Quiz Night - Saturday 22 August

Tickets available from the office from Monday 20th July.
Come along and support your kindergarten and enjoy this fantastic night.

Disco - 22nd May

Date: Friday 22nd May, 2015

Time: 5-7pm

Place: Kindergarten

Dress up in your favourite outfit and come along to dance the night away!

Bring a picnic dinner or buy a sausage, pizza and drink on the night. 

Bring your favourite wee tipple parents, and enjoy this lovely family tie. You might even like a dance!

Ride a Thon - 2015

Rangitoto Trip - 18/03/2015

Our trip to Rangitoto dawned bright and sunny. We piled on to the bus at 8am so we could race to catch the 9.25 ferry. The ferry ride was quick and straight up ahead we could see Rangitoto. We left the ferry and stopped for a quick morning tea before taking a stroll along the boardwalk through the mangroves. Next we headed for the fern walk which had some very interesting fauna that we were amazed could grow on the lava rock. We found out that the birds brought the seeds over to Rangitoto form the mainland. 

Next we headed up hill to check out the path of the lava flow. We reached another boardwalk with some information about the volcano, but the best thing was the amazing lava rocks all around. We braved climbing over them, being really careful as we knew how sharp they could be. 

From here it was back down to the bottom for some much deserved lunch, then an explore around the old baches and the shoreline. 

This trip to Rangitoto was a wonderful experince. For the children at Torbay Kindergarten this is their mountain. We see it every time we go down to Waiake beach and many can see it from their houses. The trip affirmed the scientific knowledge that the children had been exploring at kindergarten, and they brought a wealth of knowledge with them on the trip.

Ride-a-thon Saturday 21st March from 11-1 at Torbay School

Kiwi Valley Farm Trip - Wednesday 19th November

Trip day dawned lovely, fine and warm and the anticipation was building as everyone arrived at kindergarten. We piled on to the bus for the drive to Kiwi Valley Farm.
As the bus pulled into the driveway we got our first glimpse of the sheep in the paddock. We climbed off the bus, eager to see all the animals as soon as possible.
We started our visit in the main shed learning a few things about being on the farm. We learnt that it was important to be calm and quiet around the animals and to move slowly, not to run so that they didn't get scared.
As Farmer Crystal was talking the ducks and chickens were wandering around checking us all out, and a peacock even came into the shed for a look. We also met the Alpacas who were inside waiting to be shorn.
 Then we were on our way out to the farm for the first of our activities. Everyone got a ride on Spud the farm tractor, then given some food to feed the animals. We learnt how to hold the food with our hands flat so that the animals could eat off our hands without nibbling our fingers. It took a lot of courage for everyone to give this a go as the animals looked a lot bigger close up.
Then it was on to the horse riding arena where we all put on our helmets before riding. These are so important because it is a long way down from the horses back which can make it a bit scary. But everyone was so brave. When everyone had had a ride we moved through to the nursery area where we met the rabbits, guinea pigs, piglets, baby goats and even 2 water buffalo. We really had to practice our slow movements and quiet voices with the babies!
 Then it was back to the main shed for some well earned lunch and a play in the play ground. What a fantastic trip, a lot to see and to learn and a great chance to experience a farm environment up close.

Annie, Rachel, Tania, Jackie, Sandy and Leanne - 19th November 2014

Campfires Burning

What excitement we had here at kindergarten. We decided to build a fire in the sandpit. Some willing helpers dug a small pit and surrounded it with stones and then we laid the fire. Dodging rain drops we took a few dry moments to get the fire going and seated ourselves around the edge of the campfire. Annie got out the guitar and we sang the songs that we had practiced for our visit to Fairview Retirement home.
Then it was time to toast marshmallows. After all, its not a true campfire until you have your hot and sticky marshmallow!
What a lovely way to spend a morning.
The children experienced a real feeling of belonging and community being part of sharing songs, conversation and of course, the marshmallows. It was also a good lesson in fire safety. We had the water close and all kept our distance from the fire.
So much fun. Hopefully we can do this again soon.