Preschool

'The body of a child will not grow if it is not fed; the mind will not flourish unless it is stimulated and guided. And the spirit will suffer if it is not nurtured.'  Rachel Kessler, The Soul of Education.

Marsden Preschool

Marsden Preschool is fun, caring and inclusive for the children, their families and the teachers.

It is co-educational, multicultural and a wonderful introduction to learning and getting along with others.

Our foundation for all activities is the The New Zealand Early Childhood curriculum Te Whaariki, which includes in its principles: '...we aim to empower our students to grow up as competent and confident learners and communicators, healthy in mind, body and spirit, secure in their sense of belonging and in the knowledge that they make a valued contribution to society.'

How is this implemented?
Investigative learning is emphasised for all our students. Literacy, numeracy and exploration are all developed through this approach.

We base our investigations on questions  posed by the children. They learn about research and independence in learning even at this early age.

Children naturally acquire the skills in critical thinking, creativity and working with others.

The different learning styles of each child are accommodated and celebrated. Strengths and gifts are nutured, creating a learning environment that enhances each child's individuality through positive interaction and reciprocal relationships.

We empower our students through a multicultural curriculum whilst being sensitive to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Links with School
We have close links with the bigger school and the wider community. (Pictured left is a senior girl helping a preschooler ice a cake).

The transition to school is made as comfortable and natural as possible.  The children become familiar with the Primary School and interact with older students on a regular basis.

We use the beautiful school grounds and are at the library, assembly and chapel services regularly.  The Preschoolers have weekly sessions with Year 5 buddy readers.

Students are also involved in outreach activities into the wider community through outings and trips.

Whanau and Family
We acknowledge and respect the individual needs and interests of the whanau / family as the child's first teachers. We create an atmosphere where parents feel able to discuss their hopes and aspirations for their children.

We also record observations, assessments and planning in the children's individual journals and encourage children, parents and whanau to read, comment and contribute to these.