Sylvia Park Kindergarten turns 50

MEDIA RELEASE MEDIA RELEASE May 14 2018

MP Denise Lee helps celebrate local
kindergarten milestone

Sylvia Park Kindergarten turns 50

Maungakiekie-Tamaki MP, Denise Lee, was one of around 100 people who braved Auckland's wild Saturday weather to help celebrate a big milestone for the Sylvia Park Kindergarten community.

The kindergarten has just turned 50 and children, parents, whānau and guests turned up despite the horrendous weather.

A former kindergartener herself, Ms Lee said it was encouraging to see the community come together and celebrate such a momentous occasion.

“What was even more special was making connections with long-standing community members such as Marcia Lucena, who was head teacher when the kindergarten opened 50 years ago.”

Ms Lee said Sylvia Park’s 50th was definitely an event that was organised and championed by the community and for the community The kindergarten is part of the Auckland Kindergarten Association and CEO Pauline Winter agreed it was a proud moment to see such support.

"The kindergarten staff and I were humbled by how many people came. It was heart-warming to see and really underlines the critical role our kindergartens play in their communities." Ms Lee said she was a huge advocate for early brain development – “the contribution that the Association makes toward this is great.”

Maungakiekie-Tamaki board members Nerissa Henry and Alan Verrall, and three of the kindergarten’s former head teachers were also in attendance to support the kindergarten and, of course, help the children cut the cake! -ends

Sylvia Park Kindergarten is part of the Auckland Kindergarten Association, one of the country’s largest and oldest early learning providers. Our 107 kindergartens are part of communities throughout the region from Mangawhai Kindergarten in the north and Murdoch Park Kindergarten in Papatoetoe in the south. Our kindergartens offer quality early childhood education based on a philosophy of learning through play. In 2018, the Auckland Kindergarten Association is celebrating 110 years nurturing young minds.

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