Growing our minds, community connections, language and our playgroup

Growing our kai and our minds

In the Early Years Whānau Centre (EYWC), we have been focusing on Matariki - Māori New Year. We have been growing our minds by learning about the nine stars of Matariki and how they link to foods. We can grow root vegetables such as spinach, silver beets and pumpkin, and above the ground, such as fruit from trees. We visited our Community Garden in Sumner and saw many different fruit and vegetables growing. We even saw the enormous pumpkin! We planted seedlings to grow and produce kale, broccoli, and cauliflower. Our efforts resulted in making and eating the yummiest pumpkin soup from one of the pumpkins grown at the Community Gardens.

Our Monday group visited the Ko Taku Reo Hagley Provision to celebrate Matariki to connect with our older ākonga. We made Manu (bird) feeders to hang from the trees at home and watch birds and iced yummy matariki star biscuits. Thanks to teacher Bryanna and student Amber-Rose for supporting us during our visit. We have been growing our minds and learning about using Finger-spelling to support Literacy skills for our Deaf and Hard of hearing children. Kyla Cockrem presented a parent workshop on how to use Finger-spelling to support children's literacy skills. There is wonderful research to support using finger-spelling for your Deaf or Hard of hearing child to learn spelling patterns and letter sounds.

Growing our community connections

Our Tuesday and Thursday groups had the privilege of visiting the new Sumner Fire Station on Wakefield Ave. Volunteer Fire Fighters Rae and Paul showed us all the bells and whistles of the new fire station, let us check out the fire truck, and talked to us about fire safety so we could make an emergency plan for each of us at home. Thank you to Rae and Paul for taking the time to talk with us!

Growing our Playgroup

We are growing our EYWC service. On 12th June 2023, we were excited to start a new Monday and Wednesday Playgroup at Prebbleton Plunket, 3 William Street, Prebbleton. That means whānau will more easily access the Playgroup and enjoy the fun. Tuesday and Thursday Playgroup will continue at the Early Years Whānau Centre, 38 Truro Street, Sumner. If you would like to join the Playgroup, please get in touch with tina.harrison@kotakureo.school.nz
text or phone 027 228 0470
or speak with your AoDC, who will support you with visiting the Playgroup.

Also, under the guise of growing our service, our trained teacher of the Deaf and Early Intervention Teacher, Lydia Heard, is continuing her work supporting Broomfield and Cotswold Kidsfirst Kindergartens every Thursday. If you are interested in your child co-enrolling at one of these kindergartens, Lydia can work alongside your child, their peers, and teachers to support engagement, language, and learning. Please get in touch with Lydia for more details at lydia.heard@kotakureo.school.nz

Welcome to Harmony and Wyatt and their whānau, who have joined our Playgroup. Also, welcome to Bonnie Caesar, who has joined the Ko Taku Reo team as an NZSL Tutor. Bonnie will support our NZSL journey every Monday with conversation and activities at the Prebbleton Playgroup.