How it Feels to be a Winner!

Fantastic and groundbreaking work happens across our kindergarten network everyday in so many ways - but there’s one evening of the year that it's front and centre - the #betterbecause values awards held at the Annual General Meeting.

Kidsfirst Sumner won the 2020 Whānau award. Head Teacher, Liz Morrett, said while the recognition is special to the teaching team, it stretches beyond them.

“We were really excited to be honest, because the award has so much meaning for us as teachers, but more importantly it matters to our community. It was great to be able to have that for our whānau.”

Liz said for the Sumner team, the award recognises the special connections that run deep through their kindy.

“It represents the deep relationships that we form with our whānau and that they are reciprocal. It's part of our vision and part of who we are here in Sumner.”

Teacher, Nicola Goodman said whānau were as engaged and excited as the tamariki.

“It’s a very close knit community out here in Sumner, people were really excited, even those who don’t really come here knew about it.”

Liz said the process of writing their application was a rich experience for the Sumner team.

“When we were working on it over lockdown, it made us think back to all the different ways that parents have gone above and beyond at Sumner. We realised ‘oh my gosh this is why whānau is so important to us’, because when you look at it all-together, you realise how far reaching it is.”

Liz said the reverberations have been far and wide.

“We have received feedback from colleagues and past parents. People out there really value that Kidsfirst have these awards and understanding the meaning behind them, especially for teachers and the everyday practice.”

Kidsfirst Hawea's Kylie Arnesen receives her Champion Award from Sherryll.

Kidsfirst Champion Award winner, Kylie Arnesen said that receiving an award recognising hard work put everything into perspective.

“It does make everything worthwhile: You go through busy days in a busy place. Having that extra effort recognised makes you want to carry on.”

Kylie says her 2020 award was a total surprise.

“It was quite unexpected, so I was overwhelmed to begin with. For me, it’s all just part of my job and nothing too out of the ordinary, but did feel I quite humbled that my team felt they could nominate me.”

For Kylie, keeping values alive is something that is a priority every day - but it doesn’t happen by accident.

“They’re definitely something that needs to be maintained, and you have to have buy-in from your whole team. It takes a bit of work - not just walk in the door and carry on. You have to have some forward planning, come in early and get people on board.”

This year Kidsfirst Parklands took out the special Board Award. Head Teacher Helen Smith said her team shares the recognition with whānau.

“For the teaching team it's acknowledging some very hard work that has gone on in the last 18 months or so. It’s like when you do anything - it’s nice when someone says, ‘hey, well done.’”

Helen said that displaying the award was special - but it has also been important to provide context around it.

“We did ask for a copy of the words for the community - while it’s nice to put the certificate up we wanted to show people what the award is about.”

Helen said that what makes the award significant is that the team received it for just being themselves.

“We’ve just been us! We haven’t looked and thought let’s try and win this, it’s more of an award that acknowledges good practice and an encapsulation of good values.”

Kidsfirst Karoro Head Teacher, Tim Eden-Calcott had an awards ceremony all of his own when Kidsfirst Chief Executive, Sherryll Wilson presented his Champion award to him with tamariki, friends, whānau and community members looking on.

"I was actually part of the working party that put the original awards together, and I think they really showcase what we see as important as kindy teachers every day. It's highlighting what we do - the values actually derive from what we do already - they highlight the natural parts of who we are."

Tim says the projects that contributed to his award saved a lot of money for the kindergarten, but also had other benefits.

"It really showcases that kiwi DIY spirit to parents, with and alongside their kids. It sets a great example for everyone. And, it's nice to get that acknowledgement - in any job it can feel like a lot of the work you do goes unseen, behind closed doors."

Want to be in to win next year? Now’s the time to start thinking about activities and initiatives and exemplars that showcase the Kidsfirst #betterbecause values at work in your team. Don't forget our 2021 awards next year, it's never to early to start thinking about how you can enter, as well as the opportunity for recognition and celebration, there are always some great prizes up for grabs thanks to our generous sponsors, Grocare, Aspen Joinery, BDO, Vodafone, Area landscapes, Powershop and Mortlock Mccormack Law.