KORU HIGHLIGHTS: Term 1 Week 10

Learning Is A Magical Experience
In hub 3&4 we had our very own Harry Potter visiting to show us his wide-range of magical skills including pulling a bunny rabbit out of a hat. The audience was captivated by this sophisticated techniques and even supported by saying the words abracadabra.




WANTED: Used Toys Still In Good Condition
We have received some quality, used toys over the past couple of weeks. A huge thank you to everyone who has brought them in. We are still on the hunt for more, so please keep us in mind if you are inspired to have a clean out over the holidays. Check out the pictures below of the children focused on their discovery.























Circle Time

Circle Time is one of the many things we do to promote well being amongst the students at Beckenham School. This practice involves the children and teacher sitting in a circle, creating a safe zone for children to share and problem solve together. Some of the topics we have already explored in our hubs are; self-regulation and breathing, compliment giving and kindness, self-management and sharing what's on top.


Koru Celebration Assembly
This week Koru is leading and performing in assembly. We will all be singing Moana's 'How Far I'll Go'. We will also be celebrating Karda and Annabelle who have earned themselves Citizen of the Week. A huge congratulations to Karda and Annabelle! We look forward to seeing you on Thursday 6th April at 2:15pm.

Karda you are a superstar learner and classmate. You demonstrate your 'I love challenge' attitude by trying new things with increasing confidence and resilience. Your growing self motivation and positive 'I can' attitude is an inspiration to us all. Thank you for being a role model for us at learning times when you focus and try your very best. Tino pai Karda.

Annie, you are a fantastic learner and friend in Hub 10/11. You have the most beautiful smile, and always look on the bright side of life! You are kind, generous, helpful and always respectful to classmates and adults alike. You put 100% effort into producing top quality work and you are always keen to step up for a challenge. Your attitude is a wonderful example for us all! Thank you for providing sparkle and smiles each and every day for us, Annie. You're a gem!



Any allergies to cats? 
Next week, Charlotte would like to bring her kitten in to share with the children. If this causes any problems (e.g. allergies), please email charlotte.verity@beckenham.school.nz.

KORU HIGHLIGHTS: Term 1 Week 8


This week started off with a WHIZZ and a BANG! We were joined by Elgregoe, a magician and ventriloquist, who had a special message to share with us about how to stop bullying and be a HERO at Beckenham School.




H - Honesty
E - Empathy
R - Resilient
O - Opportunities






Here are some helpful tips to ensure your child has a successful day at school:

  • Make sure they arrive at school between 8:30am and 8:45am. This ensures they have time to do their morning jobs and say goodbye to you so that they are settled before the bell goes. It is also important that no children are being dropped off at school before 8:30am, unless they have an older sibling who catches the bus to Champion Street.
  • Reading folders need to come to school everyday. Sometimes we need to send important information home and this is the best place to put it to keep it safe on its journey home to you. Having your reading folder at school everyday also ensures children can read their books both at school and home. Increasing your child's reading mileage has a proven positive effect on their reading ability. You can record what books your child is reading at home in the back of their home learning books.
  • Check your child's school bag regularly. Quite often books can mysteriously come out of folders and end up squashed in the bottom of bags or in the more extreme cases, rotten fruit! It's important to check that no nasty surprises are taking up residence in your child's bag for too long.
  • Library folders and library books only need to come to school on a Monday and Friday. This saves you having to remember to pack it each day and ensures you and your child have exciting new books to read together each week.




Koru Whānau will be presenting Beckenham's Celebration Assembly in week 10 - Thursday 6th April 2:15pm





Can you read? Do people often tell you that you're a natural with a pair of scissors? Then this could be the job for you!
We love having parents and caregivers in the classroom to support the children with their learning. This may include reading a book of your choice with a group of children or gluing poems into books. All these jobs make a huge difference and are an excellent way to show the children how we really do get there together! If you have some free time on a Monday to Thursday between 9:00am and 12:30pm, and would love to get involved, please let your child's point of contact teacher know by either sending us an email or coming in and having a chat. 
Any help would be greatly appreciated!



Any good used toys?
We run a fabulous play based Discovery time each morning throughout our Junior School. In the middle school the programme is extended and broadened to cater for older children’s interests and developmental stages. Both programmes provide authentic, rich opportunities for the children to explore, discover and investigate whilst strengthening their essential skills and skills in many areas of the curriculum. We would like to supplement and build the resources that are available to the children at these times. If you have any good, used toys we would really appreciate them at school. The types of things we are looking for are things such as tea sets, dinosaurs, crafting equipment, puppets, trains, cars, blocks, lego etc.  We can give these toys new life and they will certainly make a difference to our children. Please drop the toys into Hub 3 so we can sort and organise storage. Thank you very much for your support.

Mufti Day Tomorrow

Hi Everyone,

Tomorrow we will be having a mufti day to raise money for a local girl called Maddie Collins. Maddie needs to fundraise $350,000 for a vital kidney transplant. Maddie has family that once attended Beckenham School so it is really special that we can show we care by all bringing along a gold coin tomorrow to support Maddie and her family during this challenging time.

To learn more about Maddie's story check out the link below:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/mid-canterbury-selwyn/84152639/nationwide-mufti-day-for-maddie

Kind regards,
Caitlyn & The Student Council Team

Cultural Studies


Asia Awareness

What an exciting first week back! 

The children in Pōhutukawa have dived straight into their learning for this term by exploring a range of Asian countries and cultures. Both hubs have been completing a variety of research and experiences to embrace different Asian culture. Some of these cultures even belong to children in our very own hubs so it has been an exciting opportunity to get to know more about these in particular.


I have been exploring Japan with my group and on Thursday we decided to have a go at making sushi. A very messy, yet exciting task! Below is a video of one of our students completing the 'wasabi challenge'. I gave the challenge a go myself and can confirm it is no easy feat. A big thanks to Fonterra's Milk in Schools programme for the aftercare support for the brave souls who took on the challenge.

Caitlyn



JUNK FREE JUNE


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Next month in the Pōhutukawa Whānau we are encouraging children to take part in Junk Free June. This is a campaign run by the Cancer Society to help raise funds and awareness for their worthy cause. Not only will the children have an opportunity to ​support the Cancer Society, they will also be able to show how they love challenge and make a difference by choosing some 'junk' and giving it up for the month of June. Last year children chose from a huge range including; lollies, ice cream, fizzy drink and even video games!

​The children will be tracking their progress in their hubs and you can follow our journey on the Junk Free June website. We hope to inspire other children at Beckenham School to join us in this challenge and would love to hear from any families who decide to tackle the Junk Free June challenge together. For more information head to the Junk Free June website and check out our Pōhutukawa profile below.