Term 1 Week 3 2020

Kia Ora ... Welcome back everyone! Everyone's excitement to be back is infectious!
                                                                                                    

We begin our year - as always - considering our commitment to Tiriti o te Waitangi as we celebrate Waitangi Day - Thur 6 Feb.

Tikanga Maori - Bicultural Best Practice  

           The basis of bicultural development is building trusting
relationships - communicate respect,warmth,trust 
& understandings. 
Ritchie (2003)

We recognise Maori as tangata whenua & share an obligation in protecting the Language, Culture & Identity in ensuring that Maori are able to enjoy success as Maori (Ka Hikitia, 2013, p.4)

Our 2020 Winton Show will also acknowledge our commitment through our Art piece ...

Treaty of Waitangi Collective Art Entry for the 

Winton Autumn Flower Show

Our year has begun with a new Curriculum Design Focus around celebrating our diverse learning community.  The Arts as a Learning & Communication tool is an integral part of our Winton Kindy Philosophy, so as always our creativity focus begins by considering our Art entry in our local Flower Show.  With Waitangi Day - 6 Feb - we have the opportunity to share our ideals around 'The Treaty of Waitangi' through our Art entry.  'The Treaty of Waitangi is NZ founding document'.  It takes its name from it's place of 'signing' - Bay of Islands - 6 Feb 1840. The treaty agreement, in Maori & English, was made between the British Crown & about 540 Maori rangitaria (chiefs) -
                                            https://nzhistory.govt.nz/politics/treaty/the-treaty-in-brief

We ask for families to take the time (with your child) to consider, design & create a beautiful representational feather, along with sharing some key words or thoughts ...                                           What does inclusion really mean to us?

Each feather will represent each of our families a representation of Whanaungatanga, & will be added  to our collective/hapori Korowai.

Winton Kindergarten Philosophy 2020

Kaiako recognise the growth of our multi-cultural community.  We value the vast experiences & cultural opportunities it brings to the Mauri of our Kindy.  

*** PLEASE RETURN YOUR FEATHERS TO KINDY BY FRI 14 FEB***

Taiaroa Heads/Pukekura - NZ Alabatross Colony

Another annual event for us ... stunning landscape - both of the Otago Pennisula & our very own NZ Northern Royal Alabatross Colony (world renowned as the only mainland colony of albatross in the Southern Hemisphere) - captured through the lens of a LIVE webcam.  The Pennisula, itself, was named after Te Matenga Taiaroa a chieftain of Ngai Tahu iwi back in 1650.  Now a very well established area for both Northern Royal Alabatross & NZ yellow-eye penguin. 

The 2019/20 nest is located on the Top Flat Track.  OGK (21 year old male) & YRK (25 year old female) laid an eff on 14 Nov 2019.  The chick hatched on 31 Jan 2020.  Through the Royal Cam (24 hour live stream) we will be able to watch with interest (on our BIG screen @ Kindy) the daily 'comings & goings' of the life-span of the new born chick from fluff to fledging (around 9 months), along with all the 'comings & goings' of the Otago harbour.  Click on the link below for more info.  You may like to also save this link to your Favourties or Bookmarks on your phone or computer & watch, as a family, 
@ home ...
Taiaroa Heads Royal Albatross Colony LIVE webcam

Eco - Agronomists 

Food sourced, food grown, food shared = food eaten.  A great way to create a 'hands-on' approach to nutrition. Grow little plants ... GROW!

Nature at it's best ...

The wafting of lavender ... natures very own natural anxiolytic.  We are ALWAYS on the look out for natural resources in critiquing our eco-literate selves & viewing the many possibilities 'the wonders of nature' provides. From viewing each intrical flower-head (drawing/painting) to rubbing the purple flower heads delicately together & appreciating the wafting aroma.  How did the aroma get there? Why does it stay on our hands?   Wonderful 'deeper' questions to continually ponder over!  If you have any flora/fauna either from your garden or from 'out n about' PLEASE don't hesitate to bring it in to share. 

Just thinking ... a great App we sourced @ Rudd Kleinpaste's workshop @ the Otatara Coummunity Nursery last year - iNaturalist.  If you are unsure of the name or characteristics of any plant ... it identifies over 10,000 flora/fauna!

We also purchased some graphically beautiful BIG books @ the end of the year which we now have displayed in our new Artelier - Art Studio.  Funnily there is a beautiful pic of Lavender in one of the books which Elle used to enhance this encounter.  Christina repurposed shelving from Mervs & Millies to create this very new & aesthetic playscape ... AND children have indeed been intrigued!!!  

Creating space, wonder & curiosity - it's been said that the learning environment should act as a kind of aquarium which reflects the ideas, attitudes & lifestyle of the people in it'    Loris Malaguzzi 

Taiao Tuhura

We will be back in full swing on Tue (11 Feb).  Ten of our oldest nga Tamariki head off to our local Ivy Russell Reserve to partake in some very eco-literate encounters/adventures. New eco-warrioirs will be kitted out with wet weather gear (kindly donated by Kindergartens South).  We also have some older (but still in VERY good condition) wet weather gear available ... plus some Beanies.  

Staff

Congratulations to Antonia Murphy who successfully applied for our Full Time teaching position @ the end of the year. Antonia brings wonderful continuity to the Teaching Team & community as she has been a Teaching Team member for the last two years. Antonia is on leave @ the moment as she recoups from ankle surgery. A thanks to Rachel Evans & Bridget Robinson for helping out with relieving ... really appreciated.  Some of you may remember Linda Eade - Linda joins us on Mon 11 Feb & will relieve, until such time as Antonia returns.  Also we now have confirmed our Winton Kindy Staff Job share positions - Kaiako Matua - Head Teacher  - Judy (Tue-Fri); Kaiako Matua - Christina (Mon) & Kaiako (Tue,Wed) & Kaiako - Elle (Mon,Thur, Fri).

AGM -Winton Kindy Annual General Meeting

We are presently organising our 2020 AGM - Annual General Meeting.  Please consider joining our 'merry band of helpers' - 'Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world - indeed it's the only thing that ever has'. We take inspiration from our local 'Blair Vining's Epic Journey' & the advocacy of Blair & Missy's campaign - thoughtful & VERY committed.  Traits we see in our very own Parent Group.

We have a special guest speaker this year - Dr Tabitha Luecker - on behalf of the NZ Brainwave Trust.  Dr Leucker spoke @ our Kindergartens South AGM last year & left us all in no doubt of the significance of the early years - more importantly the first 1000 days.  The Trust aims to raise public awareness about the new findings in brain research & to educate everyone who has an impact on the early life of a child.  At this stage we have a tenative date  - 3 or 4 March 2020.  We will confirm a date shortly - pencil it into your diaries or into your calender on your phone - NOT to be missed.

Pick-a-day that suits ...

Our Parent Help roster is now 'out n about'..  choose a day that best suits.  We truly appreciate that you continue to make yourself available to prepare 'nutritionally & colourful morning tea/lunches' for ALL our nga tamariki.  It not only affords wonderful opportunites to share culture & cuisine - local ingredients & seasonal variations but also opportunites to share our day - what's happening & why - wonderful conversation starters @ home.   The children are ALWAYS excited to share with Kaiako -  'Mum/Dad's helping out today' - so from us all THANKS for taking the time to share 'some' of your day with us - it is indeed very very appreciated.  Also a HUGE tks to Toni Mills (Annabelle's Mum) for the tireless job as Te Kaiarahi kai (Food Co-ordinator).  If you have any healthy snacks/finger food ideas to share - please let Toni know!

Also a BIG tks to Toni for kindly sharing some TLC to our wooden shoe-rack over the break.  Toni not only beautifully sanded the rack but also took it apart & sanded each individual piece.  Tino Tino Pai!!! 

A tks to those who were able to help out with all our end-of-term tidy-up.  It's a biggish job - especially shifting all the furniture.  A small band of helpers - but a very committed group of helpers. A great start to arrive back to Kindy - clean, fresh & ready for another 'action-packed' year/term.  PERFECT!

Links on our BLOG 

Try clicking into the various links on our BLOG -
 Reggio in a Nutshell (an animated version about Reggio Insipred Teachings/Learnings); 
Reggio Emilia Planetary Message - a global message; 
2019 PM Education Excellence Award - our entry;
 The Parenting Place - Parenting tips @ your finger tips; 
UN Convention of the Rights of a Child;  
Hectors world - A Child-Friendly way to find out about Cybersafety; 
NZ Heart Foundation ... Tips & ideas.  

All very relevant & informative.  Let us know if there are any other links we could add. 

If you are viewing/reading the BLOG on your phone, scroll to the bottom & click on the 'View web version' to view the various links.  

NOTED is our visitor views - over 21,000 - WOW!!!

Nga mihi - The Teaching Team