Team Challenge 2018

Most years we set the team a challenge whereby we allocate a set amount of cash for the challenge, set teams, and sometimes a theme. The idea is to create a resource that is needed, useful and beautiful for their environment. There is of course, in true Gems style, a focus on the natural, up-cycling and recycling. Over the years there have been some amazing resources created, which years later are still firm favourites of the children (such as Alissa's horse from 2015 - below).

We always find that this is a great event - fun, competitive, purposeful, creative and an amazing reflection of the team that we have with us.

This year was no different. Tash (Gems Super Duper 2IC/Curriculum and Ops Coordinator) issued the challenge to the team and we set the date for earlier this month when we had the wonderful Natasha Kibble down from Nelson to run a professional development day with us (more on that next month). We asked Natasha if she would mind having the honour of judging the creations for us, which to our pleasure she accepted.

We love this event - the way it brings the teams together, working in their own time to pull this together, they are reflective of their children needs and interests in, they are resourceful, creative and most of all fun.

Congratulations to the team in The Nest at Shotover Country who took out the 2018 honours with their beautiful up-cycled music wall. The following was also created:

• The Nest - Lake Hayes Estate - beeswax wraps to replace plastic cling film being used when covering children's food, with separate ones made for the children with allergies. Bibs were also made with the left over fabric.
• The Hive - Lake Hayes Estate - bug motel to promote eco diversity in our back yard and educate our young ones on the importance of this!
• The Hive - Shotover Country - a vertical kitchen garden wall - herbs and pops of colour to beautify our environment and use in our culinary delights in the kitchen

This year our creative genius administrator Louise (Lake Hayes Estate) has overseen the development of our trophy for this event - this too has been a labour of love. We are really delighted with the outcome. Keep an eye out for it at Shotover Country.

‍