Term 4 Week 2

The Wishing Rock...A problem shared is a problem solved!

Kaitiakitanga - Guardianship of Ivy Russell Reserve by our Taiao Tuhura Discovering Nature tamariki.

This week we arrived back for our first day at the Reserve for Term 4. Having three new friends joining the group - Jussi, Charlee, and Skylar - our Leaders Poppy and Archie had planned to take the group along to our Wishing Rock to introduce them to this special place and our weekly ritual. As we approached the end of the path, we noticed something odd - no majestic Wishing Rock towering above us, waiting to hear our deepest desires! Instead, to our horror, we found our beautiful rock, lying on its side!

WHAT HAD HAPPENED?!?!
"Perhaps there was a tornado,"
"No, because they don't come to this country," Rupeni shared.
"Maybe the Wolf blew it over!"
"Maybe a big rock hit into it!"
...Lots of theories on what might have occurred.

Ok, so what shall we do?...We had to Problem Solve!
"We could all work together - let's lift it!"
"But it's too big!"
"And it will be really heavy for us!"

We need to get help...Who can help us?
We recalled our learning journey with our Takitimu Waka Project, and who the special people were that helped make that dream a reality. We shared that the Southland District Council were responsible for Ivy Russell Reserve. A quick Internet search, and we had a contact phone number.
The group decided that Poppy, as Leader, and sharing a special family connection to the Wishing Rock, would talk on the phone with the Council to share the problem we had found. Confidently and competently, Poppy shared our concerns - "The Wishing Rock fell over...We can't make any wishes,". Thankfully, the very helpful person on the other end of the line responded with: "Leave it all to me!" Perfect!

Arriving back at Kindy, the Forest Kindy gang shared the problem with the rest of the group. Bailley and her mum kindly offered to walk down to the Reserve after Kindy to see if our problem had been solved. At 3pm we received an email from Bailley, sharing that our WISHES really had come true - the Wishing Rock had been restored to its correct resting place by the Council.

On Wednesday morning, Ebony and her Mum arrived at Kindy, having first stopped in at the Reserve, and to their surprise also, our Wishing Rock was still standing tall and proud - gosh we are pleased!

It is so humbling to see the power of community spirit alive in Winton. A big thanks to the Southland District Council for listening to the concerns of our 3 and 4 yr olds and jumping into action straight away!

If you happen to be out and about, do stop by our Wishing Rock and make a Wish with your family....send us your pics!

Placing an ear against the fallen Wishing Rock to try and hear if our Wishes were still inside.

Poppy talking to the Southland District Council

Bailley looking very pleased to find our Wishing Rock restored!

Family Traditions...

On Wednesday we farewelled Poppy from the group. To mark this special occasion, Poppy's Mum and Nana arrived at Kindy and created delicious "Clown biscuits" with everyone. This was something Poppy's Mum recalled doing on her fifth birthday with Poppy's Nana, and wanted to create that same special memory for Poppy.  We look forward to hearing in years to come if Poppy continues this tradition with her children! As always, the children just love having special family and visitors share in our Kindy days and creating magic with us all. To all families: Please remember you are most welcome to pop in anytime and share any craft, skill, or interest you may have with us. Happy School Days Poppy - a special day to treasure!

Sharing our Eco-ness within our Community

Thank you to eco-warrior Ella Lark and family for taking our Kindy soft-plastics to the New World Recycling bin on Friday.

Explorer Group (Thur/Fri)

Nga tamariki have been intrigued this week with our recycled/repurposed wooden fences and buildings; creating paddocks and herding animals.  Recycled fabrics were used to enhance this farming playscape - tks Elle. African animals have been chosen ... hmm I wonder if Judy will remember some of these animals - she continues to share many African pics from her Safari earlier on in the year.  'DO I REMEMBER SOME OF THESE ANIMALS - I WILL NEVER FORGET THEM' ... Judy.   Ka mau te whehi tamariki.


Using renewable art resources  - charcoal - our art table has been a popular spot this week. Nga tamariki have had the opportunity to explore shape, form & shading with these black carbon & ash residue sticks.  Creating with natural resources is another way our children continue to strengthen their ecological identity!!


Taiao Tuhura tamariki have left a ataahua koha for us this week, a black beetle!! Thank you Taiao Tuhura team!! Some real entomologist in the making.  Now let's set it free....... I wonder if we will ever find it at Kindy again! What fabulous Kaitiakitanga you are!!


Haere ra tatou.  See you all next week.  A busy week of Pet Shows - Limehills on Monday & Winton/St Thomas combined Pet Show on Friday.

The Teaching Team

Term 4 Week 1

Nui mai, haere mai. Welcome back everyone! We hope you all had time to have some rest & relaxation over the term break.

We kicked off Term 4 with an intriguing provocation bought in from Archie.  While we gathered around for our Monday Morning Hui, Archie shared what he had discovered while out on his farm - a blue eggshell!  Or was it an eggshell? Maybe it was a dinosaur egg? I wonder ... it's clear, more research is needed!


Winton Garden Club - Spring Flower Show
During our hui Jo, from WGC, arrived to deliver nga tamariki with something AMAZING! A TROPHY for best overall art entry & 1st place for our group project "Where the Tui Birds Gone? Can the Tui & Pukeko be friends?" What a neat ecogift idea to also be awarded with Pea & Carrot seeds and Calendula & Sunflower seeds! Let's get gardening!


Let's Investigate!
During Te Wanaga time nga tamariki investigated the eggshell through a magnifying glass in hope for some clues to find out who or how is it made.

"I think it could be a Weka's egg" Ivy said
"I think it's a baby chick because it came from Archie's farm" Bailley said.
"There's something black in the shell...it could be a spider" Skylar & Ivy decided.
"The egg transforms into a bird!" Ebony said.
"I saw a hole in the shell, maybe from a kiwi" Jussi & Taylor shared.
"A blackbird can lay a blue egg ... really!!" Hunter exclaimed.

Well Hunter ... let's Google to do some research. We discovered photos of Blackbirds with blue eggs. YES!! We had the answer! A Blackbird can lay a blue egg!! After noticing 'things' in the photos ...  more questions arose, "Is that the same size egg as Archie's egg...and the same shade of blue?" Oh no, maybe we didn't have the answer! "Who decides what colour the egg is going to be?" Judy asked. With our brains working overtime a group decision had been decided, "A 'Bluebird' makes a blue egg!" We decided to leave our korero/discussion there and for nga tamariki to share their investigation at home - "Does a 'Bluebird make a blue egg!?"





"Does a Bluebird Make a Blue Egg?"
Marley & Hunter shared that a "Blackbird DOES make a blue egg!!" Hunter & Marley needed some more proof for the rest of nga tamariki to believe them.  We found some awesome Youtube clips of a Blackbird laying blue eggs, a time lapse of them hatching & then Mum Blackbird feeding her chicks. Tumeke tamariki, great investigating!



What's in the Bag!?
Our awesome mahi - recycling paper & cardboard throughout 2017-18 was recognised by 'Paper4Trees - Carbon Reduction Programme' and awarded us with none other than our most famous tree at kindy - the Kowhai Tree!  Actually 7 Kowhai trees.  Now where can we plant them so they can grow tall and help feed the Tui!



The Art of Storytelling
This was an interesting provocation for our finest storytellers at kindy using 'sequencing pictures'.  As nga tamariki progressed from one picture to the next, this prompted a visual cue as to what would could possibly happen next, keeping creative storytellers on their toes... 'the Tui birds were out flying when suddenly a bat appeared!'
                                Stop at the lightbox next time you're in and share 'your story' with us!



On Friday Finn, Sophie, Lacey Evie & Kaylee from our "Explorers Group" (Thurs/Fri Group) collaborated together for some storytelling.  Finn added to the story that the bat "ate a bird" while the Tui were out flying.  The Tui were feeling scared so they flew "to a tree, for a rest" Sophie & Lacey suggested.  Next, there were,"stones, heaps of stones" Evie shared, "they got away!" Phew!


Winton Library
A warm welcome back to Carmel from Winton Library.   Carmel shared some beautiful stories with our Explorers Group (fortnightly - on a Thur arvo).  and Carmel shared, not only stories but some movement & music to finish off our Wa Korero (story time).  Tks Carmel!



Ella Shares Her Photos
On Friday Ella shared her photos that her Dad, Shane, took of a Kea & Weka with the Explorers Group.  Our tamariki wanted to take a closer look and make sure the photo & Kea puzzle appeared the same...'Hang on where's the orange feathers on the Kea in the photo?' 'Oh you can find those colours underneath the Kea's wings, when s/he is flying!' Great observation skills everyone!


Spring Is In The Air!
Judy's beautiful white Tulips have been a point of conversation this week.  Alex shared his concerns for the Tulips, "The Tulips feel sad!" We thought of a way to cheer the Tulips up - Let's singing to them. Other provocations included Sophie, Lacey & Evie - smelling the blooms. Sophie decided, "They smell like peaches!"  What a simple provocation to create dialogue between friends, while taking an appreciation for our flowers & their natural beauty.
                                                              Noticing the extraordinary in the ordinary.


Monday is Labour Day so no kindy, we'll see you all back on Tuesday.  Taiao Tuhura (Forest Kindy) starts on Tuesday.  Have a fabulous long weekend!

The Teaching Team