gk news issue dec

8/8/2019 GK News Issue Dec

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Celebratingour achievements

Relationships are EVERYTHING!

Christmas boredom busters

Skills, experiences and helpful hintsISSUE TWO December 2010

[email protected]

news&views


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NEWS & VIEWS issue no.2

AS THE YEAR draws to a close it is atime to celebrate and reflect on ourachievements and create new plans forimprovement in the year to come. Weare presented with some challenges as

we start 2011 with the current financialclimate in early childhood looking grim,and the education sector as a wholefighting to sustain a quality learningenvironment for all. I am reminded as

I write this of the Teachers Matter conference we attended at thebeginning of 2010, where Karen Boyes said encouragingly, Teachersmake all professions possible! It is important to remember howvaluable teachers are to our society. We are often quick to maketeachers responsible when things are going wrong. We forget to

thank them for the amazing job they do educating and socialisingour next generation each day. We are so fortunate in the smallcommunity of Geraldine to have many qualified and experiencedteachers to support us and guide our children from kindergartenthrough primary and secondary school and into our workforce.What a great place to raise children!

OUR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING IN 2010 The teaching team havebeen involved in professional learning this year, completing courseswith Karen Boyes on how the Habits of Mind (and our curriculum

Te Whariki) link with the new New Zealand Curriculum frameworkfor schools, through the key competencies. Teachers came awayfrom this course inspired by such a dynamic speaker and wereaffirmed, knowing we are offering high quality teaching andlearning experiences to the children of Geraldine Kindergarten.The course allowed us to dig a bit deeper into the current theorieson teaching and learning and consider what areas of our practicewe needed to critically explore.

We continued this exploration through CORE Education. We have

focused on sustaining our assessment and planning for learningpractices, using ICT as a tool to support children to see and reflecton their own learning. By using ICT, children are able to viewthemselves as the experts and as capable, confident learners.We know that the children of today, who will be citizens of the

Teaching makes

GERALDINE KINDERGARTEN

News & Views Magazine25 Wilson Street, Geraldine 7930

HEAD TEACHER: Tania Boland

PHONE: 03 693 8888

EMAIL: [email protected]

BLOG: www.blogspot.co.nz

Geraldine Kindergarten

DESIGN & PRODUCTION

Saltmine Design

24 Hislop Street Geraldine 7930

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Fi McCafferty

PHONE: 03 693 8237

EMAIL: [email protected]

Greatcommunity.

Greateducation.

Greatkids!

Greatcommunity.

Greateducation.

Greatkids!


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from the EDITOR |2

21st century will need to be learners for life. They will needstrengths in some of the following areas to be successful in life;the ability to really consider and think about their own thinking(metacognition), an empathy and understanding for peopledifferent from themselves (especially important with the

development of global communities), creativity, the ability to berisk-takers, to be able to work and think as a team, to problemsolve, to persist, to manage themselves responsibly, and togenerate and consider options or alternatives. Two key pointswe have considered in our own teaching are, firstly, the need togive children time to think and respond - experts say we needto allow at least 7-10 seconds for a response - and secondly, totake the time to sit back, observe and listen to children playing,prior to engaging with them. It is frustrating for children when anadult interrupts their work with their own ideas and subsequently

disturbs their thought processes and planning.

We took the opportunity to participate in a workshop byTessarose Productions. This gave teachers the opportunity torevisit our use of music and movement in our teaching. We cameaway from this course enthused about the potential of music tosupport children to explore their own body, spatial awareness,movement and the important role movement plays indeveloping the connections in their brains necessary forlanguage and mathematics. Music can help us be in tune with

our emotions, calm and excite us too.BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS We are fortunate to have built arelationship with Jan Beck-Manawatu, the Maori health advisorfrom Wave. Mrs Beck-Manawatu has supported us to not onlyimprove our Te Reo (speaking Maori), but also ourunderstanding of the importance and protocols for celebratingMatariki and learning our mihimihi. We are also exploring aMaori perspective on paptuanuku aroha (sustainability) andwith the support of local acting teacher Jill Roberts, have

supported our tamariki (children) to learn the legend Tarahaoa- creating turangawaewae (a standing - a place to belong).

We are fortunate to have been asked to support Bayfield andTempleton Kindergarten teachers learning of the Habits of

Mind. Also, this magazine has been linked to the CORE Educationand New Zealand kindergarten's Incorporated websites asan example of high quality practice.

Working together with Geraldine high school students, we havemutually supported each others learning through projects in

sport, culture, science, and literacy this year. We appreciate andvalue the students and teachers who come to the kindergartento share their learning with us, knowing they enhance ourchildrens learning by positively engaging in tuakana-teinarelationships (mentoring from a more experienced peer).We have continued to support students from Aoraki Polytechnic,and three students from Geraldine High School as part of theGateway work experience programme in 2010.

EXTERNAL REVIEW OFFICE REPORT Again, we are excited to

have received an excellent report from ERO highlightingstrengths in the quality of teaching and learning: Teachersview children as competent and confident learners, whereteaching practices extend childrens thinking and where playcreates many opportunities for meaningful learning to happenfor our children. Further strengths noted were a richlyresourced environment and a range of opportunities for childrento engage meaningfully with ICT. ERO reported on the quality ofplanning, assessment and evaluation of childrens learning, ourrelationships and interactions with children, families and

whanau, external services and the wider community as otherareas of strength. A full copy of the report is available at thekindergarten or online. Check the Education Review Officewebsite.

Your positive feedback has allowed us to continue GK News& Views in 2011 so keep that feedback coming! Check out ourChristmas holiday boredom busters and we wish you all a safeand happy holiday. Remember slip, slop, slap and wrap.Enjoy a Merry Christmas from your Teaching Team at

Geraldine Kindergarten.

all other professions possible

TaniaTANIA BOLAND, HEAD TEACHER


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3| COURAGE & CURIOSITY adventures from the playground

YEAR 10 SCIENCE extension students fromGeraldine High School visited us and sharedseveral experiments with our excitedKindergarten children.

The experiments gave the childrenopportunities to explore scientific conceptssuch as elements, gravity, forces, electricalcircuits, and chemical reactions and changes.

Participating in these experimentsencourages children to use Habits of Mindsuch as Questioning and Problem Posing,Remaining Open to Continuous Learning,

Thinking Flexiblyand Applying Past

Knowledge. They are also using techniquessuch as listening, questioning, predicting,making comparisonsand rememberingtocreate and build on their working theories.

New Zealands Early Childhood Curriculum,Te Whariki, sets out the following goals underthe strand Exploration Mana Aotaroa: Children learn strategies for active

exploration, thinking and reasoning; Children develop working theories for

making sense of the natural, social,physical and material worlds.

SCIENTIFIC EXPLORATION:

The rocket flew up with water

In early childhood, knowledge, skillsand attitudes are closely linked.These three aspects combine to

form a childs working theory.Children are developing moreelaborate and useful working

theories about people, places andthings in their lives. These working

theories contain a combinationof knowledge about the world,

skills and strategies,attitudes and expectations.

Te WharikiTe WharikiNew Zealand

Early ChildhoodCurriculum


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5| Need a HELPING hand?

TRANSITIONING TO SCHOOL can bean emotional time and a little bitscary for both children and parents.

We thought that with the support ofour contributing schools we wouldgive you some handy hints to help

give your child the skills they will needto make the experience less overwhelmingfor everyone. Thank you to Winchester,Geraldine and Woodbury schools for your

collective ideas.

SKILLS

WORK WITH YOUR CHILD TO LEARN TO:

Greet someone verbally with eye contact Recognise their own name Write their name in upper and lower case

letters i.e. Emma Begin to recognise some alphabet letters,

names and sounds Hold a pencil correctly (triangle pencils

available from the Warehouse Stationery)

Use scissors Go to the toilet by themselves Catch sneezes and coughs (in the crook

of their arm)

Be independent and able to open andorganise lunchboxes, dress themselves,carry and pack their own bag

Sit on the mat with a group of children Count to ten Know shapes and colours

Have knowledge of social skills andboundaries

EXPERIENCES

FAMILIARISE YOUR CHILD WITH:

Nursery rhymes and fairy tales Poems Looking at books together - talk about it,

read lotsof books, develop a love ofreading and have a set time for reading

Having fun with rhyming words Talking to together - it takes a lot of

practice to learn to speak and listen aswell. Use every opportunity - in the car,mealtimes, at the shops etc

Spending quality time with an adult Holding conversations/social interactions A lot of oral language Singing Fine motor co-ordination Basic math - counting, sorting, comparing,

ordering, patterning, matching Writing - practice writing a letter, make a

sign or a card

OTHER HELPFUL TIPSFOR YOUR CHILD:

Be able to tie up their shoe laces orhave the option to wear velcro shoes

Be able to blow their own nose properly Know how to wash hands correctly by

using soap and water for 20 seconds Have their name on everything Have a backpack large enough to

carry everything in Have a drink bottle with water

GAEL WILLIAMS

Transitioning to school


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THE CHICKENS HAVE ARRIVED! We put a cluckyhen in the lovely coop featured in the first issueof News & Views- made by the children withhelp from James Craddock and materials kindlydonated by Geraldine ITM (thank you).

The children looked at the hen often, and wekept a calendar for each of the 21 days it tookfor the eggs to hatch. We had to Manage OurImpulsivity and not disturb her too often.The Taylor family of Carew provided bantameggs and sadly our clucky hen didnt alwayskeep all of the eggs warm. But two gorgeouslittle chickens eventually hatched.

We waited quietly for the chickens to come out

into the run. And they did! We gave mother hena slater and she ate it, but first she showed herchicks. Jessica painted a picture of our hen,Jessica and Kelisha decorated the border withtheir printing.

Now that they have hatched, the children arecarefully feeding and watering the chickens.Please talk with your child about how a motherhen protects her chicks and keeps them warm -and how doesshe tell them that theres freshfood about?

LIZ MILLS

LEARNING IS FUN so be a learner every day |6

Which came first:the chicken

or the egg?The arrival ofthe chickenscreated a lotof excitement!

SCIENCE & VISUAL ARTS:

OurhenbyJessica


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7| LEARNING IS FUN so be a learner every day

BEING AN EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER

I have had the fortune to watch a lot ofthree-year-olds meet and play with otherchildren at kindergarten. Mum and Dad are

excited but anxious at the same time. Oftenits the first time that the child has beenparted from their sibling and often questionsarise likeWill they like it?, Will they eat?,or Will they play with the other children?

Of course its not always easy to be partedfrom those so close and assumptions cantalways be made, in whatever role we play,that we will know what to do. Adults are

learners, too, bringing their ownexpectations and aspirations to theirchilds learning environment. Therefore,

relationship building is very importanton every level to ensure that our three-year-olds develop to become confident andcompetent learners in the 21st century.

Children entering kindergarten are learningwhat its like to interact with different kindsof people, new places, and wide rangingexperiences. They approach thoseinteractions with courage and curiosityrather than judgment.

Children will choose where they will play,who they will play with and alongside, and

will come across situations that willchallenge them. Their language will developas they problem solve, build strategies towork with others and share what they know.

How important areSOCIAL SCIENCES:

He aha te meanui o te ao?

What is the mostimportant thingin the world?

He tangata, hetangata, he tangata.

It is the people,it is the people,it is the people.

MAORI PROVERB

Wise words:


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They are learning in the moment and nojudgments need to be made.

A wide range of friendships develop

in our learning environment. Its a placewhere children find comfort and take turnsin letting the other lead. A place where theylearn to share toys and immerse themselvesin creative and imaginative play thatsupports them as they make sense of theworld in which they live.

As a teacher it is fascinating to watch as,over time, these wonderful relationships

form. I have learned so muchfrom watchingyour children play!

LOUISE SHERRATT

our relationships?

|8

The habits thatsurround relationshipsare encouraged ratherthan taught atGeraldine Kindergarten.For example, children

will be immersed incommunities wherepeople discuss rules,are fair, explorequestions about howthings work, and helpeach other.


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9| BEHIND THE SCENES our Board of Trustees

What does theBoard of Trustees do?

Didyouknow?Didyouknow?New Zealand

Kindergarten'sQuality ECE: Worth the

investment report states:

High quality earlychildhood education helps

prepare young childrento succeed in school and

become better citizens:they earn more, pay more

taxes, and commitfewer crimes.

The Board of Trustees governs the GeraldineKindergarten, whilst the General Manager

oversees its operation. The Board isresponsible for setting the strategicdirection of the Kindergarten Associationand overseeing the management ofpersonnel, property, finance andadministration. It is the Boards responsibilityto deal with employment matters referred tothem by the General Manager as well asensuring effective communication withthe community.

While this sounds all very official beingon your Board of Trustees, it is actuallya job made much easier due to the factthat we are supported by a enthusiasticteaching team and Helen, our fantasticand knowledgeable General Manager.

The 2010 GDFKA Board of Trusteesmembers are:

Matt Morrison, President

Sarah Foley-Smith, Vice President

Max De Bonth, Treasurer

Kim Harris

Michelle Schoneveld

Sarah Wilson

Adele Quinn

Ashleigh Pace

Your Board of Trustees are all volunteers

who are elected for a two-year term

Looking ahead to 2011 we may have upto four vacancies on the board.

SURVEY RESULTS

In our recent Strategic Planning Survey,some families said they would like us toconsider changes to the afternoonsession time.

After feedback from the Strategic Planningon the hours of afternoon session the Boardrecently conducted a survey on changing

the hours of afternoon kindergarten.We received 29 replies (thanks to those whotook the time to reply). The number ofreplies and the mix of opinions was notconclusive enough for a change to be madeat this stage.

From these results, a working party is beingset up to investigate different options.Two Board members, the General Manager,Head Teacher and a teacher representative

will make up the team and will put forwarda paper to the Board by June 2011. In themeantime the kindergarten morning andafternoon sessions will continue as is.

OUR COMMITMENT

Geraldine Kindergarten is committed to:

100% qualified and registered teachers

Ratios of one teacher to every ten children

High quality early childhood education

R ES PEC T E XC EL LE NC E L EA DE RS HI P T EA MW OR K P ER SEV ER AN CE ACC ES SI BI LI TY

HEY!CHECKOUTT

HIS SITE...

2011 TERM DATES

TERM 1: 26 January - 15 April

TERM 2: 02 May - 15 July

TERM 3: 01 August - 07 October

TERM 4: 24 October - 21 December


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FAMILY I am married to Grant and have twochildren- Caleb who's five-years-old and inhis second term at Geraldine Primary Schooland Georgia who's coming up for three.We live in a beautiful spot on a few acres atTe Moana. I work part-time at McKenzieHealthcare as a Quality Coordinator andI also coordinate Geraldine Mainly Musicat St Marys Church.

REASONS FOR BEING ON THE BOARD

I believe that Early Childhood Education is extremely importantand feel that I have some skills and experience from my worklife inhealthcare management that can be of benefit to the Association.

parents NOTICEBOARD |10

Christmas holidayboredom busters!

Have a family baking day baking makes greatChristmas presents.

Make a grass head; put soil and grass seed in an oldstocking water daily and watch the hair grow!

Pitch tents in the back yard and go camping.

Fill buckets with water balloons and have a good,old-fashioned water balloon war!

Make the most of our beautiful local native forestswith a bush walk in Talbot Forest, Peel Forest, orcheck out the Maori rock art at Kakahu.

Create a treasure or scavenger hunt.

Take a tour around town at night to look at thehouses decorated with Christmas lights.

Introduce your children to the games you used toplay when you were young; Monopoly, Twister,Jackpot using a tennis racquet and ball, spotlightingwith a torch in the back yard.

Make a puppet show (recycle old socks!).

Make a picnic and take it anywhere you like.

FOR MORE IDEAS GO TO:

http://www.byokids.com.au/content/view/766/57/

FAMILY I am married to Andy and wehave three children; Sam, Molly-Kate andWill. All three have attended GeraldineKindergarten and Will is currently in themorning session. Sam and Molly-Kateattend Geraldine Primary School. I ama teacher at Geraldine High School andAndy teaches at the Primary School.

REASONS FOR BEING ON THE BOARD

I was very fortunate to have beenbrought up in Geraldine. I attendedGeraldine Kindergarten, Geraldine Primary

and Geraldine High School. Now that I have children of my own it is agreat opportunity to become involved in their education. I ampassionate about education, have some experience in educational

leadership and basically see this as a chance for me to give some ofmy time back to the community.

Meet Matt MorrisonPRESIDENT, GDFKA BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Meet Kim HarrisGDFKA BOARD MEMBER


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Wilson Street, Geraldine 7930 PHONE: 03 693 8888 EMAIL: [email protected] BLOG: [email protected]

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