A Beautiful Connection
In 1989, 100 years after Rangi Ruru was founded, our pre-school opened its doors. This small, not-for-profit, family-based education and care centre is nestled right here on the grounds of our school, and as a result, a beautiful connection has grown between the school and the preschool–tamariki and ākonga alike.
Being part of the wider Rangi Ruru community, pre-school tamariki are encouraged to investigate, explore and discover the world outside the pre-school gates and venture, alongside their teachers to the ‘big school’, to visit the ‘big girls’ as they are affectionately referred to. You’ll often hear the little ones calling out to the ‘big girls’ through the peep holes in their fence, or as they walk past them on campus.
As regular visitors to the school, you will find the pre-school children frequently popping into the office to say hello to the administration team–receiving a stamp on their hands along with waves from staff. You’ll also find them running across the field in front of the principal’s office, playing on the turf, out and about exploring the nursery or picking up litter in their high-vis jackets.
But the most heartwarming moments are the interactions with the ‘big girls’. This year, we witnessed many special exchanges. During the school’s Matariki celebrations, our littlest whānau members joined a Year 9 art class to decorate Matariki stars. While the primary focus was creative exploration, it was truly touching to see how the small kids looked up to and trusted in the big kids.
Our music department also delighted in welcoming the preschoolers to a performance by the Rangi Players, our junior instrumental ensemble. Not only did the children enjoy the lively music but they also got to learn about the different sounds each instrument makes.
With the Paris Olympics and Paralympics taking place in 2024, the pre-school organised its own Pre-School Olympics. Tamariki learned all about the history of games, the kinds of events that make it up and of course, and even had a chance to try out some sports themselves. You can imagine how exciting it was when one of the ‘big girls’ came over to talk about her very own experience at the Paralympics this year. Year 13 student and Paralympian #237, Gaby Smith shared her experiences from the games where she swam in three events. Her stories inspired the children, which resulted in some interesting questions being asked, making the visit a truly memorable one.
One of the highlights of the year is the annual trike-a-ton, where every preschooler decorates their bike or scooter and races laps at the big school. Friends and family gather to support the event, as do our students who cheer on the young competitors as they zoom past. This event is joyous to watch, the smiles on the faces of tamariki and whānau alike are infectious, making it a real celebration of community spirit.
When the festive season approaches, you’ll find the preschoolers joining the ‘big girls’ for a carol service. Dressed up for the occasion, the preschoolers perform a handful of Christmas songs to the ‘big girls’, bringing lots of Christmas cheer to all in attendance.
In all these shared experiences, a beautiful tapestry is woven between the pre-school and the larger Rangi Ruru community, connecting us to each other in ways many other schools don’t get to experience. Special bonds are created and nurtured and lasting memories are formed, highlighting the true meaning of belonging to this wonderful Rangi Ruru whānau.
