Category Archives: Kahikatea

Kahikatea Team Newsletter Term 4 Week 3

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Kia Ora whanau

This term is already zooming by and we can't believe it's the end of the third week already! It is certainly an action packed and exciting term.

Art Gallery and Botanic Gardens 


Hub 1&2 had a fantastic time at the Art Gallery and Botanic Gardens today learning about different types of art and the message they portray. Then we made our own 'Clay Beasts'. We are so proud of the children! They represented Beckenham School brilliantly and we even had some people walking past ask what school we are from as the children are so well behaved. Certainly an excellent example of living our school values.

Here are some snippets of what we did:










"My favourite part in the trip was when we made the clay animals because we got to shape the animals and use tools." Maggie.

"My favourite part was when we got to climb the tree because it was super hard but I managed to do it. I'm showing that 'I love challenge'." Hari.

"When we did the clay beasts we got to learn how to do art and try out new things." Briar.

"When we made the clay beasts we made mistakes and then we could make them into different things." Sophie M.

"My favourite part about the trip was that we got to see all different paintings and we got to answer questions." Cayla.

"I liked every part!" Lola T.

"My favourite bit was when we made the clay beasts because my Mum helped me make a clay turtle and it was really hard. I had to mould it into the right shape." Lauren.

"I liked making the clay beasts because it was fun and it was hard to do." Sophie C.






Demolition Writing

Here are some more pieces of writing from our impressive author's:

School Rebuild

It is big! It is loud! It's a digger... with a claw! That claw is like a tyrannosaurus-rex mouth - teeth! The claw went smash, bash, crash! The boom swung around like a dinosaurs neck!

By Ben Scallan

Demolition

Ahhhhhh! Beckenham School is being demolished by a dinosaur (the digger). He has sharp teeth and ferocious eyes. Thud went the couch into the yellow container. It was soo amazing! I thought it was going to come out but luckily the fence was there to keep us safe. 

By Cayla Digan

Wearable Art


We have launched into our exciting Arts topic this term, focussing around seasons and wearable art. We are starting to learn dances related to the seasons and will be starting to design wearable art costumes to perform to you all in. The team of Kahikatea teachers will be making a visit to Creative Junk to find some costuming items. It would be fantastic if you started talking with your child about what they would like their costume to look like, which season they are focussing on and what they need to consider when designing it to dance in. Please feel free to send costume items from home as well. We will let you know when we will be calling for resources. This is just the planning stage for now. 
We will be having our performance in Week 9 this term - more details to follow. 


Kahikatea Newsletter Term 4 Week 2

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Writing focus

Our writing focus throughout the past week has directly related to the demolition activity which we've been surrounded by recently.

Building Demolition

The builders put dynamite in the building, then ... Wow! It fell down.
Dust everywhere.
by Flynn

Police Station Demolition

The explosion experts are quietening down.
The boy was excited.
The explosions sounded like fireworks.
It slid. It fell.
There was dust everywhere.
The trees survived.
There was some rubble that was white.
Everyone was shouting in joy!
by Ben

Police Station Demolition

The demolition experts have put the TNT into the building, then we heard big explosions.
They blew a hole in the side of the building.
It made the building fall over.
There was a big cloud of dust, then there was a pile of gravel.
There was glass everywhere.
There were pieces all over the place.
by Josh

Breaking Ground 

Some of us made it into school early on Friday morning to be part of the Breaking Ground ceremony. Witnessing the big digger taking the first bite of earth was a very moving experience for us all...

First bite

Discovery Stations 

The children continue to arrive at school with an enthusiastic and energised attitude, eager to get started on the Discovery Station of their choice.
Teachers are asking their students such questions as:
  • Why have you chosen this Discovery Station?
  • What new skills are you learning?
  • Are you completing a challenge before moving on to a new station?
  • How are you showing respect for your own and others' work?
  • Are you being wasteful or caring of resources? How are you showing care?
  • Which of our school values are you displaying at this station?
  • How do you actually know if you are learning?

Word Wheel challenge
Boat building
Will it still float when carrying weight (70 grams)?
Detail of painting
Care and attention at the water colour painting station
Making 3D shapes using plasticine and toothpicks 
Collaborative block modelling
The Eiffel Tower
Working together to create a Duplo marble run


Oh, how we love Discovery Stations!

Art Gallery outings

Hub 1 and 2 children are looking forward to their outings to the Art Gallery and the Botanic Gardens this Friday. 
Hub 4 children will be having their outing on Thursday, November 3rd, and Hub 3 children will be going on their outing on Friday, November 4th.
Many thanks to those parents who have been able to commit to parent helping on this outing. We appreciate your support! 

PTA Tip Top Fundraiser

The PTA are working hard to try and fill all the shifts for the Tip Top Ice Cream sales fundraiser at the A&P Show in November. Please click on this link to find more information and book a slot: Tip Top A&P Show Fundraiser

Hats

Please remember - to keep our children safe during the summer months, we ask that all children wear a brimmed sunhat while outside during learning or play time. This is now compulsory throughout Term 4, and again at the start of each year in Term 1. Children who do not have a sunhat will be asked to play in the shade during break times. Please support your child in remembering to bring their sunhat every day.




Kahikatea Newsletter Term 4 Week 1

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PTA Tip Top Fundraiser


The PTA are working hard to try and fill all the shifts for the Tip Top Ice Cream sales fundraiser at the A&P Show in November. Please click on this link to find more information and book a slot: Tip Top A&P Show Fundraiser

Hats


To keep our children safe during the summer months we ask that all children wear a bully brimmed sunhat while outside during learning or play time. This will become compulsory from Week 2 of this term. Children who do not have a sunhat, will be asked to play in the shade during break times. Please support your child in remembering to bring their sunhat.



Art Gallery Visits

Thank you to all the parents and caregivers who have offered to help for this exciting trip. If you can help please hand in the parent help slip to your child's point of contact teacher as soon as possible.


Scooters and bikes

Please continue to remind your children about walking their scooters and bikes in and out of our school grounds. As we have limited space now, it is highly important that we keep each other safe. 



Topic Focus


We are experiencing a lot of change currently at Beckenham School, which has led us to explore the concept of adaptability. The children will gain understandings of how things can adapt in response to change. This week we have adapted to our new environment at school. Some children have adapted to an older brother or sister learning at a different site by being more independent. We have adapted too, by following new rules about where we can and can't play and by taking extra care of each other on the playground. 

We will be looking at adaptations in different contexts too. We will be exploring how we adapt to the different seasons and our new understandings will be presented in a wearable arts performance. To be successful at this we will work with materials, adapting them to suit a new purpose while following the technology process from design to completion. 

Character Poems

Last term we created poems using language features such as metaphors and similes to help us describe a person we know. 

Gail

Gail is like a panda. Cuddly and quiet.
She is blue. She calms everyone down.
Gail is like a silky dress. She is so pretty.
She is a soft blanket. Warm and comfy.
Gail is like an artist. She does awesome paintings.
She is sweet like chocolate cake. 

By a collaborative group of Hub 3 and 4 writers  

Jenny

My teacher Jenny is like a butterfly. Sweet and beautiful.
She is bright yellow like the sun.
Jenny is like a computer. She knows everything.
Jenny is fast on her bike so she is a professional biker.
She is sweet like honey.

By Oliver

Michelle

Michelle is like a wild wolf. She goes around the school to help.
She is white and silver. She's beautiful.
Michelle is like a fairy. She is smart.
Michelle is like candy floss. She's sweet.
I love her!

By Saxon


Art Gallery outing

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Dear whanau,
In Weeks 3 and 4 of this term, each of the classes in Kahikatea are going to be participating in an art lesson run by the Gallery Educator from Te Puna o Waiwhetu. The lesson is entitled ‘Clay Beasts’. Sounds exciting, doesn’t it?!
Classes are booked in for their lessons as follows:
  • Room 1  departing school at 9:30 a.m. and returning to school by 1:30 p.m. on Friday 28th October
  • Room 2  departing school at 10:45 a.m. and returning to school by 2:30 p.m. on Friday 28th October
  • Room 4  departing school at 10:45 a.m. and returning to school by 2:30 p.m. on Thursday 3rd November
  • Room 3  departing school at 10:45 a.m. and returning to school by 2:30 p.m. on Friday 4th November.
We will need several parent helpers to accompany each class. Hopefully the times which you will see above, will give you a reasonably clear idea about just how much time you will need to commit, when considering parent helping on this excursion. Each class will be away from school for about 4 hours. This time will need to be somewhat flexible as the travel time is an estimate.
The cost of this trip is between $5 and $10 per child and a request for this donation will be added to your school account once the cost of the bus trip has been confirmed.
If the weather, on the day of your child’s outing, is looking inclement, we shall adjust our timing to include the Gallery lesson only, and shall let parent helpers know as soon as we are able that morning.
PARENT HELP:
Please complete the parent help form which will come home with your child tomorrow, and return it to school as soon as possible.  
Kind regards,
Amy, Amber, Dorinda, Jenny, and Gail  

Kahikatea Newsletter Week 9

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Enjoy the break and Time with your Children

We are very proud of all the learners in Kahikatea. Have a well-earned rest and enjoy the wonderful spring weather. 

Term 4

Term 4 starts again on Monday 10th October and finishes ten weeks later on Friday 16th December.
The following are some things we are going to be looking forward to learning and sharing next Term (dates to be confirmed in our newsletters closer to the events);
  • Athletics - Run Jump Throw
  • Visit to the Art Gallery
  • School Reports
  • Kahikatea Production

Food and Water

We have noticed our children having big appetites and as they grow they will need more food. Heading in to Term 4, please make sure they have enough food to last them through the school day including; A Healthy Snack, Morning Tea and Lunch.
Water is extremely important for health and learning. Please send a drink bottle to school for your children to access throughout their learning day. We encourage our tamariki to hydrate regularly.

Sunhats

Protection from strong UV rays is important. Please make sure you child brings their named sunhat to school for Term 4.

Writing

We have been writing poems about special people in our lives. We have used similes and metaphors to give the reader a vivid picture of our special person.

Sandy

Sandy is a bell bird because she can sing like a princess.
She is sparkly because she is beautiful like a butterfly.
Sandy is going to be the princess of the whole entire world.
Sandy is going to be the queen and Sandy will be the boss of Earth.
I love Sandy as a principal
I love school

By Moa

Joshy

My brother is as cool as an eagle. 
Fierce and brave
He is black because he wants to be an All Black.
My brother is like Nike shoes.
He's super fast!
He is as soft as a blankly.
He gives me the best hugs.
He is like a wood cutter because he can make you a radio.
I love my Josh!

By Michaela


Jaxon

Jaxon is like a cheetah because he can run and run.
He is red.
He stands out in a crowd and can run past a cheetah.
Jaxon is strong like a cupboard. 

By Jaimie

Hub 2 Spring Similes
We had fun learning on Thursday with our lovely seniors. Here are our similes we created then shared with their help;

Group 1 - Spring: as cute as a duckling, the water is as brown as chocolate, as fun as spring, as good smelling as flowers, as delicate as a flower, the water is as sparkly as a diamond.

Group 2 - Spring: flowers smell as nice as perfume, ducklings are as soft as a cat, flowers are as beautiful as a butterfly, rain is like a cloud, rain falls down like a shower, sky as blue as the ocean, rainbows are like colours in the sky.

Group 3 - Spring: as blue as the sea, as smelly as a flower, as soft as a cat, as bright as the sun, as beautiful as the sky, as beautiful as a flower, as beautiful as a rainbow, as pink as a flower.





Music Stations

Learning a musical instrument is fantastic for brain development. We have been creating our own music on the glockenspiels during Discovery Stations, which is "more fun than the ipads!"





Asia Awareness

We have created robots that will help someone from another country with settling in New Zealand or Beckenham School. Our challenge with creating it was to get it to stand by itself. This took a lot of team work, planning, discussion and masking tape! We demonstrated that We Love Learning, We Love Challenge, We Get There Together and We Make A Difference. Check our creations out: