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.

Ngaa mihi ki ngaa whanau katoa!

Just to let you all know, I (Vila) have returned back to mahi after taking some time off to help Ata and our new baby called Hiiti Tania Ruawai settle in. Term 3 was an exciting term for us and hopefully for you and your whanau. I received some awesome feedback from staff regarding the parent interviews over the holidays. To all the whanau that were able to take the time out and chat with staff about your child, we are grateful. Your expectation for this term will again be sent out to you in the next week so please fill these in. If you have already filled these out, thank you.

And of course we are now well into our 4th term. Please read the UP AND COMING EVENTS below to find out some of the things we have planned. If more come to mind I will endeavour to write these up in due course.

The kaupapa (Tunu Kai) for this term is well and truly on, with tamariki enjoying cooking and baking a variety of foods from here and from other countries. Therefore don't be alarmed if your child's lunch box is full. They have either baked or cooked and eaten this or someone has had a birthday. If you are still concerned as to whether your tamariki has eaten his/her lunch, let us know.

One of our aims for this kaupapa is to send our camera home with your child and get you to take photos of some of the kai you cook at home. Or whether your child helps you cook. Another aim is to encourage you all to send in yours or your child's favourite kai recipe so that we can try and cook/bake it here. By the end of the term we are hoping to create a unique Matariki recipe cook book for all the tamariki , whanau and staff to share.

Arohanui
Ngaa kaimahi o Matariki

Tena koutou e te whanau:

Anei a o tatou tamariki e mahi ana i ngaa mahi whai ano, me te kemu mapere.

Kei te mahi a Manea i te kapu me te hoeha, i te whare teitei me te waka atea.

Ko Tutepakorarangi tenei. E mahi ana ia i te kapu me te hoeha, i te whare teitei me te waka atea.

Kei te mahi whakataetae ngaa tamariki me Whaea Muffy.

Kei te purei mapere a Te Kereama me Tuhaka-Manahi.

Ngaa mihi nui ki a koutou e te whanau!

A huge welcome back to all the tamariki and whanau and we trust you all had a wonderful holiday. Our kaupapa 'Ngaa mahi a te Rehia, Games of Yesteryear' for this term will run along side children's interests, strengths, capabilities etc. Therefore below are a few of our tamariki demonstrating their skill of the game whai (string games). The tamariki are now challenging each other as to who can do a pattern the fastest. Eru, Tuhaka, Riki and Takarea are giving the staff a good run for their money as they are very quick indeed. Patterns that some of the tamariki do know are; 4 of diamonds, Eiffel tower, cup and saucer, waka atea parachute, and the 3 of diamonds. What is even more exciting is the tamariki who are more expert in the above patterns are now sharing their knowledge by teaching the staff.

Just a note also, expect your next expectation sheet for this term which will be sent to you in the next couple of days. You will need to fill these out to give us a glimpse of your expectations for your child/ren's learning development.

Riki demonstrating the cup and saucer, Eiffel tower, and the rocket.

Tuhaka demonstrating the 4 of diamonds.

Takarea demonstrating the parachute.

Eru demonstrating the 4 of diamonds.

Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini:

The 2nd term is over and what an exciting and fun term it has been. The above quote we have used is to rightfully capture the multitude of people who have supported us during this term. Whether it be our trips to various schools, contributing to the centre through koha, aroha, and manaaki, and through assisting staff with expectations for your tamati/tamariki kete matauranga. No matter how large or small, your contribution has been much appreciated. To all the staff of Matariki, there have been many changes throughout our programme in the last two terms yet you have all persevered with absolute vigour. Therefore, to all staff, tamariki, whanau, extended whanau, teachers of Paroa (Whaea Kim, Mrs Ogilvy), teachers of Tawera (Whaea Hiria, Whaea Diane, me tana kaiawhina) and the teacher of Taneatua (Colleen Medwin), ngaa mihi kia koutou katoa.

The following photos are of some of the events and activities that the tamariki have been involved in these last couple of months.

School visit to Tawera school:

Visit to Nanny Kohe's kohanga!

Panekeke mo te waa moko!

Pareti mo te parakuihi!

Tena koutou e te whanau:

We went for a hikoi to the back of our whare and look at what we discovered. A wonderful environment full of life. We found and saw pungawerewere, noke, ngaarara, ngata, kupakupa, pihareira, pii, waapi, koanga, momo rakau, hua whenua, putiputi, hiako, rau, hipi, kuri, kau, poaka. Fantastic time and all free. Nature at its best.