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Welcome from our Taupō Centre Manager
Wendy Fitzsimons
Kia ora my name is Wendy. I am the Centre Manager working alongside a remarkable, passionate team here at Busy Bees Taupō. I am a mother of two and have one grandchild. I am a fully qualified childhood teacher, holding a Bachelor of Teaching in Early Childhood Education with 30 years of experience.
I believe every tamati is unique, bringing their own personality, strengths, interests, culture and experiences. I value the connections we build with tamariki, whānau and each other, and believe that when tamariki are safe, loved and supported, they are ready to learn and explore at their own pace. I believe tamariki should feel proud of who they are, feel connected to their culture and feel valued and confident. I believe tamariki learn through play, positive relationships and meaningful experiences.
I feel whānau are an important part of their child’s learning journey. At Busy Bees Taupō we build respectful and trusting relationships, where parents and caregivers feel comfortable sharing their ideas and contributing to their child’s learning. When we listen to and work alongside whānau, we can create learning experiences that are meaningful and responsive to each child.
I believe tamariki can develop healthy habits from an early age and it is important for them to understand the importance of looking after their bodies through nutritious kai, active play and everyday experiences. We encourage tamariki to become confident in making choices that support their wellbeing. Tamariki have a right to grow to be physically capable, independent and aware of what their bodies need to be healthy and strong.
Our tamariki and whānau feel a sense of belonging at Busy Bees Taupō, and we welcome new families in, to feel right at home too. We offer nutritious, home-cooked meals and a backyard play area for our tamariki. Our teachers live locally, which supports our strong sense of community and comfortable and welcoming environment. Our centre provides nurturing and stimulating environments for young children with its separate nursery and preschool rooms, as well as areas where tamariki can come together to share tuakana-teina (older-younger child) interactions where wonderful teaching moments are shared. We aim to promote the development and learning of each child, through positive partnership with parents and open communication at all times for family, tangata whenua, whānau, and community.
At Busy Bees Taupō, our kaiako create beautiful provocations where materials are carefully selected to provoke curiosity, promote critical thinking, and encourage tamariki to express themselves through various art forms. We believe that every moment is an opportunity for learning, and our kaiako utlise these teachable moments to enrich our children’s understanding of the world around them.
We proudly embrace diverse cultures, where we cultivate an inclusive and equitable learning environment for all tamariki, as we celebrate and affirm who we all are, thereby fostering a positive awareness and understanding of our own and other cultures. We have numerous opportunities to celebrate different cultures alongside the tamariki. We mark language weeks, organise kapa haka evenings, engage whānau in celebrating Matariki, embrace the festivities of Chinese New Year, Diwali, and much more. By incorporating cultural diversity into our learning environment, we create a space where tamariki can develop an appreciation for their own heritage whilst simultaneously gaining insights into and respecting the richness of other cultures. This collective celebration and understanding pave the way for a truly inclusive educational experience.
Dietitian Designed Menus
We are incredibly proud to share that Busy Bees Taupō has achieved a fantastic milestone in creating committed, consistent, and heart healthy environments for our tamariki.
Our in-house cook supply a wide variety of nourishing meals for the children at our centre, providing foods that are minimally processed, avoiding recipes that are high in added sugar, instead using fresh, real and wholesome ingredients.
We do baking with the children from time to time, which provides them opportunities to engage and learn a range of food preparations skills and fine motor movements such as pouring, sifting, spooning. It is a great hands on sensory experience for children to develop independence through self-help skills, practice simple maths as they measure and count quantities.
We are committed to follow the aspirations of the New Zealand National ECE Curriculum, Te Whāriki. Te Whāriki envisages kaiako in early learning settings working in partnership with parents, whānau and community to realise this vision. The expectation is that, in their early years, children will experience a curriculum that empowers them as lifelong learners, right from their early exploration of the world around them, through to preparation for school.
Our Programmes
Bee Curious, our Busy Bees Curriculum Framework, has been created to guide and inspire kaiako in supporting tamariki through rich, interconnected learning experiences. Built on the strong foundation of Te Whāriki, it reflects the principles of Aotearoa New Zealand’s early childhood curriculum and the aspirations we hold for our children as they grow.
Our MOVE programme deliberately sets out physical activities that give children the opportunity to learn, practice and master physical skills whilst developing their resilience, perseverance, patience, co-ordination, gross-motor skills, teamwork and much more, all while having loads of fun!
Nutritious food is the foundation for healthy growth and development in our children. Our Nourish menus fuel our children and support full, healthy tummies enabling clear minds to focus on the learning and set children up to thrive at our centre.
The Busy Bees Way is our commitment to families and guides everything we do across our centres. From nurturing your child’s wellbeing and supporting their individual learning journey, to building genuine partnerships with whānau and respecting every child’s unique identity, culture and strengths, we’re committed to providing an exceptional early learning experience where children can thrive.
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