We have spent the week watching the 2011 Polyfest celebrations. Our thoughts are, like last year, we would enter in some Artwork - remembering out of over 500 pieces of Art that were entered last year, our Artwork was accepted into the Museum. No pressure!!! And maybe this year we could also 'Perform' on stage !!! The theme for the Art this year is 'Who am I' and we are planning to put together a (wall hanging), which will include our Centre 'mihi'. We will fill everyone in with more details over the next few weeks. The Art work needs to be entered by Fri 29 June. And we will begin Term 3 by practicing maybe 3 Maori waiata to perform. Polyfest will be held in the Civic on 8,9,10 Aug 2012. We wanted someone who could play the guitar to accompany us ... can anyone help out? And we will also need help with practices & costumes. Let Kylie or Judy know if you can help.
Have a great weekend ... Go the Highlanders, Steel & Sharks & all the Rippa Rugby.

Judy & Kylie

What a great week we've had & a Happy Mothers Day to ALL our Mums ... we hope you get some hugs & treats on Sunday. I've spent the last two days sorting our hours with our Morning families (for our new model) & on Monday I'll also begin to talk to families in our afternoon group. And please DON'T hesitate to share any questions or concerns with us. Teaching appointments close on Monday ... then shortlisting & interviews - so yes it is busy. Also a big thanks to Craig Cubitt for co-ordinating our 'Pallet' fund raiser ... can you contact Craig on 236 7414 or 027 2017305 if you can help with collection. There is a possibility we can make $4000 to put towards our Outdoor Area & resources !!! Have a great weekend everyone ... see you all next week !!!

Judy

We're ready for open day...

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Welcome to the Wilderness...

 Over the term break, our outside area became a hive of activity as Arne Cleland and his team of landscapers from Pukerau nursery came and worked on transforming our outside area into a new 'Wilderness Area'.
I'm sure you will all agree when I say it looks absolutely AMAZING!!  Now we have the pleasure of watching the children engage in their new environment.  Climbing Eucalyptus logs, exploring the new 'tree hut' under the fort, telling stories in the 'story hut' and cooking sausages in the new make shift fire pit have all become common place with the children when exploring outdoors.
As a teaching team we have also been able to reflect on the resources provided for children outside...
We have noticed that we don't have to provide extra materials to engage children, they are now able to use their imagination to create their own play.  A fantastic indicator of the unhurried child...something that is valued within our environment.

We must acknowledge all the fantastic parents who took the time to make our wilderness area a reality.  Big thanks to Shari Whyte who took on the role of co-ordinator who spent many hours sourcing diggers, trucks, trees, poplar poles, top soil and the list goes on.  To the group of parents who went bush one Sunday morning and collected all the poplar poles for our fantastic rejuvenated fort.  To Bronwyn Dudin who managed to source the large climbing tree in the sandpit and Simon Light who used a tractor, some pellets and who knows what else to manoeuvre the log into place.  To Steve Claney for installing the new cargo net onto the side of the fort and Brenda Stirling who organised the disposal of all that concrete.  Also thanks to everyone else who helped in some way.  Your support is greatly appreciated and to see the looks on the children's faces as the explore their new environment is well....Priceless!!!

If you haven't had a chance to check out the new areas yet...please do so!!