At Howick Kindergarten, we’ve had a vibrant and joy‑filled start to the year, with our tamariki deeply engaged in experiences that celebrate culture, community, and aroha. These special moments have created meaningful learning opportunities and strengthened the sense of belonging we cherish within our kindergarten whānau.

Our Chinese New Year celebrations brought excitement, curiosity, and plenty of delicious smells to the kindergarten. Florence’s mum generously shared her treasured wonton recipe, guiding the children as they carefully folded their own wontons — a hands-on experience that filled the room with pride. Throughout the week, tamariki learned simple Chinese phrases, explored how different families celebrate the New Year, and helped create a beautiful wishing tree adorned with blessings and artwork.

Soon after, we celebrated “Aroha Day,” a thoughtful and inclusive response to Valentine’s Day led by Kaiako Shelina. The kindergarten was filled with love notes from whānau, heartfelt affirmations, and magical moments thanks to the Howick Kindergarten fairies. Each child had a turn on the special Aroha throne as their note — or a lovingly crafted “invisible” message — was read aloud. Warm fuzzies, songs, smiles, and a joyful balloon surprise made it a day where aroha could be seen, heard, and truly felt.

Our commitment to honouring our community continued with a special visit from Bobbin the Water Safety Starfish. Through story sharing, questions, and fun interactions, Bobbin helped tamariki learn how to keep safe around water, the importance of adult supervision, and being SunSmart. The next day, children proudly revisited their new knowledge — reminding us to wear sunscreen, stay close to an adult, and put on life jackets.

We have also enjoyed a fantastic time together at the Owairoa School junior playground for a fun time full of pedals, puddles and pure joy!  Tamariki pedaled with such determination and heart and we have amazing supported from our incredible parents with generous food contributions and cheering loudly on the sidelines—this support truly makes these community events special. We love strengthening our bond with our local school, and seeing the pride on our children’s faces as they completed their laps was the perfect highlight to a beautiful day.

Together, these experiences highlight what makes our kindergarten so special: celebrating culture authentically, nurturing emotional wellbeing, and connecting with our whānau and wider community. It has been a wonderful reminder that learning happens best when it is joyful, meaningful, and shared.