor Skills
Correct pencil grip
Cutting
Tracing
Writing letters
Copying sentences with finger spaces
Organising counters
Opening a book and turning pages
Social skills
Turn taking
Cooperating with teacher instructions
Listening to other students
Forming friendships with peers
Engaging in group discussions
Emotional skills
Resilience
Building confidence
Regulating behaviour and emotions
Focus and concentration
Independent skills
Being able to work independently once instructions have been given
Focuses upon a specific task until completed
Being able to ask questions when experiencing difficulty
PRE-K RESULTS AFTER COMPLETING SCHOOL READINESS AT START SHINING
Check out our star students and their incredible achievements!
Wednesday class identifying numbers
Wednesday class reading sounds
Wednesday class reading sight words
Daniya reading sight words
Anahat reading at a level 1
Angel reading CVC words
The setup
“Daniella is an excellent teacher. My son has improved and learnt so much after joining the school readiness class. She pays personal attention and guides us to improve the skills of our child. I highly recommend her for her outstanding tutoring. I can't wait for my son to start kindy next year with her.”
Nisha (Avi’s Mother)
“Daniella is an amazing teacher with so much knowledge and wisdom to share with both the children and parents too. With English being my second language, I was very nervous to teach my daughter everything she’d need to know before starting school in Australia, but I am so glad I enrolled her into tutoring with Daniella. Each week, Daniella sent through videos that helped me teach my daughter. Anytime I had a question, she always answered my call and after class, she’d give detailed feedback about the work she’d covered. I will forever be grateful for Daniella’s kindness and I feel at peace knowing I have her guidance next year as Nyra completes the kindy program at start shining too!”
Navneet (Nyra’s Mother)
“My daughter has been attending Start Shining for three years now. She completed school readiness with Daniella in 2022, and I was very impressed with the progress she made each and every week. Before starting kindergarten, my daughter already knew how to read and write sentences and I was so happy to see her start school confidently on her first day. Thank you Daniella for all the support you’ve given Ari over the years. Her love for school started with you and I’m so glad she continued to have your guidance throughout kindergarten, year 1 and year 2!”
Ayesha (Ari’s Mother)
“I would highly recommend Start Shining Tutoring to everyone. I have seen great improvement in my child's writing and listening skills. His attention span, vocabulary and fine motor skills have improved a lot. Daniella is a very passionate teacher and her love and passion for teaching the young kids can be seen by the effort she puts in preparing your kid for school. I have a 1.5 year old girl and I have already decided that I will send her to start shining once she turns 4.”
Ambreen (Ismael’s Mother)
“Start Shining Tutoring has an excellent school readiness program that prepares your child for school. My daughter loved going to class each week and enjoyed practicing everything she learnt at home. Daniella’s dedication to each student is truly remarkable and I am so grateful I found her to give my daughter the best start to school!”
Anna (Angel’s mother)
“Start shining is a wonderful tutoring centre in the Hills District! Daniella has created an excellent program to provide kids with a great start to school. My daughter is in her third term at start shining and her progress has been remarkable. She is able to write her name independently, can copy sentences and is even starting to read level 1 readers! I am so grateful that I found Daniella and can provide my daughter with a great foundation to her schooling journey!”
Amy (Chloe’s Mother)
Located in the Hills District
26 Ironstone Parkway, Gables, Box Hill
Call Daniella on 0478 540 903
or email ehalakas@gmail.com
Follow Start Shining Tutoring’s Facebook Page
