Nau mai ki tenei wiki Kōrero. It certainly feels good to be at Alert Level 1. While we must continue to remain vigilant it is lovely to have that extra sense of freedom. It can feel like Covid is all consuming and can become quite exhausting. We do, though, think of our friends and colleagues in Auckland as they remain at Level 2. Look after yourselves, and for those having a break over the next couple of weeks, enjoy! E huri tō aroaro ki te rā, tukuna tō ataarangi ki muri i a koe Turn and face the sun and let your shadow fall behind you. Jane 
Term Closing And Opening The last day of this year is: - Part-year Kindergartens - Monday 21 December;
- Full-year Kindergartens – Tuesday 22 December.
The first day of 2021 is: - Part-year Kindergartens – Thursday 21 January;
- Full-year Kindergartens – Tuesday 5 January
The association offices will be closed between Wednesday 23 December and Monday 4 January 2021 (opening on Tuesday 5 January). The 2021 calendars for our different groups of staff are here. Please click on the tab at the bottom of each page to take you to the next calendar.
First Aid Courses Just a reminder if you are attending a First Aid course you will need to bring your own food. Tea, coffee and water will be provided.
Infocare Cut-Off and Ministry of Education RS7 Reporting Just another reminder for you about month end infocare requirements – we have to report RS7 information about your kindergarten to the Ministry of Education for the current funding period (1 June – 30 Sept) by Friday 7 October. All of the information we require is generated from your enrolment and staff timetable information in Infocare, so we need your help to ensure that all of this is completed as soon as possible. With tomorrow being the end of term for most kindergartens we require you all to have your Infocare records for the end of the week completed by close of play tomorrow. This means we would like you to complete the following tasks in Infocare up to and including Friday 25 September, as appropriate: - Sign in sheets marked in Infocare (actual attendance)
- Fee invoices (for the week ending 25 September) created and committed
- Staff timetables (“staff hour count”) for the week ending 25 September are completed
- Online sign off of your monthly roll return
- Any ratio, attendance or roll issues are communicated to the Wellington Association Office (please call Tania on 04 232 3069 or 0800 546 337)
Please let Tania know if you do not think you will be able to complete this on time. For Full Day kindergartens and those other kindergartens* that are open during the term break the above Infocare tasks need to be complete by 3pm on Tuesday 1 October (noting that you will need to finalise Infocare for the last day of the month, being Wednesday 30 September). *Aramoho, Ascot Park, Bellevue, Betty Montford, Fanau Pasifika, Gonville, Greytown, Harriette Vine, Heretaunga, Kahurangi, Masterton West, Matariki, Maxwell & Districts, Moira Gallagher, Newtown, Nuanua, Owhiro Bay, Parsons Avenue, Putiki, Raumati Beach, Te Manawanui, Tai Tamariki, Taihape, Taitoko, Totara Puku, Te Timatanga Hou, Toru Fetu, Tui Park, Una Williams, Wadestown, Waiouru, Waitohi, Wellington South.
Whānau Manaaki’s AGM Whānau Manaaki held a successful AGM at Owhiro Bay Kindergarten this week, with Board Chair Amy Weightman paying tribute to the hard work of everyone to get through a difficult year. CEO Amanda Coulston presented the annual report, which includes highlights from the 2019/2020 year, starting with Whanganui Kindergartens joining our whānau last July. Volunteers from kindergartens nearby were honoured at the AGM, including Hana Bright from Pikopiko Clyde, pictured here with head teacher Julie Wratt, and Chloe Bisley-Wright from Berhampore Kindergarten, pictured with head teacher Jared Lambert. Jo Young from Awatea Kindergarten was elected to the board as a staff representative, replacing Christina Rizos who stood down after five years on the board, while community representatives Miranda Zander and Emma McGregor were also elected. The way Whānau Manaaki’s board operates means positions become vacant in rotation, to ensure continuity on the board. Kōrero will feature more after the new board has its first meeting next month.  
Julie Wratt, and Hana Bright Jared Lambert and Chloe Bisley-Wright
Education Policies  We have put together the following visual of education policies announced by some of the parties for the upcoming election. 
Tick 4 Kids Election Scorecards The coalition group Tick 4 Kids has produced a list of party scorecards for the election looking at various polices that relate to children’s wellbeing, income, housing and health and environmental policies as well as education. Tick 4 Kids includes around 40 organisations interested in children and families, including UNICEF, Plunket, the Brainwave Trust, various parenting groups and health organisations among others. Here’s a link to the Scorecards.
Te Wā Tuku Reo Māori Thank you to those kindergartens that shared how they celebrated Te Wiki o te Reo Māori and what you did for the Māori Language Moment. Here are some we have received: From Otaki Kindergarten
Tōtara Puku participated in the te wiki o te reo Māori event by singing their kindergarten waiata at that time. They also shared the purākau about Tutaeporoporo and the Whanganui River with their tamariki, as that’s how Tōtara Puku, the area their kindergarten is in, got its name.
NZ Sign Language Week Check out what the teachers at Owhiro Bay Kindergarten have been up to this week!
Farewell For Now To Hannah To’omaga Our long serving receptionist and administrative support person, Hannah To’omaga, has taken leave from Whānau Manaaki to work at Porirua City Council. As well as being the voice on the end of the phone at Whānau Manaaki for many staff who ring the office, Hannah has helped navigate HR.Net and arranged PD and food for all Whānau Manaaki functions and meetings. She has also been a leading personality in the office, organising many staff social events ranging from watching major sporting events through to organising the “toilet paper challenge” online video collaboration during lockdown. Hannah as been with Whānau Manaaki and previously Wellington Kindergartens for 14 years. Hannah’s energy, vitality, commitment and humour will be missed around the office, but we wish her all the best at Porirua City Council. 
This Week On Facebook  
Handy Facebook Pages  
Check out this page for all things Marine! The New Zealand Marine Studies Centre, with the support of Mobil, has developed a number of Te Reo Māori resources that you can download for free! You can click here to be taken to their resources page. Lots of really cool things to use. Kia Kaha Te Reo Māori! Previous Kōrero Editions If you are wanting to access previous editions of the Kōrero you can find them at www.wmkindergartens.org.nz/archive or you can click here. It is a good idea to save this link as an icon on your desktop.
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