Look out for information about this year’s Matariki activities…
Here are the latest 'Events & news'
What a busy few months we’ve had at Brooklyn Early Childhood Centre this year!
QUIZ NIGHT
Our first major fundraiser for the year was the Quiz Night held on Sunday 22 April at the Brooklyn Bar and Bistro. As well as being a very succesful fundraiser, this was a great community event enjoyed by all the parents, wahanu, friends and teachers who attended. There was an option of a meal for those who wanted it, a raffle with fantastic prizes, and spot prizes on the night. A special feature was a round of questions about the centre!
Congratulations and a big THANK YOU to the parents who organised the quiz night: Justine, Sam and Tania, as well as to Stacey who did the organisation at the Centre end of the event.
WELL DONE AND A BIG THANK YOU FROM THE WHOLE TEAM
FISH AND CHIPS EVENING
We had our first fish and chips evening on 29 March. Families brought along their fish and chips and shared a lovely sunny evening at the centre. Teachers and committee members talked about some of the events that are coming up at BECC this year.
There was also a small fundraiser, a “Balloon Tree” where parents could chose a balloon and make a contribution in the form of a toy for the centre. The children have really enjoyed the new books, toys and puzzles that have been coming into the centre as a result.
Many thanks to the families who came along, the teachers and committee mebers who got up and talked, and the whanau who participated in the balloon tree!
CHINESE NEW YEAR
On Friday the 10th of February we had a shared lunch to celebrate Chinese New Year. Leading up to this celebration, teachers and children learned about Chinese New Year and did activities that reflect the celebration.
Many thanks to the parents who talked to us about their own family celebrations and brought in things for us to share. It added both to our learning and to our enjoyment of the festical. It was a great start to our year.
Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. In China, it is known as “Spring Festival,” The festival begins on the first day of the first month in the traditional Chinese calendar and ends with Lantern Festival which is on the 15th day.
Chinese New Year is the longest and most important festivity in the Chinese calendar. The origin of Chinese New Year is itself centuries old and gains significance because of several myths and traditions.
Within China, regional customs and traditions concerning the celebration of the Chinese New Year vary widely. People will pour out their money to buy presents, decoration, material, food, and clothing. It is also traditional for every family to thoroughly cleanse the house, in order to sweep away any ill-fortune and to make way for good incoming luck. Windows and doors will be decorated with red colour paper-cuts and couplets with popular themes of “good fortune” or “happiness”, “wealth”, and “longevity”. The Chinese New Year tradition is to reconcile, forget all grudges and sincerely wish peace and happiness for everyone.
Back by Popular Demand!!!
Brooklyn Early Childhood Centre Presents:
BECC BOOK NIGHT
Thursday 1st December, 7pm
at The Children’s Bookshop, 26 Kilbirnie Plaza, Kilbirnie
As well as the chance to do some Christmas Shopping at one of Wellington’s Best-Loved Shops, you will get:
- Friendly Advice from the Experts
- Nibbles
- Spot Prizes
We need to have an idea of numbers beforehand so please RSVP at the centre, on the form by the sign-in book.
See you there on the 1st of December
Christmas Party 2011
Thursday 15 December
12 – 2.45pm
At Brooklyn Early Childhood Centre
Shared Lunch
Nigel Kennedy Magic Show 1pm
Santa!!!!
Christmas Hamper Raffle
WHAT TO BRING BEFORE THE DAY OFTHE PARTY:
- $5 per childtowards the magician, please give to a teacher
- A $2 -$5 present for each child, named and wrapped, also to be given to one of the teachers before the day of the party
An item for the Christmas Hamper raffle
WHAT TO BRING ON PARTY DAY:
- A plate of food for lunch, to be dropped off at the centre as early as possible on the Thursday
- Cash for raffle tickets
Thursday children arrive as normal. Other
families arrive at midday and we’ll start lunch at 12.15.
Parents and younger siblings all welcome to
stay for the party, but no older siblings please.
THANK YOU to everyone involved in organizing, building and painting our new storage shed. Special thanks to Dulux for the paint. We have certainly been very lucky to have received so much support from Dulux.
Our thoughts continue to be with the people of Christchurch.
As the stories have gradually emerged of what happened during and immediately after the earthquake, it has become clear that earthquake drills played a significant role in helping all the thousands of preschool and school children survive. They reacted by doing what they had practiced. Here at the centre we practice doing “Turtles” with the children; stop what you are doing and crouch on the floor with knees drawn up underneath you and your hands clasped at the back of your neck (as pictured). We often practice this in a fun way as “The Hiding Game”.
We would like to remind you that in the event of a emergency here, teachers are required to stay with the children for 48 hours. As per policy, children will only be released into the care of one of the people listed as an emergency contact on their enrolment form.
Please check that we have up to date contacts for your child, including your own work and mobile phone numbers. This is the most important thing you can do to help us prepare for a civil defence emergency.
The centre’s Emergency Plan and Procedure is displayed on the wall above the cubbyholes, opposite the front door. There is also a summary in the May 2011 newsletter.
Winter Wonderland!
Matariki is our Aotearoa Pacific New Year. This year it starts on June 4. We are celebrating Matariki in a variety of ways over the month, and there will be something special happening for everyone.
POTLUCK NIGHT!
When: Thursday 23 June 2011
Where: Brooklyn Early Childhood Centre
Time: 6pm
This is a social event for all families to get together, mingle and celebrate Matariki. All you need to bring is a dish/pot/plate of food to be shared among everyone. You may bring in any form of food, ranging from a main course to desserts…yum!
We look forward to seeing you all!!!
Waiata for Matariki
This is the waiata we have been learning with the children, sung to the tune of “Twinkle Twinkle Litte Star”
Tirama Matariki
Tirama tirama Matariki
me ana nga tamariki
Tupuanuku, Tupuarangi,
Waiti, Waita,
Waipunarangi,
Matariki
Ko te potiki ko Ururangi.
Our Christmas Party is on Friday 17 December, from 12 -2.45pm, here at the centre.
The programme includes:
- Shared lunch
- Nigel Kennedy Magic Show 1pm
- Santa
- Christmas Hamper Raffle
What to bring before the day of the party:
- $5 per child towards the magician, please give to a teacher
- A $2-$5 present for each child, named and wrapped, also to be given to one of the teachers the day before the party
- An item for the Christmas Hamper Raffle
What to bring on party day:
- A plate of food for lunch to be dropped off at the centre as early as possible on the Friday
- Cash for raffle tickets
Friday children arrive as normal. Other families arrive at midday and we’ll start lunch at 12.15. Parents and younger siblings all welcome to stay for the party, but no older siblings please.
Come along to a night out at the movies with Julia Roberts starring in Eat Pray Love.
While Julia follows her heart to Rome, India and other places in a journey around the world, join friends and whanau from the Brooklyn Early Childhood Centre.
Enjoy a glass of wine, great company and the chance to wine spot prizes and a raffle.
Don’t miss out – this is the first screening of the film in Wellington.
Movie fundraiser details:
Doors open 8pm, for 8.30pm screening
on Wednesday 6 October
at The Penthouse Cinema, Brooklyn
$25 per ticket.
Continue reading ‘Eat Pray Love movie fundraiser, 6 October’
