Category Archives: Kowhai

Kōwhai News Term 2 Week 9

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Kia ora e te whānau,

We are quickly approaching the end of the term, and it is a very busy time in the hub. Student reports will be available today, and Learning Conferences will be held next Tuesday and Wednesday. If you have not yet booked a conference for your child, there is still time to do so. If you need any assistance with booking, please contact your child's homegroup teacher, who will be happy to help.

Welcome, Kathryn!

We are delighted to welcome Kathryn Sutherland to our team. Kathryn joined us this week and has taken over Georgia's homegroup. She has spent the past week getting to know the children in her class, as well as the wider hub. We are thrilled to have her on board and look forward to her contributions to our team.

Descriptive Writing

In writing, we have been focusing on descriptive language, using our senses to describe what we see, hear, feel, smell, and taste. We have been learning how to make our writing more engaging by including a range of adjectives and are beginning to explore similes, using them to create vivid images for our readers.


Midwinter Breakfast

Next Wednesday, the PTA will be hosting a Midwinter Breakfast. If you and your children would like to join in, breakfast will be served from 8:00 am. There will be plenty of warm, delicious porridge for everyone to enjoy!


Funky Hair Day

On the last day of term, the Student Council will be holding a Funky Hair Day to raise funds for Starship Hospital. Children are invited to come to school with a fun and creative hairstyle and bring a gold coin donation to support this worthwhile cause. Please note that students are still required to wear their school uniform.


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.


Word Cup Fever

As many of you may already know, the FIFA World Cup kicked off last Friday. The children and teachers in the Kōwhai hub have been enthusiastically following the tournament, tracking match results on our World Cup board and discussing the games together. We have also enjoyed watching some of the matches before school in the mornings. It has been a fantastic way to share in the excitement of this global event and has sparked lots of lively conversations throughout the hub.



Have a great weekend!

From the Kōwhai team


Kōwhai News Term 2 Week 7

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Kia ora e te whānau,

Here is an update on what has been happening in the Kōwhai hub over the last 2 weeks.

Cyber Safety Learning This Week

This week in Cyber Safety, we explored the difference between personal information and private information. Students learned what information is safe to share and what information should be kept private, such as passwords, home addresses, and phone numbers. We also discussed who we can trust with our private information and why it is important to think carefully before sharing details online or in person.

Your child may come home with some sheets to do at home. These sheets correspond with discussions and activities we have done in class. We have looked at making safe choices and have learned how to protect ourselves and others when using digital technologies. These skills are an important part of being safe, responsible, and confident digital citizens. Thank you for supporting this at home.

Descriptive Writing 

Over the past few weeks, students have been developing their narrative writing skills by learning how to plan, structure, and write engaging stories. It has been wonderful to see their creativity shine as they have crafted characters, settings, problems, and solutions.

As we finish our narrative writing unit, we are excited to begin exploring descriptive writing with a focus on the art of writing. Students will learn how authors use carefully chosen words, vivid descriptions, and figurative language to create pictures in the reader's mind. They will experiment with using their senses, interesting vocabulary, and descriptive techniques to bring their ideas to life.

We are looking forward to seeing our students' imaginations at work and watching their amazing ideas come alive through their writing. 

PE Update

Recently in PE, we have been focusing on developing our small ball skills. Through a variety of fun drills, activities, and games, students have been exploring and improving their hand-eye coordination, as well as their throwing and catching abilities.

Students have been challenged to practice accuracy, control, and teamwork while participating in activities designed to build confidence and skill. These experiences help develop fundamental movement skills that can be applied across many different sports and physical activities.

It has been fantastic to see students showing perseverance, encouraging one another, and celebrating their progress as they continue to refine their skills. We look forward to seeing their confidence and coordination continue to grow throughout the rest of this unit!



We hope you have a wonderful weekend!

From the Kōwhai team






Kōwhai News Term 2 Week 5

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Kia ora e te whānau,

We can't believe we are nearly halfway through Term 2! There has been lots happening over the last few weeks, and our tamariki have been doing some pretty cool things in the hub. This blog post will cover a few notices, our writing focus, our te ao Māori focus, and what we have been learning about in cyber safety. 

Notices

School Closed: Please remember Friday 29th May (Week 6) is a Staff Only Day, and the following Monday 1st June (Week 7) is King's Birthday. School will be closed on these days. 

Nut Reminder: A reminder we are a Nut Free Hub. This includes anything containing any sort of nut (e.g. nut muesli bars, nuts in slices, peanut butter, nutella, scroggin mixes etc.) We thank you for your understanding and help with this. 

Welcome to Kathryn

As you may be aware, Georgia will be leaving soon to go on maternity leave. Her last day of teaching will be on Friday 12th June (Week 8). We are very excited for this new chapter ahead for Georgia. 

We are also excited to share that Kathryn Sutherland will be taking over Georgia's homegroup, and will begin with the class on Monday 15th June. Kathryn is an experienced teacher, having taught both in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, and has recently been working at Oaklands School. 

Kathryn will be coming in on Wednesday 27th May (Week 6) to spend the day with Georgia's homegroup as well as with everyone in the hub. We are looking forward to having Kathryn join the Kōwhai team!

Narrative Writing

This term, we have been working on writing narratives. Our tamariki are developing their skills in planning, organising, and editing their own narratives, while also using descriptive language to make their writing more detailed and engaging for their readers. It has been awesome to see our tamariki showing our school kete values 'We Love Challenge' and 'We Love Learning' in the hard work and effort they have put into their writing.

Te Ao Māori

Recently, we have been focusing on kōwhaiwhai patterns. We have learnt what different patterns there are, the colours of these patterns, where we might find these patterns, and we have also been having a go at drawing the kōwhaiwhai patterns. Below is some information about our kōwhaiwhai patterns:

  • Kōwhaiwhai patterns contain Māori history and can be used to tell stories. 
  • The patterns differ between tribes as they are derived from the environment where the tribe exists.
  • The kōwhaiwhai patterns are most often found on the tāhū (ridgepoles) and the heke (rafters), in a wharenui (meeting house).
  • The colours used are red, black and white, and each colour has a different mearning. Red represents warmth, blood, and life. Black represents the earth. White represents purity and promise for the future. 
  • Each symbol within a pattern has a different meaning, and each one is very special to Māori culture. 
Here are the patterns we are learning about about:



Cyber Safety


This week, we have started looking at cyber safety and how we can stay safe online. Our hub has been following a programme called Hector's World, where we follow a set of lessons that dive into the different risks and components about the offline and online digtial world, and how we can teach our tamariki to be safe both online and offline. As well as working on learning activites in class, we will also be sending home printed worksheets to discuss and/or work on at home with whānau. We thank you for your support with this! Any questions, please feel free to reach out to your child's/children's homegroup teacher.


Staying Safe Online: Bullying


One in five young people in New Zealand have been the target of online bullying – it can happen to anyone, and it can be hard for parents and whānau to deal with. Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto takes online bullying seriously and would encourage you to chat to your tamariki’s teacher if you have any concerns about online bullying.


Visit Netsafe’s Online Bullying Advice for Parents to read more.



We hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Ngā mihi nui,
The Kōwhai Team

anna.reid@beckenham.school.nz
georgia.mckenna@beckenham.school.nz
jordan.pollock@beckenham.school.nz
gayle.mcnaughton@beckenham.school.nz


Kōwhai News Term 2 Week 3

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Kia ora e te whānau,


The weather is turning cooler, and the days are becoming shorter. However, there is plenty going on at Beckenham in the Kōwhai team!

Cross Country

Last Friday, May 1st, we held the long-awaited cross-country run. We couldn't have asked for a better day. The sun was out, and the excitement was high!


Our Kōwhai students took on the challenge of a 700 meter course, completing two full laps of Beckenham Park. It was fantastic to watch them compete and their grit and determination were clear to see. Our Beckenham kete values were on full display, with tamariki showing We Love Challenge and We Get There Together. The cheering and sportsmanship from the sidelines was lovely to see too.


A big thank you goes to Kate McGregor and the Sports Team for their organisation behind the scenes, the day ran like clockwork. 


Finally, a huge thank you goes out to all the whānau and caregivers who joined us on the day. Having a cheering squad in the sunshine made all the difference for our tamariki. 













Inquiry Learning: Writing Our Pepeha

This term for our Inquiry learning, we have been focusing on writing our pepeha. A pepeha is a traditional Māori way of introducing yourself. It is used to tell others who you are and where you come from. 


Thank you to all of the parents and caregivers that have worked together with their tamariki to fill in the blank parts of their pepeha form that was sent home. 


At school, we have been working hard to write our pepeha, to understand the different elements, and finally to practice saying it aloud to others. It is wonderful to see the tamariki learning and sharing about themselves.





Eating At School

This is a friendly reminder for all tamariki to remember to have a nutritious breakfast at home each morning. We are noticing an increase in the number of children who are coming to school and are eating from their lunchboxes before school starts. 


Each day, we are actively reminding the children that there are times when we eat at school. We encourage the children to wait until the allocated times to eat, which are morning tea and lunchtime.


Staying Safe Online

The HDCA for Parents and Whānau

The Harmful Digital Communications Act (or HDCA for short) is an act passed by the Government back in 2015 to help people dealing with serious or repeated harmful digital communications. It covers anything digital like text, emails or social media content.


The most useful thing for parents to understand about the HDCA is the way the 10 communication principles define what is good or bad behaviour online.


If you’re ever concerned about your young person (or you just want to brush up on your knowledge!) visit Netsafe’s Guide to the HDCA. 



Kind regards,


The Kōwhai Team

Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto













Kōwhai News Term 2 Week 1

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Kia ora e te whānau,

Welcome back to Term 2! 

We have an action-packed term ahead, starting with our whole school Cross Country event next Friday and our annual Readathon fundraiser. The Kōwhai children have settled in really quickly to the new term with our well-established routines, enabling a smooth start.

Cross Country

Next Friday, we will be holding our whole-school cross country event, which students have been preparing for since the end of last term. Please ensure your child comes dressed in suitable clothing and footwear for the day. Thank you!

Schedule:

  • Year 4 Boys – 11:00am
  • Year 4 Girls – 11:07am
  • Ferndale – 11:14am
  • Year 3 Boys – 11:21am
  • Year 3 Girls – 11:28am

We look forward to seeing you there to support and cheer on the children!









Readathon

Next week, our annual Readathon fundraiser begins. Your child/children should have brought home their sponsorship form today. Please take some time to discuss the Readathon with your child/children. You might like to help them set a daily reading goal and encourage them to gather sponsorship from family and friends. Over the following 14 days, you can record their reading progress together.

It’s also been suggested to set aside a regular time at home to 'Stop, Drop and Read' which is a wonderful way to get the whole family involved. Thank you very much for your support!

Nut Free Zone

A reminder to all that our hub is completely nut free. This includes any spreads in sandwiches that contain nut products (nutella, peanut butter), any muesli bars containing nuts, slices or biscuits with nuts in them, and any other products that might make their way into lunch boxes that have traces of nuts within them. If you are unsure, please read the back of packets to double check the ingredients. Thank you for your support with this. 

Hand Washing

As the winter months approach, we are placing a strong emphasis on washing hands after break times and before eating morning tea and lunch. We have been discussing how this helps keep everyone healthy in the weeks ahead. Through this, we are demonstrating that We Get There Together, We Make A Difference, and We Care!

Fleeces

This is just a reminder that as it gets colder, please can you ensure that your child/children are bringing a school uniform fleece to school every day so they can enjoy learning and playing outside in the colder months. Thank you!

Team Hui

Every Friday at the end of the day in the Kōwhai hub, we come together for a celebratory Team Hui. During this time, we recognise our learning and achievements, present certificates, share any important notices, and enjoy singing together. It’s a wonderful way to wrap up the week, and the children have really loved gathering and singing as a group.

Cyber Safety

Random Chat Online

How do random chat websites work? And what are the risks for tamariki using them?
Random chat websites, like Chatroulette, pair users randomly through text or webcam conversations. The appeal is getting
to talk to someone new that the user would never meet. But these websites are designed for adults and often allow nudity
and other inappropriate content from users.
If you’re concerned that your young person might be exposed to these sites or you want to introduce parental controls, you
can find out more on Netsafe’s Random Chat Websites page. 

Have a great ANZAC holiday weekend!

From the Kōwhai team