May Learning Moments

Our Mother's were in for many treats on Mother's Day this year.

A group of friends decided that it would be a good idea to plan to bake some special cookies for their Mum's, this year the cookies of choice were stained glass hearts. Tamariki also made cards, pictures & posed for some good looking photo collages.

Our tamariki always enjoy lots of physical activities. Our teachers will often move equipment around so that our tamariki can continue to enjoy being physical even if it raining outdoors.

Arts and crafts can be messy...YAY! We love messy play:) 

Painting is a regular favourite with most of our tamariki.

Here is an example of tamariki sharing their skills with others, and having a want to help & support one another.

Kuki Airani Reo is more popular than ever with most of 

our older tamariki. Meitaki Maata to Mama Tere & Papa Apii for 

their continued support for our tamariki in this area of learning.

Happy 5th Birthday to Ace! And a huge THANK YOU to 

Ace's family for all of the delicious treats! 

Best wishes Ace, and keep shining throughout your Primary School journey.

A small group of tamariki have recently become interested in the different types of teas that they see their teachers drinking. It all began when one child asked, "Can I have a taste?" From here, the small group have had several tea tastings to which a tally was filled out to identify the groups overall favourite teas. I personally can not wait to see where this interest will move to next:)

Watch this space...

Happy Birthday Apii Potiki

Last Sunday the 6th of May, Apii Potiki turned 5 years old! 

We celebrated our big day on Friday 4th with all our friends!

A great big thank you to all our teachers for their skills in face painting, balloon & bubble blowing, and hair dressing:)

One of the highlights of our birthday was the surprise science show arranged by our management team...MEITAKI MAATA MANAGEMENT!

Here, Blair the scientist is showing us how compressed oxygen  can make balloons and marshmallows grow! 

A drum full of cold, cloud-like smoke filled our room. Blair showed us how to make cloud rings by  tapping on his big drum!

 Flying toilet paper had our tamariki laughing & shouting, "Again! Again!"

Just like magic! One minute big smoke balls appeared from the hose...and then they disappeared with the touch of a finger..."POP!"

Kai Kai Time!

After all the excitement from Blair's science show, our tamariki had worked up an appetite. 

As we headed outside...WOW! What an awesome surprise! Management had another treat for us.

A delicious and colourful spread was waiting to greet all of our hungry puku!

This is definitely one of the longest & calmest kai times we've ever had in the last 5 years! 

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY APII POTIKI GLEN INNES!

Meitaki Maata to our Management Team for a wonderful birthday celebration.

 A big thank you to all our staff who just keep giving their all... every single day, and thank you to all our families who continue to believe in what we do for their tamariki.

April Updates

Here are some updates that we would like to share at this time...

 Ka Kite Rosie:(

On the 19th of April Apii Potiki farewelled our teacher Rosie. 

Rosie had been with us for 4 years, and contributed largely to serving our tamariki in the Under 2 area. Meitaki Rosie for all her hard work, and we wish Rosie the best of luck at her new centre.

Get Well Tare...

Our teacher Tare has been away with a very serious injury to her right foot.

Get well soon Tare! We miss you! Love & prayers going out to Tare &

wish her all the best for her recovery.

In the meantime, our teacher Mary is kindly standing in as the qualified teacher in the Under 2 area.

Whanau Interactions...

Thanks going out to Johnson's nana (Aye) for coming to spend time with our tamariki.

Our tamariki get really excited to have their family join us, our teachers appreciate the interactions

of our families, and Aye had a pretty fun time supporting our tamariki as well.

We welcome & encourage any family members to join our programme.

If you have any interests, hobbies, or skills you can share with us, we'd love you to

join us:). Or, if you would prefer to just hangout...we'd love that too!

Our Commonwealth Games...

Tamariki have been following the hype of the latest Commonwealth Games

through the use of I.T. and research at home. 

Our young reporters have been watching the games on television at home & reporting back to the group during gathering times at apii).

 As an extension on this interest, teachers have been utilising the primary school grounds next door to

provide space for all kinds of physical activities like running races, obstacle courses, and team sports.

Learning Moments...

Kia Ora/Meitaki Tane Mahuta

We are very fortunate to have access to natural resources within our local community. 

On this particular day, tamariki walked through our local Eastview Reserve to explore another learning environment.

While collecting their acorns, sticks and leaves, tamariki were reminded that because we were removing some of nature away from the area, we needed to give thanks to our Maori God of the forest..."Meitaki maata Tane Mahuta..."

 On return to apii, teacher Mary set up an area for tamariki to further investigate their natural collections. From here, small groups of tamariki went on to construct some interesting art pieces.

Collage with our Under 2's

Our pepe (babies) are always drawn to set ups that provoke curiosity and wonder. 

Quite often our teachers provide opportunities for sensory and tactile exploration.

Patu of the Cook Islands

Our patu are always a popular choice for our tamariki. 

Patu brings us together and enables tamariki to

be physically expressive through music and movement.

Kia Orana Welcome 2018! 

Term 1 so far...

Positive guidance & Engagements

The beautiful summer weather has enabled opportunities for our tamariki to engage in many outdoor experiences. Teachers also continue to encourage a 'Tuakana/Teina' approach to learning for our tamariki. 

The tuakana/teina relationship is a Maori concept to teaching & learning, it provides a model for buddy systems where the older person (tuakana) helps and guides the younger person (teina).

Whanau  & Community Relationships

Walks through our local community is a favourite learning time for our tamariki. On-going support from our parents & whanau is always encouraged & welcomed during these times (Relationships). On this occasion, our teacher's Rosie & Mary organised a walking excursion to our local Glen Innes Library. 

Building New Relationships

Teacher initiated visits (Rosie & Mary) to Glen Innes Library has enabled us to develop a new friendship with librarian Genevieve.  

Genevieve has kindly visited our apii on a few occasions, and brings her wealth of Maori knowledge to share. 

Chinese New Year

 All cultures should be acknowledged and valued, and during this particular week our apii used books to help us learn about the significance of Chinese New Year.

Did you know that the word "Fu" is usually pasted on doorways, and is supposed to bring good luck?

 Kuki Time with Phoebe Happ

As our tamariki are huge fans of music, we were fortunate to have Phoebe from the Cook Islands come to visit us. Phoebe and her daughter Kura promote Kuki Airani Reo (Cook Island Language) through music & dance...ROAR!

Promoting Kuki Airani Reo on 531 PI Radio

Papa Apii was approached by 531 PI radio station to ask how we teach and promote Kuki Airani Reo in Apii Potiki Glen Innes. From here, Papa invited the radio station in to our apii to see for themselves how our tamariki are confident in speaking the language.

Mama Tere, Papa Apii and many of our support teachers are our experts in teaching kuki airani reo. Mama and Papa take turns at leading our daily        'Kuki Airani Reo Sessions' for all of our tamariki who choose to participate.

Parent/Teacher Bonding
Our first get together for the year with our families allowed teachers, parents & whanau the time to engage in a relaxed environment.

Let the FUN Begin!

Through all the laughter...there was some actual learning and sharing of knowledge going on:) Mama Tere planned tonight's activities which included tie dying & healthy smoothie making stations.

                                                 

Smoothie Time (Yum)

Children's Day 2018

Anytime is a good time to have Dress-up Day & shared kai. 

Consultation on options for cohort entry into primary school

Worth a conversation, feel free to speak to us should you have any pressing concerns:

In 2017 the Education Act was changed to enable schools to adopt a cohort entry policy. At schools with cohort entry policies, children start school in groups at the beginning of the term closest to their fifth birthday.

Starting school can be a challenging experience for some children. Being part of a group can help children build relationships and support their transition to school. Under the current policy some children can start school up to two months before their fifth birthday.

The Government is proposing to change the law relating to cohort entry. The proposal will allow children to start school in groups, but only after they have turned five. This is in line with the recommendation of the 2015 Advisory Group on Early Learning.

The Ministry of Education is now consulting with the public on two options for introducing cohort entry for children over five:
•    once a term at the start of the term, or
•    twice a term at the start of the term and at the term mid-point.

The Ministry is also seeking views on whether schools should be able to adopt either of these options, instead of only having one option in legislation.


We would love to hear your views and those of parents, whānau and communities
Consultation closes on 19 March 2018. More information about the proposal, options and how to make a submission is available here. Please share this link with your community.


Schools will still be required to consult with early childhood education services me ngā kōhanga reo before introducing cohort entry
The change to cohort entry for over fives only will not affect the requirement for schools to consult with local early childhood education services me ngā kōhanga reo and the wider community before introducing cohort entry.


The age at which children must start school has not changed 
Although most children start school on or just after their fifth birthday, it is not compulsory to start school in New Zealand until a child turns six. This will not change.

Regardless of whether a school adopts cohort entry, parents and whānau will retain the right not to start their child at school until they think they are ready – up until the age of six.  When a school adopts cohort entry, a child can start with any cohort up until their sixth birthday. There is no requirement for a child to start with the first cohort they are eligible for.

To find out more and make a submission see www.education.govt.nz/consultation-on-options-for-cohort-entry 

KiwiHarvest

Congratulations to our friends at KiwiHarvest, Our community truly appreciates all that you do.  

Click link below to read about this fantastic charitable organisation.

Twelve days of Christmas: KiwiHarvest