Kahikatea Treaty
We have developed our Kahikatea treaty for 2021. We have been discussing each point with our home groups. Please feel free to read this with your child/ren!
Literacy
Teachers have been busy completing key assessments in preparation for beginning our new structured literacy programs. We appreciate that many of our parents are keen to see books and materials coming home and will let you know very soon when you can expect to see reading folders and materials coming home.
During these first school weeks we have been exploring fundamental literacy activities and developing phonological awareness (skills in identifying and manipulating units of spoken language). We have been exploring oral language and the structure of writing through creating shared texts. In addition, we have enjoyed a variety of texts, including non-fiction and poetry. We have explored The Treaty of Waitangi, Chinese New Year, and the history of toys, through texts and hands-on experiences. We have also been loving our library time!
Here are some pictures showing our learning:
Request for materials
Many of the tamariki enjoy making masterpieces during our learning through playtime. If you have any of the following items, please send them along to school, and we will make good use of them!
- Small boxes, e.g., cereal, muesli bar, toothpaste, washing powder
- Plastic containers (clean), e.g., shampoo, washing liquid, soap
- Corks
- Buttons
- Fabric
Ferrymead Heritage Park
The sun shone for us last Wednesday as we set off for Ferrymead Heritage Park. We had an amazing day of exploration and learning. Each group had the opportunity to learn about the following:
- Heritage games
- Homemade toys
- Science of toys
- Maori toys and games
We even got to have a ride on the tram!
For our inquiry, the tamariki have been making connections between old and new toys, how toys work, the use of different materials, and have had many oral language opportunities to share about their favourite toys.
A huge thanks to our wonderful parent helpers. It is because of your generous support that we can do such fun, engaging and memorable trips.
Wellbeing
We have weekly wellbeing sessions in all teams. Over the last few weeks in Kahikatea, we have been learning about the importance of:
- Making new friends
- Self-confidence
- Teamwork skills/co-operation
We have been reading stories, watching info clips, and also sharing our own stories about the importance of these competencies.
You might like to talk with your child about these things, and share your own stories about how you have made friends, challenges or benefits of teamwork, or what you say to yourself to feel confident in tricky situations.
Useful guides to help Christchurch parents to support their children with emotions and wellbeing:
https://www.allright.org.nz/tools/parenting-guidesLibrary
Each home group has the opportunity to visit the library once per week. Our library day is MONDAY. Please ensure that your child has their library folder at school every Monday. Children are allowed to issue two books and must have their library folder to transport these home.
Sunhats at School
We have been noticing that many children in our team often don't have a hat at school. In Kahikatea, all children keep their hats in their home group hat tub at the end of the day. This is to ensure that every child has a hat during Term 1. If you would like to wash your child's hat, please do this over the weekend, and return it back to school on Monday. We prefer that hats do not go home at any other time.
Parent Playground Roster
A big thank you to Katherine Christensen for offering to organise our parent playground roster. It will be wonderful to have extra adults out in the playground during lunch play to ensure that our tamariki are safe and happy.
Lunch play runs from 12.40 - 1.20 each day. Being on the parent playground roster is a wonderful opportunity to observe the dynamics of your own and other children playing in the playground, as well as being involved in the school community.
If you are interested, please contact Katie with the following information:
- Your full name
- Contact number
- The names of your child/ren
- Day/s of the week available
katie.mcfarlane@beckenham.school.nz
That's all for now! Katie, Amber, Charlotte and Lisa
katie.mcfarlane@beckenham.school.nz
amber.donovan@beckenham.school.nz
charlotte.verity@beckenham.school.nz
lisacollier@beckenham.school.nz
