Each newsletter we will provide an explanation of some of the words and phrases that we use here at LWG. This week: KAI and CONNECT breaks.

Connect and Kai times are our breaks. 

Kai Time speaks for itself. Kai (the Maori word for food) takes place between 12:00 and 12:30pm. During fine weather, our learners sit on and around the seated areas outside the Hall and Grove.  In wet weather, the children eat in the learning landscapes. Two staff members are present for supervision at this time and support our learners to eat their kai (food) before they are released to play.

In addition to Kai Time, our learners have two other breaks: morning connect (10:30-11:00am) and afternoon connect (1:30-1:50pm).

We use the term connect because our children are encouraged to make connections with students from their own and other whanau groups at this time. The idea of making connections is fundamental to our vision and values and this is included in our belief statement: 'We believe that by providing a landscape of possibilities, people will connect and ideas will flow in challenging, collaborative and creative ways'.

At Lemonwood Grove, staff supervising during connect and kai times are referred to as connect teachers. Staff are actively supporting our learners at these times, coaching to solve problems, talking, questioning, catching up, and building relationships - in a word: connecting.