A special visit from Andy from Howick Library

Today we were lucky to welcome Andy from Howick Library to Kindy for a fun-filled session of stories, songs, and movement!

Andy brought along his ukulele and beautiful singing voice, engaging our tamariki in a wonderful morning of music, action songs, dancing, and storytelling. The children eagerly joined in, singing, moving, and laughing together as they participated in the interactive experience.

Visits like these help foster a love of books, language, music, and community connections. Our tamariki thoroughly enjoyed Andy's visit, and we would like to say a big thank you to him for sharing such a joyful and memorable experience, we can't wait to welcome Andy back again soon! 😀

 

'Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa'- Samoan Language Week

This week our tamariki had a wonderful time celebrating 'Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa'- Samoan Language Week through a variety of meaningful and creative experiences. Throughout the week, the children learned about traditional Samoan art and design by creating their own siapo-inspired patterns and mini tapa artworks. They carefully explored the different shapes, symbols, and repeating patterns that are often seen in Samoan cultural designs, expressing their creativity while developing an appreciation for another culture. The children also enjoyed making beautiful flower leis, learning new songs and words, and sharing stories about everything Samoa.

To conclude our celebrations, the children worked together to prepare a delicious sapasui feast. This special experience provided an opportunity to learn about traditional Samoan food while encouraging cooperation, conversation, and a sense of community. The children took great pride in helping to prepare the meal and thoroughly enjoyed sharing it together with their friends.

Samoan Language Week provided a meaningful opportunity for our tamariki to learn about and celebrate the language, culture, and traditions of Samoa. Through art, food, and shared experiences, the children developed a greater understanding of cultural diversity and the importance of respecting and celebrating one of the many cultures that make up our community.

Pink Shirt Day

On Friday, we came together to celebrate Pink Shirt Day, spending the day learning about kindness, friendship, and the importance of making everyone feel safe, valued, and included.     

The day was filled with lots of exciting pink-themed experiences for our tamariki to explore and enjoy. We engaged in creative and sensory play through activities such as pink playdough, messy pink gloop, and painting our own pink t-shirts. These experiences sparked creativity, curiosity, and lots of joyful conversations and laughter throughout the day.

As we played and created together, we also spent time talking about the important message behind Pink Shirt Day. We explored what it means to be a good friend, showing kindness, helping others, and including everyone in our play. Together, we shared the message to “be kind always”, recognising that our words and actions can make a big difference to those around us.     

                                                             

Mothers day morning tea

What a beautiful performance the children did at our Mother's day morning tea. We enjoyed showing our Mums our favourite things to do at Kindy, making bracelets, painting nails, colouring, playdough, building and presenting them with our special gift and card we made. We had a delicious morning tea together too with yummy cakes, sandwiches, pikelets, sausage rolls, cheese and crackers and lots of more yummy treats to enjoy. 

What a special morning!  Our Mums are the best! xoxo

 I love my Mummy, I love my Mummy, I love my Mummy yes I do!!!

Signs for the Garden

This week, the children have been making signs for the vegetables growing in our garden. It’s been a fun and meaningful way for them to explore early literacy. As they create their signs, they are learning what letters look like, how to form them, and that written words can be used to communicate and share information—a wonderful way to explore literacy in action.

Commerorating Anzac Day

We will remember them

ANZAC day is a special day that commemorates all New Zealanders and Australians who have fought and died for their country.   The tamariki at Uxbridge have been joining in activities, making poppies, baking Anzac cookies and reading stories.

We have been sharing the messages that Anzac is:

A day when we remember and thank everyone that has helped to look after our country.

It's a day when we say thank you and are grateful that we live in such a great country.

It's a day when we remember that we have to look after everyone that lives in our community, including our older people who helped make it so great. 

What was so special is that one of our children wanted to take their poppy home to put on their granddaddies grave - Connection & meaning xx