Term 2 Week 5

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Weekly Newsletter Term 2 Week 5

Kia Ora Kayden

Kia Ora and welcome to Kayden Beck, joining our TF Group. Farewell to Johann Israel and family.

EXPRESS TIME - WEDNESDAY MORNINGS 8:30AM - MORNING TEA
This week we introduced "Express Time" on Wednesday morning, following on from the REANZ South Conference at Otatara last weekend that the teaching team attended. Rollerston Primary School, near Christchurch incorporate a Reggio Emilia inspired teaching practise, as we do here at Winton Kindergarten. Andrew (Principal) and Jade (Team Leader and Reggio Advisor) shared with us about their programme, projects and practises. Of particular interest to us, was their dedicated time, once a week, called "Express Time". A special time where the children were provided the opportunity and resources to create, play, and then revisit this each week. For us, we have adapted this to focus on the whole group creating/collaborating together with the idea of extending on this each week.

We introduced a HUGE cardboard box as a provocation ... and waited. Thomas Turrell was first to arrive, and quickly hopped inside...waiting on the group to arrive so that he could pop out to surprise them! His excitement and the intrigue of what COULD happen inspired the others to explore the box in its many forms and possibilities. As the morning continued, ideas, discussion, imagination, collaboration, team work, negotiation, and a one-ness evolved. Our Reggio Emilia inspired value in that we are "Individuals within a group; not a group of individuals" was further strengthened through this experience. By the end of our "Express Time" all children had contributed in some way shape or form - and our "Not a Box" had transformed into a train carriage. There were labourers - connecting the train tracks, passengers (including cats and dogs - Alice, Jaclyn, Reef and Eva), a conductor, a driver, and so much joy!


We concluded our "Express Time" by coming together on the mat to reflect as a group on our morning. We introduced the story "Not a Box" - and finished by leaving the children to ponder over the possibilities of what our "NOT A BOX" could become in our next Express Time, next Wednesday morning. The group then packed away their rail ride adventure, and the Not A Box was positioned in the corner. In the afternoon during Te Wananga Time, the group decorated the box with fairy lights, our photos from the day and our "Not a Box" story. It now sits silently in the corner...awaiting our next adventure - watch this space!



POLYFEST
A BIG thanks to the Wylie family for their generous donation of a boat for the children to use for our Polyfest Art Waka Project: Navigate Your Journey. Thank you to families for the return of their family portraits - these are due by next Friday, the 10th of June please.



FOREST KINDY
Mark Oster from Environment Southland joined us for the morning - we are so lucky to have Mark on board and to inspire and teach us all about the natural world around us!

Last year Judy put together an iBook on our Nurtured By Nature Forest Kindy Programme. To thank the Council for allowing us to utilise the Ivy Russell Reserve, Judy ordered another copy of the book and presented this to the Council. The Council were so impressed that they have asked us if the book can be displayed at the Winton Library for the wider Community to view. Mary Witsey contacted us this week, simply blown away by what we do and offer for our families with our Nature Programme. Sally met with Mary yesterday for an interview and to share all the amazing learning opportunities and benefits of the "unhurried child in nature" and how we view this programme through a lens of ecological identity - our connection with the natural world. 

ST THOMAS SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY
Well done to all our competitors and thank you to St Thomas School for the invitation to be a part of this event. Special mention to Jonty and Paige on their efforts! Thank you to our helpers on the day.

We will be presented with certificates at St Thomas School Celebration of Learning next Wednesday morning - please read and sign for this on Tuesday morning if you are yet to do so...we still need more helpers for the morning (10:30-12:30).