July/August 2023
Kia ora koutou,
It has been a busy July and August for us a Moa. Term 3 is nearly done and dusted! We are about to head into school holidays at the end of this month. If you are going to be away at all, please make sure you email through to the office.
We have had a few new families start since the last newsletter was sent out. So, a big welcome to all our new families. Everyone is settling in really well to Moa.
Covid: I’m feeling this hopefully will be the last time I write an update on this ‘’word’’. You would have seen this month; they have moved all the rules and restrictions around covid. Not having to isolate for seven days being the biggest one that affects us. They are recommending 5 days, if you do test positive. Like anything at Moa, we just ask that you keep your children off if they are unwell. We still have lots of tests in the office, so if anyone wants them or needs them, please come get some.
Well, the winter bugs have been out and about this month. We often find coming into spring where we get the odd warm day and back to cold, we often see a spike in colds and other winter bugs. This has been the case recently. I just want to say a hug thank you to everyone for keeping their off when their children not 100%. We’re nearly in spring, so hoping we start to see the decline in these bugs. Bring on Summer.
Wow, our Matariki Celebrations just get better and better every year. The team have really been working on their bicultural practices over the last few years and I think the growth is really shown each time we get to our Matariki celebrations. Thank you to everyone that came in for our Matariki breakfast, this was an early start, but what a wonderful event it was. The look on the children’s faces when the garden lit up with fairy lights was amazing. Some fabulous feedback, so we will be doing this again next year.
We have a new fundraising committee and focus at Moa. We would love to get Solar Panels on our roof, so this of course is a big goal, but something I feel Moa can chip away at. We have a few fundraising events coming up, so please make sure you support them. Being a non-profit preschool, fundraising is a big part of what we do. While covid was floating around, we made a call to step back from this, while events were not as easy to do. But we are now back in full swing with a big goal to reach. With the disco next Thursday, please can families fill out the helpers list in the foyer. Siblings are of course always welcome, just a reminder it is a preschool disco. Make sure you bring lots of change for the shops. We have a small float, but won’t be able to change lots of big notes. Each year we have our Calander fundraiser. The teachers are busy getting these done as we speak. Once they are done, they will be displayed in the foyer. We really want to get these sent off quickly this year, so they will be back in time, to be sent overseas for Christmas presents. Once they are up, we will send out information around prices and dates orders need to be back in by.
This year our team has been doing work on an internal evaluation around ‘’Cultural, Language and Identity.’’. As part of this work, we have been reviewing some of our work and how we of course can do better in this area. One of these is our whanaungatanga page that goes in the start of each child’s profile book. Through the review process, we found that not many were filled out, some were partly filled out and once the information was gathered it didn’t go any further. We have looked at this and come up with a new sheet. We would love if all our families could fill this out. Our vision is to have this information at the start of each book and their key teacher uses this while planning for your child. We are also wanting our learning environment to reflect the cultural language and identity of all our families at Moa. So, watch this space, once they have emailed out the new sheet, I might even have chocolate fish the first person who brings them back.
Through this process, I interviewed a lot of our 3 and 4 years old around the things they do with their family, that they would like to see at Moa. As you can imagine the feedback was hilarious, but we also got some fabulous ideas. It made us think of ideas on how we can do this more. We are also wanting to connect with the wider families, get back to having more events and having family members come in. So, if any grandparents or family members would like to come in, read stories, share their culture or passions, we would love to have you in. If anyone has any questions around this, please come and see me.
I know a lot of our families love to get up the mountain for skiing at this time of the year. We hope the snows stays around a little longer for you all. Please make sure to send in some videos or photos of your children.
We will be saying goodbye to our Lovely Dawn in the office next month. We of course will all miss Dawn. She has been the face of Moa in the office for the last 4 years. But we wish her all the best on her next adventures. We have started the process of replacing her. Dawn is being super flexible on her last day, making sure it works with us and the next person. So, I’ll keep you updated when this is.
Enjoy the last few days winter, bring on spring.
Nga mihi maioha
Hayley
Welcome to our new families:
A big welcome to Henry, Iggy, Eddie, Quinn
They are all settling in well and making the most of their time here.
We said goodbye to Mia, Jayme and Winston this month. They have started this primary school journey. We wish them all the best.
Staff news:
Margie and Emily headed off to the ECE conference in Wellington last week. They have come back with lots of great ideas, we are looking forward to this been brought into the centre.
Reminders:
Lunch boxes: You have most probably noticed the very full lunchbox shelf in the preschool. We would really appreciate it if all children’s lunch boxes, drink bottles and food contain could be named, as well as food that needs to go in the fridge. There is a permanent marker attached to the basket for the food that needs to be kept in the fridge. Thanks.
Nut Free Zone: Moa Kids is a “nut free” zone. Lately we have been noticing a lot of nut products coming in cashews, almonds, peanut butter sandwiches etc. Please can you remember that we are a nut free zone when you are making your child’s lunch.
Lost Property: We have a large amount of lost property. Please come and have a look to see if the treasures and clothing belong to your family. The lost property is · in the foyer. Please name all clothing that comes to preschool as this really helps us to return clothing and hats back to the correct person. Thanks.
Show and tell: Each child who attends the preschool room has a show and tell day. This is the day where they can bring in something special to show their peers. We know lots of our friends like to bring in toys and often it is the same toy from the week before. We are not saying no toys, but if parents could get the children to have a think of something different each time, this will help their child when they get up to talk about their “show and tell”. Remember that you are most welcome to email in any photos of what they have been getting up to over the weekend. This goes down really well and the children normally have lots to say about it. Can you please remember to take home your child’s show and tell item? The basket seems very full.
Moved House? We know many of you have recently moved house. Can you please ensure you have updated Dawn or myself in the office so we can make sure our system is up to date?
Nappies: Some parents choose to bring a bag of nappies in for their child and we let the families know when they are running low by writing on the daily role sheet. Please make sure when you see “please bring nappies” that you bring them in as soon as you can. We have emergency nappies if children run out, but these need to be replaced if used. We unfortunately are not in the position to be supplying nappies to children.
Preschool Door: Please can all families make sure you are shutting the preschool door behind you. 9am and 3pm are a busy time with children and families coming in and out. If all families can please make sure there is a parent with each child it would be much appreciated.
Bread bags: Please bring in any used bread bags for the preschool. These are used for toileting.
Governance Committee
Next Governance Committee meeting is Monday 18th September 2023. This will be held here at the centre at 7.30pm.
Preschool News
Tena koutou whānau, we have been very busy in the preschool this term with children heading off to school and many 5th birthdays! We have had an amazing Matariki celebration where learning has been captured in many ways. The Tamariki have really enjoyed learning about all the different stars as well as learning about Hautapu, the use of Hautapu is to replenish the vitality of Matariki and release the dead stars before the rising sun. Hautapu can be celebrated and acknowledged by sharing kai together through a gathering such as a Hangi, where we took a group of Tamariki to Redcliffs school. We were very lucky to have a lovely boy Charlie tell us all about the Hangi and how it is prepared. The Tamariki were able to ask questions and see the bonfire. After this we then went to the staff room and watched as they were preparing all the Kai ready to put in the ground for the Hangi.
Hautapu was also celebrated through our Matariki PJ day we had at preschool, The Tamariki loved being able to make a special taonga, go on a whetu hunt and be able to sing songs and share Kai together and this is essentially what Matariki is all about, coming together as a wider whānau.
We are wrapping up our project on social and emotional competency and are looking for a golden thread of learning in the classroom to see what our next project may be, so watch this space. Tamariki have been really enjoying setting up their own learning such as the equipment outside, Cara has been really enjoying being in charge of this and has created some amazing obstacle courses with support from Kaiako.
We have also had our younger four-year-olds wanting to be Tino rangatiratanga (leaders) such as designing their own mat times and being in charge of this. It has been very interesting and entertaining supporting this with the Tamariki. When supporting Tamariki in their interests such as this, it builds on their self-worth and confidence and teaches children about leading others in positive ways.
We have made great use of the old Redcliffs school playground and there have been many trips to this. Tamariki love trips and we do our very best to make sure all children get to be a part of this when we can. The Tamariki are very excited about the upcoming disco and there are a few questions from the Tamariki about “How will we make it dark,” “Is there going to be a shop” And yes it will be nice and dark we have our ways of making it perfect for disco dancing, and Tamariki love a good shop, so bring your change there will be plenty of goodies on sale.
We also had a fantastic visit from police officer Meg. She comes to see us every year and helps the children to understand how to keep themselves safe. We also got to sit in the police car and at the end of the visit officer Meg gave us all a stamp of a special police dog. The Tamariki really enjoys officer Meg coming in and to see a real-life police officer at Moa. This deepens their thinking and understanding about important people in the community. On this note parents, grandparents etc are more than welcome to come into preschool anytime and share with the Tamariki any special skills and languages you may have, as well as just spending time in the environment. We really want to feel more connected to the community and bring whānau and friends to supports this.
Remember your Kaiako are here to support you and your whānau and please do not hesitate to come and have a chat anytime about your child’s needs. We are always keen to communicate about your wonderful Tamariki and their fantastic learning here at Moa.
Nga mihi
Shay
Nursery News
Over the last month our tamariki have loved baking. We have had scones, biscuits and muffins on the menu. The children love sharing this out at kai time. This is a great sensory experience, tasting and smelling the ingredients and feeling the different textures.
A big welcome to Henry and his whānau. We’re looking forward to you settling in and getting to know you all better.
Teddy has almost completed his transition into the preschool room. He is very excited to spend time with his old nursery friends and his big brother Fergus.
Mack has now begun this exciting new chapter in his moa journey. He is really driving his own transition, not wanting to head into the nursery in the morning, but then when he sees something exciting happening in the nursery, he is happy to head back. So, he is making the best of both worlds at the moment.
As we have had a lot of older tamariki nearly at the transition stage we are ensuring we have a number of challenging learning experiences set up each day. We have been setting up a climbing challenge and providing ball skills activities, throwing, kicking and even catching.
Dolphin Club
It was so lovely to have Estella in to share their Chinese culture with us. We learnt so much, so a big thank you.
Learning Term 3 Dolphin Club
· Chinese/Mandarin Language: colours, numbers 1-10, days of the week, and greetings. Animal flash cards.
· Exploring our local community looking for Chinese words and symbols.
· Looking on the globe where China is.
· Te Reo Māori, waiata, karakia, place names.
· Emotional regulation: Alpha breaths, breathing exercises and have extended this by adding new alpha breathing exercises.
· Matariki and naming stars, waiata songs and making a mural for Matariki.
Pumpkin and oat cookies
Ingredients
· 1 cup pumpkin, cooked and mashed
· 2 egg whites, beaten until frothy
· 1 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
· 1 1/2 cups plain flour
· 1 tsp bicarbonate soda · 1 tsp cinnamon
· 1/2 tsp nutmeg
· 1/2 tsp ground cloves
· 3 cups rolled oats
· 1 cup raisins
Method
1
Preheat oven to 180°C. Line a baking tray with baking paper and set aside.
2
In a bowl add the flour, bicarbonate soda, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, oats and raisins. Mix well to combine.
3
In a separate bowl, using a spoon, mix the egg whites and pumpkin.
4
Pour the pumpkin mix into the dry ingredients and stir to combine.
5
Drop tablespoonfuls onto the tray with 3cm between each.
Contact Us
Centre Manager: Hayley Flanagan
Centre Administrator: Dawn Critchley
Address: Main Road, Redcliffs, Christchurch 8081
Email: admin@moakids.org.nz
Phone: 03 384 1910
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