Author Archives: Katie McFarlane

Kahikatea News Term 4 Week 1

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Kia ora e te whānau,

We have had a wonderful start to Term 4! This blog contains a lot of important information about the next few weeks of Term 4.

Thank you for sending your child to school with a hat this week. We find it helpful for your child to keep their hat at school as this ensures that your child always has one!


Literacy

We have launched straight back into our literacy and maths learning this week. Some children are with a different literacy group this term. At the conclusion of each term, we run a series of assessments to ensure that children are working at their correct instructional stage. It has been exciting to see the ongoing progress of our literacy learners!

If you have any Little Learners texts at home, please send them back to school. We are giving out one house point per book returned. 


Maths

Our maths focus for the first four weeks of this term is Time. We have started this with learning the days of the week (reading, writing, counting forward and back the days, and sequencing), and next week we move into learning about the months of the year and reading a calendar. We will also touch on telling the time on digital and analogue clocks in the coming weeks. Please feel free to have a chat with your child/ren about what they are learning, and reinforce this at home.


Library

Please note that library days have changed for some. Emma and Katie's home groups go to the library on Tuesday, and Krystal and Megan's home groups go to the library on Thursday. Please ensure that your child has their library folder on their library day.


Athletics

We are really looking forward to our school athletics day next Wednesday, the 26th of October. You are welcome to come along and support your child. We will be running our event from 11:00 until 11:50. You will find us in the park in front of the hall.
 
Here is the social story that we have shared with the children in preparation for the day.







Kahikatea Swimming

Swimming begins on Monday of Week 3. Tamariki will have nine sessions in total. The dates are as follows: 

Monday 31st October
Tuesday 1st November
Wednesday 2nd November
Thursday 3rd November
Friday 4th November
Monday 7th November
Tuesday 8th November
Wednesday 9th November
Thursday 10th November

Thank you so much to the parents who have offered to help. We now have enough helpers.

Please go through the following social story with your child to support us in setting them up for success...




















Learning in action...

Here are some photos of what our tamariki have been up to this week:


















































Thank you for taking the time to read through this week's blog. If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch with your child's home group teacher.

Have a lovely long weekend!

Katie, Emma, Krystal, Megan, and Lisa

katie.mcfarlane@beckenham.school.nz
emma.hayes-smith@beckenham.school.nz
krystal.hunt@beckenham.school.nz
megan.harris@beckenham.school.nz
lisa.collier@beckenham.school.nz



Kahikatea Athletics

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Kia ora whānau,

We made the most of the lovely weather today and got outside to practice our four athletics stations. The tamariki were amazing - so focused, motivated, and energised! 

We are really looking forward to our whole-school athletics event on Wednesday 26th October. Kahikatea's events are from 11:00 - 12:40. We would love to see you there if you can make it!

Training for this event will continue in Week 1 of Term 4, so please ensure that your child wears appropriate footwear to school each day.

Here are some photos of our children in action today...



















Kahikatea News Term 3 Week 7

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 Kahikatea Team News - Term 3 Week 7

Kia ora koutou,

It has been a busy couple of weeks in the Kahikatea team! Read on to find out more about what we have been up to.

Kete Focus: We Love Challenge!

The student council organised a fun STEM activity during 'We Love Challenge' week. We were given a selection of materials and had to design a bridge that could hold a tin can. We made changes as we went when we realised that something didn't quite work, and persevered when it was tricky. We did so well!










Learning Through Play

It is always a joy to watch our children interact, discover, negotiate, and problem-solve during Learning Through Play. Here are some recent photos of us in action!


















Te Whare Tapa Wha

During our home group time, we are learning all about how we can support our wellbeing (hauora) using the Te Whare Tapa Wha model. We have a fabulous new poster that illustrates how important it is to take care of all of the different aspects of our lives to support our wellbeing. 






That's all for now!
Team Kahikatea

Kahikatea News Week 9 Term 2

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Kia ora kōutou,

It is amazing to think that we are halfway through the year! We are looking forward to meeting with you all next week at our mid-year learning conferences. 

We had an incredible trip to the International Antarctic Centre last week and learning about Antarctica, its climate, and the animals that live there. Thank you so much to our amazing whānau helpers for coming along and supporting us with our trip - we couldn't do it without you. 






































Learning Conferences

We are looking forward to meeting with you and your child/ren at learning conferences on either Monday or Wednesday next week. Please remember that school finishes at 2 pm. Please go ahead and book a learning conference with your child's home group teacher if you haven't already... it's not too late.

Belongings

We have noticed that there is quite a collection of belongings that are being left behind at the end of each day, including jackets, hats, scarves, gloves, etc. Please feel free to pop in and collect these items the next time you are on site.


Kahikatea News Week 7 Term 2

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Kia ora e te whānau, 

Term 2 seems to be speeding by! We have been having a busy and wonderful time in the Kahikatea Hub, and we hope that you are all been keeping well.

Cross Country

The kids had an amazing time at the Cross Country on Tuesday this week! They should all be very proud of themselves for giving it a go and trying their best. Thank you to the whānau that were able to come out and support the kids and to everybody for supporting your kids.


Positive Behaviour for Learning

As part of our school-wide Positive Behaviour 4 Learning (PB4L) program, our focus this week has been learning about and using EMPATHY. Kahikatea learners have spent time discussing what empathy looks like, sounds mean tand feels like.

Dress Ups

As the weather is becoming colder we are finding ourselves taking part in a lot more indoor activities. One of our beloved activities is the dress ups. If you have any dress up costumes that you are no longer using please consider sending them our way. The kids would love some more options!

 

 

Upcoming Events:

Matariki Whānau Rōpū Hui

We would like to invite you to our first Whānau Rōpū hui of 2022. Matariki is the start of the Māori new year and a time of reflection, connection and planning for the year ahead. We would like to celebrate with you and your whānau on the 22nd of June from 5pm.

5:00pm - Welcome & Performance - Te Whānau Mahi Tahi

5:20pm - Move to hubs - Matariki activities

6:20pm - Return to hall - performance by Pōhutukawa and Kōwhai joint kapa haka rōpū

6:45pm - Hāngi (for those who have pre-ordered hāngi)

Nau mai, here mai. All Welcome!


The Christchurch Antarctic Centre

We are very excited to be visiting The Christchurch Antarctic Centre on Thursday, 23rd June.

 

Thank you to all those parent/whānau who have volunteered to assist. We now have sufficient numbers of parent/whānau helpers. Thanks everyone! 

 

Some important information:

  • Katie and Emma’s homegroups will be leaving school at 9am and will return by 12:15pm.

  • Please ensure that if your children are in Emma or Katie’s homegroups that they are at school on time on Thursday as we need to be boarding out buses at 9am.

  • Amber and Krystal’s home groups will be boarding their bus at 11.45am and returning to school by 3pm.

  • Please ensure that your child is dressed in their school uniform.

  • Please ensure that your child has a warm jacket/clothing.

  • Please ensure that your child has comfortable shoes.

 

Learning Conferences

Learning Conferences will be happening during the last week of Term 2, on Monday 4th and Wednesday 6th July, from 2:15pm - 6:30pm. To book your conference, go to http://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/code/abad8

Reports will be available the week prior. Learning Conferences are an opportunity for you to meet with your child's home group teacher and discuss their progress and next steps.

 

Thank you for all of your support! That's all for now,

 

The Kahikatea Team

 

amber.donovan@beckenham.school.nz,  katie.mcfarlane@beckenham.school.nz, krystal.hunt@beckenham.school.nz, emma.hayes-smith@beckenham.school.nz

lisa.collier@beckenham.school.nz,




 Take a look throught this important social story all about our upcoming trip :