September 2025 | Kōrero from Curious Minds

Kia ora e te whānau,

What a brilliant month it’s been at Curious Minds! Our tamariki have been diving into science experiments, tapping away on music walls, dressing up for royal celebrations, and growing kindness in every corner. We’ve shared language weeks, furry friends, homemade volcanoes, and garden magic. Whether it’s through imaginative play or thoughtful helping hands, our little learners are thriving—and there’s always something exciting just around the corner when curiosity leads the way.

Island Bay

August at Island Bay has been a vibrant month of music, science, and cultural celebration. Music is part of our everyday rhythm—whether we’re dancing to it, singing along, or playing our favourite instruments. These musical moments support tamariki to express themselves, build coordination, and explore their creative spark.

Our science explorations brought plenty of excitement! We had a blast creating volcanoes with baking soda, vinegar, and a splash of dish soap—there were squeals of delight as the fizzy eruptions poured out. Then we got stuck into the fascinating world of non-Newtonian fluids by making ooblek from cornflour, water, and colour. The tamariki were amazed to discover it could be both runny and solid depending on how you touch it! Hands-on science like this helps build curiosity, experimentation, and a love for discovery. We also celebrated ‘Epetoma o te reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani—Cook Islands Māori Language Week. Our Pūkeko tamariki made traditional headpieces and explored beautiful patterns, connecting with the vibrant art and language of the Cook Islands. Meanwhile, our Kiwi tamariki have been welcoming spring by planting seedlings and caring for them with gentle hands and hopeful hearts. We can’t wait to watch them grow!

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Johnsonville

Last month has been full of warmth, celebration, and meaningful connections at Johnsonville. One of our highlights was Filipino Language Week, where we gathered to honour the rich culture and heritage of our Filipino whānau. With music, stories, language, and kai, our tamariki had the chance to experience the beauty of Filipino traditions. A heartfelt "Maraming Salamat po" to our families who joined us—it was a special reminder of the power of shared culture and community. Later in the month, we welcomed some very special visitors with four legs and wagging tails! Frankie, Archie, Buddy, and Penny came along to say hello, and our tamariki showed such gentle care and curiosity. These moments with animals help build empathy, calm, and confidence, and we loved learning about how to care for our furry friends.

To wrap it all up, we embraced comfort and connection with a centre-wide Pajama Day. The children arrived in their cosiest PJs, snuggled up with their favourite soft toys and puka puka, and spent the day immersed in stories, shared laughter, and restful routines. It was a wonderful way to slow down and celebrate the simple joys of togetherness.

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Miramar

This last month at Miramar has been full of creativity, rhythm, and cultural celebration. We had a royally good time marking England Day, with our tamariki designing and crafting their very own paper crowns. With scissors snipping, glue sticks working overtime, and plenty of imagination. For our World Cruise Country of the month we picked Fiji! We were so lucky to have Leicester, Monte and Kaspar’s Dad come in; he brought some beautifully woven mats and talked to the tamariki about growing up in the Islands. To celebrate International Cat Day, we shared stories, puzzles, and art all about our feline friends. Tamariki talked about their own pets, practised gentle care with soft toys, and explored movement through pretending to be curious, slinky cats. These playful activities help build empathy, imagination, and connection through shared experiences.

Another exciting addition this month was our new music wall—an outdoor sound space made from pots, pans, and everyday items. The children have been busy exploring rhythms, beats, and sounds, turning our outdoor area into a lively hub of musical creativity. It’s a joyful, collaborative space where tamariki can experiment, express themselves, and work together in harmony.

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Queenstown

At Queenstown this last month, our tamariki have been deep in the world of imagination, connection, and growing minds. One of the biggest highlights has been the ongoing evolution of “Jurassic World” play. What began as a simple setup has transformed again and again, with each new day bringing fresh ideas, props, and storylines. The children have been resourceful—repurposing classroom materials into dinosaurs, habitats, and dramatic landscapes—and welcoming others into the adventure. This kind of sustained imaginative play builds creativity, collaboration, and rich storytelling skills.

We’ve also been enjoying matching games, which offer more than just fun. These simple, engaging activities help strengthen memory, concentration, and hand-eye coordination, while also encouraging turn-taking and respectful communication. It’s lovely to watch tamariki delight in both the challenge and the shared moments of success. Throughout the centre, we’ve seen many beautiful moments of kindness. Whether it’s offering a hand, waiting patiently, or helping a friend, our children are practising empathy and care in everyday ways. As we often say, helping one person may not change the whole world—but it can change the world for that one person.

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Ngā Mihi Nui from The Curious Minds Team!

‍Stay Connected: Island Bay, Johnsonville, Miramar, Queenstown