Green Leaves Study Tour
For the first time ever, 15 Green Leaves team members have crossed the ditch for a Study Tour in New Zealand.
BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE
Green Leaves Early Learning is always looking for ways to expand its employees’ horizons, and with the launch of the Green Leaves Study Tour, they are doing this literally!
Fifteen Green Leaves team members have just jetted to New Zealand for this inaugural pedagogical Study Tour, and interest in this overseas experience was high.
A huge number of applicants put up their hand to become international students, and after answering a series of questions in the most passionate and creative ways imaginable, the final 15 are thrilled to be part of the Green Leaves Study Tour.
And understandably so, because this Study Tour is something special!
The group are spending four days touring Wellington, learning about New Zealand’s bi-cultural curriculum, Te Whāriki and its influence through pedagogy and practice, workshops, and visits to early learning services.
Te Whāriki is really inspiring because it contains principles and strands that kaiako (teachers) use to ‘weave’ a child-centric curriculum, and the two people leading the Green Leaves Study Tour are inspiring too!
Kelly Goodsir, founder of KG Learning, and Karen Hailes, NZ Study Tour Leader are hosting the Study Tour, and both women are changemakers in pedagogical practices of early childhood education, and great believers in collaborative thinking and learning.
They have a lot of knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm to share with the Study Tour group, and are also being joined by Green Leaves’ National Operations Manager, Kirsten Berry, who’s excited to learn and collaborate as well.
Green Leaves team members visiting the inspiring learning environments at Childspace Early Learning in Wellington. It was the perfect opportunity for the team to reconnect with their inner child and appreciate the centre's wondrous natural environment.
The Green Leaves Study Tour is already proving to be amazing for everyone involved, and although places were limited, this Study Tour is part of a larger professional development series that all Green Leaves teams are benefitting from.
This series is known as the National Learning, Research and Development Project (NLRDP); and under the leadership of Dr Karen Grubb, the NLRDP is designed to enhance teams’ practices around Nutrition, Inclusion, Wellbeing, Sustainability and Indigenous Perspectives.
Green Leaves is definitely committed to the professional development and growth of its team members, and there are more great opportunities just around the corner.
Ms Berry says, “We encourage our centre team members to empower themselves with the knowledge and skills to craft a career that is rich and fulfilling, which will resonate in their daily practices in providing engaging educational experiences and care.
“From a professional development and growth perspective, there are so many exciting things planned this year, which I can’t wait to share with our team. This Study Tour is just the beginning.”
This is excellent to hear, and we can’t wait to see where the Green Leaves teams go next!
