Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto School Newsletter, Rāmere, (Friday) 5 August

The big and obvious change around the school this week has been the final stage of our fencing project. We did note, back in Term 1, that this latter stage of the fencing would be happening, however, the speed at which it was suddenly installed caught all of us a little by surprise this week! 

We appreciate that there are mixed feelings within our community about the fencing and gates, and that understanding the purpose of this change is really important. 

From the time that we put in the Treemendous area down on the Eastern Tce boundary, it became evident that fencing at that end of the school was necessary. As we explored this option, we recognised that, over recent years, we have increasing numbers of students joining the school who have needs that require a higher level of monitoring and support to enable them to remain safe in a school environment. The school is positioned with significant potential hazards on it's doorstep with the ponds and the river, as well as the roads. At the start of this year, the Ministry of Education determined that the needs of our students had reached a risk threshold, resulting in the Ministry funding and procuring this full fencing project. 

We are working through the obvious challenges that having tall fences and gates now provide, and we are putting in place new processes for managing and supporting our children to access the park safely at break times, and to support adults and students to access the school when they need to. As part of this, we will need to get an intercom installed at the front gate so that anyone who can't unlock the gate to enter the school during school hours can buzz into the office and request that the gate be unlocked. 

The main gate on Sandwich Road will be open from 8:30-8:55am each morning. If you are dropping children to school after 8:55am, you will need to make sure that you open the gate for them (and remind them to come and sign into the office).  As always, please don't send children to school before 8:30am.

We are very aware at school of making sure all of our children are safe and that they understand that the fences and gates are there to promote the safety of all, especially our newest and our most vulnerable children. Your help in reframing any concerns your children may have about the fences in a positive, caring and inclusive way is very much appreciated.

We are reminded of the words attributed to Mahatma Gandhi: 

We do know that it may take a little while to get these new processes working smoothly. If you have any questions or concerns, we would appreciate you letting us know. 

Ngā mihi nui

Sandy Hastings

Tumuaki - Principal

Citizen of the Week

Maximus Olykan - Year 3

Max, you are a ray of sunshine in our team. You always give new learning tasks a go with a can-do attitude and are super engaged with them. You are a fantastic role model to other students, and show kindness and empathy whenever you help a classmate with their work. Ka mau te wehi, Max!

Last term's newsletter discussed some of the different categories that can be used to support the definition of giftedness. As with all learners, students who have been identified as gifted come with both areas of strengths and growth. Not all gifted students have had opportunities to demonstrate their gifted learning aptitude. Some gifted learners may have significant learning and social difficulties that can mask their true potential. Some gifted young people may mask their giftedness and develop alternative identities which are perceived as more socially acceptable.

Below is a table showing clusters of characteristics that gifted learners may demonstrate. This research was undertaken by Don McAlpine and Neil Reid through their work with New Zealand teachers.

... who are the new Year 7/8 Canterbury Champions! They participated in the Canterbury Volleyball championships at Hillview Christian School on Monday 1st August.