Term two 2011 is nearly over!

And now the second term is nearly over. What an interesting time we've had.

Some of our older boys have had a fascination with volcanos so off they went with a couple of teachers to explore our local volcano Maungakiekie (One Tree Hill).

To celebrate Maori language week another group visited Te Puna Kohungahunga - the bilingual centre at the Epsom Campus Auckland University. Our children were amazed at the all the Te Reo that was spoken - but really enjoyed experiencing all the different equipment and corners in the centre.

Nick Walker, one of our Dad's came in one day and read some of our books written in Te Reo - we enjoyed listening to his mihi and were particularly interested in the way in which he acknowledged his son and daughter who were amongst the listeners.

A link with the past was made when Dawn Medland popped in to see us. She was a teacher in this same building when it was a kindy in the 1950's - it was called Selwyn Kindergarten before the parents fundraised and built the new Kindy... Lady Cobham Kindergarten!

And of course the wonderful teachers at St AndrewsEpsom ECC are always learning too - recently we had a water colour painting workshop run by Paul Johnston to improve our water colour painting skills!

Oh...and don't forget the great ukulele bands that happen spontaneously in the centre!

Look out, 'Cut Off Your Hands'! (If you haven't heard of this band - google them!)

Check out previous posts from this term - they are below!

Portraits continued...

Painting portraits are becoming part of the culture at Kindy. The data projector is set up ready to go when someone wants to draw then paint their portrait.

A pile of MDF boards that Lorraine found on the side of the road have been underpainted and are now finding a new life with portraits being painted onto them.

Grandparents at Kindy

This term we've enjoyed many visits from lots of different grandparents of our tamariki (children). We have been thinking about the concept of Manaakitanga - hospitality, respect for others, treating others as more important than oneself.

Through inviting our grandparents to visit the centre we wanted to show our respect to people who have lots of knowledge about things that we haven't experienced.

We have certainly achieved this learning lots of things about the different interests and skills that our grandparents shared with us on their visits.

Each grandparent was welcomed to the centre by one of the children (usually, but not always their grandchild) wearing our korowai which is worn when welcoming important people to our centre.

We always include a waiata (song) in our welcome.