Kauri Term 2, Week 6

 Team Kauri News - Week 6, Term 2.

We are well into Term 2 with lots of events on the horizon. It was great to see the effort and participation in our Whole School Cross Country, and the feedback from the Zones cross country was that our students were competitive and respectful throughout the day!

At the heart of everything we do is our school value: "We Love Challenge." We have shown this through our effort and participation in training for our cross country. It was great to see so many students in our team stepping up as leaders during this event and supporting younger students by motivating them and running with them.

Winter Sport

Our representation for Winter Sport has been excellent with the vast majority of students showing “We Care” by demonstrating good sportsmanship and representing our school values and citizenship.


Christchurch South Intermediate - Technology

Team Kauri students are actively engaged in Technology. Students are demonstrating their technical and creative skills by designing and creating outcomes in each of their technology subjects. 

Kowhaiwhai

This week our students were exploring art through Kowhaiwhai patterns. Kowhaiwhai patterns are created using transformation geometry: reflection, rotation and 

Year 8 Cups & Awards

Congratulations to Kawariki Taylor and Imogen Orchard for receiving our Year 8 Boy & Girl swimming cups for 2025. We are all super proud of your achievements!


Upcoming events

Learning Conferences - 10th & 11th June

Matariki celebration evening - Tuesday 17th June

Cross Country Canterbury Zones - Wednesday 18th June

Matariki - School closed - Friday 20th June

End of Term 2 - 27th June


Term 2, Week 6 - All Ages

Staying Safe Online: Bullying

One in five young people in New Zealand have been the target of online bullying – it can happen to anyone, and it can be hard for parents and whānau to deal with. Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto takes online bullying seriously and would encourage you to chat to your tamariki’s teacher if you have any concerns about online bullying.


Visit Netsafe’s Online Bullying Advice for Parents to read more.



Kauri – Term 2, Week 4

 Kauri - Term 2, Week 4


The last two weeks in Kauri have been jam-packed with lots of different activities. We have been busy working away on our art, inquiry, passions, maths, literacy and exploring opportunities outside of the classroom.


Upcoming Dates:

Wednesday 28 May - Zones Cross Country (you will be notified if your child has been selected to represent Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto)

Friday 30 May - Staff Only Day (School Closed)

Friday 6 June - Celebration Assembly


Cashmere High School Open Day on Tuesday 10 June 2025, from 4.00pm to 6.30pm at the McCombs Performing Arts Centre.


Farewell Kate Hastings!

Last week, we sadly farewelled Kate Hastings as she set off on her new adventure in New York. Kate has been an incredibly valuable member of our team and will be dearly missed by staff and students. Kate gave up hours of her time to help with supporting our learners, both in the classroom and out. We wish you all the best Kate, make sure to send through updates!



Awards

Our Kete award winners in week 3 were Sarah W and Max P for “We Love Learning” and Alfie R-M for “We Love Challenge”. We also congratulated Vinny J for earning his Bronze Leadership award and Archie C for earning his Silver Leadership award.



In week four, we also awarded kete badges to our students who have been working hard on their Kete Blog posts. We awarded kete badges to Bianca A, Dylan B, Samson N, Isabella F, Minah M, Ella H, Georgia S and Evelyn P.


Korfball

On Thursday of week three, we had Tom from Mixx Korfball come in and take sessions with each homegroup. He taught us a few simple rules and then the importance of those rules. We played small games against each other and practiced following Tom’s instructions. There were lots of us that got stuck in and really enjoyed the session.


If your child particularly enjoyed the session and it is something they would like to pursue outside of school, please have them ask their homegroup for an information flier from Mixx Korfball.


I enjoyed the competitiveness of the korfball. It was lots of fun to get involved in the game, passing with my team, and using lots of teamwork. - Ruvi L


Korfball was very fun. I liked how we started without many rules to get us familiar with the game as not many of us had played it before. With more rules being added throughout the game, it was all very well paced and fun. - Oscar W



Strike Percussion

Also on Thursday of week 3, we had a visit from Strike Percussion in the afternoon. Strike is a percussion group from Auckland who travel around the country, performing in different schools. We had Tayla F, Ruvi L, Misha L and Zach G invited onto the stage to join a performance. We were then luckily enough to watch a drumming battle between our very own Hugo and Kate H - where Kate H was the clear winner.


The percussion was good. We really enjoyed the fire number they did at the end. If we were to give it a rating out of 10, it would be 20. - Quinn H & Lukas O



Book Character Day

On Friday of week three, we held our book character day with many of our students getting in the spirit and dressing as their favourite character. We had a variety of characters from Peppa Pig to Harry Potter to King Kong. It was great to see so many of our students getting involved and feeling the spirit of book day!



Pink Shirt Day

Also on Friday of week three, we celebrated Pink Shirt Day. Pink Shirt Day is an annual anti-bullying campaign where people wear pink to show their support for diversity, kindness, and inclusion. It's a way to stand together against bullying and create safe, respectful environments for everyone. 



40 Hour Challenge

A passionate group of student leaders recently attended a youth conference to kick off this year’s 40 Hour Challenge. Representing our school as the 40 Hour Challenge leaders, they explored this years theme “40 Hours Offline”—a powerful call to disconnect from devices and reconnect with the world around them. Through inspiring workshops and guest speakers, the students gained valuable insights, ideas, and motivation to lead the challenge and raise awareness about making a difference—one hour at a time. Sign up will be happening within the coming weeks. 



Cross Country

On Friday of week four, we had our school cross country. It was a great day of doing our best and showing our school values of “We Love Challenge” and “We Care”. We showed “We Love Challenge” by pushing ourselves to do our best and working hard to make it to the finish line. We showed “We Care” by encouraging others and cheering them on. We had some incredible results and are very proud of all of our tamariki for taking part and doing their best.


Team Kauri Week 7, Term 1 2025

Team Kauri have had a busy couple of weeks since we got back from camp. We have held our swimming sports at Wharenui pool and selected students then participated in the South Zones on Thursday March 13th. Our students represented our school amazingly. A special shoutout to our sportsmanlike conduct at the pool.

We have also hosted a number of speakers this week who have spoken to us about Leadership. On Tuesday, we had the pleasure of hosting: Gen Macky (Olympic ambassador), Cameron Snell (Coach and Kickboxer) and Adam Whitelock (former NZ rugby player) who shared their stories and the challenges they have had to overcome. This has given the students in Team Kauri valuable insight into what qualities we need to be leaders, role-models and high performing individuals. 

Students are settling into the routines of the Kauri space and loving especially our Passion friday activities. Cooking is an absolute favourite and for those who haven't had the opportunity to cook or make something ourselves have been enjoying the delicious aroma's wafting from the kitchen.

The next couple of weeks will see students completing more outcomes for their Passion projects and preparing inquiry presentations focusing on how we can be effective leaders in our school.

Some of our Team Kauri boys with Cameron Snell.
Some Staff who are obvious fans of Adam Whitelock.

Our Olympic Ambassador guest Gen Macky with some our Kauri students.

Farewell Mikyla

This coming week we will farewell Mikyla who has been an amazing asset to the Kauri staff. We wish Mikyla well as she prepares for her new baby. Thank you so much for all your awesome mahi Mikyla! Good luck and don't forget to come visit with bubba when she arrives.

Online Safety: Gaming

Eighty percent of tamariki in New Zealand aged 8-17 have played games online. Games can have many benefits: entertainment, social opportunities, coordination development, problem-solving and multitasking skills. But, most of all, gaming is popular because it’s fun. 


But games can be tough for parents and whānau to navigate. How much gaming is too much? How do I make sure my tamariki aren’t seeing inappropriate content or chatting in-game with strangers?


Today we’re sharing Netsafe’s Online Gaming Whānau Toolkit so you have all the resources you need to keep your kids safe. 


YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/rPN_ev1RSDQ




Wainui Camp 2025

 Wainui Camp 2025: A Journey of Growth and Adventure

Our recent Wainui Camp was more than just a fun getaway—it was an experience that brought our school's core values to life. Throughout our adventures, we discovered what it means to care for one another, work as a team, embrace challenges, pursue learning and make a real difference.

From the moment we arrived, the spirit of care was evident. Whether it was encouraging a friend to take a leap off the wharf, supporting teammates during coasteering or respecting the natural world while hunting for pāua and crabs, our tamariki showed kindness and responsibility in action.

Teamwork was at the heart of our experience. Success in activities like kayaking, shelter building, and orienteering relied on collaboration rather than individual effort. Using UHF radios during our search and rescue mission to locate Bob reinforced the power of clear communication and working together. Every challenge reminded us that we get there together.

Stepping outside our comfort zones became a common theme. The giant swing and high ropes tested our limits, while coasteering and wharf jumping pushed us to be bold. These moments weren’t just about adrenaline—they were about discovering resilience, trust, and courage.

Learning at Wainui extended far beyond the classroom. Each activity offered hands-on lessons, from navigation skills in orienteering to problem-solving in search and rescue. Even exploring the coastline became an opportunity to deepen our understanding of nature and resourcefulness.

As we return to school, we carry with us not just memories of an incredible camp but a stronger sense of confidence, teamwork, and adventure. Wainui Camp 2025 has set the tone for an exciting year ahead, and we can’t wait to see how these experiences continue to shape us as individuals and as a team.












Fantastic Start for Team Kauri 2025, Week 3, Term 1



 We are off to a fantastic start in the Kauri team, with our Year 7 and 8 ākonga settling into their new routines, forming connections and stepping up as leaders in our kura. The start of the school year is always an exciting time and we’re focused on building a strong foundation for learning, teamwork and personal growth.

At the heart of everything we do are our school values like: "We get there together." This has been a guiding principle in our first few weeks, as students have worked together to support one another, take on new challenges and prepare for a fun year ahead.

Building Strong Connections

Transitioning into Year 7 and 8 brings new experiences, responsibilities and opportunities. To help everyone feel at home, we’ve engaged in a range of getting-to-know-you activities and team-building challenges. These games and collaborative tasks have helped students forge friendships, develop trust and learn the importance of working together.

Preparing for Wainui Camp

One of the most anticipated events in Kauri is our upcoming camp at Wainui! The students are already buzzing with excitement as we begin our preparations. They have been learning about resilience and problem-solving skills that will be put to the test in the outdoor adventures ahead. We can’t wait to see them challenge themselves, step out of their comfort zones and build even stronger bonds as a team. 

Creative & Active Learning

Kauri students have already thrown themselves into their learning with enthusiasm. From tie-dying tops (which turned out amazing!) to creating artwork that reflects their personal stories, creativity has been flowing. In sport, students have been getting active and showing great sportsmanship as they dive into new games and activities.







Stepping Up as Leaders

A highlight for many students has been the assignment of leadership roles. Whether as house leaders, peer mediators or members of the admin team, our Year 7 and 8s are stepping up and embracing the opportunity to make a difference in our kura. Leadership in Kauri is all about service, responsibility and leading by example, and we’re already seeing some fantastic leadership in action.

Looking Ahead

As we settle into Term 1, there is so much to look forward to. We’ll continue to explore new learning opportunities, develop our leadership skills, and most importantly, support one another in achieving our goals. Because in Kauri, We get there together!


Staying Safe Online


As our tamariki spend more time online, it’s important parents and whānau help them

stay safe. Now is a great time to talk to them about how we use the internet and digital

technology.


Netsafe has created an Online Safety Parent Toolkit so parents, families and whānau have

all the information they need to talk about online safety.


If you or anyone in your whānau needs support, you can contact Netsafe.