Category Archives: Kauri

Term 3-Week 9 and 10

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Kauri Newsletter- its a wrap for term 3!!!

Term 3-Week 9 and 10

What a fortnight of amazing artistic, cultural and sporting performances from our Rangatahi. 

Choir rehearsal at Haeata Campus on Wednesday. Under the guidance of Megan Harris we have been practicing weekly as we head towards our big Town Hall performance in November. This rehearsal involved another 8 school as we rehearsed in sections. We had great feedback from other schools about the size of our choir and how well they managed themselves. This was followed up by a performance at our Assembly giving you a tiny taste of their capabilities.  Thank you Megan and Chloe Wilson for your continued work around this.

 



Po Whakangahau Performance at Cashmere High School. 

This event gets bigger and bigger! So good to see and hear our rangatahi competing with other schools in this annual event. A big thank you to Kate M for and Whaea Cath for working with our students and Kate McGregor for supporting the class swap so this can happen. Also Purau, we saw you sneak in at the back, thanks for continuing to support our rangatahi and kaiako. 





CSM Performance and our band at Assembly.

Fabulous performances by Kauri students who work hard all year on their music. Seeing our school rock band was also a treat. Thank you for sharing. 


Koru Games, Lincoln and Rolleston

Big thank you to Kate McGregor for all her organisation! We are super proud and lucky to be a part of this amazing event. Yes, it is about sport but our students learn soooo much more. Sportsmanship, dealing with problem solving (gear and hats forgotten), buses late. Fatigue, friendships  and frustration! Thank you all our whanau support those that can be at the games or those preparing their tamariki from home. 





















And the training....for Koru







Life Education Trust

Kauri learnt about reputation and what creates a reputation in these sessions with Harold and Kristy. We also got a look into Harold's secret room, shhh. 





Speeches, literacy. 

Not only in the public eye our rangatahi have also begun performing their speeches in class. This is a special treat for their kaiako to hear opinions, thoughts and research that our students are interested in. We appreciate the effort that our students have gone to and the bravery it takes to share in front of each other. 

Beckenham's Got Talent

We finish the last day of the term with some of Kura's talent in the afternoon. This is a great time to see the school work together. Thank you to all of our entries. 

Term 4, still to come

Speeches and finals.

Reporting.

A big walk up a hill!. TBC

Cass Bay.

Year 8, memories, photos and yearbook. Graduation and pool party.

Year 7, applications for leadership 2027

Choir performance town hall. 

Kauri Production. 



Enjoy the break ! 


Term 3, Week 8 – Kauri Blog

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Term 3, Week 8 - Kauri Blog

What a busy couple of weeks it has been in Kauri! We’ve packed so much into our days, from skiing and cricket to a fantastic performance at the Court Theatre, our school duathlon (and the Canterbury event), Koru Games training and a visit from the Life Education bus. In between all of the excitement, we’ve still managed to squeeze in plenty of learning, too! There’s certainly never a dull moment in Kauri, so here’s a look at what we’ve been up to.

Upcoming Dates

Term 3, Week 9:
  • Tuesday: Ohitahni Reserve Planting Day (select students)
  • Wednesday: CHOIR - Area Rehearsal @ Haeata Community Campus (select students)
  • Thursday: Pō Whakangahau Performance @ Cashmere High (Te Whānau Mahi Tahi)
Term 3, Week 10:
  • Monday: Long Jump practice at Hillview (all Kauri students)
  • Tuesday - Thursday: Koru Games at Foster Park / Lincoln University / Selwyn Netball Centre
  • Friday: Beckenham's Got Talent
Term 4, Week 2:
  • Monday: Year 8 fun and formal photos
  • Friday: BTKOP Athletics Day

Reminders from Kauri Kaiako:

  • Hats are required to be worn when outside in Term 4. Please take the time over the holidays to ensure your child has a hat. 
  • Year 8 High School - All year 8 students should now be enrolled into a high school for 2027. If you are needing support with doing this, please get in touch with your child's homegroup teacher or the office.
Have a lovely weekend and we can't wait to see your tamariki back on Monday for another jam-packed two weeks!

Ngā mihi nui,
Hugo, Kate, Sarah & Megan


BTKOP & PSC Duathlons

Over the last two weeks, we have had our school and Primary Sports Canterbury Duathlons. It has been fantastic to see so many students getting involved, challenging themselves and giving it their best effort. There were some impressive performances, with students showing great determination, resilience and sportsmanship throughout both events. We are incredibly proud of everyone who took part and represented BTKOP so well. A special congratulations to Zach who finished first overall for Year 8 Open.

Year 7 Open - 3rd Haydn, 73rd Lucas

Year 7 Girls - 11th Jayme, 22nd Clara, 68th Lily

Year 8 Open - 1st Zach, 6th Daniel, 11th Dylan, 20th Ben, 42nd Samson

Year 8 Girls - 8th Laura

Koru Games Trainings

With Koru Games in Week 10 fast approaching, we have already had two fantastic training sessions underway. We are so fortunate to have some incredible helpers and providers giving their time and expertise to help get our tamariki ready for the tournament. A huge thank you to Jacob from Kī-o-rahi Selwyn and Emma from Mixx Korfball, as well as our fabulous parent helpers Amanda, Roberta and Elise, for supporting our teams and helping build their skills and confidence.

The countdown to Koru Games is well and truly on, and we can’t wait for a fantastic week of competition, fun and plenty of Kauri spirit!











He Hura Kōrero: Court Theatre Performance

We were lucky enough to enjoy a special visit from He Hura Kōrero and the Court Theatre. The performance took us on a journey exploring the importance of precious taonga and the stories, people and connections that make them so meaningful. It was a wonderful opportunity for our tamariki to experience live theatre and engage with themes of whakapapa, culture and the things we value and treasure. We thoroughly enjoyed the performance and appreciated the opportunity to experience such a meaningful story right here at school.


Ski Trip - Mt Hutt

What a fantastic day we had on the slopes! It was wonderful to see our tamariki enjoying themselves, challenging themselves and making the most of the opportunity to get out on the snow. Unfortunately, the strong winds meant we had to finish up after half a day, but that certainly didn’t stop it from being a great day. A huge thank you to all our wonderful parent helpers and teachers who gave up their time to make the trip possible. We really appreciate your support!








Canterbury Cricket Sessions

We were lucky enough to have Dan from Canterbury Cricket visit us, with each class enjoying a 45-minute cricket session using the Smash Play format. It was a fantastic opportunity for our tamariki to develop their cricket skills while having plenty of fun along the way. There was lots of batting, bowling, teamwork and, of course, plenty of enthusiasm! A big thank you to Dan for coming along and getting everyone involved.




Life Education Bus (Harold)

This week, each class had their first session with Life Education and Harold. Our focus was on reputation and integrity, exploring what these words mean and how our choices and actions can shape the way others see us. It was a great opportunity for our tamariki to think about the kind of people they want to be and the positive impact they can have on those around them. We’re looking forward to our next session!

Competitive Jump Jam team

Our competitive Jump Jam team have been working incredibly hard over the past few weeks, and today they officially submitted their entry for Nationals! We are so proud of the dedication, teamwork and commitment the girls have shown throughout their preparation. A huge thank you to Kate Meder for all of the time, energy and hard work she has put into supporting and coaching the team. We can’t wait to see them take the stage!

Term 3, Week 6 – Kauri Blog

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Term 3, Week 6!

Tēnā koutou! This term has been a successful and busy term so far!

Learning this term

In Team Kauri, our tamariki have been immersed in a vibrant mix of creative art and rich literacy learning.

  • Art & Design: Students are exploring diverse visual mediums, experimenting with texture and technique through mosaic work, layered art, mixed media creations, and anime-style drawing.

  • Literacy & Storytelling: In writing, learners are developing their narrative voices and honing their storytelling skills, anchored by their reading and analysis of Whale Pot Bay.

This combination allows our students to express themselves visually while deepening their comprehension and creative writing abilities.


Cantamath & Beckamath

Our school’s mathematicians truly shone over two exciting weeks of competition, showcasing our core values of ‘We Love Learning’ and We Love Challenge’. In Week 5, students headed to the Horncastle Arena to take on the fast-paced Cantamath team competition alongside the impressive display competition, representing our school with outstanding focus and creativity. The momentum carried right into Week 6 with our very own Beckamath Team Kauri competition held in the school hall, where students tackled complex problem-solving with remarkable grit and teamwork. Both events were thoroughly enjoyed by everyone involved, highlighting the passion, perseverance, and sharp mathematical minds across our school!


Duathlon & Winter Sport

Our school athletes demonstrated outstanding grit and school spirit during our recent school duathlon event, representing themselves with pride and showcasing exceptional sportsmanship from start to finish. A huge thank you goes out to our incredible parents and whānau—we truly appreciate everyone who pitched in as track helpers and cheered our competitors on with so much enthusiasm!

As we reach the end of our Thursday Winter Sport program, we would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who made the season such a success. A special thanks goes to our school sports coordinator, Kate McG, alongside all of the dedicated staff, student leaders, and parent helpers whose time, energy, and organization kept our teams thriving week after week.

Life Education Bus

During Weeks 8 and 9, our students will be visiting the Life Education bus to engage in an important learning sequence focused on Decision Making and Digital Citizenship.

As tamariki grow and navigate both face-to-face and online spaces, developing a strong sense of personal agency and self-awareness is critical. This programme will support students to explore two core inquiry questions:

  • Why are my reputation and identity important? (Understanding how personal values, self-image, and public perception shape who we are and how others see us.)

  • How do the decisions I make online and/or offline affect me and others? (Recognising the ripple effects of our choices, practicing empathy, and understanding accountability in a digital world.)

Life Education’s interactive sessions provide a safe, engaging environment for students to discuss real-world scenarios, build critical thinking skills, and practice making positive choices that protect their well-being and respect those around them.

How you can support at home: You can reinforce this learning by having open kōrero (conversations) with your child about their experiences online and offline. Ask them what apps or games they enjoy, discuss how they decide what is safe or kind to share, and talk about times they’ve made a great decision.

If you have any questions about the upcoming Life Education sessions, please feel free to get in touch.

Ski Trip Week 7
Team Kauri is hitting the slopes! We are planning an exciting day trip to Mt Hutt on Thursday 3rd September 2026. We are taking a bus and private transport up to Mt Hutt. Please ensure your child is appropriately dressed and present by 5:45am so we can leave on time at 6am.

Upcoming Events: Term 3

Week 7

  • Monday: He Hura Kōrero: Court Theatre Performance

  • Wednesday: Relationships & Sexuality Education Parent Evening - 6pm.

  • Thursday: Ski trip

  • Friday: Staff Only Day (No school)

Week 8 - We Care Week

  • Monday: Life Ed Bus Arrives & PSC Duathlon

  • Tuesday: Cashmere High school testing day

  • Wednesday: Cheese Roll - fundraiser

  • Thursday: Canterbury cricket sessions

  • Friday: Celebration assembly

Kauri Term 3 Week 4 Blog

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 Kauri Term 3 Week 4 Blog

Kia ora koutou,

What a busy and productive couple of weeks it has been in the Kauri Hub! There has been plenty of learning, creativity and fun happening across the hub.

We have had our first session preparing for our ski trip in Week 7, with students getting organised and excited for the adventure ahead. Our Cantamath projects have been completed. The students certainly used brilliant minds, showing fantastic mathematical thinking and creativity.

In writing, we have been creating exciting narratives filled with suspense, action and interesting characters. It has been great to see students developing their ideas and bringing their stories to life.

Winter Sport continues to be a highlight each Thursday, with plenty of energy, teamwork and fun on the fields. A reminder that our last Winter Sport session will be in Week 6.

Our Passions sessions have also been a real highlight, with students getting stuck into cooking, movie-making, board games and buddy activities. There is so much enthusiasm and creativity being fostered, and it has been fantastic to see students sharing their interests, learning new skills and working together.

Art

We have been offering Art sessions twice a week in Term 3. The students were able to choose Mosaics - dry fit and gluing, Anime sketching, Mixed Media techniques, or Layered Art. We have some very talented artists on our team. Here are some pictures of the Mosaics being created.







Cantamaths Projects

Here are a few photos of Kauri’s maths projects. The projects chosen to go to Cantamaths will be delivered to their location on Tuesday. Well done team!



Te Mana Raupō Maths Challenge

Our maths team represented our kura with pride at the maths competition on Tuesday. The Year 8 children came second. They got all the questions correct. There was also a fun challenge after their break. They were given number/letter problems to solve. Ka pai to our mathematicians!

PSC Indoor Volleyball Tournament at Parakiore

Our volleyball team had a blast at the tournament on Monday. Although they didn’t place, they were energetic and proud of their achievements. 



Upcoming Dates:  

Term 3

Week 5: Wednesday: Cantamath Competition (4:00-7:00)

   Thursday: Winter Sport

Friday: School Disco 4:30-5:30 (Year 5-8)

Week 6: Wednesday: Year 5-8 School Duathlon (12:00-3:00) Beckenham Park

Friday: Celebration Assembly 

Ngā mihi,

Hugo, Kate McG, Sarah A, Megan C and Megan H 

Year 7 & 8 Team @ Beckenham 2026-07-31 15:27:38

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Kauri Team Update – Term 3, Week 2

Materials Needed

Mixed Media Art: We are looking for donations of old magazines for our Mixed Media Art classes. If you have any to spare, please drop them off in Megan's classroom (Hangere One).

Cereal Boxes: We are also collecting empty cereal boxes for upcoming art projects. Please drop these off in Sarah's classroom (Hangere Two). Thank you for your support!

Intermediate Open Evening – Tuesday 5 August

Next week, Kauri will be hosting our Intermediate Open Evening. Our Year 8 students will proudly represent the Kauri Team, sharing what it is like to be an intermediate student at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto.

They will introduce visitors to our intermediate programme, the exciting opportunities available throughout the year, and answer questions from prospective students and their whānau. Dinner will also be provided for our student presenters. We are looking forward to welcoming our future Kauri students.

Silent Reading

Kauri students continue to enjoy Silent Reading after lunch at least three times each week. This provides a calm, relaxing break in the day and encourages a love of reading. Many students have been making the most of the beautiful winter sunshine while enjoying a good book.

Math

Our mathematics focus for the first half of the term is Measurement and Geometry. Students have been applying their learning through practical investigations. One activity involved measuring the speed of sound across the school field using distance, time and teamwork.





Students learning about the speed of sound. 

Structured Literacy

Structured Literacy continues throughout Term 3 as students build on their existing knowledge and skills. Learning includes:

  • Morphology (how words are built)

  • Etymology (the origins of words)

  • Spelling patterns

  • Reading fluency

  • Vocabulary development

  • Comprehension strategies

It has been fantastic to see students growing in confidence as readers and writers.


Matariki Celebration

During Week 1, our whole school celebrated Matariki with a wonderful community evening. It was fantastic to see so many whānau and community members joining us to celebrate together.

A highlight of the evening was watching our talented Kapa Haka groups perform. Thank you to everyone who came along and helped make the evening such a success.

Languages

Language groups have changed this term. Students in Sarah's and Hugo's classes are now learning Spanish, while students in Megan's and Kate's classes have begun learning French.

These lessons are taught by teachers from Cashmere High School, and students are enjoying the opportunity to learn a new language and explore different cultures.


Passions

Our Passion groups this term include:

  • Cooking

  • Movie Making

  • Origami

  • Board Games


Smoothie bowls


Students have enjoyed choosing an area of interest and developing new skills while working with students from across the Kauri Team.


Winter Sport

We are now into the second half of our Winter Sport season. Thank you to all of our families for supporting students with practices, transporting them to games, and keeping uniforms washed and ready each week. Your ongoing support is greatly appreciated.

Art Rotation

Students have begun exploring a range of artists and artistic styles during our Art Rotation. They are learning new techniques while developing their own creative ideas.

This term's art focuses include:

  • Mixed Media

  • Anime Drawing

  • Layered Art

  • Mosaic Art





We are looking forward to sharing some of the amazing artwork students produce throughout the term.



Celebrations

Congratulations to all those students who received their Kete Badges this week. Thank you for your mahi. 

Diversity Group

The diversity group have designed a badge which is for sale to Kauri students for $1. Each letter has been designed by a different student. Thank you to those students for all their work on this project. 


Upcoming Dates and Events

Opening Evening for Year 6- week 3, August 5

Cantamath week 5

PTA, disco, week 5

Ski Trip, week 7,  September 3

Staff Only Day, week 7, September 4

Speech Competition, week 9

Koro Games, week 10