A few pictures from yesterdays' Christmas Parade. We were so proud to be the winners of the Best Kindergarten or Kohunga Reo category! A huge Thank You to all the staff and parents who helped with costumes and putting our float together. We are looking forward to picking up our prize from Warehouse Stationery this week-a new art cupboard filled with heaps of resources! See more pictures of the parade here.

MATARIKI EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTRE PANUI
Monday 3rd November 2008
Kia Ora koutou e te whanau.
“Ko tōu rourou, ko tōku rourou, ka
ora ai te iwi”
Your basket of food and my basket of
food, will nourish the multitude.

HE WHAKAMIHI
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
It is only fitting that we begin with
the above whakatauki (proverb) to
express just how much Matariki staff
and tamariki are very grateful and
indeed indebted to the countless
supporters, sponsors and whanau that
gave up their time willingly to make
our Matariki Gala an absolute
success. To those who wrote
numerous letters to potential sponsors
and to the many whanau who
contributed to the Gala raffles and
batons up as well as sold tickets. Each
and every contribution was of equal
importance. It is impossible to list all
their names kei mahue eetahi ki waho
(least we forget some names) that
gave so generously and willingly—
we were humbled by the selflessness
and the out pouring of koha. This list
of contributions is endless, but our
Matariki whanau wish to sincerely
thank all those who gave, whether
small or large.

No Reira tena koutou katoa.

We have finally tallied up income and
expenditure and together we raised
(drum roll)……. $6,324.80. This
amounted to the huge success and
support of everyone involved. This
will contribute towards purchasing
shade sails and sandpit covers for our
playground areas.

Next week we will farewell one of
our staff members, Michelle Hansen.
Michelle is moving on to a new
adventure in her life and we wish her
all the best for the future and hope to
see her around.

She will be sadly missed.

SCHOOL/CENTRE PHOTOS
On Thursday 20th of November we
will be having Centre photos as well
as individuals with a professional
photographer Dunstan & Kinge
Photographers. Closer to the date
envelopes will be sent home as to
what sort of pack you would like. If
your child/ren are not enrolled on
Thursday please, if possible, bring
them out for a photo to be included
in the centre photo. That would be
most appreciated. Exact times will
be out shortly.

CHILDRENS CHRISTMAS PARTY
Another date to put into your diaries
whanau. We are having our
Christmas party for the children on
Friday 12th December.

Time is to be confirmed.

MATARIKI CALENDARS
It is that time of the year again
whanau. Order forms will be out
very shortly for you to order a
Matariki Calendar for whanau and
friends. They make awesome
Christmas gifts for everyone. They
will be ready for you to pick up at
the Christmas party.

SUNSMART
It is that time of the year whanau.
The warmer weather is coming.
From October the 1st to March 31st
we have a sun-smart policy that
states all children to be wearing
sunhats and covered in sunscreen.
So could you please send a sunhat
for your child/ren that is named for
them to leave and wear here at the
centre. Also if your child has very
sensitive skin or you would like to
send your own sunscreen don’t
forget to put their names on it, place
it in their bags and let the staff know.

PLASTIC BAGS
Keep sending in those plastic bags
whanau. We are still in need of
these every day, especially with the
warmer weather coming. They are
very handy to put wet and dirty
clothes in to be sent home with the
children.

SIGN IN/SIGN OUT
Please remember to sign your
children in and out whether it be on
the van or you picking and dropping
them off at the centre. Don’t forget
to write the time down too. If your
child gets dropped off after 4pm
please just write 4pm. Thank you to
those parents/caregivers who are
doing this. Much appreciated.

IMPORTANT DATES:
Monday 10th November – Matariki
Calendar order forms due out
Tuesday 18th November – 4yr olds
hearing & vision test (B4 school
check)
Thursday 20th November – Centre
Photos
Friday 21st November – Matariki
Calendar order forms due in
Saturday 29th November –
Whakatane Christmas Float Parade

Well that is us for the month of
October. Until the next newsletter
take care everyone and have a safe
Guy Fawkes night.
Luana & Ata

NGĀ WHATU ITI PANUI

Kia ora whanau,
HOLIDAY PROGRAMME:
The tamariki of Matariki had a
wonderful holiday programme
that was set up by Trish Hudson
and staff. During the holiday
programme, it included a trip to
lunch at Mac Donald's before
heading off to the town park for
the rest of the day. It was an
awesome day especially for our
two and half year olds as this is
where they all got to enhance
their relationships with other
children-turn taking, listening
skills, negotiating with others
and supporting and helping each
other at the park.
Also as part of our holiday
programme our tamariki
presented a whakaari (play) to
the tamariki of star lights and
staff. The name of the purakau
(legend) has been and still is
very popular amongst our older
children called; Maui tikitiki a
Taranga and Mahuika. A
fantastic experience for all our
tamariki that took part.
Kino kee waa koutou mahi
ataahua!
(you all did an awesome and
beautiful job).

TO MAATOU WHARENUI: Our
wharenui
Because our wharenui was
looking bit dreary we decided
that it needed a face lift and
after a group discussion, (where
the tamariki were able to draw
on their own experience of
being on a Marae) they decided
that they wanted to make some
curtains, two doors, photos on
the walls and lights so that they
could see at night. Here are just
some of the completed tasks
the tamariki enjoyed doing.

POHIRI: Welcoming
ceremony
With the restoration of our
wharenui now complete, it was
decided we would use the
wharenui to pohiri or welcome
our manuhiri (visitors). Due to
the big push by parents to use
more Te Reo in the centre, the
welcoming ceremonies have
certainly been one avenue for
the promoting of Te Reo. And
by being involved in the pohiri
ceremony, our tamariki learn
the importance of certain roles
that each person play within the
rituals of pohiri. Our two boys
Manaia and Tamati now share
the kaikorero (speaker) role
while Takarea and Haedyn
Revee share the leading of
waiata to embellish either
Manaia’s or Tamati’s speech.

MAARA KAARI: Our garden
This term has also seen our
tamariki working very hard
sowing kakano within our new
maara kaari. Whaea Bonnie who
is contracted by REAP has been
helping us with our garden and
has shared with us some
wonderful and inspiring ideas
for the weeks coming. Our
tamariki have been helping with
the moving of bark to create a
pathway, assisting in the
making of a bridge, and have
been planting varies types of
hua-whenua (vegetables) in and
around our centre. A garden
that is aesthetically pleasing to
the eye. Ngaa mihi nui ki a
taatou katoa (a big up’s to us all).

Well that’s all for this month,
enjoy this term and we hope to
see you all at our Xmas play.
Ngaa ngaa kaiako o Ngaa
Whatu iti, Sharon, Meri, Trish,
Lucy, Vila, Missy, and Kylie.

STARLIGHTS PANUI
Kia Ora whānau,
What a busy month our Starlight’s
children have had. Lots of water play
happening with the warmer weather
and lots of messy play.
We have celebrated three of our
tamariki turning two years old. They
are Veili, Mānea and
Tutepakorārangi. We will also be
celebrating Rarotapuhikura’s 2nd
birthday on the 17th of November.
“Ra whānau kia koutou tamariki ma.”
Whaea Luana has been doing lots of
great work with these two year olds,
preparing them for when they venture
over to Nga Whatu Iti. The activities
that they are participating in are to get
the children to develop their fine
motor skills.
These activities include: using
tweezers to pick items up, using
sponges to soak up water and transfer
the water from one container to the
other, putting pegs onto things,
unscrewing bottle tops, tipping and
pouring activities and activities using
spoons to transfer objects from one
container to the other. These
activities will help the children for
when they move onto the older
children’s side as they will be able to
use these skills to their advantage for
example: cutting with scissors,
unwrapping their kai from their
lunchboxes, taking the lids off their
yoghurts etc.... Setting them up with
the skills to help them become
independant.
Our current focus for our planning
cycle is Christmas. Yes it is that time
of year again and Christmas is just 7
weeks away. So we are busy
introducing the children to lots of
Christmasy activities. We will be
making cards with the children,
baking biscuits and cakes, singing
xmas songs, making xmas
decorations, decorating the centre for
xmas and other activities that include
xmas.
Sadly we will be farewelling Whaea
Michelle from the Starlight’s team,
her last day will be on the 12th of
November. We wish her all the best
with her next venture and hope that
she comes back to visit. She will be
missed immensely by all.
We also farewell Forsaith from the
Starlight’s side, she has now
transitioned over to Nga Whatu Iti.
She has developed all the skills
needed to become a member of Nga
Whatu Iti. We will miss her but
know we can still get cuddles from
her when we pass through or visit
the older side.
Our vegetable garden is booming,
lots of wonderful veges that are
ready to be eaten. The children have
taken a great interest in caring for
this garden lets hope that they have
as much interest in eating the
veges!!!
Because we have got a few little
babies who need to have some space
for crawling and rolling etc... we
have made a separate baby area for
them. This is an area where our little
babies can be safe when on the floor
and not get bothered by our older
toddlers who want to either always
give them cuddles or pick them up.
We have fenced off one corner of the
centre with a wooden trellis fence. It
seems to be working really well
however it needs to be lowered as
some of the Whaea are too short to
get their legs over it. HAHA. If we
have any dads/koros/uncles or
family friends who you know, that
may be able to help us out in altering
our fence, could you please let us
know. Thanks.
Well that’s it from us have a great
month and remember only 7 weeks
‘til Christmas,
from the Starlight’s team
Sarah, Sue, Michelle H, Jo, Meri,
Kylie and Luana.

Our suppliers/supporters who have supplied and supported us with things
that we need in order to run the centre.
For the children’s needs as well as the staff.
TE TOI HUAREWA TRUST
Pitstop
McAllister
Street
Do Drop In
TANEATUA
For all those simple grocery needs
07 3129234
Tu Tawaki Rentals
KAWERAU
0800 EZ RENT
Taking people places
Rural Delivery Post
Ivan & Glenda Porter
Rural Mail Contractors
For all our postal needs
Whakatane New World
Kakahoroa Drive
07 3060400
We thank you all for your services and support and look forward to
trading with you in future.