Kia ora koutou,
Christmas is around the corner, and I am sure that everyone is busy organizing their holiday plans. It is also great to continue experiencing sunshine!
For this month, we would like to welcome Remco Emerson Clark, our new child and also Dian Jiao or JD, our new teacher of Karori Kids. A warm farewell to Catherine, our teacher and Casey who is now off to school. We wish them all the best in their endeavours.
BUSY KARORI KIDS TAMARIKI
1.Diwali festival
This festival has been a great focus for celebrating culture, language and identity. Reena, who is from India, led the teaching team and kaiako in understating Diwali.
She brought a lot of accessories to introduce her culture with us: lights, colourful diyas, gold bangles and sari. She also taught us how to make roti. On Friday, all kaiako wore sari and performed an Indian dance. This experience made our children enjoyed the Diwali festival.
Learning Outcomes (Te Whāriki and NELP)
1a.Belonging
Goal 3: Children experience an environment where they feel comfortable with the routines, customs and regular events
1b.Communication
Goal 3: Children experience an environment where they experience the stories and symbols of their own and other cultures
1c. Priorities (NELP) New Zealand (2020)
Objective 1: LEARNERS AT THE CENTRE
Have high aspirations for every learner/ākonga, and support these by partnering with their whānau and communities to design and deliver education that responds to their needs, and sustains their identities, languages and culture
2. Halloween
Halloween is another opportunity for our tamariki to engage in arts and crafts. The Kaiako used different materials to encourage tamariki to create spooky pictures (i.e. houses, bats, skeleton, etc). They also helped in decorating the environment.
Catherine also asked the thunderbirds tamariki to make a survey asking all kaiako and tamariki whether they celebrate or not celebrate Halloween. If they celebrate, what do they do on Halloween. This gives everyone an opportunity to include voices from kaiako and tamariki.
Learning Outcomes
2a.Belonging Goal 3: Children experience an environment where they feel comfortable with the routines, customs and regular events
2b.Communication
Goal 3: Children experience an environment where they experience the stories and symbols of their own and other cultures
3. Olympic Day at Karori Kids.
The Olympic day has fostered a profound sense of unity and enthusiasm among children and teachers. Children were inspired the spirit of sportsmanship and camaraderie. Thy were so eager to participate in various games that the kaiako had planned on the day. This enhances a foster of love for physical activity and teamwork. Teacher, in turns witness the positive impact of this day as it is not only promoting a healthy lifestyle but also instils important values such as discipline, perseverance and respect.
Learning Outcomes
3a.Exploration Goal 3: Children experience an environment where they learn strategies for active exploration, thinking and reasoning
3b. Keeping themselves healthy and caring for themselves | te oranga nui
3c. Contribution | Mana tangata
Using a range of strategies and skills to play and learn with others | te ngākau aroha
3d Contribution: A sense of responsibility and respect for the needs and well being of the group including the ability to take responsibility for group decisions.
4. Our Zealandia Haerenga
Another succesful trip to Zealandia on the 29th of October. Our tamariki enjoyed an educational excursion to Zealandia Marā a Tane, our local ecosantuary. It was a very long hikoi but everyone did well.
During the trip, our tamariki shared their existing knowledge of kaitiakitanga with the tourist guide; how to care for our environment and learnt more abouot introduced predators and how vital our native animals are to our ecosystem. The tourist guide also mentioned the history of places and land around Wellington. This has increased our children's understanding about sustainability and our mana whenua.
Learning Outcomes (Te Whāriki and NELP)
4a. Wellbeing Goal 1: Children experience an environment where their health is promoted
Keeping themselves healthy and caring for themselves | te oranga nu
4b. Tag: LEARNERS AT THE CENTRE: Priority 2
The Statement of National Education and Learning Priorities (NELP) New Zealand (2020)
Objective 1: LEARNERS AT THE CENTRE
Have high aspirations for every learner/ākonga, and support these by partnering with their whānau and communities to design and deliver education that responds to their needs, and sustains their identities, languages and cultures.
5. Games
Our tamariki have had experienced series of games for this month. They were involved in playing: “hide and seek,” “duck duck goose” and “what’s the time Mr. Wolf.”
Engaging the tamariki with these games brings laughter and excitement. It also an opportunity to incorporate Math skills and learning dispositions such as teamwork and perseverance.
Learning Outcomes
5. Contribution Goal 3: Children experience an environment where they are encouraged to learn with and alongside others Using a range of strategies and skills to play and learn with others | te ngākau aroha
Workshops/Seminars
Gina attended a networking about “Unlocking Growth and Efficiecy Mastering strategic and Annual Planning. Gina learnt different ways how to formulate vision, mission, values when creating strategies or annual plan.
Tracy, Regan and Reena will be attending two incoming workshops on Autism and Te Kōrerorero in October and November.
Tracy will be attending a professional development on “Strengthening bicultural leadership.
This professional development assists our kaiako in developing their Professional growth journey which in the end benefiting our tamariki
Teacher’s Only Day
We had a productive teachers’ day. Our team came together to develop action plans for their professional growth cycle- -ensuring that we are on the path to continuous growth and improvement. We also took the opportunity to review the programmes making sure that we are offering the best possible learning experiences. We discussed new programmes and initiatives that we look forward to implementing in the coming year.
Halloween/Costume party
We also had a successful costume party. Thanks to the perfect attendance and active participation of parents. Positive relationships with whānau were filled in the air as everyone came together to share a memorable and enjoyable moment.
Christmas Party- Friday, December 15
As you are already informed our Christmas will be on Friday, the 15th of December. We will have a Christmas concert at 3:30 Pm. Afterwards, we will have a farm animals visit in the Centre which will provide a unique and educational experience for our tamariki. Details of the Christmas party will be sent to you closer to the date of the Christmas party.
Dates to remember:
Christmas break-20th Dec 2023-11th Jan 2024
General
Thank you to all the parents and committee members for your invaluable support in 2023. Karori Kids would not thrive without your dedication. Your efforts, contribution and knowledge have significantly contributed to the success of Karori Kids. As a Centre manager it is my honour to work with you. Meri Kerihimete Kia ora koe te Kerihimete koa
“Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi"
With your food basket and my food basket the people will thrive