Ruahine Kindergartens and Early Learning

Holyoake Kindergarten is closed today due to an unexpected power outage - our apologies for the inconvenience.

Maths is so much more than counting!
Tamariki create and communicate maths as they move, build, sort, compare, notice patterns, solve problems, and share their ideas through play.

When they ask "How many?", "What fits?", "What comes next?" or "How can we make it work?", they're developing their mathematical thinking. These everyday moments build confidence, reasoning, persistence, language, and problem-solving skills.

As pouako, we recognise and respond - offering time, encouragement, rich language, and meaningful materials so tamariki can test ideas and keep trying through challenge.

What maths did you notice your child using during play today?

Recently, some of our teachers visited the Awapuni Resource Recovery Centre to learn more about waste management and sustainability.

It's learning they bring back to our kindergartens and centres - helping tamariki think critically about reducing waste, reusing resources, and caring for the environment around them.

Small lessons like these add up to a big difference for our tamariki, our community, and the planet they'll grow up on. 🌿

Kia ora whānau, we're recruiting for a Community Engagement & Enrolment - six month fixed-term contract, and we'd appreciate your support with spreading the word.

This opportunity (approximately 30-40 hours per month) is ideal for someone who loves connecting with communities and is passionate about helping more families access quality early childhood education.

If you know someone with a background in community engagement, communications, stakeholder engagement, facilitation, sales, or community development, we'd love to hear from them.

Please share this opportunity with your networks whānau: https://nz.seek.com/job/93449600

Or contact Alison directly for more information. Email: [email protected]

We're proud to share that Nicole Farrington, Centre Manager at Linton Camp Early Learning, is the recipient of this year's RKA Leadership Recognition Taonga!

Leadership is complex, and this year we received a record number of nominations - a true reflection of the depth of leadership across our association.

Nicole stood out for her proactive, solutions-focused approach, leading with heart and purpose. She models calm through challenge and change, and leads with authenticity, professionalism, and mana. Her team knows that challenges will be addressed constructively and successes celebrated. Her approachable, positive nature helps create a safe, welcoming space for everyone to learn, contribute, and grow.

Her influence reaches far beyond her team too - tamariki benefit from the education, care, and high expectations she sets out, while whānau experience the relational trust, collaboration, and genuine partnership at the heart of her leadership. Congratulations Nicole - this is so well deserved.

Congratulations to Conner Jensen, winner of the Teaching Support Excellence Award for 2026!

Conner works as Teaching Support at Linton Camp Early Learning while studying towards his ECE degree at Te Rito Maioha. This year he's shown incredible growth - stepping up with confidence, taking on more responsibility, and staying focused on his studies as he works towards becoming a fully qualified teacher.

He's generous in sharing his growing knowledge, and every day he brings positivity, care, and a great sense of humour that makes such a difference for tamariki and colleagues alike. Conner asks thoughtful questions, seeks feedback, and is always striving to do his best. It’s amazing to see!

We're excited to share that Summerhill Early Learning has been awarded the RKA Team Sustainability Award for 2026!

Summerhill has embraced the Enviroschools’ kaupapa with real enthusiasm, creating meaningful and lasting change in their community. In just over a year on their Enviroschools journey, they've grown thriving gardens full of kai - including a kūmara harvest so impressive it's inspired other centres to give it a go too!

Through rubbish audits, the team introduced homemade yoghurt across all three rooms, significantly reducing waste and even doing away with the need for a rubbish bin altogether.

By connecting tamariki and whānau with sustainable practices and embedding it into everyday learning, Summerhill Early Learning is helping create a more peaceful and sustainable future for this next generation.

A huge congratulations to Barbara Puklowski, Kelly Rutherford and the whole Summerhill team - thank you for leading the way!

Congratulations to Adrienne Cotterill-Poupou, Head Teacher at Holyoake Kindergarten, on completing her Certificate in Karanga through Te Wānanga o Raukawa!

Adrienne is a valued member of our Wahine Toa, and this achievement reflects her deep commitment to growing her knowledge and honouring te ao Māori within her practice.

Tīno pai tō mahi Adrienne - we're so proud of you!

We're so proud to share that Sophie Waldron and Steph Collis have officially achieved their Tūturu (Full) Teacher Certification!

Over the past two years, Sophie and Steph have given time, energy, aroha, and commitment to growing their practice as Tōmua-certificated pouako. This milestone is more than a change in certification status - it's recognition of real perseverance, professional growth, and the meaningful contribution they're already making in our learning communities.

A heartfelt thank you also goes to their mentors and leaders, who walked alongside them with guidance and encouragement every step of the way.

We're also excited to welcome the next group of beginning teachers now starting this same journey, bringing their own strengths, questions, hopes, and heart to the profession. We can't wait to stand alongside them and celebrate their achievements at next year's tatou hui too!

📸 Pictured is Steph with her certificate.

Congratulations Keeghan Hodds on graduating with a Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) from Te Rito Maioha o Aotearoa!

This is such a huge achievement, and we're so proud to see your hard work and dedication pay off.

We can't wait to see where your teaching journey takes you next!