We have now combined the Regional News into one page to make it easier to flick through other Kindergarten items if you want to. We would love your feedback, korero@wmkindergartens.org.nz 
Upcoming PLD Wed 17 Mar - Reliever Network Meeting, 4pm to 5.30pm Silverstream Kindergarten Thu 18 Mar - Kapa Haka 2, 3.00 to 4:45pm NEW VENUE: Birchville Kindergarten Tue 23 Mar - Regional Staff Meeting: 3.30 to 5.30pm, Cossie Club
Appointments And Resignations Congratulations to Justine Carthew who has been Head Teacher at Silverstream, is moving to become Senior Head Teacher at Matariki Kindergarten in Upper Hutt.
Upcoming PLD Wed 17 Mar - Office Hui 10:30am to 1:30pm (Association Office Staff - Whanganui & Porirua) - Te Puna Wed 17 Mar - Reliever Network Meeting, 4pm to 5.30pm, WMK Office Whare Manawa Thu 25 Mar - Staff Sync Training, Matariki Community Centre, (9-12 & 1-4) - you will have received a calendar invitation for this if you're supposed to attend
Appointments And Resignations Welcome to Kimberley Perkins, who began her position as the Administrator at Awatea this week.
Congratulations A big and happy congratulations to Nora Robertson and her whānau on the arrival of their beautiful baby girl Talia-Rose. Nora is the Administrator at Ascot Park Kindergarten and was working in the Association Office for the Payroll Team prior to going on Parental Leave. 
Upcoming PLD Wed 17 Mar - Reliever Network Meeting, 4pm to 5.30pm NEW VENUE: Newlands Kindergarten PLEASE NOTE: Thur 8 April RSM NEW VENUE: Mana Cruising Club Tue 16 Mar - Staff Sync Training, ASB Centre, (9-12 & 1-4) - you will have received a calendar invitation for this if you're supposed to attend Wed 17 Mar - Reliever Network Meeting, 4pm to 5.30pm, Lyall Bay Kindergarten
Children Scan In Visitor Lyall Bay Kindergarten had a visit from a MTA representative during the week. The children told her, she would need to scan in using the Covid QR Code. Below are photos of the children helping her, how amazing are they! 
Appointments and Resignations Welcome to Dianna Ataera who will start teaching at Tawa Central later this month.
Upcoming PLD Mon 15 Mar - Staff sync Training at Carterton Events Centre, Hurunui Room (9-12 & 1-4) - you will have received a calendar invitation for this if you're supposed to attend Wed 17 Mar - Reliever Network Meeting, 4pm to 5.30pm Silverstream Kindergarten Wed 24 Mar - Regional Staff Meeting, 4pm to 6pm, Taratahi Auditorium
Samoan Pastor Welcomed Una Williams Head Teacher Melnissa Faumui was honoured to represent Whānau Manaaki Kindergartens, and the education sector generally, in a formal traditional welcome of a new Samoan Methodist church pastor in Masterton recently. Una Williams has a very strong relationship with families at the Samoan Methodist church, and the invitation recognised this connection. Rev Faleu Futi is the first official Samoan pastor for Masterton. He is pictured below with his Faletua (wife) Talapauna Futi. Mel says it is exciting to be welcoming a growing number of Pacific families to the region, and this family will make a great contribution. “ I was inspired and proud to be Samoan to witness the richness of my culture here at home in Masterton. “ Una Williams hopes to host the family at kindergarten in the future. 
Upcoming PLD The Reliever Network Meeting that was to be held on Thursday 17 March has not been changed to Thursday 25 March, 4.00pm to 5.30pm at Waiouru Kindergarten. Thu 18 March - Staff Sync Training at Kingsgate Hotel (9-12 & 1-4) - you will have received a calendar invitation for this if you're supposed to attend Thu 25 Mar - Reliever Network Meeting (CP only); 4pm to 5.30pm, Waiouru Kindergarten Thu 25 March: Kapa Haka @ Gonville Kindergarten - 3.45 to 5.15pm; Reliever Network Meeting (Wh only); 4pm to 5:30pm, St Johns Hill Club
Artwork Chosen Lesley Stead, Mike Marsh, Lysha Brennan and Journalist Paul Brooks from the Midweek Newspaper are the curators for our Artists Open Studios window. They had to choose 19 works of art from more than 37 pieces contributed by most of the Whanganui Kindergartens. The Artworks will be part of our window display entry in the 2021 AOS. (Don't worry, the rest of the art will be displayed at a later date!). Lesley Stead owns and runs Lockett Gallery, which specialises in showing book illustrations and she herself creates black and white art specifically for babies. Mike Marsh will have a number of his pieces displayed at various galleries. He will also be beautifying a wall (142 Guyton Street - opposite PlaceMakers) during Whanganui Walls, which runs concurrently with AOS during the first weekend. HIs children have all attended Whanganui kindergartens. Lysha Brennan is a print-maker. She also has a gallery that is part of AOS and she will be running a workshop with children at Putiki Kindergarten. Her children have also attended Whanganui Kindergartens in the past - and in fact, her daughter Zaley is currently a teacher at Putiki Kindergarten. 
Garage Sale Reminder Don't forget that Maxwell Kindergarten's Garage Sale is on Wednesday 17th March (next Wednesday).
Forest Educator Training We have received the following information about a course being held in April. I am writing to let you know about the 5-day Forest Educator Training we are offering in Whanganui in April.
Forest School is a pedagogy that focuses on play-based child-led learning, nature immersion, and the connection between physical risk and academic success. While tried and tested around the world for decades, forest schools are rapidly gaining popularity in Aotearoa. The success of forest school is seen in improved behavioural outcomes, improved well-being, and improved academic success.
If your school or ECE Centre is looking to expand your play-based programming, or increase engagement in sustainability education, this course will set you on the right track. If you are keen to start your own nature play or forest school centre, this course will get you started.
What makes our training unique is that it is the first 5-day certificate in nature education developed in NZ for a NZ context. The course will run concurrently with our holiday program to give you a real sense of The ECO School practice and pedagogy in action. We will dive deep into culturally responsive practice and program design, as well as the necessary outdoor skills for forest school programs. This 5-day training will run during the school holidays in April, from Monday 19th - Friday 23rd. Details of the course can be found here: http://www.theecoschool.net/5-day-forest-educator-training.html Our lead instructor is Dani Lebo who will be supported by a wide range of guest instructors.
Here is a course information sheet. The course costs $1500, but we are offering a $500 discount for local teachers, so the price for Whanganui locals will be just $1000. To enrol or request more information, please send me at email at TheECOSchool@gmail.com Please let me know if you have any questions at all.
Ngā mihi, Dani Lebo
Upcoming PLD Wed 17 Mar - Reliever Network Meeting, 4pm to 5.30pm, Ngahina Kindergarten Mon 22 Mar - Regional Staff Meeting, 4pm to 6pm, Tatum Park, Cobham Room
Garage Sale Reminder Don't forget that Waikanae Kindergarten is having their annual Garage Sale and Gala on is on Saturday 13th March from 8am - 12pm.
Appointments and Resignations Fiona Williams has moved from teaching at Taitoko Kindergarten to Te Manawanui in Shannon this week. Farewell to Scott Marris who is leaving Waikanae Kindergarten and heading to Taranaki to take up a position in a kindergarten there. The Taranaki Kindergartens are part of Kindergartens Aotearoa, so Scott will remain part of the same broad kindergarten collective movement.
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