Category Archives: Koru

2026 Koru Team News – Term 3, Week 4 (14/08/2026)

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 Kia Ora e te Whānau, 

The term is well underway now! The Koru children, new and old, are doing a wonderful job engaging in their learning and showing our school values throughout the day, in a variety of different contexts. 

Cricket

For the last three weeks, Nicola and Kendall's Home Groups have had Dan from Canterbury Cricket come to school to teach us some cricket skills. We have had a great time having a go at batting, bowling and fielding. This week we put all our skills together to play a game of cricket! 







Beckenham PTA Disco

How wonderful to have the disco to look forward to on Friday, the 21st of August! We are very excited and can’t wait to see the children all having a boogie.

Disco Times: Koru and Kahikatea: 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm

Please feel free to send your child to school wearing their disco outfit at the start of the day. If you feel that their outfit may get damaged, please send it along in a named bag. The teachers will help your child to change into their dancing clothes after Big Play.

Teachers will collect gold coin donations at the start of the day. Please note that no food will be sold at the disco; however, your child will receive a small container of popcorn. If you would prefer that your child doesn’t have the popcorn, please contact your child’s Home Group teacher and let them know.

Please contact your child's Home Group teacher if you have any questions about the disco.

Photo Gallery







Reminders: 

Spare Clothes - keeping a set of spare clothes (including underwear and socks) is really helpful while the weather is still wet. It is a great idea for children to wear gumboots to school on wet days. These can be left by the door when they are in the classroom, and socks or slippers worn inside. 

Up Coming Dates: 

Saturday 15th August - PTA Bingo Night
Friday 21st August - PTA Disco
Friday 4th September - Staff Only Day, School Closed

Have a wonderful weekend! 

The Koru Team

Koru Team News: Term 3 Week 2

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Kia ora, e te whānau,

A very warm welcome (back) to you all, and we especially welcome the families of our newest tamariki. The children have settled beautifully, and we are truly impressed with the way the older children are showing such care and kindness towards the children who had their first day at school last week. 

We have a busy term ahead, and will be keeping you up to date with our whiteboard notices, as well as through our blog posts. Also, please make sure you read our school newsletters as they are sent out to you via Hero. Another way to keep up to date is by checking our school website where you can find our school calendar. Here you will find all the details you will need to know, about what's coming up in the days, weeks and months ahead.


Matariki Evening:
Thank you to those of you who were able to attend our Matariki Evening during the first week of term. What a fabulous event, with a wonderful selection of workshops on offer (see photos below). This evening was coordinated superbly by Kate Meder from our Pōhutukawa team. Thank you so much for a truly wonderful evening, Kate.

What's coming up: 

On Friday, August 7th, a 'Scooter-athlon' is being held at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto. This will involve Koru team tamariki running a short distance, scooting around a course which will be well-marked for the children and finishing with another short run. Teachers will take their Home Groups out to walk the course, prior to the event itself. There will be several marshalls at points around the course, to ensure that children follow the correct route. The running parts of the course are in the park, and the scooting part is around the edge of our junior playground and also includes the courtyard area on the river side of the hall.

If you happen to have a spare scooter and helmet, we would be very grateful if you were willing to lend them for use during the event. Please see your child's Home Group teacher if this is the case.

If your child would like to participate, however doesn't have a scooter and a helmet, please let your child's Home Group teacher know and we will endeavour to match your child with a spare scooter and helmet.

Please note that this is a fun event and there is no compulsion for children to participate.

Those children participating will do so in house groups:

  • 2:25 p.m.: Fisher and Heathcote
  • 2:35 p.m.: Tennyson and Waimea

Literacy links:
For our new whānau, please find below some Literacy links which we hope you will find helpful.
Photo Gallery:












Have a fabulous weekend ahead, everyone, and we look forward to seeing those beautiful, wide smiles back at school on Monday morning!

Ngā mihi mahana ki a koutou,
Stacey, Nicola, Kendall and Elizabeth



2026 Koru Team News – Term 2, Week 11 (3/06/2026)

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What a Brilliant Term 2! 

We've had an absolute blast this term! Our Koru Hub has been filled with laughter, deep learning, and wonderful moments of collaboration. It's been incredible watching our tamariki strengthen their friendships and work so beautifully together. Looking ahead, we are thrilled to welcome our third home group to the Koru team next term. Thank you for a fantastic term!

A massive thank you to everyone who joined us in the Hall last Wednesday for our PTA Midwinter Breakfast! It was wonderful to see so many cosy pyjamas and smiling faces sharing a morning meal together.

We want to extend a special shout-out to:

  • Our Generous Community: Thank you to everyone who brought along a canned food donation to support those in need.
  • The Incredible PTA and Volunteers: An extra-large thank you to the amazing team who arrived in the dar, early hours to set up the hall and whip up bowls of delicious warming porridge!
Events like this remind us what a fantastic community we have. Thanks for braving the winter chill with us. We Get There Together!








Digitech

On Thursday, we were incredibly fortunate to be able to welcome Kate Sutherland from Digital Future Aotearoa to spend the morning with us.

As part of our Matariki learning, we explored our kura from a different perspective and reflected on the places that are special to us. We began by wondering what our school might look like from above, like a bird in flight, before comparing our ideas with a real aerial view through a drone flight over the kura and park.

Tamariki noticed familiar places in a whole new way and shared their ideas about where we learn, play, and care for our environment. Back inside, they added their own reflections to aerial images of our kura, as well as creating their own bird's eye view drawings, celebrating Tūrangawaewae, our place of belonging.

We also explored digital citizenship and the responsibility that comes with being a safe and ethical drone pilot. We learned to look out for manu (birds), kurī (dogs), and people in the park, while Kate shared some of the Civil Aviation rules that help keep everyone safe.

It was a wonderful morning of noticing, wondering, reflecting, and connecting with our kura through a different lens.



Term 3 information:

Matariki - Wednesday 22 July

Matariki is the start of the Māori New Year and a time of reflection, connection and planning for the year ahead. We would like to celebrate at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto, with you and your whānau on Wednesday, the 22nd of July, 5:30 - 7:00 pm. There will be a welcome and performance in Māpuna, the Hall by Te Whānau Mahi Tahi. Then Matariki workshops and activities in the Hubs for whānau to make, play and experience together. Pōhutukawa and Kōwhai Kapa Haka will perform in Māpuna, the Hall, to finish the evening. 

Scooter-athlon - Friday 7 August

Next term, our Koru Team will take part in an exciting Scooter-athlon on Friday, 7th August, from 1:30 - 3:00 pm. This is the first time this event will take place at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto! Whānau are invited to come along and cheer on the tamariki. The Scooter-athlon will follow a run - scooter - run format. Students are encouraged to wear their House T-Shirts, bring their own scooter and helmet, wear closed-toe shoes, and follow safety rules. The Year 7/8 students will act as marshals to help run the event safely. Please note: if it is raining, the Scooter-athlon will be postponed. Any changes will be shared via Hero. Please let your homegroup teacher know if your child does not have a scooter, or if you have a spare one you are happy to lend. We can't wait to see the tamariki scoot, run, and have fun - nau mai te wero - We Love Challenge!

We look forward to seeing you all next term,

Kendall, Nicola, Elizabeth and Stacey

2026 Koru Team News – Term 2, Week 9 (19/06/2026)

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 Kia Ora e te Whānau, 

It has been another busy and exciting week in the Koru Hub, with our tamariki engaged in a wide range of learning experiences both inside and outside the classroom. From developing their literacy and numeracy skills to collaborative play, and hands-on learning opportunities during our ponds trip, there has been plenty to keep everyone motivated and engaged.

Our learners have continued to show curiosity, resilience, and enthusiasm as they tackle new challenges, build friendships, and celebrate their successes. It has been wonderful to see students supporting one another, sharing their ideas, and taking pride in their learning.

Junior Park Explorers Adventure at Beckenham Ponds

We enjoyed a wonderful morning on Thursday exploring Beckenham Ponds as part of the Christchurch City Council Junior Park Explorers Programme.

The trip gave our tamariki the opportunity to get outdoors, learn about the natural environment, and discover some of the amazing plants and animals that live right here in our local community.

During the visit, the children became nature detectives, using their observation skills to learn about the different birds, trees, and insects found around the ponds. They listened carefully to the sounds of native and introduced birds, looked closely at the shapes and features of different trees, and searched for insects living amongst the plants, grasses and pond water. There was plenty of excitement as students shared their discoveries and asked thoughtful questions about the natural world.

The Junior Park Explorers Programme encourages children to develop a sense of curiosity and appreciation for nature, and our students embraced every opportunity to explore, investigate, and learn. It was wonderful to see their enthusiasm as they connected classroom learning with real-world experiences.

A special thank you to the parents and whānau members who joined us on the trip. Your support and assistance helped make the outing a success, and we greatly appreciate the time you gave to help our students enjoy this valuable learning experience.











Kapa Haka

We are loving our Kapa Haka sessions with Whaea Cath on alternating Fridays. It is a lovely time to share stories, sing waiata and korero. Cath often brings a small friend with her to help us learn new waiata. This week we meet her little ruru! 

PTA Mid Winter Breakfast 

The Student Council and PTA are hosting a Mid Winter Breakfast on Wednesday 24th June at 8am. Start your day with a lovely warm breakfast with your child in the hall. You will need a bowl, spoon and a can to donate to the Christchurch City Mission. Some teachers may be there to have breakfast too. Please note the classrooms will open at 8.30 as usual, there is no supervision for children to be dropped at breakfast unaccompanied. 

Toys at School 

We have seen an increase in toys from home being brought to school recently. If your child needs a particular toy for comfort, please contact their home group teacher. Otherwise, we ask that toys are not brought to school. They are often a distraction in the classroom and a big worry and disappointment if they get lost or broken. 

Cutlery and Lunchbox Food

If you are sending food to school with your child that requires a spoon or fork, please can you supply this in their lunchbox. We do not have cutlery in the classroom and it is very difficult to get this while we are supervising the children eating. It would also be very helpful if any pouches could be opened a little so the children can access these independently. 

ICT Message

Staying Safe Online: Scams

People in New Zealand are losing millions of dollars to scammers each year – and this is just the figures reported to Netsafe so the actual figure is likely much higher!


It’s important that you and your tamariki know what to look out for to avoid scams. Netsafe have put their best advice together to help you stay safe online and stay away from scams.


Read their scam tips here.


Coming Up 

Tuesday 23rd and Wednesday 24th June - early finish for learning conferences at 1.45pm
Please make sure you have filled in this form to let us know your plans for your child on these days.
Wednesday 24th June - PTA Mid-Winter Breakfast
Friday 3rd July - Funky Hair Day, Last Day of Term 2

Koru Team News Term 2 Week 7

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Kia ora, e te whānau,

Welcome to our Week 7 news, and isn't it hard to believe that we're over half way through Term 2 now?! 

We're loving hearing your tamariki complement each other as they notice our school values being put into practice by their friends, throughout their days at school. We even hear gorgeous stories about this taking place at home too! Tino pai, tamariki - you're awesome! 

The children continue to put impressive effort into their learning across all curriculum areas. Our Literacy programme in the Koru team includes: small group reading and writing (individual letters, heart words, short words at their level, and then leading to short and gradually longer sentences), shared writing (whole class), handwriting, phonemic awareness, Narrative Intervention and a weekly library visit.

Some of the following links have been shared in previous posts, however they're well worth resharing, for new families as well as a reminder for the families of children who started in Term 1:

Please click on the links above, which match the stage of reading at which your child is learning. They provide valuable tips and support for you at home.

Shared Writing teaches the children about the parts of a sentence and what a sentence needs (e.g., a capital letter to start and a full stop, or exclamation mark or question mark at the end, spaces between words, etc.). The children learn about the 'who' (subject), 'do' (verb) and 'what' (object) in a sentence.

Our handwriting programme was a focus in our most recent post.

Phonemic Awareness is the understanding that spoken words are made up of individual sounds. It doesn't involve print, just listening and responding. The children learn to isolate sounds, manipulate sounds, and blend and segment the sounds into spoken words.

Narrative Intervention teaches the children about the parts of a story, for example, the characters, the setting, the problem, the action and the solution (or, as the children like to describe it, 'the happy ending'!).

We love our library visits on Fridays! Thank you so much for ensuring that your child's library folder has been returned to school on or before each Friday. 

What’s coming up:

  • Junior Park Explorers: June 18th (Hooray, and thank you so much to those of you who have offered to help. We really appreciate that!)
  • Reports shared: June 19th
  • Learning Conferences: June 23rd and 24th

Congratulations and thank you:

We would like to acknowledge our very own Izzy Sepie, who recently amazed us all by single-handedly raising a very large sum of money in response to Cade's request for support for those families who might be struggling to provide food, stationery and/or uniforms for their tamariki. Izzy's response to this request for help was to hold her very own bake stall, and all of the money she raised, she donated to the fund which the school holds to support these families.

Izzy, you're a superstar and we say, "Thank you!" Tino pai tou mahi.

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A plea: 
Bali's very new polar fleece (zip up the front) has been misplaced and we'd love to find it as soon as possible. Please double check that it's your own child's polar fleece that was brought home today, rather than Bali's by mistake. Many thanks for your help with that.

All the best for a wonderful weekend ahead :)

Ngā mihi mahana ki a koutou,

Stacey, Nicola, Kendall and Elizabeth

stacey.maclachlan@beckenham.school.nz

nicola.reddecliffe@beckenham.school.nz

kendall.skelton@beckenham.school.nz

elizabeth.drummond@beckenham.school.nz