Term 3 Week 10

This week we farewelled Hayley, Carly and Gavin from the Winton Kindy whanau. We wish you all a wonderful transition to school and look forward to seeing you out and about Central Southland! Hayley's "Big Nan" (Great-Grandmother) hand-painted bespoke story-stones for us to share our kaitiaki stories with our native birds, and retell of the Takitimu Waka and the "hook of knowledge" - thank you Spice whanau!


Taiao Tuhura
Our Kaitiaki/guardians of Ivy Russell Reserve had a bbusy last day at the Reserve. We returned "Sticky" the stick insect to his habitat beside the Monkey Tree, collected fallen foliage for the Winton Spring Flower Show, and collected LOTS of rubbish. We found some rubbish buried under the top soil, and shared how harmful this would be for the insects and animals that call this place home. Jack J and Joesuf led the group to the stream for a spot of fishing to finish our morning. When we met Duncan on the bus, Jack K shared an invitation with him and asked if he would like to join us for the Environment Southland Community Awards...we think Duncan was quite chuffed to be asked!



Environment Southland Community Awards
Our strong Kaitiakitanga/stewardship values have been showcased to the Judges for this year's Awards, with a video compilation of Judging day going live on their Facebook over the weekend. During the Term Break we are attending the Awards Ceremony at Ascot Park Hotel and look forward to celebrating with all the other proud kaitiaki from around Southland across business, farming, education and community sectors.

Winton Garden Club - Spring Flower Show & Art Exbition
Be sure to visit our 'sleeping kiwis' at the Winton Memorial Hall this Friday & Saturday. We've complied children's drawings & their 'kiwi bird' stories, which has beautifully captured our tamariki as Kaitiaki of both our kiwi & land! Check out this documentation that sits alongside our clay sculptured 'sleeping kiwi in their natural environment.'


End of Term Tidy Up
A big thank you to our parent kaitiaki for caring for our beautiful Kindegarten, ensuring we return to a lovely clean Kindy in Term 4, you are all superstars - thank you!!


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Term 3 Week 9

Proud as Kaitiaki!!

Conservation Week (14-22 Sept) is a national celebration that encourages INVOLVEMENT in nature &  it's stewardship.  This week our young Kaitiaki have shown a HUGE amount of pride in taking responsibility in caring for 'To tatou waahi' -  Our Place. 

The continuum  of participating in these roles lays the foundation & connects to kaitiakitanga values not just @ Kindy but in our everyday lives.  Caring for Papatuanuku-Earth Mother and Tangata - our people. 

"New Zealand’s wildlife is still in crisis with more than 4,000 of our native animals and plants threatened or at risk. Conservation Week is a chance to bring everyone together to do something, big or small to create change." find out more on About Conservation Week   Thing to do in Conservation Week

New Zealand Kindergartens (NZK) Cultural Award

What could be in the suitcase!??  During our group hui/meeting Lexi & Michaela uncovered a very mysterious artefact - what's in that suitcase?  The anticipation was rife!! Finally, Christina, presented a beautiful whakairo. Our '2019 NZK Cultural Award'.  How intrigued & careful everyone was as the taonga 'Trophy' was passed around the group.  

The award was compiled by Judy along with utilising Megan's photography skills to create a Vimeo (video) presentation 'Hundred Languages of Reggio Emilia Aotearoa" at the NZ Kindergartens AGM conference in Wellington  Fri 6 Sept 2019.   We received another accolade - 2019 NZK Cultural Award.  This reflected previous inquiry projects, capturing the beautiful way "The Hundred Languages of Art" can be used as a tool for discovering more about our bicultural heritage and strengthening our connection with our land & our people.

This whakairo was carved by Paora Mackie ki Wairau and it is named :

"Te Matau o Maui Tikitiki a Taranga."

This whakairo evolved from Paora's thoughts about Maui as a cheeky little kid who is always looking for something more.

Te matau represents tamariki looking for inspiring as they inspire kaiako, fishing for knowledge.  

The realms of Tangaroa and Te Wahingaro, the realm of te Atua where Maui passed over to, are represented and even Wheke who Kupe chased from Hawaiiki to the Malborough Sounds can be seen.  

The rope is connecting Maui with his pool of searching or it can be the bond between the living and the spiritual realm.

We have indeed been very humbled & prviledged this term with all our awards & accolades!!!

   Taiao Tuhura Nature Discover Programme

 Our leaders - Ella & Hayley's last Forest Kindy day on Tue, they shared their Taiao Tuhura expertise  - tiritiri matauranga - with our newest members; Robbie, Heidi & Benji & the special places they love to visit at Ivy Russell Reserve.  They were keen to spend their last day with friends at the now famous 'Monkey Tree' & retelling the Legend of the Takitimu Mountains.   A big thank you to Ella & Nicola for treating our friends with toasted marshmallows to end their Taiao Tuhura adventure.

Recycle, Reuse, Repurpose - Bread Tags for Wheelchairs

A massive thank you to our whanau for contributing all your bread tags.  These bread tags will be sent to a South African plastics moulding company - Zibo.  The bread tags are then recycled and used to manufacture seedlings trays & money raised pays from seeling these trays is then used for purchasing wheelchairs for the less fortunate. 

Our curious tamariki couldn't resist in discovering just how many bread tags we had collected...2,159!  Off next door where Heidi, Robbie, Hayley & Ella dropped off our collection to the Winton Presbyterain Church.  Well done everyone!!  Keep them coming!

Busy week as always ... enjoy the weekend1  Weather forecasters have suggested 'Get out your jandals' ... will do,
See everyone next week ... Whanau week on Thur night (have you registered?) & end of term on Fri (we'll need LOTS of helpers to shift our furniture for the Term Clean.  Can you help out?). Term 4 (oh my gosh) begins Mon 14 Oct 2019 (who said Xmas was just around the corner - I think they are right!).
The Teaching Team!!!