Creative Corner Newsletter
July 2023
News
CREATIVE CORNER Newsletter DECEMBER 2022
CREATIVE CORNER NEWSLETTER
December 2022
MERI KIRIHIMETE
MERRY CHRISTMAS
What a great turn-out for our Christmas Party – even the sun decided to show up! Obviously, the big event was the jolly guy in the red suit showing up (despite some of the tamariki not being too sure about him 😉). But also, how good to be able to all come together and spend some time catching up in our awesome Centre. We want to thank everyone who came, it was so lovely to get to know you all a bit better. All of us here at creative corner want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year. We can’t wait to see all your fresh wee faces next year!
FAREWELL – KA KITE
Big Farewell to Te Aika Reihana and Emilia Brownie who are off to School. Happy School days! We also farewell Arthur Kippenberger, we wish you well on your next adventure.
WELCOME – NAU MAI
A warm and friendly welcome to Oliver Bailey, Enrico Naude and Leo Walton-Woodings and their whanau who are starting in the Kākā Room and joining our Creative Corner whanau. We are excited to be a part of your learning journey 😊
We have a couple of new friendly faces joining the Kākā Team. Some of you may remember Kirsty McIntyre who has been a kaiako here at Creative Corner before and couldn’t stay away! Kirsty will be in the Kākā’s from 9-3 each day.
“Kia ora tatau, My name is Kirsty and I am newest member of the Kaka team. I’ve been working in Early childhood in some capacity for 15 years - teaching, nannying and being Mum at home with my two wee girls - Charlotte and Matilda.
I have previously worked at Creative Corner and am excited to be back. It’s lovely chatting to some familiar faces from the Pukeko’s and I look forward to getting to know the rest of the Creative Corner whanau.”
Page is a fresh new face joining us (side note she is also Olivia’s sister!) Page will be working in the Kākā’s from 3-5.30pm each day. “Kia ora Tatau whanau,
My name is Page! I am currently studying my degree in early childhood. I have completed by level 3 certificate about 3 years ago and thought it was about time I start on my degree. During my break from studying, I was a nanny over in the UK! Which gave me a whole new perspective and love for early childhood education. I’m so excited to be a part of the amazing team here at creative corner.”
A MESSAGE FROM CHERYL
Kia Ora Whanau,
As we get ready to sign off for the year and take a well-deserved break, I wanted to acknowledge another challenging year of managing Covid, alongside several changes in the teaching team. While we all share and celebrate a team member’s next steps of travelling overseas, or taking a job that furthers their career, we also understand these changes can create a feeling on unsettledness within the Centre. We are all looking forward to kicking off 2023 with a couple of new faces in the teaching team and providing consistency of care to our tamariki and whanau. We also excited to get back to having regular whanau events where we can all come together and continue that amazing community vibe that is Creative Corner.
From all of us here at Creative Corner we wish all our tamariki and whanau a very Meri Kirihimete and Happy New Years. How exciting to turn off those early morning alarms, not worry about making lunches, forgetting the busy schedules and enjoy some time with your whanau (hopefully in the sunshine!) We hope your holidays are filled with fun, laughter and love and can’t wait to hear what you all got up to when we’re back in January
CONGRATULATIONS
We would like to send out a huge congratulations to the families bringing new life into the world. we would love to welcome Iggy Mcauley, Marco Rodriguez, Hugo Quinonez, Harry Darling and Ihaia Reihana to our Creative Corner Family.
Congratulations to our marvellous Jen Barnes who has now graduated. Three hard, long years of determination and enthusiasm and now you’re a real-life teacher !!! We are so proud of you jen!
FAREWELL – KA KITE
We sadly farewell Miranda Williamson and Sophie Clarke
Soph has taken up an amazing opportunity as Head Teacher/2IC at Little Wonders.
Soph we are going to miss your infectious sense of fun, creative flair and larger than life laugh!
Miranda we will miss having you around the centre and your infectious laugh and sense of humor too.
CREATIVE CORNER Newsletter 30 September 2022
TENA KOUTOU KATOA
HELLO EVERYBODY
CASINO NIGHT FUNDRAISER
Another successful Casino night was held at The Oxford Restaurant.
A total of just under $15000 was achieved which is a fantastic result! Funds will go towards the planned new playground at the Centre, which is exciting.
A big thank you to all Timaru businesses and Creative Corner families who donated towards this event, and Clarissa and Mike at the Oxford for hosting.
A massive thanks to Kate and Amy for the huge input with organising prior to the event and on the night. Also, Andy Darling, thanks so much for your ‘muscle power’ pre-during-post Casino night – very much appreciated!
SUNHATS AND SUNSCREEN
Tamariki are required to wear sunhats with the weather warming up. Please ensure they have one in their bag.
Also, any child that has an allergy to the sunscreen we use at the Centre, please remember to bring your own. Thanks.
FAREWELL – KA KITE
We recently farewelled Maxwell O’Brien and Denali Simpson. Happy school days! Also, farewell to Meila Winter, Cristy, and McKenna Richardson.
WELCOME – NAU MAI
Welcome to Lexi Harper who join us in the Kākā room in early October.
Also, a big welcome to Olivia Birch who will joins us at the beginning of October as our new centre administrator.
Olivia will be training with Kate from 3-12 October in her new job and will take over the reins officially on Thursday, 13 October.
Olivia is mum to Archie Clough who is in our Pukeko room. Please make yourself welcome to her.
CONGRATULATIONS
We are pleased to announce Cheryl Young, our head teacher in the Under 2s, has accepted the role of Centre Manager, and will take over on 13 October. Cheryl is currently head teacher of the Kaka classroom and has a number of years experience running Esk Valley Kind.
Congratulations on your new role, Cheryl!
FAREWELL – KA KITE
We sadly farewell Amy Pateman, our centre manager, and Kate Burt, our centre administrator in mid October.
Amy has resigned from her role to pursue other opportunities.
Amy has been a much loved and appreciated member of the team for the past seven and a half years. We are sure you will help make her remaining time full of as much love and fun as there can be.
Amy, we wish you all the best in your future endeavours and thank you for your fantastic, friendly, and fun-loving leadership of the team.
Kate, the second half of the dynamic duo at the front desk has decided that she wants to leave with the boss!!
Kate has been with us for 10 and a half years and has seen two centre managers run Creative Corner. Kate has been offered a work from home opportunity.
Kate has been an integral part of our centre, managing the administration and front of house, and latterly the Casino night like a champ. We thank you for your service and your bubbly, fun attitude and we wish you will for your next adventure.
CREATIVE CORNER Newsletter 23 August 2022
TENA KOUTOU KATOA
HELLO EVERYBODY
We are pleased to advise that we are finally fully staffed at Creative Corner!
Great news for the team and our extended whānau.
However, sickness is still prevalent amongst our staff and children at present. We appreciate your ongoing support in keeping sick children at home to help prevent the spread of flus and bugs.
2022 has certainly been a tough year to date but spring is around the corner and hopefully a brighter end to the year will be seen!
FAREWELL – KA KITE
We recently farewelled Paul and Charles Lahaut – wish Lily, Roman and the whānau all the best for their move to Christchurch. Farewell also to Henry Kippenberger who left the Pukekos, and Miller Weston Finley Gould who leave at the end of August. Happy school days Henry, Miller, and Finley!
A big farewell to Michael Tough who leaves the Pukeko room this week to return to his previous occupation at Energy Smart. Michael has been with us for almost six years in varying roles from day relief to a permanent staff member. Michael has been a clear favourite with the children and his creativity in the classroom will be missed by all. Good luck Michael!
WELCOME – NAU MAI
Welcome to Ella McKerchar and Emmy Sisson who join us in the Kākā room.
Welcome to Cheryl Young who is our new Under 2s head teacher. Please make yourself known to Cheryl.
Kia Ora Whanau,
Just thought I would take this opportunity to introduce myself as the new Head Teacher in the Kaka Room. My name is Cheryl and I live here in Timaru with my partner Kev and our two spoilt fur babies – dogs Jessie and Rosie. You’re likely to find me walking the dogs through the scenic or down at the Bay or pounding the streets (slowly!!) as I train for the Queenstown Marathon. I’ve had a varied journey in my teaching profession – spending time in London and New York as a nanny, working in Kidz First and Starship Children’s Hospital as a
Play Specialist and most recently as Head Teacher at Esk Valley Kindergarten. For me, the absolute delight and passion for working with tamariki is seeing the world through their eyes – each and every day is filled with wonder, curiosity and most importantly fun as tamariki grow and continue their learning journey. Nga mihi, Cheryl Young
Welcome to Miranda Williamson who has joined our Pukeko room full time after relieving in our Under 2s room. Sam Peneamene will also join us in the Pukeko room three days a week commencing 29 August. Sam has been one of our relievers and we welcome her to the team, as well.
Next newsletter we will find out a little more about our new staff members Miranda and Sam.
PUKEKO ROOM NEWS
Our tāmariki have had a lot of fun over the past two weeks familiarising themselves with the new resources recently purchased for our room.
One of the most popular has been the three seated bike. The children have to work together to get it to move in the same direction or they get a lot of fun out of it spinning around around in different directions. It’s popularity has provided opportunities for children to work on their turn taking and negotiating skills.
There have been a lot of laughs and cheers as children figure out how to use the skipping ropes, new versions of a skipping rope, how to catch a ball into a scoop and how to reach out and swing across the new rope monkey bars. The children, as always, have enjoyed exploring other ways they can interact with these new resoruces – a skipping rope becomes a fishing rod, a bike can transport toys from one end of the playground to the other in so many different ways, while a crash pad can be a cubby, a safe landing spot, or a means to learn mathematical concepts such as number and colours.
If you haven’t had a chance to see our new resorces feel free to hang out and take a look. There addition has made for more challenges and risk taking within the children’s physical play.
Welcome to Miranda Williamson who has joined our Pukeko room full time after relieving in our Under 2s room. Sam Peneamene will also join us in the Pukeko room three days a week commencing 29 August. Sam has been one of our relievers and we welcome her to the team, as well.
Next newsletter we will find out a little more about our new staff members Miranda and Sam.
ATTENTION READ ME:
DAILY ABSENCE REMINDER
If your child is absent for the day, please call the Centre before 8.30am to receive your 50% discount on the fee for the day.
This also helps with the organisation of our staffing for the day.
We have noticed during this holiday period some parents have their child absent from Creative Corner and have not rung to advise us of this. You will therefore be charged full fees for your child’s absence.
CHILD SIGN IN/SIGN OUT
A reminder to always sign your child IN and OUT.
The Ministry of Education requires that every child is signed in and out every day. If the Centre holds a practice fire drill and children are not signed in for the day, theoretically they cannot be accounted for.
We use sign in sheets as the roll in an emergency, so it is important your child is included in our checks.
TIMEKEEPING
Please ensure that you are collecting your child by their booked time. If you come in early, we welcome you to stay with your child until their booked start time. Please document your child’s start time on the sign in sheets, not the time you get to the Centre with your child.
We need to be quite strict on this as we run to ratios and if parents are early dropping off or late collecting, we may not have either the space or the correct number of teachers.
A late fee of $10.00 will be charged if your child is picked up after our licensed hours closure of 5.15pm.
If you need to drop off early or collect late you need to discuss this with either Amy or the head teachers in advance so we can check that we have enough space and staff to facilitate your request.
Thank you for your attention to this.