Just clearing up the confusion about tonight's meeting in the Beckenham Staffroom. It is for students and parents. Both Year 7 and Year 8 families are welcome. It is not compulsory.  This is an opportunity to meet with the Cashmere High principal and the head of school for next year's Year 9 group.

What a great first week back we have had. Today's Carisbrook sports exchange was a huge highlight. Thanks to those Year 8 parents who have already emailed or sent along a photo of your child as a five year old. We need these for the yearbook, as well as graduation assembly. Hard copies will be scanned and returned to the child straight away. Please read on for other important messages.

Hats

Hats have been slow to arrive at school. From Monday if a child does not have a hat this will start to impact their outdoor learning and play. Please check your child has taken their named hat to school or that it is 'living' in their bag. They are available for purchase from the school office.

Parent meeting for children who will be attending Cashmere High School next year

If your child is off to Cashmere High next year, you are invited to meet the principal and Year 9 dean for 2020 in our staffroom on Monday Oct 21st at 7pm.

Carisbrook Exchange

Today was another one of those days when our tamariki truly shone as they competed and interacted with the children from Carisbrook School in Dunedin. Not only did they play superbly to win each game, but their supportive encouragement of both teams, their use of initiative and great sportsmanship also really impressed us. A huge thanks to the PTA for putting on a delicious lunch for our guests and also for raising the money to purchase the best ever outdoor sound system! The sound system had a great test run, with Henry, Ben and James providing informative and entertaining commentaries for the games. Thanks also to Simon for reffing the football game. One of the best parts of the day was seeing the children from both schools interacting during the break times.

Athletic Sports

This year, Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto are excited to announce that we will be holding our athletics celebration as a whole school event. This will take place on Monday the 4th of November. Years 5 to 8 will be out on Beckenham Park competing in field and track rotations all day. Years 0 - 4 will start the day with their usual school routine and join us on the park for their run, jump, throw rotations from 11:50 am.

Athletics learning is a key part of our PE curriculum across all teams. The children are being taught safe and effective technique as well as perseverance, resilience and sportsmanship. Our whole school athletics day is a celebration of this learning.

This year, all children will compete alongside each other rather than in boy/girl events. This is one way that we are seeking to make the event inclusive to all. Sport Canterbury do have gender-based divisions for zone level competition and we will still be able to identify qualifying athletes from Years 5 - 8 to represent our kura at this event. To achieve this we will run our sprint finals for Years 5 - 8 by gender. Like previous years, we will be identifying a top girl and boy athlete from each year level from 5 - 8 who will be recognised at a Celebration Assembly following the event.

Our athletics day concludes with sprint finals, starting at 2:00. Our whole school will come together to cheer on the runners. The final event is a House Relay, which doubles up as an adults versus children race. With years 0 - 8 participating in this relay, we are going to need your support to make up an adult team. Bring your running shoes!

Long jump for years 5 - 8 will be held at Hillview Christian School, on a separate date, yet to be confirmed.

More detailed information about the day’s programme will be communicated to you before the event.

Kia ora everyone! I hope the holidays are going well at your place. Below are some important reminders and a list of term 4 dates for your diaries.

Headphones

We need every child to bring their headphones / ear-buds from the first day of term 4.

BYOD

If your child has signed up for BYOD, can you please check that they are bringing their device to school every day.

Year 7 Leadership

We have shared a form through the Kauri Google Classrooom (children can access this from home), for Year 7 children to apply for House Captain and Student Council exec positions for 2020. Children have until Friday, November 1st to complete this form. Once all applications are in, there will be group interviews. All details are on the form.

Year 8 Yearbook

Every year we put together a book of Year 8 memories that will be presented to each Year 8 child at Leavers' Assembly. Year 8s need to complete their memory and share their doc with a friend and a teacher for their memories to be added. This google doc has been shared with the Year 8s through the Kauri Google Classroom (children can access this from home). It is great to see some children have already filled in their memories and shared the docs with the necessary people. The deadline for this is Friday, November 1st.

Parent / Caregiver Help

We need parent support with a few events in term 4. Please click this link to see what is involved and fill in the form if you can help.

Year 7 & 8 Term 4 Calendar

Thursday Oct 17: Carisbrook School sports exchange
Monday Nov 4: Athletics Day
Wednesday Nov 6: Summer tournament
Tuesday Nov 12: Group photos, including Year 8 photo
Wednesday Nov 13: 'Be Inspired' leadership event for 2020 House Captains and Student Council exec
Monday Nov 18: Zone athletics
Friday Nov 22: Self defence classes for the remaining Year 8 girls commence
Monday Nov 25: Top Team afternoon at school
Wednesday Dec 4: Canterbury athletics
Thursday Dec 5: Kapa haka celebration in evening
Monday Dec 9: Kauri Production in evening - all children involved
Wednesday Dec 11: Kauri Production in evening - all children involved
Friday Dec 13: Corsair Bay trip
Monday Dec 16: Walk to Victoria Park
Monday Dec 16: Year 8 pool and pizza party
Wednesday Dec 18: Year 8 leavers' assembly and lunch (Year 8 finish school after lunch)
Thursday Dec 19: Last day of school for Yr 1-7, morning only

In yesterday's blog post, there was a request for parents to supply a lunch dish for the Carisbrook sports exchange on the first Thursday of next term. Unfortunately, the link was incorrect. This is the correct link. 

We are busy in the Intermediate Hub this week wrapping up our Choice health unit and getting stuck into athletics. We are looking forward to the talent quest final on Friday. All the best to our finalists: Walter, Paolo and Ben.

Cultural Festival

We were so proud of Te Whānau Mahi Tahi when they performed at the Cultural festival recently.  Here is the official Cultural Festival Video.

Congratulations

A big congratulations to Maddi and Henry who represented Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto at the South Speech Competition on Monday evening. Opawa, St Martins, Cashmere, St Peters and Hillview were all part of the event. Henry and Maddi were commended for the research, ideas and structure of their speeches. Henry was placed third in Year 7 and Maddi was first in Year 8!

We need your help

On Thursday in week 1 of term 4, we have Carisbrook School visiting from Dunedin for our annual sporting interchange. The children will be playing, Ki o Rahi, volleyball, ultimate frisbee and football.  The exchange runs for the morning and finishes with lunch that we provide for the visitors. If you are able to help by providing a lunch dish, please fill in this form. 

Furry friends need a home for the holidays

Fidget and Snowy are looking for somewhere to stay during the first week on the school holidays. They come with their own indoor hutch and supplies. If your family would like to welcome these wee furry bundles into your home from Friday Sept 27th until Monday Oct 7th, please send Nicky an email.