Press Releases

Welcome to our press releases page, where the most recent Ruahine Kindergartens Association releases are displayed.

For more about these or any Ruahine Kindergartens stories please contact:

Mark Inman
Marketing and Communications Manager
Blacksheepdesign p. 06 353 1983 ext 6 m. 027 406 7895
e. mark@blacksheepdesign.co.nz   

Monday 13 March 2012
Press release: Ruahine Kindergartens

Sun shines on Long Lunch

Over 200 people shared a picnic lunch in Milverton Park on Sunday as part of the international celebration of World Children's Day.
 
The event was part of a nationally co-ordinated ‘Long Lunch', which aimed to get 100,000 people across the country celebrate International Children's day.
 
Ruahine Kindergarten Association, which operates 25 of the region's kindergartens, hosted the Milverton Park event, where children enjoyed entertainment from, ‘Kiwibop', a magic show, free ice creams, fruit, and a sausage sizzle.
 
The Long Lunch initiative was organised by New Zealand Kindergartens, to raise awareness of the benefits of early childhood education (ECE) during International Children's day.
 
Clare Wells, Chief Executive of New Zealand Kindergartens, says "This Children's Day we're celebrating children as competent and confident learners in their world and acknowledging our important partnerships with parents, whaanau and communities".

The long lunch brought children, families and whanau together and received such a positive response that it may become an annual event, according to Louise Bartholomew, General Manager for Ruahine Kindergartens Association.

The Jets get cooking.

Press release: Ruahine Kindergartens
 

Ruahine Kindergarten Association First to Head into the Cloud

Ruahine Kindergarten Association has become the First early childhood education provider to use the Ministry of Education's cloud based online e-portfolio site.

‘My Portfolio', is an online personal learning environment. Currently it is available free to all New Zealand schools, which use it primarily for their pupils to document milestones and achievements. Two of the Association's teachers however, recognised the potential for ‘My Portfolio' as a professional learning tool. One is working towards her teacher registration and the other is her mentor. The pair shared their experience and information at a provisionally registered teacher workshop, where there was great interest shown in the site's potential for teachers' professional development.The professional services managers from the Association approached the Ministry of Education to request access to the system. Based on the trial information, they were able to negotiate access for the Association, a first for any early childhood education provider.The Ministry provided some basic training to the Association, which plans to roll out the e-portfolio system to teachers and their mentors working towards their registrations. My Portfolio will then be introduced to other teachers as the skill level with the system grows."We are very excited to be the first early childhood provider to use this site. The great thing for us as professional service managers is that we will be able to make comments and support teachers on line which will make learning much more authentic," said Professional Service Manager, Sally Roberts.All teachers in the Association are fully qualified and it is one of the key attributes at the twenty-five Kindergartens within the Association. My Portfolio, says Sally, is a valuable tool in maintaining the excellence of the teaching, which in turn means better learning experiences for the children in their care. 

Thursday, 2 June 2011
Press release: Ruahine Kindergartens

Cautious welcome for Taskforce report

Ruahine Kindergartens received yesterday's report from the Early Childhood Taskforce with a cautious welcome.

While the Association wholeheartedly agrees with the Taskforce's vision of an early childhood sector that delivers high-quality services to children, supports parents and has a strong sense of collective identity, there is concern about recommendations for changes to the funding mechanism, which could ultimately see a higher proportion of costs passed on to parents. 

Clare Wells, Chief Executive of New Zealand Kindergartens noted this concern saying, "The funding rate is not stated in the report but it is critical. There is a potential for significant costs to be transferred to families. Further pressure on household budgets will inevitably mean some children will miss out."

Ruahine Kindergartens general manager Louise Bartholomew said the Association supports the report's recommendations for targeted efforts to increase participation for priority groups, and is pleased to see a strong emphasis on the need for high quality and professional ECE services that engage with parents and work across all communities. 

The Association is committed to providing the best educational start for all children in our communities, delivered by qualified, inspired and professional teachers, and welcomes the report recommendation that incentives be put in place that will enable services to employ 100 per cent qualified teachers. 

Ruahine Kindergartens continue to advocate for and maintain 100 per cent qualified teachers in all of its kindergartens.

However, she also says there is a significant level of concern amongst the wider kindergarten sector about the report's recommendation to transfer responsibility for negotiation of teacher salaries to individual Associations. 

"This recommendation does not recognise the professionalism of early childhood teachers, nor the past efforts that have gone into the achievement of pay parity with primary teaching colleagues", Ms Bartholomew said.

"While the report recommends a drive towards quality, it makes recommendations that ultimately propose a serious threat to the ability of associations to maintain 100 per cent qualified teachers."

"The report recommends wide consultation with the sector. Ruahine Kindergartens looks forward to being involved in this consultation, and working through the details of the report to ensure all benefits and challenges are recognised, discussed and responded to."

Friday, 20 May 2011
Press release: Ruahine Kindergartens

Budget received with cautious relief 

Ruahine Kindergartens' response to the $550 million increase for early childhood education revealed in yesterday's budget is one of cautious relief.

Although no further cuts have been made, general manager Louise Bartholomew says there are no real benefits either as much of the additional funding has been earmarked for initiatives aimed at increasing participation.

"We are relieved to see that the government has recognised the increasing cost pressure on ECE services and has responded with a ‘universal cost adjustment', but in reality this very small and does little to alleviate the constrained financial environment we are operating in", she said.

Key points of interest for kindergartens from the budget include a universal cost adjustment to all funding rates, which is intended to recognise the increasing cost pressure faced by ECE services, and a 2.75 percent increase to the salary component of ECE funding.

The 2.75 percent is effectively a neutral increase for all kindergarten associations as it covers costs incurred from the latest round of collective agreements from the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Collective Agreement.

Together these increases equate to between 6 and 35 cents per child funded hour.

When asked what this means for Ruahine Kindergartens Ms Bartholomew said, "Put simply it means we remain under financial constraint. We must continue to find ways to achieve efficiencies, work smarter and reduce costs, whilst ensuring we deliver the very highest quality education to all children who attend our kindergartens."

"Whatever we do to achieve those efficiencies and ensure our long-term viability, we simply will not consider any operational changes that could negatively impact upon the provision of accessible, affordable, high quality early childhood education delivered by 100 qualified teachers", she said. 

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Tuesday, 2 May 2011
Press release: Ruahine Kindergartens

Kindergartens join Facebook

Ruahine Kindergartens is strengthening kindergarten communities online with its brand new Facebook page.

The page, which launched over the term break, aims to keep families in the loop, stimulate discussion and promote the value of kindergarten.

General manager Louise Bartholomew is delighted to lead the association in embracing social media and looks forward to the growth of this communication channel.

"I only wish Facebook had a ‘love' button", she said.

Ruahine Kindergartens is a not for profit association operating 25 kindergartens throughout Manawatu, Rangitikei, Pahiatua and Foxton.

These kindergartens specialise in educating three and four year olds and the association plans to profile one member kindergarten on the new Facebook page every two weeks.

"Although our kindergartens share core values, no two centres are the same", Ms Bartholomew said. "Facebook provides an opportunity to introduce people to our diverse learning communities."

It also complements other communications initiatives put in place over the past 12 months, including association-wide newsletter Up with the Play and a new look website.

Ruahine Kindergartens employs 100 percent qualified teachers and prides itself on providing children with the best possible start. To find out more about kindergartens in your area visit www.ruakind.org.nz

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Read the Manawatu Standard article here.

Press release: Ruahine Kindergartens

Ruahine Kindergartens give it 100 percent

Ruahine Kindergartens will not compromise its core values in the wake of cutbacks, was the message from general manager, Louise Bartholomew, at a teachers' conference held this week.

Over 100 Ruahine Kindergartens' teachers from throughout the Manawatu, Rangitikei, Pahiatua and Foxton attended the event, held at the Manawatu Golf Club, Thursday January 27.

There they discussed their vision for the year ahead, addressed the importance of qualified teachers and gained motivation from former boxing champion, Billy Graham.

Change in a positive light was the prevailing theme, and it was a theme supported by Mr Graham's assertion that "attitude is 100 percent".

Mr Graham has achieved international success through goal setting and determination and now owns his own boxing gym in Naenae where he teaches at-risk youth boxing and life skills.

100 percent is already an important figure at Ruahine Kindergartens and it's what they plan to deliver this year in terms of qualified teachers, high quality education and community-oriented kindergartens.

Claire McLachlan, associate professor, early years education, reiterated the importance of qualified teachers in her presentation, which focused on research demonstrating the effects of qualified teachers and quality relationships on positive learning outcomes.

Following the keynote presentations, teachers split into groups to discuss their role in achieving the Ruahine Kindergartens' vision with the association's professional service managers.

Palmerston North MP, Iain Lees-Galloway, also attended the event to chat with teachers about challenges faced by the sector over afternoon tea.

Ms Bartholomew described teachers as "extremely positive about the event and its value as we prepare for a new kindergarten year".

A second event at the beginning of term three is already under consideration and Ms Bartholomew plans to make the conferences an annual occurrence.

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Friday, 17 December 2010
Press release: Ruahine Kindergartens

Kindergarten attracts top scholar

Vicki Hussey has a new teaching qualification, a new job with Manchester Kindergarten and great news. In 2011, Vicki will graduate as a Massey Scholar.

Massey Scholarships are awarded to the top 5 per cent of students in each of the University's five colleges.

It's a prestigious award that comes with a $4,000 scholarship for postgraduate study, but Vicki's not ready to get back to the books just yet.

"It's really exciting and I've been considering my options for pursuing further study while getting registered and gaining teaching experience", she said.

"There's a great community at Manchester Kindergarten and the teaching team is just awesome. I'm really enjoying it here." 

Vicki's no stranger to Ruahine Kindergartens, having completed a four-week placement at Somerset Kindergarten earlier in the year.

It's a placement she credits with confirming her career path, saying, "up until that point I was still tossing up between primary and early childhood. Somerset really helped me decide". 

Ruahine Kindergartens General Manager, Louise Bartholomew, is delighted to welcome Vicki to the team. 

"Vicki brings amazing knowledge and enthusiasm to the role and it's great to have such a capable new graduate aboard", she said. 

As an association, Ruahine Kindergartens operates 25 kindergartens throughout Manawatu, Rangitikei, Pahiatua and Foxton and is eager to employ graduates with a passion for quality early childhood education.

In 2009, the association implemented a grab-a-grad initiative to attract the best and brightest and has placed successful candidates in teaching roles as a result.

For more about Ruahine Kindergartens visit website www.ruakind.org.nz

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Press Release: Ruahine Kindergartens

Ruahine Kindergartens to
maintain teacher registration rate

Ruahine Kindergartens will maintain its 100 percent qualified teacher registration rate without families incurring additional costs despite cuts to government funding levels revealed in the 2010 budget.

Currently, ECE providers employing 100 percent registered and qualified teachers receive the highest funding rates. Budget cuts will see funds taken away from kindergartens and other ECE centres where over 80 percent of teachers are qualified.

NZ Kindergartens Chief Executive, Claire Wells, describes the cuts as "deeply shocking and says: "this shortsighted decision could actually end up costing the government more in the long run."

Ruahine Kindergartens' Association President, Sarah Johnston-Ellis, says any costs resulting from budget cuts will not be passed on to families.

"Ruahine Kindergartens are committed to providing 100 percent qualified and registered teachers, despite funding cuts, to ensure children at our kindergartens receive the best possible start", Ms Johnston-Ellis said.

Ruahine Kindergartens operates 25 kindergartens in Manawatu, Rangitikei, Pahiatua and Foxton with an aim to provide children with the best possible start through innovative learning.

For more information about Ruahine Kindergartens please visit our website http://www.ruakind.org.nz

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