Kia ora koutou.
As we approach the peak of the cold season, we wish you well always.
We would like to welcome Lam who will be joining Karori Kids this month. We want to say a warm farewell to Aadhira and her family as they are moving to Australia by the end of the month.
BUSY KARORI KIDS TAMARIKI
a.Our tamariki have been learning how to keep themselves healthy and caring for themselves /te oranga nui (Te Whariki,pg. 27)
-We have been incorporating exercise in our routine for at least 20 minutes to get our hauora humming. We do dancing, aerobics, soccer, cycling, yoga, kapa haka, ball games, obstacle courses and walks.
-Thunder birds have also been learning about how to take care of oneself. Regan introduced the proper way to brush teeth. Ki te waku niho!
- We continue to take our children to the Karori Library and to the park to continue address their love for books and walks
B. Te reo Maori
Our commitment to biculturalism has also been strengthened for the past few weeks especially with the use of Te reo Maori. The Kaiako have been using their basic knowledge about Te reo. They also use visuals to guide them in using the language. Catherine’s who demonstrates proficiency in Te reo has been doing a lot of role modelling. Furthermore, the regular visit to the library is another opportunity for the kaiako and tamariki to enhance their Te reo Maori.
C. Culture, language and identity.
Making connections between people, places and things in their world (te waihinga hononga) Te Whariki, pg.24
The Samaon Language Week was celebrated this month. The kaiako engaged the tamariki with Samoan dance and other cultural activities such as teaching the tamariki with Samoan greetings and numbers. The environment was also decorated according to Samoan theme.
Philippines Independence Day was also celebrated last week. Mercy introduced Folklore dance and Philippines legends to tamariki. Gina taught them a tagalong nursery rhyme, “Ako ay may lobo.” Mercy also brought some foods that are native from the Philippines. This includes pineapple, coconut, kumara, etc.
Internal Evaluation
Internal evaluation update: “How effectively are we in providing an inclusive environment that sustains the languages, cultures and identities of our akonga?”
As for now, there is a progress in terms of integration of languages, culture and identity in teachers’ assessment practices. However, a further evident to the integration of languages, culture and identity is highly recommended. Our kaiako are continuously encouraging our whānau to share their own language, culture and identity to strengthen the practice.
Workshops/Seminars
Gina has been doing a lot of leadership networking.
She attended a PD in Petone where she met a group of leaders sharing all the struggles in early childhood setting.
Gina also has some leadership networking with the Elim International Childcare Centre, Kidz corner, Karori Childcare Centre and Donald Street Childcare Centre. This networking allows Gina to collaborate and gain understanding about other’s practices and experiences.
Winter clothing
We would like to remind our whānau to make sure that their children have appropriate clothing for this cold season. Having a pair of gumboots and a waterproof of jacket are highly recommended to have at Karori Kids.
We will also continue to undertake weekly walks to keep our bodies healthy and to ensure that we address our children’s interest in walks.
Working Bee
We would like to thank all our whānau who came and participated in our Working bee. It was a delight to see you participating in this experience.
Thank you for all the amazing work you have done for Karori Kids Inc. As noted by Regan in his learning story,
“The working bee day at Karori Kids was more than just a day of cleaning and organising, it was a testament to the power of community, of coming together with a shared purpose, and leaving a lasting impact. The spirit of collaboration and dedication would continue to thrive, enriching the lives of all who walked through the doors of Karori Kids.”
Reminders
Dates to be remember:
Thursday, 13th July-Matariki Celebartion
Tuesday 24th October teacher only day
Working Bee-November
Closing Date: tentative date: Wednesday, December 20
Christmas Party 15th December 2023
January 2024: Opening Jan 11th Thursday
Illnesses
The flu season is upon us. To prevent widespread flu, we recommend that your child stays home if experiences flu or cold symptoms. To decide whether your child needs to be at home, please consider the following guidelines:
· Very stuffy or runny nose and/or persistent cough
Mild sore throat
Headache
Reminders: Up to date immunisation records
Please make sure you provide the Centre a copy of your child’s immunisation record if they have a new one.
General
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your continuous support at Karori Kids. Kei te mihi, kei te mihi, kei te mihi ki a koutou katoa.
He waka eke noa