Newsletter - April 2017

We open our arms and hearts to our new children who have recently started with us.  Kirat, Vaanya and Graham who all had older siblings here, plus our new friend Kieran who has just moved to our lovely town.

What a wonderful experience we had on our visit to Te Rereatukahia Marae and Te Puna Quarry Park. Thank you for all those parents who came along and supported us. It was such a honour to be welcomed on the marae with a powhiri.  We learnt a lot about respect and understanding putting into place all  that wehave learnt about tikanga and protocol.

What a great job we did at singing the waiata, shaking hands and doing the hongi.  Of course we loved the bus ride and the fabulous quarry exploration too!  Check out the photos on the wall.

On Thursday 4th May we are off on another bus trip to Bullswool Farm in the Kangahake Gorge.  Again we say a huge thanks to Chanelle for nominating us and for all the whanau support in voting for us.  For those that don’t know—all the teachers, parents and  children get to go for free. The permission slips are out so bring them back asap. We only need to pay for the bus so it costs $7 each. Plus due to the roll at the Kohanga Reo being small we have invited them to join us.

We love storypark with the many different ways it can help us record and build on children’s learning.  We have noticed that some parents are not reading these stories or making comments. These stories will stay with your child forever, at no cost to you.  We have seen the learning that happens when children see their own learning and want to build on it. Please read the stories with your children. 

Don’t forget that you can take profile books home to explore together.

Please remember that you too can easily add photos, or write little stories about what they are doing at home or the special events in their lives.  If you want any help with this, just ask any of us teachers to show you how easy it is. You can also private message us on story park for questions and enquires or updates on your children’s lives.

Sometimes children have bad days and sometimes it’s due to a bad night’s sleep or something happening at home that is upsetting.  If  you could let us know about such things then we as teachers can better adjust our strategy to help them.

Corina and Kim went to see Pennie Brownlie’s workshop on the importance of outside play for children’s brain development.  We discovered how incredible your children’s brains are (especially compared to us adults), and what biological urges (schemas) they have that we need to cater for.  For example throwing, gathering and  jumping.  Nature play is critical as children are earthlings and must spend time outside using all their senses. 

Kim also attended a workshop in Hamilton on Wellbeing for boys. She learnt some new ideas for engaging boys in learning, how to challenge and channel their energy into positive learning. There were some interesting facts about boys too,  boy are systemisers, they like facts and boys tend to socialize differently to girls.

You may have noticed that superhero play is a big interest at the  moment, In the past we haven’t encouraged it a lot due to the aggression but after Kim’s workshop and some literature reviews we are looking at it differently. “Engaging in superhero play is an antidote to violence and not the cause of it”. We have a set of rules that must be followed if playing. They are attached.

We have added to our learning environment some practical life skill exercises. These exercises support the development of social skills, independence and a sense of being. The practical life activities derive from  Montessori whose philosophy believes intrinsically children enjoy and get self gratification out of these activities, it also helps children self-regulate.  We have noticed how much the children have been enjoying the  activities polishing, transferring, pouring, threading etc.  I would like to add to these activities and am looking for little containers, bottles, small brass or copper objects, a small child’s leather shoe, big wooden beads you may have (please see Kim).

We have been hearing a few bad words spoken by the children.  Just remember that children are like sponges absorbing everything that they hear and see. Parents and other significant adults are their role models so we all need to watch what we say and how we label children. 

Jody, Cathy and Stacey (Austin’s Mum) are doing the Katikati Waist-Away Challenge.  So for those who would like to get a bit fitter, lose a little weight and be a role model for your children come join us.

Our relievers remain the same, with Sela, Helen and Janet filling in when  a teacher is sick or has professional development. They are all trained.

Important Dates

4  May (Thursday)          Bullswool Farm

8-14th  May                  Road Safety week with Dan the Puppet Man

11th May                      Fire Drill

12th May                      Mother’s Day High Tea morning tea.

16 May                        Summerset

18 May                        Lexham Park

19th June                     Earthquake Drill