Welcome to Amy, our new Kaiako at Mairtown

This week we were lucky enough to welcome the wonderful Amy King into our teaching team and our kindergarten community. She was appointed the permanent teaching position and we are very happy that she accepted this role.

Amy is a very warm, engaging and welcoming person who has a great passion for teaching. She is dedicated, driven, strives for excellence and has the children’s best interests at the heart of everything that she does. Amy is also resourceful and is very mindful. Her sense of humour is delightful and is just one of the many facets that make her a lovely person to be around.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.” (Aristotle)

Amy already has a connection with Mairtown after relieving on and off during the last year. Even though Amy has worked here, on her first official permanent day at Mairtown with the children and their whānau we felt it was appropriate to welcome her into our kindergarten community with a mihi whakatau.

“A mihi whakatau is a welcome that can provide a sound basis for any kindergarten event whereby people are greeted in a less formal manner than that of a Pōwhiri… Mihi whakatau is traditionally used for welcoming, introductions, openings and general purpose which take place off the marae.  The mihi whakatau is a process which will protect Māori cultural practices while promoting an environment of inclusiveness.” (Roimata Macfarlane, 2016)

 

This was a lovely occasion and it was delightful to have many of our whānau stay for the special welcome. Amy brought along some important people in her life to be with her through this process. After everyone had an opportunity to introduce themselves and share waiata we then shared a delicious kai together.

Amy’s first week is nearly over and already she has proved to be very engaging with everyone that she has so far worked alongside. We are looking forward to all that Amy has to offer our community and know that she has a wealth of goodness to share.

Nā tō rourou, nā taku rourou ka ora ai te iwi
With your food basket and my food basket the people will thrive

Nāku noa, nā,

Zair