Busy Bees Greytown

Heart Foundation Awarded

We are extremely proud that we have received the Pā Harakeke Tohu Manawa Ora | Healthy Heart Award from the Heart Foundation for the amazing things we do here at Busy Bees Greytown to promote healthy food and physical activity. We are helping our tamariki to have healthy habits and healthy hearts for life.

Last week, the tamariki at Busy Bees Greytown discovered that even the rain brings its own kind of magic. Wrapped in their raincoats and gumboots, they ventured out into the natural world to explore a landscape transformed by the weather. Puddles became sparkling mirrors, raindrops danced from leaves like tiny taonga, and every splash brought laughter, excitement, and wonder.
The tamariki immersed themselves in the sensory richness of the day—feeling cool raindrops on their faces, listening to the gentle rhythm of the rain, watching ripples spread across puddles, and squelching through the wet grass beneath their feet. As they explored, their imaginations flourished and their sense of awe grew as they shared discoveries, stories, and moments of joy with one another.
This experience encouraged the tamariki to slow down and connect, fostering a deeper appreciation for the natural world and its ever-changing beauty. Through play, exploration, and observation, they demonstrated kaitiakitanga by caring for and respecting their environment, while strengthening their understanding of the interconnectedness of all living things.
The rain provided endless opportunities for curiosity, adventure, and learning. Through these magical moments, the tamariki strengthened their mana, resilience, and confidence, learning that every season and every kind of weather has its own gifts.

Relief teacher opportunity – your flexible career awaits! ✨

If you are someone who has a genuine interest in supporting and caring for tamariki and are looking for flexible hours, this is the perfect for you. Previous experience working with young children would be an advantage although not required.

Apply Today!

ECE Unregistered Relief Teacher | Busy Bees Greytown Busy Bees Greytown are looking for an Unregistered Relief kaiako who want to make a meaningful difference in children's lives. Why Us? | Hei aha mātou? At Busy Bees Greytown, we welcome children and families into a truly homelike environment, where relationships, community, and a deep connection to...

🐝 Happy World Bee Day! 🐝

Today our kaiako created quite the buzz around the centre with a black and/or yellow dress-up competition! From stripes to sparkles, everyone hive’d it their best shot 🖤💛

A huge congratulations to our bee-autiful winner Sue, who has certainly been the busiest bee buzzing around the centre today! 🐝🏆

Thank you to all our wonderful whānau for joining in the fun and helping us celebrate these tiny but mighty pollinators. We absolutely loved seeing everyone get into the spirit of the day!

Please find bee-low a link to a fun bee-inspired giveaway on our Aotearoa page 🍯✨

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CYHwyHjwu/

Happy Mother’s Day! 💐 💮

To all the whaea, mums, step-mums, grandmas, nanas and mother figures in our lives - today is for you!

For the early starts, the big hugs, the long nights, and the endless love in so many different forms… we see it, and we appreciate it.

Sending love and aroha to you today.
We also hold space today, for those who may be missing someone, waiting for someone, or carrying their motherhood journey quietly. 💗 💜

This wiki in the Pōhutukawa room, we have been participating in New Zealand Sign Language Week. Although this week is specifically for celebrating the use and importance of sign language in our everyday lives, NZSL plays a very important role in our pēpi space. With many pēpi bringing with them the beginnings of baby sign they have learned in their home lives, we use NZSL as a means for effective communication with our younger tamariki. While participating in our daily ritual of saying karakia before kai, we give thanks, saying "Ngā mihi" in NZSL by moving our fingers away from our chin.
To coordinate with this week's Road Safety campaign we are focussing on the new sign, taihoa (wait) which is very useful for keeping safe around our very busy roads and in many other contexts of our busy world.

To start off our New Zealand Sign Language week learning, we have been refreshing our alphabet skills, focusing on recognising and forming each letter with confidence. Tamariki are beginning to use these signs to communicate simple words and names, building early language skills in a visual and engaging way. As they practise, they are also developing concentration, memory, and hand-eye coordination.

Many of the handshapes require quite tricky fine motor skills, as tamariki need to carefully position their fingers and maintain specific shapes. Through their everyday play experiences—such as using playdough, threading, drawing, hanging on the upper body and monkey bars —they have been strengthening the small muscles in their hands and fingers. This growing control is supporting them to form more accurate signs and persist when movements feel challenging.

This learning aligns with Te Whāriki outcomes, particularly within Communication | Mana Reo, where children develop both verbal and non-verbal communication skills for a range of purposes. It also supports Wellbeing | Mana Atua, as tamariki build physical control and confidence in using their bodies, and Contribution | Mana Tangata, as they gain confidence to participate, share, and express themselves within the group.

Our tamariki have been deeply engaged in an emergent interest exploring how rosemary and lavender are grown 🌿 Through rich discussions and hands-on learning, they began making meaningful connections to our recent walk to lay our ANZAC wreath, where rosemary held special significance.

As they explored the plants more closely, tamariki discovered not only how to care for and grow them, but also why rosemary is used as a symbol of remembrance. This learning journey has been a beautiful blend of nature, culture, and history — helping our tamariki to understand ANZAC Day in a way that is meaningful and connected to their world ❤️

Today our whānau took a long, meaningful walk to Greytown Soldiers Memorial Park. Step by step, we carried not just a wreath made with care and love, but also the stories, memories, and those who came before us.

As we walked through the park to lay our wreath, we reflected on our past learning community members — our great, great, and even great-great-grandfathers — whose strength, sacrifice, and resilience continue to guide us today.

This journey was more than a walk. It was a moment of remembrance, connection, and gratitude. We honour them, we remember them, and we carry them with us always.

Arohanui ❤️

Celebrating our Kaimahi,
Over the weekend, we came together for a BBQ to celebrate three of our amazing kaimahi graduating- such a fantastic achievement.

As part of our BBGreytown rituals, each of them was gifted their own unique tāpeka through our tāpeka ritual, thoughtfully reflecting their individual interests and personalities.

We are so proud of you all and grateful to have you on our team.