Kia ora whānau, 

We have had a wonderful two weeks of learning Swimsafe skills at Pioneer Pools. The children have thoroughly enjoyed learning new skills, and it has been great to watch their confidence in the water grow. Thanks again to those parents who have helped us over these last two weeks. 

We are still planning on visiting the Rapaki Marae on 30th of November and 1st of December during the day. Due to a variety of factors out of our control, the sleepover part of the marae will no longer go ahead. 

We know that many of the children were looking forward to the sleepover part of our marae visit so we have decided instead to have a Noho Kura (sleepover at school) on the night of Friday the 4th of December. This will involve the Year 3 and 4 students spending the night at school, having a BBQ dinner here and sleeping either in the hall or in our hubs. We will have breakfast the next day and your children will be ready to pick up by 9.30 in the morning. 

We will be needing  parent volunteers to help us cook a BBQ and organise dinner on the night and will send out more information about the organisation around the Noho Kura in the next week. 

Athletics Day 

 Kia ora, 

Tomorrow (the 30th October) we have our Athletics Day. 

The Kōwhai timetable is as follows:

11:00-12:15ish - Athletics rotation of Discus, Relays, Shotput and High Jump.

2:00ish - Sprint finals (Yr 5 up - Kōwhai to watch)

2:40ish - House Relays 

Be Sun Smart

The weather tomorrow looks like a sunny day and we will be outside for much of the day. It is really important that your child has their sun hat and has sunscreen on from the beginning of the day. We will have sunscreen at school for them to reapply throughout the day.

Uniform

Children may choose to wear their house shirt or their red polo. 

They may wear their choice of leggings/shorts. Black is preferred. 

Please make sure that children come to school in footwear appropriate for sports, (running shoes are ideal). 

Parent Help

We are still looking for parent help for Friday. Please email Jenny jenny.diggle@beckenham.school.nz  if you are available. 

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.

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