Apii Potiki visits the Auckland Museum - 18 November 2016

The teachers at Apii Potiki have been working hard in planning the tamariki's end of the year excursion to the Auckland Museum. This planned excursion is to revisit and to extend on our children’s interests and learning throughout the year. 

We believe a trip to the Museum is a great opportunity to describe the total experiences, activities and events that occurred throughout the year of our children’s learning.

30 of our tamariki also got to attend the 'Weird and Wonderful' experience. Our lucky children got to explore and be up close with fossil collections and other interesting animals and insects.

In groups we explored as much of the Museum as possible. 

Our tamariki & whanau also got to experience what would really happen if an earthquake occurred.

It was a great day for all, our parents, our staff and especially our tamariki!!

Back at Apii Potiki we had someone special waiting for them - SANTA CLAUS! He was sitting there with a sack full of  presents and lollies to share!!

Meitaki Maata to all our anau who were able to share this day with our tamariki!!
We hope you enjoyed this excursion just as much as our tamariki and staff!

Promoting "Sun Safety" at Apii Potiki - November 2016

Auckland weather is getting warmer and hotter and we must make sure that we keep our tamariki safe from the sun. 

We have been discussing and reminding them how to keep ourselves safe from the sun when we are outside.
If we want to play outside, we must apply some sun screen and make sure we have a hat on our head!

Our tamariki here shows us how to put on our sunscreen and make sure we have a hat on!

Meitaki maata tamariki of Apii Potiki

Water Play in the Avaiki Nui Over 2's - October 2016

Our tamariki have been enjoying the various water play in this warm hot weather!

We have been fishing in our water trough!

 We have been using various equipment for pouring, filling and tipping water.

We also added colours to our water play...WOW look at the different colours we can make!

 Water and sand make endless fun!

But the best fun of all is our water slide play!

Pyjama Day-Inspired by our tamariki

When a small group of tamariki suggested to teacher Tare that "We should have a pyjama party", Tare put the idea into action. 

It was great to see everyone participate in Pyjama Day today. We started off the morning with baking ginger bread (as suggested by one of our older boys-Hosea) and chocolate cake. Followed by a movie (The Good Dinosaur) after lunch time.

Learning is meaningful when teachers respond to children's ideas and enable them to contribute to the program.

Welcome

Today we welcomed another new friend to Apii Potiki....

Welcome to our Over 2 room Spiro.

New Friends

So far this week we welcome 2 new friends to Apii Potiki. Finau & Raiden have both started in the Over 2's.

We also wish Peter Dewit a Happy 3rd Birthday (Tuesday 20th September).

The Last 4 Weeks...

We have been busy little explorers and learners over the last few weeks...

Our cultural dress up day followed on from our Cook Island Language Week Celebrations. Acknowledging the backgrounds of our tamariki encourages a sense of inclusion and belonging, and enables all of our children to know that they have a place at Apii Potiki.

On this particular day, our tamariki helped to create a mural that involved sharing thoughts and ideas about their cultures.

Our teacher Faith worked alongside our teacher Apii who showed us how to make 'Otai', a traditional Tongan drink using island fruits (yum).

'The feeling of belonging, in the widest sense, contributes to inner well-being, security, and identity' (Te Whariki).

Current Planning- 'Managing Self'

With different age groups learning together, there will be challenges from time to time. Challenges which teachers have noticed include tamariki demonstrating difficulties with- sharing, empathising, and solving disagreements.

Some strategies teachers have been using so far to promote positive behaviour include: visual wall displays, spontaneous group discussions/sharing times, encouraging tamariki to solve conflict with positive language (both verbal & non-verbal) & teachers role modelling positive behaviour etc.

'Children experience an environment where they are kept safe from harm when they develop a sense of responsibility for their own well-being and that of others...' (Te Whariki).

Tongan Language Week

A small group of us walked to Te Oro to experience some Tongan talent. A few local Tongan preschools put on a wonderful show of song and dance. 

Thanks to our own talented multi-lingual teacher Apii, for being our interpreter, and keeping us informed of what was happening.

Gym Time

Monday gym time continues to be a happy time for our tamariki. 

Active movement is a great way for our tamariki to develop and strengthen not only physically, but also emotionally. Continuous displays of growing self-confidence, and self-empowerment for our tamariki during gym sessions are being demonstrated every time we hear them say words like - "I can do it!"

and "I did it!"

Birthdays & Transitions

Happy Birthday to so many of our August & September tamariki!!!

Our recent ones being Pita who turned 2 & moved to the Over 2's, and Finau who turned 5 & will be starting at Glen Innes Primary School on Monday 19th September. All the best Finau! 

Columbus Coffee

So blessed to have Danni & Jigisha (Owner/Operators) Columbus Coffee Glen Innes visit Apii Potiki with some delicious treats for our tamariki and whanau. 

Meitaki Maata!!! to the team at Columbus coffee Glen Innes.

Please feel free to drop in for some tasty Wholesome fresh food from local ingredients, Award winning service and Awesome coffee.

 

Touching moment from our tamariki

Emery was involved in an incident which upset her, So Zion & April took it upon themselves to insure that she was cared for and feeling better.

Well Done Tamariki!!! this shows a lot of Empathy

Gymnastics

With the Olympics winding down this week we have some more pictures from our possible future gymnasts........

Bronson showing how its done on the parallel bar

Veronica definitely takes her gym classes seriously, way to go Roni!!!

 Handstands are getting a little bit too easy for these guys

Gymnastics Classes Term 3

Our first session of gymnastics happened this morning at the Eastern Suburbs Gymnastics Club

Plenty of FUN with the balloon and bucket activity

Coordination, Patience, Skill, Listening & Enjoyment was on display from our tamariki this morning

Climbing, Handstands and Balance Beams

Join us next Monday 15 August 9:30am (add your name on the list or see one of our friendly teachers).

Cook Island Event Thursday 4 August 2016

Today was a very blessed day for our tamariki, and our guests who came to celebrate Cook Island Language Week with our apii.

Before our guests performed their individual items, they were welcomed into our Apii by our tamariki and staff.

The morning was set up with four different interactive stations which provided tamariki with experiences that are reflective of the Cook Island culture.

The stations were made up of fabric painting, ei (flower making), planting, coconut scrapping, and Cook Island dancing.

Meitaki maata to all our friends, families, staff and management for coming together to provide all of our tamariki with a fun learning experience.

Te Taurere Kohanga Reo

Aoga Teuila

Glenbrae Kids

Tamariki Ataahua

Te Uki Ou

Apii Potiki

Fabric Painting

Ei - Flower Station

Coconut Scrapping

Cook Island Dancing

Planting

A special thanks goes out to our awesome cooks and kitchen team for making sure that our guests, parent helpers and staff did not go away hungry.

The Cook Island feast that was prepared in the early hours of the morning was absolutely delicious!!!