Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Schoolwide Newsletter, Rāmere (Friday) 29th August 2025

Principal's Update

Kia ora koutou

At Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto, our focus is not only on academic achievement, but also on developing the key competencies that prepare our ākonga/students for success in life. We know that strong literacy and numeracy foundations are important, but just as vital are the skills of problem solving, resilience, collaboration, and confidence in new learning situations. This week has provided some excellent opportunities to grow those life-long skills in real and meaningful ways. Our Year 5/6 team has been involved in Cycle Safety, a programme facilitated by Christchurch City Council. Through this experience, our ākonga/students are not only learning how to ride safely in our community, but also developing responsibility, decision-making, and confidence - competencies that will serve them well beyond the classroom. We have also launched our Keeping Ourselves Safe programme, supported by our Community Constable, Meg. This important initiative helps our ākonga/students understand how to make safe choices, build positive relationships, and feel empowered in different situations. These lessons, alongside their daily classroom learning, are all part of equipping our ākonga/students with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive both now and in the future.


Board Elections

Our Board of Trustees elections are now underway, and we are really encouraged to see that already 20% of our community has placed their vote. Thank you to those who have already taken part in this important process. The voting process is simple and straightforward - you will have received a reminder email this week with everything you need to cast your vote. It would be fantastic to see a significant proportion of our whānau/families engaging in the elections, as your voice and participation help shape the direction of our kura. Strong community representation on the Board ensures that the decisions guiding our school reflect the values, aspirations, and priorities of all our families. If you haven’t yet voted, we encourage you to take a few minutes to do so and play your part in supporting the future of Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto.

Attendance and Our School Values

Regular attendance is one of the strongest contributors to student success - both academically and socially. At Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto, our belief is that being at school every day matters. It allows our ākonga/students to build consistent learning habits, connect meaningfully with their peers, and fully experience the opportunities our school offers.
At the heart of our attendance approach are our school values. We know that every family’s circumstances are different, and sometimes challenges arise. If you ever find it difficult to get your child to school, please reach out. We are here to listen and to work alongside you in partnership so that together we can support your child to thrive. As always, we thank you for the role you play in supporting your child’s learning journey. Together, we are helping our children become confident, capable, and caring young people - ready for whatever lies ahead.

Have a great weekend.
Ngā mihi nui,
Cade
Principal / Tumuaki
Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto

Important Dates

Upcoming Events

WEEK 8
Mon 1 Sept - Canterbury Duathlon
Wed 3 Sept - Mt Hutt Ski Day - Kauri Yr 7&8
Fri 5 Sept - Celebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am in the Hall)
Sat 6 Sept - Sun 7 Sept (Father's Day) - PTA Family Photo Fundraiser Sessions

WEEK 9
Wed 10 Sept - Board of Trustees Election Day (4:00pm Poll Closes)
Fri 12 Sept - Staff Only Day 

WEEK 10 - Last Week of Term 3
Tue 16 Sept - Wed 17 Sept - Board of Trustees Election Results Declared & Board Takes Office
Fri 19 Sept - Last Day of Term 3
Fri 19 Sept - Celebration Assembly
Fri 19 Sept - BGT - 'Beckenham's Got Talent' Show

WEEK 1 - First Week of Term 4
Mon 6 Oct - First Day of Term 4
Fri 10 Oct - Welcome Assembly (9:10-9:40am in the Hall)

WEEK 3 
Wed 22 Oct - Thu 23 Oct - Huxster Mountain Biking Event
Wed 22 Oct - PTA Meeting (7:30-9:30pm)

WEEK 4
Mon 27 Oct - Labour Day - School Closed
Wed 29 Oct - Board of Trustees Meeting (5:30-7:30pm)
Fri 30 Oct - Athletics Day

WEEK 6
Thu 13 Nov - Staff Only Day
Fri 14 Nov - Canterbury Anniversary Day - School Closed

Citizen of the Week

Hanna - Year 8

Hanna, you approach every task with a positive, can-do attitude that uplifts those around you and creates an encouraging environment. Your sense of humour brings warmth and lightness to even the busiest days, making it easy for others to feel at ease in your presence. Your hardworking nature shines through in everything you do. You set a strong example through both your attitude and your actions. The impact you have doesn’t go unnoticed. Whaowhia te kete mātauranga, Hanna.

Archer - Year 6

Archer, you are positive, thoughtful and a good friend to many. You are a conscientious student who always gives your best effort in all learning tasks. You are a highly motivated learner and have excellent self-management skills. Thank you for always demonstrating our school values in all that you do. Ka pai, Archer.

BOT Update

Voting Reminder!

There is still time for you to vote in our School Board election! 

We need 3 parent representatives to join the Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto School Board. Schooled have been appointed as the Returning Officer for this election. 

You have already been sent voting instructions by Election Pilot.

If you have any questions about the election process, please contact the Returning Officer directly on 0800 VOTENZ (0800 868 369) or election@electionpilot.nz.

Voting closes at 4pm on Wednesday 10th September.

Term 3 Policy Review - SchoolDocs

  1. Visit the website https://beckenham.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm
  2. Enter the username (beckenham) and password (pride).
  3. Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.
  4. Read the policy.
  5. Click the Start your review button at the top right-hand corner of the page.
  6. Select the reviewer type.
  7. Enter your name (optional).
  8. Follow the prompts to show that you've read the topic and enter your feedback if you'd like to comment.
  9. Agree to the privacy statement and click “Submit review”.
If you don't have internet access, school office staff can provide you with printed copies of the policy and a review form.

School Notices

Absences From School

With the ongoing winter ills that many of our whānau are suffering from, it is really important to let the office know, in the first instance, when tamariki (children) are going to be absent from school.
If you wish to provide extra information to their home group teacher, please feel free to email them as well. On some occasions their home group teacher may not be the person who marks the roll, so it is very important to let the office know every time your child is going to be absent from school or will be turning up late. If your child is unwell, please support their recovery and others' health by keeping them at home. If they have had the vomiting bug they need to be away from school for 48 hours.
You can email office@beckenham.school.nz, send a text 021 0279 4107, or leave a voice message on 03 337 1404.
Please note: when children are collected from school, whether unwell or not, they must please be signed out at the office.

Staff Only Days

Please note, we have two planned staff only days on Friday, 12th September (this term) and Thursday 13th November (during term 4, the day prior to Canterbury Anniversary Day) for the rest of 2025. On both days, our teaching staff will be on-site and fully engaged in professional learning, related to the refresh of the New Zealand Curriculum, with a particular focus on Mathematics.
We appreciate our community's support of our teachers' ongoing professional growth.

Safety & Awareness Information

Parking over Driveways

We have received several complaints from surrounding residents about cars parking over their driveways.
Please ensure you leave 1 metre from any vehicle entrance (as is required by law) so that residents can access their driveways at any time during the day. This is especially important in case there is an emergency and residents need to exit their property or emergency services need to enter.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in this matter. We get there together!


Parking in the 3min area on Sandwich Road

A reminder please, that the drop off and pick up area on Sandwich Road (by the bike stands) is a 3min drop-off zone from 8:30-9:30am and 2:30-3:30pm on school days. This means drivers are not able to sit in their cars from 2:30pm waiting for children, or to park cars in this area and go into school. If you arrive early and wait for children, or if you need to get out of your car and come into school, please find an alternative place to park. Having this area just for drop-offs means that the traffic on Sandwich Road moves smoothly before and after school, and this is much safer for our children.

School Uniform

Our school uniform has been thoughtfully designed to be affordable, inclusive, practical, and flexible for all students. It is gender-neutral, allowing students to mix and match items according to their preferences and comfort.

Many uniform items are easy-wear and available at a wide range of clothing stores, giving families the freedom to choose based on their own preferences. 
For your convenience, the school has partnered with Mainland Uniforms to stock and supply uniform items. These can be purchased in-store at their Peterborough Street location or online at http://www.mainlanduniforms.co.nz.
While Mainland Uniforms offers monogrammed polar fleece jackets and sweatshirts with the school name, these monogrammed items are not compulsory.

If purchasing uniform items from other suppliers, we simply ask that they are consistent in style and colour with the school’s uniform guidelines.

We aim to provide a uniform that supports student choice and comfort while maintaining a sense of belonging and school identity.

Uniform - Choose from:

Plain black culottes
Black and white gingham culottes
Black and white gingham dress
Plain Black track pants
Plain Black shorts
Red polar fleece jacket
Red polo shirt (long or short-sleeved)
Red fleece sweatshirt
Plain red zip Merino top

School Footwear
School shoes must be practical, safe, and suitable for active children. Flat shoes in brown, black, blue, or white are acceptable. Plain runners (sports shoes) are also suitable. 
We ask that any branding or writing on shoes be kept to a minimum.
Students should not wear jandals, crocs, platform shoes, or boots that extend above the ankle. 

Hair Accessories
Plain black/red headbands, ties, ribbons or clips.

Hats
Children can choose either plain red or plain black wide-brimmed or bucket hats - these can be purchased from a range of suppliers.

House Shirts
House shirts may be purchased through the school office for $30. These are not compulsory. 
House shirts may be worn on Fridays and designated house activity days instead of the red polo shirt.

Thermals
Plain red or black thermals may be worn during winter terms 2 and 3 under polo shirts.

Jewellery
One piece of jewellery of cultural significance may be worn under clothing. It may be displayed on formal school occasions.
One pair of plain ear studs can be worn. Sleepers are not appropriate for school as they can catch and tear the earlobe. No facial or body piercing is permitted. 

Nail Polish and Makeup
Wearing nail polish or makeup is not part of the school dress code and is generally not permitted during school hours. Exceptions may be made for special occasions such as drama productions, fashion parades, or kapa haka performances.

Special Activities Require Specific Clothes
Year 7 and 8 students are required to wear closed-toe shoes and have their hair tied back when participating in Technology classes in the Foods and Product Design rooms at Christchurch South Karamata Intermediate.

Sports Uniforms
We maintain a stock of sports uniforms available for loan to students who are representing the school in sports competitions.

Swimming
Students are required to wear togs or tankinis for swimming; bikinis and underwear are not permitted.

Gumboots
Children are encouraged to wear gumboots on wet days, and to bring a pair of slippers, or suitable inside shoes, to change into in the classroom.

Second Hand Uniform
An extensive range of reasonably priced second-hand uniform items is available through our School PTA Uniform Shop, open: Mondays 2:45pm - 3:15pm and Fridays 8:45am - 9:15am.

Seniors’ Jacket (optional)
Senior jackets are worn only by students in Years 7 and 8. They are available from Mainland Uniforms and are an optional part of the school uniform.

Community Book Swap

Need a good book to read, but can't get to the library? Need a good book to read but the prices are just too steep? We have the solution! 
Conveniently situated just behind the admin desk is a wide-ranging selection of books that have either been donated by staff or just somehow arrived at school. This is a book swap, so if you take one, it would be great if you could bring one too, but don't let that stop you if you're short of books you want to give away.
Come and have a look, you might just find that very something you've been looking for!

Kupu Māori o te Wiki

Give these a go! Nau mai te wero - We Love Challenge!


Kīwaha: Karawhiua - this means Give it heaps! Go hard!


Kupu: Matewai - this means thirsty.


Waiata: Aotearoa - Stan Walker


If you are unsure of the pronunciation of a word, have a look at Te Aka (the Māori dictionary) where you can hear how the word is spoken correctly.

BOSCO

BOSCO is looking for new members to join our committee. If you are interested or have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Harriet Takamore via email or pop in when you have the chance to chat. You would be joining a lovely bunch of volunteers who are passionate about the service BOSCO provides and being a part of its future. BOSCO currently has availability each day for before and after school care for regular or casual bookings. If you have thought about using BOSCO for your tamariki but aren’t 100% sure what we're about or how we work, please feel free to pop in for a chat with Harriet or send through an email with any questions you may have.
A trial session is welcome if you would like your tamariki to give it a go first.
Harriet Takamore | Programme Leader | BOSCO Incorporated
office@bosco.org.nz | 027 645 6632

Puāwai - Kai

A new service being offered by Purapura Whetu and the Attendance Service.
Puāwai - Kai focuses on health through food. It's for people of all ages who want to gain motivation and confidence in cooking budget-friendly kai that looks after health.
Puāwai - Kai is a no-cost course. Participation is free for anyone in Canterbury who wants to improve their health of the health of their whānau.
Click on the link here for more information, great recipes, and to register for the course.

Cantamath Success

Last Wednesday we had two teams competing at the annual Cantamath competition, solving 20 challenging maths problems over an intense 30 minute period. Our Year 7 team scored 75 points, coming in the top 15 of a 85-90 team field. The Year 8s came in 10th= with a score of 90 points. A fabulous result for both teams. We also had a large number of entries in the projects competition, with at least half of our entries being awarded Highly Commended or Excellence awards. 

Sports News

NZ Schools Cycling National Championships

Zach, a year 7 at our kura, placed 1st in the U13 boys championships time trial and criterium races at the NZ Schools Cycling National Championships recently. He won all 4 stages (time trail, criterium, hill climb and road race) and thus the overall and sprint and climbing jerseys. A massive achievement! 

Gymnastics Success

Vienna, a Year 6 at our kura, placed 1st in a rhythmic gymnastics junior competition at Ara Recreation Centre on Saturday, 16th August. Olympia Gymnastics and Delta Gymnastics hosted this event. This was Vienna's first competition and there are two more in the next month. Ka mau te wehi, Vienna!

PTA News

Family Photo PTA Fundraiser

There is still time to book a fabulous family photo! Click here to book an appointment on the 6th or 7th September (Father’s Day) and have a family photo taken by Megan Cozzone of Green Melon Photography. For $25 you get a 10-15 minute family photo session and a 10”x13” (253mmx330mm) studio quality, colour or black & white, family portrait, normally valued at $60.00. The full $25 fee comes back to the school PTA. 

During your session Megan will arrange a date to come back and view your photos. In addition to your 10”x 13” Family Portrait fundraiser, you can choose from an additional selection of prints or digital copies from each family sitting. There is no obligation for families to purchase these additional prints.

To book a session please complete this form and transfer $25 to the PTA account (Beckenham School PTA, account no. 12-3148-0244558-00) before 31st August.

Shortage of school polar fleeces at the Uniform Shop

If you have any outgrown school fleeces lying around at home they would be gratefully received at the Uniform Shop. They can be dropped off at the office at any time. 

Entertainment Book

We have joined up with Entertainment, an app where you can get discounts on dining, activities and travel. The membership is for 12 months from the date you activate it.

LAST CHANCE EXTRA OFFER - When you buy an Entertainment Membership for $70 by the 31st August you also get:
  • A FREE upgrade to a Multi City Membership (valued at $120!) 
  • BONUS $30 Woolworths eGift Card (NZ).
  • The PTA receive 20% back.
That means for just $70, you’ll score access to up to 50% off dining, activities, shopping, and travel across Australia, NZ, and Bali. It’s the gift that keeps giving all year round — and a total win-win:
With over $20,000 in savings - from Rebel Sport, Supercheap Auto, BCF, and Shell fuel, to amazing dining deals - you’ll make your money back in no time (and maybe even use the savings to book your next holiday!).

To get your membership follow this link:

Community Notices

(Notices placed here are contingent on space and do not reflect the views or opinions of the school.)

Storybox Drama – What’s On

School Holiday Workshops:
Join us these spring holidays for creative workshops at The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora:

Tue 23 Sep - Call of the Kraken (ages 9–12)
Dive into the mysterious underwater world of Avis and the Kraken with music, drama, and a Q&A with author Heather McQuillan!

Tue 30 Sep - Tiny Seed (ages 5–8)
Playfully explore The Tiny Seed with collage, music, and drama alongside art educator Meg Nicoll. Together we’ll bring this heartfelt story of change and courage to life!

Term 4 Afterschool Process Drama Classes
Wed 15 Oct to Wed 3 Dec (8 weeks) at Somerfield Community Centre: 

Moon Mouse (ages 5–8)
Step into the world of Moon Mouse, a shy little space mouse who finds friendship in the most unexpected places. Join us on a magical process drama journey perfect for curious adventurers!

Off the Page: Voices Uncovered (ages 9–12)
Fairytale voices with a twist. Discover the secrets the characters have been waiting to share. Poems come alive through drama, music, and imagination.

Find us on Facebook, Instagram or email us: storybox.chch@gmail.com to register your interest:




FREE Swimming Have-a-Go Carnival

Swimming Canterbury West Coast is excited to host our next "Have-a-Go Carnival" at Taiora QEII on Saturday 13th September 2025.

The event is open to any swimmer (of any age) who is not currently registered as a club or competitive swimmer with Swimming New Zealand and is capable of swimming 25m without assistance.

Participation is free, and registration is available on our website. Swimmers are welcome to swim in 25m, 50m, kick, and relay races!

Please share with anyone looking to explore swimming as a sport, or recreational activity. 

For more information, head to our website:

Event Information Booklet: bit.ly/45DrFgY  

Beckenham Tennis Open day 

This Saturday August 30th from 11-12:30!
This is an opportunity for green ball kids thinking about interclub this year to come along for some pre-season practice.
It is also for all new kids wanting to trial for junior interclub!
Also...
Love Tennis Event on Sunday 7th of September from 10-2p.m.!
Everyone is welcome and it is FREE!
Activities for all ages including coaching sessions and court play, mini games, giveaways, BBQ and more - there's so many reasons to come down to our friendly club and give tennis a go!

Get Colouring & Win!
Download the Love Tennis Colouring Comp, get creative, and bring your masterpiece to your local club on Love Tennis Day for a chance to win cool club prizes – and maybe even a national prize!
  • Open to all ages
  • Winners announced at clubs on the day
  • National winners revealed 20th September 

Tennis membership link for BTC:

Olympia Gymnastics

Olympia Gymnastics Sports is a community-focused gymnastics club offering a variety of competition, fundamental movement and recreation programmes.

Our classes are designed to encourage development in movement skills, while increasing agility, strength and flexibility. Brilliant for body awareness and self-confidence, participants develop and enhance listening, thinking and social skills in a safe and fun environment.

Olympia Gymnastic Sports offers a range of gymnastics programmes for all ages; from pre-school through to adults.


Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Schoolwide Newsletter, Rāmere (Friday) 15th August 2025

Principal's Update

Kia ora koutou

It has been a welcome change to see the weather brighten later in the week, allowing all our ākonga/students to enjoy the glorious sunshine. This week marks the halfway point of the term, and I would like to acknowledge the dedication and hard work our staff have put in to make it such a success.


My update this week contains three important components, and I encourage you to take the time to read them.


  1. PTA - Disco and Family Portraits

Thank you to the PTA for organising our school disco - another wonderful event that brought our community together in a fun and engaging way. You can find some photos from this fabulous event further down.

The PTA currently needs support in two areas:

Family Photographs – If you haven’t already, and would like to have family photographs taken, please register your interest using this link:

https://shorturl.at/pn7pg

Uniform Donations – Our second-hand uniform shop is short of school fleeces. If you have one you are able to donate, it would be greatly appreciated.

The shop is open Mondays 2:45pm-3:15pm and Friday mornings from 8:45am-9:15am.

     2. Strategic Planning


It was very encouraging to receive feedback from 88 families as part of our community consultation. Last week we also met with whānau of Maori ākonga/students at our school to seek their feedback. We are now beginning to shape our Strategic Plan based on all the feedback we received, our own internal evaluation and ensuring we meet all our educational requirements. A summary of the predominant themes we have received from both consultations is below: 


Community Consultation

Key themes identified from this consultation were:


Lifting Achievement

Strong literacy and numeracy foundations, visible progress, appropriate challenge and support for every learner, and purposeful (not excessive) use of technology.


Calm, Inclusive Spaces Where Students and Staff Thrive

Calm, supportive learning environments, clear behaviour boundaries, and targeted support for neurodiverse learners -  while maintaining opportunities for collaboration.


Community, Culture & Citizenship

Strong home-school partnerships, visible celebration of all cultures, and student-led service that makes a positive difference beyond the school gate.


Māori Whānau Feedback 

Key themes identified from this consultation were:

Key themes:


  • Support for Māori Educational Excellence


  • Strengthening Te Reo Māori Delivery and Learning


  • Increasing Kapa Haka Engagement


  • Further developing Mana Whenua and Marae Connections



3. Attendance


This year, as part of our annual targets, we have introduced a goal focused on increasing the percentage of students who attend school regularly. The Ministry of Education defines regular attendance as being at school at least 90% of the time.


As a school, we are required to have a Stepped Attendance Response Plan in place by the beginning of 2026. We have been working on this, and more information will be shared in upcoming newsletters.


As a lead-in, we would like to share the following information with you:


Did you realise...


If your child misses one day of school every two weeks, they will miss more than a year of school by 16 years of age. As a parent or caregiver, you, alongside us, play a key role in building strong habits of regular school attendance.


All students are legally required to attend school every day, and it is a shared responsibility between home and school to make sure students attend and engage in learning from when they first start school.


Please let us know, by phoning the office on (03) 337 1404, if your child is going to be absent or intends to be absent for a portion of the school term for any reason, e.g., tangi/funeral or medical procedure.


NB: Family holidays or taking time off for extracurricular activities (not organised by the school or specifically supported by our Board of Trustees) are not recorded as justified reasons for being absent.


Knowing if your child is well enough to go to school can be tricky. Health guidance to support you to decide is available on the link below:

https://info.health.nz/keeping-healthy/healthy-homes-environments/knowing-if-your-child-is-well-enough-to-go-to-school-guidance-for-parents


If you are still unsure, get in touch with us and we can have a chat together to support your child.

If you are finding it hard to get your child to school, please talk with us so we can work together. We are committed to supporting your child to attend school.

We appreciate your support in helping us continue to build a culture that fosters attendance every day by having:

  • School staff who have strong relationships with students and families

  • A school culture that recognises your child and your family for who you are, where you come from, and what you value

  • A school whānau that takes all practical steps to make sure your child is at school and progressing in their learning

  • A school that is safe and welcoming for everyone in our school community

If you have any queries or wondering, please contact us so we can work together.


Have a fantastic weekend!



Ngā manaakitanga/With best wishes


Cade
Principal / Tumuaki
Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto

Important Dates

Upcoming Events

WEEK 6
Fri 22 Aug - Cycle Safe Yr 5&6
Fri 22 Aug - Celebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am in the Hall)

WEEK 7
Mon 25 Aug - School Closes at 1:00pm (Teachers Union Meeting)
Mon 25 Aug - Fri 29 Aug - Cycle Safe Yr 5&6
Wed 27 Aug - Board of Trustees Meeting (5:30-7:30pm, Staff Room)
Wed 27 Aug - PTA Meeting (7:30-9:30pm)

WEEK 8
Wed 3 Sept - Mt Hutt Ski Day - Kauri Yr 7&8
Fri 5 Sept - Celebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am in the Hall)
Sat 6 Sept - Sun 7 Sept - PTA Family Photo Fundraiser Sessions

WEEK 9
Wed 10 Sept - Board of Trustees Election Day (4:00pm Poll Closes)
Fri 12 Sept - Staff Only Day 

WEEK 10 - Last Week of Term 3
Tue 16 Sept - Wed 17 Sept - Board of Trustees Election Results Declared & Board Takes Office
Fri 19 Sept - Last Day of Term 3
Fri 19 Sept - Celebration Assembly
Fri 19 Sept - BGT - 'Beckenham's Got Talent' Show

WEEK 1 - First Week of Term 4
Mon 6 Oct - First Day of Term 4
Thu 13 Nov - Staff Only Day

Citizen of the Week

Paige - Year 5

Paige, your positive disposition shines through in everything you do. In your learning, you approach tasks with a growth mindset and are motivated to do your best. You are also a keen helper and love to make a positive difference by doing jobs around the hub and looking after your classmates. Kia kaha tō mahi, Paige! 

Poppy - Year 3

Poppy, you are a kind student who always sets a great example for others in your work ethic and attitude towards learning. You radiate positivity and consistently show our school values both in and out of the classroom. Ka pai Poppy, keep up the good work! 

BOT Update

2025 Triennial Elections - Voting Open

Voting in our School Board elections has started and you are now able to vote in the election. We have had 12 candidates nominated for 3 spaces for parent representatives on the Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto School Board. We have appointed Election Pilot as the Returning Officer for the election, and you will be receiving voting information directly from them.

Everyone who is eligible to vote in the election will receive voting instructions on how you can vote, as well as the candidate statements and photos that have been provided. 

If you have any questions about the election process, please contact the Returning Officer directly on 0800 VOTENZ (0800 868 369) or election@electionpilot.nz.

Don't leave things to the last minute, because elections close at 4pm on Wednesday, 10th September.


Term 3 Policy Review - SchoolDocs

  1. Visit the website https://beckenham.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm
  2. Enter the username (beckenham) and password (pride).
  3. Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.
  4. Read the policy.
  5. Click the Start your review button at the top right-hand corner of the page.
  6. Select the reviewer type.
  7. Enter your name (optional).
  8. Follow the prompts to show that you've read the topic and enter your feedback if you'd like to comment.
  9. Agree to the privacy statement and click “Submit review”.
If you don't have internet access, school office staff can provide you with printed copies of the policy and a review form.

Out of Zone Enrolment Process - Applications for Term 4 2025

Applications for out-of-zone places are now being invited for students who will be eligible to enrol in Term 4, 2025 (October 6th - December 16th 2025). 

We have up to 3 spaces available in our New Entrants area at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto. 

Please note: Siblings of current students at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto who live out of zone do not have automatic enrolment. Families in this situation must apply through the Out-of-Zone Enrolment Process.

Applications will be prioritised using the following groupings:

1. Siblings of current students
2. Siblings of former students
3. Children of former students
4. Children of board employees or board members
5. All other applicants

Each priority group is considered one at a time.

If there are enough places for everyone in a group, then all children in that group will be offered a place.

If there aren't enough places, a ballot (random draw) will be held, and all children in that group will be included in the draw.

Key dates and information as follows:

  • The deadline for receipt of applications is Wednesday, 20th August 2025.
  • Applications must be submitted using the official application form.
  • Ballot day (if required) will be Friday, 22nd August 2025.
  • You will be notified within three working days following the deadline as to whether your child has been successful for Term 4 entry.

Our Out of Zone Enrolment Application Form is available at the School Office.

School Notices

Reminder - School Closes at 1:00pm, Monday 25th August

A reminder, that our teachers who are NZEI members will be attending a Paid Union Meeting on Monday, 25th August at 2:00pm at the Christchurch Town Hall. 
To support their attendance, we ar asking that all student be collected at 1:00pm on this day, as we will not have sufficient staff on-site to run classroom programmes.
We will have limited supervision available until 3:00pm, and BOSCO will also open early at 1:00pm.
 
To ensure we are clear about your plans for your child/children on this day, we also that every family please complete the survey link here.

Absences From School

With the ongoing winter ills that many of our whānau are suffering from, it is really important to let the office know, in the first instance, when tamariki (children) are going to be absent from school.

If you wish to provide extra information to their home group teacher, please feel free to email them as well. On some occasions their home group teacher may not be the person who marks the roll, so it is very important to let the office know every time your child is going to be absent from school or will be turning up late.

If your child is unwell, please support their recovery and others' health by keeping them at home. If they have had the vomiting bug they need to be away from school for 48 hours.

You can email office@beckenham.school.nz, send a text 021 0279 4107, or leave a voice message on 03 337 1404.

Please note: when children are collected from school, whether unwell or not, they must please be signed out at the office.

Staff Only Days

Please note, we have two planned staff only days on Friday, 12th September (this term) and Thursday 13th November (during term 4, the day prior to Canterbury Anniversary Day) for the rest of 2025. On both days, our teaching staff will be on-site and fully engaged in professional learning, related to the refresh of the New Zealand Curriculum, with a particular focus on Mathematics.
We appreciate our community's support of our teachers' ongoing professional growth.

Parking in the 3min area on Sandwich Road

A reminder please, that the drop off and pick up area on Sandwich Road (by the bike stands) is a 3min drop-off zone from 8:30-9:30am and 2:30-3:30pm on school days. This means drivers are not able to sit in their cars from 2:30pm waiting for children, or to park cars in this area and go into school. If you arrive early and wait for children, or if you need to get out of your car and come into school, please find an alternative place to park. Having this area just for drop-offs means that the traffic on Sandwich Road moves smoothly before and after school, and this is much safer for our children.

Food Allergy Guidelines

Across our school, we have a number of children with different food allergies.

To support the wellbeing of these students we have the following guidelines in place which we ask you to follow:
  • All students should only eat lunches and snacks that have been provided by their caregivers.  
  • Bottles, other drinks, and lunch boxes provided by caregivers should be clearly labelled with the name of their child.  Home group teachers and caregivers will decide where the children’s bottles and lunch boxes will be kept during the day to ensure no cross-contamination occurs.
  • Parents are asked not to bring food into school to be shared with other children. Whilst we understand that there are times you want to celebrate special events for your children with their friends at school, e.g. birthdays or being awarded prizes, by bringing food and treats for them to share, we have a policy of children only eating the food that their whānau have prepared and sent with them. We have a number of students with food allergies and also need to respect the wishes of some families who want to monitor what their children are eating and prefer their children just to eat food they have prepared. From time to time, there may be an event that teachers have organised that will involve food (cultural or learning activities) and they will have advised families in advance that this will be happening.  
  • At the beginning of each year, caregivers will need to check the expiry dates on any medication to be held at school.  
  • On the first day of school, caregivers will need to bring their child’s medication to the school office. Caregivers will need to sign a medicine authority form (School Docs). The responsibility of monitoring the expiry dates of medications rests with the parent.
  • Caregivers may be asked to come and talk to staff about their child’s specific health needs and ways we can support them at school.
We will inform you during the year if specific guidelines for your child’s hub change. 

Our full allergy policy and guidelines are available on the Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto website under Information - Policies - SchoolDocs, then search ‘allergy’.

If you have any questions or concerns, please discuss them in the first instance with your child’s home group teacher.

Kupu Māori o te Wiki:

Give these a go! Nau mai te wero - We Love Challenge!


Kīwaha: Kia Tau! - this means relax, or settle petal!


Kupu: Kia tūpato - this means to be careful


Waiata: Korero, Parirau, Hopehope, Pakipaki


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ij7EaOyL6rA&list=PLB22Bmg9f4m3Q9JhCx452QV9vQZpncT-X&index=7&ab_channel=DelmaRae


If you are unsure of the pronunciation of a word, have a look at Te Aka (the Māori dictionary) where you can hear how the word is spoken correctly.

BOSCO

BOSCO is looking for new members to join our committee. If you are interested or have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Harriet Takamore via email or pop on in when you have the chance to chat.
You would be joining a lovely bunch of volunteers who are passionate about the service BOSCO provides and being a part of its future.
BOSCO currently has availability each day for before and after school care for regular or casual bookings.
If you have thought about using BOSCO for your tamariki but aren’t 100% sure what we're about or how we work, please feel free to pop in for a chat with Harriet or send through an email with any questions you may have.
A trial session is welcome if you would like your tamariki to give it a go first.
Harriet Takamore | Programme Leader | BOSCO Incorporated
office@bosco.org.nz | 027 645 6632

Sports News

Year 5/6 Volleyball Success:

The Year 5/6 Red volleyball team had an outstanding day, emerging as the winners of the Canterbury Championships. Many thanks to Lucy Story for coaching and supporting the team throughout the tournament. The players demonstrated excellent skill, teamwork, and determination, making it a proud achievement for everyone involved. It was a fantastic day of volleyball—a real example of hard work and dedication paying off. Ka pai to all the tamariki for their effort and sportsmanship. A great effort by our Year 5/6 Black team who finished off 5th. 

Year 7/8 Volleyball:

The Year 7/8 volleyball teams had a great day competing, with mixed results across both teams. A big thank you to Evan McLachlan for stepping in and supporting the players throughout the tournament. The day was filled with strong effort, teamwork, and valuable experience for everyone involved. Ka pai to all the tamariki for their dedication and positive spirit on the court.

PTA News

Disco - Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who helped out with our fabulous disco! A well-run evening with fantastic lights, enhanced by our fabulous new hall blinds. Thank you for supporting all our fundraising, which definitely helped make it a great night! 

Family Photo PTA Fundraiser

Over the weekend 6th and 7th September (Father’s Day) we will have a local photographer, Megan Cozzone of Green Melon Photography, here at School to take Family Photos. For $25 you get a 10-15 minute family photo session and a 10”x13” (253mmx330mm) studio quality, colour or black & white, family portrait, normally valued at $60.00. 


The full $25 fee comes back to the school PTA. 


During your session Megan will arrange a date to come back and view your photos. In addition to your 10”x 13” Family Portrait fundraiser, you can choose from an additional selection of prints or digital copies from each family sitting. There is no obligation for families to purchase these additional prints.


To book a session please complete this form and transfer $25 to the PTA account (Beckenham School PTA, account no. 12-3148-0244558-00) before 31st August.


Shortage of school polar fleeces at the Uniform Shop

If you have any outgrown school fleeces lying around at home they would be gratefully received at the Uniform Shop. They can be dropped off at the office at any time. 


Entertainment Book

We have joined up with Entertainment, an app where you can get Discounts off dining, activities and travel. The membership is for 12months from the date you activate it.

When you buy an Entertainment Membership this month for $70:

  • Get a FREE upgrade to a Multi City Membership (valued at $120!)
  • BONUS $30 Woolworths eGift Card (NZ).
  • The PTA receive 20% back.
That means for just $70, you’ll score access to up to 50% off dining, activities, shopping, and travel across Australia, NZ, and Bali.

It’s the gift that keeps giving all year round with over $20,000 in savings — from Rebel Sport, Supercheap Auto, BCF, and Shell fuel, to amazing dining deals Dad will love for Fathers Day — you’ll make your money back in no time (and maybe even use the savings to book your next holiday!).

To get your membership follow this link:


Community Notices

(Notices placed here are contingent on space and do not reflect the views or opinions of the school.)

Join the Fun – Celebrate 100 Years of Cricket!

Southern Districts - your local Beckenham Park-based cricket club is celebrating 100 years of community cricket! We’re a small, family-focused club where everyone knows your name and every player matters. Our mission is to create a welcoming, inclusive environment where young people can learn, grow, and enjoy the great game of cricket. 

We offer programs for new players of all ages and skill levels, with fun, friendly, and supportive teams and coaching.

Register now and be part of the action!
https://www.southerndistrictscricket.co.nz/



Girls Touch Competition - Term 4 - Nunweek Park, Monday Nights

The Mike Greer Kōtiro Touch (formally Kōtiro Ātaahua Touch module) is the only ALL GIRL touch competition in Aotearoa, New Zealand! From 16 teams to 42 in only 3 seasons just proves that girls feel more confident and get more enjoyment playing touch in all girl teams. Our motto is “Girls need to have fun to win!”

What can you expect?
  • 9 rounds in Term 4 only: 13/10/25-15/12/25
  • Collective 15 minute warm up and skill session for junior teams, (grades Year 0-2, 3-4 & 5-6) run by our coaches
  • Round 1: warm up starts at 5pm and game at 5:30pm for Year 0-2, 3-4 & 5-6 
  • Round 2: game starts at 6:10pm for Year 7-8 & 9-11
  • All games are 2 x 15 minute halves
  • Match ball & whistle given to each team and the loan of a POD trophy to use for the season
  • $320 per team for the Term 4 season
  • Limited spaces so the first teams registered and paid for have priority.



Love Tennis is coming to Beckenham Tennis Club - Sunday, 7th September


Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Schoolwide Newsletter, Rāmere (Friday) 1st August 2025

Principal's Update

Kia ora koutou

We are now well into the term, and despite the colder weather, things are going smoothly at school. Classrooms are buzzing with learning, and it’s been great to see students continuing to engage positively across all areas. We’re incredibly grateful for the ongoing support from our whānau and wider community - it makes a real difference and helps us to keep things running well, rain or shine.


Attendance Target


After a recent bout of sickness, our attendance rates are beginning to lift for term 3. 


This year, as part of our annual targets, we have introduced a goal focused on increasing the percentage of students who attend school regularly. The Ministry of Education defines regular attendance as being at school at least 90% of the time.


Last year, 64.5% of our students met this threshold. So far this year, we’ve seen an improvement, with 76% of students meeting the target in Term 1 and 69% in Term 2. Our overall goal for the year is for more than 70% of students to meet this target.


As part of our work in this area, we have developed a stepped attendance response plan, which we will be sharing with the school community shortly. The aim of this plan is to provide support where needed to help improve student attendance.


Strategic Plan -  Be Part of Shaping the Future of Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto


We are currently working through the process of developing the school’s strategic vision and plan for the next three years. Throughout the year, we have been gathering data and reviewing our effectiveness across a number of areas.


We are now ready to begin gathering community voices to help shape our future direction. We will be using a range of approaches to collect this input. As a first step, we invite you to complete the survey linked below. You are welcome to respond to as few or as many questions as you like.


We would really appreciate as many community members as possible taking the time to respond. Your input will help us understand the aspirations you hold for your children and our school. If you are able to find time over the next few days to share your thoughts, we would be very grateful.


Link: https://forms.gle/hhi7CDSgZKn1Bz5R6


Celebrating Student Success


This week, I’d like to celebrate the achievements of one of our students, Zayn.

Recently, Zayn represented Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto in both the NZ Open Karate 2025 and the NZ National School Karate Competition. We are incredibly proud of his results:


NZ Open 2025:

  • Boys Kata (8–9 years): Gold Medal

  • Boys Kumite (8–9 years): Bronze Medal

  • Team Kata Mixed (8–9 years): Silver Medal


NZ National School Karate Competition 2025:

  • Boys Year 5/6 Kata: Gold Medal

  • Boys Year 5/6 Kumite: Silver Medal


We are very proud of Zayn’s achievements and wish him all the best in his future karate endeavours.


Concerns and Complaints Process


Our approach to managing concerns and complaints is grounded in our school values:


We Care - Arohaina te tāngata me te taiao:

We prioritise respectful relationships and ensure all voices are heard with empathy and dignity.


We Get There Together -  Mā tātou katoa te waka e hoe:

We work collaboratively to resolve issues in a constructive and inclusive manner.


We Love Challenge - Nau mai te wero:

We view feedback and concerns as opportunities to grow and improve.


We Make a Difference - Nā mātou he rerekē te ao:

We act on concerns in ways that lead to meaningful change.


We Love Learning -  He taonga te ako:

We are open to learning from one another and improving our systems and practices.


Information about how to raise a concern or complaint can be found on our school website:


https://www.beckenham.school.nz/index.php/information/concerns-and-complaints



Have a restful weekend. 


Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa / Many thanks to you all,

Cade
Principal / Tumuaki
Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto

Important Dates

Upcoming Events

Wed 6 Aug - Board of Trustees Election Nominations Close 
Fri 8 Aug - Celebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am in the Hall)
Fri 8 Aug - PTA School Disco (NE-Yr 1&2: 2:00-2:45pm, Yr 3&4: 4:00-4:45pm, Yr 5&6: 5:10-6:10pm, Yr 7&8: 6:30-7:30pm in the Hall)
Wed 13 Aug - Board of Trustees Election Voting Papers Issued
Fri 22 Aug - Cycle Safe Yr 5&6
Mon 25 Aug - Fri 29 Aug - Cycle Safe Yr 5&6
Wed 27 Aug - Board of Trustees Meeting (5:30-7:30pm, Staff Room)
Wed 27 Aug - PTA Meeting (7:30-9:30pm)
Wed 3 Sept - Mt Hutt Ski Day - Kauri Yr 7&8
Fri 5 Sept - Celebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am in the Hall)
Wed 10 Sept - Board of Trustees Election Day (4:00pm Poll Closes)
Fri 12 Sept - Staff Only Day
Tue 16 Sept - Wed 17 Sept - Board of Trustees Election Results Declared & Board Takes Office
Fri 19 Sept - Last Day of Term 3
Fri 19 Sept - Beckenham's Got Talent Show
Mon 6 Oct - First Day of Term 4
Thu 13 Nov - Staff Only Day

Citizen of the Week

Minah - Year 7

Minah, you approach everything with confidence and positivity. You interact with your peers in a kind and respectful way, helping to create a welcoming and supportive kura. You consistently demonstrate a love of learning and are always ready to take on new challenges with enthusiasm.

Ciaran - Year 3

Ciaran, you are an outstanding role model in the Kōwhai hub. You are extremely respectful and you are a kind and loyal friend. You consistently work hard on your learning, always doing your best to produce quality work. You are a star!

BOT Update

2025 Triennial Elections - Time to Nominate

The nomination process for our School Board elections has started and nominations are now open. We have 4 spaces for parent representatives on the Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto School Board. We have appointed Schooled Election Pilot as the Returning Officer for the election, they will be handling the election process and you will see communications directly from them.

The School Board is a key part of Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto because they do a lot of important things behind the scenes that, while they may not be visible, are really important to keeping Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto running. Our School Board oversees the development our strategic plan, consults with our community about things that matter, makes sure our finances are being spent wisely and ensures that we are giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi within Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto. Our board is made up of six parent representatives, the Tumuaki/Principal and a staff rep elected by the staff.

Everyone who is eligible to vote in the election will receive a nomination pack (either via email or post). The info pack will contain everything you need to nominate yourself or another member of the community. (If you are going to nominate someone else, just make sure they know about it and will accept the nomination!). It will also include information about who isn't able to be a School Board member.

They will use your contact details for the provision of election services for Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto only and your details will be deleted 60 days after the election date as required by legislation. 

If you have any questions about the election process or need extra forms, or want a copy of the nomination form in Te Reo Māori or another language, just contact the Returning Officer from Election Pilot directly on 0800 VOTENZ (0800 868 369) or election@electionpilot.nz.

Don't leave things to the last minute, because elections close at 12 noon on Wednesday, 6th August. You can email in your nomination, complete it online at www.boardelections.nz or fill it in and drop it off to the school office. You can also send in a candidate statement and smiling photo with your nomination as well.

A copy of the electoral roll is kept at the school office and is available to be checked during usual school office hours. 

Voting will end at 4pm on our election date Wednesday, 10th September.

We will continue to keep you updated through the various stages of the election process.

Term 3 Policy Review - SchoolDocs

  1. Visit the website https://beckenham.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm
  2. Enter the username (beckenham) and password (pride).
  3. Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.
  4. Read the policy.
  5. Click the Start your review button at the top right-hand corner of the page.
  6. Select the reviewer type.
  7. Enter your name (optional).
  8. Follow the prompts to show that you've read the topic and enter your feedback if you'd like to comment.
  9. Agree to the privacy statement and click “Submit review”.
If you don't have internet access, school office staff can provide you with printed copies of the policy and a review form.

School Notices

Parking in the 3min area on Sandwich Road

A reminder please, that the drop off and pick up area on Sandwich Road (by the bike stands) is a 3min drop-off zone from 8:30-9:30am and 2:30-3:30pm on school days. This means drivers are not able to sit in their cars from 2:30pm waiting for children, or to park cars in this area and go into school. If you arrive early and wait for children, or if you need to get out of your car and come into school, please find an alternative place to park. Having this area just for drop-offs means that the traffic on Sandwich Road moves smoothly before and after school, and this is much safer for our children.

Staff Only Days

Please note, we have two planned staff only days on Friday 12 September and Thursday 13th November (the day prior to Canterbury Anniversary Day) for the rest of 2025. On both days, our teaching staff will be onsite and fully engaged in professional learning, related to the refresh of the New Zealand Curriculum, with a particular focus on Mathematics. We appreciate our community's support of our teachers' ongoing professional growth.

Food Allergy Guidelines

Across our school, we have a number of children with different food allergies.

To support the wellbeing of these students we have the following guidelines in place which we ask you to follow:
  • All students should only eat lunches and snacks that have been provided by their caregivers.  
  • Bottles, other drinks, and lunch boxes provided by caregivers should be clearly labelled with the name of their child.  Home group teachers and caregivers will decide where the children’s bottles and lunch boxes will be kept during the day to ensure no cross-contamination occurs.
  • Parents are asked not to bring food into school to be shared with other children. Whilst we understand that there are times you want to celebrate special events for your children with their friends at school, e.g. birthdays or being awarded prizes, by bringing food and treats for them to share, we have a policy of children only eating the food that their whānau have prepared and sent with them. We have a number of students with food allergies and also need to respect the wishes of some families who want to monitor what their children are eating and prefer their children just to eat food they have prepared. From time to time, there may be an event that teachers have organised that will involve food (cultural or learning activities) and they will have advised families in advance that this will be happening.  
  • At the beginning of each year, caregivers will need to check the expiry dates on any medication to be held at school.  
  • On the first day of school, caregivers will need to bring their child’s medication to the school office. Caregivers will need to sign a medicine authority form (School Docs). The responsibility of monitoring the expiry dates of medications rests with the parent.
  • Caregivers may be asked to come and talk to staff about their child’s specific health needs and ways we can support them at school.
We will inform you during the year if specific guidelines for your child’s hub change. 

Our full allergy policy and guidelines are available on the Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto website under Information - Policies - SchoolDocs, then search ‘allergy’.

If you have any questions or concerns, please discuss them in the first instance with your child’s home group teacher.

Garden Club Notice

Does anyone have any spare raspberry canes they could donate to the garden club? We would also welcome any donations of vegetable seeds or flower bulbs. You can drop these off near the BOSCO building or at the office.

Spring is coming!

Thank you,
The Garden Club.

Student Council

The Student Council are organising a BGT (Beckenham's Got Talent) event this term! 

If your tamariki are keen to sing, dance, play an instrument, perform some magic, drama or poetry, please sign them up by emailing your child's teacher. Max group size is eight people. Max performance time is four minutes. 
Auditions are in week 8 (1st-5th September) and the big show is on Friday the 19th of September. Two items from each hub will go through to the big show on the last day of term. As this show will have talent from 5 years old - 13 years old, there will not be placings, but certificates will be given to acknowledge talent.

Kupu Māori o te Wīki:

This term we are continuing looking at a new kupu (word) and a kīwaha (saying) of the week. Something new we are going to do is look at the waiata each week. Give them a go! Remember, Nau mai te wero, We Love Challenge!

Kīwaha: Wananei - This means Wicked!


Kupu: Inanahi - this means yesterday


Waiata: Upoko, Pakahiwi, Puku, Hope, Waewae



If you are unsure of the pronunciation of a word, have a look at Te Aka (the Māori dictionary) where you can hear how the word is spoken correctly.

"Trees for Survival" Project

As part of the development of the outside learning space behind Tahaki we applied for and have been accepted as the first urban school in the South Island to engage in a "Trees for Survival" project.
Trees for survival is a Charitable Trust started by Rotary and works in partnership with Regional Councils, schools, sponsors and volunteers. 
It is an environmental programme which works with school students to grow and then plant native trees on sites such as wetlands, hillsides, stream edges, to increase biodiversity, stabilise soil and help improve water quality.

In April our school was chosen to be involved in this scheme. Accor Hotels have been confirmed as our main sponsor and will provide all the funding needed for this ongoing project. The project will begin officially in September when the seedlings arrive at school.

We have been working with the Trees for Survival team to establish a plan to put 2 shade houses around the back of BOSCO where we can grow and mature seedlings which will be donated to school. The hot houses are being made by "The Men's Shed" in Geraldine and will be fitted with an irrigation system by an advisor from the Trees for Survival team. When the seedlings have matured enough (end of 2026) some of our students will be involved in planting the trees in a designated area nearby our community.

Below is a plan developed by Lucy, one of our parents and a staff member that shows ideas for the outdoor learning space behind Tahaki.

If you would like to find out more and see some Beckenham Outdoor Learning photos / plans / timelines and a video on Trees for Survival please click on this link.


Mid-Winter Breakfast

Thank you to all the community members who attended our Mid-Winter Breakfast - the turnout was fantastic!

It was another great example of our school community in action, and we’re especially grateful to the PTA for their wonderful coordination of the event.

BOSCO

BOSCO is looking for new members to join our committee. If you are interested or have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Harriet Takamore via email or pop on in when you have the chance to chat.

You would be joining a lovely bunch of volunteers who are passionate about the service BOSCO provides and being a part of its future.

BOSCO currently has availability each day for before and after school care for regular or casual bookings.

If you have thought about using BOSCO for your tamariki but aren’t 100% sure what we're about or how we work, please feel free to pop in for a chat with Harriet or send through an email with any questions you may have.

A trial session is welcome if you would like your tamariki to give it a go first.

Harriet Takamore | Programme Leader | BOSCO Incorporated

office@bosco.org.nz | 027 645 6632

Staffing Update

Nau mai haere mai ki te Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto kaimahi. 

Jordan 

Welcome to Jordan, joining our Kōwhai team this term. As a beginning teacher, Jordan is thrilled to start his teaching journey here at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto. He is looking forward to getting to know all of the students, whānau and staff in our kura community. Feel free to say hello and introduce yourself if you see him around.

PTA News

Cookie Time Cookies

Thank you for your support with this fundraiser. We still have a few bags of cookies left, so if you would like to purchase another one ($20 for 20 individually wrapped cookies), pop into the new look uniform room (open Monday 2:45 to 3:15pm and Friday 8:45 to 9:15am) or please email: pta@beckenham.school.nz

School Disco 

We're looking forward to the disco on Friday 8th August. Thank you for all your offers of help with this event, we rely on you! We are still short of a few helpers for the senior students, so if you can help with the years 5/6 or years 7/8 please complete this form.

Family photo fundraiser

Over the weekend 6th and 7th September (Father’s Day) we will have a local photographer, Megan Cozzone of Green Melon Photography, here at School to take Family Photos.


For $25, you get a 10-15 minute family photo session and a 10”x13” (253mmx330mm) studio quality, colour or black & white, family portrait, normally valued at $60.00. The full $25 fee comes back to the school PTA.


During your session Megan will arrange a date to come back and view your photos. You will be able to buy more prints, portraits and digital copies. In addition to your 10”x 13” Family Portrait fundraiser, you can choose from an additional selection of print sizes from each family sitting. There is no obligation for families to purchase these additional prints.


Please keep an eye out for information on how to book a session coming soon!



Community Notices

(Notices placed here are contingent on space and do not reflect the views or opinions of the school.)

KiwiVolley Term 4 - After School Programme - Registrations Now Open

Registrations are now open for our KiwiVolley Term 4 After School Programme. KiwiVolley is a modified Volleyball game for Yr 7-8 children which can be played indoors, on grass or the sand. The programme combines both skill learning and games – the first half of the sessions are skills based, and the second half is games – perfect for those starting out in volleyball.
See below for further information regarding sessions times, location, cost, and the registration form.
Richmond: Mondays (6x sessions)
Location: Avon Hub (77 North Parade) - Inside Gym
Dates: October 13, 20, 27, November 3, 10, 17
Time: 4pm - 5:30pm
Merivale: Wednesdays (6x sessions)
Location: Heaton Normal Intermediate School (125 Heaton Street) - School Fields
Dates: October 15, 22, 29, November 5, 12, 19
Time: 4pm - 5:30pm
St Martins: Thursdays (6x sessions)
Location: Hillview Christian School (150 Wilsons Road) - Inside School Gym
Dates: October 16, 23, 30, November 6, 13, 20
Time: 4:30pm - 6pm
Burnside: Fridays (6x sessions)
Location: Wairarapa Cobham Intermediate - School Fields (294 Ilam Road) 
Dates: October 17, 24, 31,  November 7, 21, 28 (note - no session Nov 14th)
Time 4:00pm to 5:30 pm

Cost: $60 for an Individual, or $100 for a pair (Bring a Friend)
There are limited spots available, so get in quick!
Register via this LINK 

Should you have any queries please do get in touch - office@cva.nz 

Kākano Parenting Website - Te Whatu Ora - Seeking Feedback

Kākano is a co-designed parenting resource, designed to help whānau support children (aged 4+) with big emotions. Rooted in Te Ao Māori values (tika, pono, aroha), Kākano takes a strengths-based, whole-whānau approach. We’re seeking feedback from parents of kids aged 4+ years on Kākano’s value, and areas for improvement. If you’re keen, please head to https://forms.gle/aM2cEpk914NsF7hQ9 to find out more.





Creative Kids Art Workshops - Starting 21st August

Details: 4-week Art Workshop, for kids aged 8-11 (From 21 August). 
Where: The Bull Room, Risingholme. 

There are also some workshops in the second week of the school holidays.

Local - All materials provided - Limited Spaces.

Please contact Andrea Baker for further info: 



Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Schoolwide Newsletter, Rāmere (Friday) 18th July 2025

Principal's Update

Kia ora koutou

Welcome to Term 3


We've had a fantastic start to the term, and it's been great to see students outside enjoying the winter sunshine. The school feels calm and settled - a reflection of the efforts and contributions of everyone in our community.


Over the course of the holidays, the hall was refurbished, the Kōmanawa block was completed, trees were trimmed, and two new shade umbrellas were installed in the junior playground. Thank you to the Board and PTA for their support in helping make these improvements happen.


Working Bee - This Sunday


A big thank you in advance to those members of our community and staff who will be taking part in the working bee this Sunday. Giving the school grounds a refresh will make a visible and positive difference for everyone.


If you haven’t registered yet, it’s not too late! Please use the link below to sign up and get involved.


https://shorturl.at/gl6OF

Welcome Assembly
This morning, we warmly welcomed our new students, staff, and their whānau/families to Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto. It is a real privilege to have you join our learning community.

We look forward to working in partnership with you throughout the year to support and realise the aspirations you hold for your children.

Mid Winter Breakfast

On Wednesday morning next week, our Annual Mid-Winter Breakfast will take place. This is another wonderful event coordinated by our PTA, offering the opportunity for our community to come together, share kai/food, and make a non-perishable food donation to the City Mission. It’s also a fun chance for students, whānau/families, and staff to wear their favourite pyjamas to school. It would great to see as many of you as possible at this event - look out for more info from PTA coming soon. 

Cycling Success

Last weekend, Zach, Dylan, Archie, and Daniel from our school competed in the South Island Road Cycling Championships. They took part in both the time trials and the road race.

In his age group, Zach finished first - an outstanding achievement! As a team, they placed 7th overall in points, making them the top team in the South Island in the Year 7/8 division.

These students have been fantastic ambassadors for our school - well done!


Have a great weekend and hopefully we see you at our Working Bee. 

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa / Many thanks to you all,

Cade
Principal / Tumuaki
Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto

Important Dates

Upcoming Events

Sun 20 Jul - Working Bee (9:00-12:30pm School Grounds)
Wed 23 Jul PTA Mid Winter Breakfast (8:00-8:30am in the Hall)
Wed 23 Jul - PTA Meeting (7:30-9:30pm)
Fri 25 Jul - Celebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am in the Hall)
Sun 27 Jul - Backup Working Bee (If rained off on 20th, 9:00-12:30pm School Grounds)
Wed 30 JulyCyber Safety Evening - Behind the Screens (7:00-8:00pm)
Thu 31 Jul - Board of Trustees Meeting (5:30-7:30pm, Staff Room)
Fri 8 Aug - Celebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am in the Hall)
Fri 22 Aug - Cycle Safe Yr 5&6
Mon 25 Aug - Fri 29 Aug - Cycle Safe Yr 5&6
Wed 27 Aug - Board of Trustees Meeting (5:30-7:30pm, Staff Room)
Wed 27 Aug - PTA Meeting (7:30-9:30pm)
Fri 5 SeptCelebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am in the Hall)
Fri 12 Sept - Staff Only Day

Citizen of the Week

April - Year 4

April, you are a shining star who exemplifies our school values every day. You always approach new learning with a growth mindset and strive to do your best. In our hub, you make a positive difference by being a reliable helper, a trusted role model, and a caring friend to your peers. Kia kaha tō mahi, April!

Britta - Year 6

Britta, you are an extremely kind, friendly, and enthusiastic member of our team! Your bubbly and positive attitude shines through everything you do, and you are consistently hardworking and reliable. You are a wonderful role model to others. Well done, Britta!

School Notices

Parent/Caregiver Evening: Behind the Screens - Internet Safety Tips for Home

Raising kids in the digital age isn’t easy and you’re not alone. Should your child have Discord? What are V-Bucks? Is it safe to let them keep their phone overnight? Join us for a practical, entertaining evening hosted by Attitude that will help you feel more confident about parenting in the online world.

You’ll leave with smart tips, tools you can use straight away, and a better understanding of how to guide your child through the digital space without panic or overreaction. Come find out if you're a Firewall Parent, an Open Source Parent, or a Bluetooth Parent—and why it matters.

When: 7–8pm, Wednesday 30th July.
Where: Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Hall.
Who: This event is for parents/caregivers only.
Cost: Free to attend. A small koha (donation) is appreciated to help support the cost of this event.

Please complete this form to let us know if you are attending.

Parking in the 3min area on Sandwich Road

A reminder please, that the drop off and pick up area on Sandwich Road (by the bike stands) is a 3min drop-off zone from 8:30-9:30am and 2:30-3:30pm on school days. This means drivers are not able to sit in their cars from 2:30pm waiting for children, or to park cars in this area and go into school. If you arrive early and wait for children, or if you need to get out of your car and come into school, please find an alternative place to park. Having this area just for drop-offs means that the traffic on Sandwich Road moves smoothly before and after school, and this is much safer for our children.

Food Allergy Guidelines

Across our school, we have a number of children with different food allergies.

To support the wellbeing of these students we have the following guidelines in place which we ask you to follow:
  • All students should only eat lunches and snacks that have been provided by their caregivers.  
  • Bottles, other drinks, and lunch boxes provided by caregivers should be clearly labelled with the name of their child.  Home group teachers and caregivers will decide where the children’s bottles and lunch boxes will be kept during the day to ensure no cross-contamination occurs.
  • Parents are asked not to bring food into school to be shared with other children. Whilst we understand that there are times you want to celebrate special events for your children with their friends at school, e.g. birthdays or being awarded prizes, by bringing food and treats for them to share, we have a policy of children only eating the food that their whānau have prepared and sent with them. We have a number of students with food allergies and also need to respect the wishes of some families who want to monitor what their children are eating and prefer their children just to eat food they have prepared. From time to time, there may be an event that teachers have organised that will involve food (cultural or learning activities) and they will have advised families in advance that this will be happening.  
  • At the beginning of each year, caregivers will need to check the expiry dates on any medication to be held at school.  
  • On the first day of school, caregivers will need to bring their child’s medication to the school office. Caregivers will need to sign a medicine authority form (School Docs). The responsibility of monitoring the expiry dates of medications rests with the parent.
  • Caregivers may be asked to come and talk to staff about their child’s specific health needs and ways we can support them at school.
We will inform you during the year if specific guidelines for your child’s hub change. 

Our full allergy policy and guidelines are available on the Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto website under Information - Policies - SchoolDocs, then search ‘allergy’.

If you have any questions or concerns, please discuss them in the first instance with your child’s home group teacher.

School Working Bee - Reminder Last Chance to Register

We’re organising a working bee to help tidy up and improve our school grounds — weeding, sweeping, pruning, clearing leaves, and general outdoor maintenance. Many hands make light work, and even an hour or two would make a big difference!

When: Sunday 20th July (with Sunday 27th July as a backup if it’s rained off), 9:00 am -12:30 pm
Where: School grounds
What to bring: Gloves, tools (if you have them), and your enthusiasm!

If you can help, please let us know by filling out this quick form:

Staff Only Day

Please note, we have planned a staff only day on Friday 12 September, with a focus on our teaching staff engaging with the refreshed Mathematics Curriculum. Thank you for your advance understanding.

Kupu Māori o te Wīki:

This term we are continuing looking at a new kupu (word) and a kīwaha (saying) of the week. Something new we are going to do is look at the waiata each week. Give them a go! Remember, Nau mai te wero, We Love Challenge!

Kīwaha: Paia! - This means Awesome!

Waiata: Māori Alphabet.

Kupu: Makariri - this means cold.

If you are unsure of the pronunciation of a word, have a look at Te Aka (the Māori dictionary) where you can hear how the word is spoken correctly.

BOSCO

BOSCO is looking for new members to join our committee. If you are interested or have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Harriet Takamore via email or pop on in when you have the chance to chat.

You would be joining a lovely bunch of volunteers who are passionate about the service BOSCO provides and being a part of its future.

BOSCO currently has availability each day for before and after school care for regular or casual bookings.

If you have thought about using BOSCO for your tamariki but aren’t 100% sure what we're about or how we work, please feel free to pop in for a chat with Harriet or send through an email with any questions you may have.

A trial session is welcome if you would like your tamariki to give it a go first.

Harriet Takamore | Programme Leader | BOSCO Incorporated

office@bosco.org.nz | 027 645 6632

BOT Update

2025 Triennial Elections

The nomination process for our School Board elections has started and nominations are now open. We have 4 spaces for parent representatives on the Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto School Board. We have appointed Schooled Election Pilot as the Returning Officer for the election, they will be handling the election process and you will see communications directly from them.

The School Board is a key part of Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto because they do a lot of important things behind the scenes that, while they may not be visible, are really important to keeping Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto running. Our School Board oversees the development our strategic plan, consults with our community about things that matter, makes sure our finances are being spent wisely and ensures that we are giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi within Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto. Our board is made up of six parent representatives, the Tumuaki/Principal and a staff rep elected by the staff.

Everyone who is eligible to vote in the election will receive a nomination pack (either via email or post). The info pack will contain everything you need to nominate yourself or another member of the community. (If you are going to nominate someone else, just make sure they know about it and will accept the nomination!). It will also include information about who isn't able to be a School Board member.

They will use your contact details for the provision of election services for Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto only and your details will be deleted 60 days after the election date as required by legislation. 

If you have any questions about the election process or need extra forms, or want a copy of the nomination form in Te Reo Māori or another language, just contact the Returning Officer from Election Pilot directly on 0800 VOTENZ (0800 868 369) or election@electionpilot.nz.

Don't leave things to the last minute, because elections close at 12 noon on Wednesday, 6th August. You can email in your nomination, complete it online at www.boardelections.nz or fill it in and drop it off to the school office. You can also send in a candidate statement and smiling photo with your nomination as well.

A copy of the electoral roll is kept at the school office and is available to be checked during usual school office hours. 

Voting will end at 4pm on our election date Wednesday, 10th September.

We will continue to keep you updated through the various stages of the election process.

Term 3 Policy Review - SchoolDocs 

  1. Visit the website https://beckenham.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm
  2. Enter the username (beckenham) and password (pride).
  3. Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.
  4. Read the policy.
  5. Click the Start your review button at the top right-hand corner of the page.
  6. Select the reviewer type.
  7. Enter your name (optional).
  8. Follow the prompts to show that you've read the topic and enter your feedback if you'd like to comment.
  9. Agree to the privacy statement and click “Submit review”.
This term, the scheduled review focuses on student wellbeing and safety policies within the HealthSafety, and Welfare Policy section. If you don't have internet access, school office staff can provide you with printed copies of the policy and a review form.

Staffing Update

Nau mai haere mai ki te Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto kaimahi. 

Alisa 

Welcome to Alisa, joining our admin team as Office Support.
Alisa was born and raised in Christchurch and lives locally with her husband and two primary school aged children. She loves to bake, cook, watch her children's sports and get outdoors walking with friends in her spare time. She is looking forward to getting to know our kura community. Feel free to introduce yourself next time you are in the office.

Jenny

Welcome back to Jenny - joining our Kahikatea Year 1/2 team. Jenny has previously worked at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto for a number of years.

Sports News

South Island Road Racing Championship

Congratulations to the members of our team for the South Island road cycling championships who won silver in their team trial event. They showed great sportmanship, working together as a team, crossing the finish line all together. Furthermore they also placed 7th out of 31 schools in the overall scores tally!

PTA News

Thank you to everyone who ordered Cookie Time cookies, every little bit helps! Hopefully they have all been picked up now and there are some happy children! 
We’re currently supporting the Working Bee with some new bark and sand. 

Midwinter Breakfast Next Week! 

All students are invited to school for breakfast next Wednesday 23rd July. Breakfast will be served from 8am to 8.30am. Bring a bowl and a spoon and a can for the City Mission. 

Uniform Shop

The Uniform Shop has moved back into the PTA hub and is looking great with new paint, carpet and shelving. Come and check it out! 

Opening times:
Monday 2.45 to 3pm & Friday 8.45 to 9.15am

Community Notices

(Notices placed here are contingent on space and do not reflect the views or opinions of the school.)

Storybox Drama - Afterschool Drama Classes

Storybox Drama offers after school drama classes to children 5-12yrs old.
Our classes are perfect for children new to drama. We provide a playful approach, with a focus on story, imagination and creative process.
Our learning is focused around a story, and we unpack the themes and ideas explored in the book over the term.
In Term 3 we will be exploring the story of Peter and the Wolf by Ayesha Rubio. Perfect for children who love animals and are curious about the natural world.

Find out more & enrol here: https://tinyurl.com/3b5yzay2

Term 3 classes:

Wed 23 July to Wed 10 September (8 weeks)

Wednesdays 3:30pm to 4:30pm (1 hour), $180

Somerfield Community Centre, 47 Studholme St, Christchurch









Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Schoolwide Newsletter, Rāmere (Friday) 27th June 2025

Principal's Update

Kia ora koutou

Term 2 has been a busy and rewarding time, with lots of achievements and opportunities for our students to shine. One of our school values is WE GET THERE TOGETHER - Mā tātou katoa te waka e hoe, and since I arrived at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto, I’ve seen this value in action in so many ways.

In this newsletter, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the fantastic work of our PTA and the contributions they make to our school. This group supports our community by bringing people together and raising funds that benefit all our students. This year, the PTA has generously helped fund:

$7,000 towards new kapa haka uniforms

$10,000 for bus transport for Education Outside the Classroom activities

$7,000 for blackout blinds in the hall

$8,000 towards a new projector for the school hall

We really appreciate all the time and effort the PTA puts in. If you can, please get behind the events and initiatives they organise. The PTA is always looking for helpers at events.

If you can’t make meetings regularly but want to help out, consider joining the PTA support group. This group helps out at events throughout the year and is important for the PTA’s success.

To join the PTA support group, please follow this link:

Working Bee
Another way to get involved is the upcoming Working Bee on Sunday, 20th July. We’d love as much help as possible on the day. Thanks to Kate and Erin for organising this event! If you’re interested in helping, please register using the QR code below.



Holiday Work at School

Over the school holidays, some work will be happening around the school, including:
  • Painting the outside of the Kōmanawa Block
  • Painting inside the School Hall block
  • Installing two permanent shade umbrellas on the junior playground
  • Tree work near the carpark and in Treemendous
Families are welcome to continue using the school grounds over the break but please take care around the work areas.

Lastly, a big thank you to our whānau for your ongoing support. Your involvement and encouragement really make a difference. I also want to thank our teachers and support staff for their hard work this term - even though it’s been a shorter term, their dedication has been constant.

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa / Many thanks to you all,

Cade
Principal / Tumuaki
Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto

Important Dates

Upcoming Events

Fri 27 Jun - Funky Hair Day 
Fri 27 Jun - Celebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am in the Hall)
Fri 27 Jun - Last Day of Term 2
Mon 14 Jul - First Day of Term 3
Fri 18 Jul - Welcome Assembly, Week 1 (9:15-9:45am in the Hall)
Sun 20 Jul - Working Bee (9:00-12:30pm School Grounds)
Wed 23 Jul - PTA Mid Winter Breakfast (TBC)
Wed 23 Jul - PTA Meeting (7:30-9:30pm)
Fri 25 Jul - Celebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am in the Hall)
Sun 27 Jul - Backup Working Bee (If rained off on 20th, 9:00-12:30pm School Grounds)
Thu 31 Jul - Board of Trustees Meeting (5:30-7:30pm, Staff Room)
Fri 8 Aug - Celebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am in the Hall)
Fri 12 Sept - Staff Only Day

Citizen of the Week

Khloe - Year 3

Khloe, you consistently demonstrate our school values throughout your learning. You always try your hardest in all areas of learning, your work ethic is impressive! You are a fantastic role model to others. You are an absolute star. Tino pai!

Pippa Chapman - Year 6

Pippa, your positive attitude shines through in everything you do. You are always striving to grow your skills and knowledge. You are a truly amazing friend—empathetic, caring, and always there for others. Thank you for being such a reliable and positive presence!

School Notices

Kupu Māori o te Wīki:

These are our whakataukī (phrase), instructions and kupu (words) for the last couple of weeks. Give them a go! Remember, Nau mai te wero, We Love Challenge!

Whakataukī: He rā whatiwhati kō - This means a day of hard work.

Instruction: Hurihuri - turn around.

Kupu: Huawhenua - this means vegetables.

If you are unsure of the pronunciation of a word, have a look at Te Aka (the Māori dictionary) where you can hear how the word is spoken correctly.

Matariki Evening

Thank you for a fantastic Matariki Evening!

Matariki is a time to share kai (food), reflect on the past 4 seasons, celebrate with whānau, and look forward to what is to come as the days get longer. 
Thank you to everyone who attended our Matariki evening on Tuesday 17th June. It was a very special celebration, and it was awesome to see whānau connecting with our kaiako (teachers), as well as with other whānau.
A massive thank you to the PTA for having a delicious sausage sizzle, the kaiako (teachers) who organised wonderful workshop activities, and to all our tamariki (children) for their exceptional kapa haka performances. Mānawatia a Matariki!

Kōwhai trip to Rhodes on Cashmere for Matariki

School Working Bee - More Information

We’re organising a working bee to help tidy up and improve our school grounds — weeding, sweeping, pruning, clearing leaves, and general outdoor maintenance. Many hands make light work, and even an hour or two would make a big difference!

When: Sunday 20th July (with Sunday 27th July as a backup if it’s rained off), 9:00 am -12:30 pm
Where: School grounds
What to bring: Gloves, tools (if you have them), and your enthusiasm!

If you can help, please let us know by filling out this quick form:


Staff Only Day

Please note, we have planned a staff only day on Friday 12 September, with a focus on our teaching staff engaging with the refreshed Mathematics Curriculum. Thank you for your advance understanding.

Community Dental Service Holiday Clinics July 2025

The Community Dental Service will be closed for the upcoming school holidays.

Closed from:      Friday 27th June, 
Reopening on:   Monday 14th July.

Five of our community dental clinics will be open during this School Holiday period:

Aranui (240 Breezes Road)
Woolston (11 Hopkins Street)
Kaiapoi (65 Raven Quay)
Ashburton (38 Elizabeth Street)
Timaru (18 Woollcombe Street)

If your child is experiencing any dental pain/discomfort, you can call us on 0800 846 983 and/or email: commdental@cdhb.health.nz and one of our clinicians will contact you.

Parent/Caregiver Evening: Behind the Screens – Internet Safety Tips for Home

Raising kids in the digital age isn’t easy and you’re not alone. Should your child have Discord? What are V-Bucks? Is it safe to let them keep their phone overnight? Join us for a practical, entertaining evening hosted by Attitude that will help you feel more confident about parenting in the online world.

You’ll leave with smart tips, tools you can use straight away, and a better understanding of how to guide your child through the digital space without panic or overreaction. Come find out if you're a Firewall Parent, an Open Source Parent, or a Bluetooth Parent—and why it matters.

When: 7–8pm, Wednesday 30th July.
Where: Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Hall.
Who: This event is for parents/caregivers only.
Cost: Free to attend. A small koha (donation) is appreciated to help support the cost of this event.

Please complete this form to let us know if you are attending.

Congratulations to...

...the following students who have been selected from auditions for 'The Lions Christchurch Schools' Music Festival 2025':

Mia White - Senior Choir
Ben Stoney - Orchestra (violin)
Joshua Cornfoot - Concert Band (saxophone)
Matthew Scallan - Concert Band (trombone)

Thank you...

A big thank you to everyone in our community that kindly helped by supplying us with your Gib contributions.

BOSCO

BOSCO is looking for new members to join our committee. If you are interested or have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Harriet Takamore via email or pop on in when you have the chance to chat.

You would be joining a lovely bunch of volunteers who are passionate about the service BOSCO provides and being a part of its future.

BOSCO currently has availability each day for before and after school care for regular or casual bookings.

If you have thought about using BOSCO for your tamariki but aren’t 100% sure what we're about or how we work, please feel free to pop in for a chat with Harriet or send through an email with any questions you may have.

A trial session is welcome if you would like your tamariki to give it a go first.

Harriet Takamore | Programme Leader | BOSCO Incorporated

office@bosco.org.nz | 027 645 6632

BOT Update

2025 Triennial Elections

Every three years, all public schools in Aotearoa hold elections for their School Boards, and this is going to happen again in 2025.

The School Board is a key part of Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto because they do a lot of important things behind the scenes that, while they may not be visible, are really important to keeping Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto running. Our School Board oversees the development our strategic plan, consults with our community about things that matter, makes sure our finances are being spent wisely and ensures that we are giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi within Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto. Our board is made up of six parent representatives, the Tumuaki/Principal, a staff rep elected by the staff, and an appointed whānau Māori or Ngāi Tahu iwi representative.

The Board has appointed Election Pilot as the Returning Officer for our election and the election is to be provided online. Important things like the nomination and voting forms will be sent to you by email directly by Election Pilot. If we don’t have an email address for you don’t stress, because Schooled Election Pilot will send these out to you by post so you don’t miss out.

There are a lot of rules around School Board elections that need to be followed, and the main ones are the Education and Training Act 2020 and the Education (Board Elections) Regulations 2022. Your name and contact details have been provided to Election Pilot to enable them to deliver election services for Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto, as required by legislation. 

They will use your contact details for the provision of election services for Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto only and your details will be deleted 60 days after the election date as required by legislation. If you have any questions about the election process, then the best people to talk to are the team at Schooled Election Pilot. You can contact the Returning Officer directly on 0800 VOTENZ (0800 868 369) or election@electionpilot.nz.

We will continue to keep you updated through the various stages of the election process, and our election date is Wednesday, 10th September.

Sports News

Canterbury Cross Country Results

What an awesome day we had at the Canterbury Zones Cross Country! The kids did such a great job. They ran their hearts out and were brilliant representatives of our school.

Here’s how our runners placed:
  • Year 5 Girls: Laurien (8th), Chloe (41st)

  • Year 6 Girls: Jayme (44th), Clara (101st)

  • Year 6 Boys: Max (20th), Haydn (51st)

  • Year 7 Girls: Laura (3rd), Misha (55th)

  • Year 7 Boys: Ben (29th)

  • Year 8 Girls: Bianca (16th)
They all gave it their best and showed awesome spirit on a pretty tough course. It was a great day. 

Hillview Cross Country Challenge

On Tuesday 24th June, our top-placed students in our Year 0-4 School Cross Country had the opportunity to take part in the Hillview XC Challenge, held at Hillview Christian School. We had 48 tamariki take part, putting in every effort to do their best. It was fantastic to see the determination on everyone's faces as they strove to get to the finish line, showing our School Kete Value, 'We Love Challenge'.

We had 5 children finish in the top 5 from Years 0-4:
  • Yr 0-1: Erin (1st), Greyson (3rd)
  • Yr 3: Florence (3rd)
  • Yr 4: Hunter (3rd), Amelia (3rd)
A massive congratulations to everyone who took part in this awesome event, and a huge thank you to all the whānau who attended/supported. 


PTA News

Family Portraits - Save the Date!  

Over the weekend 6th and 7th September (Father's Day!) we will have a professional photographer at school. For $25 you get a 10-15 minute photo session and a 10”x13” (253mmx330mm) studio quality, colour or black & white, family portrait, normally valued at $60.00. All the $25 fee comes back to the school but you will be able to buy more prints, portraits and digital copies.  Look out for more information next term. 

Cookie Time Fundraiser 

Thanks to all those who have placed orders for cookies.  The cookies will be available for collection during the first week of term 3, day and time to be confirmed.

Uniform Room

Our Uniform Room is moving back to the PTA hub behind the garage at the corner of Sandwich Road and Eastern Terrace next term.  Opening times remain the same - Monday: 2:45-3:15pm and Friday: 8:45-9:15am.

Community Notices

(Notices placed here are contingent on space and do not reflect the views or opinions of the school.)

Franklin Writers Competition

We invite students to enter the 2025 Franklin Writers Competition. We’re looking for the best short story (up to 500 words) on the theme of Crossroads.

We have a special prize for the best young writer, and the opportunity to be published in our annual anthology, Easy Reads.

The closing date is 13th July 2025 (end of holidays) and it’s open to all NZ residents.

July Holidays Winter Writing School Opportunities

We have school holiday places available to for keen young writers.

Sarina Dickson
Administrator and Editor, Write On School for Young Writers
schoolforyoungwriters.org


Shrek Jnr Matinee Invitation - Hillview Christian School  




Continence NZ - Free Education Day

Christchurch: 11 July 2025, 9:30am - 4:30pm, Russley Golf Club, 428 Memorial Ave, Burnside, Christchurch. You can register here.