“I am the resurrection, and the life. Anyone who believes in me, even though he dies, will live again.”
John 11:25
Kia Ora Whanau and Families
Summer has gone, Autumn is here and Jack Frost is waiting around the corner! Time is flying.
I hope that you and your children have all enjoyed the events, activities and programmes we have provided so far this year. These are all planned to promote your child's learning and their social, emotional and physical wellbeing. Please continue to read and add comments to your child's Profile Book. You know your child the best, so please partner with your child's teacher about your child's strengths, interests and learning wishes, so we can continue to plan for children's learning needs.
Please send your family’s selfie photos in so we can add them to KidzWay’s family tree - the kids love looking at them. (Sorry for nagging!)
Robbie Finlayson (Chairperson of the KidzWay Trust) will be sending out a newsletter shortly updating you on the results from the parent consultation night and the decisions made about the Sun Protection and Food Procedures.
Enjoy the school holidays :)
Nga Mihi, Denise (Head Teacher), Josanne, Michelle, Alison, Nicky, Sally, Fiona, Vanessa and Kay (Teachers) and Kath (Administrator)
Education Review Office (ERO) Findings
As you will be aware, KidzWay was reviewed by ERO at the end of October 2020 under their new review method. After our feedback to them and a couple of requests to change their wording, we now await for the findings from the confirmed report to go online. We passed all the Akanuku - Licensing Criteria requirements. Regarding the next level Akarangi - external and internal evaluation for ongoing improvement; in the section Outcomes for Learners and the two sections on Learning Conditions we were judged as Whāngai - Establishing. For the three sections on Organisational Conditions we were judged Whakaū - Embedding. It was a challenging process for us all, however rest assured, providing great learning outcomes across the Early Childhood Curriculum Te Whāriki in a safe, welcoming and relevant place is our goal, and ERO’s new methods can only continue to sharpen our work. We will let you know when our review is published.
Teacher Updates
It is with sadness, but with our love and blessings, that we accept Josanne Megaw’s resignation as she retires and moves to Geraldine. Josanne has been at KidzWay from the day the Centre opened back in April 2008. She will be greatly missed and leaves a big hole to be filled. Her last day will be on Tuesday 4 May.
You may have noticed Taylah Dawson-Tait in the kitchen and helping us with general duties around the Centre. We have employed Taylah as a teacher aide, freeing up teachers from these duties to concentrate on the increasing number of two-year-olds filling vacancies in the Centre.
Ngahere Explorers
Ngahere Explorers will be held on Tuesday mornings next term, starting on Tuesday 4 May.
There will be a short meeting for parents of Tuesday four-year-olds who have not been involved in this programme before, at 9:00am on Tuesday 27 April. Please contact Kath if you have any questions.
Fundraising $$$$$$$
With no significant increase in funding from the Government for 10 years now, and ongoing increasing costs, KidzWay would appreciate fundraising support. We are thankful to a small group of parents who have been suggesting fundraising ideas and who are also willing to help run them. We hope that you will support these opportunities as they present themselves, and help us to continue to run a well resourced and cared for Centre for your children. Also if you have any ideas and can run a fundraiser for us, please see Denise.
PS: Look out for the First Aid Kit fundraiser - available soon.
Thank You…your contribution is greatly appreciated
Harliwich Contracting for their generous $1000 donation towards trips and outings.
The seven families who gave their time over last Friday afternoon/evening and Saturday morning to the KidzWay Working Bee. We certainly knocked our gardens, shrubs, plastic curtains and some drains back into shape. If any one is still keen to spray and water blast the concrete around the Centre, please see Denise. Thanks.
Jeanette Van Woerden for the huge effort in making the staff’s new uniforms.
Shaun McPherson for fixing/welding our bookcase.
Liz and Penny from Vet South for sharing about how to care for a dog and how to approach dogs you don’t know. They also brought their own dogs with them - it was fascinating watching the dog who was deaf perform his many tricks by sign language commands.
Dates for your Calendar:
Monday 26 April: Anzac Day (observed) - CENTRE CLOSED
Tuesday 27 April: Ngahere Explorers Parent Meeting, 9:00am
Tuesday 4 May: Ngahere Explorers starts for Term 2
“Our children become secure in the quality of their own character when they are given strong guidelines for right and wrong.”
Ian and Mary Grant from Growing Great Families