Kahikatea Newsletter Term 2 Week 12

Kia ora e te whānau


What a busy term we have had settling back into school life after lockdown.  We are very proud of all our wonderful tamariki in the Kahikatea whānau and all the wonderful things they have achieved in their learning. Below are some photos of the activities they have been enjoying as we continue to learn and explore transformation and Matariki this week.











Pōhutakawa Concert
We were invited to watch the Pohutakawa whānau share their singing groups today and really enjoyed all the wonderful songs they performed for us.  





Handwriting with Bounce and Skip

Now that we are settled back into Level 1, Bounce and Skip may make an appearance at your place.  Each home-group has its own special set and our wonderful handwriting monkeys love to spend the night at home with one of our wonderful tamariki.  
Bounce and Skip have the tricky job of watching our daily handwriting carefully and selecting the child they think is focusing on the task and reaching their handwriting goals.  





Learning Conferences
We have really enjoyed having the time with each of you and your tamariki, sharing their learning journey so far, and their next steps with you.  We do appreciate you taking the time to meet with us, and hope that our conferences were able to provide you with some valuable insight into your child's progress and the learning goals we are working towards together.

What's happening in Christchurch over the term break
Below are links to some fun activities or places you may like to visit with your tamariki over the term break:

Tūrangi: Christchurch City Central library
https://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/turanga/turanga-whats-on/
Canterbury Museum
https://www.canterburymuseum.com/whats-on/
Christchurch Art Gallery
https://christchurchartgallery.org.nz/exhibitions/?section=events&type=family-activity
Free events at Kids Fest 2020
https://www.kidsfest.co.nz/events/?event-type=&location=&event-date=&age=&free-child=1&keyword=


Learning through play Loose Parts
We are looking for donations of the following to support our play-based learning:  
  • Old newspapers and non-glossy magazines
  • Unwanted craft items e.g. wool, string, material scraps
  • Old clean socks 
  • Large suitcases or old chests (for storing dress ups)
  • Boxes for creations (eg biscuit boxes, soap boxes, etc) 
  • Clean plastic milk bottles 
  • Plastic caps (from milk bottles etc) 
  • Old kitchen pots, pans, spoons, etc.

Parent Help
We are looking for some parents to volunteer their help during reading, by playing literacy games or supporting a group on a task, any day between 9.10-10.10 am. 
We also would love some volunteers to put reading books away. Putting reading books away can be done before school or at a time that suits you. If you can help, please email charlotte.verity@beckenham.school.nz


Thank you
As we head into a 2-week term break, we would like to take the time to thank you for all the kind support you have shown to us over the last 2 terms through all the unexpected changes and interruptions, and for working with us to provide educational support for your fantastic tamariki in their learning both at home and at school.   

Team Kahikatea: Reminders Week 11

PTA Disco Friday 26th June 2020 


Our amazing PTA is running a disco this week! The theme is Rainbow and your child/children will need a gold coin for entry. 
BRING your own NAMED drink bottle. 

Our YEAR 3 STUDENTS have the option of joining the NE to Year 3 disco from 4.30pm to 5.00pm OR Year 3 to 6 disco from 6pm to 7pm. 
Teachers from team Kahikatea will be at both disco's. 

Learning Conferences Tuesday 30th AND Thursday 2nd July 

Please remember, we have an earlier finish on both days. 
Your children can be collected at 2pm. 
Conferences start at 2.15.  We are looking forward to seeing you all! 

Kapa Haka 


Our YEAR 3 STUDENTS have Kapa Haka every Friday for 30 minutes with our new Kaiako Kath from 11am. 


THANK YOU!

We appreciate all of your donations (requested in our last blog). Please keep them coming. 

Kahikatea Newsletter Term 2 Week 10

Kia ora whānau
We hope you enjoy this update from our last two weeks at school.

Learning through play:
We are looking for donations of the following to support our play-based learning:  
  • Old newspapers and non-glossy magazines
  • Unwanted craft items e.g. wool, string, material scraps, 
  • Old clean socks 
  • Large suitcase (for storing dress ups)
  • Boxes for creations (eg biscuit boxes, soap boxes, etc) 
  • Clean plastic milk bottles 
  • Plastic caps (from milk bottles etc) 
  • Old kitchen pots, pans, spoons, etc. 

Wellbeing/Hauora











We continue to focus on children's wellbeing, with daily discussions and weekly home group circle time. Making time for gratitude, and making new friends have been key focuses recently.  Do feel free to discuss these at home with your child.

You might like to try this Sparklers Gratitude Journal in the next school holidays.

Personal "Space Bubbles"
Moving safely - We are noticing that some of our students are moving/playing in very busy and boisterous ways, and bumping into each other. Other times, some students are playing games that involved crashing, grabbing, pinching, and the like. 

While some of these games are fun for some students, they are upsetting for others. Thanks for your support in helping the children maintain their personal space bubbles, moving safely, and showing kindness to others. 

Take a look at this social story about maintaining safe spaces between people: 
 Space Bubble Social Story 


Parent Help
We are looking for some parents to volunteer their help during reading, by playing literacy games or supporting a group on a task, any day between 9.10-10.10 am. 
We also would love some volunteers to put reading books away. Putting reading books away can be done before school or at a time that suits you. If you can help, please email charlotte.verity@beckenham.school.nz

Week 12 Learning Conferences: If you haven't already, please book in for learning conferences. Go to www.schoolinterviews.co.nz and entering the code yseec

Enjoy some of our latest learning through play photos:

























Kahikatea News Term 2 Week 8

Growing

For the past couple of weeks, our learning in the middle part of the day has been around the theme 'Growing'. This has seen children involved in learning challenges and experiences involving nature, construction, and understanding how our bodies work.
















Library Days

It has been great to get back into the school library and issue new books. Each home group now has an allocated day for returning and issuing. Please support your child to remember their library folder when it is their day.
Amber: Tuesday
Katie: Wednesday
Jules: Thursday
Charlotte: Friday

New Playground

Wow! What a fantastic time we have had this week exploring the new playground! It has been a very popular place during break times, and we feel very fortunate to have it immediately outside our hub.



Kahikatea:Learning At School!

Kia ora whanau,
Our kinds thanks to you for following our new morning and pick up processes. Please read Sandy's email this evening which provides further clarity.

Here are our gorgeous kids enjoying time back together: