Last Friday evening, despite the cold rain, a number of our wonderful families braved the weather to join us for our second Parents’ Hui of the year.
We know schedules get busy—so we’re thrilled to finally share the highlights with our BestStart whānau here!
With so many of our families new to Aotearoa and coming from diverse cultural backgrounds, this gathering gave us a chance to come together, learn, and grow as a community.
We invited Shayle Moana Jenkins, an experienced ECE and primary teaching assistant, to demystify what children can expect on their first day of school—everything from classroom routines to the skills teachers look for in new students.
Her insights were invaluable, and we could see the relief and excitement on our families’ face as they absorbed strategies for helping their children feel confident and ready. Our teaching team also shared our “Set for School” curriculum—how we nurture early literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional skills each day, and the ways they can partner with us at home.
Hearing their stories, questions, and feedback reminded us why we do this work: to empower our children with the very best start. Thanks to our families for their warmth, their curiosity, and their trust in us. We look forward to our next hui, where we’ll welcome another primary teacher to deepen our understanding of the school’s new entry curriculum.
Together, we are building a strong foundation—for our children, for our families, and for our community.