There have been a number of updates to the PLD calendar this week so please make sure you check it out well in advance of heading off to your booked session. Have a great week. Jane 
Giveaway Day The next giveaway day is being held on Saturday 10th March at Nuanua Kindergarten. If you have any goods you wish to donate to this giveaway day we would appreciate them to be dropped off to us at the office throughout the week of Monday 5th March. Donated goods could include clothing, bedding, kitchen utensils, furniture and linen. We are always appreciative of the generosity of our kindergartens, their families and community. Thank you.
Tōku Reo - A Fantastic Resource for Learning Te Reo Māori Stuart Macann has been utilising the following resource and though it would be great to share with you all. Kia ora koutou I've been really enjoying using the free 'Tōku Reo' podcasts to learn Te Reo Māori. I listen to them in the car to and from work, so it's an easy, convenient way to progress in Te Reo. As well as podcasts heaps of other free resources are available from the 'Tōku Reo' website. The podcasts that can be downloaded are MP4s, with simple videos. I didn't want the videos for using in the car so I have them all downloaded and converted to MP3 (audio files suitable for any smartphone, iPod etc.). If anyone would like the MP3 version of the podcasts please email me: stuart.macann@wmkindergartens.org.nz. Ngā mihi, Stu.
Bellevue Kindergarten Speaks Out Bellevue Kindergarten has written to local MP Greg O’Connor and to the Minister of Education and Prime Minister about the inadequacies of the Learning suppoort service, and Whānau Manaaki Kindergartens has issued a press release to underline those points. Here’s the release: Kindergartens agree learning support services are at crisis level Whānau Manaaki Kindergartens agrees with school principals that the Ministry of Education’s learning support service is in crisis. The New Zealand Principals Federation says waiting lists are too long for children needing extra help at school and Whānau Manaaki says waiting times for early intervention services (for preschool children) are even longer. Whānau Manaaki Kindergartens runs 85 kindergartens and a homebased service in the lower North Island. "Children face unacceptable delays before being assessed and provided with services", says Amanda Coulston, Chief Exeuctive of Whānau Manaaki Kindergartens. Even once assessed and qualifying for support, that support is inadequate she says. The Head Teacher of Bellevue Kindergarten in the Wellington suburb of Newlands, Sue Scott, is speaking out because the service is short-changing children. Sue says children with severe needs get two and a half hours a day of support, with a maxiumum of seven and a half hours a week. For children who need an adult support at all times to ensure their safety, this is simply not good enough. “The lack of support for high needs children impacts hugely on the child, but also on the remainder of the group” she says. Sue has written to the Ministry of Education, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Education and her own MP about the problems children are facing. ”I can no longer say nothing and just be grateful for the support that is given.” Sue says some parents feel obliged to stay at kindergarten because their children’s needs aren’t being met by the service, while others take children home early because of inadequate support hours. Both these situations place additional stress onto children and families. Whānau Manaaki Kindergartens welcomes an announcement from the Minister Chris Hipkins that more money will be spent on learning support, but Sue Scott says that extra can’t come quickly enough. “Every day without increased funding is a day that children are missing out – this matter is now urgent and increased funding needs to happen straight away.”
Census 2018  It’s time for you to do your part to build a snapshot of the people and places that make up New Zealand. This time around, the census is online, and you’ll be given everything you need to take part soon. In late February, every household in the country will receive a census access code. For now, just look out for it arriving in your letterbox and keep it somewhere safe. Your household will need this access code to complete the census on or before 6 March 2018. Whānau Manaaki is involved in the Stats NZ Pasifika Strategy to encourage and support Pasifika families to engage and complete the Census 2018. Some of our kindergartens will be offering support or assistance to their Pasifika families to complete the Census online. All our kindergartens can support their families and communities to complete the Census. We as staff of Whānau Manaaki should lead the way in completing the Census 2018 ourselves. Make it count because we matter too. Scroll to the top and check out more information about the Census in the left hand column.
Hot Tips  Do you have numerous electrical and cell phone cables lying around? Ever picked one up and wondered what device it was for? Check this out! An awesome idea and a great way to recycle! 
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