The end of another year

Hi 

It is hard to believe but we have made it to the end of a busy, eventful and challenging year. We have also come to the end of our COI research contract and it is all over - bar the completion of the final report. We have until February to finish our 11 chapters and after the holidays will be back into it with a vengeance to get it ready for publication on the Ministry of Education website in early 2009.

It has been just the most fantastic experience and we have all enjoyed it immensely. Our research has highlighted how significant relationships are in the transition process and our newest project, with buddies from school visiting and making friends with kindergarten children, just reinforced this finding. 

A relieving teacher once commented that we are the only kindergarten she knows where the teachers go on holiday together - and go 'on holiday' we have, often, as we attend and present at conferences. These have been working 'holidays' but have meant that we have met and talked with teachers and these discussions have also contributed to the research. It has been an absolute privilege and delight.

As the contract has ended we have had to say goodbye to our COI reliever, Avis. She joined us at Ambury Farm for our end of year family celebration barbecue, which gave us the opportunity to thank her formally for her contribution to the research projects. By being there and releasing us to research, write, visit school she has made the process easier without massive disruption to the children's programme at kindergarten. The barbecue was a very successful and enjoyable way to see out the kindergarten year and to thank those that have made a difference in our lives. Those that managed the fundraising, the gardens and the working bees, the little extras that are needed to keep the kindergarten tidy, inviting, interesting and well resourced.  We say thankyou to you all.

We would like to say thankyou also to all that have been involved in our COI project, especially the teachers - at our local school, over New Zealand and internationally who all participated, talked about their work and made us feel welcome.

Have a very Merry Xmas and a well earned rest and all the very best for 2009. 

Carol, Pat, Jemma, Avis and Ingrid.

The library visit to hear our school "buddies"

Hi 

This week we have been very lucky to have an ex-parent with us who is beginning training to be an Early Childhood teacher in the new year.

He has practically been mobbed each morning as the children arrive eager to tell their news and take up conversation with him. It illustrates just how important men in the Early Childhood field are - as role models portraying a caring and connected male     figure.

An example of amazing competent and capable learning occurred when a child was stumped when he could not find the necessary single measure size of Cuisinaire. Instead of giving up he searched around and then improvised by turning a piece on its end creating the right single length piece. Fantastic!!

We visited the local library on Wednesday to see and hear our

 school "buddies"who were singing Christmas carols to the local senior citizens. Our children have been visited weekly by a group of year 5 children from Mangere Bridge School to team up and build relationships with those transitioning to the school. It has been a huge success with our children waiting patiently for Wednesday and the buddy visit day. To see them at the library was lovely, 

they sang beautifully and the kindergarten children sat mesmerised listening intently. Thanks to Loryn and the library staff for making us welcome and making room for us all.

Only one week to go now till the end of term. We are looking forward to a break but always feel a little sad that we will not see some of the children as they move on to school and the rest of the children for a whole month. We are usually part of their everyday existence and not hearing what they are up to for so long seems strange.

After the farm

Hi 

On Tuesday after the farm visit the children all drew their impressions of the visit. Our favourite horse Cameron figured largely in the art work - he is always a big hit. The record of the visit by the children went into each of their portfolios and gave us a very good idea of what was important learning for them. 

The drawings are an indication of just how valuable the farm is as a local resource. Some families visit often but others rarely or never so we enjoy this farm experience on several levels. The children are able to revisit this experience in their portfolios - and they do ALL THE TIME. We find children looking at portfolios in all areas of the kindergarten especially comparing the stories and looking for themselves in another child's book.

The highlight of the week has been practising skipping. This is an extremely difficult skill to master and takes lots of practice and co-ordination. We like to present challenges to children that they understand are hard and need to try and try again - all part of learning - and mastering skipping a rope while it is turned is just this kind of task.

The other learning experience that has been great fun in each session is the Haka - instigated by a child in each case, who has watched rugby and come to kindergarten eager to show us how it is done. Fortunately we have the Haka DVD produced by Go Tuatara and we have showed this to the children and they have followed or joined in and practiced with enthusiasm. "There is two rugby songs" says T " the haka and God defend NZ " and this child chooses one or the other to sing each night before bed. He is very competent at the Haka and led the others with appropriate actions.

Home and Away

Hi. 

We have all been alittle like yoyos in the last two weeks, coming and going thanks to our relievers Avis, Mel and Pauline (photos by Andre - a child - in charge of the camera that day).

Pat and Jemma went off to Palmerston North to present and attend NZARE for four days and Carol popped up north to Paihia for a day to present at the Jumbo Literacy day for 57 schools. 

Well popped might be a little of a misnomer as it took 5 hours on a bus to get there as the North flights were cancelled due to the  horrible windy wet weather. While we were away we managed to go visit other kindergartens (always such a treat) with Pat and Jemma going to Takaro, in Palmerston North and Carol to Kerikeri kindergarten. Thanks to the welcoming and generous teachers who were happy to share their environments and practice. Both were delightful and we have talked amongst ourselves and made changes already. Anne Meade tells us "teachers talking to teachers " is a very powerful aspect of COI and for us it is equally powerful as we are inspired by other teachers and settings.

At "home" work and play continued with gluegun construction, lightbox design, investigating garden worms - different to our mealworms living in the perspex science box inside - and balance practice outside all the activities of choice in the last two weeks.

Today has been our trip to the farm. Ambury Farm is very close to us and we can just walk down the road. It was very uncertain weather wise as we left kindergarten and started to rain lightly at first as we walked. The farm ranger, Janine (a kindergarten parent) was there to meet us and after morning tea - a must-do first - we donned big coats (looking like little hobbits) and went off to watch the milking and feed the animals. It is fantastic for our city children to be able to touch and feed farm animals. Zane commented as we came back in the door to kindergarten "oh what a great trip" and how right he was. We didn't worry about the rain, it was not a problem with big rainproof coats and fairly warm temperatures. In fact we thought it was rather fun to walk in the rain and enjoy being out in the elements. Kemen reminded us that "if it didn't rain you would die" - a true farming sentiment.

This week we are looking forward to the local Santa Parade and community evening at Mangere Bridge Village. Look out for us selling sausages - another fun fundraiser towards getting our kiln operational.