Welcome to The Vines Newsletter
Winter is here …
We would like to encourage you to send an extra set of clothing, a warm jacket and even gumboots so your children can have some outdoor time. Keeping both you and your little ones healthy and happy over winter can be a bit of a challenge. But don’t worry. At The Vines Early Learning Centre, we want to help our parents and caregivers get as much information as they need to keep their children well and sniffle-free this winter.
July School Holidays are just around the corner.
Please fill out the holiday form as soon as possible so that we make sure that we have the correct number of staff rostered.
Twinkling in the winter sky just before dawn, Matariki (the Pleiades) signals the Māori New Year.
Matariki has deep cultural and spiritual significance for the Māori people. It is seen as a time to reflect on the past year, honour ancestors, and set intentions for the year ahead. The celebration of Matariki is an opportunity to strengthen the connection to the land, sea, and sky and to renew relationships with others.
The seven stars of Matariki each have their own significance and meaning:
- Matariki – the mother star, represents reflection and remembrance
- Pōhutukawa – represents those who have passed on
- Waitī – represents freshwater resources and the sustenance they provide
- Waitā – represents the ocean and the sustenance it provides
- Tupu-ā-nuku – represents food that grows beneath the ground
- Tupu-ā-rangi – represents food that grows above the ground
- Ururangi – represents the wind and the navigational abilities of the Māori people.
