Nau mai ki tenei wiki Kōrero. Today we welcomed another group to our Whānau Manaaki family at the Induction Day held in Te Puna, Porirua. I know the team in the office enjoy hosting this event and meeting all of the new staff, as much as those who attend, it is such an important day for our people. Jane. 
Study Assistance Grant We are inviting applications, in line with our policy, for a Study Assistance Grant. So if you’re studying to enhance your qualification for your job then you might be eligible for a grant. Read the policy here, which has the application form attached, and if you would like to submit an application (together with proof of the cost of your study) please email it to karen.skett@wmkindergartens.org.nz by 27 February.
RSM Term 1 He Māpuna te Tamaiti Kia ora koutou This term our Regional Staff meeting kaupapa will be on supporting social and emotional competence using the new resource from the Ministry of Education He Māpuna te Tamaiti. This resource uses harakeke as an underpinning metaphor. The harakeke plant symbolises the whānau, with mokopuna a the centre. The mokopuna are loved, protected, and supported by mātua, tīpuna and the wider hapū and iwi. We will engage in group learning experiences to unpack the foundation principles and the key points of each wāhanaga/section. To assist with this mahi, please bring your copies of He Māpuna te Tamaiti to your regional staff meeting. Senior Teachers 
Civil Defence Supplies - Expired Items Paparārangi Kindergarten have recently been updating their civil defence supplies and removing expired items. They made contact with the Men's Shelter in Wellington and they will take items expired in the last 12 months. So if you have expired items from your civil defence supplies you can make contact directly with the Men's Shelter who will take these items off your hands.
Website Updates It is time to look at your website and check it is up to date, especially the staff team photo. It can be hard to get photos, because when your whole team is there, you are busy with children, but send a photo when you can to Chanelle at the office. If your Senior Teacher visits, they may be able to act as photographer. It’s important to have a photo, even if not everyone can be in it - rather than a blank page. Check to see that the text is up to date, and email Jenny or Chanelle at the office if it needs changing.
Children Remain At Risk The Salvation Army has produced a report that shows that many children are not doing well in New Zealand. The State of the Nation Report 2020 looks at how we are doing as a nation. It finds that despite slight improvements, a quarter of our children remain living in poverty and educational inequality remains. While employment remains high, and there is a decline in youth offending and teenage pregnancy rates, the numbers of children in care continue to rise, with Māori children over-represented. Here’s a link to the report.
OMEP Meeting The latest meeting below: 
Newtown Kindergarten Have A New Mural The team at Newtown Kindergarten have been doing their internal strategic review around Tangata Whenuatanga. They have been discussing, with their tamariki, the taniwha that used to live in Wellington harbour, Ngake and Whataitai. The tamariki then had a chance to draw their versions of what they thought the taniwha looked like and to discuss the physical features of them. They have also read lots of legends about taniwha. It was then agreed that they would paint a mural depicting these taniwha. One of their teachers, Rachel Young, also contacted Teacher Talk about using one of their magnets about Ngake and Whataitai as a starting point for the mural. Rachel then tried to blend the children's ideas with the image to get the finished product. This fantastic mural is now hanging, pride of place, on the kindergarten shed. Looks amazing!  
This Week On Facebook  
Handy Facebook Pages  Autism New Zealand is here to provide support, information and education on autism spectrum disorders (ASD) for individuals, their family/whānau, caregivers, and professionals who engage with them. 
To Give Away Raumati Beach Kindergarten have the following items to give away. Get in touch with the team directly if you are wanting anything. - 12 large chairs
- 6 small chairs
- a climbing frame
- a large, approximately 7x6, sandpit cover that is made out of sunshade material (no picture).
  
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