News

January 2025
Our Holiday Programme!

What a fun filled week we have had this week for our holiday program. We have had to have some inside time due to the rain but we didn't let that stop us from having fun and once it was sunny we were outside enjoying the fresh air and warmth. Monday was Storytelling Day. Coming into the nursery/preschool room after the new year break, our day was quite mixed up weather-wise, cold and a little drizzly. However, our Isla came in dressed as Old MacDonald's Farm and brought her farm book along with her. As everyone else arrived, we had classic puzzles on the table of The Three Little Pigs, Billy Goats Gruff and Little Red Riding Hood. Tuesday, we had Water/Beach Day. For our classroom provocation we had four water trays with sea creatures in them. We had decorated your own beach towel in our art area. We got outside to do some water play and to play in the sandpit. We put out impression tiles for our tamariki to enjoy we were at the beach with an ice cream to end our day with. Wednesday was Fruit Day. We had three different kai times where we were able to educate our tamariki of the fruits they had in their lunch boxes. Our provocation for the day was fruit sorting with tongs on trays, we had our own ice cream pictures, coloured by different coloured dye and towards our afternoon tea, we cut up mandarins, banana and apples to share. Thursday was Wheels Day. We decided to surprise our tamariki with a mini excursion to our carpark to ride around in with their favourite mode of transportation. This gave our children the opportunity to ride in an area that they would see their own whanau bringing them to preschool. What a blast wheels day was! The tamariki did some great sharing of their bikes with each other and we got to have a little adventure and ride the bikes somewhere a little new. And lastly, Friday was Nature Day. We set up our nature trays with sand, leaves, pinecones and shells. On the other provocation table, we had puzzles that highlighted the different seasons. It was a great Holiday Programme week.

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October 2024
Highlights from our October Holiday Programme

At our centre, we believe in blending fun with learning, and our recent Holiday Programme was a perfect reflection of that philosophy. From Book Day to PJ and Pamper Day, our tamariki (children) enjoyed a range of activities that fostered creativity, teamwork, and a love for learning. Here’s a glimpse into some of the exciting days we had planned! Book Day We kicked off our celebrations with Book Day, where we delved into the imaginative and informative world of pukapuka (books). The tamariki had a wonderful day sharing their favorite stories with one another, igniting a passion for reading. This early love for books not only sparks curiosity but also lays the foundation for lifelong literacy skills. It was heartwarming to see the children engaged and excited about the stories they shared! Pizza Day Next up was Pizza Day, a delicious adventure where our tamariki made their own individual pizzas. The activity required patience, listening skills, and creativity. As they rolled out the dough and chose their toppings, the excitement in the room was palpable. The pizzas turned out fantastic—delicious enough to make any chef proud! A special shoutout to Bowie, who brought extra fun to the day by donning a pizza hat and shirt. What a great way to enjoy cooking together! Crazy Day Our Crazy Day was filled with laughter and silliness as our friends showcased their wild side with crazy hairdos and silly faces. The highlight was a crazy face competition, where Huxley took home the title! The tamariki also enjoyed making wacky faces using magnet boards and celebrating the day with face painting. It was a joyful reminder of how creativity can bring us all together. Water/Beach Day On Water/Beach Day, we explored the wonders of oceans and water. The tamariki played with mini beaches set up on our table-top and, despite the chilly weather, engaged in a short but thrilling water fight! Tommy and Quinn were particularly competitive, bringing excitement to the day. It was a fantastic way to learn about the ocean while having fun with friends. PJ and Pamper Day Finally, we wrapped up our week with PJ and Pamper Day. Our tamariki started the day with delicious pancakes, fueling them for a day of relaxation and fun. We practiced manaakitanga (hospitality) as each friend took turns in the barber’s chair for a pampering session that cost “one million dollars!” We also enjoyed a calming foot spa, yoga, and mindful breathing exercises. It was a perfect way to unwind and promote well-being among our tamariki. These events not only brought joy and laughter but also reinforced important skills and values such as teamwork, creativity, and kindness. We are proud of our tamariki for their participation and enthusiasm. We look forward to more fun-filled learning experiences in the future!

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September 2024
Ball Skills and Teamwork

We were very lucky to have such a beautiful and sunny day!

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August 2024
Our Olympic Games

Our Tamariki had an amazing two full weeks of Olympic games! We started off with an opening ceremony and torch baring and then held different sports events each day.

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July 2024
Hōngongoi July 2024

Written  by Kaiako Nicola from the nursery The Tamariki in the nursery are developing their communication skills every day. I really enjoy talking to whānau in the morning and hearing what the tamariki have been communicating at home.

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April 2023
Childcare Assistance Update

Effective 1 April 2023, more people will be eligible for subsidy and the hourly subsidy rates will increase.

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March 2021
Growing Kiwi Gardeners Programme

Growing Kiwi Gardeners vision is to be the leading provider of sustainable gardening and professional development programmes for early childhood services in Aotearoa New Zealand. We love our sessions at Active Explorers Tai Tapu.

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Hey Dee Ho at Active Explorers Tai Tapu

We are excited to announce we will now be offering Hey Dee Ho music classes at our centre! Contact us to find out more about this amazing programme!

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February 2021
Playball at Active Explorers Tai Tapu

Playball© is a sport and movement programme for children between the ages of two and nine. All of the programs are taught in a fun-filled, energetic positive, environment and for the last 25 years. children from all over the world have loved it! Our tamariki love our weekly Playball sessions!

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March 2019
Tai Tapu Village Fair

Parents, children and staff had a great day at Tai Tapu Village Fair.

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Home grown salad sandwiches

Today we picked some of the lettuce out of our garden and made some sandwiches for afternoon tea.

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September 2018
Celebrating Maori Language Week at Active Explorers Tai Tapu

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Maori Language Week)

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