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Building a Christ-centred Organisational Culture

“Let your roots grow down into Him and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:7Promoting and establishing teacher well-being is the foundation of a strong healthy organisational culture. Without prioritising teacher well-being it becomes challenging for children’s well-being to be at the centre of their educational experience. This internal evaluation tool is designed to enab...

Thrive Conference Presentation

The CECEAA Thrive Conference Presentation is now available for download....

Our CECEAA North Island Hui

It was fabulous to see over 80 people gather at Laidlaw College which was a beautiful setting for our weekend together growing our learning community.  It was a great time of encouragement as we grappled with some of the real issues that impact us in today’s society.  We were challenged to consider our personal wellbeing and to build our organisational culture so we can ensure we are a light in this national.  To enable us to do this Cathryn Bell talked about the importance of s...

Our Christchurch THRIVE Hui

We had a wonderful time at our CECEAA Christchurch Hui  and it was an opportunity to be inspired both personally and professional as we aim to THRIVE in all aspects of our life.  We engaged with our CECEAA THRIVE document and looked at how we can build a strong Christ- Centred organisational culture.  ‘We don’t want to just survive, God intends for us to THRIVE’.  Chris Thornley from the Teaching Council looked at ways we can strengthen our understanding of Inquiry and ...

Faith the Fantail

For some years now, Faith the Fantail has been flitting around the country, visiting different CECEAA centres and having many fun experiences with the tamariki and their teachers. Some of you will have already had the privilege of having her in your centres and will have shared stories of Faith’s adventures with us in the magazine.Faith has been having a bit of a holiday recently but she is now ready to go again and is currently exploring the environment and getting to know the tamariki at Wha...

Highlights from the THRIVE Leadership Hui

It was wonderful to be able to get together in Wellington at the beginning of April for our inaugural Leadership Hui where we launched our THRIVE. We had approximately 45 in attendance from Kaitaia to Dunedin and it was a privilege as a CECEAA executive to see connections being made and people engaging with what it means to ‘thrive’ as individuals and in our teams. We were blessed to hear from a range of speakers including Karen Haywood from InterLead, Cindy Hammond, Colleen Fryett, and Cath...

Children’s Ability to Serve Others

I was so heartened recently, after a vibrant conversation with Claire van Niekerk the Head Teacher from Bethlehem College Kindergarten in Tauranga.  The Kindergarten is involved in a Kahui Ako (Community of Learning) entitled Ngā Whānau O Karaiti that is focusing around the topic of Service Based Learning. In our conversation I was impacted by Claire’s view of the child.  She spoke with such passion about children’s ability to make an impact in their communities from a very young...

Te Hono - The Link : Term 2 2019

Welcome to the first edition of our termly newsletter. It is our hope that through Te Hono you will get a sense of, and feel linked into, what is happening within CECEAA as an organisation and in centres across the country. In this edition: THRIVE: North Island and South Island Hui datesMelody’s MusingsHighlights from the THRIVE Leadership HuiFaith the FantailPrayer Focus for Term 2: Praying for the regionsPost Graduation Scholarship Opportunity...

Amazing Scholarship Opportunity At Bethlehem Tertiary Institute

In recognition of our recently signed Memorandum of Understanding with the Christian Early Childhood Education Association of Aotearoa (CECEAA), BTI is offering a scholarship for our Master of Professional Practice programme to an early childhood teacher who wishes to further explore the way their faith can more actively influence their professional practice.   The scholarship is worth just over $10,000 dollars and is for a start in the July intake.  The scholarship covers tuition...

5 Simple Te Reo Pronunciation Tips

Do you want to use more te reo in your teaching practice? What’s holding you back? In my work as the author and publisher of Te Reo Singalong books, I meet many teachers who struggle with their pronunciation of te reo. This article introduces five simple tips to help you gain confidence with your pronunciation of te reo. First, let’s think about why we should make an effort to improve our pronunciation of te reo Māori. When I ask teachers in my workshops why they place importance on pronou...

NCO Report - April 2019

It is a privilege to be called into this role at this time.My first 6 months transitioning into the role has been largely about forming relationships and getting a sense of where CECEAA is at as an organisation. It has been great to reconnect with old colleagues as well as forming new relationships. Spending time with Thelma was helpful to identify the successful developments over the last few years as well as the current challenges from her perspective.  It has been exciting to see ho...

Chairperson's Report - April 2019

Kia ora koutou At last years’ AGM we welcomed Melody Stuckey as our new National Co-ordinator. We were also pleased to elect four new Executive members- Liza IIiffe (Whanganui), Barbara Samson (Dunedin), Chris Reid (Christchurch) and Ena Drinnan (Kaitaia). Along with Phil Ozanne and Karyn Robertson (Tauranga), Jenny Te Punga Jurgens (Whanganui), Huhana Winiata and myself in Auckland, we cover much of New Zealand! As Chair I would very much like to thank Mel and the Exec Members for the work t...

Melody Stuckey - National Coordinator

Melody StuckeyCECEAA National Coordinator(BEd, Dip Tch ECE) Melody has been working in the field of Early Years education for the last 25 years. She is an experienced Early Years leader, lecturer at BTI and teacher.  Melody has a background and passion for Christian Education and her international perspective has added to her ‘kete’ of knowledge in regard to best practice. Melody’s previous position was working in a large international school in China where she was Head of Early Years...

In The Best Interests Of Children

This book tells the inspiring account of the birth and growth of the very unique Christian Early Childhood Education Association of Aotearoa. It documents the history and the stories of those directly involved in its inception and continuation, and concludes with the current vision for the Association's future.An important book, it makes visible the contribution the Association has made to the New Zealand early childhood sector over the past 22 years.About the Author:  Cheryl Greenfield has...

Thriving Not Striving!

The notion of thriving has become a common theme in many circles, but what does it mean to me as a Christian Educator and Leader?  For me thriving is about finding joy in my current situation. It is believing my job is a calling rather than just a means to an end.  I was reminded of this in a significant way this week when I was explaining to my 9 year old Luke the meaning of his bible verse from school “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’...

Every child a taonga

The draft strategic plan is out. What are your thoughts? Make sure you register for a regional hui so you can have your say. ...

Better Together

I’ve been a pastor for 15 years now, and 20 years as a born again Christian. Before that I was a hypocrite - reading the Bible, but not living it in my life. The great thing is that every day on this road of sanctification I’m learning, growing and allowing the Holy Spirit to refine me.What I’ve realised is that consistency is a key. I’ve become more aware of this as I’ve joined the gym. You see gym is very similar to church life (fellowship). I’ll break it down using this imagery:If...

Introducing our new NCO

Melody has been working in the field of Early Years education for the last 25 years.She is an experienced teacher, lecturer and Early Years leader. Melody has a background and passion for Christian Education and her international perspective has added to her ‘kete’ of knowledge in regards to best practice.She has recently returned to NZ from working  in a large international school in China where she was Deputy Head of College and Head of Early Years.Prior to working in China, it was a ...

NCO Editorial 2018 Conference

Being Christian, Being Professional - Kia ū ki te Karaititanga, Kia mau ki te Ngaiotanga meetings - CECEAA shining as beacons of excellence in the Early Childhood arena. Having the privilege of attending the Early Childhood Advisory Committee and the Early Education Federation, having listened to and talked with many teachers, managers, parents and visited many services, I would like to share a few thoughts on what I have observed - which is an emphasis around the notions of Knowing, Being and ...

Bachelor of Education (Teaching) Early Childhood

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CECEAA Membership

In accordance with the Privacy Act Regulations, all information given to CECEAA will be used only in conjunction with CECEAA, for the sole purpose of business administration.General Membership Information (Please read carefully) Membership (Limited to):A. Corporate Member: Separate legal entities that either own or operate early childhood services.B. Individual Member: Individuals working in or professional supporting early childhood education and care.C. Associate Member: Separate legal entitie...

Papua New Guinea update

Sherry has recently joined the team at the CLTC kindy as a teacher aid. CECEAA has generously given $1000 to make it possible for the kindy to employ her. Sherry is not new to working at the kindy. Employed there around 18 years ago, Sherry then had a break to raise her five children. Sherry and her husband Wanare have been at Christian Leaders Training College since the late 1990s. Wanare is the nurse at the centres   ‘haus sik’- medical centre. They both come from the Easter...

CECEAA STRATEGIC PLAN 2018/2020

This document is the guiding road map for the future direction of CECEAA....

Creative Ideas For Autumn

Here are  a few simple but creative ideas to help communicate the idea of Autumn to your children....

Mainly Music

At Easter and Christmas MM will provide CECEAA with a range of books and music relating to the season. MM will donate 10% of the total orders received to CECEAA. • CECEAA will distribute information about MM to their members and pass on any feedback to MM.• CECEAA members need to identify they are members when placing orders....