Biking riding down the crossroads:

The tamariki have been using the bikes at Matariki and have been doing an awesome job practicing and just showing us that they can ride. We have amongst the group of tamariki confident riders, riders still needing a little help and riders that are still needing support throughout the whole process of riding a bike. Today we took the most confident of riders down the crossroads, which is a road just before you arrive at Matariki. To minimise the risks, we talked to the 3 children about being safe when using a bike and the rules when going on this particular ride. 1st rule; we walk along the grass area to the crossroad then once we get there, we start riding, 2nd rule; if a teacher calls out car, everyone is to hop off their bike and walk it to the side of the road. The teacher will then say 'ok' meaning that it's ok to jump back on your bike and go, and 3rd rule: If a teacher calls out 'stop' you are to stop and wait till we say go. To minimise other risks, we took 3 children only with two staff ratio, and the children were to wear a helmet at all times. We went over the rules before we left and again once we got to the crossroads. Along the way, we talked about the Te Awahou awa, Otutawiri whenua and Te Kapo o te rangi, chief of this area. This discussion steamed from the song, 'Tena koutou te Hui Ahurei' written by Puhi Rogers, which has the whakapapa of this area. Just an awesome ride. Enjoy!

He mihi ki te whanau:

Just a correction in the last panui posted. The correct date for the fancy dress and sausage sizzle is on the Friday 25 March 2011 and not on 21st March as written early. Aroha mai whanau!

Tena kouotu e te whanau:

I te ahiahi o te Taite, i patai au ki etahi o ngaa tamariki, mena e hiahia ana raatou ki te mahi he pareti apopo. Te tere hoki a raatou whakautu; ae. I mea mai a Tutepakorarangi, ka tautau atu i te huka parauri ki runga i tana pareti i te kainga, noreira, i mea atu ki aia, a, haria mai to huka parauri apopo. Noreira e te whanau, anei ngaa kiriata e whai atu nei e pa ana ki te tino hiahia a etahi o ngaa tamriki.

Tutepakorarangi me tana huka parauri!


Ko te tikanga i mua o te tunu paareti; inoi ki te atua a Mahuika!

Te ture mo te puuahi!

Kei te awhi a Aniheta ki te tunu i te paareti!

Te Rerewairua me aana hoa!

Te waiata e pa ana ki te haerenga a Maui ki te ana o Mahuika!

Putting out the ahi and declaring the area aukati/rahui (out of bounds).

Tena koutou katoa!

Ngaa whanau hou:
Just to let you all know, we have 3 new whanau that have joined us here at Matariki. I'm sure, they will be mentioned in more detail in our up coming newsletter. On behave of the whanau here at Matariki, we welcome you all.

Practicing for the Tuhoe Ahurei:
The tamariki have been very busy practicing their waiata for the Ahurei in April so you may hear them occasionally at home singing away. We have recorded a group of children singing these and want to put the recording on the blog here but just trying to figure out how to do this. We will also send out a copy of all the songs very soon so you can help sing it with your tamaiti. The hope is to put all the songs on this blog for whanau to listen to. Details of our actual performance has not yet been confirmed but as soon as this information comes to hand, we will pass it on to you.

Whanau Photos:
A letter went out to ask for whanau photos as we are creating a whakapapa tree. Only a hand full of whanau have sent these in. If you are worried about the photo getting damaged, give it to a van monitor, we will then photo copy it and send it back to you. Alternatively, you can email a copy to our centre email: matarikiecc@xtra.co.nz

Kete Matauranga:
Again, a reminder to all whanau who have not yet sent back their child's kete matauranga, please do asap. The facilitators are wanting to put your childs work in them.

Christchurch funraiser:
Thank you to all the whanau who have supported this worthy event by sending in cans to support whanau down in christchurch. We are also wishing to have a fancy dress and sausage sizzle ($1 for a sausage sizzle and drink) to again support whanau in Christchurch. This will be set in two weeks time on friday 25 March 2011. The plan also is to hopefully involve as many kohungahunga and kohanga around this area to join in and support us by having a fancy dress and sausage sizzle at their own centre on the same day. All proceeds can then be forwarded by each centre to their chosen Christchurch support agency.

A string of Art:
Last but not least, these are photos of your child/children's creation with the use of string. Asked why did we do this... just for fun really. The task was, to tie their string to a post or tree and go for it. The rules were simple; 1: No tying the string around your neck or body 2: No tying the string around your friends neck or body and 3: Have fun! Got them to repeat the 3 rules back to me then let them go for it. And boy did they create an amazing piece of art. Take a look!

Tue 01 March 2011

Kia ora e te whanau,

This is a panui to let you know, if you have not already sent back your tamaiti kete mataurangi (child’s book of knowledge) please ensure that these are back this week please so that staff can put in your child’s learning while here at Matariki.

Also, we would like to make a whanau tree here at Matariki therefore we would love it if you could send a whanau portrait in to put up on this. Any size portrait would be much appreciated. All photos will be put into your child’s kete matauranga once we have finished displaying these.

Ngaa mihi nui ki koutou katoa

Staff of Matariki.

Nau mai, hoki mai e te whanau ki Matariki 2011

A huge welcome back to all the Matariki whanau after such a nice break for all. To all the new whanau that have joined us, nau mai haere mai ki o oo taatou kohungahunga.

This is the first week of the first term for us. The children's new kete matauranga will be sent home this week and next with an expectation sheet to be filled out by you the whanau. The explanation of these sheets are attached. So please whanau, fill these out to help us as facilitators support your tamariki learning development.

As well as this, we will be sending home a copy of the readings; 'behaviour management strategies', 'stealing mat time', and 'a case for natural playscapes'.

The behaviour strategies that we have been using for the past year have stemmed from this research paper and has worked quite effectively for the tuakana and taina here at Matariki.

The reading; stealing mat time, questions the notion; are mat times really that important for children of this age group and 'A case for natural playscapes', looks at the importance of the natural environment and the developmental advantages natural play can provide for tamariki. These are three fantastic reads so enjoy.

A daily programme plan will also accompany these readings. This will give you a general idea of what the tamariki will be doing during their time here at Matariki. If you as a whanau have any comments or suggestions regarding these readings, you are more than welcome to share these with the staff or leave a message on this blog. Until next time, mauri ora!

Ngaa mihi ki te whanau...

These are just a mixture of events that we have been up to in the last few weeks so enjoy whanau. Remember to check out our Upcoming Events for the latest happening here at your centre Matariki.

Te tohu awhiowhio...This awhiowhio (symbol used for the Matariki ECE monogram) was inspired after returning from the Child Space conference in Wellington. Below are just some of the tamariki racing around the awhiowhio.

Rugby with Sam Kora... Sam has really enjoyed himself so far with us during his practicum and has been amazingly contributing to the Matariki Early Childhood programme. Some of the tamariki have been showing such an interest in the game rugby that we decided to take them to the Taneatua rugby field. While there, Sam took the tamariki through some warm up moves, ball skills, ball drills and then a warm down. What an awesome experience for our tamariki. Sam will be with us for one more week before he returns to his centre in Whakatane.

Staff Cook Off Competition... Below the starlights staff are enjoying a cook off meal prepared by the Ngaa whatu iti staff. Some of the tamariki assisted in the preparing of the tables with whaea Muffy and also created place mats with the help of whaea Jo. What an awesome idea whaea Jo. Below are Riki, Mihiata, and Wairere creating these beautiful place mats for the staff of starlights.