Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Newsletter 8th February 2019

Principal's Patch

Kia ora koutou

What a fabulous start to the year we have had! We have started the year with a record roll of 463 students which is, we think, the largest start of year roll we have ever had.
We had 435 learning conferences on Thursday and Friday of last week which is 94% of all of our children. Thank you all for engaging with this opportunity to get the year off to such a positive start. I know our teachers really value having the chance to meet each child and their family individually and to begin the year having already begun to develop a shared understanding of your child's goals and aspirations.

Our new staff and students were welcomed today at our first Welcome Assembly of the year.


We were welcomed in by our senior Kapa Haka students and later in the assembly, enjoyed seeing the parade of flags that represent our new families.


There was great excitement this afternoon around the sandpit as some trucks arrived to dig out the old sand, and replace it with fresh sandpit sand! What a wonderful surprise for the start of the year. The sandpit is such a popular place for so many of our children every day.
Thanks to Nigel for organising this and to Hamish Denny of Drainworkz for making it happen, and to Fulton Hogan for donating the sand. What fun will be had on Monday!


 We are looking forward to a very busy and exciting year ahead.

Ngā mihi nui
Sandy and the team

Important Dates

Upcoming Events

Tue 12 Feb - first day of Technology for years 7 & 8. Bus leaves at 8:30am
Tue 12 Feb - Beckenham Outdoor Spaces Team to meet with the community in the Staffroom, 6:30 - 7:30pm
Fri 13 Feb - Celebration Assembly, All Welcome. 10:50 - 11:20 in the school hall.
Wed 20 Feb - Board of Trustees Meeting 5:30pm - 7:30pm All Welcome
Thu 21 Feb - Swimming sports for Years 5 - 8 at Wharenui Pool.12 - 2pm
Fri 1 Mar - Celebration Assembly, All Welcome. 10:50 - 11:20 in the school hall.

Term Dates

Click here to view 2019 term dates.

School Notices

Children who are absent, arriving late, or leaving during the day

Please remind your child that if arrive at school after the bell has gone, they need to first go to the office and sign in. This will avoid you getting a text from school to say that your child hasn't arrived which can be very distressing when you know you sent them to school.
The same process applies if you take your child out of school at any time during the day, before 3pm. Please ALWAYS come over to the office and sign them out, even if this is a planned event that their teacher is aware of.
Please communicate ALL information about absences to Jacky in the office. Please feel welcome to copy the teacher in but do not rely on busy teachers to pass this information on to Jacky. 
Also, please do not text teachers or email teachers during the day about passing on information to children or about absences and assume that they will get it. Teachers don't always check texts or emails during the day, and we have had times when a teacher has been away from school on a course, or home sick, and important messages haven't got through to the right person. Please always email the office.

Hats

Wearing a sunhat is compulsory for all children when they are outside during Term 1 and Term 4. Please consider a hat to be as important as your child's lunch, and check each morning that they have it in their bag. 

Kapa Haka at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto 2019

Nau mai haere mai ki te tau hou (Welcome to the new year.)
“He kai poutaka me kinikini atu, he kai poutaka me horehore atu, mā te tamaiti te iho.” Look after the children to ensure the future strength of the people.
This year we have close to 150 tamariki involved in Kapa Haka across our four kapa groups, Kahikatea, Kōwhai, Pōhutukawa and Te Whānau Mahitahi. All the children from Koru take part in a weekly kapa haka sessions to learn the basics.
If your child expresses an interest in being part of a kapa haka group, please see Jackie at the office to register on the waitlist.  This year we are endeavouring to add development group sessions where children on the waitlist will be given time to experience some basic kapa haka learning.

Nga Mihi Mahana(Warm greetings)
Sherrilee Herangi
Kaiako o kapa haka
(kapa haka teacher)

Garage Sale

Jack Kelly who is a Year 7 in Kauri Hub, is raising money for a well for a village in Africa. As part of doing this, he is having a big garage sale on Saturday the 9th of February at 9am at his home at 33 Ngaio Street, St Martins.  He would love for anyone from Beckenham Kura to come!  There will be lots of toys, books, furniture, clothes and household effects for sale.  His neighbours in Ngaio and Koromiko Streets are supporting Jack by also donating goods.  There will also be a sausage sizzle.  We hope you can come along!

Scholastics Book Club 

Issue 1 for 2019 will be coming home with your child this week.

When ordering an item please include the HUB name that your child is in.

Hub names are:
Koru
Kahikatea
Kowhai
Pohutakawa
Kauri

Internal Hub group names such as Forest, River etc will NOT be recognised and will delay the processing of any order.

Guitar, Bass and Ukulele Tuition Beckenham School 2019

Beginner Guitar, Bass and ukulele lessons, both group and some individual are available during
school time beginning February 2018.
Roger Hamilton has been teaching these instruments for between 6 an
12 years and has done so in 2 other South West Christchurch schools as
well.
If you would like your child to enroll in learning an instrument, either call
or email Roger Hamilton directly on the contacts below or fill out this
page and return the tear off section to the Office by start of term.
email: rbhamilt@gmail.com
cell: 027 3070466 / 9424619

Note: Children can learn Ukulele from Year 3 up. To learn Guitar, you need to be at least Year 5.
And bass learning is from year 6 up. The reason for these limits is the physicality of learning the
instruments. Many of my students start on Ukulele and go onto Guitar, they learn a lot of the skills
for the guitar on the ukulele by that, plus they know how to play 2 instruments. The ukulele is
becoming more and more popular amongst adults as well as children. I recently saw a virtuoso
player from Canada on Ukulele play the ‘Jumping Flea’, which is the English translation of
‘Ukulele’. He is known as one of the best players in the world. If you are curious, go to YouTube
and search “James Hill. Ukulele”. Ukulele players in their 2 nd year get to go to “Strum, Strike, Blow’, an annual event for players at Horncastle Arena.
Registration forms for these lessons are available from the office.

Lunchonline

At the beginning of every year you need to log onto lunchonline and check that they have the correct details for your child's team for the year. To do this, please log onto the lunchonline website https://orders.lunchonline.co.nz/home/AccountLogin and click "members" and change their hub name and school (otherwise your lunches will end up in the wrong location).  If your child no longer attends a school with Lunchonline then you can make them "inactive" by unticking the box next to their name.

If you have finished with Lunchonline altogether then you will want to close your account and get a refund of any left over money.  Simply click "close account" and follow the instructions to receive your refund (less a $5 admin fee).  If you have less than $5 left on your account you won't receive a refund.  Lunchonline now have the capability for you to donate your remaining credit on your account straight back to the school.

The next batch of refunds will be processed by Lunchonline at the end of Term 1 2019.

Wellbeing at Beckenham Te Kura

Wellbeing continues to be a priority for our staff and students. To help our tamariki understand what wellbeing is, we have developed and refined our own school definition, based on Te Whare Tapa Whā. Students will be learning about the ‘four walls’ or aspects of Wellbeing over coming weeks. Discussing Wellbeing at home can help cement your child’s understanding of it.

(INSERT IMAGE: TE WHARE)
Beckenham Te Kura: Wellbeing Definition
My wellbeing helps me feel good and flourish in life.
It is based on Te Whare Tapa Wha. It includes my mind, body, feelings and how I work with others.








PTA News

Weetbix Tryathlon - 24 February 2019

Not long now until the Weetbix Tryathlon 2019 event. We hope you are all looking forward to a fabulous day. We have had a huge number of entries this year which makes for a really fun morning. Keep an eye out for the Beckenham Flags where we’ll create a base for everyone. The PTA will pop on a sausage sizzle for every competitor. Pack a picnic and get your support crew ready for a fun fun morning. Any questions about the event don’t hesitate to make contact with Nicola – 021532996

Community Notices

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

The Patricia Paul School of Dance

The Patricia Paul School of Dance, your local dance school, is currently giving Jazz and Ballet lessons in your area. The school’s director is teacher, choreographer & ex-ballet dancer Patricia Paul A.R.A.D. (London). Ballet lessons from 3 years through to Advanced, and all levels in Jazz, Contemporary, Tumble and Hip Hop starting from age 7. For all enquiries please phone 372-9191 or email info@studioone.co.nz

Children's Day

Sunday March 3rd 11am - 3pm  Please visit ccc.govt.nz/summertimes for further details.

Sydenham Rugby Club

Junior Registration Dates 2019:
Junior registrations (U6 – U18) will be held at the Cashmere Club in the Sydenham Lounge on:
Wed, 13th Feb, 5pm to 7pm
Sun, 17th Feb, 10am – 12pm
To register / purchase shorts and socks / measure for uniform size
Birth certificates / passport, are required for all new members.
Fees:
$80 subscription per player - (2 siblings $120) (3 siblings $140) (4 siblings $180)
Shorts $25, socks $20 will be available to purchase at each registration day with eftpos available
Register Online:
www.sydenhamrugby.co.nz/sydenham-rc/registration

CSM choirs

At CSM we have two great choirs - the Christchurch Children's Choir, an all-comers choir for 8-12 year olds. This choir meets on a Saturday morning from 9am-10am and is held at 62 Ferry Rd during term time. A fun choir to be in with plenty of performing opportunities. For this choir you can just enrol through our website www.csm.org.nz/enrol

Then there is our wonderful Christchurch Girls' Choir, an auditioned choir for 9-15 year olds. This choir formed last year and has gone from strength to strength impressing audiences with their beautiful sound and delightful repertoire. They meet on a Wednesday evening from 5pm-7pm during term time, also at Catholic Cathedral College . If you would like to audition for this choir please email Celia Stewart at musdir@csm.org.nz and I will send you an audition pack. Auditions are being held on 13 February.

Halswell United Football Club Registrations

Registrations are now open for 2019.  Please visit www.hawkfootball.org.nz for more info.








PTA – opportunity to have fun and fundraise!


"SOS - Can you help, we're desperate!!!

We are still seeking volunteers to marshal the cycle leg of the Weetbix TRYathlon Sunday 24th February 7:30-11:30am (4 hours). You will be briefed on your role. 

Why not GIVE it a TRY??

Big shout out to the volunteers we have had....we require a total of 24 volunteers for us to be able to proceed with this fundraising opportunity. ALL welcome to volunteer- extended family, friends, ex-students, grandparents....you just have to be over the age of 16The PTA will have a tent at the MORNING event for you drop off your gear & enjoy a FREE BBQ Sausage at the end of your duty.
Come along, support the school & cheer on all the children competing. 

GIVE it a TRY, fill out this link NOW if you can HELP https://goo.gl/forms/NHlizUIqR0AkByDF3

Thanks in advance



ALSO for the calendar is the NEW Date for the Top Team Challenge & Family Picnic -Sunday 10th MARCH. Games commence at 3pm.

Teams who enrolled last year, for this weather postponed event, have had their registration roll over. NEW teams wanting to register can do so by completing this form: https://goo.gl/forms/iznynx1zX1XiydKl2 

The PTA are subsidizing this family event, if the $10 fee to register prevents your family from entering please contact us & we will assist- pta@beckenham.school.nzWhat is the Top Team Challenge?- check out the PTA FACEBOOK page for more detailed information.Who will crowned Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto's TOP TEAM 2019?!!





Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Newsletter Wednesday 19th December 2018

Principal's Patch

Kia ora koutou

This will be our final newsletter of 2018. Another very busy year is almost over. Today we farewelled our Year 8 leavers with their graduation assembly. It was a wonderful celebration of their achievements and successes at Beckenham over the past years. Some have only been with us from part way through this year, through to others who started as far back as 8 1/2 years ago. We wish them all the very best as they head off to high school in 2019.

Staffing update

In our 23rd November newsletter, we noted that we had decided to restructure our leadership team and were advertising for a second deputy principal. In the last newsletter, we advised that Michelle Maule, our current Deputy (on secondment to the Ministry) has won another leadership position. This left us with two Deputy Principal positions to fill.

We were fortunate to have an excellent field of candidates and are very pleased to have been able to fill both positions, ready for the start of 2019.

Sue Leadbetter (who has been the Acting Deputy Principal this year) has won one of these positions. We are delighted that she will be able to continue the wonderful work that she has been doing this year.
Sue Leadbetter
We are also pleased to announce that Nigel Easson (past principal of Kaikoura School) will be joining us as our other Deputy Principal. Nigel and his family will be moving to Christchurch over the holidays.
Nigel Easson

As some of you will have worked out, Sue being appointed to Deputy Principal leaves us with a teacher and team leader position vacant in our New Entrant / Year 1 area. We are very pleased to have Jo Smith taking up the role of Acting Team Leader for the Koru Team for 2019. Jo has been working in our New Entrant team this year, and also in 2016, and she brings previous leadership experience to this role, and to our Leadership Team.


So - to clarify, here are the teams (with the home group teachers) again for 2019:

Koru (New Entrants and Year 1)
Jo Smith (Team Leader)
Stacey McLachlan & Elizabeth Drummond (sharing a learning group)

Kahikatea (Year 1-3)
Amber Donovan (Team Leader)
Charlotte Verity
Jules May
Anna Reid

Kōwhai (Year 3/4)
Paulette Newton (Team Leader)
Rowena Barker
Nick Bruce
Kate Swan

Pōhutukawa (Year 5/6)
Tracy Inwood (Team Leader)
Gayle McNaughton
Katie McFarlane
Steve Cooke
Rae Marsh

Kauri (Year 7/8)
Nicky Dunlop (Team Leader)
Jenny Diggle
Hannah Elliott
Megan Culver

Reports and start of year information

Tomorrow your child will come home with their end of year report in an envelope. Also inside that envelope will be their 2019 stationery list and a letter explaining who their home learning group teacher and the teachers in their team will be. Also in that letter, will be the important information you need to book your start of year learning conference with your child's teacher for 2019!

Our staff have earned a very well-deserved break and are looking forward to taking some time out from tomorrow with their own whānau.

The office will be closed until Monday 21st January.

Our best wishes to you and all your whānau for a safe and relaxing summer.


Sandy, and the amazing team at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto.

Important Dates

Upcoming Events


Thu 20 Dec - last day of term 4.  School finishes at 12:30pm
Thu 31 Jan - Learning Conferences
Fri 1 Feb - Learning Conferences
Mon 4 Feb - Classes start, 8:55am

Term Dates

Click here to view 2019 term dates.

Citizen of the Week

Marlonique Wolmarans - Year 8

Marlonique, you bring positivity and tranquility to our Intermediate Hub. Throughout the year, you have demonstrated diligence that has supported your growth as a learner. Thank you for the thoughtfulness and consideration that you show each day. Your kind and caring nature makes a difference to others.

Sophie Macdonald - Year 4

Sophie, you are an outstanding role-model  learner in the Kōwhai team, where you always put in 100% to all you do! You are always eager to learn new things and have a genuine interest in space, wildlife and the environment, where you love to share your learning with others. You always show that you care for others by always being a courteous and kind friend, making you a delight to be around. Thank you for all your wonderful contributions that make our hub a wonderful place to be.

Max Graham - Year 6

Max, what a joy and inspiration you are to the Pōhutukawa team. You display impeccable manners, always holding the door open for us to enter the hub. Your creative and humourous comments entertain and often enlighten us. Max, you are kind, caring and so very flexible and you make a difference in our hub. 

School Notices

Dental Care over the School Holidays

The Community Dental Service will be providing emergency dental appointments on the 20th and 21st December 2018.
 A service will also operate Monday, 7th January – Tuesday, 29th January 2019.

This service will operate by appointment only and if we are unable to see your child, alternative options will be given. If your child has dental pain as a result of an accident please contact your dentist in the first instance.

You can phone and make an appointment for these clinics by ringing 0800 846 983.

Julie Denton
Service Manager
COMMUNITY DENTAL SERVICE

Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Newsletter December 7th 2018

Principal's Patch

Kia ora e te whānau

With less than two full weeks of the school year remaining, this newsletter has a LOT of important information and news in it. Please do take a moment to read it through.

2019 home groups

On the last day of term, children will be told who their 2019 home group teacher will be. During that morning all the children will be taken to their 2019 learning hubs to meet their new team of teachers. You will get that information in a letter that day with your child's report. Also in that envelope will be the information you need to book your start of year learning conference and a 2019 stationery list. Some of you will also get a letter about your child's attendance if it has fallen below 85%.

2019 enrolments

We have a record start-of-year roll for 2019 and are continuing to turn away all out-of-zone ballot applications, other than siblings. If you do know people who live in-zone and are planning on enrolling their children to start school during 2019, please encourage them to get their enrolment forms in before the end of the year as this helps us immensely in our forward planning.

Congratulations to Michelle Maule

As many of you will be aware, Michelle Maule, our Deputy Principal, has been working on secondment with the Ministry of Education this year, in the Severe Behaviour Team. Michelle advised us yesterday that she has been successful in winning the position of Cluster Manager for the Te Paeroa RTLB (Resource Teachers of Learning and Behaviour), Cluster 34.


Whilst we are very sad to see her moving on permanently from Beckenham, we are very proud of her achieving this wonderful promotion. This is the cluster of RTLB who cover our school, so we are extremely excited that Michelle will have continued contact with us, in her new role. This position will give her the opportunity to use her skills and capabilities to make a difference for staff, families, and children in many Christchurch schools, rather than just in our school.

A celebration of the end of the Building Project - this Thursday 13 Dec

After what felt like a very long time, 2018 saw the builders finally leave our site, and our building project completed. Whilst this happened earlier in the year, we have not yet had a proper celebration of the completion of that journey. We plan to have a 'Building Completion Celebration Day' this coming Thursday, 13th December.

The celebrations will begin at the first bell, at 8:55am on Thursday. Children will hang up their bags, then come over to the hall where we will be welcomed in by Te Whānau Mahi Tahi, and will then have a short time of reviewing the building journey and the naming of our new buildings through stories and pictures. This will take about 20 minutes and we invite our families to stay and enjoy this celebration with us. 

At 1:20 pm, the PTA will be providing a sausage sizzle (or vegetarian, gluten free falafel) for each of the children, (and they will still need to bring other lunch items to eat as usual). Then we will all go out to the park for celebration games in houses. Following that, we will provide a lemonade iceblock for every child as a very special treat. If you do not wish your child to be given this food, please let your child's teacher know.

Year 7 & 8 Production

Throughout the year the Year 7 and 8 Hub have been participating in an inquiry under the conceptual understanding, ‘People must act to sustain what is valued’. Continuing with this theme, our production is based around the human race being accused of destroying planet Earth. This is an original production; the script was written by Duncan Moulin-Gower and the children have been very involved in the conceptualisation and choreography of the show, as well as in the creation of some rather impressive props. Lawyers, witnesses, and groups of singers and dancers will help you, the jury, to decide whether or not the human race should be held accountable for the destruction of our planet.


We invite you to come along for an evening of thought-provoking entertainment in "Court For Thought". Performances will be this coming Monday 10th and Wednesday 12th December, starting at 7:00 pm. Admittance is by a gold coin donation at the door. Everyone welcome.

'We make a Difference' in our local community...

This morning I had the great pleasure to observe a small group of our Year 2 and 3 students speak to the Spreydon/Heathcote Community Board about their solutions for cleaning up the Beckenham area and preventing litter from entering our Ōpāwaho River system. Supported by their teacher, Charlotte Verity, the children represented their classmates and our school so well and their idea of having signage around the Beckenham area to encourage people to keep the area litter free was well received.


Many of you will have also noticed that the public toilet block by the Beckenham Ponds on Eastern Terrace has been getting a major makeover! A group of Year 7/8 students, as part of their 'passion learning', have been working with a local artist, Ira Mitchell-Kirk, to paint a wonderful mural on the toilet walls. There will be a formal 'unveiling' of the mural this coming Thursday 13th December, at 2:30pm for those who would like to attend. Thanks to the Spreydon/Heathcote Community Board for agreeing to the project and contributing $250 funding for the paint.


Ngā mihi

Sandy Hastings
Tumuaki - Principal

Important Dates

Upcoming Events

Mon 10 Dec - Kauri production "Court for Thought".  7 - 8pm
Wed 12 Dec - Kauri production.  "Court for Thought" 7 - 8pm

Thu 13 Dec - Building Completion Celebration Day
Thu 13 Dec - The story of our rebuild - in the hall 8:55am - 9:20am - All welcome
Thu 13 Dec - sausage sizzle lunch followed by celebration games and an iceblock

Thu 13 Dec - Beckenham Ponds Toilet Block Mural unveiling 2:30pm - all welcome
Fri 14 Dec - Final Celebration Assembly.  9:30 - 10:30am in the school hall
Fri 14 Dec - Helpers' Morning Tea 10:30am School Hall
Thu 19 Dec - Year 8 Leavers' assembly
Thu 20 Dec - last day of term 4.  School finishes at 12:30pm

Term Dates

Click here to view 2018 & 2019 term dates.

Citizen of the Week

Sophie Macdonald - Year 4

Sophie, you are an outstanding role-model learner in the Kowhai team, where you always put in 100% to all you do! You are always eager to learn new things and have a genuine interest in space, wildlife, and the environment, where you love to share your learning with others. You always show that you care for others by always being a courteous and kind friend making you a delight to be around. Thank you for all your wonderful contributions that make our hub a great place to be. 

School Notices

Gift giving at the end of the year.

We are aware that gift-giving is one way that people often choose to show appreciation and that this is especially common as we head towards the end of the year and Christmas. We are also very aware that not all of our families celebrate Christmas and teachers are talking with children about the different ways that families celebrate cultural and religious festivals and traditions.

This year at school we have talked about the value of showing that 'We Care' through words and actions. Our teachers are talking with the children about the value of making and writing cards, and of doing or making something special to show appreciation or goodwill that doesn't involve buying 'presents' and where the focus is on the joy of giving and the kind thoughts that are being shared.

In line with this thinking, staff very much value a card or email of appreciation from parents and students and they do not expect gifts.

Many children often enjoy giving their friends a card at this time of the year, and sometimes add a candy cane or other treat with the card. To keep in line with our school values and healthy food policy, please refrain from sending sweets to school. If your child is wanting to give sweet treats to their friends, this can be arranged between families out of school hours. This will enable our tamariki to keep their focus on their learning for the last two weeks of school.

Uniform 

A quick reminder that our school uniform supplier is Mainland Uniforms who are located at 189 Peterborough Street.  They stock the full range of our uniform, including the senior jacket.  Layby facilities are available and there is ample parking at the shop.
When you have a spare moment or two over the holidays please check that your child's uniform items are clearly named!

Thank You Morning Tea

A thank you morning tea, where we say a huge THANK YOU to all those parents, caregivers, grandparents, volunteers and everyone else who has helped out in some way at our school, has become a welcome tradition at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto.

If you have volunteered, provided a helping hand, read books, donated books, been on a school trip, helped out with cooking in a hub or any other one of the myriad of ways that support our school community during 2019, then this invitation is for YOU.

Come and have a drink and bite to eat at the school hall from 10:30am onwards, this Friday 14th December. This morning tea follows the final Celebration Assembly which is from 9:30-10:30am in the school hall. You are also very welcome to also attend this assembly.


There is no need to RSVP, please just turn up on the day.

Sports News

On Wednesday, 11 children from Year 5 to 8 completed at the Canterbury Athletics Event, held at the new sporting stadium, Nga Punawai. It is a massive achievement to get to this level of competition and we are so proud of the way you represented yourselves and the school at this event. A huge congratulations to Tilly Harris, who competed in the 100m sprints and long jump. She finished 2nd in sprints and 1st in long jump. Tu meke Tilly!


Congratulations to...

Harper Ford - 

We received these wonderful comments in a letter this week from Pioneer Basketball:
"I am writing to commend one of your students, Harper Ford, who volunteered as a referee in our junior club competitions this year.  The programmes that our club provides for local families would not be possible without the valuable input from young people such as Harper.  Harper is an excellent role model for the children that he works with."
Well done Harper!

Debating Success

On Monday evening, our three debate teams from Year 7 and 8 participated in the second round of our competition against St Martin’s School. The motive up for debate was, ‘There is never a reason or excuse good enough to go to war’. On this occasion, we had one team taking the affirmative and two teams negating. Many strong arguments were raised in each of the debates, mostly focusing on short-term harm versus long-term gain. In the end, Hannah, Chis, and Adam secured a win, making the final score over the two round series 4 wins and 2 losses to Beckenham. The debate process has been a fantastic opportunity for the teams to develop their research, writing, presenting and collaborative skills.


Community Notices

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


Edible Garden Awards 

...recognise and celebrate those who are growing their own food, and all entrants receive a certificate.
Spreydon-Cashmere Edible Garden Awards 2019
The Spreydon-Cashmere Community Board is holding Edible Garden Awards for 2019 in partnership
with the Canterbury Horticultural Society.
Entry is free and open to individuals, groups, organisations, schools, early learning centres, communities, and businesses in the Spreydon-Cashmere Community Board area.
Enter your garden, or nominate someone else's garden (with their permission).  All entrants are recognised for their efforts.  In addition, there are Special Awards for:

  • Sustainability
  • Organics
  • Use of rainwater
  • Outstanding yield

Gardens will be assessed in March 2019.  Entrants are encouraged to take photos of their garden
throughout the summer for inclusion in the photo presentation at the award ceremony in April 2019.
Entries close 5pm, Monday 11 February 2019
Enter online at: Spreydon-Cashmere Edible Garden Awards 2019




Beckenham School Newsletter 30th November 2018

Principal's Patch

Kia ora koutou

It has been very busy at school these past weeks as we have been working through a number of changes to our staffing for 2019. We are very excited to have such talented new staff coming on board to compliment our current practice and work alongside us to help our tamariki to grow and succeed. We believe that we have put together some fabulous combinations of talent, new teachers with existing teachers, and we have some teachers moving around our teams too. This enables teachers to share the experiences and learning that teachers in different teams have gained with others and to enable all of our teachers to continue to learn from one another.

In 2019 our roll is expected to be slightly bigger next year than this year, and we have decided to go back to having five distinct teams again. This means that our NE team will be called Koru, and our Year 1/2 team will take on again the name of Kahikatea (a name that they had about 3 years ago before we combined the teams).

The Pōhutukawa (Year 5/6) team will be our biggest team in 2019 so they will be moving over to Parenga next to the Year 7/8 Kauri team (where the Year 3/4 Kōwhai Team are currently). This will allow them to utilise the three classrooms of Kōmanawa and Hangere as break out spaces. Kōwhai (Y3/4) will move into the space in Tahaki currently occupied by the Pōhutkawa Team.

This map may help!

2019 learning spaces:


On Monday this week, at our Staff Only Day, we were fortunate to have our new staff for 2019 join us. Each 2019 team spent the day working together, beginning to learn about the strengths and opportunities that their new team will be able to offer the children. 

In 2019 we are hoping to keep our Teaching Assistants (previously called Teacher Aides  more linked with one team in 2019 so that they too can build strong relationships with the teachers and the children in the team, and their strengths can be utilised to their potential.

We are excited to introduce you to the teams for 2019:

Koru Team - New Entrants

Elizabeth Drummond, Sue Leadbetter (Team Leader), Stacey McLachlan, Jo Smith

 Kahikatea Team (Year 1/2/3)

Paul McKinnel (Teaching Assistant), Jeanette Amies (Teaching Assistant), Jules May, Kristika Burridge,
Anna Reid, Amber Donovan (Team Leader), Charlotte Verity

 Kōwhai Team (Year 3/4)

Paulette Newton (Team Leader), Rowena Barker, Kate Swann, Nick Bruce
(Teaching Assistant yet to be confirmed)

 Pōhutukawa Team (Year 5/6)

Rae Smith, Steve Cooke, Katie McFarlane
Pip Wareing (Teaching Assistant), Gayle McNaughton, Tracy Inwood (Team Leader),
Kerilea Quinn (Teaching Assistant)

 Kauri Team (Year 7/8)

Anne Chin (Teaching Assistant), Chris Stace (Teaching Assistant), Tamsin Hardwick (Teaching Assistant), Jenny Diggle, Nicky Dunlop (Team Leader), Megan Culver, Hannah Elliott, Cath Barrie
We are currently finalising the home groups for 2019, ensuring that they are balanced within each team. Some teams have already begun a transition process for children - visiting the new hubs that they will be learning in next year, and getting to know teachers around the school who are not currently so familiar to them. This will continue over the remaining weeks of the term. We understand that for some of our learners, change can be a time of heightened uncertainty, so our goal is to smooth this journey as much as possible over the next three weeks.

Ngā mihi nui
Sandy Hastings
Principal - Tumuaki

Important Dates

Upcoming Events


Mon 10 Dec - Kauri production.  7 - 8pm
Wed 12 Dec - Kauri production.  7 - 8pm
Fri 14 Dec - Final Celebration Assembly.  9:30 - 10:30am in the school hall
Thu 19 Dec - Year 8 Leavers' assembly and luncheon
Thu 20 Dec - last day of term 4.  School finishes at 12:30pm

Term Dates

Click here to view 2018 and 2019 term dates.

School Notices

Library Stock Take December Monday 10


It is time to look under your beds, in your closets, your school desk, behind cupboards and dark places to get those books back to the school library BEFORE December 10.


Congratulations to...

2019 Student Leaders:

Earlier this month we interviewed Year 7 students who applied for House Captain and Student Council Exec positions for 2019. We had 30 people applying and the group interviews saw fabulous attitudes and ideas. Actually, the whole year has been a bit of an 'extended interview', as we have watched how the children responded in a wide range of situations.
Our current Year 7 cohort has an interesting gender distribution, with 18 boys and 41 girls. 3/4 of the people applying for positions were girls. This year we have decided to move away from our traditional approach of having one boy and one girl as captains/deputies of each house.
Being selected as a House Captain means that students may need to change house for your Year 8 year.

House Captains for 2019:

Freddie Winsor
Ben Evans
Emily Eade
Vienna Scott
Maddi McIvor
Gemma York
Sophia Brown
Meg McDonald

Deputy House Captains for 2019:

Jack Barton
Arran Robertson
Dom Hamilton
Ella Clarke
Roxy Murfin
Morvern McDaid
Samantha Maule
Matilda Hindin
Student Council Exec:
Chairperson: Lucy Gray
Secretary: Paolo Reid
Treasurer: Helena Sice

Te Reo Champion (new role): 

Maia Davis

One area our school will be giving more attention to in 2019 is the use of Te reo Māori in a simple and integrated way, so that whānau, staff and students can learn and use it together.  Our Te Reo Champion will play a pivotal role in supporting us all to make this happen.

We have many more leadership positions that will be sorted at the beginning of the school year in 2019.

Sports News

Canterbury Triathlon

The rain poured for the duration of the Canterbury Triathlon at Pegasus this week. Extremely undesirable conditions for a swim, bike and run but this added challenge did not deter our competitors nor did it dampen the smiles. We are incredibly proud of the determination and physical endurance of our six competitors from Years 5 to 8.


Community Notices

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

Aquagym

459 Cashel Street, Ph: 3810299.  Learn to Swim & Coaching.  Aquagym and Sumner Pool.  Book now for January Holidays and Term 1.  Leaders in Aquatic Education.