Author Archives: Amber Donovan

Koru 2018 Welcome Newsletter

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Koru Team Newsletter
Term 1 Week 1 2018



Kia ora koutou,
Greetings to you all and a very warm welcome to this new year. It is a pleasure to be able to meet with you and your child/children during these two days of learning conferences. We are looking forward to a full and flourishing year ahead!
Our team from left to right Kristika, Caitlyn, Elizabeth, Dorinda, Sue, Charlotte, Amber and Rowe.

The First Weeks of School
Our focus in the first weeks of school will be about building relationships and getting to know each other. This will include supporting students to become familiar with daily routines including how to use the inside and outside spaces, how to move around safely and sensibly, how we use resources and materials and learning how to work together. Becoming familiar with the sequence of and expectations within a day of learning at school is important for all our tamariki. If you have any questions or concerns please let your child’s home group teacher know.

School Routines:
  • The first bell rings at 8.30am. At our West Hub there will be a teacher to meet and greet children and families as they arrive. If your child/children arrive before 8.30am they will need to wait outside as this allows time for teachers to prepare for their teaching day.
  • We encourage you to support your child’s independence by allowing them to carry and unpack their school bag and place it into one of the green or blue cubbies (at the back of the West Hub).
  • Lunch boxes, drink bottles and reading folders will be stored inside the hub.
  • Discovery Stations will be set up in hubs at 8.30 each morning. Once your child has put away their things, he/she is welcome to choose a discovery activity or to go outside to play.
  • All children are to come to their home space at 8.55. If you arrive after this time it is very important that you report to the office to sign in.  If you need to collect your child from school during the day you will need to sign them out at the office.

Karakia to start the day
This karakia is used across our kura to start the day and for formal gatherings, celebrations and meetings.

“This is an ancient karakia that was used when you were out at sea and a storm was approaching. However, the storm is a metaphor for any life­ threatening force. It is now widely used at the start of the day or at the start of a meeting”.

Whakataka te hau ki te uru,
Whakataka te hau ki te tonga.
Kia mākinakina ki uta,
Kia mātaratara ki tai.
E hī ake ana te atākura he tio,
he huka, he hauhunga.
Haumi e! Hui e! Tāiki e!

Translation
Cease the winds from the west,
Cease the winds from the south,
Let the breeze blow over the land,
Let the breeze blow over the ocean,
Let the red ­tipped dawn come with a sharpened air,
A touch of frost, a promise of a glorious day.

Topic
Through a range of learning experiences and across a range of different curriculum areas we will be learning about the concept of Sustainability. We look forward to sharing our learning goals for this with you soon.


Home Learning
We are currently engaged in a review of our Home Learning protocols. We expect to have completed this by week 3 so we can inform whanau about the Home Learning expectations.

Parent Help
To help us settle into our learning routines and general day to day programme we would appreciate if offers of parent/whanau help are delayed until March. If you are happy to work ‘behind the scenes’ to put away reading books etc we would very appreciate that.  Please make contact with one of us and we’ll let you know how you can help.

 
Our Values Kete & Student Wellbeing
The Beckenham School values are captured by this Māori whakataukī:
Ka whakakī ngā kete mo ngā haerenga o tātou katoa
Filling the kete for the journey of us all.
During the year we will keep returning to our school values, integrating and weaving them into our programmes.   
We wish you all the best, for a very happy and successful year together!
Sue Leadbetter sue.leadbetter@beckenham.school.nz

Week 8 Newletter

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Writing

We read Voices in the Park by Anthony Brown. We noticed how the author gave us clues that helped us learn about each character. We took the characters from the book and put them in a new setting. We left clues for our reader, just like Anthony Brown. 

The next day it was my Mum's birthday. I was lucky because Smudge was sitting at the same table and she was sitting beside me. Smudge brought  some playing cards to play with her dad, but instead she played with me. It was fun, well apart from Smudge's Dad because my Mum was being a bossy boots to Smudge's Dad. 
By Taylor

It was my birthday so I drove to a nail salon to relax. When I got there, it seemed an age, but finally the lady talked to me. She couldn't even find my favourite nail colour!

By Niamh


Team Dolphin and Team Rubble have been reading 'My Mum' by Anthony Browne. We have been working on 'hooking' the reader with interesting starters and 'hooks' throughout the writing. Our character writing is about Mum:

My Mum
My Mum is sweet and actually she is the best Mum. She plays with me. My Mum has blue eyes and orange hair. 

By Dartanyan

My Sister
She is nice, my sister. She has brown hair and brown eyes. She babysits me and plays with me. She's cute. 

By Petal

My Mum
She's cool, my Mum. My Mum is COOL!!! My Mum is nice because she's kind. She looks like a beautiful butterfly. My Mum looks 21 years old. My Mum is a paediatrician, that is a type of doctor. She likes biking. She likes running. She's very cool, my Mum. My Mum is as smart as an octopus. My Mum is lovely and beautiful. I love my Mum. And do you know what? She loves me too!

By George

Some wonderful writing from a Team Minecraft author, exploring similes...

My Family
My mum is like a turtle. My step dad is like a child. My baby brother is like a puppy or a kitten. I love my family and, you know what? They love me too.

By Eva

Amazing Asia

A huge thank you to the families who have shared aspects of their culture with our children as a part of our Amazing Asia learning. This week Rahul and Aparna joined us to share traditional Indian dress, food and fascinating facts about India. The children really enjoyed the experience.





Term 3, Week 7 Newsletter

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Metro Sport Cricket Sessions 

On Wednesday each of our hub classes enjoyed a mini cricket lesson in the hall. Here are a couple of the top shots of the day:




Print Making

Our print making continues in earnest and we are thrilled to see that all of our effort is coming to fruition! Bet you can't wait to see these amazing artworks up on the walls! They will also be used this year for the calendar art. 









Science Alive

Science Alive on Tues 15th September - Fri 18th September

As part of our inquiry learning this term on 'Looking Forward - Modern Learning Indoor and Outdoor Spaces', we have invited Science Alive to visit each learning hub to guide us in a lesson on building design and safety. The children will be able to use these skills in their group inquiry.

The timetable is as follows:
Hub 4 - Tues 15th Sept at 11:00 - 12:30
Hub 3 - Tues 15th Sept at 1:30 - 3:00
Hub 2 - Wed 16th Sept at 11:00 - 12:30
Hub 1 - Wed 16th Sept at 1:30 - 3:00

If you are able to help please let your child's teacher know as soon as possible.
The cost of this visit is $8.00 per child and a request for this donation will be added to your school account.

Quaky Cat Mufti Day

There were plenty of fabulous felines around Beckenham School today...here are some of the cats on show: 


















Kahikatea News 24th July 2015

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Welcome Back!
It is lovely to see everyone again, and we hope you had a lovely little break. We are settling back into routines and looking forward to the exciting new learning planned for this term.

Technology and Cyber Safety
There is a parent evening coming up on Monday 17 August at 7:00 in the staffroom called 'Tackling Technology'.
 It is aimed at Year 7 & 8 children but it could be helpful for parents of younger children too. Tackling Technology. Young people need new skills and guidance as they navigate their digital world.  Breakdown of content:

  • The developing teen brain. A look at some of the strengths and weakness of the teenage brain and how vital parents wisdom and experience can be during these years.
  •  Encourage parents with the significance part they play in keeping their students safe online. Discuss the advantages on the digital age and some risks.
  • The digital footprint and its potential effect it has on students future. Cyber grooming and what parents need to know to keep their kids safe. Do’s and Don’ts for social networking.
  •  Internet filtering. Practical solutions for parents as well as answers to the questions “How much” and “At what age?” Cyber bullying and how to stay safe. 

Gymnastics
We will start on Monday afternoon (27th July). Please send your child/children to school each Monday this term in clothing (uniforms) which will allow them to be a) barefoot b) tumble and roll around. No tights please, as the children are much safer on the equipment if they have barefeet. Thank you!

 Lunchtime Games
 A new duty has been established to help support our students during the long lunchtime play. From 1pm there will be games and fancy equipment for students to use on the courts beside Hub 3/4 (Where the pool will no longer be!). A teacher will be running games and activities for students, so do encourage your child/children to head over and check it out.

Topics
We have a number of exciting learning topics this term, including Print Making, "Looking Forward" (our intergrated unit exploring classroom design, playground spaces and how to work collaboratively) and a Dance unit!