Brooklyn Kindergarten

As part of National Children’s Book Week, we are celebrating the joy, wonder and fun that books bring to our tamariki!
Literacy in early childhood plays a huge role in supporting language development, communication, imagination, creativity and a love of learning. This week, tamariki have brought their favourite books from home to share, enjoyed audiobooks, gone on bear hunts and revisited much-loved stories through props and dramatic play.

We are creating our own books, recognising covers, making bookmarks and expressing our ideas through drawing, movement, music and many other forms of creativity. We are also learning to value books, care for them and choose quiet, cosy moments to retreat into a story.
Because a book can take you anywhere — and sometimes the best journey is the one we create in our imagination.

Spaces available at Brooklyn Kindergarten!
We currently have places available for 2, 3 and 4-year-old tamariki. Brooklyn Kindergarten is a warm, welcoming place where tamariki can learn through play, build friendships, develop confidence and become part of our kindergarten whānau.
There is also great funding support available for whānau:
2-year-olds
Whānau Manaaki is currently covering the cost of the 20 Hours ECE funding for eligible 2-year-olds.
3 and 4-year-olds
Eligible tamariki can access the Government’s 20 Hours ECE funding.
If your tamaiti is ready to begin their kindergarten journey, we would love to hear from you.
Nau mai, haere mai — we look forward to welcoming your whānau to Brooklyn Kindergarten.

Ngā mihi nui to our whānau for generously donating oranges, tangelos, and mandarins for our juice-making experience.
Our tamariki took turns using the juicer, developing hand strength, coordination, and patience while supporting their Taha tinana. As they shared the equipment, waited for their turn, and enjoyed the fresh juice together, they strengthened their taha whānau and sense of belonging.
Along the way, we learnt that citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C, which helps keep our bodies healthy and supports our immune system. Hands-on experiences like this spark curiosity and help tamariki make meaningful connections between healthy kai and caring for themselves and others.

Last Friday, Brooklyn Kindy came alive for our annual Kindy Disco! There were fantastic costumes, delicious kai, and a dance floor full of smiles and laughter.
Events like these are the glue of a strong community. They bring whānau together, strengthen connections, and create lasting memories for our tamariki.
At Brooklyn Kindy, fun is at the heart of our kaupapa. We believe children thrive when they experience joy, play, and a strong sense of belonging.
Ngā mihi nui to everyone who helped make the evening such a wonderful success! 🤩🤩🤩

Kia ora, wonderful Brooklyn community!

As part of our commitment to being a sustainable community, we love to recycle, reuse, and borrow wherever we can instead of buying new.
With our annual Brooklyn Kindy Disco coming up this Friday, we're looking for any second-hand sparkly decorations that might be tucked away in storage. We'd also love to borrow speakers and disco lights for the event.
Everything will be treated with great care and returned promptly afterwards, along with a big thank you from all of us at Brooklyn Kindy.

If you can help, please send us a PM. Ngā mihi!

On our Teacher Only Day, we began by welcoming kaiako from Strathmore Park Kindergarten to share ideas, exchange knowledge, and learn from one another…
We then headed to Space Place for *The Navigators*, where we explored how Māori used the stars to navigate Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa.
Deepening our understanding of te ao Māori helps us create richer learning experiences for our tamariki, inspiring curiosity, wonder, and a stronger connection to Matariki, the natural world, and the stories of Aotearoa.
A wonderful day of learning, collaboration, and inspiration!,

Matariki Kaupapa in Action! ♥️
Today one of our wonderful whānau members shared their time, skills, and creativity by creating a special whare with our tamariki.
We learnt that a whare is a place to come together, share stories, and enjoy time with others. On this cold and rainy day, the whare quickly became a favourite space. Tamariki spent the day drawing, adding their own ideas, and later weaving it into imaginative and constructive play.
We are so grateful for the contributions of our whānau. Sharing knowledge, skills, and time with our tamariki strengthens the trust and connection we build together. This whare is a beautiful reflection of aroha, manaakitanga, and the Matariki kaupapa of coming together as a community.
Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi.
With your contribution and mine, the community thrives.

Last week We had the best time listening to pūrākau with the wonderful Māori storyteller and author Moira Wairama- NZ Storyteller
Moira shared her beautiful book *Nanny Jo and the Wild Mokopuna* a heartwarming story about the special bond between a nanny and her mokopuna. Through the story, tamariki explored themes of Matariki, remembering loved ones, the importance of whānau, and looking to the future with hope.
Ngā mihi nui, Moira, for sharing your stories and inspiring our tamariki through the magic of te ao Māori and storytelling. ❤️

Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi.
With your food basket and my food basket, the people will thrive.
Yesterday was a wonderful celebration of mahi tahi, whanaungatanga and Matariki. Our Head Teacher Chloe had the privilege of hosting the annual Brooklyn Kura hāngī on her property alongside the rangatira of Brooklyn Kura—a reflection of the trust and strong partnership between our kindergarten and kura.
Many of our tamariki continue their learning journey at Brooklyn Kura, where the shared values of manaakitanga, belonging and tikanga Māori help create a seamless pathway from kindergarten to school.
It was heartwarming to see so many whānau enjoying kapa haka, arts and crafts, and sharing a delicious hāngī together. These special moments strengthen our community and remind us that tamariki thrive when whānau, kindergarten and kura come together with a shared purpose.
Mānawatia a Matariki!

This year marks 30 years of Te Whāriki, Aotearoa New Zealand's early childhood curriculum. At our kindergarten, Te Whāriki guides everything we do, weaving together learning through play, strong relationships, and a deep sense of belonging. It reflects our commitment to nurturing every child's unique strengths while embracing our kaupapa of Aroha and Manaakitanga.

If you'd like to learn more about Te Whāriki or read the curriculum, visit: .