About St Lukes

St Lukes Kindergarten is a privately owned kindergarten situated at 130 Remuera Rd, secretly snuggled behind the historic St Luke Church (we do not even have a sign on the road!)

Since opening in the 1960's we have been successfully preparing children for the big day when they start primary school. In our warm and welcoming environment we have a professional and experienced team of teachers who will ensure that your child is well prepared to meet the challenges required by today's top schools.  We have a modern approach and use the latest technologies e.g. Infocare for our administration, but still maintain those old cherished traditional values.

St Lukes is a sessional kindergarten licensed for 40 children per session. Our teachers are all qualified, and we always have a team of six teachers per session. we follow the school term system of four terms per year.

St Lukes is a sessional private kindergarten and follows the time honoured traditions of the New Zealand ECE kindergarten system.

SESSION TIMES

Afternoon sessions are on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday only from 12:30 pm. to 3:00pm

For Morning sessions, we offer either a five or four morning week with session times from 8:45 am. to 11:45 am.

Some parents prefer to start with 4 mornings and progress to 5 mornings as their child gets closer to school start date. Others like to start immediately with 5 mornings.

The structure of the afternoon and morning sessions differ so that the different age groups can be nurtured and extended in an age appropriate way. 

All About the Afternoon Session 

The younger children start in the afternoon session. This is from about aged 2 and a half years old. Generally we start children at the beginning of a term. The benefit of this is your child will start with a group of children giving you the opportunity the meet the other parents. This can sometimes be the start of life long friendships as your children continue through all stages of school together. We also use the last weeks of the previous term for you to bring your child in for a few visits. This is important as it insures that when your child starts they do not feel as if they are being left in a strange building with strangers. We fully understand that all children are different and are more than happy to be guided by you as to who your little one is and what they require.

You are probably asking yourself  "What if my child is not ready at 2 1/2" If this is the case please let us know and we will simply defer their start for another term. You are not financially penalized for making this important decision as we feel it is paramount that the start of this exciting journey through kindergarten is a happy one for all.

During the afternoon session some of our aims are to encourage your child to:-

• Learn to say "Good Bye" to their Mum, Dad or Caregiver.

• Develop a network of friends.

• Use all areas of the kindergarten with confidence.

• Follow kindergarten routines.

• Learn Kindergarten boundaries. 

You are now asking yourself "When will my child move to the morning session"?

Your child will progress to the morning session in age order. We are dictated to by the number of children who leave us to start school. If 5 children  leave us to start school we simply move the five oldest children from the afternoon session.  Generally a child spends a year in the afternoon session.

All About the Morning Session

Your child has now taken their first big step since starting kindergarten. Here are a few examples of what we aim to achieve during the morning session.

• Teach self help skills.

• Teach problem solving.

• Foster independence I.E being responsible for their own belongings.

• Foster self confidence, to try out new things I.E. science and drama.

• Encourage curiosity, enquiry and an interest in the world around them I.E. daily news sharing.

Every Monday we have a gym teacher who comes to the kindergarten and takes the children in groups of 10 for Gymnastics. The purpose of this activity is to develop Gross Motor Skills which is a vital key to the development of Fine Motor coordination. The children have a great deal of fun whilst learning valuable skills.

When your child turns four they will enter the system where they receive individual attention with a specific view to school readiness. Again this activity is not pressurized and is a lot of fun, Each child is unique and our teaching methods take each child at its present level of development and move forward from there.

In addition your child will start the preschool numeracy and literacy programme the term before they start school. The programme we have at St Lukes is not a generic programme purchased from a supplier, but rather a programme designed by ourselves to fit in with our own New Zealand primary and early childhood curriculums.

Feedback from our feeder schools has been positive.

So your child is in for a busy time through out the morning session, but never do we detract from the real learning at kindergarten which is "learning through play"

Helpfull Hints To Settle Your Child

At St Lukes we understand that entering into a new environment can sometimes be a bewildering experience for our young afternoon session children, especially when this involves you, the parent, leaving. It is important to recognise that separating from a loved one can be easier for some children than for others. We aim to provide an environment which allows this transition to happen as easily as possible for both you and your child.

Here are a few suggestions to help your child settle into St Lukes.

·       Prior to your child’s actual start date bring your child in for a few visits. When we feel the time is right for the visits to commence, we post your child their very own, age appropriate, invitation. These visits give your little one a chance to explore the kindy and become familiar with the Teachers and other children, while you are still present.

·        At this time you and the teachers are able to observe your child, and gain some insight as to how they may react when you leave

·       We feel it is important you take time to discuss with us how to handle the first time you leave your child with us. How this is done depends on each individual child, and we will have a number of suggestions.

·       For the first two weeks we recommend you collect your child at 2.30pm, as initially it may be a bit worrying for some to watch others being collected before them.

·       It will help if you give your child a clear picture of what you will be doing whilst they are at kindy. Something they will understand - like going shopping or to work.

·       Assure your child that you love them and you that you will be back soon. (We usually say ‘at music time’)

·       Be positive and confident about the kindy.

·       When you arrive at kindy try to spend a little time settling your child at an activity. Some suggestions are – water play, the sandpit, play dough, painting or puzzles.

·       If your child is anxious about you leaving, ask a teacher to help and make a quick exit after saying goodbye. Prolonged goodbyes do not work. They only make the distress of your leaving go on and on. The sooner we can nurture and support your child the sooner they are settled enough to enjoy the freedom of exploring the wonderful world of kindy.

·       Should your child cry we recommend that you do not hesitate or immediately return, this only serves to show them that you are anxious, and teach them that crying will make you return.

·       Always say goodbye to your child. Please don’t try to leave without their noticing.

·       If we feel your child is becoming overly distressed, we will contact you immediately.(please make sure we always have your correct contact phone numbers)

Please be reassured that every child will settle, but each one is an individual, and will do things in their own way.

We value your insight into who your little one is, and look forward to working with you as your child progresses through kindy, until that big day when they leave us to start school.

Our Outside Area
Children learn through active exploration. The privilege to learn in such a way has a lasting impact on the preschool child.

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Our Inside Area
Kindergarten should be an interesting place to be where the preschool child can become intellectually involved.