Category Archives: Kowhai

Kōwhai News Term 4 Week 2

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Kia ora, 
What a busy start we have had to what is going to be a very busy term. The whole team had a great time visiting the Museum over Thursday and Friday. We explored Nga Taonga, listening to the myth about Kupe and the Giant Wheke, completing a treasure hunt for traditional tools and had a go trying out those tools used to make fire and drill holes. The students also explored the Moon exhibit and learnt more about Planet Earth and Beyond. Thanks again to all those parent helpers who joined us. 

Key Dates: 
27-29th Oct and 2-6 Nov - Swimsafe Sessions at Pioneer Pool
30th October - Whole School Athletics. 
Kōwhai Athletic Rotations - 11am-12:15ish. 
Relays and Sprints 2pm
30 November - 3rd December - Noho Marae (students going for one night per each group)

Head Lice
We have had a few cases of headlice in the hub. Over the long weekend please check your child's hair. A good preventative for head lice is to have long hair tied up in a plait, French braid for a pony tail. 

Swimming 
We have discussed what we need to do for our swimsafe lessons next week, including getting on the bus and changing ourselves. Please encourage your child to practise:
  • drying themselves
  • getting dressed and undressed themselves
  • putting their clothes in their bag as they go (we suggest shoes go in first) 
  • putting jumpers etc in the right way
The children will need an extra named bag with their togs, towel, googles and (optional) swim cap in it. We suggest you pack a larger lunch and drink bottle for your children for swimming days, as they will need lots of energy. If your child has long hair, please make sure it is tied up.
If you would like to read our Swimsafe Water Social Story  at home, please do. 

Noho Marae
Our dates for our Noho Marae at Rapaki have been confirmed. The Year 3/4 children will be splitting into 3 groups who will each be attending an overnight trip on either the 30th Nov, 1st or 2nd of December. Look out for information in the next few weeks around this. 

 Photos of our Museum Trip 














Have a lovely long weekend! 
The Kōwhai Team - Laura, Nick, Rowe and Tracey



Swimsafe Week 3 and Week 4

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Kia ora, 

Next Tuesday Year 1-4 start our Swimsafe program at Pioneer pool for the next two weeks. 

Your child will need to bring the following for the Weeks 3 and 4 of this term. 

1) Togs (no bikinis please)

2) Clean dry towel

3) A  named suitably sized swimming bag (this will need to fit their shoes and their uniform in it while they are swimming)

4) Fitted goggles 

Caps are not required but can be worn by preference. We encourage anyone with long hair to please have it tied back. 

Please make sure you name all  your child's belongings clearly. 

Parent Help

Thank you to all those whanau who have volunteered to help support the children at the pool. This will require whanau meeting us at the pool because the buses are very full already. Buses will depart school at 

Year 1/2: 11:45

Year 3/4: 12:45

Please meet us at the pool at the following times:

Year 1/2: 12:00

Year 3/4: 1pm 

You role is to assist students as they are changing into and out of their togs. This is a supervising role. We are encouraging children to be independent as they change. The routine for changing is everything comes out of their bag, shoes go into the empty bag, then each piece must go into the bag as they take it off, so that the children come out of the changing room with a bag full of their own clothes, and in their hands they have their towels and googles. 

Here are the following parents who volunteered to help and the days that they can help on. 

Please let Laura (Year 3/4) or Amber (Year1/2) know urgently if you are unable to help on one of these days. We would like a minimum of 4 parent helpers per session. As you can see some days there are many more helpers which is great, and on some days we only have 4 so we need to know that you will available to help. 

Year 3/4 - contact laura.williamson@beckenham.school if you are unable to help on these days.

Tues27thCarolyn Aitken, Sally Wood, Kelly Turner-Gower, Toni Ryan, Kerryn Allan, Natasha Woods, Sarah Henderson, Richard Scott, Helen Johnston, Kate Rutherford, Raynor Kauta
Wed 28thNatasha Wood, Kerryn Allan, Richard Scott, Katey Gibling, Mary Winchester, Kelly Turner-Green, Raynor Kauta
Thursday 29thNatasha Wood, Kerryn Allan, Kate Stallworthy, Martin Barr, Raynor Kauta
Monday 2ndNatasha Wood, Kerryn Allan, Sally Wood, Carolyn Aitken, Raynor Kauta , Kate Stallworthy, Kelly Turner- Green,
Tues 3rdCarolyn Aitken, Sally Wood, Kelly Turner-Gower, Toni Ryan, Kerryn Allan, Natasha Woods, Sarah Henderson, Richard Scott, Helen Johnston, Kate Rutherford, Raynor Kauta
Wed 4thNatasha Wood, Kerryn Allan, Kelly Turner-Green, Richard Scott, Katey Gibling, Mary Winchester, Raynor Kauta
Thurs 5thNatasha Wood, Kerryn Allan, Kate Stallworthy, Martin Barr, Raynor Kauta
Fri 6thNatasha Wood, Kerryn Allan, Sarah Henderson, Kate Rutherford, Raynor Kauta

 

Regards, The Kowhai Team

Athletics NEXT Friday 30th October

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Whole Kura Athletics Day - Friday 30th October

Postponement Date: Tuesday 3rd November

Our whole kura athletics day provides an opportunity for our tamariki to participate in an athletics event. Our PE focus in the lessons leading up to this event is on the movement skills required to participate safely and to the best of our ability. The focus of the event is on fun and inclusion. Years 0 to 4 will be participating in a range of games that develop the fundamental movement skills of run, jump and throw. 


WHEN?

Kahikatea &  Kowhai students athletics rotation will run from 11.00am to 12.15pm (approximate finish time)


WHERE? 

Beckenham Park (near the junior playground) 

Children may wear their house top or their red polo.

Children should also wear shoes and clothes that will be suitable for running and jumping, (running shoes and shorts/leggings are ideal). 

Please ensure that your child has their sun hat and water bottle at school. 

NOTE: please leave your dog/puppy at home if you are planning to come and see your child/children during this time. 

We look forward to seeing lots of you there! 

Teams Kōwhai & Kahikatea 

Kōwhai News Term 3 Week 10

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 Kia ora Kōwhai whānau, 

What a whirlwind term it has been! We have had a fantastic last two weeks of term, with visits from the NZ Army Band and enjoying all our Kōwhai talent show performances. The students that chose to attend the football sessions with Cashmere Technical Football Club enjoyed their last session in lovely sunshine on Wednesday. 

Talent Show

The whole school talent show is on tomorrow from 1.45. Due to limited space in the hall with the whole school attending, we are asking only caregivers of the children performing come along to see the show. 

Museum Trip

Please watch out for another blog post tomorrow that has a letter about our upcoming museum trips on the 22nd and 23rd of October. We will need some parent volunteers for this so please email your child's homeroom teacher if you are able to help. 

Calendar Art

Make sure you have placed your order for your child's Kiwiana calendar art. This closes on Monday the 28th of September. 

Water Safety Skills Survey

Keep your eyes peeled for a survey that will come out tomorrow for your to fill in about your child's confidence in the water. 

Discovery 

With the lovely weather we have had over the last week, we have had lots of children exploring outside during Discovery time. The students have been building, making furniture, creating obstacles course. using Beebots to transport things and generally being very creative in their learning.













Upcoming events

Museum Visit  - Thursday/Friday Week 2 Term 4

School Athletics - Friday Week 3, Term 4

Water Safety Skills (at Pioneer Pool)

Noho Marae at Rāpaki Marae

We need parent volunteers for many of these events so please be sure to email your homeroom teacher and let them know if you can help out. 


We hope you have a lovely holidays! 

See you in Term 4.

Nga mihi, 

The Kowhai Team - Rowe, Tracey, Nick and Laura 

Kōwhai News Term 3 Week 8

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 Dear Kōwhai whanau, 

Another busy few weeks in the Kōwhai hub. 

Talent Quest
We have some talented kids in Kōwhai! The students have worked so hard this term, especially showing our school values of "We Love Challenge" and  "We Get there Together" to get ready for auditions. Last week, Rowe and Laura had the tough job of picking only four acts to go through to the whole school talent show. We are having a Kōwhai talent performance this Friday to showcase all the amazing acts. 

Football on Wednesdays
We have been lucky enough to have one of the footballers from Cashmere Technical Football Club come and take some lessons with students who choose to attend on a Wednesday afternoon. We will have this until the end of the term. 


Next term is a busy one! In the first few weeks of Term 4, we have the following events coming up: 

Visit to the Museum 
We will be learning more about the moon and our cultural practices in New Zealand. This is currently planned for Thursday and Friday of Week 2. If we continue to stay at Level 2 then unfortunately this trip will not happen. We will send out a letter with more information in the next week.

Kahikatea & Kowhai Water Skills for Life 
Our tamariki will be participating in a program of learning at Pioneer Pool. These lessons are based on the principles of water skills and do not replace or replicate the swimming lessons your child may already be engaged in. This is an opportunity to learn water safety.  Our students will have eight lessons starting in late October.

Athletics Day 
Athletics Day is on the community calendar for Friday the 30th of October. More information about this will come closer to the time. We would appreciate you sending your children in appropriate footwear to practice in to school and remind them to bring their drink bottles. We will be practicing for this in the first few weeks of next term.  

Pencils
We are still running short on HB pencils. It would be greatly appreciated if you could send some in with your child. Thank you so much to the people who have already sent some in. 

Have a lovely weekend.
Nga mihi, 
The Kowhai Team - Laura, Tracey, Nick and Rowe.