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Our special waka
BestStart Waihi East vision has a strong focus on working in partnership with others. One of our amazingly talented dads has drawn us a waka. It is full of meaning: the left side shows us our whakapapa, where we come from. The middle symbol means partnership and the head means where we are going (together). Our tamariki have seen this dad drawing and explaining all symbols to them over the last weeks. It has become an incredible teaching tool, embracing our culture and linking into our philosophy and localized curriculum. Every step of the way, our tamariki have been able to identify what they were learning.
We added all the tamariki photos to the waka and when they come in each day they put their photo in the waka, and when they leave, they take their photo out.
It has increased the sense of belonging for all. Look at this boy's face when he found himself sitting in the waka- he was just so very excited.
We are just so deeply grateful that we are all in the same waka here in our small centre.