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We have been super lucky with the weather so far this term, thank you to all of our kindergarten whanau (families) for ensuring you send your children with sunhats, plenty of changes of clothes and of course with sunscreen applied before arrival. Te Ra (The sun) has been plentiful and we are making the most of every opportunity we have outdoors (or indoors with the air-conditioning on some days!) Teachers have set our group planning for the term as a continuation from last terms planning. Children will be starting to talk about ‘whakauka’, this means sustained.

GROUP LEARNING GOAL, TERM 1, 2015 Children will be sustained in their play

- WHAKAUKA Indicator 1: Children will be engaged in experiences Indicator 2: Children will revisit and extend on these experiences. We have been very busy with water and sensory experiences, building, gardening, baking, and engaging in imaginative and/or role play with the children to help them reach this goal. KINDERGARTEN SPACES There are no spaces currently available. If you wish to increase your child’s days at any stage this year, or know of any new enrolments please see a teacher as we are operating a waiting list. The earlier you get on the list, the more chance you have of being able to get the days you are wanting. There is a government subsidy available to families to apply for

childcare assistance (see below for thresholds), please see Melissa for the forms if you qualify so you can claim the subsidy. To qualify for childcare assistance, the following income thresholds apply.

Number of dependent children Weekly household income thresholds

One less than $1,400

Two less than $1,600

Three or more less than $1,800

Panui February – Hui-tanguru 2016

Tena koe, Hello, Bula, Guten Tag

We welcome Billie

Bradfield and

Sadie Bradfield.

We farewell Heath

Little who is off to

Lawrence Area

School and Tom

Nichol, who we

will see now on a

casual basis.

Some reminders

o Please ensure you only let the child/ren you are responsible for out the gate and that it is closed behind you.

o If you have moved or changed any contact details including email address, please let a teacher know so we can keep our records up to date.

o If you have someone new picking up your child we need this updated on your child’s enrolment, as well as written on the sign in sheet.

o Remember to sign your children in and out on the sign in sheet at the entry. This is a Ministry of Education funding requirement.

o If you send your child with a yoghurt or jelly can you please provide a spoon.

o Feel free to join our mat times at the end and start of sessions, this is the time the children come together, learn together and concentrate as a group. Please help them achieve this important learning by using quiet voices, you are more than welcome to join us in the mat time room to sit with your child and join in.

o Please name all belongings (and keep anything precious at home)

A huge congratulations to Emma and Tony who were married on 5th February. Emma was a stunning bride and some of the girls at kindergarten have practised

being bridesmaids for her when Emma brought her wedding dress into kindergarten.

SELF REVIEW UPDATE The teachers association wide will be focussing on Transition to school as a self review focus for 2016. Our teaching team are also reviewing responsive practices for infants and toddlers as well as reviewing our outdoor environment. We will be seeking input

from our families during this process, so watch this space…and a teacher with a clipboard (hehe). ANNUAL PLAN UPDATE The Annual plan for 2016 has been set by the SOKA board. Teachers are now beginning working towards achieving these goals. This year we will be working on bicultural practices and using this lens in everything we do, transition to school, family involvement in their children’s learning journey, being visible in our community, WOW moments and bicultural concepts in children’s profile books. We are excited to be working alongside you all to achieve this. Kindergarten will be closed for Otago Anniversary day on Monday 21st March and for Easter Monday on 28th March. The last day of term will be Thursday the 14th April. We will be organising a family afternoon or evening before the end of term

Melissa, Amber & Emma

Parent help – A huge thank you to the

families that are supporting the teachers and

therefore their children by coming along to

do their parent help. It impacts hugely on the

teachers’ time being able to meet straight

after session and/or work on children’s

profile books.

LATE – If you are late picking up your

children this also impacts on teachers’ time,

meetings as well as updating children’s

profile books. The late fee set by SOKA will

be applied as the teachers are finding that

this is happening more frequently.