Today our preschool celebrates its very first birthday! Our student leaders headed across campus to present the little ones with a pile of birthday books and many of our wonderful preschool families popped in for cake and celebrations.

We speak to our brilliant centre manager Ellen White about welcoming the pre-school’s first children, and the best bits of year one.

What has been the highlight of the preschool’s first year?
The biggest highlight for us has been creating relationships with all of our foundation children and their families. It has been a year of successes - our first transitions between our rooms, and for some of the bigger children heading off to school here at ACG as well as other local primaries.

What do you think is the most special thing about ACG Tauranga preschool?
I feel the seamless transition from preschool right through to college is wonderful. Being an ECE centre on school grounds allows us to take part in special events alongside the school, creating a sense of belonging for the children before they even start school.

We can explore the amazing grounds we have here. The kids love participating in Rubgy Tots, for example - we can do it on the rugby fields or, if it is raining, in the gym. Not many other preschools have access to such great spaces.

What message do you have for our preschool families?
Our families have been so supportive of all the events and goings on here at the preschool, we would love to take this opportunity to say thank you for all the feedback, shared morning teas and lunches and events like our Christmas party - your support means the world to us. Thank you for sharing your children with us, we are so privileged to be a part of these most special years in your child’s life.

How would you describe the learning that takes place here?
This year the children and the teaching team have been on a journey together. Through our love for loose parts and hands-on learning, we have taken on so many little projects, and focused in on some pretty special learning dispositions like creativity, problem solving and building resilience.

Loose parts and junk play allow children the freedom to explore, create and use their imagination. Along the way children will use team work, problem solving, trial and error - all skills needed as children become 21st century learners.