Winton Spring Flower Show 25/26 September 2020
Our student teacher Georgina has been busy facilitating our entry into this year's Winton Spring Flower Show. The change of seasons reminds us of the rhythms of our Kindy rituals - spring highlighting our participation in this annual event, an opportunity to showcase our tamariki as citizens of the wider community. This year the 'theme' is Owls. For us, we seek to make connecting links between the kaupapa of the Flower Show organising committee, and that of our Curriculum Design and philosophies. This is an opportunity to learn about our native Morepork /Ruru. So far we have discovered that the Ruru are referred to in Maoridom as "The kaitiaki/guardians of the night", which is so poignant when we refer to ourselves as proud Kaitiaki upholding the mana of Ivy Russell Reserve on our weekly visits during Taiao Tuhura Discovering Nature programme, not with the adaptation of "Kaitiaki of the daytime" in reference to our new-found knowledge of the unique role of the Ruru/Owl.
It's also an opportunity to invite our Kindy families to participate in the many floral, horticultural, craft and baking sections provided for in the show. We have copies of the entry book at Kindy, or the local Mitre10 and Hospice Shop also have entries books at their counters.
Our investigations into nests and Ruru through stories, videos, investigations (we looked closely @ an owl's feather from Alex's nest - under the microscope), sounds and of course art has sparked a lot of koreo and shared knowledge between tamariki and kaiako.
Alex shared this after hearing the Ruru call; "Maybe it's asking...'Is everyone Okay?"
The koreo the tamariki have gained a trust in the Ruru as a protector of their dreams.
Thank you to all of our whanau who have loaned a nest and shared their knowledge of Ruru and nests what a great multi-cultural Kindy we have!!
Southland District Council - Earthquake Prone Buildings Submission
Over the past month the children have been exploring the arts through representing the historical buildings that make up Winton's CBD along Great North Road. As the children draw, their ideas, values and relationships with these places come alive. Their narrations alongside the symbolic representations will combine to make up our Winton Kindergarten Submission to Council. We would love to hear any stories parents or grandparents have of these historic buildings, their memories or knowledge of them would help us paint a picture of their inherent value. Its great to hear of families making intentional connections between life at Kindy and home-life through walking past and getting a closer look or beginning conservation around the Winton CBD landscape. Lenore so beautifully said: "There is a castle in Winton - I think the Queen lives there!" (referring to the Old Post Office building). We are hearing and observing that even although children may not enter many of these premises, these buildings do make up their worlds and working theories about the world around them.
Te Wiki o te reo Maori
Maori Language Week! We registered on-line & became were 1-in-1 million who took part. Waiata, kanikani, karakia, rakau is woven throughout our day but this week, more especially we added a challenge to use more Te Reo within our 'korero'.
Thanks to Elysia (Merana's Mum) for joining us, leading with poi and waiata. Tumeke to mahi!
Te reo Maori and culture is a strong identity of what makes us proud to be Aotearoains along with our bi-bultural curriculum and way of being. To support your Te Reo at home Judy found a fabulous app to use which translates English to te reo Maori and other languages;
Microsoft translator App - free to download and use :)
Taiao Tuhura
This week we were lucky enough to get to spend another morning at Ivy Russell Reserve! The forest provided us wonderful shelter from the Winter elements. It was Micheala's and Lexi's last morning with us, wow the excitement and anticipation of being leaders together!! Along with Beau's help we returned to find his brother Ryans hut that he has made, this was such an adventure as we had to navigate across the stream on our way. We visited our precious waka and found our own ripple and shared this special place with Steph and Nicky our whanau helpers. Visiting the monkey tree the wishing rock, gathering natural resources for making owls and checking Colins rimu tree where also places that Lexi and Micheala chose to share with us. Ka kite to Lexi, Michela and Beau.
Tera wiki ka tomuri koe mo te wiki whakamutunga o te kupu.
See you all next week for the final week of the term
Nau Mihi, Your Teaching Team :)
