Our first ever mahi (work) introducing Matariki was our storytelling time and our focus letter of the alphabet M.

This story introduced to our little STARS is about the importance of Matariki and her 6 daughters (whānau you can check the story out on YouTube just search for ‘Matariki’ and also there is a waiata (song) that we sing that helps us to learn the names of each of the seven stars, it is called “E Matariki”. The tune is the same as that ol’ classic song ‘The Macarena’!

Over the past weeks, we have learned about how to acknowledge and support our beautiful Māori culture of Aotearoa (New Zealand). This has been so much fun with lots of hearty laughs when we do the TAHI, RUA, TORU, WHA…PUKANA! 

We had a very special time when celebrating Goldie’s Graduation, she put onour beautiful korowai (cloak). We talked about the past, the present and all of the new knowledge learned in her growing years. We explored myths and legends, arts and crafts using natural resources. We shared kai (food) and made our own kai as a roopu (class).

Māori mahi (activities) where available for all of our beautiful Montessori STARS to explore freely. We all had a turn at using poi and tī rākau (stick). We practiced many of waiata (songs) and embraced so many things linking to the Māori world.

The Māori culture is a learning journey for us all. Embracing and just having a go with Māori kaupapa (ways) has been a joyous time for our Kaiako (teachers), and for our little Montessori STARS and their whānau. Thank you to Wren and Jack’s mum Hannah once again for her beautiful art work of the Atua (guardians of the Māori world) on the stones – they are a treasure (taonga) to us.

Celebrating the Māori new year so far has helped us all further strengthen our sense of belonging within our awesome learning environment after the Nation’s lockdown period. It has helped strengthen the importance of relationships with us all (whanaungatanga). Each child has had the opportunity to gain an understanding that teachers are an advocate for te reo Māori praises in their awesome growth and being amazing independent confident young learners. Our tamariki (children)  have thoroughly enjoyed kapahaka (dance) and learning numbers and colours in te reo Māori.

Thank you whānau for sharing what your child has shared with you regarding their knowledgethey have learnt so far.  How clever they are teaching you at home some Māori ways of being, knowing and doing.

Check out these awesome photos of development and learning that goes on each day, there is so much to see!