Head Teachers Report Term 3 2014 Term 3 We welcome Janet Delaney into our teaching team this term. Janet is a permanent teacher and comes with great knowledge and experience. Her transition into the team and kindergarten has been positive and beneficial for all. Thank you all for making her feel welcome. Our programme this term is reflective of our assessment practices linking learning to our philosophy. Our Current Focus is: Manaakitanga: Respect, Whakawhitiwhitinga Kōrero: Communication, Auahatanga; Creativity, Kiritau: Confidence, Whakahoahoa: Being Friends, and Whakatau-hara: Problem-solving. Our Philosophy will be going through a reviewing process at the end of this year through to the new year. Parents will be asked to contribute their thoughts and ideas. This term we have completed our 6 monthly summaries for the morning children and have asked all morning and afternoon parents to set future goals which fit in with our philosophy. The feedback we have received so far has been collated and is now on display on our programme planning wall. Thank you to all the families who have completed this. It affirms the learning/teaching we are doing with the children is valued and relevant. Sign language and Te Reo are evident throughout each session. We are all still learning words in Samoan and Mandarin and hopefully Punjabi soon. This is to acknowledge the vast diversity of children within our kindergarten. • All drains are working, but will need cleaning out shortly. • The gate has to be monitored to ensure it is closed properly. At times the gate jams, and does not shut properly. This is because it is part of a larger gate system and it hangs loosely. Teachers ensure it is shut and it is regularly repaired. • Touch up painting was done in the last term break. • Jane has taken responsibility for keeping the Hazard list up to date. The list is sent to the Association every 10 weeks, and hazards are either managed or resolved. • Stage one of our outdoor area is now on the way to being completed. To finish off this stage, we will be adding compost, straw and plantings. • Janet is now our grants officer, and we have applied for Grants to complete stage 2 and 3 of the outdoor area. • Fundraising will also go towards plants and natural resources to enhance the natural environment. All policies are presently being reviewed and updated. These will be available shortly to view and are located at the parent library. If you wish to discuss any policy please feel free to do so. • Our welcome board changes daily, telling of upcoming events, reminders, parent helpers and daily events. • Newsletters go out approximately twice a term to families/whānau and our parent notice board is used by community groups and individuals sharing information. • We have a Facebook page with information relevant to the kindergarten. This is accessible to anyone who chooses to joins us on Facebook, and is updated regularly. • We are on the Rimutaka Kindergarten Association website. However with the recent reorganisation, Rimutaka Kindergarten Association has joined with the Wellington kindergarten Association and we have had a name change. Our new Association is now: Whānau Manaaki Kindergartens. The old web site is still current and will eventually be updated with the new name. Both names will lead to our kindergarten information. • Parents/family and whānau are involved as little or as much as they choose, for example; they can be a parent help on a roster, come along to meetings, get involved with fundraising, or just join us for the session when they can. We encourage families to become part of Doris Nicholson Kindergarten, in whatever way suits their needs. • We have Parent Group/Fundraising meetings once or twice a term. All Parents are encouraged to attend and get involved.
Posted on: Wed, 03 Sep 2014 19:23:24 +0000