Principal's Patch
Kia ora koutou
Today I have been in Wellington at a meeting of over 100 principals from around New Zealand as part of the New Zealand Principals Federation Annual Moot. This morning the Minister of Education, Chris Hipkins, spoke to us, reminding us that one year ago today was the first day of our Level 4 lockdown. So much has happened across the world since then, and we have continued to work successfully as a nation to keep COVID-19 out of our communities.
As well as the challenges of continuing to provide education through COVID times, we have been looking today at many of the other challenges that face principals, schools and Boards of Trustees across the country.
Two of the many areas, where there were united calls for urgent action from the government, were:
- Removing the inequity of funding and staffing between primary and secondary schools i.e. providing primary schools with the same levels of staffing and release for teachers for preparation and professional development that secondary schools get
- Urgently providing schools with appropriate and timely support for students whose needs are the most complex and challenging, and whose behaviours often pose a high risk to others.
Just these two calls alone are complex, and require significant budgetary investment from a purse that is increasingly under pressure. We will continue to lobby for these, and other supports for our schools and tamariki.
Parents and caregivers workshop - understanding how our children learn to read: The structured literacy approach.
Join us in the staffroom at 3.15 pm or 7:00pm on
Tuesday 30th March 2021.
Caroline Morritt, our Resource Teacher of Literacy will explain our new approach to teaching reading and writing. Based on the science of reading, Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto uses an explicit, systematic structured literacy approach to build a strong literacy foundation.
Decodable books support targeted classroom teaching of phonological awareness and blending and segmenting skills for accurate, automatic reading and spelling.
Learning Conferences
Week 11 - Monday 12th April and Wednesday 14th April
School will close at 2pm on both days, to allow Learning Conferences to begin at 2:15pm.
Please go onto the
School Interviews website and use the code
kk64k to book your learning conference. The Learning Conferences are for 15mins each, except for Year 7/8 where you need to book a 15-minute slot, but allow 30 mins (it works!)
The focus of these Learning Conferences will be to update you on how your child has settled into the school year, and to give you a picture of the areas of focus they are working on, particularly in numeracy and literacy.
Partnering to save our Waterways...
On Monday March 22nd, Healthy Opāwāho representatives Cleo Hopkinson (Year 7) and Ben Cross (Year 5) attended the launch of the Community Waterways Partnership, supported by their whānau, Sally Airey from the Christchurch City Council and Steve Cooke. The Partnership is looking to involve the Council, Canterbury Regional Council, Ngāi Tahu, Department of Conservation, Ministry for the Environment, Canterbury District Health Board, universities, schools, industry representatives, river care and other community groups. Their aim, to improve the ecological health, indigenous biodiversity and the amenity value of our urban waterways. Both Cleo and Ben spoke about what their awa, the Opāwaho/ Heathcote river, means to them and to our community, including Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto. The charter was then signed by the organisations in attendance, including by Cleo and Ben on behalf of our kura. Sally Airey had this to say about our enviro-superstars:
" Many thanks to you both for speaking at the Community Waterways Launch – and for signing on your school's behalf. Everyone was very inspired by your passion and enthusiasm for our waterways and the Ōpāwaho and the Beckenham Ponds. I think your action and speeches were one of the reasons why we had 42 organisations sign up to the Charter!" Tino pai kia kōrua!
You can read more about this project
here.
Ngā mihi
Sandy Hastings
Tumuaki - Principal
Important Dates
Upcoming Events
Week 9:
Wed 31 Mar - 4:15-5:45pm Kiwi Volleyball at Hillview Christian School
Thu 1 Apr - 3:15 - 6:00pm Miniball Grade C at Pioneer Stadium
Fri 2 Apr - Good Friday -
School ClosedWeek 10:Mon 5 Apr - Easter Monday
- School Closed
Tue 6 Apr - Easter Tuesday
- School ClosedThu 8 Apr - 9.00 - 2.00pm, Canterbury Swimming at Selwyn Aquatic Centre
Thu 8 Apr - 3:15 - 6:00pm Miniball Grade C at Pioneer Stadium
Fri 9 Apr - 12.00 - 12.30 Celebration Assembly
Week 11: Mon 12 Apr - Learning Conferences - SCHOOL CLOSES at 2pm Wed 14 Apr: - Learning Conferences - SCHOOL CLOSES at 2pmFri 16 Apr - Last day of Term 1
Fri 16 Apr: - Last day of Term 1
Term Dates
Click here to view 2021 term dates.
Citizen of the Week
Evelyn Pooch - Year 4
Evelyn, you have made an outstanding start to the year. You consistently focus on doing the right thing and are an extremely helpful member of the team. You work enthusiastically in all areas of school and are a fantastic role model to others. You are a star, Evelyn. Well done! School Notices
Easter Holiday clarification
There have been some questions from whānau about why school is closed on Easter Tuesday. All schools, primary and secondary, across the country are closed on Good Friday, Easter Monday and Easter Tuesday, and always have been, for as long as anyone can remember. I'm not sure what the historical rationale for this is - it is just always the way it has been. When schools used to have three, 13 or 14 week terms a year, Easter always fell during the first term, and the 5 day weekend was a very welcome break during a long term.
When schools moved to four, 10 week terms a year in 1996, the Easter break has mostly fallen within the school holidays at the end of the first term. However, in some years - 1997, 2005, 2008, 2013, 2016, 2018 and now in 2021 - Easter has fallen during the first term, rather than during the holidays.
Drink Bottles
Please remember that all children need a clean, full water bottle at school every day. Thank you.Crusaders v Highlanders tickets
We have been kindly gifted 100 tickets from the Crusaders, in partnership with John Jones Steel.
As a part of this initiative, John Jones Steel and the Crusaders have partnered with the Child Cancer Foundation to help raise their awareness and funds.
We would love for you to consider donating to Child Cancer in exchange for a ticket. The blue donation bucket is in the Office.
The details of the game are below:Crusaders v Highlanders
When: Friday 2 April, 7.05pm
Where: Orangetheory Stadium
Please express your interest by completing
the form linked here. Please note ticket numbers are limited and the tickets are only for families within the Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto community - this is not for the general public.
Ferrymead Trip - Kōwhai Team - Year 3&4
Kōwhai had a fantastic time at Ferrymead on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. We explored V huts, played a variety of picnic games, baked a delicious cookie in the bakery and experienced school life at the school. The school was very different to Beckenham Te Kura o Puroto - the children were very thankful that schools have changed so much! We ended the day with a tram ride all the way around the park. What outstanding days they were!
A huge thank-you to the PTA who funded the buses for this awesome learning opportunity.
Te Mana Raupo Kahui Ako
Parent Workshop
Parenting to Establish Safety, Connection and Engagement
The workshop will provide an overview of children’s challenging behaviours and how parents/caregivers can better understand the causes and possible ways to prevent and respond.
The overview covers:
- Understanding challenging behaviours
- Understanding Window of Tolerance and Arousal and how this contributes to challenging behaviours
- Understanding how co-regulation & attunement can enhance moments of shared joy
- Learn a number of useful activities to respond to various behaviours.
This presentation is grounded in relational attachment based principles and philosophies.
This presentation is open to all families in our wider community and is free of charge.
Presented by:
Dr Petria Thoresen, PhD, a fully certified Theraplay® Therapist and Theraplay®
Maria Lui, SWRB & MNZAC, a fully certified Group Theraplay® Practitioner and Theraplay®
St Martins School Hall
Tuesday 30th March
5:30-6:30pm
To attend, please RSVP to - reihana.dougherty@beckenham.schoool.nz
Mana Ake Virtual Parenting Workshops
Supporting Your Child in a Digital World
Tuesday 30 March 1.00 - 2.00pm
Parenting Through Big Emotions
Wednesday 14 April, 11.30am - 12.30pm
Wednesday 12 May, 7.00pm - 8.00pm
Helping Children through Grief, Loss and Change
Wednesday 19 May, 11.30am - 12.30pm
Tuesday 25 May, 7.00pm - 8.00pm
Register for these free webinars by contacting
manaakefeedback@cdhb.health.nz
Mana Ake “Drop-Ins” are continuing…
A number of whānau have already made great use of the Mana Ake “drop-ins” that are available on Wednesday mornings from 8:30 – 9:30am. These drop-in sessions are here to provide parents with an opportunity to have a private, informal conversation around the well being of their child with one of our Mana Ake workers (kaimahi). If you feel like you would like to attend a drop-in session, please book in a time via the link here: Mana Ake booking The code to use is 88t39. Alternatively, you can contact Jacky in the office and she will make a booking for you.
Ferg and Freya's Child Cancer Fundraiser
Fergus and Freya are fundraising for the child cancer foundation. They plan to shave off their hair at the end of this. They have both have had family members effected by cancer and want to raise money to help.
Freya is planning on donating her hair to Freedom Wigs to help others in need as well.
Child Cancer Foundation is a cause we're extremely passionate about. They provide life changing support for our little kiwis and their families during their most testing times and every dollar makes a huge difference!
If you would like to support them, you can come along to the front of the hall at
3pm on Friday 9th April and you can contribute to their cause through their
Give-A-Little pageStaff Profiles
Introducing our Pōhutukawa Team! Gayle, Rae, Anna and Steve (team leader) are our Year 5 and 6 teachers. Collectively, they have many years of teaching experience and each bring unique strengths and passions to their work. They are great collaborators and this is their third year of working together as a team.
(Left to right, Gayle McNaughton, Rae Marsh, Anna Reid, Steve Cooke - Team Leader)
Please let us know...
If your child has participated/competed successfully in an out of school event (music, sport, theatre, community service, academic, technology, science, etc) and send us a wee blurb and photo so that we can acknowledge their efforts and success through the newsletter.
Sports News
Hanmer Four Hour
A record number of 28 children from Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto took on the challenge of the Hanmer 4 Hour Mountain Bike Relay last Saturday. Children from Year 3 to Year 8 competed in the event. Getting there together as part of a two or three person team, they peddled their hearts out to complete as many 6 km laps as they could in the four hour time frame. It was lovely to hear of a competitor with another team complimenting the Beckenham children on the way that they supported and encouraged each other. A well done also goes to the parents who provided a tail-end-charlie on the 11 and under laps.
Results
11 and under Male Team First Place
The Beckenham Free Wheelers:
Archie Arnott, Oliver Bilsbury and Tahere Taylor
11 and under Female Team Third Place
The Feisty Flamingos:
Petra Cooper, Keana Hakeaga’iki and Emma Reedy
17 and under Mixed Team First Place
Freya Braun, Zoe Clarke and Fergus Macdonald
Canterbury Triathlon
Ten children from Years 5 to 8 took on the challenge of the Canterbury Triathlon on Tuesday at its new location off South Eyre Road. It was a tough course involving a swim in the lake, a bike and a run. It was great to see the children cross the finish line with a smile on their faces. Nau mai te wero! Well done to all the competitors for putting yourselves out there and participating in this endurance event.
Sports Uniforms
A huge thank you to our wonderful PTA who have raised money to buy these sports uniforms for our tamariki. The uniforms will ensure our tamariki look smart and slick on the sports field / court. The uniforms cover a wide range of sports and cover sizes from Year 3 - Year 8.
The PTA not only raised money for the uniforms they also organized the design and purchase. A huge thank you to Belinda Mitchell and her crew for the hours of time put into ensuring we have just what we need.
Ka pai to mahi koutou.
Thank you from the Student Council...
To everyone who supported our Odd Socks and Purple Mufti Day today. We raised $550 which will be donated to Epilespy and Down Syndrome.
Community Notices
(Notices placed here are contingent on space and do not reflect the views or opinions of the school.)
Motivationz Netball and Rugby Holiday Programme is back this April
Motivationz Netball and Rugby are running a holiday programme. This will be great to compliment your club/school training and help you improve your skills as a player.
Age Group:
Netball: school year 5/6 and 7/8
Rugby: 7-8, 9-10 year olds
Location: Graham Condon Centre, 3 Sisson Drive
Dates: 3 sessions - 19th , 20th and 21st April
Time: 12.30-2.30pm
Cost: $100
Come and join our highly successful MOTIVATIONZ family now!!
Very limited numbers for each age group, Book now!!!!!!
Email anthony@motivationz.co.nz for rugby, or rebecca@motivationz.co.nz for netball.
Include your child’s full name, DOB, address and contact phone, or call Anthony on 0212226340
Community Mural Day at Landsdowne Terrace Community Centre this Saturday 27th March.
Bouncy castle, sausage sizzle, bake sale, face painting and more. Organized by The Landsdowne Terrace Playcentre whānau. Check our Facebook event for details.
Wild Symphony
Dan Brown, best known as the author of The Da Vinci Code, has recently published his first children’s book, Wild Symphony which features beautifully-illustrated poems about lovable animal characters with accompanying signature tunes.
These tunes have been expanded into a 50-minute musical adventure which the Risingholme Orchestra has been selected by the publishers to present at the New Zealand premiere in Christchurch on Sunday 11 April at 2pm and 4pm at The Piano, 156 Armagh Street Christchurch.
Adults $15 Children $5 Door sales available EFTPOS or cash
Join us for a fun-filled afternoon of music and visuals, sure to impress children and adults alike.
