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Here at Silverdale Kindergarten we take pride in our Enviroschool focus/the Maori concept- kaupapa (foundations, principles and philosophy).
We are creating a healthy, peaceful, sustainable world through people teaching and learning together.Together the children and teachers are on a journey learning the art of sustainability through growing vegetables, gardening, being plastic bag free, worm farming and composting fruit and vegetable scraps. We reduce, reuse and recycle.
Teachers have created a welcoming environment for Māori children and their whānau that strongly reflects the centre’s bicultural focus. Māori perspectives are woven through the programme and teachers naturally integrate te reo Māori through the use of short phrases, words and waiata. We also partake in an annual Maori kapahaka festival. We have many cultures represented in our kindergarten.
Our team works closely with our families to understand the different cultural needs of each child. We use greetings in various languages and have a specific cultural area. Families are encouraged to share their culture with us through stories, songs and cultural celebrations. Each week we take a group of children out into the environment. Often into the bush behind the school next door we go eeling, exploring and learning about our natural environment. We require parent support for these amazing adventures where curiosity and exploration are a key component.
Our Purpose
To provide effective early childhood education services to ensure every child leaves kindergarten with the foundations of personal development and a love of life and learning
Your Child, Your Place
At our centres your child will learn:
- How to relate to other children and their teachers
- How to take responsibility, develop independence and self-confidence
- How to share and explore their understanding of people, places and things
- How to express ideas and acknowledge feelings
- Negotiating, turn taking, cooperation and conflict resolution
- Respect for other cultures, languages and traditions
- How to better interact with family and the wider community
- Hauora (the four dimensions of health), physical, mental, social and spiritual health
- Sustainability and the natural environment
Our History
Kaitiaki Kindergartens were originally known as the East Coast Bays Free Kindergarten Association. Torbay was the association’s first kindergarten which opened in 1954 and it is still a very active kindergarten to this day. As we grew we became known as the Northern Auckland Free Kindergarten Association. Today, we go by the name of ‘Kaitiaki Kindergartens’. Kaitiaki means, “a guardian or trustee, typically of an environmental area or resource.” This change reflects our responsibility to each and every child, community member and kindergarten in the Kaitiaki wider family.
We’re about:
- children, families and whanau
- quality early childhood education
- a qualified and registered workforce
- community
- not-for-profit
- home grown
- kiwi owned
Kindergarten is a partnership between:
Teachers
Qualified, registered teachers provide and deliver educational programmes under the guidance and support of the Professional Practice Leaders.
Our communities
Support teachers and the Association to help raise funds to ensure it has the resources required by the teachers and staff and to build community relationships.
Board of management
Elected by the community by members (parents/whanau) to govern the Association. The board sets policies and the strategic direction of the Association and appoints the General Manager to manage the Association on their behalf.
