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Giveaway Day—Nuanua Kindergarten We are having another Give Away Day! This time it is being held at Nuanua Kindergarten on Saturday 18 March. Any donations of items to be given to families in need would be much appreciated. Please contact the office Regional Staff Meeting Please note the following agenda items for Regional Staff Meetings w/c 13th and 20th March 2017 3.30pm to 5.00pm:

Kindergarten branding and promotion – Mandy Coulston CEO

Introduction to new property job application process – Mandy Coulston CEO and Sharon

Coulton TLST

Te Manawa: Criteria for weaving and implementing curriculum in WM Kindergartens –

Senior Teachers. The revised WMK Te Manawa document is to be launched at this meeting. In preparation for this workshop please see the attached notes which are supplementary to the workshop and are being sent as pre-reading material. (see page 7 and 8)

Please ensure you check the applicable venue details in the Professional Development Calendar, we look forward to seeing you there!

Hello - Kia Ora - Talofa lava - Kia Orana - Fakaalofa lahi atu - Malo e lelei - Malo ni - Talofa - Ni Sa Bula Vinaka - Ming la ba - Hola - la Orana - Halo ola keta -

Mauri - Sabaidee - Namaste

MAORI WORD OF THE WEEK

IMPORTANT BITS AND REMINDERS

Kīkia te pōro!: Kick the

ball!

Below: The children at Tairangi Kindergarten have thoroughly enjoyed investigating cause and effect and problem solving with the new dominoes set & with the bamboo water ways in the sandpit!

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This past Saturday Una Williams kindergarten had a community open day for family and friends and were thrilled that around 80 people turned up to share this happy event. The kindergarten was set up as per normal session—many children enjoying the sand, water, carpentry, messy play activities and face painting and tāmoko. Thanks to Ronny Tankersley (WM reliever), her husband and Grandson who supported our community by providing over a 100 delicious choc-chip biscuits, balloon creations and a pinball machine. Back in December we won the Sunflower growing competition and our prize was a free BBQ meal complements of The Professionals Patrick & Scott. We decided what better way to utilise this prize —have an open day. 200 sausages later……. We were also fortunate to have the vibrant Samoan Community entertain us as only they can do. It was an opportunity to not only connect with the community, but to share what we do here. We were also able to share ideas on our Social Competency Procedure , encouraging and promoting positive strategies which can be used consistently at kindergarten and home. We look forward to many more events like this.

UNA WILLIAMS OPEN DAY

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Maraeroa Kindergarten teacher and YMen graduate Morgan Batt says the fact that he has completed a degree is still sinking in. He describes being a teacher as “awesome”. “I love it. I go in on my days off” says Morgan, of Ngati Kahungunu descent. He was unemployed and volunteering at a Kohanga Reo when he heard about the YMen programme. After a six month placement at Titahi Bay Kindergarten, he decided to train as a teacher through Te Rito Maioha. Morgan says support from Whanau Manaaki and from his classmates was a crucial factor in his success. “We formed a group, and hung out. We supported each other, and the work got easier with time.” Morgan was part of the third group of YMen. A fourth group is going through the six month placement programme now, and due to graduate next month. Of the eight enrolled, seven are expected to undertake further study, with several considering enrolling in teacher training. Morgan advises them to go for it. “I’m trying to get heaps of people into it.” The YMen programme is run with funding from the Todd Foundation and Work

and Income.

ARTICLE - DEGREE SUCCESS STILL SINKING IN

ELECTIONS - LET’S GET OUR FAMILIES ENROLLED TO VOTE

It’s election year and we need to make sure early childhood education is an issue for our families, and that they understand the need for proper funding for services. One of the first things to do is to make sure people are on the roll, so they can vote in the September election. Voter turnout has been down in recent years, and a low turnout undermines democracy. Encourage your families to get on the roll. Maori, Pasifika, and new migrants are less likely to be on the roll than other potential voters. Many new arrivals to New Zealand may not know they can vote. You can enrol to vote if you are over 18, and have lived in NZ for 12 months at some stage, and you are either a citizen or a permanent resident. If you are Cook Island Maori, Niuean, Tokelauan or Australian, then you do not need to be a permanent resident to vote, but you do need to have lived in New Zealand for 12 months or more. If anyone is worried about their safety as a result of being on the electoral roll, they can go on an unpublished roll. You can encourage families and other people in your community to enrol on line. There are factsheets available from elections.org in more than 20 languages. Kindergarten teachers can also order resources from there to pass on to families.

ARTICLE - EVERY CHILD IS WORTH IT

The union for early childhood teachers’ NZEI Te Riu Roa is running a campaign, Every Child Is Worth It, which aligns with Whanau Manaaki’s position on funding for qualified teachers, quality services and is consistent with the campaign being developed by our national body, NZ Kindergartens. The campaign is about drawing attention to the funding freeze which has been in place since 2010, and which followed a cut in the funding for 100 per cent qualified teachers.

The campaign is calling for quality ECE for every child, and highlights that some children are not getting a good early education, with the current government focus on quantity, not quality.

It points out that qualified teachers are a key indicator of quality, and that the government’s own advisors have warned that Maori and Pasifika and children from low income families are more likely to be enrolled in low quality services.

It is also calling for better ratios and lower group sizes than currently allowed.

To find out more about the campaign and how you can participate check out the Every Child Is Worth It website.

CREEKFEST

Cannons Creek Park, Castor Cres, Cannons Creek, Porirua - Mana, Wellington Region

Saturday 11 March 2017 10am – 4pm

Many of our Porirua Kindergartens and services will be involved , so come along and offer support!

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CALENDAR

Full-day Kindergartens Professional Development Day (Please see flyer on last page for more info)

18 March 9:30am – 3pm

Aotea Lodge Porirua

Teachers from Full Day Services

Learning Through Movement – Sports Wellington Amanda Taylor

29 March 3:15pm - 4:30pm

Totara Park Kgtn

All teachers welcome

Learning Through Movement – Sports Wellington

29 March 3:15pm - 4:30pm

Khandallah Kgtn All teachers welcome

Carrying the Tapa 1 and 2 series This series of Culturally Responsive workshops is to support non-Pasifika teachers working with Pasifika children, their families and community. Teachers and staff will have the opportunity to explore the cultural context to understand what specifically Pasifika is; Effective Engagement with children, families and communities; and best practice where we discuss what’s working, share what we do; consider expectations and how Te Whariki is relevant to Pasifika education in ECE.

26 April 9am - 1pm WMK Offices All teachers welcome

Te Manawa Revisited x 2 This is another opportunity for you to continue to engage with the relaunched Te Manawa. There will be lots of practical opportunities to delve into the document.

27 April 9:30am – 12:30pm

Johnsonville Club and Greytown Library

All teachers welcome

Dispositional Workshop Are you still thinking about dispositions? Are you thinking there is more for you to learn and understand about “dispositions”? Are you intentional about planning to support children’s dispositional learning? Do you, or how do you, talk about, plan for, and respond to dispositional learning?

27 April 9:30am - 12:30pm

WMK Offices All teachers welcome

Social Competence Workshop This workshops focus is Building Social Competence, linking directly with the unpacking of the WMK Social Competence Criteria. Strengthening teaching strategies for working alongside children, whānau and colleagues.

Induction and Mentoring Workshop

27 April 9:30am - 12:30pm 1pm – 3pm

Upper Hutt Cossie Club

All Certificating teachers and any other teachers welcome All Certificating teachers and mentors

Priority Learners This workshop is a repeat from last year (October) specifically focussed on our Māori Learners. We will be exploring ways in which to build our bicultural capacity, being responsive in appropriate ways to our Māori Learners and Whānau. Key indicators of wise practice will include: Partnership, Environments, Teacher knowledge and engagement, Whānau Aspirations, Assessment and Documents. What can inform these key indicators? How are we enacting them?

28 April 9:30am – 12:30pm

Aotea Lodge Porirua

All teachers welcome

Storypark Have you started using Storypark recently or even been using it for a while and you are now ready to learn some more about what Storypark can do to support your work? Sharon from Storypark will share some hints for making Storypark work for you, your team and for your whānau - hear about how other ECE services are making it work for them. There will be opportunities for you to ask questions too.

28 April 9:30am – 12:30pm

WMK Offices All teachers welcome

Working with Under 3s This workshop is based on teaching two year olds in kindergarten. We will explore teaching strategies; the use of environments, our mind-set and explore what is happening for two year olds at this stage of their lives.

28 April 9:30am – 12:30pm

Paraparaumu Library

All teachers welcome

KAPA HAKA CALENDAR

Thursday, 16 Poutū-te-rangi 4pm - 5:30pm Kapa Haka Greytown Kindergarten

Thursday, 30 Poutū-te-rangi 4pm - 5:30pm Kapa Haka Head Office

Thursday, 6 Paenga-whāwhā 3:15pm - 4:45pm Kapa Haka Totara Park Kindergarten

Thursday, 12 Paenga-whāwhā 4pm - 5:30pm Kapa Haka Greytown Kindergarten

Thursday, 4 Haratua 4pm - 5:30pm Kapa Haka Head Office

Thursday, 11 Haratua 3:15pm - 4:45pm Kapa Haka Totara Park Kindergarten

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Regional Staff Meetings

Term 1 2017

Kapiti and Horowhenua

3:30-5pm @ Southwards

22 March Tania and Helen S

Arohanui Betty Montford

Fanau Pasifika

Ngahina

Otaki Paraparaumu

Parsons Avenue

Raumati Beach

Raumati South

Taitoko

Te Timatanga Hou

Waikanae

Porirua City

3:30-5pm @ Plimmerton Boating Club

16 March Lynette and Andy

Adventure

Ascot Park

Awatea

Brian Webb

Discovery

Katoa

Maraeroa

Moira Gallagher Papakowhai Paremata

Plimmerton

Pukerua Bay

Tairangi Tawa Central Titahi Bay

Tui Park

Waitangirua

Wellington City North

3:30-5pm @ Johnsonville Club

23 March Lyn and Paula

Bellevue

Campbell Churton Park

Johnsonville West Karori Khandallah

Newlands

Ngaio

Northland

Onslow

Paparangi Sunshine

Wadestown

Wellington City, South and East 3:30-5pm @ West Plaza Hotel 15 March Helen and Sharon C

Berhampore

Brooklyn

Hataitai Island Bay

Lyall Bay

Matairangi Miramar Central Miramar North

Newtown

Owhiro Bay

Piko Piko

Seatoun

Strathmore

Tai Tamariki Wellington South

Upper and Lower Hutt 3:30-5pm @ Silverstream Retreat

21 March Annette and Lynette

Birchville

Brown Owl Cottle

Doris Nicholson

East Harbour Heretaunga

Irmgard Ritchie

Petone

Petone Beach

Silverstream

Totara Park

Trentham

Upper Hutt

Wairarapa

3:30-5pm @ Carterton Event Centre

14 March Catha and Annette

Carterton

Greytown

Kahurangi Lansdowne

Manaia

Martinborough

Masterton West Meta Riddiford

South End

Una Williams

York Street

All-Day and Pasifika Kindergartens

6:30-8pm @ Toru Fetu Kindergarten

13 March Andy and Jane

Nuanua

Toru Fetū

All-Day Kindergartens

6:30 to 8pm @ ASB Arena

20 March Jane and Sharon C

Johnsonville

Tai Tamariki Owhiro Bay Matariki

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OMEP Draft Programme 2017