Term 4 Week 2

123 AMAZING ME!!!

All About Me - Taku Ahuatanga Whanui

This term we've introduced 'Keeping Ourselves Safe' programme. We will be watching and revisiting 5 DVDs over the term that include introducing strategies & skills in keeping ourselves safe from harm.   It sits & fits well with the UN Convention of the Rights of Children ... Children have a right to our protection. Children have the right to feel good about themselves.  Children have the right to feel safe.

DVD 1: Te Whariki (New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum) - Strand Wellbeing

Throughout the DVD, environment provocations and reflections focused around the first video 'Wellbeing', the tamariki are strengthening their knowledge of their own body and how to keep themselves safe through washing, naming body parts and dressing themselves. 

Here are some of the thoughts, ideas and knowledge nga tamariki shared around caring for their bodies;

"Sleeping all night" Alex

"Sleeping helps us grow and helps our brains" Collective thoughts

"Vegetables make us big and strong" Harper

"Drinking water" Ben

"Water keeps us healthy!" Mereana

"Exercise is good too" Alex 

"putting sunblock on when you go outside (is looking after yourself)" Knox

Farewell to Student Teacher Georgina!

This week we said farewell to Georgina who is now finished her teacher training - all the best for Graduation and beyond! We hope Georgina leaves Winton Kindergarten feeling inspired and excited to venture in to a career pathway in our sector, we look forward to hearing where life's journey will lead her!

Dan Davin Literacy Foundation - Southland Writers and Readers Festival - Professional Development opportunities

Last Thursday night Christina attended her second Pecha Kucha  - this time with 7 presenters sharing 20 slides for 20 seconds each slide! A concise way to be introduced to a variety of writing styles and techniques from a breadth of talented Southlanders. Then in the weekend Christina attended 3 workshops with award winning New Zealand authors Kyle Mewburn - Hill and Hole, Old Huhu; Pauline Smith - author of Dawn Raids and Chair of the Southland Kindergarten Association Board of Governors; & Bubba Thompson - Kaumatua from Bluff Marae and author of 4 children books based around local purakau/stories. And on Tuesday - another writers workshop, this time with Catherine Taylor ...  supported by the scholarship Christina received earlier on in the year - Kindergartens South -  Hargest Research Scholarship.

Kyle Mewburn

Bubba Thompson

Pauline Smith

Invercargill Central Rebuild - Art Trail

Thanks to Gus and Andy for sharing this pic from your weekend adventures - I wonder if any other families have found our art piece in the Art Trail around Invercargill - send us your snaps!

Andy and Gus standing in front of our Kindy mural!

Taiao Tuhura

A big warm welcome to Archie, Charlotte, Huxley and Kaiako Elle & Georgina who joined us on our adventures today!!

We saw soo many interesting and intriguing discoveries on our adventures this week including a bike in the creek, lots of big muddy puddles, a new 'Puzzle Tree', many 'Sleeping Kiwi', Kowhai Tree's out in flower, an eaten piece of harakeke and a dishevelled 'Dragon's Nest'!! 

Wow!!

Macaws ni Vosa Vakaviti 2020

Nobu Vos, Noqu sema Bula!! This week we have celebrated Fijian Language Week (observed). With lots of investigations around the different patterns and designs featured in traditional Fijian Tapa or Masi. We have also looked at books surrounding this totoka(beautiful) Country and culture!!

Phoebe has sat proudly during our Hui more than mamarau (happy) to share her knowledge & expertise with us, thanks Phoebe!!

The Meke dance has also proven to be an amazing advocate for the Fijian Culture at Kindy, the tamaiki have loved dancing and playing music alongside some youtube clips; follow this link to see: 

Meke Fijian Traditional Dance

 

Good Sorts ...

Whakawhetai to Buell and his Grandpa who kindly donated his time and resources to repair some of our wooden toys!! We have some VERY happy tamariki!!

Enjoy Labour Day (Monday 26th) with your whanau!!             Don't come Monday!

Have a safe and happy weekend!!

Your Teaching Team

Term 4 Week 1

Nau mai ki te Katoa - Welcome back everyone.

Great to be back from Term Break ... Term 4 2020.  For many, 2020 will be remembered for many reasons - COVID19 being the biggy!!!  Let's make Term 4 2020 & the end of the year  - a time of gathering - with many! 

CBD Historical Buildings Project

We continue on our CBD Historical Buildings Project - empowering our active citizens to take notice of our surrounding shops/buildings on our Tuesday hikoi and voice their opinions.  While connecting with 'our place', friends; Timo, Archie, Gus, Juliet, Harper, Maci, Arlo & Alex shared their concerns for 'SOO many cracks' in building structures, and safety & aesthetics concerns.  Our thinking is 'are these buildings safe? Can the buildings with 'cracks' withstand an earthquake!?' We hope to explore possible solutions for improving the mana of our township within our SDC Submission. 

Ruru Te Kaitiaki o te Po  

The Guardian of the night

We shared the news of our Art Entry - Ruru (Owl) Te Kaitiaki o te Po with nga tamariki being awarded 1st Place at the Winton Spring Flower Show!! Great to hear many of our tamariki went & visited their Art work on display at the Memorial Hall.  We love to advocate children's mahi & full potential through The Visual Arts & documentation within our local community.  

Pack the Park

Christina, Demi & Arlo were off for a hikoi to spend our prize money on something special... red, black & white decorations!!  We're 'window displaying' our aroha this weekend for the 'Pack the Park' Invitational rugby game & Southland Charity Hospital... check out our FB post.

Ready for Pet Show Day!!

This week has been filled with visiting pets!! SpongeBob the Pony & Emersyn's lamb Zoomer!!!            Tks for caring, showing & sharing!

 

More sharing & caring ... TKS!!!

Welcome Limehills School SVA Group

Hoki mai - Elsie Turrell, Tara Hamilton, Meg Howard & Tegan Leadbeater.  Each week the Limehills School children are out & about in the community - sharing their mahi with us all.  Don't hestitate to introduce yourself.  The team are with us every Thur avro! 

 

ShakeOut 2020

 NZ ShakeOut 2020 -National earthquake & tsunami drills - Thur 17 Oct 2020.  Great opportunity to We shared the NZ Civil Defence Turtle Safe video (click on the link below to view). A great opporunity to familiarise everyone with procedures to safely gather in a designated area (ours is the north side gate) & to share the NZ Emergency contact number - 111.                                                                                     Where is YOUR 'safe place' @ your place?

NZ Civil Defence - Turtle Safe

Amazing Me

Next week we begin our 'Amazing Me' - Keeping Oursevles Safe programme.  The programme is supported by: Road Safety NZ, EC Development, Safer Promotions, Orangi Tamariki & others.           Some of the programmes essential components include:

#  Valuing the building of self-esteen & confidence

#  Encouraging young children to voice their feelings

#  Teaching children personal hygiene

#  Teaching young children simple plans/actions in keeping themselves safe.

But more importantly it's ...

#  Fun

#It incorporates warm & caring adult interaction

#  Provides opportunities for young children to practise both familiar & unfamiliar skills

#  Is positive, includes humorous situations which are engaging for young viewers

#  Provides a format where children can identify characterization & situations.

  Over the next few weeks we'll view 5 videos with accompanying 'korero' & resources.

Raising Awareness of Developmental Language Disorder  

Tks sooooo much for calling into Kindy today Erin & Nora.  LOVE the T-shirts!!!  Developmental Language Disorder is a life-long condition characterised by difficulties with understanding and/or using spoken language.  Awareness & advocacy can only come through sharing knowledge & awareness.       Click on the link below to become more informed!

Developmental Language Disorder

        PS Tks for the Morning Tea bikkies - sooooo appreciated!!!

Taiao Tuhura

Starts back next week.  Haere Mai to all our new eco-warriors ... Archie Johns, Huxley Glass & Charlotte Dillon.   IT IS VERY EXCITING.  Each week we share our Taiao Tuhura adventures digitally - giving us opportunities to revisit & reflect & to build kaitiaki companionship along with all the teaching/learning & of course memories & adventures.

Fijian Language Week 

Bula Vinaka.  An opportunity, in continuing to share our multicultural awareness.  This year (2020) theme is 'Noqu Vosa, Noqu iSema Bula' - 'My language, my living link'.  It'll be an opportunity to celebrate multicultural collectively.  Phoebe Koro shared the famous - Tena Koe - Hello to One song in Fijian this week - something Phoebe almost knows intrinsically.  We'll all be singing along over the week!

New Resources

Up close & personal ... our digital microscope continues to intrigue us all.  We purchased a new microscope @ the end of last term & introduced it this week.  The investigative child is alive & well @ Winton Kindy!!!

Tks Georgina ...

Next week is Georgina's (Otago University 3rd Year Teaching Student) last week with us before she graduates.  Tks for EVERYTHING you have done (& achieved).  Special & fondest memories of all the 'Owl' project mahi for our entry into the Flower Show. Georgina's last day is Tuesday.                              We wish you well Georgina - don't hesitate to 'pop in' anytime.

Parent Group Get Together ...

Calling out all our home bakers - nothing like a warm muffin & a coffee to share with others @ our meeting this week!

It's been a while but it's a time to gather to 'korero' our Xmas/End of Year Celebrations.  Have you got time to join our Merry Band of Volunteers  Thur 22 Oct @ 1.30pm @ Kindy.  

Wow ... the first week - so much to share!!! 

Have a great weekend ... see everyone next week!!!

Te Tima Whakaako - The Teaching Team