TENA RA KOUTOU
(Greetings to you)

FAREWELL - KA KITE
We said goodbye Tom Strachan and Ashley Mehrtens from the Pukeko Room. Happy school days Tom and Ashley!

WELCOME - NAU MAI
Welcome to Ella Gavigan and Maddox Drake who join us in the Kaka room.

NON-ATTENDANCE FORMS FOR UPCOMING HOLIDAYS
Thanks to those who have completed these for their children – please fill out a form if your child will be away between 8 July-19 July – this enables us to better organise our staff over this period.

MEET OUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS
Having been a part of the Creative Corner family since our son Oliver started there 5 years ago, I feel very excited and privileged to have been asked to join the Board.
Now with our daughters Freya & Willa attending, and having witnessed firsthand how amazing the staff and facilities are, I'm really looking forward to offering some fresh ideas.
With my background in marketing and design, I'm hoping to assist where I can to help Creative Corner continue to be the best Centre in South Canterbury.
(Eamon Haggart)

Hi, I’m Sam Wilson, my daughter Maggie is 2 years old and has recently joined the ranks of the Pukekos. She’s been at Creative Corner for just over a year and we really love the culture and vibe that the Centre presents.
It was for that reason, and the desire to have as much of a hands-on involvement in my kids’ education as possible, that I agreed to join the BOT. That, and Amy’s promise of regular Board drinks.
We look forward to being part of the CC whanau until our youngest, George, hits school in 5 years.” Cheers, Sam
(Sam Wilson)

VALUES
Our final Centre Value is Resilience.
This is an important lifelong skill. Being able to bounce back when things have not gone to plan and manage stress.
Ways you will see this exemplified around the Centre are – building children’s capacity to name and talk about their feeling, mindfulness practices, and being able to problem solve with decreasing levels of teacher support (as abilities increase).

KIA ORA FROM THE PUKEKO ROOM
Throughout the past couple of weeks our tamariki have been learning about Matariki - the Maori New Year. They have engaged in a range of experiences aimed at helping them to develop a deeper understanding of this yearly cultural event. This has included weaving their own ketes, creating paper lanterns, making salt dough creations, star biscuits; as well as singing and dancing to a range of waiata. However, one of the highlights was our Pyjama Day and all-day shared parakuihi (breakfast). We would like to thank all whanau for their effort and support with encouraging their tamariki to dress up and wear their onesies and warm winter PJ’s on the day.
The addition of some newly borrowed WAVE resources has allowed the children to further extend their interest in jumping, sliding, balancing and experimenting with different ways to move their bodies on a range of physical equipment. This week, many have also chosen to take on the challenge of our MISSION INPOSSIBLE obstacle course. A complex woven spiderweb of ribbon, where the children have to think ahead and problem solve how to move up, down, over and through the twisted ribbon, in order to get to the end. It has created a bit of healthy competition. (Having the Mission Impossible music playing, in the background added to the atmosphere, with one child even stating to a teacher,” Can you keep the music playing please…. as we can’t do the course without the music!!!” (Video of children available to view on our Facebook page). (Kerry)

KIA ORA FROM THE KAKA ROOM
After a month of sickness, it’s great to see everyone back to good health! It was a busy month with teachers and children away but we made it through!
This month the children have loved being involved with the WAVE resources that we have hired and have enjoyed having them within the classroom. Last week myself and Amy hung up curtains in the room that have changed the way the room looks and feels. Over the next few weeks we will be developing our classroom and would love feedback with what works and what doesn't when we try something new.
Thank you to those that have already filled out the Kaka survey; keep these coming as they are valuable to us. Thanks. (Katy)

DAILY ABSENCE REMINDER
There is a lot of sickness around at the moment, with both children and staff being affected. We ask that 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.
If you do not advise of your child’s absent, you will be charged full fees for your child’s absence.

CHILDREN SIGN IN/SIGN OUT
A reminder to please 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. Thanks.

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.
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 amount of teachers.
If you need to drop off early or collect late you need to discuss this with either Amy or Kate in advance so we can check that we have enough space and staff to facilitate your request. Thank you for your attention to this.