Newsletter - April 2015

What’s  happening AT Pukeko Corner?

Thanks for your support in our fundraising for Vanuatu mission.  It starteAAd with the wonderful idea from Julius’ mum, Alessandra, to have a fundraiser.  It has been a huge buzz. We had great fun on our “beach days” managing to raise $150 and learning a lot about what it means to give and help people in need. It was made even more special when we had our special visitors from Vanuatu pick it up. To see these men, their faces and      emotions and how much it meant to them is something the teachers and hopefully our children will never forget. Big thanks to Jen (Olivia’s Mum) for keeping the fundraising going with our “Fitness Fundraising for      Vanuatu” event. What a great morning we had! A few sore muscles after but such a great feeling to raise another $230, with the raffle as well.

Unfortunately it wasn’t one of our families who won the Real Foodie meal pack… congratulations to Holly Marie Redmayne.  A big thanks also to all those lovely people who donated items.  It’s not too late if you have linen, clothes, tools or food to donate—please bring them in to kindy.

Bus Trip to Tauranga

We are very excited about our up and coming bus trip on Friday 15th May.  We have been invited to AVALON’s art exhibition at Creative Tauranga in

Willow street.  (Avalon is a training centre for people with special needs) We had Nadine, Megan, and Chelsea visit us many times last year to share their art ideas and passions.  It was wonderful to see relationships build and our children develop an understanding that some people may not look or sound like us but we are all God’s creation and deserve to be loved and respected.  While in Tauranga we plan to visit the Art Gallery just across the road as it has a Wildlife Photo Exhibition and  Neo-Expressionist painter Ewen McDougal’s art display.  We plan to have lunch and end the day at Te Puna quarry amongst the autumns leaves and butterflies. All are invited!  Permission forms will be out soon.

Matariki

Matariki is the name of a star cluster which is known to astronomers as Pleiades.  The matariki star cluster drops below the horizon in April and rises again in May or early June.  In the past the appearance of the matariki star has marked the Maori New Year, a time of family and celebration.  It’s a time to celebrate the earth, thankfulness to God who created it and show respect for the land in which we live…. A Land of Plenty.  We will be discussing what Matariki means, learning waiata, and how to plant and care for our garden by the moon.  We are planning a whānau celebration on Friday 18th June 5.30-7pm so we can look at the stars (hopefully) and enjoy a feast of food.

 Mat-time

Just a reminder mat time starts at 8.45am.  We make it this time  before the children get too involved and we don’t break their flow of learning.

New roll down

Have you noticed our new plastic roll down, which is over by the mud pit.  It’s great as it stops the wind and the driving rain, which will be very handy for those up and coming winter months.

Marae trip

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 waiatas and experiencing the environment.  Of course they loved the bus ride too!  Check out the photos on the wall. Big thanks and aroha nui to Christina and her whanau for their support and help.

 Lexham Park

We continue to build on our relationships with our friends at Lexham Park by visiting once a month. It’s a warming sight to see, our children making friends, and bringing smiles and laughter to our older generation.  We shared our love at Easter and will be heading down there for Mothers Day on the 7th May with posies of flowers.  Here is where we need your help, we need flowers and parent help for the walk.  We leave here at 10.10am. 

 Kapahaka

This year Katikati has the honour of holding Ra Whakangahau in November (Bay of Plenty Kapahaka Festival) and we have been asked if we would like to join Katikati Primary School Kapahaka group.  This means fortnightly our older children and those who show a real interest will go along to the practice to learn the waiata and actions. We are excited and honoured to be  involved. If your child does not attend on Friday but you would like them to be involved please talk with Cathy.

Facebook

We are trying to use facebook more as a form of communication and for marketing of course.  So if you are on facebook please like us.

Walks in our Community

Going for walks in our community is what we do. As we like to say, why stay in the fence when there is so much more to see and experience over the fence. To keep this going with our larger rolls we need your help.  Please if anyone has time to enjoy a stroll with us let us know and we will  let you know our plans. We have started taking smaller groups out on different adventures.  Please ensure your child has good walking shoes.

Yes to Nuts

After lots of discussion and surveying we are bringing back nuts.  Thanks to everyone for your feedback.

 Staff and Students

We have three lovely trained teachers who relieve for us; Janet Horn, Helen Bosson and Juliet.  We also have Coral from Tertiary College here with us for 5 weeks.  Coral is in her second year of training to be an Early Childhood teacher. We have lots of cool things planned for the next few months.  Please note them in your diary or calendar.

Important Dates:

Lexham Park                      Tues 5th May

Bus Trip                             Friday  15th May

Fire Drill                           Tues 5th May

Earthquake Drill                Fri 19th June

Thanks for all your wonderful support

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