Newsletter - Nov/Dec

Welcome

Welcome to Jim and his family, and Jussa and his family, Nathaniel and his family, Rowan and her family, Ella and her family, Danaya and her family and Nina back from Japan.

And a special big welcome to Tamara Ann Meyer

You all would have heard Cathy and Wades bundle of joy has arrived. A big welcome to Tamara Ann Meyer born on 22 September, weighing in at a mere 4340g (9lb 11oz). Mother and baby are doing just wonderfully. We all enjoyed Tamara's first visit to kindy. 

What's going on at the Corner?

Cheetah play has been around for a very long time at kindy. It was about time the cheetah's had a jungle to be in. Did you notice that one of our rooms grew into a jungle overnight, from that many cheetah's, lions, tigers and many other animals have begun emerging from it. Our student Yvonne gifted us with a giant tiger and he seems to be a real hit. Jody visited the library and sourced many books containing a massive amount of information about 'in the wild". Our children are beginning to research through these independently finding their particular animal interest. The internet is also popular for sourcing information from as well. The singing and dancing have been a blast with us breaking out in spontaneous music and movement about wild animals.

Thankfully we purchased a few new ukulele's just in time, the children are very keen to have a go, many of them learning chords to accompany their singing and music making. And their wild animal songs.

Jody is beginning to bring in road kill again for studying!!! The children are fascinated with the bones and anatomy of these animals. If you have any small dead things that we could examine, dissect, and learn from please bring these into Dr Jody Jeckyl.

With Christmas soon approaching I'm sure we will feel the spirit of Christmas creeping into all of our hearts and lives. We celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus in themanger. Most of our children are expert story tellers that know much about the Bible.

Professional Development Teachers

Your teachers have been interested in learning the ukulele's... so..... Public kindy kindly came to us and taught us a few notes. We sang and we played... My oldest son (15years) said we sounded really TERRIBLE, but what do teens know aye!! We had a great time. We then purchased a couple for us to use and abuse in our teaching practice, the children got their own one as well to learn with us. Some of the children have taken up the challenge, NOW we the teachers sound really good. Kim and Gina had a tutor session a few days ago. The cleaner was smiling (hopefully it was joy and not pity) consequently we both have the croak in our voices. Maybe we should take the message and not sing!! Anyway we have been playing many tunes with the children since purchasing our wee treasures. We are going to get some formal training some time soon from a few uke professionals.

With this in mind...... There is a ukulele festival coming up in Kati soon. We will post this date soon. You may even find some of your teachers performing.

Healthy Food

At kindy we encourage healthy food and healthy eating for life. Please ensure you put in sandwiches, at least two fruit and vege, healty snacks and maybe one treat. Water is the best source of fluid as well. We encourage water only in our drink bottles. Please keep the stingys, roll ups, lollies and juice boxes for home treats.

We will be cooking healthy treats with our children once a week, this week we are dehydrating fruid. If you have any recipes that you would like to share they would be much appreciated. These recipes will be made available to all people interested, just ask Jody. There are many educational values in the process of cooking such as maths-weights and measures, development of social skills-listening, contributing and involvment and the development of self help skills-decision making, mastering eye hand coordination and eating well, to name a few.

Children's Writing

We have noticed that many children are using the correct letters in their names. A capital in the beginning and then following it up with lower case letters, thank you all for helping us to achieve this leteracy rule.

Baby Watching

Baby Watching will resume on the 17th of this mont with Cathy and Tamara. Come along and watch Tamara grow. Baby watching in the past has been a very effective tool in creating people who respect others and show empathy for others.

Christmas Celebration

Last year we won the best float at the parade. We are aiming to defend that title. The theme is "Christmas Song". The obvious for us is Pukeko in the ponga tree. Do you have any ideas?

Christmas Party

Our Christmas Party will be on Friday 17th December. We will have no session for that day. So please come at 9am and watch our concert and have some food.

(Please bring a plate to share and a few tissues. It's going to be a tear jerker!!)

Teacher Profile - Diane Poole

Diane has been here at kindy for just over one year. When she came she was a little quiet, but really all this time she's been taking it all in. Diane is a special teacher, she is able to recognise children who need a little extra understanding and help. She is like the quiet squirrel that see's things very quickly and moves to understand it, then ... she will go about finding strategies that help children understand their learning ways. She then has us teachers a homework pack to study and then encorporate into our teaching practice. She follows all this up just to make sure we are all on track. Di is very goal and child focussed. She always uses music in her mattimes even though it sound as though there are animals in absolute pain. I admire her passion and her courage!!!

Di  has the most perfect teeth.... Wicked blue eyes and a  butt to die for....

DATES TO REMEMBER

11 December (Saturday) Christmas Parade - Meet at Earl Industrial area at 2.30pm

16 December (Thursday) last day of kindy

17 December (Friday) Christmas Concert Party Day - 9am to 1pm.

25 January 2011 (Tuesday) First day of term 1, 2011