How we manage our financial sustainability, a guide to understanding our fees and optional charges.

As kaiako, we focus on how to talk with tamariki, always asking ourselves: Too much, too little, what does this child need from me in this moment? We pass it through the lens of ‘Is it kind, true, necessary, and is what I am going to offer better than silence?’

At the end of the kindergarten or school day you have a natural curiosity to know all about your child’s day. “How was your day?” or “what did you do today?” are regular questions asked at kindergarten and school pick up time.

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Create pockets of calm during the festive season

Four Seasons: Our fees explained

You only have to look around our Kindergarten to notice the value that we put on exposure to nature. It permeates throughout both our inside and outside area and is an integral part of all that we are here. The Bush Kindergarten experience is involving our children in another aspect of being in nature.

The beginning of the kindergarten journey, for some tamariki a first time being nurtured outside of whanau, this can be met with trepidation. At Four Seasons Rudolf Steiner Kindergarten we focus intentionally on the formation of a solid relationship before a tamaiti begins with us.

Why starting the kindergarten day punctually helps with belonging and inclusion

Choosing gifts for your children that align to your family values this Christmas can be an easy way to help the overload of ‘stuff’ that can make its way into your home. The bonus of making choices this way means you won’t need to look to decluttering once the festive season and holidays come to an end.

In 2008 I’d been a mother for just a little over 6 months and I met Fenella and Dineen at the Four Seasons Rudolf Steiner Playgroup.  Together, with Fenella’s vision to bring a Steiner Kindergarten to Taupō, we created Four Seasons Kindergarten, opening our doors a decade ago.  Fenella, Dineen along with Shawn Vennell and myself continue to lead the vision of Four Seasons Rudolf Steiner Kindergarten in a governance role.

The complex learning at kindergarten includes tamariki (children) exploring and testing social boundaries, especially when they differ from those they may experience in their home or other social settings. Experimentation with swear words is a perfect example of this.

Many years ago I attended a workshop at an Early Childhood conference presented by Dr Alex Gunn. The discussion centered around children’s rights, and the issue of children’s consent to be photographed was raised. Photography of children in Early Childhood settings is status quo, with a camera part of a teacher’s toolkit. Until then, I had never stopped to ponder what it might be like for children to be photographed all day long at kindy. Whilst parent permission to photograph children is sought on enrolment to an early childhood service, rarely is child consent sought.

As kaiako, we celebrate whānau and acknowledge the trust that you put in us by leaving your precious tamaiti with us. For tamariki to be at kindergarten and play with friends, share kai, sing and listen to stories they also need to be separate from their parents/whanau. Therefore, settling forms, a big part of our work as kaiako and is one of the most important parts of our day.

Intuitively responding in a gentle, kind, and loving way, when my child is in big overwhelm took me some practice. In Simplicity Parenting, Kim John Payne calls it Soul Fever and it can sometimes feel all very overwhelming for yourself as the parent navigating the space when your child’s behaviour triggers your own soul fevered response.  Just think of soul fever being like a physical fever, but of the emotional variety.  What I know about soul fever is that it is contagious, especially if you have not had time to fill your own cup with some you-space, you might be parenting solo or navigating the demands of working life and parenting. 

At Four Seasons you will find an environment, held by a team of kaiako, where tamariki are given the time and the space to explore and experience the world with an honouring of time, at a slow and gentle pace. The first of our philosophy statements is that we offer an unhurried approach to childhood, providing a natural and secure environment that is homely, nurturing and sustainable.

Information from the MOE in light of the move to Covid Level 2 on Monday 15 February.

Nourishing children with nutritious, wholesome kai is important to us here at Four Seasons. We have always had a mostly plant based menu, and a rhythm to the meals we eat. At Four Seasons we all eat the same kai together. Tamariki see kaiako and each other trying and enjoying kai, sometimes it may be kai that they not have had before. Tamariki take time to experience different kai and that just because it may not be right one day it may be right the next day.