Teachers Taufau & Liai with our transition group 4 & 5 yr olds.
While out at the project doing an electrical walk through, our 4 & 5 year olds dropped in to visit the new centre.
The feedback from the children was encouraging. They enjoyed the huge reserve park as they ran and walked around the whole premises. Comments such as "I like my new centre", "we walked here Tiana from our school" and "what a big house" confirmed the children's excitement of a new facility for the community. Although the children from Puna O le Atamai will not accommodate the new facility, they can be assured they have a sister school around the corner for daily trips and visits. What is more profound, are the many children along with their families from Puna O le Atamai that have supported the building of the new facility through their fundraising efforts over the last couple of years.
This confirms my belief that our NZ early childhood curriculum Te Whaariki has got it right "the curriculum builds on what children bring to it and makes links with the everyday activities and special events of families, whanau, local communities and cultures...culutrally appropriate ways of communicating should be fostered, and participation in the early childhood education programme by whanau, parents, extended family, and elders in the community should be encouraged". (Ministry of Education, 1996).
There is no telling the amount of effort, volunteer hours and support our staff, parents, children and families of our Samoan community have contributed to the fundraising towards our new centre. What is more significant is the knowledge that everyone involved is doing this for others - to encourage more participation from our Pasifika families because we value our children. To the families of Puna O le Atamai - you have established a legacy for future generations to enjoy and remember for years to come. Malo Saili Malo!
