Term 1 Week 10

The Sword in the Stone

On Monday the children arrived at Kindy to find a REAL SWORD wedged between two rocks...At Morning Meeting Judy told the story of how Prince Freddie had placed the sword there before his death and that only the chosen one would be able to remove it. The intrigue, excitement, curiosity, and determination to get the sword drew everyone's attention. Tom Collie was the chosen one on Monday, giving him the prestige and title of the most responsible and strongest of all the land. Wow, the sword did not leave his side at all that day.

The Dragon master piece currently "Under Construction" in the Project Room

Forest Kindy

We had a great morning at Ivy Russell Reserve. Welcome to the group Alex Kincaid. And a big thank you to our Parent Helpers Rachel Dolan and Cath Ankerson. Hugo Dolan and Sienna Breen found the Dragon's Egg when we checked on the nest - wow, if you get a chance head down to the Reserve and check it out! Also, we took Milly Watkinson's banner that she made in the Project Room: "Here is the Dragons Nest - please feed the Dragons" down to let the community know about our fiery fabulous friends that reside at the Reserve.

"WE LOVE MUD!!" Alex Kincaid, Milly Watkinson, Hugo Dolan and Sienna Breen exploring with ALL the senses!!

Emma Cubitt, Sienna Breen, Hugo Dolan and Paige Ankerson having a rest at Forest Kindy

Paige Ankerson holding the Dragons Egg for Mum Cath to look inside - I wonder what she saw?!?!

Kapa Haka

After Forest Kindy the group headed down to Central Southland College to watch performances by the CSC Kapa Haka group, Limehills School, Winton School, and Weka Preschool before enjoying a biscuit and juice and heading back to Kindy.

The Central Southland College Kapa Haka group performing for us on Tuesday

Welcome Laura Thorburn!

Welcome Zia Williams and family

Term 1 Week 9

St Patricks Day Monday the 17th March

Wow, what fun we had on Monday celebrating all things Irish! The face paint was out, tap shoes on - and lots of green children trying out their Irish dancing skills!

Imitating the River Dance on St Patricks Day!

Alex, Ayden and Casey with their Swords - they are NOT sticks!!

Welcome Addison Campbell

Welcome Thea Barnes

Welcome Maddison Dodds - giving Rupert a gentle pat - thank you!

Forest Kindy
This week we had a visit from Pam Wilson, our Senior Teacher from Head Office and a surprise visit from the Southland Times! We couldn't have asked for a better day after hearing the heavy rain that fell through the night then been greeted by a beautiful sunny morning - perfect! A BIG thank you to our Parent Helpers Tracey Adendorff and Alice Menzies. We also had our new whistles handed out this week. The children have these attached to their zippers and we discussed using these for emergencies only. Coincidentally Milly and myself managed to "get lost" shortly after introducing the whistles! The group noticed we weren't there and set off around the reserve in search for us! Thankfully once they got in closer proximity they could hear Milly blowing her whistle and eventfully we were found! It was a timely reminder to reiterate the importance of staying with the group, communication, and what we do if we are lost.

"Not a Stick" by Antoinette Portis
Today at end of day Mat Time Judy read the story "Not a Stick". You may have noticed LOTS of "non-stick" imaginary play this week, stemming from the Forest Kindy Kids making swords to fend off Dragons a couple of weeks back. The TF Group have had a great time fighting dragons and using their "non-sticks" in many many role play experiences this week. We also have a mai mai under construction under the bridge where these "non-sticks" have been used as fishing rods and duck shooting - yes that time is almost upon us once again!

Discovery Time/Polyfest
Our Dragon/Taniwha is at the design stage - take a look in the Project Room and share any thoughts you may have with us!

Happy School Days to Cohen Davis off to Winton School. Welcome to new children: Maddison Dodds, Addison Campbell and Thea Barnes who have joined our TF Group this week, and Zia Williams who started today.

Term 1 Week 8

This week we farewelled Jacqlynn Logan off to Winton School and Mackenzie Vaughan who heads to Limehills School on Monday - Happy School Days girls.

Mackenzie giving her Granny a big cuddle after Mac's Kindy Birthday this week

Programme Planning:
At Monday Morning Meeting we introduced our statement "I wonder" to the group. We went around the circle welcoming each child and asking "I wonder what you did in the weekend?" Our "I wonder" statement has been heard throughout the kindergarten, inviting curiosity, intrigue, further questioning, and eagerness to "seek out" information and ideas.

Nurtured by Nature Programme:
A big thank you to John Young and Grace Vaughan our Helpers on Tuesday. Welcome to Sienna Breen who joined the Forest Kindy kids this week. Elena found The Dragon's Nest a couple of weeks ago; with all the excitement bubbling back to Kindy as well - you may have noticed dragon creations and art works, as well as swords to fend off dragons being constructed! This week we went and sat by the nest for Christina's birthday cake and to hear a story "I don't believe in Dragons" by Anna Walker. We are pondering the idea of incorporating this new-found dragon interest into our Polyfest vision, perhaps making our own dragon/taniwha - we would love some Parent input with this, see Christina if you have some ideas or able to help out, thanks!

The Forest Kindy kids eating cake and listening to Sally read them a Dragon story!

St Patricks Day - Monday the 17th: Please feel free to come along dressed in your greenest gears, Christina will have the face paint out and we will make some shamrocks and listen to Irish Music - a bit of fun to start the week off!

Term 1 Week 7

Southland A&P Show: Well done Winton Kindergarten - we must give our talented and creative children a big pat on the back for their efforts at the Southland A&P Show held over the weekend. We received 1st Place for our Model from Recyclable Materials, with our "up-cycled" Tree made from egg cartons; as well as individual children being awarded places in various Art Sections - great work!

Hug a Bear Week - Plunket Appeal
This week we celebrated Plunket's "Hug a Bear" Campaign by holding our very own Teddy Bears Picnics on Wednesday and Thursday. Kindy was transformed into an enchanted forest complete with a real Bear Cave and Teepe. A big thank you to Rachel Reed for creating such an opened-ended resource for our children to utilised in their imaginary play - fabulous! Our shared morning teas were more like a feast for Goldilocks and the Three Bears - thank you to everyone for bringing along their best loved soft toys and contributing to the cause. Our Programme Planning focusing on virtues of 'Pono' - trust, faith, friendship and kindness have been articulated this week through our participation in such a worthy Appeal - thanks again!

Hugo hiding in the Bear Cave with the Toys on Wednesday

A warm welcome to Matthew Cairns and family

Kia Ora to Tiara Jade Ramage and whanau

Welcome back Rye family - great to have Alex joining the group!

The TF Group watching the Teddy Bears Picnic before shared kai

We welcome new faces this week to the TF Group: Tiara Jade Ramage, Alex Rye and Matthew Cairns. On Monday we fare-welled Logan Wallace and family - Happy School Days Logan!

Happy School Days Logan!!

Term 1 2014 Week 5/6

                                 
                   When is a Scarescrow ... not a Scarecrow?
Forest Kindy kids have been fossicking around Ivy Russell Reserve for the last two weeks looking for just the right stick to make our Sthld A & P show Scarecrow.  Tks to Mike Bailey (Megan's Dad) for sending through the catalogue & inspiring us to design, make & create our very own Kindy Scarecrow. Good finding Cohen & Teresa ... now what else will we need ... something for eyes, nose, mouth, eyebrows!!! Let's go hunting!!!

Gifts from Papatuanuku ...

Back @ Kindy we have been busy designing, drawing & dialoguing what is special about a Scarecrow & what do they do?  Rebecca (Reliever) introduced a neat 'Scarecrow' game outside (adapted from Candlesticks) & found a neat poem to share with everyone & Judy introduced 'I'm a Dingle Dangle Scarecrow' song.  Tks Tom Collie for sharing your Scarecrow book with us.  Has anyone else got any Scarecrow stories we can borrow?

Some TLC from Emma Cubitt

And some TLC from Sophie Eade

And with some final touches ... our Scarecrow is complete!!! And not before time ... we need to enter him today!!! If you are heading along to the A&P Show this weekend ... keep a eye out for our 'scary' Scarecrow!!!

Now that's a 'scary' Scarecrow ...

Well Done everyone ... we will have to find a special place in our playground for 'Scarecrow' after the A&P show.  Oh ... and maybe a name!  Any suggestions?  Leave a comment below ...

Term 1 2014 Week 4 ...

A BIG warm welcome to Rebecca Jones who joins our teaching team whilst Christina is recouping ... Rebecca completed her Post Graduate Teaching Diploma in Early Childhood last year after completing her Primary Teaching Degree a number of years ago. Haere Mai, Harere Mai, Haere Mai ...  

'Nurtured by Nature' started back on Tue.  Welcome to the programme Teresa Adendorff, Elena Gwynn & Milly Watkinson.  

This week we have e-mailed out our Term Planning:  'I Wonder What It Is To Be A Friend'?  More details on our Planning Wall (in between our Parent Pockets & The Art Room) ... And over the last two weeks we have been 'working away' on our Autumn Flower Show Projects. Check out the pics below ... 

Healthy Heart Week  ... 10-14 Feb 2014

We pride ourselves in the healthy environment we provide for all our Wintin Kindy kids.  So what better way to celebrate than a special day or week of both Healthy Heart & Valentines Day!!!.  Te Whariki (Early Childhood Curriculum document) along with NZ Heart Foundation both advocate:  Well Being - Mana Atua; children develop knowledge about how to keep themselves healthy (particularly our hearts)  - through healthy eating habits & exercising our hearts ... we were 'bopping' away to Hearty Fun for most of the morning.  What a great way to exercise our Hearts!!!  Good on us !!!                  Both our Mon, Tue & Wed group ...

And our Thur/Fri group ...

Both days meant we were involved in a fun & fanciful day of REDNESS !!! Hearty Fun CD played throughout the day with some 'heart beating' moments of fun & frolic!!!  Tks for exercising your hearts everyone ... Miley Coveney was especially intrigued ... hand on your heart Miley!!! Check out our Kindergartens South Facebook page for more pics ...

A  BIG tks to all our families who brought along some RED morning tea.  We have some VERY creative & artistic people within our Kindergarten community family ... We raised $77 to be forwarded onto NZ Heart Foundation.  Good on us!!!

Winton Autumn Flower Show ... Fri 14 Feb 2014

Hugo Dolan's clay 'Sunflower' ...

Over the last 2 weeks we have been working away on all our Projects ... we have had some wonderful accolodes & prizes to match. 

Amelia Young's 'Paper Handcraft' work ...

Check out all our work next week ... we'll proudly display ALL the children's work. The children have indeed been immersed in feeling both proud & successful!!!

Happy Valentines Day everyone ...

Updates
Parent Group:  'Let's Hace A Picnic'  Forest Hill Reserve (Tussock Creek end) Sun 16 Feb 4pm
'Nurtured by Nature'  Ivy Russell Reserve every Tue
Parent Group:  Monthly Meeting - Wed 19 Feb 7:30pm @ Kindy
Orientation Day @ Kindy:  Thur 20 Feb 3-4pm

Term 1 Week 3

We welcome back many of our families with school-aged children this week - almost back to a full house on again! And what better way to start the term than with Waitangi Day on Thursday. The group at Monday Morning Meeting discussed their knowledge of the Waitangi, about seeing this on their TVs and we talked about a Treaty being like an agreement.

Term 1 2014 Programme Planning:
This year we are focusing on "I wonder" statements. We begin by posing the question "I wonder what it is to be a friend?" as a continuation from last year's dispositional focus around friends and "Hey can I play?". On Monday the group articulated their ideas through the arts, drawing "I wonder what friendship LOOKS like?" Check out the back wall where these thoughts and theories are on display.

WEAR RED FOR HEALTHY HEARTS - New Zealand Heart Foundation Appeal Wed 12th & Thur 13th Feb
This week we have had lots of children lending their skills and ideas for our "Wear Red for Healthy Hearts" Party preparations!!! In the Project Room we have been working on creating decorations and there has been lots of discussion around why we are having a celebration of our hearts - plenty of individual theories on this!! We talked about the importance of being active and eating well to maintain a healthy heart, and the group came up with every red food item possible when deciding on what they each might bring along for our shared morning tea! A reminder (individual notices in parent pockets also) that we are holding our New Zealand Heart Foundation "Wear Red for Healthy Hearts" Appeal on Wednesday the 12th and Thursday the 13th - please join in on the fun by dressing in red - the more outrageous the better, bring along something red and healthy for shared morning tea, and a gold coin donation for the Appeal - thanks!

Winton Autumn Flower Show - Fri 14th
Many children have been busy working on works of art for the Winton Autumn Flower Show. The TF Group will be walking along to the show on Friday the 14th - PLEASE sign the permission sheet @ the sign-in desk if you haven't already. We also need at least 8 parent helper to come along (about an hour of your time) - can you join us?