Welcome back Jude

We have had a familiar face back relieving at KIDSPACE this week. Jude first joined the KIDSPACE teaching team in March 2004, taking leave to have her daughter Mollie, returning to KIDSPACE, then leaving to have Aimee. The children have quickly warmed to Jude and have been enjoying the music, songs and dramatic play that Jude has been doing with them (yesterday they we going on a bear hunt along the stone path at the back of the hill).

Red Puppy Bikkie Day

Dear Whaanau

On Friday 30th March the Royal Foundation of the Blind is inviting New Zealanders to participate in this years Red Puppy Day. On this day KIDSPACE children will bake puppy shaped biscuits and learn more about the important role guide dogs play in the life of people who are blind. We are also holding a baking stall and would really appreciate any donations of yummy treats that we will sell for a donation, which will go towards the training of guide dogs.

Thank you
The KIDSPACE team.

0212 March Newsletter

Click on newsletter to enlarge

Congratulations Rie!

Congratulations to Rie who was capped at the EIT graduation ceremony at the Opera House in Hastings on Friday. Rie is the first KIDSPACE staff member to gain the new EIT Bachelor of Teaching (ECE).

We are having a special celebratory morning tea for Rie with the children this Monday (26/3). You are welcome to join us.
Irene

What some of us did on St Paddys Day!!

Recognise some of these people.

This is Rie, her brother, the Gallaghers and a workmate smiling because they've just completed the Triple Peaks Challenge at Havelock North on Saturday.
What a great day!
Bodies are a bit sore today though haha.
Check out the little green leprechaun at the front.

A new friendship forming

Lately I have noticed that Zoe and Lukah are beginning to form a new friendship. When I arrived on Tuesday morning, the girls were building with the blocks together, and I heard some of the conversations they were having. They were talking very nicely to one another, and showed good listening skills.

After morning tea that day, I saw the girls playing at the play dough table. Zoe has made lots of things with playdough before, and she was showing Lukah all the things you can do with dough.

It's nice to see Zoe and Lukah forming a friendship and enjoying interactions with each other.

Ainslee

Happy Paddy's Day from the KIDSPACE Team

Happy St. Patrick's Day from the KIDSPACE Team

Click on the links below:

part of the team

http://www.jibjab.com/view/gIXAuo0oHR9g2w7I

more of the team

http://www.jibjab.com/view/RLdllvRybFAR0wsGRfaC

St. Patrick's Day

This Saturday 17/3 is St. Patrick's Day.

In anticipation of this day, we will be doing some 'green themed' activities at KIDSPACE this Friday 16/3.

The teachers will be dressed in their wackiest green so children, don your green gear and join in the fun!

Josh's fishing tale

Josh went fishing with his Dad and Brayden and Oliver on the weekend.
This is Josh's description of his fish;

"There was a sharp thing up on hims head and it had a purple tummy and it was too splashy and it had black eyes"

Josh told me that he caught his fish with his fishing rod and the fish was really big. "This big" he demonstrates holding his arms wide. "It was a Rory" (A Parore - Black Snapper).

I asked Josh where he caught his fish and he told me;

"At this one where sand is and I just caught it. It was strong as. There were lots of boats".

Josh's Dad, Andy, showed me a photo on his phone of the fish Josh caught and it was big. Andy said that it was big enough to eat but Josh told him the fish was too splashy and to put it back.

Josh has a real interest in fishing and often looks through the fishing magazines we have at KIDSPACE pointing out the different fish, rods and fish hooks. He is off to try his luck again this weekend at the Fishing and Game Open Day.

Good Luck Josh

Rie

Musical chairs

Musical chairs has been a popular game for the children lately. This game is fun and provides children with numerous learning experiences. The children learn about spatial awareness and how to control their body so that they don't hurt or bump other children.

We also used our maths skills to count the number of children and number of chairs as we took each chair away.

Some of the younger children understandably had difficulty comprehending that they were out when they had no chair to sit on when the music ended but I overcame this by setting up chairs in a different place so that they could keep going. This worked well.

Noah ended up our overall champion closely followed by Anika.

Rie

Happy Birthday Paige

Today was a very special day at KIDSPACE. We were able to share Paige's 4th Birthday.

Paige brought in a birthday cake to share with all the children and teachers for morning tea. It was so delicious and looked great too.

We hope you had a great day yesterday and that you have lots of fun on your new scooter!!

Rochelle

Baby Photo Guessing Game.

Today Tamara put together a little guessing game for the children to guess whose baby photo's belonged to who.

It was very interesting to see the children try to guess who each of the baby photos belonged to. Poesy's name came up often, even though there was only one photo of her. However because Poesy is one of our youngest and many of the children have seen her as a small baby they assumed it must be her.

The following is a narration from Lexi as to what she remembered happened earlier today.

"What is that baby"? Tamara asked

"It's Poesy we told her, but it was other children"

"Her (Tamara) write children's names on the piece of paper so we remember names"

"Noah had blonde hair, it's not real hair. We should show Gemma"

"What is that photo of Tamara said lots"

"Paigy, we all knowed it"

This was a great activity for the children to see the differences and similarities between the baby photos and what each of the children look like now. This activity encouraged the children to look closely, to discuss their thoughts with one another, and to have a laugh and fun in a safe environment which fosters their interests and learning.

We did this activity as a part of national "Children's Day" with the theme "Treasure our Children".

Thank you to all of those who brought a picture of your beautiful child.

Photos chosen by Lexi

Narration By Lexi

Rochelle

A big welcome Seth and Whanau

Nau mai ki te tamaiti hou me nga whanau.

We would like to extend a warm welcome to Seth and his whanau who, have joined us at KIDSPACE.

Seth has settled in really well and as these photos show, is enjoying exploring his new environment.

Farewell for Ann

On Tuesday morning we had a farewell morning tea for Ann.

We have appreciated all the time, effort and commitment she has contributed to KIDSPACE over the last two years.

Ann has a job at a centre in Lake Tutira.

We wish you all the best with your new job. We know that you will do well where ever you put your hand and heart.

Thank you for being a part of the KIDSPACE team.

Rochelle

Happy Birthday Lexi

On Tuesday Lexi celebrated her 4th Birthday.

Happy Birthday Lexi, we hope that you had a special day.

Rochelle

Looking after squeesy

When I was cleaning out Squeesy's hutch, and replenshing his food and water, Ruby and Rionagh came over to help. "Can I pleeease hold squeesy?" asked Ruby. "Of course you can" I replied. "Go and grab a towel from the cupboard and we'll wrap him up in that". Ruby raced off to get a towel and returned ready to hold squeesy. I scouped him up in the towel and sat him comfortably on Ruby's knee. "We need some leaves to feed him!" exclaimed Ruby. "I'll get them, i'll get them" said Rionagh. So she ran off to the garden to find some greenery. Hannah saw what Rionagh was doing and began to help as well. Ruby held squessy with care and concern while the other children carefully held out leaves for him to nibble on.

Max and Jaz also came over to see squeesy and everyone was requesting a hold. Max had a turn holding on to squessy next. Max carefully watched what squessy was doing while the other children continued to feed him. I reminded Max to hold him firmly as he might jump out. The children laughed as they thought he might sneak away!

Rionagh had a turn holding squeesy next, but wanted to sit on my knee while she held him. Rionagh held a leaf right in front of his mouth, and he nibbled away very fast. She though this was so funny, and began telling the others. "He's hungry!!" Rionagh said. "He even bit my finger before!" said Ruby.

I had a lovely little group of children that showed genuine concern for squeesy and for looking after his needs. They knew they needed to hold him gently, and only rub his back, and not near his eyes. They recognised that he was very hungry as he was eating heaps of leaves.

After about 15 minutes he was starting to get restless so we decided to put him back in his hutch. Jaz carefully carried him over and I helped her to place him down in this hay.

Through experiences with animals, children develop empathy, care and concern and learn knowledge about how to care for animals (Te Whariki).

Ainslee

Reminiscing

0212 February Newsletter

0112 January Newsletter

Activities at KIDSPACE for Children's day 2012

Kia ora,

Activities at KIDSPACE for Children's day 2012

Please bring a baby photo of your children, and give to one of the teachers by Wednesday 7th March, as the teachers and children are going to play a guessing game with them!

The theme colours for Children’s day are purple, green, orange and yellow. Please dress your children up in these colours throughout the week (if possible).

Ainslee