Nau mai ki te pānui tênei ko te Kōrero. Nga mihi nui ki a koutou We have now been working in the Covid Protection Framework (Traffic Light system) for a week – you are all doing a fantastic job in working in the new settings. Let’s acknowledge in particular the Whanganui and Central Plateau services that are operating in the Red setting. You are doing superbly. Please refer to the Kindergarten Pack we sent out last Thursday, and keep talking to your Senior Teacher if you have questions or concerns – there are so many slightly different situations or variables, and so it’s important to seek clarity if you are in doubt. Chief Operating Officer, Amy Weighman and the team administering our covid email are working closely with the Senior Teachers, and answering questions etc from parents and whānau. Remember, we’re here to support you. Mandy 
Covid 19 Update Further to Mandy's message above we have put the Parent/Volunteer Chart below for your reference. You will find this also in the information pack that was sent out last week. We welcome all parents/caregivers to our kindergartens regardless of their vaccination status. Please check vaccination evidence requirements on this chart, and if you have any questions please just contact your Senior Teacher in the first instance. 
Finance Update For End Of Year Infocare Cut-Off It’s that time again when we are in sight of closing off Infocare for the end of month, and term, and year! We’re asking that you complete your year-end infocare work by 3pm on your last day of opening for the year (Wednesday 22 December). This means the following is required: - Sign in sheets marked in Infocare (actual attendance)
- Fee invoices (for the week ending Friday 24 December) created and committed
- Staff timetables (“staff hour count”) for the week ending Friday 24 December completed
- Online sign off of your monthly roll return
- Any ratio, frequent absence, attendance or roll issues are communicated to the Association (please call Tania Braybrook)
If your support staff are unavailable to work on Wednesday can you please make arrangements for this work to be completed by the due date – this may mean that these tasks need to be completed by Teaching staff before the cut off. Payments Processing over the Christmas Break Due to staff absences at the Association over the holiday break there will be limited payment runs being made over this time. The last supplier payment run for the year will be made on 20 December and payment of invoices will occur as follows over the coming weeks: Invoices received at the Association by Friday 10 Dec Paid on Monday 13 December Invoices received at the Association by Friday 17 Dec Paid on Monday 20 December Invoices received at the Association by Friday 7 Jan Paid on Monday 10 January Invoices received at the Association by Friday 14 Jan Paid on Monday 17 January Please ensure that regular suppliers to your kindergartens are made aware of these payment timeframes. Also, we’d encourage you to get all your December invoices emailed in prior to 17 December so we can arrange prompt payment for you. During the coming weeks all requests for urgent payments should continue to be emailed to accounts@wmkindergartens.org.nz and marked as URGENT in the subject line. Banking Please ensure that there is little or no cash held at your kindergarten over the Christmas break. If you could aim to bank all cash receipts before Friday 17 December this will allow our Finance Team to contact you with any queries they have before the end of the term. Can you also update Infocare with details of all deposits made. Fee Invoicing and Statements The timetable for fortnightly fee statements being issued to families over the coming weeks is as follows: Statements for fees up to Friday 10 December Distributed Friday 17 December Statements for fees up to Friday 24 December Distributed Friday 14 January Statements for fees up to Friday 7 January Distributed Friday 14 January Statements for fees up to Friday 21 January Distributed Friday 28 January Head Teachers will need to ensure that their support staff complete all invoicing for the last week of Term 4 on the last day of term. Kindergarten Finance Reports Your November Kindergarten reports will be emailed to you next week and your December Kindergarten reports will be emailed to you by Wednesday 19 January 2022. As always your kindergarten accounts should be passed on to your Treasurers and Committees as appropriate. Infocare Lock Dates for 2022 Details of Infocare Lock Dates for 2022 will be circulated in the new year.
Pays Over Christmas and New Year The next pay is on Tuesday 14 December. The following pay on Tuesday 28 December is a Public Holiday, therefore your pay will be deposited into your account on the evening of Friday 24 December. The Payroll Team won’t have long to process this pay, as the office will be closed from 22 December, so we need kindergartens to send in their returns a little early and ensure all leave has been applied for. - On Friday 17 December send in Returns/Confirm Staff Sync Roster:
- Week of 13-17 Dec as usual
- On Monday 20 December send your prediction for:
- Week of 20-22 Dec; and
- if you have any changes to your prediction, on your last day 22 Dec, send in an amended Return/Staff Sync Confirmation by 9am.
If you have any questions please email Payroll here and someone in the team can help you. Or you can email Karen.
Meet The Board - Kath Cooper Whānau Manaaki’s board met this month, with the only new board member Kath Cooper who was voted in at the recent AGM in Masterton. Kath has worked in the early childhood sector for more than 25 years, and has always been committed to making sure children have the best possible start in life. Recently, she has worked for Te Rito Maioha, before leaving to concentrate on her doctoral thesis which is about inclusive practice in early childhood education. Kath has worked in both the community sector and private services including Kidicorp, now Best Start, so she has a good understanding of the whole sector. Her wife Jodie is a kindergarten teacher at Owhiro Bay kindergarten. Kath has four adult children and four grandchildren. She and Jodie live with son Zeke and their black poodle cross Meg in Broadmeadows in Wellington North. She has only been to two board meetings so far, but is enjoying taking part in the board to further the kaupapa of Whānau Manaaki Kindergartens. 
Whānau Manaaki Seeks To Engage With Relevant National Spokespeople The National Party announced new portfolio responsibilities this week, and Whānau Manaaki kindergartens will be writing to relevant spokespeople to seek meetings to discuss policy as it related to education, children and families. It is important that we have good relationships with all political parties, and that they have a good understanding of the importance of early childhood education, and the policies that support the wellbeing of children and families.
Workforce Wellbeing Package The Ministry of Education has extended the Workforce Wellbeing Package for education workers into next year. All teachers, regular relievers, and support staff across our kindergartens and Etu Ao are eligible to access these services, which can be used in addition to any existing wellbeing and counselling services for a specific period of time.
Confidential one-on-one counselling sessions are available face-to-face, online or on the phone. There will be no charge for these services. All communications and discussions with EAP are strictly confidential for the one-to-one counselling sessions. No identifiable details of individuals that contact EAP Services will be shared with the Ministry or Whānau Manaaki.
You’ll find further information about these EAP services on the Education website or if you have any questions call 0800 327 669 or visit the EAP website.
Healthy Heart - Tohu Manawa Ora Award For Matariki  On Friday December 3 Matariki Kindergarten had a Dress in Red and Bike Day to celebrate their achievement of gaining their Healthy Heart - Tohu Manawa Ora Award. They have been working towards achieving this throughout the year. And together they have been learning how to look after their taha tinana (their bodies) through the kai that they eat, and through their physical activity. Kaiako have engaged tamariki in a big variety of learning experiences that have focused on holistic and life-long learning about supporting a healthy heart. They had so many bikes and scooters bought into the kindergarten to support their fun day. The day started with kaiako engaging tamariki in a mat time, to firstly celebrate a special birthday, then remind them of the rules in the car park. Kaiako then set up the biking area with temporary fencing, so that the area was enclosed. Some kaiako even joined in the biking by taking a trike for a spin, and they were on hand to pump up any flat typres. The hose was bought out to cool everyone off from the humidity and the hard work of biking! This added to the fun of the day. Everyone got plenty of exercise and then tamariki enjoyed a short movie afterwards, while refuelling their bodies with some kai. Afterwards tamariki enjoyed listening to storied under the christmas tree. There were many great learning experiences throughout the day, gardening and artwork among others. Well done team! Ma tina ma mano ka rapa te whai - Many hands make light work, unity is strength. 
 
Family Violence A 25-year plan to tackle violence in New Zealand homes has been unveiled, which takes notice of what those involved in violence says needs to happen. The national strategy, Te Aorerekura, will see 10 agencies working together, and it hopes to change the justice system so victims are not further traumatized by the justice system. Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence Marama Davidson said Te Aorerekura represents an important step towards wellbeing. "Te Aorerekura sets a collective ambition to create peaceful homes where children, families and whānau thrive; to enable safe communities where all people are respected. A Tangata Whenua Advisory Group will provide independent advice and guidance. Safe tailored services should be available for tangata whenua, Pacific peoples, ethnic communities, LGBTQI communities, older people, male survivors and disabled communities. Women, wāhine Māori and trans women impacted by violence can access safe, integrated, trauma informed and inclusive responses to provide protection and support wellbeing. Understanding healthy relationships and how to seek help will be key for children and young people, as well as making sure they have access to tailored services, Davidson said. For perpetrators of violence, the changes would see accountability and support to change and address past trauma. The strategy aimed to create a stronger and more skilled workforce to cope increased reporting of family and sexual violence over the next few years. Davidson said most of the 40 actions in the strategy are underway or can be covered by existing funding.
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