Author Archives: Charlotte Verity

Sleep Routines & Our Performance

Posted on by
Healthy Sleep 
How much sleep is your child getting? We are noticing that many children are tired during learning time. Did you know that 5-7 year old need 10-11 hours sleep per night?  The holidays are a perfect time to get sleep routines in order! For more information and strategies to help your child get a good night's sleep, see this info from Canterbury Health.

There is also a free sleep app developed by the London-based Children's Sleep Department http://kidssleepdr.com/index.html to help you understand your child's sleep.


Singing: we will be singing our team song at this week's Celebration Assembly on 5th July at 11am.

Thank you: to our wonderful parent helpers in reading, and for all those who put away reading books. We really appreciate your support. Thank-you!

Swimming Notice

Posted on by


14 May 2019
Dear Whanau,
Swimming Lessons at Aqua Gym
The Kahikatea children are booked in to have swimming lessons at Aqua Gym.  
Children will receive a 30 minute lessons over two weeks.
The swimming program will run from Monday 27th - 31 May 2019 and 4 - 7 June 2019.
Charlotte & Jules’ groups will go from approx 11.30-12.50pm.
Anna and Amber’s groups will go from approx 11am-12.20pm.
Aqua Gym requires all children to wear a swimming cap for their lessons.
All children will be required to wear suitable swimming costumes: either shorts or togs.
Lessons and transport are $110 per child.
A request for your contribution have been added to the Term 1 accounts.
Please email Sandra (our finance manager) at accounts@beckenham.school.nz
or call her on 03 337 1404 if you want to discuss setting up a small, regular payment.
If you any questions regarding our swimming program please contact your child/children's point of contact teacher.
Kind regards,
Amber, Jules, Lisa, Anna, Charlotte, Nicola and Jeanette

Kahikatea Newsletter Term 1 Week 8

Posted on by
Swimming
Our lessons start on the 27th - 31st May & 4th - 7th June 2019.
Group 1: 11-12.20am Amber & Anna's Group
Group 2: 11.30-12.50am Jules & Charlotte
Swimming Helpers Term 2
Lunches
There are three breaks in our school day for children to eat. Morning tea, Brain break and Lunchtime. The reason for Brain break is because there is a delay between morning tea at 10.30 and lunch 1.20. Some of our children need a little bit more food to ensure they have enough for their lunchtime eating. Each food break is monitored by teachers and we do remind children not to eat all their food at Brain break.
Cross Country Practice
We will be running each day to prepare for Cross Country on Monday 6th May (postponement date is the 7th May). Please ensure your child/children has a named water bottle and that they are wearing appropriate footwear everyday.
Home Reading
Please use the reading log to record the books your child/children read at home.
Reading everyday makes a HUGE difference to how quickly children acquire early reading strategies.
Many early readers will still need to look at the pictures in the book- this is important because the pictures hold meaning. When your child is looking at the pictures and having a go at reading they are engaging in an appropriate early reading strategy. Praise them. When they are ready you can support them to look at the words, matching their finger underneath each word as they read along. Eventually the finger pointing is replaced by 'pointing' with their eyes.
Innovation Inquiry: Boat Building
This week children were encouraged to build boat! The key stages we went through were:
* Plan
* Gather materials
* Build
* Test
* Making changes or innovations to improve our boats










Kahikatea Term 1 Week 6

Posted on by
Kia Ora Whānau
Would you like to join us for Discovery? 
We welcome 1-2 parents in each week to share their culture or skills on Wednesday mornings 9.20-10am or Friday's 2.15-2.45pm. We have the materials - you have the knowledge!
Things you could share:
* A song, game or activity from your home culture
* A food related or cooking activity
* A sport or outdoor activity
* An art or craft
or something else.
Please come and talk or email a teacher if you would like to join us.
Parent Helpers
We are always happy to have parent help and there are some days when our program are a little different. Please check with you child's hub teacher to find out which day and time is best for parent help.
Reading At Home
Your child will be self-selecting their home reading book each day. Reading at home should be relaxed and enjoyable.
“For students, independent reading of materials they choose themselves: Builds the habit of reading, Allows them to practise reading strategies with books that interest them, Builds their vocabulary and helps comprehension, Helps them sustain concentrated reading for a set time, Promotes fluency, Puts the responsibility for solving problems with words and meaning into their own hands, Helps build their confidence about trying unfamiliar books.”  Effective Literacy Practice -Years 1 to 4. Ministry of Education 2003.
If you have any questions about our reading program please talk with your child's teacher.
Kind regards, Kahikatea Teachers

The Beckenham Ballers miniball team play at Pioneer each Thursday afternoon.  
Parents Returning Reading Books 
If you would like to see how the 'system' for returning our reading books works the wonderful Sally will be here at 9am on Wednesday to show you what to do. Kia ora Sally!
Swimming in Term 2 
Yes! We will be attending swimming lessons at Aqua Gym from Monday the 27th May. Details and further information will be forthcoming.
Scooters & Bikes 
When children arrive at school on a scooter or on your bike they are not permitted to ride through the school grounds or ride it up and down verandas. Please ensure your child/children park their wheels as soon as they get to school. There are two bike parks, one is behind kōmanawa and one you can access via Sandwich Rd.
At the end of the day they must walk their bike/scooter through the school grounds.
Discovery Action & Outdoor Challenges 
   



 



   

Inside Creativity
    

Self-Managing Mathematicians



Kahikatea Term 1 Week 2

Posted on by


Kia ora koutou. Our year has started and it's been wonderful to be able to enjoy hot sunny days outside exploring our school play areas, especially the sandpit with it's new tools. 
Each days starts in home groups and teachers really appreciate you arriving in plenty of time to settle your child into their learning day.
This is a good time for children to catch up with their friends and to talk about the day ahead. 
In our teaching team we have Amber, Anna, Charlotte and Jules. We also have Jeanette who is our teaching assistant and every Monday we have Nicola.
Soon we are welcoming another lovely teacher to our team.
Kia ora Lisa

Last year I completed my Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning having spent some placement time at Beckenham school. I am extremely excited and blessed to be back, as I start my teaching career as part of the Kahikatea hub at Beckenham School.

As a beginning teacher I am passionate about establishing relationships with tamariki to empower them to achieve their full potential. I am passionate about integrating te reo Māori into my future lessons and classrooms and for making learning fun!

My husband Darren and I have three gorgeous children, Jade (13), Jordan (10) and Luke (8). As a family we love to travel and spend time together. Outside of school I love to bake, read and be involved in sport.


Discovery 
We have been exploring the play options available at Discovery Time...check out the photos below!  We have been practising our school values by sharing ideas and listening to each other (We Get There Together), and how to use and put materials away (We Care).























In the theater for Korero