Tamariki work together on their artwork.
The team at Papakura Baptist Kindergarten recently used some of the new Enviroschools reflection tools to share their journey with two key Enviroschools teachers at Our Lady Star of the Sea (where many of the tamariki transition to school), Carbon auditor Nigel Zhang (who helped them capture their carbon footprint), and Cate Jessep, their Enviroschools facilitator.
Kaiako shared their highlights, how inspiring it is working at Pakuranga Baptist Kindergarten and how they enjoy learning alongside tamariki.
Together they said they enjoyed completing the reflection matrix, which helped them recognise how everything they do in the kindergarten is linked to the Enviroschools Guiding Principles across the whole kindergarten. They said reflecting at this time of year was helpful and enabled them to plan for next year, and that the process was empowering and energising.
Jacqui Lees, head teacher, explains how they captured student voice and were able to hear and see the depth of understanding (see examples below).
Jacqui shares highlights
Tamariki learn about mapping their place.
Reflecting on our Enviroschools journey holistically has been motivating for us at Papakura Baptist Kindergarten. Having a whole new team has reinvigorated our Enviroschools mahi and allowed us to begin some new initiatives. Over the past few years our nature schoolwork called Outdoor Explorers, has become a driver for all of our curriculum.
We have been delving deeply into mapping our environment as part of our place-based pedagogy. Families are now also spending more time walking in natural spaces with their children.
Exploring our place
“I like Outdoor Explorers, we like finding birds and the kingfisher and butterfly. Picking up trash and rolling down the hill. Also, I like the kōwhai and pōhutukawa tree. I like finding skinks and hedgehops on the way to the koru. We learn about which trees are good for climbing. The little trees are not for climbing, they are still growing, we need to care for them.” – Miles
One of our children turned 5 recently and for his last-day adventure he took his whole family for a walk around the estuary to see the koru mown into the grass by one of our neighbourhood friends (see banner image).
“We like climbing the trees and hiding in the tree. We learn about the trees and how to look after them. We like throwing rocks in the river and doing rollie pollies, picking flowers and seeing birds and butterflies. We love running on the koru that Ash made.” – Asees
Growing great learners
Growing food enriches life at Papakura Baptist Kindergarten.
“We compost because it makes Papatūānuku happy, it doesn’t make her tummy sore.” – Max
This year we began Garden to Table – currently a highlight for our children each week. Parents are asking for the recipes so they can cook our vegetarian meals at home and are able to take home seedlings we grow at kindergarten for their own gardens.
“Gardens make special food, we made risotto it tasted good. We grow our own vegies, so they don’t have to come from the supermarket and go in an airplane or truck. We might grow some at home if my mummy and daddy build a vegie garden. We planted more flowers for the bees and butterflies and birds – every creature that’s got wings, so they can collect pollen and make us vegetables and fruit.” – Madeleine
Affirming and continuing
“We like nature and finding plants to bring back to kindy. We explore and meet bees. We pick up the rubbish that people leave by the estuary, we are looking after Papatūānuku.” – Madeleine
Essence words chosen by whānau as part of the reflection process to describe the Enviroschools kaupapa at Pakuranga Baptist Kindergarten were: embedded, integrated, effective, visionary, sustained, empowered, courageous, deep, critical and instinctive…
Kaiako celebrate!