Author Archives: Nicky Dunlop

Kauri Whānau Weekly Update: Term 1 Week 6

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 In this post:

  • Tuesday mornings
  • Learning at home
  • Guest speakers

Tuesday Mornings

We are now into a new rhythm on Tuesday mornings, while technology at South is on hold. We received great feedback from the children last week after their first Beckenham science and technology sessions. In science, the children are learning about body systems with links to first aid. In technology, the Year 8s are exploring electronics and robotics. It is great to have Kate join our teaching team for these sessions. The Year 7s are learning about wet felting. 


Year 8s created a foot-operated controller.


Learning at Home

With the current Covid-19 outbreak, attendance numbers at school are down, as was excepted. Our 'learning at home' site is up and running and the children know how to access this via google classroom. 
  • Their literacy work is accessed through their literacy google classroom. 
  • Maths is via MathsWhizz. 
  • There is also a selection of sustainability activities on the learning at home website. 
  • On Kauri google classroom they will find the weekly quiz and a science activity, called 'organ systems'.
If your child has any questions about their learning from home, please get in touch with their home-group teacher. 

Guest Speakers

This week the children will be listening to two highly motivating guest speakers. On Monday and Tuesday we have Attitude.inc coming in to deliver their 'Who am I?' presentation. On Thursday a speaker from 'I Am Hope' will talk with our team. Their presentation has the aim of normalising mental health, encouraging young people to reach out for help, and gives examples of tools to keep themselves well. 

Kauri Whānau Weekly Update: Term 1 Week 5

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 In this post:

  • Technology on hold
  • A great week of challenge and leadership development

Technology at Christchurch South Intermediate

Due to the current impact of Covid, technology classes at Christchurch South Intermediate are currently not happening for both South and Beckenham students. We will be filling this space on our timetable with science and technology learning. Technology will resume at South once the impact of the pandemic on schools has reduced. 

Leadership Week

We have had a great few days developing our understanding of the '7 habits of highly effective people' and how these impact us as leaders, both of ourselves and others. Many thanks to all of the parents who have helped out, either on our walk or supporting with activities on the Year 8 leadership day. Without your help, such opportunities cannot happen. Below are a few photos from the last few days.

Builders and architects - Seek first to understand and then be understood.



Inspiring activist, Lucy Gray, got our Year 8s thinking about how they could make a difference.




Ending our Year 8 day with pizza and ice-cream.

Think win win - building elevated rafts to rescue apples from a sinking ship!





Group Initiative Challenges






Time to 'sharpen the saw'!






It was a challenging climb for many and we enjoyed chilling out at Vic Park.







Kauri Whānau Weekly Update: Term 1 Week 4

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 In this post

  • Leadership week happenings this week
  • Great start at technology
  • Mark Inglis talk
  • Great initiative to make a difference

Leadership Week is this week

In last week's post, I explained our plans for leadership week this week.  Below are key reminders.

On Wednesday, Feb 23, we have our Year 7 leadership day. The Year 7s can wear activewear (instead of uniform) that day and will be involved in practical activities that put the '7 habits of highly effective people' into action.

On Thursday, Feb 24, we have our Year 8 leadership day. Again, the Year 8s can wear activewear (instead of uniform) that day and will be putting the 7 habits into action in a practical way. Usually, this day stretches to an overnight stay. Instead this year, we would like the children to stay on at school until 7pm. We have some fun activities planned for after 3pm and will finish the day with a pizza dinner. The fun activities include water, so togs, rash tops (or a change of clothes) and a towel will be needed. We also encourage the children to bring a water-propelling device. This could be a water bottle. 

On Friday, Feb 25, the whole hub will head for the hills. We will be walking up Bowenvale track to Victoria Park. We have had four parents offer to join us and would love a few more. If you are available between 10 and 3 on Friday and are up for a walk in the hills, please fill in this form.  All parent helpers will need to have vaccination passes. Activewear can also be worn instead of uniform on Friday.

Sunhats are a must for each of these days (and every school day), as we will be spending a lot of time outside. 

Technology

The children had a great start at technology last Tuesday. Remember to set those alarms for an early start so that all children are at Beckenham by 8:30 on Tuesdays. Tamariki who are doing food tech and hard materials need to have long hair tied up.






















Mark Inglis

Hopefully, your child came home on Thursday afternoon with lots to share after listening to a presentation by Mark Inglis. The children looked to be enthralled by his story and there were many takeaways to apply to our own lives.
Below are some of his key messages:
  • It’s all about how I react to what happens.
  • I think of new ways of doing things when people say I can’t.
  • It’s really important that I take care of myself.
  • Sometimes in life, you just have to get on with it.
  • It’s how we look at things. ‘The death zone’  should be renamed ‘the must do zone’
  • If you're bored - then you're not thinking hard enough.
  • Disability does not define my life.
  • Fear is about knowledge; knowledge eliminates fear.
  • It’s about how we look at things. (I will never get frostbite in my feet again. A broken leg is no big deal)
  • When stuck, don’t feel sorry for yourself - work out what you can do?
  • Give all people the opportunity to be their best.



We make a difference

Concerned about the possibility of damage to phones with our current phone collection system, two Year 8s researched and created (in record time) a system to make our phone storage safer. We love seeing such initiative and innovation!







Kauri Whānau Weekly Update: Term 1 Week 2/3

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 In this post:

  • Great start
  • Forms
  • Languages and Technology
  • Leadership week
  • Parent help needed for walk
  • Maths Club
  • Volleyball

Great Start

We have been so impressed with how well the children are settling into the hub. Their focus has been great, they are settling into routines and coping well with their masks. There is a very settled and positive buzz in the hub. 

Forms Back

Many thanks to those who filled in forms for cybersafety, bus travel and BYOD. There are still a few forms to be submitted. Please click these links if you are yet to do so.

Languages and Technology

On Monday our language classes begin, with teachers coming in from Cashmere High to teach French (Megan and Jenny's home-groups) and Spanish (Nicky and Caitlin's home-groups). Classes will switch language midway through the year.

On Tuesday we start technology classes. Children need to be in the hub by 8:30, ready to catch the buses to technology at Christchurch South Intermediate. We will be back at Beckenham by 11:30.

Leadership

Being at the red level, we have needed to re-look at how we do our leadership week. 

  • A 'Learn, Create, Share' self-directed unit will see the children put their recent learning about the '7 habits of highly effective people' into action. This will start on Monday.
  • On Thursday, Feb 17, Mark Inglis will be sharing his life experiences with the children. Mark has spoken at school several times in the past and has so much valuable learning to share with our tamariki.
  • On Wednesday, Feb 23, we have our Year 7 leadership day. The Year 7s can wear mufti that day and will be involved in practical activities that put the 7 habits into action.
  • On Thursday, Feb 24, we have our Year 8 leadership day. Again, the Year 8s can wear mufti that day and will be putting the 7 habits into action in a practical way. Usually this day stretches to an overnight stay. Instead this year, we would like the children to stay on at school until 7pm. We have some fun activities planned for after 3pm and will finish the day with a pizza dinner. 
  • On Friday, Feb 25, the whole hub will head for the hills. We will be walking up Bowenvale track to Victoria Park. 

Helpers for Walk

We are after a number of keen parents to join us on our walk up to Victioria Park on Friday, Feb 25th. The plan is to leave Beckenham by 10am and we will be back by 3pm. All parent helpers will need to have vaccination passes. Please fill out this form if you can join us. 

Maths Club

If you have a keen Year 7 & 8 mathematician in your house, they may be interested in joining our maths club that will start up this coming Thursday, starting at 8:20am. We meet in ther Breakout Room to look at challenging problems and share a love of maths.

Volleyball

There is an opportunity for children to play volleyball after school on Mondays with Malcolm from Canterbury Volleyball Association. These sessions will take place from 3.15 to 4.45 on the park and will therefore be weather dependent. There will be a combination of teaching and drills to develop technique followed by games. The cost for these sessions is $30 per child, which needs to be payable to the office before the first session. 

Sessions start on Monday the 28th of February. There will be four weeks of volleyball and then a week break. Volleyball will pick up again for the remaining two weeks of the term. There is a sign up sheet at kura for children to express their interest. Please, note that numbers will be limited.