Early Learning Centre - Kaiapoi High School
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
& Early Learning Centre
Kia ora koutou,
Newsletter Term One, 2021
Wow! What a jam packed start to 2021 we have had. We
retained most of our students from 2020, as well as
welcoming some new students and their tamariki during the
first term. We began the year with a two night camp at
Pōhatu Marine Reserve in Flea Bay, Banks Peninsula. It was
an exceptionally rewarding experience for all those
involved. We were extremely lucky to be looked after by the
kind and caring staff at Pōhatu Tours. Cheyenne has
written an article to give a student's perspective of the
camp, so I won’t steal her thunder. But from a staff perspec- Kaiwhakahaere - Ruth Robertson
tive it was a fantastic way to begin the year and to
develop the whakawhanaungatanga between students and staff. One of my highlights was
listening to the students at night “sneaking” out of their tents to look at the stars together. It
was so rewarding to hear them genuinely connecting with one another and nature. The
students did a superb job in organising their tamariki to stay with whānau for two nights and a
big thank you goes out to all those who supported us to make the camp a success. I would
definitely recommend connecting with Pōhatu Tours if you are keen to explore and learn more
about the marine reserve.
More recently we have been participating in surfing lessons through Surfwise at Waikuku. Our
instructor Tammi Martin has been doing a wonderful job with students around risk analysis
management and supporting and developing their hauora. The ocean is often an undervalued
resource for us, as a transformative tool to enhance our hauora and reconnect with na-
ture. The students have been using this as an opportunity to bring their learning in the class-
room to life through the NCEA Risk Analysis Management standard. It has been really reward-
ing seeing how the students have pushed themselves out of their comfort zone and have
developed their skills.
Student quote, “it's so much fun. The instructor has this amazing energy about her. She just
makes you feel so safe and confident in the water. I was always really nervous about swimming
and was terrified of being in the sea. But with her, it's totally different. I have absolutely loved
surfing and never even thought that I would be able to get on the board. You just have to be
brave.”
An official warm welcome to Nicola McKinlay-Clark who joined us late in 2020 to take on the
role as Kaiāwhina. Nic brings a broad range of skills to the position with her experience in
counselling and background in the Early Learning sector of Education. She has been a
welcomed addition to the staff and has started in the position full of positive energy and has
already developed really strong relationships with both staff and students. Congratulations to
Hikatia Watson who has recently achieved Level One NCEA. The students have been working
really hard towards their NCEA and we look forward to celebrating many more successful
achievements this year.
Noho ora mai. Ruth
What’s been happening in Term 1 . . .
It has been a busy term for the Karanga Mai Scientists. The Level One students (Chey, Aleisha, Reign and
Katelyn) have been investigating the Carbon Cycle, and in particular the way humans have been affecting this
cycle. Chey and Aleisha have completed wonderful posters highlighting this.
The Level 2 Biologists, Hikatia, Reign & Tasi (on her first day!), spent a day at Corsair Bay’s rocky shore
clambering over rocks counting the marine animals. As well as finding lots of interesting creatures and collecting
lots of data, we of course shared delicious kai and enjoyed the beautiful surroundings. We also discussed how
the tamariki would enjoy playing and learning with their Mamas here in the summer.
Chey with her Carbon Karanga Mai Biologists Reign, Hikatia, & Tasi, data collecting at Corsair Bay
Cycle Poster with science teacher, Brigid Fyall
Level Three Biologist Nadia has spent 3 days at Orana Park studying the behaviour of kea. As well
as collecting hours of data, she has got to know the 3 kea well. They have taken
a liking to her shoes, head, hair, backpack ...
It has also been a privilege to hear from Nadia of the vet work her Grandfather,
Lindsay Frazer, was part of the in early days of Orana Park.
Nadia points to the tree and plaque in memory of her Grandfather
Surfwise Suring Lessons . . .
During Term 1 the students and staff participated in surf
lessons at Waikuku Beach. The wonderful Tammi Martin
from Surfwise was our instructor for four sessions. Every-
one thoroughly enjoyed the sessions, it gave us the chance
to connect with the ocean as a transformative environment
and to focus on enhancing our hauora. Back in the class-
room the students were able to use the sessions as part of
the Risk Analysis Management achievement standard. The
Student voice from the sessions was overwhelmingly posi-
tive:
“AMAZING! Tammi was so full of energy and so much hap-
piness. Such an awesome vibe to be around.”
“She was awesome, shakka shakka.”
“She was amazing and so helpful, she spoke clearly and
taught me a lot that I didn't know. I would love to surf
more.”
This is just the beginning of the surfing experience for our
students, we are looking forward to many more adventures
in the ocean with Tammi.
Pōhatu School Camp 2021 . . .
Pōhatu Camp - Cheyenne Boyd
Camp was at Pōhatu Marine Reserve in Flea Bay in February for three days. We drove an hour out of Christ-
church to get to Akaroa, where we had lunch. We transferred vans to Pōhatu Tours who drove us the last 30
minutes to Flea Bay. We camped in tents surrounded by natural bush in the valley. Some teachers slept in the
cottage which was built by Shireen Helps who owns the farmland with her husband.
The Helps Family run Pōhatu Tours, which is the largest Australasian Little Penguin Colony. There were six of us
students and five teachers and our activities were run by the Pōhatu staff. Halfway to Pōhatu we got out and
walked the rest of the way to the campsite. Then we set up the camp site. We put the tents up and we had a
gazebo, so we put that up for shelter. We cooked our dinner on the gas cookers, one team had nachos then the
other had pasta and mince.
On day two we built predator traps to catch stoats, ferrets, rats, and feral cats. The most challenging thing was
cutting the wire and making sure it was the right size. I felt pretty proud of myself for achieving something I
thought I couldn’t do. Later in the morning, we walked up the hill and changed some nesting boxes and moved
some from where the penguins did not nest. In the afternoon we went kayaking out on the beautiful blue
ocean. We saw white flippered penguins, seals and a pod of hector dolphins. It was very beautiful kayaking out
on the bay. The highlight was seeing the yellow eyed penguin, there are only seven in the Banks Peninsula. They
are about to go extinct, as they are the world's most endangered species.
On the last morning we got up, packed up our tents and belongings. Then we went into the valley and planted
some trees. All up, we planted twenty six trees which was the most they have ever had planted in one go!
We all had an amazing time but we were missing our babies at the end of it. Thank you to all the staff at Pōhatu
tours for teaching us about their important work and showing us the beautiful white flippered little penguins.
Thank you as well to the staff who organized this camp trip for all of the students, it was awesome to get away
and into the natural world.
Meet our new Kaiāwhina - Nicola Mckinlay-Clark . . .
Tēnā koutou katoa
Ko Maukatere te maunga
Ko Rakahuri te awa
No Rangiora ahau
Kei Swannanoa tōku kāinga ināianei
Ko Nicola tōku ingoa,
Hi there! I’m Nic and I am taking this
moment to introduce myself as the
new Kaiāwhina here at Karanga Mai
Young Parents College. I’m very happy to be here and have felt completely welcomed by the staff and stu-
dents so a big thank you guys for helping to make my start here so enjoyable.
I have had a soft spot for Karanga Mai ever since I completed a teacher placement in the Early Childhood
Centre in 2014. I loved the sense of community and the focus on whānaungtanga that is very evident
here. Some years may have passed, and my career moved to counselling, but to get the chance to work in this
special environment again is awesome and I feel very at home.
I have lived in North Canterbury pretty much my whole life, and have spent the last 18 years in Swannanoa
with my husband raising our two girls Zoe and Neve who are 15 and 14. We are big animal lovers and have a
menagerie of sheep, dogs, cats, bees, pukekos, running around our two acres, we even have my Mother living
in the back paddock (unlike the animals though, she has a house!).
I see my role as Kaiāwhina as a mixture of support, counsellor and advocate. I feel privileged to be able to walk
alongside our rangatahi as they navigate parenthood and empower themselves through their education. I
… News from the ELC
have learnt so much from the students already and can see the valuable contribution they do and will
continue to make for themselves, their whānau and their communities. How cool to be a part of their journey!
Until next time, I look forward to building on my whānaungatanga within the School, Early Learning Centre and
community as the year goes on…….ka kite āno
Nicola Mckinlay-Clark
Comings & Goings at KM ~ Term 1 Achivements: congratulations to the following students:
Nau Mai Haere Mai: Hikatia Watson: Gained NCEA L1
Reign & Kiana Brianan Thomsen: Excellence in L3 Statistics
Cheyenne & Archie
Sefulutasi & Fred
Aleisha Te Kapa: Excellence in L1 Science
Aleisha & Ryder Brianan Thomsen: Excellence in L2 PE Risk analasis management
Jessica & Nation Aleisha Te Kapa & Hikatia Watson: Merit in L2PE Risk analysis management
Emma & Skylar Nadia Frazer-Holland: Best attendance Term 1
Katelyn
Ka Kite Ano: Important Dates in Term 2:
Zoe & Timothy
Maureen & Lincoln Week 2: Friday 14 May - Careers Expo
Caitlin & Sophia & Poppy Week 7: Mates & Dates workshops commence
Teryn & Elva
Katana & Legend & Nature
Need to contact the school? Here are our details:
Karanga Mai Young Parents’ College & Early Learning Centre, Robert Coup Road, Kaiapoi 7630
Admin E: ypc@kaiapoi.school.nz Ruth Robertson E: r.robertson@kaiapoi.school.nz Phone: 03-3278386
Prize-Giving 2020 . . . Prize-giving was held on-site at Karanga Mai YPC in December last year. It was a smaller gath- ering than in past years, but none the less, the celebration was just as important and special. Friends and whānau gathered to celebrate and recognise the achievements and successes of our young parents and it was another wonderful occasion to be shared by our supportive community. L to R: Hikatia Watson; Jenny Hindon-Miller award, Caitlin Hutson; Matt Doocey Award, Maureen Callagher: Dan Gordon Award, Financial Capability & Awhina Awards L to R: Brianan Thomsen: Lynette Brice Award, English Award; Legend Wharerau: Rachel’s House Award, Gateway Award, Nadia Frazer-Holland: Biology Award, Maiya Stechman: Soroptimists Nth Cant Book Prize.
What’s been happening in Childcare . . .
Nā tō rourou, nā taku rourou, ka ora ai te iwi e
“with your food basket and my food basket, everyone we thrive”
Kia ora e te whānau
In true Karanga Mai style we have had an action packed term. As well as welcoming Whaea Nat as Kaiwhakahaere
to the ELC, new students to YPC and their tamariki (mentioned earlier in this pānui), we have welcomed from our
wider community; Ivey-Rose, Ryker’s little sister - Kymani-Lee, Ryder’s cousin - Esme, and Te Atāraupo, Te
Ngahurangi’s cousin. The support all our māmā and whānau have given your pēpi with settling in has been much
appreciated and will benefit them well into the future in the way they respond to change and new situations
Nau mai, tauti mai! This term I joined the whānau here at Karanga Mai – ko wai au?
Ko Tainui me Ngātokimatāwhaoruā nga waka
Ko Pirongia me Pūhi ngā maunga
Ko Waikato, ko Te Touwai ngā awa
Ko Waikato, ko Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa ngā iwi
Ko Ngāti Māhanga, Ngāti Koroki Kahukura me Ngāti Kāwau ngā hapū
Ko Te Papa o Rotu, Pōhāra me Karangahape ngā marae
Ko Nat Hape tōku ingoa, nō reira tēnā tatou katoa.
What a whirlwind of a term, I feel like I am still trying to find my feet, heoi, we will get there. I have been enjoying
getting to know and starting to develop relationships with kaiako, tamariki and whānau alike and there have been
lots of sandpit cook-offs and superhero initiations which have been crucial to my learning the lay of the land. We
have a good number of new pēpi/tamariki joining us and I would say my focus has been on getting to know our
tamariki, their whanau and how we might best akiaki and support their education and care needs. I look forward to
getting to know you all.
Life and learning in our hāpori (community)
Our tuakana have been really into superheros. Their play has continued over weeks and they have demonstrated
many awesome traits displayed by superheros; kindness, kotahitanga, unity, and pride to name a few. The tamariki
loved the superpowers their individually designed face masks gave them. For more about our ‘little heroes’check
out the visual display Whaea Cydnee has created in the centre.
Foraging for kai in our garden with Amanda has been a popular pursuit, with many tamariki eating grapes until no
more can be eaten. Picking fennel to taste and share and to add to hua rakau platters or to offer around as a
lunchtime treat.
Our pēpi have become passionate explorers navigating our environment with courage and coordination.
Educational times in childcare . . . Te wā Whānau The whakatauki that we have shared at the top of our pānui relates here, but also to other areas of learning and talks to the coming together and sharing knowledge, skills, time and conversations. We had a great time with whānau who joined us for shared kai and korerorero. It was a great opportunity to get to know each other, meet our tamariki’s friends, share quick and easy kai preparation ideas and try some new foods. We are so grateful for the awhi we had from our YPC kaiako, and our two māmā who cooked all the yummy kai we had. Feedback on the night included whānau saying that “their tamariki hadn’t eaten some of the foods before but really enjoyed what they had”, “they hadn’t ever tried offering some of the foods, could we do something like this again?” So all in all, a successful event. This event was inspired by the Ministry of Health’s guidelines for Reducing Food-Related Choking in Early Learning Services. We have a copy at the centre for anyone wishing to have a read. Our evaluation for improvement focus this year is nourishing our tinana through kai to support hauora and thriving tamariki and community. Next term we are planning to have community kai shared lunches on a Monday. The kai will be prepared with a focus on affordable seasonal and easy to prepare kai - that the tamariki will love!
Childcare continued . . .
Getting out and about in the community is an important and much loved part of our curriculum design.
Rongoā Māori: Haerenga this term have included a trip to Little River with Whaea Marlena to learn about
Rongoā Māori and to gather kawakawa which was then made into Kawakawa balm. Whaea Chris took
what she learnt from Marlena to make a supply for us to use in the centre and for our kaiako.
“Me mahi tahi tātou mo te oranga o te katoa” (Working together for the wellbeing of everyone).
Te Whare Pukapuka: Whaea Cyd took a rōpū of tamariki to the library for toddler time and they loved it.
Tamariki were really engaged with the karetao (puppets), pūrākau (stories), kanikani (dancing) and waiata
(music). Engaging with others in our local community teaches our tamariki that learning happens
everywhere. It also encourages tamariki and whānau to be contributing members of society using local
resources and amenities. “It takes a village to raise a child”.
A big thank you to Mark - the KHS care-
taker for fixing our much-loved egg
swing!
Te papa tākaro: After the Easter break we returned with only a handful of tamariki. Kaiako took this opportunity to
take the tamariki for a walk to the local park, get some fresh air, take in the sights and enjoy our local
environments. On their way back as a special treat Whaea Amanda got some hot chips to share at Karanga Mai.
Aroha atu, aroha mai
Kasey and Cint were thrilled to attend Kaiapoi Borough School assembly, to receive a $356 donation from a Mufi-
Day fund raiser, held by the school for Karanga Mai ELC. Such an awesome gesture by the tamariki of the kura in
the spirit of community. Kau tau mai te koha, gratefully received.
On behalf of all of the
kaiako, enjoy the term
break and we look
forward to an exciting
term two!
Ngā manaakitanga ki a
koutou,
nā Cint, nā Nat
Need to contact the Early Learning centre? Here are our details:
Karanga Mai Young Early Learning Centre, Robert Coup Road, Kaiapoi 7630
Phone: 03-3278315 Email : karangamai@wellbeingnc.org.nz
Team Leaders: Jacinta McInerney M:0278165388 Nat Hape M: 022 4747229
You can also read
