Tena koutou e te whanau. I love these shots of the tamariki in their element of play. There's not much else I can say regarding these photos for they themselves I'm sure will tell you how/what the children are doing.
Ngaa mihi kia koutou katoa
Matariki Staff.

Reremoana achieving the task she set her self; swinging off the apparatus and using a chair to achieve this.

Tyron having a great laugh, just brilliant.

Aniheta enjoys this parepona that one of the aunts donated to the centre. Your balancing skills are amazing Aniheta.

Ko Hinemoana me ngaa tamariki o Tangaroa!

Anei kee weetahi mahi toi anoo oo waa taatou tamariki. E whai atu ana maatou ngaa kaiako i te tino hiahia a Tuhaka i teeneki raa. Kia pai to koutou raa whakataa ano.

Painting like an artist!

Take a look at the awesome artists below. This activity is an extension of Aniheta's interest of flowers which he has been bringing in to show everyone. The children below are creating a sunny field of flowers. Staff sat with small groups and showed them how to create it. Within small groups we can discuss lots of learning, including paintbrush strokes, colours, lines, shapes, texture, Papatuanuku, Ranginui, ngaa tu momo ngarara, as well as supporting some of the childrens individual interests, strengths, or abilities. For example: encouraging the concept of tohatoha (sharing in a group setting), Tuakana, teina concept, (a more expert person teaching less experienced), social interactions amongst peers, enjoyment of painting and the list goes on. We understand that allowing children to express themselves freely with paint mediums is great however, just as important is showing children certain techniques or styles of painting for 'if we do not offer children different experiences, how do children know that learning experience exists' (personal communication, Dallison, C. 2010). Have a great weekend and see you all on Monday whanau!

Kia ora e te whanau,

Thought we'll try something new and add a video. Check out what some of the tamariki got up to this afternoon. Enjoy and we will catch up with your tamaiti and you on Monday. Kia pai waa koutou raa whakataa ne!

Ngaa tamariki o Matariki...

Ngaa mihi kia koutou katoa. Anei kee weetahi pikitia a o maatou tamariki e whai ake nei!

I haere wetahi o ngaa taina ki te kite i ngaa Marae o Ruatoki. Ko Te tahinga o te ra, Kanuehi, Reremoana, Georgia me Whaea Meri.

Kei te peita a Mia i tana pikitia ataahua.

Kei te marae o Rewarewa ratou. Te ataahua hoki ratou ngaa rangatira mo apopo ne!

Kei te mahi paraaoa ngaa tamariki me Whaea Jo.

Rita completing her puzzle.

Ono Mariri me Riki, e mahi ana raua i o raua tangata. Ko te mea teitei i waenganui i te tangata raa ko te ihu o te tangata te kii mai a Ono Mariri.

Mihiata me tana Koro Terry. I haere mai a Mihiata ma runga i te motopaihikara o tana koro. Ka rawe!

Tena Koutou Ngaa Whanau o Matariki!

I whakaarohia e Riki me haere taatou ki te whare pikitia hai matakitaki i te kiriata nei o 'Alvin and the Squeakles.' Noreira, i noho tahi maatou ngaa tamariki me ngaa kaiako ki te whakarite i to maatou haerenga ki reira. Na Riki me wetahi o ona hoa i whakaaro mai, ko wai ngaa tamariki e haere mai ana, he aha o raatou kai/inu o reira, te utu ki te kuhu atu ki ro, me te raa e haere ana maatou. Ko ngaa kaiako i tauawhi i waa raatou hiahia. I whakaae maatou, ko te Turei 16th Feb te raa ka haere. I waea atu ahau ki te wharepikitia o Whakatane kia mohio ai, he aha ngaa kiriata e whakaatu mai ana i te Turei. I mea mai te tangata na, korekau ngaa kiriata mo ngaa tamariki a tera ra. Ka aroha! Heoi, i tonu atu au kia Emily Sinclair, (he kaiako o Awanuiarangi te wahine nei, he kaiako tawhito hoki o konei) ka tae maatou te haere ki to raatou ake wharepikitia. He rawe! Waimarie maatou katoa. Anei weetahi whakaahua o to maatou haerenga ki te wharepikitia o Awanuiarangi. Ngaa mihi tino nui ki to maatou whanau i a Awanuiarangi ki te tautoko , ki te tauawhi hoki i te tino hiahia o teetahi o waa maatou tamaiti. Tau ana!

Hi whanau,

Rain, hail or shine, our children still want to go for a swim. Here are some of the children enjoying jumping off the slide into the sandpit.

This is our volanco project that the tamariki have been showing much interest in. Haedyn Reeve and Tiana paint papatuanuku. He maunga wenei o te rohe nei. Ko Taiarahia, ko Putauaki, ko Whatuira, ko Whakaari, ko Tohora, ko Maungawhakamana, Ko Tarawera.