Category Archives: Kahikatea

Kahikatea Newsletter Term 3 Week 6

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 Kia ora koutou,

We have had two fun and busy weeks since our last blog post. The Kahikatea children have been actively engaged in the various programmes on offer, and it has been wonderful to see everyone living our values of 'We Love Learning' and 'We Love Challenge' every day.

It has been fabulous to end the week with the sun shining! It really feels like Spring is just around the corner...hooray!

We miss seeing you in the mornings and afternoons, so we thought it would be nice to share a typical day in the life of a Kahikatea kid to give you insight into what we do each day.

8:55 - The bell rings and the children meet their homegroup teacher in their home space. During this time, the teacher does the roll and shares the daily notices. Sometimes we do a mindfulness activity to get our brains ready for learning. We do the Mystery Bag at this time too. The children are very good at asking open-ended questions to narrow down what could be inside the bag.

9:10 - Reading. We begin reading with a shared Big Book. During this time, teachers models what a good reader sounds like. The teacher prompts children to think about the structure of the text, the language used, the function of the surface features, and together we enjoy a shared story. After this, the teachers read with children in small groups, and when they are not with a teacher they are doing activities that link to the Big Book, practise spelling, select texts from their group boxes to read, and do other literacy-related activities.




10:00 - Handwriting. Our handwriting programme sees some children writing on whiteboards, while some write in books. Bounce and Skip pay careful attention during this time to spot children with great body posture, pencil grip, the correct formation of letters and their concentration and effort. 




10:20 - Morning Tea Snack

10:30 - Morning Tea Play

10:50 - The bell rings, and children return to their homespaces for phonics. Following this, we begin writing. This often involves shared writing, in which the teacher and the children co-construct a text. The teacher also records key words and ideas on the whiteboard for children to refer to. All children do a picture plan in their book to get them thinking about their story. Many children use alphabet, word and blend cards to support them in the crafting of their writing.


11:40 - Maths. We teach Maths collaboratively (Amber & Lisa / Katie & Charlotte). We begin each maths session with a warm-up/hot-spot to switch our brain into maths mode. Two days per week see children involved in small group instruction with a teacher and independent activities that support children with their next steps in mathematics. We have two inquiry days, where children work with a maths buddy to solve open-ended inquiry maths questions. We have a concept day once a week, where we focus in on one particular aspect of mathematics, for example, subtraction or fractions and do a range of activities related to this.

12:20 - Brain Break. This is a chance to move, drink, have a toilet stop and have a snack. Teachers usually read a novel or picture book to the children during this time.

12:40 - Lunch Play

1:20 - The bell rings and children line up to wash their hands with soap and water. They then meet their homegroup teacher in their home space to do the roll and have some quiet, supervised eating time together. After this, we collect our bags from the cubbies and pack our lunchboxes, drink bottles, jerseys and reading folders. 

2:00 - We meet in the pathway to hear our Discovery options for the afternoon. Popular choices often include construction, drawing, making, outside play, craft, drama, quiet reading and board games. This is a lovely time of the day for children to connect with their friends across the hub and spend time working together and immersing themselves in learning through play.















Dates to Note

Monday 31st August - Staff Only Day

Friday 4th September - Wacky Hair Day. This is to support the Child Cancer Foundation. Children can come to school in mufti and wear a wig, hat, or have wacky hair.

Looking Ahead: TERM 4

Next term we have three significant events booked: whole school athletics, water safety lessons and a trip to Rapaki Marae. At level 2 these events can take place, although our wholes school athletics at Level 2 would not include spectators.  

Sandy is planning to send out a parent/caregivers survey regarding these and other events (eg Year 5/6 camp) very soon. Please do look out for it. 









Kahikatea Newsletter, Term 3, Week 4

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Level 2 in Team Kahikatea

Kia ora whānau, 
Thank you for keeping up with all the information coming at short notice to your inboxes. It is a changeable situation so we appreciate that you make time to remain aware of the information school is sharing. The school Facebook page is an excellent way to keep up to date. 
Our hand washing, sanitizing and surface cleaning routines will be stepped back up to the gold standard again, immediately.
Unless it is an emergency, we are asking everyone who is not staff, itinerant teachers or students to stay off site - this means a return to dropping off and picking up at the gate. We will have teachers at the gates to support children to transition into school.

If you do have to come on site for any reason, please visit the office FIRST and sign in using either our digital sign-in register or the paper register. Please ALSO use the national COVID Tracer App to register by scanning a QR code on one of our entry doors. If your child is unwell, please keep them at home.

Assembly will be cancelled, however BOOK CHARACTER DAY on Friday will still go ahead. If you have a meeting booked with a member of staff, they will be in contact with you to either reschedule this, or book it via a ZOOM.
As we did at Alert Level 2 last time, the CSM Outreach music lessons and band program will continue at school, with distancing as required.


Recent Highlights in Team Kahikatea

Wellbeing 
We have spent this week learning about some of the key elements of wellbeing, and practised some new strategies to help us stay well. Teachers used a beautiful range of new books purchased by Anne, our librarian. The books cover the following areas, and children enjoyed reading and then practising the following: 
* Mindfulness - a mindfulness grounding activity, with Charlotte & Lisa
* Yoga - learning some new animal and other poses with Amber and Lisa
* Emotions - discussing and drawing about different emotions with Katie
* Resilience and recovery with Jules


Readathon
We are thrilled to see so many of our tamariki reading everyday and supporting this fundraising event for our PTA. Forms and money are due next Friday 21st August. Thanks so much for your support!
Thanks to all of you who are supporting children with reading and completing their regular book logs. We've had an extra focus on this, with certificates and celebrations for number of books or nights a child reads. The children have shown greater engagement and eagerness to read, which is helping them cement their learning. 


Beckenham's 'Got Talent' Talent Quest 
We have some students who have shown "We Love Challenge" by putting themselves forward to audition a variety of acts for Beckenham's Got Talent. Please check with your children, they can tell you if they are planning to participate in this. 

Star Writing 
The Sea by Hannah 
The sea is very beautiful, but if we put rubbish in the sea the animals will die and they will run out of food. And plants will die too. Then the sea won't be so beautiful. And the worst thing is that animals will also get sick and we do not want that. So we need to save the earth. We are the ones to do it. Let's save the sea and have fun too. The earth can be cared for too. We can try to help the environment and to save our home and our land for you and me. Everyone can help by telling people to do small things and it will make a big difference and soon a lot of people will be helping too. Stop littering so that animals don't have to die and the planet will be in peace. We should tidy up the beaches and planet so that it will be easier to save our home and land for the Earth so that we are safe. We need to be kind to animals.

Discovery - We Get There Together!


























Kahikatea Year 1-3 Newsletter Term 3 Week 2

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Welcome Back!
We are back into our school routines and are loving the support you are providing to your child/children during drop off and pick up times. We will continue to have one of our teachers at the main entrance on Sandwich Road to meet you and your child/children every morning. 
Teachers are in meetings 4x a week and these generally start at 3.15pm. If you do need to share information or catch up with your child/children's teacher do email them and you can make a time to meet if needed. 
katie.mcfarlane@beckenham.school.nz
charlotte.verity@beckenham.school.nz
jules.may@beckenham.school.nz
amber.donovan@beckenham.school.nz
lisa.griffith@beckenham.school.nz

Sydenham Cricket Club Visit
On Thursday 30th July our friends from Sydenham Cricket came to give our tamariki the opportunity to learn some batting and fielding skills. Information has been sent home should your child wish to learn more or join a team. 










Ukelele & Recorder for Year 3 Students in Kahikatea
On Tuesday our Year 3 children are joining the Year 3/4 students in Kowhai to learn recorder or ukulele (they will have the opportunity to learn both). Thanks to the Kowhai teachers for supporting our tamariki at this time. If your child would like to bring their own recorder, then you can find these for about $13-$15 dollars from the music store Rockshop, or you could have a look at The Warehouse as well.
If you do choose to bring your own recorder in, please make sure it is clearly named.





Discovery/Learning Through Play
We are still very grateful to receive donations of boxes. Our discovery time is now in the afternoon and our students are encouraged to explore new learning independently or in collaboration with their peers or with a teacher. 
We are looking for: 
Any old jars (jam, relish or otherwise!) anyone cares to donate...sturdy plastic containers like vegemite jars are also great. 












Readathon
This Friday your child/children will be bringing home their Readathon card. The final return date for this is 21st August, NOT 14th August. Apologies for this error. 
Thank you for you support of this important event. 


Hillview Cross Country 
During Level 3 the decision was made that our school was not going to attend the inter-school event. We have now been informed that they are going ahead with the event on the 4th of August. Our tamariki will not be attending, but if you would like your child to attend as an individual then please contact your child's teacher and they will pass the relevant information on to you.  You will need to make your own arrangements if your decide to attend.  










Kahikatea Newsletter Term 2 Week 12

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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

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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.