Term 1 Week 13

Wow ... what a monumental week!!

We have spent this week and the last saying "Ka kite" to numerous ehoa @ Winton Kindergarten including tamaiki, whanau and kaiako. On Wednesday we shared with Judy a very well deserved farewell "Very Merry Un Birthday" surprise. After weeks of planning and contributions from kaiako, tamariki and whanau we pulled off the most Magical Mad Hatters Tea Party I have ever seen!! A big shout out goes to all of those who put in the extra time effort and resources which made this day possible. As a further 'treat' we welcomed a special visitor - Bruce Marshall ... our Taiao Tuhura bus driver in his classic 1938  Morris 18/6  vintage car. We were in awe at the sight of this gem. 

Before morning tea we had a special ceremony for Judy ... a momentous farewell video sent in from our tamariki, along with some beautiful messages, tributes and videos from Judy's past and present colleagues and students from all over the world. All sharing how blessed they feel to have been inspired by our Matua Kaiako - Judy Brown.

Then it was time for Tea!

A magical day indeed!!! 

We also farewell Elle on Friday as she and her whanau prepare for the arrival of their new baby boy. We look forward to receiving pics and ng stories from Eden (Elle's daughter) next term. Wishing you all the very best!!  Elle will be on Maternity/Parental Leave until Term 4 this year. We welcome a familiar face to Kindy - Shelley Price (Thomas's Mum) is taking over Elle's teaching roll over this time :) Welcome Shelley!!

We have confirmation of staffing for next term.   Tessa McCosh will be our temporary Matua Kaiako (Head Teacher) for the first six weeks of Term 2 alongside Christina while Southland Kindergarten Association (Kindergartens South) re-advertise the permanent Head Teacher position. Tessa has worked within our Association for a few years and has been a Head Teacher within various Kindergartens around Southland. We look forward to introducing you all to her!

So at the start of next term Tessa will be Matua Kaiako (Head Teacher) - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday. Christina will be Matua Kaiako (Head Teacher) - Wednesday, and will be in her Kaiako position - Monday & Tuesday.   Shelley joins us as Kaiako (Teacher) - Wednesday, Thursday & Friday.  Carol will be with us each day.  Rachel continues to join us on Tuesday each week for Taiao Tuhura.

 

Make sure you all say a special farewell to Judy & Elle before the end of the day on Friday!! Judy will be greatly missed!! This is the end of Term 1 for two weeks with Term 2 commencing 3rd May 2021.

Rest, refresh & revive over the Term Break & we look forward to hearing all your adventures.                 Ka kite ano.

Your Teaching Team

 TERM ONE WEEK 11.

Wow! How the weeks are flying by.  It doesn't seem that long ago that were returning from our Christmas break.

Waiata 

We are continuing to practice our waiata as we work towards expanding our repertoire for Miharo Murihiku/ Polyfest.  Our Student Volunteer Army have shared a poi, E Rere Taku Poi, with the tamariki, who  embraced this with much exuberance amid excited cries of 'again'.  

Volcanos: 

 The tamariki have sustained a focus on volcanoes.  Great collaboration has been very evident with many being involved in creating a mountain range.  This was followed by lots of experimentation involving vinegar, baking soda, water and dye to create eruptions.  As a result much discussion and questioning and sharing of theories have abounded.  Concepts such as extinct, dormant, erupting, lava have been explored and research undertaken to find answers to questions such as 'are the volcanoes under the sea'.   Also thanks to some tamariki having prior knowledge of  of volcanic eruptions contributing to the demise of the dinosaurs,  tamariki recreated the conditions causing our dinosaurs to be buried by lava flows.   By observing this their own and others knowledge was consolidated.

Videos of Mount Ruapehu and the recent Iceland eruption have enthralled the tamariki as they witness the power of Ruaumoko, the Atua of volcanoes and earthquakes, and the unborn baby of Papatuanuku.

Tangaroa and the Moana 

We are continuing to focus upon this interest. 

Maui 

This warrior continues to enthrall with his exploits of capturing the sun and fishing up the North Island, along with Aoraki, whose waka capsized and became The South Island while he and his brothers became The Southern Alps (Ngaa Tiritiri o te Moana). 

Siapo/Tapa Cloth. 

 We have been discussing the beautiful Taonga, a Siapo that Timo's wonderful family gifted to us.  Timo  very proudly told everyone that it came from his family.  Videos of how Siapo is made was met with much interest, and some have been making their own.  This is wonderful start on our 2021 Polyfest, renamed Miharo Murihiku,   journey.

Easter Family Night.  

Thank you to our Parent Group for organizing this for us.  Everyone who attended  had a great time.  This was also our beautiful Judy's farewell.  We will miss her so much as she is a legendary institution here in Winton.  Wow!  Seventeen years here at Kindergarten.  Our loss is Queenstown's gain.  We wish her all the best for the future and hope she comes back to visit us.

Taiao Tuhura 

Yesterday we welcomed  our friend Adam to the Taiao Tuhura programme.  He kindly brought his dad Brad along to help.  Thank you Brad.  A big thank you to Ean, Hunter's dad for helping out too.  The tamariki introduced Adam to the Takitimu Waka, then for morning tea and lunch, off to The Little Pigs House.

Easter Break  

Wishing everyone a lovely break, and will look forward to hearing all the wonderful things that you all do over this time.  See you all next Wednesday and if you are travelling, safe travels.

Ngaa mihi nunui kia koutou katoa.