Newsletter May 2010

We also welcome two new studying teachers, Rachel Edwards, who is with us on Wednesdays and Rachel Aitken who is with us on Fridays.   Our student teachers prove valuable to us as we become professional guides and our children help teach these valued people how young children deserve and enjoy being taught.  It is a lovely circle of life.

What’s going on at the Corner???

Plenty!!!   As usual we have begun our term extremely busy.
We have been going art mad, with our children painting to their little hearts content with the aim of selling these at Barrow day.  Barrow day has been organised by the Lions club as a day of fundraiser for a Whanau home in Hamilton.  There is a desperate need for a home for families of children with cancer to stay in while their children are recovering.  We are fully immersed in helping with this fundraising project.  As mentioned the children will be selling their art, and we would appreciate it if you would kindly purchase these very unique, magnificently done art pieces.
We will also have a few children’s designer Tee shirts to purchase and we are entering a few teams in the barrow run.  Where each team member will run around a course pushing a wheel barrow.  We are seeking sponsorship for each lap a person is able to run for their team. If you want to join the team let us know.  We have sponsorship forms for people to pledge as well.  We are also selling raffle tickets to win the amazing wheelbarrow (sturdily made by Grandpa Gary) filled with plants, choccies, chutneys and books.  Each ticket costs $2; all proceeds to the cancer house.

The childrens’ interests have flowed on it seems from our fire experiences.  Our children are going mad about volcanoes, dragons and the fire which is spewed from their mouths.  They are keen to become dragons as well.  We are supporting this learning by providing stories, books, and even computer programmes, encouraging art descriptions of dragons and being involved in lots of dramatic play.  We will wait with excitement as the children reveal where the learning will go to next.  Of course Cathy’s growing belly has provoked lots of baby play and interesting questions.

Our school visits have started again.  Grandpa Gary and Gina have the privilege of transitioning our children to school.  Mrs Honey (Rm 1), and Mrs Burke (Rm 2), have gratefully accepted us into their classrooms every second Friday.  

Thanks for filling out the Parent Survey forms.  Teachers/kaiako have read through them, and wish to thank you all for your kind words and your suggestions on how we can remain the best educational and nurturing kindy for your children.

After our great visits to Lexham Park, some of their residents and nurses are coming to visit us here at Pukeko Corner on 17 May.

Movie night
We thought instead of having a mid winter parent dinner, we would try a movie on the big screen at kindy, in the warmth of our own four walls.  We have had a few suggestions on the movie type, but decided to go with the newest movie
release available.    We have planned this evening for 25 June.  (Friday).  What do you think?, do you want to eat popcorn, a few choccies, and have a relaxing laugh? Let us know!  Please bring your own beanbag or chair and a blankie!

Baby watching
Rose and Abraham (Mose’s whanau), have kindly decided to be our baby and mum we watch.  This programme is designed for children to learn more empathy, to ask questions, to be curious, to be observers, to be teachers and learners, and YES all these wonderful things happen when children watch parents and their babies.  Thank you so much Rose and Abrahan for making this valuable learning possible.
We will be baby watching every 2nd Wednesday.

Mothers day
Mothers day is this Sunday.  We all know how special these people are.  How does a Mother do it? They are a doctor, teacher, judge, jury, cook, cleaner, wife, psychologists, vet, pharmacist, mediator, cuddler, listener, free babysitter, and best friend.  How on earth do you thank someone who does all this just because she loves you?  Well, we’ve come up with a few ideas, but you will have to wait and see!!

Water play
We are still enjoying a lot of water play at kindy.  We have purchased new aprons and are encouraging our children to put these on before they begin their wet learning, however sometimes a child’s learning does not wait for the apron and they do end up happily soaking wet.  Please put in extra clothes for them to change into.  We have some clothes but most children feel more comfortable in their own.

Policies and  Professional Development
Recently your teachers had a teacher only day.  We reviewed and changed our policies and procedures to suit our practices and the ever changing culture of our kindy.  These are available for you to read at any time.  Cathy and Corina will be attending a Christian early childhood conference on 21 -23 May.  We are looking forward to coming back with exciting ideas.

Housekeeping
On the sign-out sheets please ensure you fill out the time your child leaves kindy,  not the time you arrive to pick them up, eg 2.45pm.

Dance Party
On Friday June 11th we thought we should have a dance party, inviting the children and all of you whanau from 5.30 – 7.30pm.  So start practising your dance moves!  Should be lots of fun.  More details later.

Up and coming events
Mothers day              Sunday May 9th
Barrow day             Sunday May 16th
Lexham Park Residents visit   Monday May 17th
Dance Party              Friday June 11th
Movie night             Friday June 25th
School visits started 31 April (every 2nd Friday)
Baby-watching started 29thApril(every 2nd Wed)

God Bless,
Cathy, Gina, Diane, Corina, Gary, Jody and Dianne.