What a beautiful and unforgettable day we shared at BestStart Jones Crescent Kindy!
We came together to celebrate Onam 2026 with our tamariki, whānau and wider kindy community.
Onam is a very special celebration for many of our families, and once again it gave us a wonderful opportunity to honour culture, strengthen relationships, and create meaningful memories together. We began the day by warmly welcoming our whānau into the centre. From the very beginning, there was a wonderful sense of excitement and togetherness.
Our tamariki proudly opened the celebration with a beautiful dance performance. They danced with confidence, joy and enthusiasm, and it was such a special moment for our kaiako and families to watch them shine. After the children’s performance, one of our lovely parents joined our kaiako Arshdeep for a special dance.
They paired up beautifully and brought so much energy and happiness to the celebration. Soon after, all our mums were invited to join in for a group dance. The room quickly filled with music, laughter, smiles and a real sense of connection. We then moved outside for some friendly family games. The boys and girls took part in an exciting tug-of-war competition.
The girls took an early lead, but the boys showed determination, teamwork and perseverance, eventually taking the win. Our mums and dads then had their own turn, and this year the dads’ team came out on top. The fun continued with musical chairs for both our tamariki and parents. There was so much cheering, laughter and excitement throughout the whole experience. It was lovely to see our children watching their parents join in, play, laugh and celebrate alongside them.
Of course, no Onam celebration would be complete without sharing a wonderful feast together. Sitting together over delicious food gave everyone another chance to connect, chat, laugh and enjoy each other’s company. For us, celebrations like this are about so much more than one special event. They are about belonging, culture, identity, relationships and community.
When tamariki see their families, languages, traditions and cultural celebrations valued within their learning environment, it strengthens their sense of who they are and where they belong. We are incredibly grateful to all our whānau who joined us, participated so enthusiastically and helped make the day so meaningful. The love, energy and support shared throughout the celebration reminded us once again how special our Jones community is.
At BestStart Jones Crescent Kindy, we are proud to continue building strong partnerships with our whānau and creating a place where everyone feels welcomed, respected and celebrated.
Happy Onam from our Jones whānau to yours. We are already looking forward to creating more beautiful memories together.