Centre Manager’s Report May & June 2026

Kia ora koutou,

Winter has officially arrived, and we are certainly feeling the cooler temperatures!

We would like to extend a very warm welcome to our newest tamariki who joined our Karori Kids whānau in June. A special welcome to Eli and whānau. We are excited to get to know you and to have you as part of our community.

At the end of May, we farewelled our friend Riya, who celebrated her fifth birthday and is now beginning her exciting journey to primary school. We wish Riya all the very best for this new chapter.

We also said goodbye to our student teacher, Jacquie, who completed her five-week practicum with us. It has been a pleasure having her as part of our team, and we thank her for her contributions to our centre. We wish her every success in her studies and future teaching career.

A warm welcome back to Connie, our student teacher, who has returned after completing a five-week practicum in another early childhood setting. We are delighted to have her back and look forward to hearing about her experiences and continuing to support her learning journey.

BUSY TAMARIKI KARORI KIDS            

1. NZ Sign language week (NZSL) Our tamariki enthusiastically embraced New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week and have been busy learning a variety of signs through fun and meaningful experiences. Throughout the week, our tamariki explored how sign language is another way of communicating and connecting with others. They showed great curiosity and confidence as they practised their signs with their friends and kaiako. One of the highlights has been learning the signs for the days of the week. Our tamariki have mastered these signs and are now using them as part of our daily routines at Karori Kids. It has been wonderful to see them proudly demonstrating their new skills and supporting one another in learning and using NZSL. By engaging with New Zealand Sign Language, our tamariki are developing an appreciation for inclusive communication, celebrating diversity, and recognising that there are many ways to express ourselves and connect with our community.	1. Children experience an environment where they develop verbal communication skills for a range of purposes.
2. Mother’s day celebration Our Mother’s Day celebration was a wonderful success and a very special occasion for our Karori Kids whānau. The tamariki were incredibly excited to perform for their mothers and proudly sharing songs and moments that they had been practising with enthusiasm. We enjoyed a lovely afternoon together, filled with a variety of delicious food and celebrated in a beautifully decorated environment that reflected the love and appreciation our tamariki have for their whānau. In preparation for the celebration, the tamariki thoughtfully created special cards and handmade gifts for their mums. Through this process, they expressed their creativity, care, and gratitude, taking great pride in making something meaningful for the important people in their lives. It was heartwarming to see the smiles, laughter, and connections shared throughout the afternoon. Events like these strengthen our sense of belonging and provide meaningful opportunities to celebrate the special relationships 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. Sports day Our Sports Day was filled with excitement, energy, and loads of smiles as our tamariki enthusiastically participated in a range of fun activities. It was wonderful to see them embrace the spirit of sportsmanship by encouraging one another, taking turns, and celebrating each other's achievements. The tamariki showed determination, resilience, and a healthy sense of competition as they gave each activity their very best effort. The day included a variety of events, including running races, sack races, tug-of-war, and crawling races, all of which provided opportunities for children to challenge themselves, develop their gross motor skills, and build confidence. One of the highlights of the day was witnessing the joy and pride on the tamariki's faces as they received the certificate and medal. Sports Day was a wonderful reminder that active play supports not only physical development but also important social and emotional skills, such as cooperation, resilience, and learning to both win and lose gracefully.	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. Pink Shirt day For Pink Shirt Day, our focus was on promoting kindness, respect, and inclusion within our Karori Kids community. We spent time talking with the tamariki about what it means to be kind to one another and how our words and actions can make others feel valued and safe. Tamariki and kaiako were encouraged to wear pink as a symbol of unity and standing together against bullying. It was lovely to see a strong sense of belonging as everyone came together in support of this important message. The tamariki engaged in conversations about kindness, sharing examples of caring behaviours such as helping friends, using kind words, and including others in play. These discussions helped reinforce the importance of empathy and positive relationships in our everyday interactions.	4a. Using a range of strategies and skills to play and learn with others | te ngākau aroha 4b. Treating others fairly and including them in play  | te ngākau makuru
5. Working Bee We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the parents and whānau who were able to join us for our recent Working Bee. We truly appreciate the time, effort, and energy that whānau contributed on the day. We understand that weekends are often busy with family commitments and other activities, so we are especially grateful to those who were able to set aside a few hours to support our centre community.	5. Taking part in caring  for this place  | te manaaki i te taiao
6. Samoan Language week Samoan Language Week was a rich and meaningful learning experience for our tamariki, where we explored and celebrated Samoan culture, language, and traditions. Throughout the week, children engaged in a variety of activities including songs, art, cultural stories, traditional clothing, and language learning. A special highlight of the week was on Friday, 29th May, when two special guests from the Samoan community visited our centre. They generously shared their knowledge and provided many enriching learning opportunities for our tamariki. During a special mat time, they introduced aspects of Samoan culture, traditions, and language in an interactive and engaging way. The tamariki were captivated throughout the session, showing respect, interest, and excitement as they learned from our visitors. This experience helped strengthen cultural awareness and fostered a deeper appreciation for the diversity within our community. Please see the learning stories for more details and highlights from this special week	6. Making connections between people, places and things in their world | te waihanga hononga
7. Philippines Independence Day Our tamariki thoroughly enjoyed learning about Philippines Independence Day and engaging with the rich culture and traditions of the Philippines. Throughout the experience, they participated in a variety of hands-on activities that helped bring their learning to life in a fun and meaningful way. Mercy and Cel led a special mat time, where they shared aspects of Filipino culture with the tamariki. The children were excited to join in an upbeat cultural dance alongside kaiako, filling the space with energy, joy, and enthusiasm. A highlight of the celebration was the opportunity to enjoy a special Filipino lunch and afternoon tea, which the tamariki eagerly participated in. This provided a wonderful chance for children to experience new flavours and further connect with the culture being celebrated. Overall, this celebration supported cultural awareness, inclusiveness, and appreciation of diversity within our centre community.	7. Making connections between people, places and things in their world | te waihanga hononga
8.Pretend Play Over the past few months, we have noticed a strong shared interest among our tamariki, particularly our toddlers, in pretend and imaginative play. They have been deeply engaged in family-themed play experiences such as caring for dolls and participating in cooking and kitchen activities. These meaningful, real-life inspired experiences allow tamariki to explore and make sense of family roles, relationships, and responsibilities within their wider world. Through this type of play, they are developing important social skills such as empathy, cooperation, and communication. It has been wonderful to see tamariki extending their imagination, working alongside their peers, and confidently expressing their ideas through 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
9. Going for walks May has been a very busy month filled with rich learning opportunities, along with unpredictable weather conditions, which meant our regular walking excursions were temporarily on hold. We are now looking forward to re-establishing these valuable experiences as part of our weekly programme. Going for walks plays an important role in supporting our tamariki’s wellbeing, while also strengthening their sense of belonging within the local community. These experiences provide meaningful opportunities for children to connect with their environment and develop confidence beyond the centre setting. 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. These outings allow tamariki to observe, explore, and engage with the world around them, sparking curiosity and supporting their learning in authentic contexts.	9. Moving confidently  and challenging themselves physically  | te wero ā-tinana
9. Transition to School Programme This month, 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
10. Drawing Drawing continues to be a highly popular and engaging activity for all our tamariki. They show great enthusiasm as they explore imaginative drawing and express their ideas through creative artwork. Through drawing, tamariki are strengthening their fine motor skills, developing hand–eye coordination, and building confidence in their ability to represent their thinking visually. It also provides an important platform for creativity and self-expression. Many tamariki use their drawings as a way to tell stories, share personal experiences, and communicate ideas with their peers and kaiako. It has been wonderful to see their growing confidence and pride in their creative work.	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
11. Envrioschool We have been very fortunate to have Chandra working alongside our tamariki to strengthen their learning about mana whenua and the natural environment through the Enviroschools programme. Chandra, a facilitator of Enviroschools, has been doing incredible mahi in supporting environmental learning. Recently, she and her colleague Chloe visited Karori Kids to share knowledge with tamariki about the maunga, rainwater systems, and tuna migration. This provided rich opportunities for tamariki to connect with local ecosystems and deepen their understanding of the natural world. Following this, Chandra led a special event at Waipahihi Awa, where our tamariki were delighted to participate. Experiences such as planting trees, creating fish ladders, exploring leaf litter and bug habitats, and learning about native fish and tuna have been highly beneficial in supporting children’s curiosity and environmental awareness. In mid-May, Chandra also invited our tamariki to the ngahere, where they created two bug motels, encouraging hands-on exploration of insects and habitats. In addition, she visited Karori Kids at the beginning of June to help tamariki design and create a sign for the bug motel, further extending their learning and engagement with environmental stewardship. These experiences have helped tamariki develop a strong connection to the natural environment and fostered respect and care for the world around them.	11a. Taking part in caring  for this place  | te manaaki i te taiao 11b. Understanding how things work here and adapting to change | te mārama ki te āhua o ngā whakahaere me te mōhio ki te panoni 11c. Making sense of their worlds by generating and refining working theories | te rangahau me te mātauranga

New Internal Evaluation:

We are currently in the process of interpreting assessment data and using a checklist to evaluate whether the Kōwhiti Whakapae learning outcomes and indicators are clearly reflected in children's learning and development. The findings from this process will help inform our next steps, enabling teachers to plan intentional teaching strategies that ensure learning experiences align with the Kōwhiti Whakapae outcomes and indicators.

Upcoming events 

August

Cook Island Language Week – 3-7 August

Indian Independence Day- 15 August

New Zealand Olympic Games- 27 August 2026

 September

Father’s Day- 04 September

Notes: We will have additional events to include as we move forward into 2026.

Reminders:

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

We also warmly encourage whānau to continue sharing cultural items that represent your language, culture, and identity. These contributions are highly valued and help us to build a rich, inclusive environment where all tamariki can see themselves reflected and celebrated.

With the colder and wetter winter weather now upon us, we kindly ask whānau to ensure tamariki have spare clothing available at the centre, including warm layers, jackets, and gumboots. This helps children stay comfortable and enjoy outdoor play in all weather conditions.

General

For those who have been involved in our committee over the past year and this year, we would like to sincerely thank you for your dedication to this non-profit volunteer work. Your commitment and willingness to support our community centre are truly appreciated and continue to inspire us all.