The year that was 2021
Carterton Playcentre
SESSION FACILITATOR
Fun on the swings with friends.
Megan McMillen Kia ora koutou, I am the Session Facilitator and also a parent at Carterton Playcentre. As a parent I have been coming to Playcentre for nearly five years. I have cherished my time with my children here, I made many beautiful memories with them at Playcentre. As a qualified Early Childhood Teacher, I was employed to support parents in their role as kaiako. I support and facilitate a learning-rich environment that is play-based and child led. Together we make sure that children’s needs are catered for and that we can all celebrate their early learning journey together. The early years is a unique and wondrous time of life. It truly is an honour to be a part of the rapid growth that occurs during these tamariki earliest years. To do this alongside parents and caregivers further enriches the child’s early childhood experience. It is a place for us all to learn and grow.
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STUDENTS
Here at Playcentre we are whānau and child led. Our children know that Playcentre is their place to explore, foster relationships, play and get messy! This is what I love the most because together as a group of parents and children, we laugh, learn, respect and care for each other. This develops strong foundations for a lifetime. I am very proud to be part of the Carterton Playcentre community and would encourage anyone in the area to pay us a visit. It’s been another eventful year here at Carterton Playcentre, with some highs and some lows. With its unique set-up, we built a strong community of parents and children who support each other no matter what. This year, in addition to the play-based learning that we experience during every session, we have also taken our tamariki on outings to further expand their learning and understand the environment they are growing in. We went to Forest School, where the children were able to feed the horses, make soup and damper bread and discover
Playcentre is based on the philosophy of whānau tupu ngā tahi - families growing together and is a whānau led early-learning service for 0-6 year olds. The aim is to enrich communities by strengthening parent engagement and recognising parents and whānau as the first and best educators of children. In practice, this means each Playcentre is cooperatively governed and led by volunteer parents. Skills practised when contributing to self-managing a Playcentre develops adult organisational skills, which later benefit the community.
Some of our members on a recent trip.
Playcentre creates a sense of belonging as families share responsibilities and decisionmaking. Playcentre is bigger than just an earlylearning centre and its sessions. The value and learning filter out of the session and into our daily lives and has an impact on both child and parent. For children, Playcentre is unstructured learning where they learn by doing what they do best; being children and playing. By providing them with the access to resources, materials and opportunities, parents are learning alongside their children as they explore the world around them and how they interact with it.
Children enjoying messy play.
Playcentre also provides an education programme for whanau to support the informal learning taking place in a centre leading to an expansion in parenting and Early Childhood Education skills. Completing the education programme will mean that carers will also receive recognised ECE qualifications. We encourage any family with young children in the area to visit and meet us. You will be welcome with open arms. Nau mai, haere mai!
THINK JAYCAR
Have a plumbing emergency? We are here to help
Books for children who love to play, laugh, and learn.
17 Queen Street, Masterton 06 377 1870
Children love to help with baking on sessions.
native trees. We also visited a local farm, one owned by one of our parents, where the children saw cows and pigs. We also went on a walk through the woods of Fensham Reserve.
THINK CHRISTMAS.
Kids toys, remote control cars and much more in store!
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Celebrating the triumphs & experiences of education in Wairarapa
Snuggle in for some good stories. Best wishes to you all.
3 Clifford Square, Featherston (beside the playground) chickenandfrog20@gmail.com | 021 293 5224 Open Friday - Sunday, 10am - 4pm Plus Thursdays during School Holidays And Public Holiday Mondays
Its always fun at the craft table.
Art, Crafts, Gifts, Books, Toys and much more
-New builds -Renovations -Maintenance & repairs -Hot water systems -Gas fitting -Wood & gas fires -Solar installs -Drainage -Water pumps
Plus 2018 Calendars and Diaries still available
Call us today 027 282 1119
80 High Street North, Carterton Phone (06) 379 8231
