July was a busy and memorable month at our centre, filled with learning, celebrations, and opportunities for our tamariki to connect with their culture, community, and each other.
We began the month by celebrating Matariki, the Māori New Year, which is a special time for remembrance, reflection, gratitude, and looking ahead to the future.
Our tamariki enjoyed learning about the seven stars of the Matariki cluster and exploring the meaning behind this important celebration. Through stories, discussions, and creative experiences, children across all age groups, from our babies through to our preschoolers, learned about the values of Matariki and why it is such an important part of Aotearoa New Zealand’s cultural heritage.
Each classroom created beautiful artwork and special keepsakes to take home, allowing families to share in their children's learning. As part of our Matariki celebrations, we continued our annual tradition of providing a delicious and nutritious vegetable soup for our whānau.
The soup was made using ingredients generously contributed by our wonderful staff and families, and it was heartwarming to see so many people enjoying this special community offering. This tradition is something we look forward to each year, as it brings everyone together and reflects the spirit of sharing and caring that Matariki represents.
The school holidays also took place during July, and our teachers planned a range of exciting activities to keep tamariki engaged and entertained. Children enjoyed dress-up day, face painting, wheels day, and baking activities connected to our Matariki celebrations.
There was plenty of laughter, creativity, and fun as children participated in these special experiences. Another exciting highlight was celebrating BestStart's 30th birthday. We marked this significant milestone with celebrations in the centre and enjoyed sharing birthday cake together. To make the month even more special, we welcomed a visit from Bunnings, where tamariki had the opportunity to paint their own clay pots and plant colourful pansies to take home.
This hands-on experience was enjoyed by everyone and encouraged creativity as well as an appreciation for nature. Overall, July was a wonderful month full of meaningful learning experiences, special celebrations, community connections, and lots of happy memories for our tamariki and whānau.