Pongo pānui/September Newsletter 2024
Kia ora koutou,
Just like that, we have nearly finished term three and coming into our term on the year.!
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.
Lots of things have been happening at Moa in the back ground, making a very busy few months for management. We are busy interviewing in the background and will let you know once we have appointed our next two superstars to join the preschool team.
Thank you to everyone that came and supported the annual Moa Kids Disco. Always a favourite activity on the Moa Calander for our children and it certainly didn’t disappoint.
We will have final numbers on what we made very soon; a big thankyou goes out to the fundraising committee for putting on another fabulous event.
We are heading into the school holidays; can families please make sure they have emailed in if you are going to be away. Even if it is a last-minute day off, if you make sure you email through in the morning, it would be much appreciated. This helps us work our staffing and if we need relivers.
Last term we are had a teacher only day take our entire team to the Early Childhood conference, which was in Christchurch this year. We are so lucky to have a governance committee and family community to support the growth of all of us. We had the best time and learnt so much. We were so honoured to be nominated for Community Based Centre of the year, and myself for contribution to ECE. We may not have come away with the sliver wear, but it was so nice to celebrate all together.
We are hoping to see the return of Emily next term, but will keep your posted. She is and doing well, but with the role of a teacher being hands on, it is very important she recovers for her return to Moa.
It is that time of the year when we are planning end of year dates and Xmas parties. The children’s Xmas party will be on Thursday 5th December 4pm- 5.30/6pm. We will do our annual Xmas picnic in the park. Details to follow closer to the time, but basically it will be the same layout as last year. Melaine Poppins will also but the children’s entertainment.
Our closing down dates and details are: last day for Moa for 2024 is Friday the 20th at 3pm and reopen as normal on Monday 6th January at 8am. We do ask if you know you will be away to let us know. Then we can short our staffing at our end.
The spring bugs have been out and about this month and I feel they are never ending. We often find in spring where we get the odd warm day and then back to cold that we often see a spike in colds and other winter bugs. This has been the case recently. I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone for keeping their children off when they are not 100%. I am hoping with summer now upon us we start to see the decline in these bugs. Covid has certainly changed the way bugs tend to float around. Bring on Summer.
Before the end of year October/Nov I’ll be taking some annual leave, so will let you know closer to the time. Rachael and Shay of course will be here if you need anything when I am off.
Remember my door is always open. My personal Moa email is Hayley.flanagan@moakids.org.nz if you would prefer to send an email straight to me.
Nga mihi maioha
Hayley
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 containers 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.
· 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. We have had children start this year with high allergies to nuts.
· 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.
· Away sick: It is that time of the year where winter bugs are upon us. Moa families are always so good and keeping their children off when they are not 100%. This is a good reminder coming into winter to please email or call in the morning if your child is off sick.
· New person picking up: As part of our policy at Moa if anyone new is picking up your child and they have not been in before, even though they are on the pickup list and your children know them, we will ask them for ID on that first pick up, and match it to the name you have given. This is of course for safety. Please email through and keep us informed if there is going to be someone new coming in.
· 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.
· 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.
· Bread bags: Please bring in any used bread bags for the preschool. These are used for toileting and come in very handy.
· Going away on holiday: Please make sure you have emailed through these days. Moa gives each child three weeks a year Holiday fees, which is 50% off the normal rate. We need to be emailed and informed to put this discount on.
Governance Committee
The next Governance Committee meeting will be Monday 21st. This will be held here at Moa.
Preschool News
Wow what a busy term we have had!
We had a wonderful time connecting to the Olympics and we are very grateful to the whānau that were able to come and give time teaching the tamariki about who they were and being able to share the skills they have with the tamariki. Overall, this was a huge success and there were many valuable skills and learning that came from this mini project.
We have been in the process of looking into what the purpose of dolphin club and how this aligns with our values at moa. We have been completing an emergent evaluation around this and we have gathered a lot information from Whānau. We have also check in with Kaiako from the schools in our area and what their expectations are around transitioning to school.
We feel that the dolphin club is for the “Project” with an element of school learning such as literacy, numeracy and self-help skills, with a big focus on social and emotional competence. We of course teach this all throughout the centre , but the dolphin club space is a place where the four-year-olds can extend on their learning through project-based learning.
So, with this in mind Sharleen, Terehia and Margie are coming up with what this will look like at Moa, they are working on a vision and will be setting up a pamphlet for whānau, as well as a display on the wall.
So, watch this space as there will be more information to follow from this.
As you know being a community-based centre, we love whānau to come in and share their skills and time with us, so if there is anything thing that you would like to come and do with the tamariki please let us know as this helps to build connections to the community.
With the warmer months coming we will be getting out and about into the community on the bus and there will be plenty of opportunity for your Tamaiti to go on these, keeping in mind the process of building up to big trips is:
First tamariki learn to go to the field, then to the library and then once they have built confidence up with walking, listening, and holding hands we then look to going on the bus for short trips and then as time passes, we can go into town. Our trips into the community are often purposeful and align with the current project
Our project: Our project at Moa has come from the interest of the tamariki as they have been very interested in insects in the playground, digging in the dirt and lots of inquiry and questions, so you will begin to see this interest displayed on the walls and within the learning stories as well as connecting to the community.
With the warmer weather we will be outside in the sandpit and there will be lots of water play, so please pack plenty of named of changes of clothes.
That’s all for now from me
Nga mihi
Shay
Nursery News
We have settled in a few new tamariki this term. A very warm Moa welcome to Marigold, Alfie and Indie to the nursery family.
Willow, Raffaella, and Lennox have completed their transition into the preschool and are enjoying their new learning opportunities. Ida, Autumn, Ollie and Jack have all started their transition process into the preschool room.
With the warmer weather the tamariki have been experiencing some great sensory activities in the trough; with warm bubbly water, which turned into a blue washing machine activity. Also, messy play such as gloop and painting in the troughs as well. All these learning experiences are great sensory opportunities including smell, touch and their favourite tastes!
The tamariki have also been enjoying the variety of dress-up’s on offer. They love to try out the different hats and fairy wings. Through this creative play tamariki are extending their imagination and developing ideas and making connections with the wider world.
This is shown through their creative play in the family corner and the open ended and imaginative play materials, such as teapots, cups, saucers and baskets.
Our Xmas afternoon tea party will be Thursday 12th December 2.00pm -3.30pm.
Dolphin Club
Learning Term 3 Dolphin Club
We have been relooking at Dolphin club over the last few months, so watch this space. But with it starting back up, here a few things the children have been focusing on
· Project: Bugs
· Emotional self-regulation, breathing exercises
· Stations
Sushi sandwich
Ingredients
Method
3 slices of whole wheat sandwich bread
1 Tbsp mayonnaise
1/2 cup shredded chicken (leftover roast is perfect)
1/2 cucumber, cut into long, thin sticks
1 avocado, pitted and quartered
· 1. Cut the crusts off each slice of bread and roll out as thin as possible with a rolling pin. Place the long side of the rolled out bread closest to you. Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on each slice of rolled out bread.
· 2. Thinly spread one third of the shredded chicken onto half of the bread lengthwise. On top of the chicken, arrange some of the cucumber sticks and avocado making sure not to over pack the roll (a little goes a long way).
· 3. Starting at the side closest to you (the filled end) tightly roll and press to seal into a roll (dab a bit of mayonnaise across the end of the roll to act as a glue sealing the roll).
· 4. Cut the roll into four even pieces and repeat with remaining bread and chicken.
Tips
· Swap out the whole wheat bread for any of your favourite rye, white, or grain breads!
FAQs
· How long does this last in the refrigerator?
· These rolls are best eaten fresh! But can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
· Why does my bread keep ripping when I roll it?
Different breads hold together better or worse based on how thinly you roll them out. Play around with different brands and see which type works best for you!
.