Centre Manager’s Report March & April

Kia ora koutou,

Autumn is here with its cool breeze and warm hues. May this season bring comfort and joy as we move into the colder season

We are excited to welcome our new kaiako Shasha who has joined our teaching team this March. We also would like to welcome our new tamariki: Bruno Bustamante to our Karori Kids whānau. We look forward to getting to know you all.     

Additionally, we would like to say a heartfelt farewell to Verity, Briana and Ida. We wish them the very best as they continue their next learning journey.

BUSY TAMARIKI KARORI KIDS                              

1.Cultural Week Cultural week was a highlight of our activities for the month of April. Our kaiako used a variety of avenues to explore and learn about the diverse cultures represented by the children here in Karori Kids. In partnership with our parents, we created cultural artefacts, which were displayed in our art room. A wealth of opportunities was provided for tamariki to explore the resources available in the Centre. Regan focused on deepening her understanding by revisiting Ko Wai Au, which explores the mihi mihi of our tamariki. Additionally, we had the chance to explore different cuisines, dances, and songs from various countries. A special thank you to all our parents who shared their cultures with us. It is truly an honour to be part of a community that values and promotes cultural diversity.	Learning Outcomes (Te Ara Whānui Whāriki and NELP) 1a. Making connections between people, places and things in their world | te waihanga hononga
2. Transition to school program This month, we continue to focus on reinforcing key school expectations, such as demonstrating independence, showing manaakitanga, and developing essential skills to support a smooth transition to school. We also had the opportunity to visit Karori Normal School and St. Teresa’s this month. These visits help us align our programs and instilling a familiar environment before they go to school. 3. Thunderbirds Numeracy. Over the past two months, we have been exploring mathematics. The children have been exposed to shapes and numbers, developing their understanding of 2D and 3D shapes. While they can articulate 2D shapes well, they are still extending their knowledge of 3D shapes. Learning how to count was also popular for the month of March and April. STEM(Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) opportunities at our Centre. A great example is baking which provides a wonderful way to link STEM concepts, allowing them to actively participate in the process. Other subjects are also becoming more integrated into our activities, with tamariki exploring scientific concepts such as volcanic eruptions, and the principles of floating and sinking. Mathematics is also incorporated through activities like counting and shape recognition. Although this still in the process of developing this approach, our kaiako are introducing various learning opportunities to spark children's curiosity and deepen their understanding of STEM.	2a. Understanding how things work here and adapting to change/  te mārama ki te āhua o ngā whakahaere me te mōhio ki te panoni 2b. Reduce barriers to education for all, including for Māori and Pacific learners/ākonga, disabled learners/ākonga and those with learning support needs. 3a.   Making sense of their worlds by generating and refining working theories/ Te rangahau me te mātauranga 3b. Playing, imagining, inventing and experimenting | te whakaaro me te tūhurahura i te pūtaiao
4.World Down Syndrome Day We also celebrated World Down Syndrome Day, and our kaiako, Mercy, created posters and a display board to raise awareness about the significance of this special day. The children, especially those in the Thunderbirds class, were eager to learn more about this event. Kaiako Mercy showed a heartfelt video about a family with a child who has Down syndrome which highlighted the love, acceptance, support, and dreams the family holds for their child. Our tamariki were deeply moved by how the child was supported, cared for, and embraced by his peers and teachers. They saw that his physical disability did not limit his happiness, friendliness, or participation at school. After watching the video, the tamariki and kaiako had a meaningful discussion about the importance of showing love, acceptance, and respect for people with dddddisabilities disabilities.	4a. Making connections between people, places and things in their world | te waihanga hononga 4b. Showing respect for kaipapa and the rights for others/te mahi whakaute 4c. Reduce barriers to education for all, including for Māori and Pacific learners/ākonga, disabled learners/ākonga and those with learning support needs
5. Trip to Botanical Garden Our trip to the Botanical Gardens was another successful hikoi for our tamariki. We enjoyed a picnic in the sound shell, a peaceful area of the garden, before feeding the ducks. Afterward, we visited the playground for some fun and playtime. The children also had the chance to experience a bush walk, where they could feel the breeze and listen to the soothing sounds of the water in the garden. Additionally, the trip provided a real-life experience of using public transportation, where our tamariki learned how to be polite and respectful when interacting with other people on the bus. This outing was another wonderful opportunity to reinforce the importance of Papatuanuku (Mother Earth) and the value of caring for our environment. It also allowed the children to explore and learn about how plants grow, deepening their connection with nature.	5a. Keep themselves healthy | te oranga nui 5b. Keeping themselves and others safe from harm/ te noho haumaru 5c. Make connections between people, places and things in their world| te waihanga hononga 5d. Move confidently and challenge themselves physically/te wero-ā-tinana
6. Building and Construction  Our tamariki continue to express their creativity through building and construction activities. Through self-directed play, our tamariki have been constructing dwellings such as tents and houses, creating their own unique spaces for exploration and storytelling. Beyond creativity, these activities also foster important social skills, as children collaborate, share ideas, and work together to bring their imaginative structures to life.	6a.  Recognising mathematical symbols and concepts and using them with enjoyment, meaning and purpose | he kōrero pāngarau 6b. Playing, imagining, inventing and experimenting/Te whakaaro me te tūhurahura i te pūtaiao
7. Easter Celebration   We had another amazing Easter egg hunt! The tamariki had a great time creating their own baskets and searching for eggs. This fun activity not only brought excitement but also provided an opportunity for learning. Our kaiako led discussions about the meaning of Easter and how it is celebrated in different parts of the world. This gave the children a chance to explore the cultural significance of the holiday and learn about various traditions. It was a wonderful experience that blended fun with meaningful learning	7a. Make connections between people, places and things in their world| te waihanga hononga 7b. Playing, imagining, inventing and experimenting/Te whakaaro me te tūhurahura i te pūtaiao
8.Building Relationships Forming relationships has been another key focus this month. Our new tamariki and kaiako have been working on building connections with their peers and teachers. The Tuakana-Teina model, a Māori concept where older children support and guide younger tamariki, has been actively observed. This approach helps to create a supportive and nurturing learning environment for all.	8a. Treating others fairly and included them in their play/te ngakau makuru 8b. Usinga  range of strategies to play and learn with others/te ngakau aroha

Professional Development

The team continuously attended a workshop with Kirstin, a facilitator from the Ministry of Education. She provided a valuable tool for the transition-to-school program. This tool will help us enhance our transition-to-school programme.

Regan and Reena attended leadership workshop and learnt valuable skills that will help them enhance their leadership skills. 

Gina and Reena also attended emergency planning workshops which have helped them to find the gaps about our existing emergency policy

Congratulations to Regan who has now obtained his full registration.

New Internal Evaluation:Our new internal evaluation is focused on the question: “To what extent are we providing our tamariki with the necessary support to ensure a smooth transition to the school programme?”

We are now implementing the action plan. Teachers have been focusing on enhancing literacy, numeracy, and independent skills. So far, we have successfully visited the nearby schools and have coordinated with the Makara school. We have also started to use checklist to our 4 years old children to identify individual needs. The implementation time frame is set until June.

Additionally, we continuously attending Professional development about transition to school program

Policies that were reviewed for the month of April:

-Settling new children policy

- Relieving Teachers’ Policy

You will receive a copy of these policies for your review

Teachers-Parent Interview

Thank you for your participation in the Teacher-Parent Interview. This meeting is a vital part of the communication between kaiako and parents, ensuring that both are well-informed about the children's learning journey. By working together, we can maximize learning opportunities and support the continued growth and development of our tamariki.

Upcoming events

May

c) Sports day-Thursday, 1st of May

d) NZ Sign Language Week- 5th to 9th

e) Mother’s Day-Friday, the 9th of May

f) Working Bee – 10th or 17th of May

e) Samoan Language Week-26th-30th of May 

June

g) King’s Birthday- Monday, 2nd of June

h) World Environmental Day- Thursday, the 5th of June

i) Philippines Independence Day- Thursday, 12th of June

j) Haerenga to Te Papa- Tuesday, 17th of June

k) Matariki Celebration-Thursday, 19th of June

Reminders:

Reminders about providing us a copy of the 4 years old immunisation records.

As part of the enrolment agreement, please be reminded that your child is required to attend at least six (6) hours each day.

Please continue to discourage your children in bringing toys from home at Karori Kids

We continue to encourage you to bring/share any cultural items representing your language, culture and identity.

Please be reminded that news time is for children to share items that are meaningful to them. This means toys are discouraged to bring/share at news time.  

Now that autumn/winter is approaching us, we would prefer if you can bring gumboots for our tamariki to wear on   

Please make sure that our operation hours is only from 7:45-5:30. There will be corresponding fees for late picking up.

General

Time truly flies, and I can hardly believe that the first term has now come to an end. As we look ahead to the rest of the year, I would like to take a moment to express my gratitude to our committee members who are now finishing their term. Thank you for all your contributions to Karori Kids. It has been a wonderful experience working with such a dedicated and hardworking team.

As we move into 2025, we are excited to welcome our new committee members. Thank you so much for your commitment to serving our community.

Our focus remains on creating a productive, enriching, and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. This year, we look forward to:

• Strengthening our bicultural and multicultural practices, ensuring that tamariki experience and embrace Te Ao Māori and cultural diversity in meaningful ways.

• Providing equitable opportunities for all learners, fostering a sense of belonging and empowerment.

• Supporting a successful transition to school, equipping our tamariki with the skills and confidence they need for the next stage of their journey.

• Enhancing our teaching and learning experiences, making every day an opportunity to grow, explore, and discover.

Lastly, I would like to share this whakatauki with you

He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata!