As you may be aware, the Pōhutukawa children are currently involved in some water-themed team challenges as part of our end of year activities. Our final challenge will be a water fight on Wednesday, 14 December. The children will need to bring a water pistol (or a drink bottle) along with their togs and towel.

Any children who do not want to participate will be able to do alternative activities with Susan.

Also, a reminder that we will be walking to the Margaret Mahy Playground on Tuesday, 13 December, leaving Champion Street at 12pm and returning by 2.30pm. Thank you to all the parents who have offered to help on this trip. If you are able to help please contact your child’s home group teacher.

Please also remember that camp is strictly peanut free.

Planning is well underway for the Year 5 and 6 camp at Living Springs. As you already know, we will be leaving from Beckenham School on November 23. The children need to meet us in the school hall at 9:00am on this day. After the camp, we will return to Beckenham School between 2:30 and 3:00pm on November 25. We will wait in the hall for you to pick your child up.

The children will be sleeping in carpeted bunk rooms, which can be heated if required. As well as regular meals, there are three snack times during the day.

The programme is challenging, stimulating and safe. The activities include: swimming (heated pool), farm park visit, group initiative challenges, orienteering, walking and recreational activities.

All children will be well supervised and all risks well managed in accordance with our Camp Safety Action Plan and the Living Springs Risk Management Strategies. It will be an exciting learning opportunity for your child.

Thank you very much for the many offers of parental assistance. We were overwhelmed and we’re sorry that we can’t take everyone who volunteered. These are the parents who will accompany us:

• Chris Flynn
• Matt Cowie
• Phill Coxon
• Matthew Reid
• Brent Craig
• Corey Archer
• Rod Gray
• Ashley Tough
• Matthew Cornfoot
• Simon Kingham
• Nicole Haines
• George York
• Sarah Freeman
• Jane Brittenden
• Jane Parrett
• Brett Sutherland

The list of gear the children will need to bring can be found here. It is not necessary to buy the items listed. For such a short time, it is better to borrow.

Please contact your child’s home group teacher if you have any questions.

The students in Team Pōhutukawa have been working hard to develop products and stalls for our Asian-inspired market day. The market will be open on Thursday, 15 September from 11:00 to 12:00 on the court by Hub 21/22. If the weather is poor, the market will open in the hall instead.

The Pōhutukawa students will be selling lots of interesting (and delicious) items such as Asian food, baking, confectionery, drinks, games, challenges and more. Students should still bring their lunch as normal on this day.

Market day vouchers will be sold before school near the flagpole on Thursday morning. The vouchers will be used as currency to purchase goods at the market. Most items at the market will cost between one and three dollars.

As many Year 8 students will be involved in Cashmere testing on Thursday, we will also be offering a special presale for Year 8 students on Wednesday so that they will not miss out.

The money raised will be used to reduce the cost of Team Pōhutukawa's camp in Term 4 and to offset the market day's expenses.