About
Grace Kindergarten was started by Onslow Community Church as a community venture in May 1994. The initial vision was to build a kindergarten that catered for all aspects of a child’s development and today operates as a fully chartered early childhood centre licensed for three staff and 24 children.
Grace Kindergarten was officially opened on 6 July 1994 by the then Govenor General of New Zealand, Her Excellency Dame Catherine Tizard.
At Grace Kindergarten we aim to develop the children’s social, emotional, intellectual, physical and spiritual lives to their potential. The curriculum is designed to help fulfil this aim.
The spontaneous play includes a wide range of early childhood experiences such as sand, water, ‘messy’ play, carpentry, blocks and construction, art, music and movement, storytelling, cooking, puzzles and mathematical games. Children are encouraged to resolve conflict peacefully, and clear behaviour limits are set.
The structured times include music and movement, art, storytelling (including Bible stories), games, prayer, and extension activities. Snack and lunch (afternoons) times are taken as a group as part of the session’s routines, and we say ‘grace’ beforehand. The content of group times in the afternoon session follows a thematic approach designed to enrich and widen all aspects of the children’s development and experiential learning. Outings are a regular occurrence in the afternoon session.
