Our Vision-Kotahitanga
At Grasshoppers our Core Values are Ukaipotanga, Whanaungatanga, Manaakitanga, Kaitiakitanga and Kotahitanga. We believe that the experiences a child has in their first five years of life, shape who they will become.
We are committed to and passionate about providing high quality care and education, where each child and their family has a strong sense of belonging, and knows they have a place here and in their world.
By providing real life experiences, authentic relationships, and inspiring environments, we are working in partnership with you to ensure your child has the best start to life.
We believe that children are “confident and competent learners and communicators, healthy in mind, boy and spirit, secure in their sense of belonging and in the knowledge that they make a valued contribution to society”. – Te Whariki pg 5
Our Philosophy
Ukaipotanga-Belonging Ukaipo are the places we find ourselves, our strength, where you count, where you are important and where you can contribute is essential for well-being.
At Grasshoppers, we foster Ukaipotanga Belonging by:
- Creating a ‘home away from home’
- Providing a calm, warm and welcoming environment
- Affirming each tamaiti as a unique individual and valuing their whaanau as an integral part of their learning journey.
- Delivering a program where tamariki learn through play, fun and laughter.
- Following the child’s lead and planning experiences based on their individual interests and dispositional strengths.
- Acknowledging each tamaiti as a holistic being – empowering them their emotional, mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing.
- Empowering each tamaiti to share their thoughts, ideas and opinions, knowing their voice is valued and respected.
“Let the children be free” – Maria Montessori
Manaakitanga At Grasshoppers, we interpret Manaakitanga as our responsibility as Kaiako to nurture the emotional, spiritual, mental, and physical wellbeing of our learners. We believe that tamariki are curious, competent, unique, capable, resilient, intelligent, risk takers and problem solvers.
As Kaiako, we are committed to our responsibility of Manaakitanga by providing a program that:
- Is high quality, with respectful practice being at our core.
- Is flexible and unhurried and empowers independence.
- Is predictable with consistent and clear boundaries and expectations.
- Is full of real-life experiences, empowering a love for lifelong learning.
- Provides freedom for tamariki to take the lead in their own learning.
- Has a rich and intentional interactions where Kaiako are present in their role to scaffold children’s learning.
- Values the importance of all learners having the opportunity to move between roles of teacher and learner (Ako).
- Enhances children’s mana – their sense of self-worth.
- Values the way we speak with children and the language we use – being mindful to interact with them with utmost respect, in a way that honors their rights.
- Places rituals and care moments at the heart of the day – “it is through rituals that are fully prepared in the head, heart and hands that the children receive the gift of presence” – Kimberly Crisp.
“It is not enough to say we love the child; they must feel the results of the care:” – Emmi Pikler
Whanaungatanga – Relationships Whanaungatanga is about knowing you are not alone and that you have a wider centre whanau that provide support, nurturing and guidance when needed – creating a sense of togetherness.
At Grasshoppers we foster Whanaungatanga Relationships by:
- Working in respectful partnership with you, as your child’s first teacher.
- Engaging in respectful communication where you know your aspirations for you child are heard and valued.
- Establishing authentic and trusting relationships by taking an interest in your lives outside the centre, getting to know your whanau on a deeper level.
- Empowering the tamariki to learn from their siblings and each other (Tuakana-Teina)
- Creating and environment where there are equitable opportunities for learning.
- Welcoming and accepting individuals from all cultures and backgrounds.
- Valuing Te Ao Maori and recognising New Zealand’s rich history and heritage.
- Protecting the place of Te Ao Maori and te reo Maori in our curriculum in meaningful and authentic ways.
- Inviting you into the Centre through regular Whanau events and celebrations – creating a centre community.
Kaitiakitanga Kaitiakitanga represents our commitment and responsibility of guardianship over our natural world, and our connection, as people, with the land and others.
At Grasshoppers we are committed to being Kaitiaki by:
- Weaving sustainable practices authentically into our program, teaching and developing lifelong skills for sustainable living.
- Being committed to the 6 R’s: Refuse what you do not need, Reduce what you do need, Reuse anything you can, Recycle what you cannot refuse, reduce or reuse, Rehome what you no longer need or want, Rot the rest.
- Providing natural resources, with real life, open ended opportunities.
- Providing wide open spaces for the tamariki to explore the world around them and learn in nature.
- Providing real life opportunities to care for the living beings in their world – animals, insects, plants.
- Creating inspiring environments that promote curiosity and wonder.
- Having a strong presence in our community, fostering our relationships with people, places and thigs in our Ohaupo Village.
Learning across generations through our relationship and regular interactions with our neighbors – Radius Resthome.
