Principal's Update
Kia ora koutou
At Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto, our focus is not only on academic achievement, but also on developing the key competencies that prepare our ākonga/students for success in life. We know that strong literacy and numeracy foundations are important, but just as vital are the skills of problem solving, resilience, collaboration, and confidence in new learning situations.
This week has provided some excellent opportunities to grow those life-long skills in real and meaningful ways. Our Year 5/6 team has been involved in Cycle Safety, a programme facilitated by Christchurch City Council. Through this experience, our ākonga/students are not only learning how to ride safely in our community, but also developing responsibility, decision-making, and confidence - competencies that will serve them well beyond the classroom.
We have also launched our Keeping Ourselves Safe programme, supported by our Community Constable, Meg. This important initiative helps our ākonga/students understand how to make safe choices, build positive relationships, and feel empowered in different situations. These lessons, alongside their daily classroom learning, are all part of equipping our ākonga/students with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive both now and in the future.
Board Elections
Our Board of Trustees elections are now underway, and we are really encouraged to see that already 20% of our community has placed their vote. Thank you to those who have already taken part in this important process.
The voting process is simple and straightforward - you will have received a reminder email this week with everything you need to cast your vote. It would be fantastic to see a significant proportion of our whānau/families engaging in the elections, as your voice and participation help shape the direction of our kura.
Strong community representation on the Board ensures that the decisions guiding our school reflect the values, aspirations, and priorities of all our families. If you haven’t yet voted, we encourage you to take a few minutes to do so and play your part in supporting the future of Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto.Attendance and Our School Values
Regular attendance is one of the strongest contributors to student success - both academically and socially. At Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto, our belief is that being at school every day matters. It allows our ākonga/students to build consistent learning habits, connect meaningfully with their peers, and fully experience the opportunities our school offers.
At the heart of our attendance approach are our school values. We know that every family’s circumstances are different, and sometimes challenges arise. If you ever find it difficult to get your child to school, please reach out. We are here to listen and to work alongside you in partnership so that together we can support your child to thrive.
As always, we thank you for the role you play in supporting your child’s learning journey. Together, we are helping our children become confident, capable, and caring young people - ready for whatever lies ahead.
Have a great weekend.
Ngā mihi nui,
Cade
Principal / Tumuaki
Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto
Important Dates
Upcoming Events
WEEK 8
Mon 1 Sept - Canterbury Duathlon
Wed 3 Sept - Mt Hutt Ski Day - Kauri Yr 7&8
Fri 5 Sept - Celebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am in the Hall)
Sat 6 Sept - Sun 7 Sept (Father's Day) - PTA Family Photo Fundraiser Sessions
WEEK 9
Wed 10 Sept - Board of Trustees Election Day (4:00pm Poll Closes)
Fri 12 Sept - Staff Only Day
WEEK 10 - Last Week of Term 3
Tue 16 Sept - Wed 17 Sept - Board of Trustees Election Results Declared & Board Takes Office
Fri 19 Sept - Last Day of Term 3
Fri 19 Sept - Celebration Assembly
Fri 19 Sept - BGT - 'Beckenham's Got Talent' Show
WEEK 1 - First Week of Term 4
Mon 6 Oct - First Day of Term 4
Fri 10 Oct - Welcome Assembly (9:10-9:40am in the Hall)
WEEK 3
Wed 22 Oct - Thu 23 Oct - Huxster Mountain Biking Event
Wed 22 Oct - PTA Meeting (7:30-9:30pm)
WEEK 4
Mon 27 Oct - Labour Day - School Closed
Wed 29 Oct - Board of Trustees Meeting (5:30-7:30pm)
Fri 30 Oct - Athletics Day
WEEK 6
Thu 13 Nov - Staff Only Day
Fri 14 Nov - Canterbury Anniversary Day - School Closed
Citizen of the Week
Hanna - Year 8
Hanna, you approach every task with a positive, can-do attitude that uplifts those around you and creates an encouraging environment. Your sense of humour brings warmth and lightness to even the busiest days, making it easy for others to feel at ease in your presence. Your hardworking nature shines through in everything you do. You set a strong example through both your attitude and your actions. The impact you have doesn’t go unnoticed. Whaowhia te kete mātauranga, Hanna.
Archer - Year 6
Archer, you are positive, thoughtful and a good friend to many. You are a conscientious student who always gives your best effort in all learning tasks. You are a highly motivated learner and have excellent self-management skills. Thank you for always demonstrating our school values in all that you do. Ka pai, Archer.
BOT Update
Voting Reminder!
There is still time for you to vote in our School Board election!
We need 3 parent representatives to join the Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto School Board. Schooled have been appointed as the Returning Officer for this election.
You have already been sent voting instructions by Election Pilot.
If you have any questions about the election process, please contact the Returning Officer directly on 0800 VOTENZ (0800 868 369) or election@electionpilot.nz.
Voting closes at 4pm on Wednesday 10th September.
Term 3 Policy Review - SchoolDocs
- Visit the website https://beckenham.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm
- Enter the username (beckenham) and password (pride).
- Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.
- Read the policy.
- Click the Start your review button at the top right-hand corner of the page.
- Select the reviewer type.
- Enter your name (optional).
- Follow the prompts to show that you've read the topic and enter your feedback if you'd like to comment.
- Agree to the privacy statement and click “Submit review”.
If you don't have internet access, school office staff can provide you with printed copies of the policy and a review form.
School Notices
Absences From School
With the ongoing winter ills that many of our whānau are suffering from, it is really important to let the office know, in the first instance, when tamariki (children) are going to be absent from school.
If you wish to provide extra information to their home group teacher, please feel free to email them as well. On some occasions their home group teacher may not be the person who marks the roll, so it is very important to let the office know every time your child is going to be absent from school or will be turning up late. If your child is unwell, please support their recovery and others' health by keeping them at home. If they have had the vomiting bug they need to be away from school for 48 hours.
You can email office@beckenham.school.nz, send a text 021 0279 4107, or leave a voice message on 03 337 1404.
Please note: when children are collected from school, whether unwell or not, they must please be signed out at the office.
Staff Only Days
Please note, we have two planned staff only days on Friday, 12th September (this term) and Thursday 13th November (during term 4, the day prior to Canterbury Anniversary Day) for the rest of 2025. On both days, our teaching staff will be on-site and fully engaged in professional learning, related to the refresh of the New Zealand Curriculum, with a particular focus on Mathematics.
We appreciate our community's support of our teachers' ongoing professional growth.
Safety & Awareness Information
Parking over Driveways
We have received several complaints from surrounding residents about cars parking over their driveways.
Please ensure you leave 1 metre from any vehicle entrance (as is required by law) so that residents can access their driveways at any time during the day. This is especially important in case there is an emergency and residents need to exit their property or emergency services need to enter.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in this matter. We get there together!
Parking in the 3min area on Sandwich Road
A reminder please, that the drop off and pick up area on Sandwich Road (by the bike stands) is a 3min drop-off zone from 8:30-9:30am and 2:30-3:30pm on school days. This means drivers are not able to sit in their cars from 2:30pm waiting for children, or to park cars in this area and go into school. If you arrive early and wait for children, or if you need to get out of your car and come into school, please find an alternative place to park. Having this area just for drop-offs means that the traffic on Sandwich Road moves smoothly before and after school, and this is much safer for our children.
School Uniform
Our school uniform has been thoughtfully designed to be affordable, inclusive, practical, and flexible for all students. It is gender-neutral, allowing students to mix and match items according to their preferences and comfort.
Many uniform items are easy-wear and available at a wide range of clothing stores, giving families the freedom to choose based on their own preferences.
For your convenience, the school has partnered with Mainland Uniforms to stock and supply uniform items. These can be purchased in-store at their Peterborough Street location or online at
http://www.mainlanduniforms.co.nz.
While Mainland Uniforms offers monogrammed polar fleece jackets and sweatshirts with the school name, these monogrammed items are not compulsory.
If purchasing uniform items from other suppliers, we simply ask that they are consistent in style and colour with the school’s uniform guidelines.
We aim to provide a uniform that supports student choice and comfort while maintaining a sense of belonging and school identity.
Uniform - Choose from:
Plain black culottes
Black and white gingham culottes
Black and white gingham dress
Plain Black track pants
Plain Black shorts
Red polar fleece jacket
Red polo shirt (long or short-sleeved)
Red fleece sweatshirt
Plain red zip Merino top
School Footwear
School shoes must be practical, safe, and suitable for active children. Flat shoes in brown, black, blue, or white are acceptable. Plain runners (sports shoes) are also suitable.
We ask that any branding or writing on shoes be kept to a minimum.
Students should not wear jandals, crocs, platform shoes, or boots that extend above the ankle.
Hair Accessories
Plain black/red headbands, ties, ribbons or clips.
Hats
Children can choose either plain red or plain black wide-brimmed or bucket hats - these can be purchased from a range of suppliers.
House Shirts
House shirts may be purchased through the school office for $30. These are not compulsory.
House shirts may be worn on Fridays and designated house activity days instead of the red polo shirt.
Thermals
Plain red or black thermals may be worn during winter terms 2 and 3 under polo shirts.
Jewellery
One piece of jewellery of cultural significance may be worn under clothing. It may be displayed on formal school occasions.
One pair of plain ear studs can be worn. Sleepers are not appropriate for school as they can catch and tear the earlobe. No facial or body piercing is permitted.
Nail Polish and Makeup
Wearing nail polish or makeup is not part of the school dress code and is generally not permitted during school hours. Exceptions may be made for special occasions such as drama productions, fashion parades, or kapa haka performances.
Special Activities Require Specific Clothes
Year 7 and 8 students are required to wear closed-toe shoes and have their hair tied back when participating in Technology classes in the Foods and Product Design rooms at Christchurch South Karamata Intermediate.
Sports Uniforms
We maintain a stock of sports uniforms available for loan to students who are representing the school in sports competitions.
Swimming
Students are required to wear togs or tankinis for swimming; bikinis and underwear are not permitted.
Gumboots
Children are encouraged to wear gumboots on wet days, and to bring a pair of slippers, or suitable inside shoes, to change into in the classroom.
Second Hand Uniform
An extensive range of reasonably priced second-hand uniform items is available through our School PTA Uniform Shop, open: Mondays 2:45pm - 3:15pm and Fridays 8:45am - 9:15am.
Seniors’ Jacket (optional)
Senior jackets are worn only by students in Years 7 and 8. They are available from Mainland Uniforms and are an optional part of the school uniform.
Community Book Swap
Need a good book to read, but can't get to the library? Need a good book to read but the prices are just too steep? We have the solution!
Conveniently situated just behind the admin desk is a wide-ranging selection of books that have either been donated by staff or just somehow arrived at school. This is a book swap, so if you take one, it would be great if you could bring one too, but don't let that stop you if you're short of books you want to give away.
Come and have a look, you might just find that very something you've been looking for!
Kupu Māori o te Wiki
Give these a go! Nau mai te wero - We Love Challenge!
Kīwaha: Karawhiua - this means Give it heaps! Go hard!
Kupu: Matewai - this means thirsty.
Waiata: Aotearoa - Stan Walker
If you are unsure of the pronunciation of a word, have a look at Te Aka (the Māori dictionary) where you can hear how the word is spoken correctly.
BOSCO
BOSCO is looking for new members to join our committee. If you are interested or have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Harriet Takamore via email or pop in when you have the chance to chat. You would be joining a lovely bunch of volunteers who are passionate about the service BOSCO provides and being a part of its future. BOSCO currently has availability each day for before and after school care for regular or casual bookings. If you have thought about using BOSCO for your tamariki but aren’t 100% sure what we're about or how we work, please feel free to pop in for a chat with Harriet or send through an email with any questions you may have.
A trial session is welcome if you would like your tamariki to give it a go first.
Harriet Takamore | Programme Leader | BOSCO Incorporated
office@bosco.org.nz | 027 645 6632
Puāwai - Kai
A new service being offered by Purapura Whetu and the Attendance Service.
Puāwai - Kai focuses on health through food. It's for people of all ages who want to gain motivation and confidence in cooking budget-friendly kai that looks after health.
Puāwai - Kai is a no-cost course. Participation is free for anyone in Canterbury who wants to improve their health of the health of their whānau.
Click on the
link here for more information, great recipes, and to register for the course.
Cantamath Success
Last Wednesday we had two teams competing at the annual Cantamath competition, solving 20 challenging maths problems over an intense 30 minute period. Our Year 7 team scored 75 points, coming in the top 15 of a 85-90 team field. The Year 8s came in 10th= with a score of 90 points. A fabulous result for both teams. We also had a large number of entries in the projects competition, with at least half of our entries being awarded Highly Commended or Excellence awards.
Sports News
NZ Schools Cycling National Championships
Zach, a year 7 at our kura, placed 1st in the U13 boys championships time trial and criterium races at the NZ Schools Cycling National Championships recently. He won all 4 stages (time trail, criterium, hill climb and road race) and thus the overall and sprint and climbing jerseys. A massive achievement!
Gymnastics Success
Vienna, a Year 6 at our kura, placed 1st in a rhythmic gymnastics junior competition at Ara Recreation Centre on Saturday, 16th August. Olympia Gymnastics and Delta Gymnastics hosted this event. This was Vienna's first competition and there are two more in the next month. Ka mau te wehi, Vienna!
PTA News
Family Photo PTA Fundraiser
There is still time to book a fabulous family photo!
Click here to book an appointment on the 6th or 7th September (Father’s Day) and have a family photo taken by Megan Cozzone of Green Melon Photography. For $25 you get a 10-15 minute family photo session and a 10”x13” (253mmx330mm) studio quality, colour or black & white, family portrait, normally valued at $60.00. The full $25 fee comes back to the school PTA.
During your session Megan will arrange a date to come back and view your photos. In addition to your 10”x 13” Family Portrait fundraiser, you can choose from an additional selection of prints or digital copies from each family sitting. There is no obligation for families to purchase these additional prints.
To book a session please
complete this form and transfer $25 to the PTA account (Beckenham School PTA, account no. 12-3148-0244558-00) before 31st August.
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Shortage of school polar fleeces at the Uniform Shop
If you have any outgrown school fleeces lying around at home they would be gratefully received at the Uniform Shop. They can be dropped off at the office at any time.
Entertainment Book
We have joined up with Entertainment, an app where you can get discounts on dining, activities and travel. The membership is for 12 months from the date you activate it.
LAST CHANCE EXTRA OFFER - When you buy an Entertainment Membership for $70 by the 31st August you also get:
- A FREE upgrade to a Multi City Membership (valued at $120!)
- BONUS $30 Woolworths eGift Card (NZ).
- The PTA receive 20% back.
That means for just $70, you’ll score access to up to 50% off dining, activities, shopping, and travel across Australia, NZ, and Bali. It’s the gift that keeps giving all year round — and a total win-win:
With over $20,000 in savings - from Rebel Sport, Supercheap Auto, BCF, and Shell fuel, to amazing dining deals - you’ll make your money back in no time (and maybe even use the savings to book your next holiday!).
To get your membership follow this link:
Community Notices
(Notices placed here are contingent on space and do not reflect the views or opinions of the school.)
Storybox Drama – What’s On
School Holiday Workshops:
Join us these spring holidays for creative workshops at The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora:
Tue 23 Sep - Call of the Kraken (ages 9–12)
Dive into the mysterious underwater world of Avis and the Kraken with music, drama, and a Q&A with author Heather McQuillan!
Tue 30 Sep - Tiny Seed (ages 5–8)
Playfully explore The Tiny Seed with collage, music, and drama alongside art educator Meg Nicoll. Together we’ll bring this heartfelt story of change and courage to life!
Term 4 Afterschool Process Drama Classes
Wed 15 Oct to Wed 3 Dec (8 weeks) at Somerfield Community Centre:
Moon Mouse (ages 5–8)
Step into the world of Moon Mouse, a shy little space mouse who finds friendship in the most unexpected places. Join us on a magical process drama journey perfect for curious adventurers!
Off the Page: Voices Uncovered (ages 9–12)
Fairytale voices with a twist. Discover the secrets the characters have been waiting to share. Poems come alive through drama, music, and imagination.
Find us on Facebook, Instagram or email us: storybox.chch@gmail.com to register your interest:
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FREE Swimming Have-a-Go Carnival
Swimming Canterbury West Coast is excited to host our next "Have-a-Go Carnival" at Taiora QEII on Saturday 13th September 2025.
The event is open to any swimmer (of any age) who is not currently registered as a club or competitive swimmer with Swimming New Zealand and is capable of swimming 25m without assistance.
Participation is free, and registration is available on our website. Swimmers are welcome to swim in 25m, 50m, kick, and relay races!
Please share with anyone looking to explore swimming as a sport, or recreational activity.
For more information, head to our website:
Beckenham Tennis Open day
This Saturday August 30th from 11-12:30!
This is an opportunity for green ball kids thinking about interclub this year to come along for some pre-season practice.
It is also for all new kids wanting to trial for junior interclub!
Also...
Love Tennis Event on Sunday 7th of September from 10-2p.m.!
Everyone is welcome and it is FREE!
Activities for all ages including coaching sessions and court play, mini games, giveaways, BBQ and more - there's so many reasons to come down to our friendly club and give tennis a go!
Get Colouring & Win!
Download the Love Tennis Colouring Comp, get creative, and bring your masterpiece to your local club on Love Tennis Day for a chance to win cool club prizes – and maybe even a national prize!
- Open to all ages
- Winners announced at clubs on the day
- National winners revealed 20th September
Tennis membership link for BTC:
Olympia Gymnastics
Olympia Gymnastics Sports is a community-focused gymnastics club offering a variety of competition, fundamental movement and recreation programmes.
Our classes are designed to encourage development in movement skills, while increasing agility, strength and flexibility. Brilliant for body awareness and self-confidence, participants develop and enhance listening, thinking and social skills in a safe and fun environment.
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