Waitohi Kindergarten Pause to Reflect
Last week Waitohi Kindergarten pulled in their hoe (paddles), slowing their Enviroschools waka to create time and space to reflect on their journey.
The analogy of the waka and/ or awa is used within Enviroschools to think of the journey that is embarked upon when engaging with the programme. The journey of your school or Kindergarten may start as a slow trickle or a waka with only one or two people paddling but as the journey continues it brings on more “paddlers” and more creeks feed into the main awa which creates more momentum.
At times it is important to stop paddling, or pull into the calm waters so that you can take a break, reflect on where you have come from, take in your surroundings and plan for the journey ahead.
The teaching team from Waitohi Kindergarten have been steadily paddling since 2019 when they last reflected. With support from Ramona and Annie they carved out sometime at the end of a busy year to reflect on the time between then and now.
Through a facilitated discussion using tools from Enviroschools it was easy to see that the Enviroschools kaupapa is embedded in their Kindergarten. This is most noticeable through the impact and presence that they have in their community. Their journey extends well beyond their Kindergarten gates – they have reciprocal relationships with local iwi, kura, businesses and whānau. They truly have grown a Sustainable Community. Tamariki are also empowered with opportunities to extend and challenge themselves, to be leaders, explorers, to show kaitiaki and give everything their best. Every child is nurtured and their “mana moments” celebrated.
We look forward to seeing where their journey takes them next year when they pick up their hoe and start paddling again.