Bay Harbour: October 27, 2021

Bay Harbour News Wednesday October 27 2021
10
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Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Building skills for the future
THE HAPPY sounds of children
playing together on their latest
piece of outdoor equipment is the
first thing you notice as you walk
into KidsFirst Kindergartens
Sumner.
THanks to fundrasing and
grants, the Kindergarten is
redeveloping and upgrading
their outdoor playground. The
latest acquisition is a hexagonal
box funded by the Sumner
Ferrymead Foundation.
“We were so excited when the
Sumner Ferrymead Foundation
agreed to fund the hexagonal
box” head teacher Liz Morritt
said.
“Having observed ngā tamariki
at play, we identified our need
for more loose parts equipment
to promote creativity, critical
thinking, decision making, problem
solving and collaborative
play. The hexagonal box is an
open-ended piece of equipment
that can be used in a variety of
ways within our environment.
We are looking forward to seeing
ways that children are going to
use this in their play.”
The children immediately saw
opportunities as to how to link
this new piece to existing equipment
in the playground.
“For us the environment is the
third teacher; it sets the scene
for the children’s exploration”
Morritt said.
Want to help your
community?
A donation to the Sumner
Ferrymead Foundation
enables you to help
your community. You
can specify what you
would like the money
to be used for, you can
give a donation that the
trustees will ensure is
put to good use, or you
can leave a bequest. For
more information on the
work of the foundation
and how to donate, go to
www.sumnerferrymead
foundation.co.nz
“Here we value the
importance of children having
the opportunity to engage in
challenging and risky play to
help develop their physical skills,
perseverance, and their resilience
– important skills which they
take with them into their adult
life,” kindergarten teacher Nicola
Gardiner said.
Trustee of the Sumner Ferrymead
Foundation Martin
Hawes saw the new piece of
equipment in use first hand, and
was delighted to see the children
exploring the many ways to play
with, and on, the hexagon.
“Children in Sumner tend to
have active families so its great to
see the staff helping the children
to develop more physically challenging
skills.”
Like any not-for-profit organisation,
fundraising is of vital
importance, so Kidsfirst Kindergartens
Sumner are delighted the
Sumner Ferrymead Foundation
has provided a helping hand.
“It’s a great example of the
local community helping each
other,” Morritt said.
“The children are showing
their appreciation by making a
card for the Sumner Ferrymead
Foundation.”
And that’s exactly what the
Sumner Ferrymead Foundation
is all about, Hawes said.
“When locals support us
through donations – either specified
for a particular initiative
or an untied donation -we are
able to support the community
in which they live. That’s what
makes the Sumner Ferrymead
community such a great place to
live.”
HELPING HAND: KidsFirst
Kindergartens Sumner
head teacher Liz Morritt
and Sumner Ferrymead
Foundation Trustee Martin
Hawes.