Half Moon Bay
SAPLINGS HALF MOON BAY, AUCKLAND
Located in the heart of Half Moon Bay Marina, the centre is right next door to the Waiheke Ferry terminal and our ample off street parking makes drop off’s and pick up’s easy.
Modern and purpose built, safe and secure, all rooms feature large mature Pohutukawa and are north facing so they are sunny and warm. Air conditioning helps keep it warm in the winter and pleasant during our hot summers.
Social interaction and educational development is very focused as we have four rooms with teachers/kaiako very experienced in that particular age group.
Fees include nappies, morning tea, a hot cooked lunch, afternoon tea and a late snack
Three outdoor areas with mature Pohutukawa trees
Calm, spacious and light filled rooms
Separate sleep room’s for babies and toddlers
0 - 2 YEARS
Max 19 children.
This room is our nursery, and the starting point for many of our families. It is an open, welcoming room with its own outdoor space and a separate sleep room where each baby has their own full-size cot. To ensure a high level of care we have one teacher for every four children during the busiest times of the day.
2 - 3 YEARS
Max 18 children.
Recognising the high needs of toddlers, we have one teacher to every 6 children and we keep numbers below 18. After lunch, the children all have a nap on comfy stretcher beds in a calm, separate sleep room.
3 - 4 YEARS
Max 31 children.
Our 3-year olds enjoy the space of two co-joined rooms and recognising their growing independence, there is one teacher to every 7 children. They have a big outdoor space with equipment and resources relevant to their age group. Large shade cloths and a giant umbrella provide plenty of shade. After lunch, children who need it have a nap on their own stretcher bed.
4 - 5 YEARS
This large co-joined room opens out onto its own outdoor play space sheltered by several large beautiful pohutukawa trees. Kaiako in this room are specialised in the needs of pre-school children and all children are encouraged to participate in extra activities as part of school readiness. Families also have the option of providing their own lunchbox on Fridays, as another way of developing independence and readiness for school.
Half Moon Bay Leadership team
Lumin Zheng
Centre Director
Together with my husband Kenneth, we are the proud parents of two young daughters and two cats.
Fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin and English I moved to New Zealand in 2007. A passion for teaching led to a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education before starting teaching in 2012. I began with Saplings as a teacher in 2019 before becoming a Team Leader followed by Curriculum Leader. Saplings has been proudly providing a welcoming and nurturing environment for a long time and I am proud to continue this journey, working in partnership with our experienced kaiako, whanau and community.
I see children as capable and curious learners who thrive through play, exploration and discovery. I also strongly believe active engagement in physical movement and healthy risk-taking lays a strong foundation for lifelong learning.
At the heart of my teaching philosophy is building strong and respectful relationships with children, whanau and colleagues. I believe these connections are essential to nurture competent and confident learners to achieve the best outcome for every child.
Ella Li
Curriculum Manager
My passion for early childhood started with my own happy school experiences in China before moving to New Zealand many years ago. I now have two beautiful young children which I believe has enriched my approach to teaching.
I completed a Bachelor of Arts followed by a Graduate Diploma in Teaching (ECE). As a student teacher I gained a lot of experience working at a variety of other centres and kindergartens before joining Saplings in 2010. Having started as a teacher, experiencing all our different age groups followed by many years in a Team Leader role, I am well positioned to support our Kaiako.
I believe that fostering independence and resilience is crucial in young children. Creating a place where they feel secure and respected is essential. I aim to work with our Kaiako to build an environment where our children can find their unique talents and develop into keen learners while also growing their independence.
ENROL AT SAPLINGS HALF MOON BAY
CONTACT SAPLINGS HALF MOON BAY
Saplings is easy to find – right next door to the Waiheke ferry terminal. Simply click on the map below for directions, or contact us.
WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU
Saplings Half Moon Bay:
7am – 6pm
Monday – Friday, closed Weekend & Public Holidays.
1 Ara Tai Drive
Half Moon Bay Marina
Auckland
Phone
09 537 6074