Kia Ora Koutou Katoa. Ko Kusum Lata Singh tōku ingoa. My name is Kusum Lata Singh, and I have the privilege of guiding the Kihikihi Early Adventurers community. In addition to being a mother of two, I am deeply passionate about education. I take great joy in celebrating my Pacific Islander heritage and sharing it with our wonderful community. With over 30 years of teaching experience, including more than 15 years in Early Childhood Education (ECE), I bring a wealth of knowledge and a heartfelt commitment to nurturing and educating our young learners.

He taonga te mokopuna, kia whāngaia, kia tipu, kia rea. A child is a treasure, to be nurtured, to grow, to flourish.

Kia Ora, Whānau. Ko Maungatautari te maunga, Ko Waikato te awa, Ko Takitimu te waka, Ko Kahungunu te iwi, Ko Kryselle tõku ingoa

My teaching philosophy enables me to bring out the best in my learners. I believe that forming a strong and positive relationship with Tamariki, whānau, Kaiako and the wider community provide children the foundations they need to be able to grow as learners. All Tamariki are different, and have unique ways of learning. My philosophy centres around holistic development, fostering a safe and nurturing environment where children feel valued and respected. I believe in play-based learning to encourage exploration, creativity, and social interaction. By embracing diverse learning styles, I aim to provide individualised support for each child's unique needs and strengths. Communication and collaboration with whānau, is essential in creating a seamless learning experience. I strive to incorporate multicultural perspectives to promote empathy and understanding. Ultimately, my goal is to ignite a lifelong love for learning and empower our Tamariki to become confident, curious, and compassionate individuals

Kia Ora Whānau. I love our beautiful Waipa community and have lived in this area for over 25 years most recently right here in Kihikihi. I have a background in Hospitality but when my daughter was born I realised how much I enjoyed being around young tamariki so I was inspired to become an ECE Kaiako and qualified in 2009. I love learning and I want to share the love of learning with the tamariki that I teach and care for. I want to help them grow and develop, to build relationships and most importantly to have fun!

Joining Kihikihi Early Adventurers was a great privilege for me as I have gained the opportunity to interact and learn more with children. The center plays an important role of providing a curriculum that enhances and reflects the way children learn and grow holistically. The team (kaiako) at the centre values and respects each individual child and always plays an important role in encouraging and supporting all children to enjoy, participate and contribute to a wider range of learning activities and experiences that will build up their confidence in their daily journey. There is a great bond between the kaiako, parents and families (whanau) and we respect the aspirations that parents have for their children. We are doing our best to provide a learning environment that is safe and a home where children will be able to explore, and gain more knowledge and skills that would prepare them to achieve their goals and what is best for them.

Kia Ora Koutou Katoa,

Love our little Kihikihi community which I have been a long time resident for over 20years. I have been a reliever at Kihikihi Early Adventurers since November 2023, previously worked in the Education Sector for a number of years in Admin/Finance. It’s great to be able to engage and interact with these future Einstein’s, to support their learning needs and to see the children slowly develop their independence and become more confident. The Centre provides a safe and friendly environment offering plenty of fun activities and resources for the children to challenge their creative minds.

Come check it out!😀

Hi!

I love living and working in our little community.

I grew up in Sydney, Australia, and moved to NZ as a teenager. I've moved around the country a bit and worked mostly in the horticulture industry, but have been settled in Kihikihi for 8 years.

I love science and nature, and I love helping our tamariki explore the world around them, supporting their curiosity.

I was inspired to give ECE teaching a go once my youngest child started at KEA, and I have enjoyed watching not just my children grow and learn, but many others as well.