Manaakitia Mondays

Welcome to Arrowtown School and

Manaakitia Mondays!

As part of our transition to School Programme, we offer visits for children who are going to attend our wonderful school.

As well as becoming familiar with the classroom and surroundings, these visits allow children to experience ‘lunch time’ which is an important time for children to build confidence socially and become familiar with the playground environment.

Manaakitia Mondays are all about... 

• Giving children a positive understanding and experience of school as a safe, enjoyable place. 

• Acknowledging that children have individual needs, interests and skills. 

• Involving the community of children, families, child care, school and relevant others. 

• Allowing and encouraging positive communication between children, families, 

early childhood and school educators. 

• Allowing children to spend plenty of time in the school environment before starting school.

• Giving staff and students opportunities to get to know your child

How do Manaakitia Mondays work?

We welcome our children who are transitioning to school as well as their parents/guardians to meet one of our Transition to School teachers each Monday at 1:40 pm at the school entrance/playground.

Your child will then be invited to spend time in the playground until the 2:00 pm bell rings. 

The teacher will then welcome your child and you into our New Entrant classrooms.

Your child will experience our New Entrant rooms and this allows them to meet and get to know our junior school environment.

Once a term at 2.00 pm, one of our senior leaders, will collect any Parents/Guardians that are visiting that day and take them for an informal chat. This is where school information is shared and questions can be asked. On other weeks parents are welcome to leave and come back at 2:50pm to collect their children. 

Everyone comes back together at roughly 2:50 pm and the afternoon is over at 3:00 pm.

What does your child need for their Manaakitia Monday visits?

• A drink bottle

• A brimmed hat for lunchtime play in Term 1 and Term 4

Questions?

Please contact Jeanette Horn at jeanette.horn@arrowtown.school.nz