Kindergarten
Fossil Bay Kindergarten was established on Waiheke in 1993. Set in a rural environment many of the children on Waiheke have experienced the natural & beautiful environment of Fossil Bay Kindergarten. Our Early Childhood program supports young children and their families during the foundational years, a time when imagination and imitation are the paths for learning. Our purpose is to create and sustain a nurturing community of inspired children, teachers and parents.
KINDERGARTEN - 3-6 years
Monday - Friday - 8:30am - 2:30pm
Our warm, creative and home like environment nurtures each child in their first phase of school life. Children are given the confidence, independence, and security to smoothly transition from home to the larger social world around them with the support of their experienced teachers. We follow daily, weekly and seasonal rhythms. This helps the developing child to know ‘what comes next’ and within this, allows for the freedom of play and creativity, along with more centred inner times of painting, craft and meal times.
The kindergarten day includes indoor and outdoor playtime, domestic activities and routines, art, craft and seasonal activities, morning circle song and movement time, morning tea time and story time. All activities are taught in an inclusive way through the use of role modelling and imitation.
Through all our activities our aim is for the children to develop imaginative qualities and respect for others that will guide and nourish them throughout their lives and provide a strong foundation for their personal, social and intellectual development. Through creative play and the diverse activities in Kindergarten the children learn skills that will later enable them to be practical, to take initiative, and seek responsibility. Rhythm is a strong element of the kindergarten giving children a sense of form and security as we breath in and out through the day, each term, and the year.
Nature offers children the opportunity to climb trees, explore, and learn through their own willingness. Everything in a Steiner kindergarten is in some way connected to offering quality sensory experiences.
Much is learned by the children through their play and this is especially so when they are given natural objects to play with. A cloth can become a cape, a baby’s blanket or a river, a plank of wood can become a sea saw, a bridge or a shop front…the possibilities are endless and all help encourage and nourish the child’s imagination and creativity.
Seasonal festivals are an important part of our kindergarten life and the children take delight in helping to prepare for and participate in the festivals. Our mid-winter lantern festival is a particular favourite. Each year Fossil Bay Kindergarten hosts a Harvest Fayre, which is a beautiful celebration of our kindergartens and our wider community. It is the one big fundraiser that the kindergarten does each year and is enjoyed by many people in the wider community – both on Waiheke and visitors from afar. The Fayre has become a local icon and many people look forward to it each year.
New Offering - Kindergarten for 2 Year Olds
We’re very excited to announce that we’ll be opening our Kindergarten doors to 2 year olds, starting in Feb 2024.
We’ve created a homely, creative and inspiring learning environment for the two years olds, which will be in a separate space from the older children at the kindy. With high teacher to child ratios, a beautiful, natural, screen-free environment and a focus around nurturing the head, heart and hands – this is a nursery for little ones like no other.
Each day, the children will flow through the natural rhythms based on the Steiner teaching philosophy, engaging in circle time, play, bun baking, story time and nap time.
Key Information:
Hours: Monday - Friday 8.30am - 2.30pm
Flat Daily Fee - $84 (price will reduce when the child turns 3 as Ministry funding increases then. If funding to 2 year olds from the Ministry changes, Fossil Bay will review our fee)
We are taking enrolments now for 7th of Feb 2024 start