At BestStart Epsom, celebrations are more than special occasions. They are meaningful opportunities for tamariki to strengthen relationships, develop a sense of belonging and explore the values that help create a caring and inclusive community.
We have enjoyed celebrating several special events together, each creating memorable learning experiences for our children and whānau.
For Mother’s Day, tamariki lovingly created beautiful handprint gifts to show their appreciation for their mothers and the important people who care for them. It was wonderful to welcome our whānau for a special afternoon tea, sharing laughter, conversations and precious moments together. This celebration provided an opportunity for children to recognise the love, care and gratitude that help strengthen family relationships.
Shortly afterwards, we celebrated Pink Shirt Day, where tamariki proudly dressed in pink and explored the importance of kindness, inclusion, empathy and friendship. Through collaborative oil pastel artwork, pink playdough experiences and creating their own “Be Kind” bracelets, children discovered how small acts of kindness can help others feel safe, respected and valued.
It was heartwarming to see tamariki encouraging one another, working together and demonstrating these values throughout the day.
Our celebrations continued with International Family Day, giving children the opportunity to share family photos and proudly talk about the people who are special to them. As tamariki listened to one another’s stories, they learned that every family is unique and equally valued.
These meaningful conversations supported children’s sense of belonging, strengthened their communication skills and encouraged respect for the diversity of families and cultures within our learning community. To conclude the celebration, each child created a special “Lollipop Family Photo” artwork to take home as a keepsake.
These celebrations were about much more than marking special dates on the calendar. They provided authentic opportunities for tamariki to build positive relationships, develop confidence in expressing themselves, appreciate diversity and experience the values of aroha, manaakitanga and whanaungatanga in meaningful ways.
We are incredibly grateful to all our whānau for your continued support and involvement. Your participation helps us create a strong and inclusive community where every child feels a sense of belonging and has the opportunity to flourish.
Ngā mihi nui to all our wonderful families for celebrating with us. We look forward to creating many more meaningful memories together throughout the year.