Rain or shine we’re out learning.
Achieving positive outcomes for all tamariki in a caring and socially responsible environment.
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TE WHARE KŌHUNGAHUNGA O WAIHEKE
Our centre is a community centre, we celebrate inclusiveness and recognise the diversity of our community as a tremendous strength.
Children are the heart of our centre culture. Achieving positive outcomes for all Tamariki of all cultures, genders and ages is our main goal.
We respect the aspirations of all cultures and honour and support the articles and principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. We believe learning begins at home. We honour and respect the aspirations of Whanau and family. We value relationships with children and Whānau and we seek partnership with parents to understand and nurture each child according to their physical, emotional and spiritual needs at any given time. We believe all children and adults have a right to a caring, safe, healthy, socially just and respectful environment.
Bush School
WE TAKE OUR CHILDREN OUTDOORS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT CHILDREN LEARN BEST THROUGH FREE PLAY AND EXPLORATION.
Welcome
TO OUR BUSH SCHOOL PROGRAMME ON WAIHEKE ISLAND. NATURE IS THE THIRD TEACHER IT PROVIDES AN INFINITE AMOUNT OF INTERESTING AND STIMULATING IMPULSES. WE BELIEVE THAT CHILDREN NEED TO TAKE RISKS, MANAGED RISKS, THAT IS HOW THEY BECOME CONFIDENT AND CAPABLE, THEY LEARN ABOUT THEIR BOUNDARIES AND LIMITATIONS BUT THEY ALSO DEVELOP PHYSICAL SKILLS TO BECOME BETTER CLIMBERS, RUNNERS AND EXPLORERS.
Children having fun & working together as a team.
Looking out for each other and taking care of each other.
As Nigel Latta stresses in his article “Cotton Wool Kids” ( 2007) “.... sometimes you fall off stuff...these things hurt. They also motivate you to hang on tighter and try harder.” Children have to work together as a team, looking out for each other and taking care of each other, by helping a scared child, supporting a slow walker or waiting for them.
Nature is abundant & has so much to offer.
Develop a real sense of community and sharing.
A shared Kai at lunch time brings a real sense of community and sharing. Bush school is holistic outdoor education at its best. We don’t compete for space or fight over things. Nature is abundant and has so much to offer it is an endless resource of inspiration, beauty and abundance.
Taking children beyond the boundaries of the classroom.
Experience the world as it really is.
Taking children out of the boundaries of institutionalised learning allows them to experience the world as it really is, it puts us all in our place and we have to learn to manage situations and problems as they arise, we are truly sharing experiences, teachers and children, we become co learners and explorers sharing learning that is filled with spontaneous moments of wonder and engagement and yes real risks, that is how our future leaders will develop the skills and empowerment to deal with the challenges the real world holds in store for them.
