Wharerangi Kindergarten

31/08/2026

Kia ora whānau,

The children were excited to discover our new space at kindergarten, which we have named Wāhi Taunga. The name comes from the idea of anchorage- a place to settle, feel safe and find calm.
Wāhi Taunga is a special place where the children can just be. A space for one. A space to sit or lie down, they choose.

Kindergarten is a busy time for everyone. The teachers are intentional in the way we set up our environment and move through our day. We create experiences and spaces that support a calm and mindful atmosphere and this links into our kindergarten philosophy.

Alongside Wāhi Taunga, we offer a range of experiences that support children to slow down, such as yoga, using our breathing balls, puzzles and other quiet activities.

We hope that Wāhi Taunga becomes a place where children can pause, breathe and simply be. Come in and have a look!

07/08/2026

Kia ora whānau,

This week we were excited to have our two large core boards delivered to kindergarten. We have one placed inside and one outside.
These have come to us from the Ministry of Education.
These core boards provide tamariki with another way to express their ideas, needs and feelings. The teachers will be using this as an intentional communication tool with all children, helping to build language and vocabulary.

Come in and have a look!

25/07/2026

It was great to welcome everyone back to kindergarten last week. The children returned ready to play, learn, and reconnect with their peers and teachers. It was lovely to see children settling back into familiar routines, exploring the learning environment, making new connections, and enjoying a wide range of play experiences both indoors and outdoors.
It was a busy week as we welcomed new children and their whānau, who are beginning their kindergarten journey with us. We also supported several children as they transitioned into longer days, taking these next steps with growing confidence and independence.
We look forward to seeing everyone again tomorrow for another exciting week.

12/07/2026

Matariki Pizza Night - A Celebration Together.

What a wonderful evening we shared on Thursday! A huge thank you to everyone who came along to kindergarten on a wet and chilly winter's night to celebrate Matariki with us. It was lovely to see our kindergarten community come together to enjoy delicious pizza, connect with one another, and create special memories.

The children had a lot of fun taking part in the star hunt with their torches, filling the kindergarten with excitement and laughter. In the lead-up to our celebration, our tamariki helped prepare the space by decorating both large and small stars to display throughout the kindergarten. We also enjoyed Matariki through waiata, stories, puzzles and creative activities, helping to deepen our understanding of this special time of year.

Reminder: Kindergarten is closed this week while the teaching team takes part in professional learning. We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Monday 20th July. We hope that you all enjoy a happy, restful, and safe week with your whānau.

Ngā mihi,
Kirstie, Keely, Ang, Katie and Fiona.

06/07/2026

Matariki Pizza Night will go ahead Rain or Shine!

Remember your torch for the star hunt!

30/06/2026

Our Tamariki have been representing their thoughts, ideas and interests through their art recently.

Here are a few examples of the masterpieces that we have been seeing.

12/06/2026

09/06/2026

We welcome you to stay and have a cuppa with your child tomorrow morning to celebrate New Zealand Kindergartens (NZK) turning 100 years old.

NZK is the national body that supports our Napier Kindergarten Association and many others across New Zealand. They have been doing this work for 100 years now and we think that is something to celebrate!

We have been decorating 'balloons' and signs to celebrate with you all. Make sure you check out our hard work while you are in tomorrow.

04/06/2026

You've seen our children play with it. Now it's your turn!

28/05/2026

The children LOVE playing with gloop at Wharerangi Kindergarten.

As adults we can shy away from messy experiences but children find joy in the discovery and in the sensory moment without a thought to the cleaning up.

Check out these amazing moments we captured last week!