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Our centre, Rakiura Rugrats, embraces the unique and special opportunities of Rakiura, our Island paradise and playground. The natural landscape and local community are Te Puka, the anchor stone for the learning of Nga Tamariki.
We are committed to providing an emergent, bicultural curriculum in an environment that empowers children to contribute to their own learning based on Te Whariki.
Our philosophy at Rakiura Rugrats aims to provide nurturing, high quality early childhood education for Stewart Island children. Tamariki are viewed and treated as capable, competent, and valued members of our learning community, child-initiated and play based experiences are reflected through our centre values. We support children to guide their own learning through observing, problem solving, and exploring the environment at their own pace.
We support our Tamariki to be Kaitiaki, guardians, of Papatuanuku. Rugrats provides opportunities for free range learning in untouched, natural environment of Rakiura. Tamariki explore Mother Nature through Bush School, nature walks, and local beach excursions. We utilise the local knowledge of our community and encourage reciprocal relationships to promote children’s connection with Tane Mahuta, Tangaroa, and all of their Tamariki.
Our teaching philosophy aims to enhance and foster exploration and learning through working alongside Nga Tamariki. Language, literacy, numeracy, and ideas around sustainability are integrated into our curriculum through teachable moments.
The teaching staff aim to create an environment that is nurturing, warm, and stimulating. Nga Kaiako view the environment as the third teacher and work hard to ensure that it is enriching, inclusive, and encourages a sense of wonder. We are passionate about children respecting and valuing each other, themselves, and the world around them. Our centre ensures ongoing support for teaching staff through professional development, and a strong connection with the Halfmoon Bay School teachers, and other southland practices.
We are a community based early childhood education centre that is managed by a volunteer committee of dedicated parents who take shared responsibility in running the Centre. All families are actively involved in the parent help rosters, working bees, and fundraising to ensure the ongoing viability.
We are proud to live on Stewart Island, Rakiura in such a strong, resilient, and resourceful community and wish to pass on these values through our teaching, community involvement, and whanau.