Newsletter - March 2014

What’s  happening AT Pukeko Corner?

Mud, mud, mud! What fun we have been having in the mud pit.  Never has it seen so much action and been used in such a variety of ways.  To celebrate this and the end of summer we have our Slip and Slide week 24th to 28th March.

"As a child, one has that magical capacity to move among the many eras of the earth; to see the land as an animal does; to experience the sky from the perspective of a flower or a bee; to feel the earth quiver and breathe beneath us; to know a hundred different smells of mud and listen unself- consciously to the soughing of the trees."Valerie Andrews, A Passion for this Earth

Catching flies and watching flies grow have all come from learning about and watching our tadpoles grow into frogs. What a fascinating process.  We made a calendar to mark off the time it takes for a fly to lay eggs, become maggots, transform into a pupa, then a fly.   Grossly amazing how quickly it happens!! Science, maths, literacy and learning about the cycle of life.

Puppets have been a passion and interest at the moment.  Children particularly    enjoying re-inacting the story “Big bro’s coming, and Mrs Wishy-Washy.

Several children have been experimenting with our new camera, making us all look rather alien-looking, then using the computer to make abstract art.

Have you noticed how the playground equipment is ever changing.  All thanks to our budding designers who come up with a variety of challenging and fun ways of creating spaces where they take risks and learn about trial and error.

Marae Visit

What a wonderful experience we had on our visit to Te Rereatukahia Marae. It was such a     honour to be welcomed on with a powhiri.  What great learning about respect and understanding  we had as our  children and teachers put into place all that we have learnt about tikanga and protocol. What a great job they did at singing the waiata and experiencing the environment.  Of course they loved the bus ride too!  Check out the photos on the wall.

Lexham Park

Unfortunately we missed our March visit due to the residents   having an awful tummy bug but we are back on track to visit on Thursday 17th April to share our Easter love and friendship.  We are leaving here at 10am.  If your child is  not enrolled for that day you are welcome to join us. 

Prenzel Raffle

You may remember we had a Prenzel party late last year as a   fundraiser.  From that party we received a basket full of goodies that we are planning to raffle off.  We are asking that each family take 10 tickets to sell, so we can purchase some more exciting             resources.  More details will follow.

Bush/farm Kindergarten

We have always been firm believers that there is much to learn,  explore and experience outside our fence.  We often go on walks, climb trees and explore our neighbourhood but we would like to take it a step further.  We want to explore farm land or bush.  Does anyone know the    people who own the land around us; Park Rd or Beach Rd.  Obviously we are looking for places within walking distance.

We have been down to the land beyond the Kati Kaiway, there was such delight and learning that we would like to find more places. On this topic please provide your child with comfortable walking shoes.

Discussing seeds of a prickle, and asking           questions ..why do the cows need a ball in the water?

Teachers Professional Development

As you will have seen on our literacy wall display, we are excited about igniting and sharing our passion for literacy.  We discovered that literacy is so much more than reading, writing and language.  Our challenge will be including the different types of literacy in our learning stories, such as  emotional, technological, musicality, and critical thinking.  Our goal is to convey how literacy is embedded in your child’s learning. 

We will be attending more workshops in the next few months, and still have 2 more visits from Lynn (Project Facilitator) to guide us.  Reviewing and reflecting on the latest literacy research is next. 

We need to develop and value the many symbolizing activities which support and enrich early literacy, such as facial expressions, gestures, movement and dance; role play and dramatic representations; scribbling, drawing, painting and modelling; mapping, building and the construction of miniature worlds (Whitehead, 2010).

Teacher only day

We have a teacher only day on Tuesday the 22 April 2014 (the  day after Easter break), for  reviewing policies. We are in the  process of writing a policy on public holiday make up days. We  have done this a few times but have decided we need to make a clear policy about it. Any thoughts and comments welcome.

If your child is enrolled on the Teacher only day on the 22nd April or Anzac day (Friday 25th April), you can make up that day.  Just let the teachers know asap.

School Holidays

Term break is fast approaching, please let us know on the form next to sign in sheet if you child will be present for the holidays. The teachers would like a holiday too, so need this information to see if we need to book relievers.

Reources

Grandpa Gary made us some beautiful shelves and we are looking for cane baskets to put in them.  If you have any lying around surplus to requirements they would be greatly appreciated.

Important Dates:

Lexham Park:             Thurs  17th April

Easter Break:         Good Friday 18th April to 22nd of April

Teacher only day:   Tues 22nd April

Thanks for all your wonderful support

God Bless from Cathy, Jody, Kim, Corina, Gary, and Dianne.