Term 4 Week 9

What an AMAZING week we have had at Kindy celebrating our Amazing Me Programme with TWO parties on Wednesday and Thursday! A big thank you to everyone for their Amazing costumes and delicious plate for shared morning tea...Fabulous effort!! "Here are just some pics from our parties...

How did the Massey Ferguson get inside!!??

Superman aka Leo Cameron ready for take off!!

Kindy is transformed for the Amazing Me Parties this week!!

Forest Kindy. A big thanks to Rob Ankerson and Grace Vaughan for being our Helpers at our last Nurtured by Nature day for 2013. And thank you to Paige for the wonderful photography skills taking all the pics this week!

Paige captures the fox gloves - the children used these to measure how tall they are - mathematical concepts at play!

Logan finds the outer skin of a huhu grub in the rotting log at Forest Kindy on Tuesday - taking time to notice - fabulous!

Constable Marty visited the TF Group today to conclude our Amazing Me programme, after coming in to see the MTW Group a couple of weeks ago. The children were truly amazed by the "Talking police car" aka Marty over the car speakers, and seeing and hearing the lights and siren going right outside Kindy!

This week we fare welled Kenny Hart and Lily Turner both off to School!

The children have been busy little "Santa's helpers" preparing Christmas goodies for the end of year Christmas party happening this THURSDAY THE 19TH DECEMBER @ KINDY @ 4PM...Everyone warmly welcome to celebrate the end of the Kindy year - check your Parent Pockets for more details! :) We also made another Gingerbread House, this time with the MTW Group to be gifted to the wonderful volunteers at St Johns as decided b the group.

Alex, Dante and Megan adding decorations to the Gingerbread house - many hands makes light work

Natalie, Leah, Miah, Leo and Jacqlynn making the Reindeer food for the Xmas Party

Our LAST week of Kindy for the year is upon us...We look forward to celebrating with all our amazing families @ the Kindy Xmas Party organised by the wonderful Parent Group, happening this Thursday the 19th December from 4pm - all warmly welcome! :)

Last day of Kindy for 2013: Friday 20th December
2014 year begins on Monday the 20th January with a Teacher Only Day/Orientation Day - MTW Group start on Tuesday the 21st January / TF Group on Thursday 23rd January.

Term 4 Week 8

Another Sunny Southland week...Only 2 weeks to go until the end of our Kindy year! This week we arrived back to find we had our very own "Santa's Work Shop" in the Project Room. On Tuesday morning the children arrived to find a Christmas Tree...I wonder what else will appear over the next couple weeks..??!!

The TF Group made a Gingerbread House and discussed the virtues of giving rather than receiving. It took several attempts and many hands to ensure the walls and roof remained in place long enough to decorate!! Instead of us having the deliciously decorated house to eat our self, we talked about who we might gift it too. Quilan suggested we give it to Stu and the Fire station because they put our fires and save people...Great idea Quilan! And very fitting with our recent trip to the Fire station and our All About Me Programme. This afternoon Christina delivered the Gingerbread House, with the gesture being greatly appreciated!

WOW!! Fabulous - many hands make light work!

Milly, Fletcher, Corran and Alice adding their touches to the Gingerbread House

Amazing Me Parties!!!
To celebrate the end of our Amazing Me Programme we are holding an Amazing Me Party this coming week on: Wednesday 11th for the MTW Group & Thursday 12th for the TF Group...Check your Parent Pockets for your invitations!! We ask for your child to dress up as ANYTHING AMAZING ... From a Superhero, a Star...be as CREATIVE as you like!! Please bring along a plate for shared morning tea - we are going to have SOOO much fun - watch this space!!

This week we welcome Shila Pennall and family to Winton Kindy.

Shila joins in with Karakia Kai on her first morning... Megan, Mackenzie, Shila, Jasmin, Ben, Ella and Ayden.

Have you noticed our ever-changing Whakatauki/Proverb, offering encouragement to our children, families and teachers?? This can be found on the door at the back wall and is kindly updated on a regular basis by Sally... "E tipu e rea" translating to "Grow oh tender shoot!"


  

Term 4 Week 7

This week we said Happy School Days to Annabelle Chrystall off to Lochiel School.

Amazing Me Programme:
MTW Group:
Constable Marty from the New Zealand Police visited on Monday to talk to the group about keeping our selves safe; road safety; and what to do if we got lost. Dante dressed as a policeman and Natalie role played a girl lost at The Warehouse. Marty was very impressed with so many children knowing their first and family name, where they live, and their phone number - tu meke/awesome! Marty doesn't go far without his guitar and we learnt and sang the "Make it Click!" seat belt safety song.

Constable Marty and Larry the Lion talk the the Group about the NZ Police uniform

Road crossing: Stop. Look. Listen. And Decide

TF Group:
Unfortunately Constable Marty was called to an emergency on Friday so was unable to join us as planned, however we had a fabulous time visiting the Winton Fire Station organised by Oliver Keith's Mum, Ashlee - thank you very much, and a big thanks to the parents and grandparents who helped out on the day! Stu the volunteer firefighter showed us around the station...We even got to climb inside the fire truck and try on the helmets ---SOOO much fun!! Stu talked to the group about what to do in an emergency, who to ring, and what details the operator would need to know. We even had two women firefighters ... so girls you may like to think about a new career path? As we were leaving Stu put the sirens on - a grand farewell!

The Winton Volunteer Firefighters showing the Group their uniform and safety gear

Olivia Chrystall you were so brave! Trying on the new helmets before climbing into the Fire engine

Discovery Time:
This week the group were exploring the human skeleton. We traced around the outside of our bodies and looked through text books, felt our bodies for "hard places that must have bones",  and at our 'Bones' to learn more about our skeletal structure and what is on the inside that we can't see ... research in action!!!  Wow another busy week ... has come & gone.

Term 4 Week 6

This week we have been making the most of the sun - lots of fun and friendships being formed and cemented as children engage more with the outdoor environment. The Elastics were a hit with the children making up their own games complete with a starting Marshall, judges, and competitors!! The swing ball set continues to entice children and is stimulating hand-eye co-ordination and timing!! With the roof over the sandpit providing great shade combined with water play, there has been lots of imaginary play in this area. As well as Duck Duck Goose which has become a ritual each day in both the MTW Group and the TF Group with the children initiating this themself!

Henry crossing the Elastics with Miah and Paige judging and supporters looking on!!

Casey, Olivia and her Mum trying out the swing ball this morning

Our trip to Invercargill was a huge success and we are already looking forward to attending again next year! After the Capital E Production of "Seasons", Queens Park was our next stop for lunch. Linking to our Amazing Me Programme we decided to have lunch at the castle...As we have been looking into "Where people live"...For many children this was their first time at the castle - very exciting!!

Caitlyn Hunt looking down from her Castle at Queens Park on Tuesday

A warm welcome to Natalie Russell.

Enjoy another sunny weekend...See you Monday.

Term 4 Week 4/5

In Week 4 we fare welled Jessica Irwin, Albie Reed and Jaxon Bates, and Week 5 Sophie Spedding....Happy School Days. We also welcome some new faces to the Winton Kindy family...Ayden Davis, Ben Robson, Rowan Barrie, Caitlyn Hunt, and Kate Pulley!

New Student:
We welcome 1st Year Student Erin Wilson to Winton Kindergarten. Erin joins us for a 3 week block posting. The children have spent the week introducing Erin to their routines and environment.

Welcome to Erin Wilson our student

Amazing Me:
On Monday 4th November we had a visit from Jo and Amby from St Johns. Fittingly we had a fire drill in the afternoon.

Jo and Amby from St John's come to visit

In Week 5 we watched DVD 3 - looking into family dynamics, our addresses and phone numbers, and knowing how to/being confident in seeking help from others and sharing how we feel. We have been looking at where people live - different places and types of housing. Our Amazing Me programme makes links with the horrific typhoon in the Philippines as we went over this extreme natural disaster with the children; further adding to our growing understanding of the world around us and what happens when we lose our home/possessions . We have watched YouTube clips of this extreme tragedy with the children during the week, as well as sourced texts on natural disasters and examined the globe - some children have mentioned seeing the same images on their TV at home - has your family talked about this at home?? Our thoughts go out to our strong Filipino community.

Nurtured By Nature:
Linda went along with the group this week as well as new faces Jacqlynn Logan and Paige Ankerson! Last week Cohen Davis joined the Forest Kindy kids ... New group dynamics!

Welcome to Forest Kindy Jacqlynn, Paige and Cohen!

Thanks to everyone who packed their sun hats and applied sunscreen before kindy this week - we have been making the most of the sun being out - long may it last!!

Miah, Freddie and Tristin playing swing ball in the sandpit this week

Term 4 Week 3

A nice short week this week with Labour Day on Monday.

Amazing Me Programme:
This week we watched DVD 2 of the Amazing Me series and covered:
- Learning rules to help keep themselves safe
- Encouraging children to ask for help from adults
- Learning own phone numbers, address, and the emergency number 111
In our environment this week we have had the dolls house and family members featured more prominently on the puzzle table to entice the children to engage in family play, and have continued with cutting and gluing the human body.

Oliver Keith with one of his MANY human body creations!

Welcome Ella Henry. Working alongside cousin Miah Short at the art table on their human body cut outs.

Amelia Young playing and learning at the dolls house with her brother

Nurtured By Nature Programme:
This week we took out our new Compasses and discussed some foundational orienteering skills. The group navigated their way to the "N" "North" end of the park and found that the Thomas the Tank engine mailbox symbolised the north end, and then made their way to the "S" "South" end where the path leads into the heart of the bush! A big thank you to Jo Hart and Janine Chrystall our Parent Helpers this week.

Kenny and Cedric deciding which way is North on the compass

Albie climbs the tree to reach the Kowhai pods for the group

TF Group: The group enjoyed having their faces painted yesterday with pumpkins and the moon and today with the cold weather we had lantern face-like toasties to warm us up - these went down a treat!

Quilan stops for a photo with his painted face before morning tea yesterday!

We welcome Ella Henry to our TF Group this week. A big farewell to Noewen Tejada and family who are moving out of the district, best wishes for your new adventure.

Term 4 Week 2

Amazing Me
We revisited our learning from DVD1 this week...The group have been practicing Brain Gym - learning about the body and different functions; cutting and gluing (fine motor skills) the human body; and, piecing together the 3D model of the human organs! Well done to all the tamariki who have shared with us their independence and self-care at home by giving a go washing, drying and dressing them self - tu meke/awesome!! Next week we will be moving on to DVD2.

Nurtured By Nature Programme
Wow, this week was soooo much fun! We went to go dig the toilet (our morning ritual) and somehow managed to find LOTS of puddles and MUD to enjoy along the way, and didn't return to the shelter until almost 11am when we were drenched and exhausted from all the excitement...This was the first time the whole group had got wet and muddy so it was a new experience for us all! Christina posed a challenge at the Mud - the person who got the most muddiest would get a prize! Well, that was a good enough incentive for EVERYONE to try and get as muddy as possible, rolling and sliding through the mud - great to see such a competitive streak amongst the group!! It was too hard to choose just one person, so Christina said she would get a surprise for the group once we were back at Kindy. In the afternoon we shared a Slideshow of Photos from our day (thank you to Annabelle's Granny for capturing our day) and all the children had a piece of "Mud" Cake to commemorate the day's success!!

The Muddy Monsters @ Forest Kindy this week!!! 

Logan Wallace knee deep in a puddle with the "Spider" he found at Ivy Russell Reserve

Mackenzie, Christina and Samelliah playing in the mud!

Annabelle's Gran captures some special moments from our day in the bush this week!

The MTW Group enjoying some "Mud" Cake on Tuesday afternoon

We have had lots of fun in the Sun this week...A timely reminder to please put on Sunscreen before Kindy in the mornings and we will top up as necessary during the day. Also sunhats too please...Hopefully we will be needing them in the weeks to come!! With the finer weather we have also been in the sandpit and water play - please ensure you pack a full change of clothes each day. Thanks.

Enjoy the LOOOOONG weekend everyone - see you Tuesday!

Term 4 Week 1

Welcome back to the final term of 2013...Where has the year got to!! Great to see everyone back looking refreshed and eager to reconnect with their peers after some time away.

Programme Planning: "Acceptance of Others: Strategies and Skills for Initiating and Maintaining Responsive and Positive Relationships"..."HEY...CAN I PLAY?"
Check out our Planning Wall beside the sign in desk on our Term 4 Dispositional Planning Focus.

Amazing Me Programme:
Notices were placed in Parent Pockets regarding the "Amazing Me Programme" which has started this week and running for the entire term.
DVD1:
- Enhancing children's self esteem
- "Trying to do things for yourself can be fun"
- Naming of body parts using correct terms

New Area of Play: 

At the end of last term Jessica Irwin and Annabelle Chrystall would often convert our Hair Dressing Salon for playing Nurses...So imagine their surprise when we arrived back this week with our very own Medical Centre. A BIG thanks to the Winton Medical Centre for donating LOTS of materials for the children to use...This new area of play sits with our Amazing Me Programme also!

Nature Programme
We welcome Mackenzie Vaughan and Logan Wallace to the Nature Programme this Term. We also had Sally joining us for her first time - if you ask any of the group you will know how much fun she had encouraging the children to play in the mud puddles - even sitting in it herself!!

Kenny, Sally and Henry making "Grass angels" as they rub the mud off their wet weather gear!!

The Forest Kindy kids, teacher Sally, and parent helpers Laarni and Cath stopping to notice what is growing alongside the creek

Science Alive:
On Wednesday the group were invited to revisit our science concepts we learnt about from "Science in a Van" at the end of last term. "Reaction, mixture, separation"... We watched in anticipation as the ice slowly melted throughout the day and observed how adding droplets of dye at different stages resulted in different outcomes....In the morning when the ice was just out of the freezer the dye stuck to the outside and formed bubbles...As the day progressed and the ice melted we noticed the dye beginning the seep through the tiny cracks inside the blogs of ice - very cool!!

Mackenzie and Jasmin add droplets of dye on the the ice and observe what happens next!!

ERO Visit
We had Lee and Jane from the Education Review Office for our formal visit on Wednesday along with Pam Wilson Senior Teacher. We had a great day showcasing our amazing children and Kindergarten and look forward to their feedback.

Photography Competition "I wonder"
A BIG thank you to all our photographers who entered their works into the "I wonder" photography competition...We wait in anticipation to hear who our winning entry is!

New faces this week:
We welcome Tara Hamilton to our MTW Group, and Olivia Chrystall, Sam Cowie and Corran Mee to our TF Group this week!

We welcome Tara Hamilton...Trying out the whitebait patties on Wednesday morning!

Corran Mee is introduced to the outdoors by buddy Fletcher Scott

Olivia Chrystall enjoying the climbing logs in the sandpit today!

Sam Cowie gets to work on the digger!

Term 3 Week 9

Our last week of the term...roll on term 4 and summer!!

This week was a full on week in preparation for the term break. We have had 7 Kindy Birthdays, saying Happy School Days to Charlie Templeton, Jodie Connell, William Reid, Ruby Diack, Jessica Hawkes-Fennelly, Reilly Fieten, and Elyssa King! We also celebrated Sally's birthday on Tuesday!!

Lionel's photo of the Wednesday birthday crew: Jessica, Jodie, Reilly, William, Elyssa and Ruby

NATURE DISCOVERY
The sun was out for our last day at our new Nature Discovery Programme on Tuesday. Thanks to William's Mum Bettina for coming along as Parent Help. We found some bones in the bush and are yet to discovery what animal these may be from; looked inside a tree that was filled with sap; collected kowhai seeds; weaved flax with Bettina; looked for huhu grubbs for Henry the Tuatara; discussed our "Leader" and "Back stop" roles; and made the most of the sunny day!

WINTON KINDERGARTEN PHOTO COMPETITION!

Lionel takes a group shot of us on Wednesday morning!!

On Wednesday we had a visit from Lionel Benjamin, Deputy Principal at Aurora College, Professional Photographer, AND judge of the Winton Salvation Army Photography Competition! Lionel took photos of us on the day as a big group and of the birthday children, as well as talked to the teachers, parents and children about how awesome our entries were and that he was simply "blown away" by the standard of work entered!!

We discussed our special award that he had gifted us of a family photo shoot and canvas for one lucky family as part of our success at the Winton Salvation Army Photography Competition. Lionel would like for ALL our families that are interested, over the holidays, to take ONE photo (family effort although we LOVE our children’s photography skills), PRINTED 5x7 minimum size. The THEME for this is “I wonder?” – interpret this in any way you like!! These photos must be in to Christina by the end of the first week of term 4 – FRIDAY 18^TH OCTOBER 12:45PM, along with a short DESCRIPTION of how your photo links to the theme of “I wonder?” Lionel will then judge the photos and present his winning entry with the family photo shoot prize. GET SNAPPING!! :)
 
WALK TO ST THOMAS SCHOOL TF GROUP
On Thursday we were invited along to St Thomas School by the Room 1 class to view their art works and watch their dress rehearsal of Noah's Ark. Thank you for all our Parent Helpers for coming along - a lot of fun!!

Room 1 performing for us on Thursday

GEORGIA
We said a fond farewell to Georgia this week as she finished her final days of her last posting ever!! Congratulations on your achievements and we all thank you for your hard work and wonderful learning experiences that you have created for the children. Bring on December for Graduation!

The teaching team at the Mad Hatters Tea Party earlier in the year...Farewell Georgia, you're amazing!!

END OF TERM TIDY UP
A big thank you to everyone who pitched in this week with jobs around the Kindergarten...Many hands do make like work and ensures our Kindergarten continues to provide quality early childhood education for your children...this would not be possible without your help - thanks!!

TERM 4 STARTS: MONDAY 14TH OCTOBER

Term 3 Week 8

WINTON SPRING FLOWER SHOW

This morning we took the TF Group along to see their amazing entries at the show! A big thank you to all our amazing parent helpers who came along. Our entries ranges from clay works to natural crafts, our children are really so talented that we put in as many as we could!! Well done tamariki what an awesome effort....SOOOOO many placings and certificates! If you get the chance to head along today or tomorrow it would be well worth the trip - $5 entry for adults, children free @ the Memorial Hall (big purple building opposite the church).

Families and children viewing the flower show

Mackenzie with her entry in the Flower Show

Casey looking very proud of his winning efforts at the Flower Show!!

WINTON SALVATION ARMY PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION:

On Saturday night  we headed along to the Prize Giving and Exhibition of the photography competition. The judges just raved about our entries and all our amazing children! They were sooo impressed by our efforts that they awarded us a special prize - a new Canon SX 500 IS camera, photo shoot, and visit from Lionel Benjamin (professional photographer and judge) next week! Thank you to the families who joined us on the night, such an affirmation for our talented Winton Kindy kids!!

Christina, Tristin, Mackenzie, Jessica, Lionel, Albie, Charlie and Cohen receiving our award at the photography competition

 SCIENCE IN A VAN:
On Monday we had Science in a Van - Alan and Emily joined us in the afternoon to share with us about "Mixtures" "Reactions" and "Separation"! The children loved the bubbles and magic - totally engaged! Sally and the Discovery Time group then made their own mixtures after the inspiring Science show the day before!

Alan from Science in a van with the huge bubbles he was making!

Discovery Time - making our own "mixture" Albie, Charlie, Jodie and Reilly

 NATURE DISCOVERY:
This week we had a great time going on a "Treasure Hunt" organised by this week's Parent helpers. The children found a number of items - including Watties Tomato Sauce - I wonder what we would need this for?? Oh sausages for morning tea what a treat! Adam was a wealth of knowledge and taught us about different plants and bugs. He showed us the South Island Kowhai Tree and we collected the pods to get seeds to make into gifts next week. A big thanks to McDermotts for transporting us back to Kindy.

Parent Helper this week Robin and Jessica

Parent Helper Adam making head bands with Samelliah

LAST DAY FOR TERM NEXT FRIDAY THE 27TH SEPTEMBER

A big thanks to all those who have put their name down for End of Term duties. These can be completed from Monday please. 

GEORGIA'S LAST WEEK AT KINDY

We are sad to say that our wonderful student teacher Georgia finishes her final posting next week. Georgia joined us last year as a 2nd yr student studying through the Southland Campus of the University of Otago. We invite all families to join us for morning tea on Wednesday to say farewell. Georgia's last day will be Friday. We thank her for all her hard work and look forward to attending her graduation at the end of the year.

TF GROUP: Walk to St Thomas School Thursday 26th

On Thursday please remember to pack warm clothes, jacket, hat, and sensible walking shoes as we have been invited by St Thomas School to watch their dress rehearsal of their end of term production. We are still looking for more parent Helpers so please let Christina know by Thursday (email or leave a message on answering machine) if you can help out. Thanks.

We also need Morning Tea Parent Help for Thursday and Friday - if you are yet to take your turn this term, this would be a great opportunity to lend a hand. Thank you.

GO TEAM NEW ZEALAND - ONE RACE AWAY FROM WINNING THE AMERICA'S CUP!!