Baking in the four year old room

One of the most wonderful things the children can learn from baking is how to experiment, just by taking our creative cooking licence and letting go.

There is nothing quite like throwing all sorts of ingredients together and seeing what happens. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't - it's all about learning through discovery. This way we create our own way of doing things, even if it's not exactly how it should be (Exploration).

By far the best thing about baking is how it brings people together, to make and to eat. Eating together is an opportunity to discuss what we are doing in our lives, to share what we're interested in and have a good old laugh ( Belonging).

obstacle course

It turned out to be a great obstacle course when the four year olds were chose to help in settling up the playground. They have used steppers, cones, hoops, boxes, balls etc., to build their own obstacle course and trailed it out. It was an amazing moment for them to listen to each other and coming up with solutions.

Olympic Games project in the four year old room

This morning, Bella excitedly shared about the Olympic ceremony she just watched on T.V. Arabella came along with her mum. Arabella’s mum told us that Arabella enjoyed watching Gymnastics. It is evident that some of the children are really interested in the Olympic Games that are happening.

We would like to extend the children’s interest

·        By reading them stories from the newspapers.

·       Making the Olympic flag.

·       Celebrating the NZ victory.

·       Making the medals and having Sports event.

A few dates to mark on your calendar

Father's Day - Wednesday, 29th August
Kids @ Play Photography - 20, 21, 24 & 25 September
Children's Christmas Party - Friday 14th December
Bayfield Closes for Christmas Break - Friday, 21st December
Bayfield Re-opens for 2013 - Monday, 14th January 

Staff updates in Preschool

27th July 2012



Update on preschool teaching staff
Jo Sietu (who has worked at Bayfield for the past 11 years) has been appointed as the 7th teacher in our preschool team. Jo will be working in the 3 year old room with Catherine and Vanessa. Congratulations Jo!


At the same time Earl has just qualified and gained his degree in Early Childhood. Congratulations Earl! We are just waiting on his application to teachers’ council for his registration status.

So, to recap our preschool teachers are:


Molly Sietu - Head Teacher
Erin Knight - Assistant Head Teacher (4 year old teacher)
Rachel Ravoori (4 year old teacher)
Earl Edgar (4 year old teacher)
Vanessa Dong (3 year old teacher)
Jo Sietu (3 year old teacher)
Catherine Powell (3 year old teacher)

Our full teaching staff!


Kind regards


Shona Hewitt

New Phone System At Bayfield

We have recently changed our broadband provider and our telecommunications system and we now have a new phone system.  
If you call during the day and no-one is at reception to get your call, it will ring 6 to 7 times and then you will be prompted to select a room from your keypad.  This way you can be directed straight away to the room of your choice.  Some parents have informed us they have hung up after getting the answer phone message not realising this.

Please don't do this.  Hold the line and select a room.  It will be: 

1 for Nursery
2 for Toddlers
3 for Preschool
(There is an option to select 4 if you wish to leave a message).

This should make communication directly with your child's room much more direct.  Any questions, please see Shona.  

Entertainment Books - Reduced in Price

The Entertainment Books have been reduced in price.  There are a small number of these books available at reception at the reduced price of "$ 52.00".
This book has vouchers for the best restaurants, hotel accommodation, attractions, sports, spa treatments and leisure activities, with savings of 25% to 50% off or 2 for 1 deals.
We only have a very limited supply so please see Mona or Shona at reception if you would like to purchase a book, as these will not last long at this price.

  Why Carpentry?


As children explore with tools and wood, they will use large and small muscles. Sawing, for example, requires large movement, while holding a screw in place requires small-muscle coordination. As children make decisions about design, shape and type of wood to use, they participate in problem-solving skills. If children are working together to saw a piece of wood to build a bridge, they practice social skills. These skills may carry over into real-world settings (Skeen, Garner, & Cartwright, 1984).

Woodworking also allows children another avenue for creativity. When children are provided with enough materials, technical assistance, and limits, they can experiment as they wish. As they become more skilled, they can use more advanced tools and develop their ideas accordingly

When the children involve in simple carpentry task such as sawing a piece of wood into two, they are building self-esteem. When they use their constructions in other play episode, their self-esteem is enhanced. Children's work does not have to be complete in order for them to feel a sense of accomplishment. As with other successes, seeing some progress can keep a child going.

Making triceratops puppets was a great activity for the children to enhance their fine motor skills. They were given a template to work with that has parts of triceratops such as the body, head, four feet and a tail. They needed lots of perseverance and effort while cutting the parts of the triceratops. After this humongous job, they were all set to finish their puppets. It was a bit hard for them to handle the glue when they were pasting the parts onto the cardboard roll. Eventually, it turned out fine when the glue dried up and they couldn’t believe the outcome.

Now, the children are confident in designing their own triceratops that will become an example for their outstanding imagination and creativity.

Bayfield Preschool - Expectations of Children

* Children are to carry their own bags into the centre and find their name tags to put on their lockers.
* Children are to write their own names at the sign in table.
* Walking feet are to be used at all times while inside.
* When using the hallway, "quiet voices and walking feet" are compulsory.
* We must respect the property and belongings of Preschool.
* We must respect our peers, teachers and any visitors in the centre.
* The children are responsible for what they use - they put away what they pull out.
* Children and adults are not to sit on tables.
* We are not allowed to climb or jump on furniture.
* We observe good bathroom etiquette - the toilet area is not for talking and playing with our friends.
* When we come in for lunch time, we stand quietly behind our chair until we have sung our karakia.