We have had a busy first week back at school. Harakeke tamariki have been showing their creativity, learning new skills and making new friends during our play-based learning time.

We loved observing our Harakeke children displaying huge manawanui/ perseverance getting our vegetables ready for our Matariki soup. It's so great to have the opportunity to practise some of life's key skills - alongside skills of literacy, numeracy, the arts, science and other curriculum areas, in our learning space. Ka pai Harakeke children!

We had a lovely time in Harakeke when Tōtara and Raupō came to share some time with us. A time for tuakana/teina, meaning younger tamariki learning from older and the older tamariki learning from the younger.

At Lyttelton Primary School we pride ourselves on our creativity, teachers and students alike. Through play and their own choice of activities, children learn a great deal through experimenting and extending their ideas.

The children in Harakeke are all learning about 2d shapes in maths this week.

As part of being a 'Healthy Active School' we are including the PMP (Perceptual Motor Programme) in our daily routine and large ball skills for PE this term.

I was reading an article recently which said only 1 in 4 children believe they are valued as a resource by adults and are given significant roles in their community. The inference being that only 25% of our children know their place in the world and the other 75% are disconnected from their community and civic engagement.

An important part of Harakeke's role is to maintain relationships with our local preschools. This is always a fun and rewarding part of our job, and one we always get the children involved in.