Bright Beginnings Montessori Preschool and Nursery

The warm weather brought plenty of smiles as the Pukeko tamariki headed outside for some messy play fun! Little hands splashed in water, squished through mud, scooped sand, and explored a variety of exciting sensory materials. There were giggles, discoveries, and lots of creativity as the tamariki experimented with different textures and let their imaginations run wild. It was a wonderful week of learning, exploring, and getting delightfully messy in the sunshine!
This week in the Pūrerehua (butterfly) room we have started bringing literacy into our mat time learning. Our focus letter is “A”! The children have been enthusiastically brainstorming names, animals, and objects that begin with the letter A. They have also been practising tracing and recognising the letter A, helping to build their early literacy skills in a fun and engaging way. We are excited to continue exploring letters and sounds together as part of our learning journey!
This week in the Pīwakawaka (Fantail) room we painted our Matariki title using a three colour pattern. Then the tamariki drew their own whetū (stars).
Kaiako Jack brought in some new animal cards. He would hold up an animal card and the tamariki would say what the animal was. It was a great way to extend kupu (vocabulary). Once the tamariki were māia (confident) at playing the game the tamariki took turns at being the kaiako themselves.
The tamariki have also had great fun threading beads onto string. The tamariki have enjoyed making bracelets and necklaces.

What a lovely and busy week we have had in the Pukeko Room! Our tamariki loved gathering for mat times, where we shared songs, danced together, and enjoyed meaningful moments of connection and learning. Creativity was flowing as the children explored art experiences through painting, play dough and other hands-on activities. Outside, we made the most of the beautiful weather, spending time swinging, playing in the sandpit, and exploring our outdoor environment. There were plenty of opportunities for laughter, movement, and imaginative play as the children learnt alongside their friends.
This week, Pūrerehua (Butterfly) room tamariki have been focusing on building and maintaining positive relationships with their peers. Through collaborative play, shared experiences, and everyday interactions, they have been demonstrating manaakitanga by showing kindness, respect, and care for one another. We have also been encouraging empathy and teamwork skills, supporting children to listen, cooperate, and work together to achieve common goals. It has been wonderful to see friendships growing and our Butterfly Room community strengthening each day.
In the Pīwakawaka room we enjoyed celebrating the King’s Birthday last Friday where we made our own royal crowns. This wiki (week) we have been looking at tapa (shapes) in English and Māori. For Montessori for self care we have been looking at how we wash our hands with water and soap, both the tops of our hands and our palms. We have even explored using a nail brush. In Montessori, self-care is a foundational pillar of practical life. It focuses on empowering children to identify and attend to their physical needs independently, building confidence, and fine motor skills.

This week in the Pūrerehua (Butterfly) room one of our focuses with the tamariki has been developing social competency skills. To help we have set up different group play experiences with this including the Floor is Lava, Who is Missing game and pororākau (block) and Duplo building to name a few. This helps to work on inclusive play, turn taking and communication skills. We have also had some special mat times talking about recognising emotions and being gentle in our play. On Friday the tamariki enjoyed bringing their special teddy/ soft toy from home to listen to the “Be Gentle” pukapuka (book), a pukapuka about playing nicely.
This week in the Pīwakawaka (Fantail) room for Montessori we have been looking at grace and courtesy. We learnt how to pass around a bell by holding it at the top and passing it to all the tamariki without making a sound. We have also been focusing on the value of manaakitanga and respectfully using some of our different practical life experiences of spooning, wet pouring, dry pouring and threading. “Respect is a guiding force within the Montessori philosophy: respect for self, respect for others and respect for the environment” (Maria Montessori)

In the nursery this week the tamariki have been loving the sunshine and have had lots of opportunity for outdoor play. The sand pit has been a great hit.
In the preschool we painted a pink shirt for Pink Shirt Day last Friday. We have been talking about how we can show atawhai (kindness), one of our Bright Beginnings values to our whānau and the tamariki at preschool. The Fantail tamariki even drew pictures to show this. We have some very auaha (creative) tamariki.
Mā te ngākau aroha koe e arahi.
Let a loving heart guide your decisions.

We thank everyone who came to our Mother’s Day Morning Kai on Monday and the Mothers that got a photo at the photo booth of yourself with the tamariki.
We also thank everyone that has worn pink today for Pink Shirt Day and everyone that has given money to this cause. You can still donate. https://fundraise.pinkshirtday.org.nz/brightbeginningmontessori Your donation for today will be doubled by AIA! We are currently sitting at $325.00
We have been learning about a very special person Sir David Attenborough. He recently turned 100 and throughout his life he had boundless passion for the environment and animals. He’s determined to make the natural world accessible to everyone and to make everyone think about our impact on the planet.
"Manaaki whenua, manaaki tāngata haere whakamua."
If we take care of the land and take care of the people we will take care of the future."

In the preschool the tamariki had a spontaneous wheels day on Monday as the Tree Medics were here trimmimng the trees. We had great fun in the carpark developing our māia (confidence) on our chosen wheels.
This week has been Sign Language Week. All rooms have been developing their sign language especially with mat time waiata. We have also been learning how to say Good morning in sign as well.
We have all been busy making Mother’s Day crafts. We hope all our Mums at BBM have an amazing Mother’s Day on Sunday.

Over the last week the rooms have been learning about ANZAC Day through reading ANZAC books, learning about the poppy, making our own poppies and creating Room Poppy Wreaths. We are using the symbol of the poppy as a way of remembering and saying thank you. The Pūrerehua (Butterfly) room even enjoyed making some ANZAC biscuits, while the Piwakawaka room made some Bravery Medals.
“We remember, we stand tall.
With kind hearts we care for all.
Ka maumahara tātou
With aroha we stand true.”

The Pūrerehua (Butterfly) room had a wonderful time celebrating Easter together. From exciting egg hunts to creative crafts, Easter waiata and PJ day. It was an entire week load of joy. We have noticed so much problem solving and critical thinking as children searched for hidden eggs, working out clues and exploring their environment. Social skills were strengthened as they shared and took turns.
From the Piwakawaka (Fantail) room we read a book called Minerva Louise and the Colourful eggs. We followed up with a fun experience of painting eggs. We have also been sorting colourful eggs, counting how many we have and developing our numeracy skills. Our highlight for the week was our egg hunt. We loved it so much on Monday that we did it again today.
Ngā mihi o te Aranga. (Happy Easter)

💛 WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY 💛

We’ll be celebrating at Bright Beginnings Montessori on Tuesday 24th March!

Get ready to wear your boldest, brightest, most eye-catching socks for the Lots of Socks campaign 🧦✨

This year’s theme is Together Against Loneliness.
Many people with Down syndrome experience loneliness every day — feeling disconnected, left out, and like they don’t belong.

Wearing your socks might seem small, but it sends a powerful message: you see them, you support them, and they belong.

🎯 Our fundraising goal is $100 — we’d love your help to reach it!

We’d love for our families and community to join us — and don’t forget to share your sock photos with us! 📸

If you’d like to support the cause, you can donate here:
👉 https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/lots-of-socks

Lots of Socks Lots of Socks

The tamariki in the Pūrerehua (Butterfly) room have enjoyed using the pipettes for their art this week. Using a pipette is a great activity for developing the pincer grip (how we correctly hold a pencil).
There has been a great interest in the Montessori rauemi (resources) this week. The tamariki have particularly enjoyed exploring with the 3D shapes, the Knobbed Cylinders and the Knobless Cylinders. The Knobbed and Knobless Cylinders are a great Montessori experience for developing concentration and mathematical concepts of sequencing.
“Concentration is the key that opens up to the child the latent treasures within him.”
(Quote by Maria Montessori)