Over the past few months, we have been strengthening our relationship with our local high school, Kaikorai Valley College, and what a special journey it has been! š
Every Thursday morning, a group of Year 7 and 8 Äkonga (students) joins us at BestStart Kaikorai Valley for an hour of connection, play and shared learning with our tamariki (children).
Our mornings are filled with stories being read, balls being kicked, chasing games being played and plenty of digging in the sandpit! These simple moments create meaningful opportunities for friendships to grow, confidence to flourish and learning to happen naturally through play.
Our tamariki absolutely love having the “school kids” come to visit. The excitement begins as soon as they spot them walking through the door! There is a real sense of anticipation and joy as our tamariki eagerly welcome their older friends, ready to share their play spaces, ideas and discoveries.
These visits are about so much more than just having fun. They reflect the importance of whanaungatanga — building and maintaining meaningful relationships, a sense of belonging and connection within our community. By spending time together, our tamariki and the visiting Äkonga are learning from one another, developing social skills, practising communication and experiencing the value of being part of a wider learning community.
Last term, we were also incredibly fortunate to be treated to a special kapa haka performance by the Kaikorai Valley College Äkonga. Our tamariki watched and listened in amazement, captivated by the performance, the actions and the beautiful sounds of the waiata. It was a wonderful opportunity for our youngest learners to experience and connect with te ao MÄori through waiata, rhythm, movement and cultural expression.
Inspired by what they had seen and heard, our tamariki confidently shared some of our own waiata in return as a way of saying ngÄ mihi (thank you). It was a beautiful moment of reciprocity, pride and connection, showing how music and shared cultural experiences can bring people together across different ages and stages of learning.
At BestStart Kaikorai Valley, we value the important role te reo MÄori and tikanga MÄori play in our learning environment. Through waiata, kapa haka, everyday te reo MÄori and opportunities to connect with others, our tamariki are developing an appreciation for MÄori culture while growing their confidence, identity and sense of belonging. These experiences support our commitment to Te WhÄriki, our early childhood curriculum, which recognises the importance of relationships, family and community, and children learning through responsive and reciprocal interactions.
Our growing relationship with Kaikorai Valley College is a wonderful example of how learning extends beyond the walls of our own learning environment. It allows our tamariki to build familiarity with their wider community, while the older Äkonga have opportunities to practise leadership, show manaakitanga (care, kindness and respect for others) and experience the joy of connecting with younger learners.
We look forward to continuing to nurture this special relationship and seeing where our shared learning journey takes us next.
He waka eke noa — We are all in this together. š