Moira Gallagher Kindergarten

As the oldest kindergarten in Porirua, located in multicultural Cannons Creek, we have a strong relationship with our community.

Alongside our relationship with the community, we have a distinct cultural programme. Whanaungatanga, Manaakitanga, Whakapapa and Tuakana/Teina play a significant role in our teaching philosophy. Through this teachers support children’s independence and extend their thinking, empowering them to make decisions about their own learning. Children flourish in our environment as it reflects and embraces their values and culture, especially Maori and Pasifika.     

Computer technology is also part of our curriculum; we have the newest Mimio interactive whiteboards, along with five IPads which enhance our teaching and learning programme. These help to extend children’s creativity, literacy, numeracy, music and social skills. We use Storypark, online e-portfolios, to share children’s learning with parents and whanau.       

We provide breakfast each morning, as well as fruit at morning tea time. From time to time we also do baking and cooking with children during sessions. We are a peanut-free kindergarten.     

Our ‘transition to school’ programme includes visiting the new entrant class at Windley School each week as children near 5 years old. To aid in the transition to school, we create transitions booklets about each child for their new entrant teacher. We also use the Casey the Caterpillar literacy programme (also used at Windley School), which provides children with literacy knowledge for starting school.