Centre Manager’s Report July & August 2026

Spring has finally arrived!  It is lovely to see the flowers blooming and the trees coming back to life. The days are getting longer, and hopefully, we will soon be enjoying some warmer weather too!

We would like to extend a very warm welcome to our new teacher, Lizzie, and to her son Athan.  A special welcome to Maia, Athan, Kaelynn and Raelynn, and their whānau. We are very excited to get to know you and have you as part of our wonderful Karori Kids community.

Over the past three months, we have also said goodbye to several tamariki who have taken the exciting next step in their learning journey and started school. We bid farewell to Charlie, Amelia, Luka, Alice, Bruno and Arthur.

We wish all our school leavers and their whānau all the very best for this new chapter. We will miss having them at Karori Kids and will always remember the special memories they have made with us.

Busy Kids at Karori Kids Incorporated.  

1.      Tumbling Tots at Karori Recreation Centre Tumbling Tots continues to be a very popular experience for our tamariki. We attend every Tuesday from 10:15–11:10 am, and the children always look forward to these active and engaging sessions. Tamariki enjoy a variety of movement experiences, including balancing, rolling, climbing, sliding and jumping. They also have the opportunity to explore the different equipment and resources available at the recreation centre, which encourages them to participate in active and imaginative play. These experiences help strengthen their muscles, coordination, balance, flexibility, gross motor skills and body awareness, while also building confidence as they try new movements and challenge themselves. Most importantly, Tumbling Tots provides a fun and stimulating environment where our tamariki can move, explore, play and develop their physical skills through enjoyable, hands-on experiences.	1a. Children experience an environment where they are encouraged to learn with and alongside others. 1b. Children experience an environment where they learn strategies for active exploration, thinking, and reasoning
2. Father’s Day celebration Our Father’s Day celebration was a wonderful success and a very special occasion for our Karori Kids whānau. We enjoyed a lovely drop-in breakfast, where the tamariki had the opportunity to spend some special time with their dads and enjoy breakfast together. In preparation for the celebration, the tamariki thoughtfully created special cards for their dads, which made the occasion even more meaningful. Our wonderful cook, Cel, also prepared delicious cupcakes for the dads and whānau to take home or enjoy at work. It was a lovely opportunity to come together as a community, celebrate Father’s Day, and create meaningful experiences that honour the special relationships and connections that are so important to our tamariki.	2a. Children and their families experience an environment where they know they have a place. 2b. Making connections between people, places and things in their world | te waihanga hononga
3. Music and Dance Our tamariki have been really enjoying music and dancing, particularly towards the end of the day. They especially love Danny Go and a variety of cultural songs, which have become a wonderful way for everyone to come together and enjoy some fun, active movement. These experiences encourage our tamariki to participate, move their bodies, express themselves through dance and music, and enjoy being active alongside their friends. It has been lovely to see their enthusiasm, confidence and enjoyment as they join in together. Music and dance provide valuable opportunities for physical movement, coordination and wellbeing, while also supporting a strong sense of belonging and connection within our learning community.	3a. Children experience an environment where they are encouraged to learn with and alongside others. 3b. Children experience an environment where they learn strategies for active exploration, thinking, and reasoning
4. Cook Language week Cook Islands Language Week was a rich and meaningful learning experience for our tamariki. It provided a wonderful opportunity for the children to explore, learn about, and celebrate Cook Islands language, culture and traditions. Throughout the week, the tamariki took part in a variety of engaging activities, including learning songs creating cultural artwork, listening to stories and learning about Cook Islands customs and traditions. It was a wonderful week of learning, discovery and celebration, and the tamariki enjoyed sharing and experiencing the richness of Cook Islands culture together.	5. Making connections between people, places and things in their world | te waihanga hononga
5. Indian Independence Day Our tamariki thoroughly enjoyed learning about Indian Independence Day and exploring the rich culture, traditions and heritage of India. The tamariki explored Indian music, colours, art, stories, language and cultural traditions, encouraging curiosity, creativity and a sense of respect for different cultures. Reena, who is originally from India, led a special mat time where she shared some aspects of Indian culture and traditions with the tamariki. She introduced the children to elements of Indian life and encouraged them to ask questions, participate and share their own ideas. It was a lovely learning experience for our tamariki, helping them to celebrate cultural diversity and understand that every culture has its own special stories, traditions and ways of being.	7. Making connections between people, places and things in their world | te waihanga hononga
6.Pretend Play  Over the past few months, we have noticed a strong interest in pretend and imaginative play, particularly among our toddlers. Doll play has been especially popular, with tamariki enjoying caring for their “babies” by feeding, cuddling, dressing, putting them to sleep and taking them for walks. Through these familiar, real-life experiences, children explore family roles, relationships and responsibilities while developing important skills such as empathy, communication, cooperation and nurturing. It has been wonderful to see our tamariki using their imagination, playing alongside their peers and confidently sharing their ideas through play. These meaningful experiences support children to make sense of their world while learning through fun and engaging play.	8a. Recognising and appreciating their own ability to learn | te rangatiratanga 8b. Using a range of strategies and skills to play and learn with others | te ngākau aroha
7. Going for walks We continue to enjoy regular walks with our tamariki whenever the weather and staffing allow. There are times when we need to put our walks on hold due to unpredictable weather or when teachers and children are away with winter illnesses. However, whenever we can, we see our walks as a wonderful opportunity to get out, explore, and enjoy the beautiful places around our centre. Going for walks supports our tamariki’s wellbeing, confidence and sense of belonging within our local community. These outings provide meaningful opportunities for children to connect with their environment, observe the world around them, and extend their learning beyond the centre. Some of the places we regularly visit include the local library, Ben Burn Park, the Botanical Gardens, and nearby streets such as Campbell Street and Donald Street. Our walks encourage curiosity, exploration and connection while allowing tamariki to enjoy the outdoors together.	9. Moving confidently  and challenging themselves physically  | te wero ā-tinana
8. Transition to School Programme This past two months, our tamariki have been engaged in a range of learning experiences to support their transition to school. These activities are designed to build confidence, independence, and key foundational skills for their next learning journey. Tamariki have been exploring early numeracy and literacy concepts, including numbers, the alphabet, and basic word recognition. They have also been learning about 3D shapes, supporting their problem-solving and spatial awareness. Alongside this, they have shown great curiosity while learning about our planet, engaging in discussions and hands-on experiences that extend their understanding of the world around them. It has been lovely to see their growing confidence, independence, and enthusiasm for learning as they prepare for school.	9a. Recognising mathematical symbols and concepts and using them with enjoyment, meaning and purpose  | he kōrero pāngarau 9b. Recognising print symbols and concepts and using them with enjoyment, meaning  and purpose  | he kōrero tuhituhi
9. Construction and Building Over the past two months, construction and building have been among the most popular activities for our tamariki. They have enjoyed using blocks, Duplo, LEGO and recycled boxes to create imaginative structures such as houses, cars, planes and other designs. These experiences support creativity, problem-solving, spatial awareness, coordination and early mathematical thinking, while introducing tamariki to simple STEM and engineering concepts such as balance, stability and design. Kaiako have also connected this learning to the construction happening in our local community near the centre, helping tamariki make meaningful connections between their play and the world around them. It has been wonderful to see them sharing ideas, working together and proudly bringing their creations to life.	10a. He kōrero tuhituhi | Recognising print symbols and concepts and using them with enjoyment, meaning and purpose 10b. He kōrero auaha | Expressing their feelings and ideas using a wide range of materials and modes

New Internal Evaluation:

Kōwhiti Whakapae

We have now completed our data interpetation, and this has shown us that we are still in the developing stage of adopting Kōwhiti Whakapae. To support our ongoing growth, we have developed an action plan focused on strengthening our assessment practices and making them more meaningful for our tamariki.

We identified three key objectives:

• Strengthen intentional teaching and make our teaching practices more purposeful.

• Improve assessment and documentation so that children’s learning and progress are clearly captured.

• Strengthen reflective practice and whānau partnerships, creating more opportunities to reflect on our teaching and involve whānau in their children’s learning.

This action plan will guide our next steps as we continue to build confidence and consistency in using Kōwhiti Whakapae across our centre.

Professional Development

Shasha has been attending a course focused on positive behaviour guidance. The course provides valuable opportunities for teachers to learn practical strategies to support tamariki’s behaviour, respond proactively to their needs, and create positive and supportive learning environments.

Gina with the teachers’ consultation have also been actively engaged in reviewing and updating our centre policies following the new ECE licensing criteria amended in April 2026.

Celebrations:

Congratulations to Mercy on completing her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and gaining her provisional teacher registration in August.

Enviroschools

Last 15^th of July, we hosted a group of Enviroschools educators to our centre. It was a wonderful opportunity to share our sustainability practices and learn from others who are passionate about environmental education. Chandra, an Enviroschools facilitator, has been doing wonderful mahi in supporting our environmental learning and encouraging us to strengthen our sustainable practices.

Important dates

23 October – Teachers’ Only DayThe centre will be closed to tamariki on this day. Our teaching team will be at the centre participating in professional development, training and planning.

6 November – Diwali Celebration Diwali in 2026 falls on Friday, 6 November. We look forward to celebrating this special occasion with our tamariki and exploring the rich culture and traditions associated with Diwali.

14 November – Working BeeWe warmly encourage our whānau to join us and help care for our centre environment

11 December – Christmas Party We look forward to celebrating the end of the year with our tamariki and whānau at our Christmas Party.

18 December – Last Day of the YearOur last day at Karori Kids for the year will be 18 December.

11 January – Centre ReopensWe will reopen on 11 January after our three-week summer holiday break.

Please note: We will not charge parents during our three-week holiday closure. We hope everyone enjoys a safe, happy and relaxing break with their whānau!

Important Reminders for Whānau

6 hours(at least) per day: As part of our enrolment agreement, we kindly remind whānau that children are required to attend a minimum of six (6) hours per day.

Doors and Gates: Please ensure all doors and gates are securely closed to help keep our tamariki safe.

Toys from Home: We kindly ask families to leave toys at home to prevent conflicts or items being lost.

Sunblock and Sunhats: As spring arrives, we will follow our sun protection policy. Sunblock and sunhats are provided. Please label any specific sunblock brought from home.

Holiday Attendance: Please let us know whether your child will attend during the holiday period to assist us with staffing arrangements. Thank you for your cooperation.

General

Finally, I would like to extend our sincere thanks to our previous committee for their support, hard work and commitment to Karori Kids throughout 2025–2026.

We also warmly welcome our new committee and look forward to working together. Your time, dedication and willingness to contribute will be invaluable in supporting the centre’s growth and effective operation.

Thank you for your commitment to supporting the vision and mission of Karori Kids. We truly appreciate your continued support of our tamariki, whānau and centre community.