Important Health & Safety Newsletter, Friday 15 October 2021

Principal's Patch

Kia ora koutou

I hope that you have all managed to get some time to rest and relax with your family during these school holidays. We are all looking forward to welcoming our tamariki back to school on Monday, with a special welcome for a number of new students who will be starting.

This newsletter is to keep you up to date on our ongoing Health & Safety guidelines in this ever-changing COVID-19 environment. We face the new term still at Alert Level 2, and understand that it is increasingly likely that Delta will soon appear in our community. During the two weeks of the school holidays, the COVID situation has continued to be challenging in the North Island, and, as a result, there continue to be changes mandated around the way we all need to behave and operate, so as to keep everyone in our community as safe and healthy as we possibly can. A significant announcement this week has been the new mandate for all school staff to be fully vaccinated.

The information in italics below has come directly from a Ministry of Education bulletin this week. We are receiving daily updates and clarifications on procedures and expectations to help us understand our responsibilities going into Term 4. 

Applying the mandatory vaccination and testing requirements

On Monday 11 October 2021 the Government advised that all staff and workers who may have contact with children and students in schools and kura throughout the country (regardless of COVID-19 Alert Level) will be required to have a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by 15 November and be fully vaccinated by 1 January 2022.
 
From 1 January 2022, education services must only allow those that are fully vaccinated to provide onsite services during opening hours.

This means vaccinations are mandatory for all those working onsite including teachers, relief teachers, casual staff, administration staff, caretakers, cleaners, OSCAR providers and hostel staff – whether direct employees or employees of a contractor. It also applies to unpaid workers, such as volunteers (including parent volunteers) and any members of the community who are on site at the school kura, as they are likely to come into contact with students. 
 
The vaccination requirement does not apply to parents or whānau undertaking student pick-ups and drop-offs, but these should be conducted in an outdoor environment where face coverings must be worn, and physical distancing measures retained.

We will be working through the process of gathering vaccination information from our staff next week. 

As you can see from the information above, we will also need to begin gathering vaccination information from any adults who come onto the school site as workers or as volunteers, whānau included. Our understanding is that this will be compulsory from the beginning of next year. Please do not be offended if you are volunteering and we request this information from you this year; we do not want to have a big job at the start of the school year if we can make a start on it now. Being unvaccinated will not preclude you from volunteering this year, however, it will from the start of next year.

Wearing of masks:



Adults and Masks: There has also been a change in the guidelines to schools on the wearing of masks. Staff at school still do not have to wear masks, but may choose to do so at any time. When any other adults come onto the school site, face coverings MUST now be worn and physical distancing measures maintained, unless this gets in the way of the delivery of the curriculum.
This means that caregivers and whānau will always need to wear a mask when you come onto the school site, and that staff will also wear masks if we are meeting with you.

Students and Masks: Students are not required to wear masks at school. If any student wishes to wear a mask, they are absolutely able to do that.
There has been a change to the requirements around bus transport, particularly for our Year 7/8 students going to technology each Tuesday on the bus.
Students who are aged 12 and over are now required to wear a mask on both school and public bus services, under all alert levels. Students under 12 are encouraged to wear a mask on school transport.

As we have increasing numbers of students in our Year 7/8 area are 12 and 13 years old, we have decided to take an inclusive and pragmatic approach and request that ALL Year 7/8 students bring and wear a mask on the technology bus each Tuesday, and on any other bus trips that the Year 7/8 students may make. 

Sunhats

As we start Term 4, please ensure that your child has a named red or black school sunhat at school every day.



Drink Bottles (no water fountains at Alert Level 2)

While we continue to be at Alert Leve 2, our drinking fountains are not available to be used. This means that all children need to bring a named water bottle to school every day. Please check that this comes home each day for cleaning and refilling.

Staying connected to your child's home group teacher

We appreciate that it is much more challenging at the moment to stay connected to your child's learning and school life when all of the above restrictions are in place. Please email your child's teacher if you want to make a time to pop in after school (wearing a mask) to have a quick catch-up, or to see inside your child's learning space (especially if you are new to the school).

Reports and Learning Conferences

This year has been a different one in terms of our reporting schedule, as we tranistion across to HERO. We expect to have progress and achievement reports to you at the end of Week 5, with Learning Conferences in Week 6 (23rd and 25th November). More information about these will come out next week.

See you all next week!

Ngā mihi mahana
Sandy Hastings
Tumuaki/Principal

Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Newsletter, Friday 1 October 2021

Principal's Patch

Kia ora koutou

Unlike our colleagues, friends and whānau in Auckland, we managed to make it to the end of term 3 at school, albeit at Level 2. Our staff would like to thank you for your patience and support with continuing to drop and collect children at the gate each day and to only come onto the site to visit the office if you absolutely have to. We also appreciate everyone wearing masks at the gate. 

It is currently very difficult to predict what the COVID situation will be next term, so whilst we will hope for the best, we will assume that there is a good chance that we will still be operating at Alert Level 2.

We did have a lovely Celebration assembly today, out in the courtyard with each hub sitting separately from the others. It's the first whole school assembly we have had since August 2nd so the sun and warmth were very much appreciated. If your child received a certificate, their teacher will have taken a photo to email you.

Social Media and your child

We have noticed a significant increase in issues being reported to us at school about out-of-school activity on social media platforms that is becoming increasingly tricky for our young people to navigate. This is not just in our Year 7/8 area, but through Year 5&6 and to some extent, also in Year 3/4
One of the new platforms being used is 'Messenger Kids'. (Years 6-12) This is a new platform through Facebook Messenger, designed to have strong parental controls built-in. However, these controls are only effective if parents actually monitor them and work with their child to help them understand what kinds of comments and messages are appropriate and what isn't.



If you want to learn more about how to monitor your child's Messenger Kids, there is a great link here from Netsafe.

We have also become aware of unmonitored conversations out of school hours between students on a platform designed for 13years + called 'Discord'. This is often a platform associated with gaming, including the very popular 14years plus game 'Fortnite' which we know many of our students play.



This 2019 article "The Dark side of Discord' is a very important reminder to caregivers that 'gaming does not equal safe'.  A useful anaology might be that we wouldn't send our children into the city, unsupervised and let them talk with anyone they met without any worries or fears for their safety. Therefore, when our children are online, we need to assume that they are potentially in a world where they can meet and talk with anyone, unsupervised. Even when they are talking with their friends, without supervision, conversations can quickly take on negative and harmful directions including bullying, sexual comments, racist slurs, threats of harm, and encouragement to self-harm.

We encourage you to use the holidays to engage with your child's online activity and ensure that you have a full and ongoing understanding of what they are involved in.

I wish you all a safe and relaxing next couple of weeks. We look forward to seeing you all back in Term 4.
Ngā mihi nui
Sandy and the team

Important Dates

Upcoming Events

Term 4
Week 1:
Mon 18 Oct - First day of Term 4
Thu 21 October - Year 5-8 Parent Information evening - 'Sexuality and Relationships' topic for Term 4
Fri 22 Oct - Welcome to School Assembly (9.15 - 9.30am followed by Morning Tea for whānau, if we are at Alert Level 1)

Week 2:
Mon 25 Oct - Labour Day (School Closed)
Tue 26 Oct - Staff Only Day (School Closed)
Wed 27 Oct - PTA Meeting (7.30 - 9.30pm)  Dessert Evening - All Welcome
Thur 28 Oct - Year 5 - 8 Athletics
Fri 29 Oct - Celebration Assembly (12 - 12.30)
Sun 31 Oct - PTA Halloween Picnic in the Park - BYO Food & Blanket

Week 3:
Wed 3 Nov -  Board of Trustee's Meeting (5.30 - 7.30)

Week 4:
Thur 11 Nov - Year 0 - 4 Athletics
Fri 12 Nov - Canterbury Anniversary Day (School Closed)

Term Dates

Click here to view 2021 & 2022 term dates.

Citizen of the Week

Otis Yeoman - Year 8

Otis, your lust for learning and fun is infectious. You have an inquisitive and creative mind. We love the way you share your knowledge and insights with us. Otis, you are a kind and loyal friend, a dedicated leader and have an awesome sense of humour. Keep doing all the wonderful things that make you, you!

School Notices

Diversity Group 



Our Diversity Group meets once a week on Fridays in the Kauri Hub. Our current project is creating posters with uplifting messages to display in our hubs. 

Speeches

A huge congratulations to our zone speech finalists. Both children delivered their persuasive speeches incredibly well to a very engaged, socially distanced audience. The speech topics were Gender Equality in Sport, a well-researched exploration on gender disparity in sport, and Why Sport is Bad for You, an ironic yet convincing speech, given by a very talented sportsperson. 


ESOL News

It was lovely weather for gardening this week and Kahikatea students planted out strawberries, vegetables and summer bedding plants.



Kōwhai students worked hard to tidy up and weed the garden under the apple trees. 




Koru students talked about the things they like most about Spring.

Sun hats will be needed again next term

Please remember to hunt out your child's school sunhat in readiness for Term 4. Your child will need a named, plain red or black, bucket or wide-brimmed hat every day next term.

Uniform reminder

Please check that your child is coming to school in uniform each day. We have worked hard to make our uniform a cost-effective and fully accessible option, and we do expect that all chidlren will wear uniform every day. Fundamentally, this is plain black on the bottom half, and plain red on the top half. Sunhats need to be plain red or plain black bucket or wide-brimmed hats.
jumpers or polar fleeces need to be plain red.
There is also the option of the black and white gingham dress or culottes.

Sports News

Athletics

Term 4 is athletics season at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto.

In the past, we have organised this as a whole school event. It is awesome to see the whole school out at the park participating in their events and it is fantastic for school spirit. We know this can also be easier for whānau who have children across year levels. 

This year, Covid has factored in our decision making and this has been the deciding consideration that has led us to hold two separate events for 2021. 

Thursday 28th October - Year 5 - 8 athletics 

Thursday 11 November - Year 0 - 4 athletics 

More information to come on these two events.

If you would be able to support in the running of the Year 5 - 8 athletics day, please email Jenny. 

PTA News

Congratulations! We made it to end of term 3! Thanks to everyone who supported the Readathon - we have had our lucky draw and someone from each hub will be taking home a book voucher to keep the reading going.

Next term we have a few things to let you know about.
We need new helpers in the PTA as lots of people are moving on as their kids age out. Our meeting on Wednesday 27th will be a dessert evening! So please come along if you are curious about what we do and want to know more - or you just want to eat cake!


On the 31st of October we are planning a relaxed Halloween picnic in the park- come along in your costumes before trick or treating- or come along to avoid the trick or treaters at your place! It will be BYO food and blanket. 

Calendar Art order forms will be out early next term! Get in quick for great Xmas pressies. 
Keep safe and have a wonderful holidays!

Community Notices

(Notices placed here are contingent on space and do not reflect the views or opinions of the school.)

Walk-in COVID-19 vaccinations now available at The Princess Margaret Hospital



In response to an increase in demand to get vaccinations sooner, a walk-in option is available at The Princess Margaret Hospital in Cashmere from  20 September until 3 October.
Drop-ins are welcome anytime 2pm – 8pm, on weekdays, or 10am – 3pm on weekends. We can accommodate up to 300 drop-ins each day. This is in addition to our booked appointment capacity.
We are pleased to now be able to provide this option for people who have not yet booked their appointments and for people who’d like an earlier appointment.
We ask people who take up the chance to drop-in to The Princess Margaret Hospital remember to cancel any booked appointments no longer needed.
We recognise that school holidays are coming up and for those planning to travel, having at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine can provide them with an additional level of protection. We continue to encourage proper hand hygiene, use of masks or face-coverings and scanning.

Low Sensory COVID Vaccine Bookings

We are very pleased to announce that bookings can now be made for the Low Sensory Covid 19 Vaccination Clinics hosted by Nurse Maude, supported by Autism NZ. 



The sessions will be held in the Ballroom of Nurse Maude, at 24 McDougall Ave, Christchurch. This is a quiet location with features to make the vaccination experience as relaxed as possible. 

We would like to highlight that family members from the same household, and any carers, are also eligible to be vaccinated – you just need separate bookings for each person at the same or adjacent times.

Also, you can book either your first or second Pfizer dose through this invitation.

If you have any questions, contact Debra or Karen at Autism NZ.

To book, go to https://bookmyvaccine.covid19.health.nz/          (Please do not use Internet Explorer)

When asked, enter access code - B7W7T5BB1E

When asked for location, enter CHRISTCHURCH

There will be a range of dates and times to choose from between Sept and November.

We look forward to welcoming you.

From the team organising Low Sensory @ Nurse Maude

Below is a link with some helpful information to assist with preparation for vaccinations:


Explore has provided some very useful documents that can be downloaded off their website above.

These include:
  • Supporting people through the vaccination process
  • First-then
  • Social script
  • Square breathing exercise
  • What to expect on the day
 Please feel free to contact us at Autism NZ for more support. You can also email us with any information you would like us to pass on to help support you best during your visit.

The clinic is low sensory which includes low lights, less sound, more time and less people, to create a calmer environment.

Debra Lord
LEGO and Social Group Coordinator
Outreach Coordinator

250 Westminster St, Christchurch Park, Mairehau, Christchurch 8013
+64 3 343 2225 + 021 0858 9616
debra.lord@autismnz.org.nz
autismnz.org.nz
PO Box 21273, Edgeware, Christchurch 8143

Walking in Harry Ell's Footsteps 

10 October, 9.30am - 2pm, at the Sign of the Bellbird. Join a walk on the Port Hills which focuses on the conservation efforts of Harry Ell and the Summit Road Society. Harry Ell is recognised as one of Christchurch's first conservationists. It is thanks to his legacy that we have the network of reserves on the Port Hills, the Summit Road and the four rest houses. This event is free. Phone: 03 349 3409.




Jewellery Making Classes for Kids

This school holidays Workspace Studios is offering special classes for kids to learn some amazing techniques in our professional jewellery workshop!
We are running the classes in two age Piwakawaka (6-10) and Kereru (10+)

Pendant Making
Use our copper or brass shapes to make your own pendant.
Learn to texture the metal with hammers, punches and letter stamps, then use coloured pencil to colour it how you like. The final step is choosing cord to turn it into something wearable. Kids are welcome to bring beads from home to add to their piece.

Ring Making
Create your own ring stack from copper/brass and silver in this super fun workshop.
Learn to measure your finger, cut metal to length and texture it with hammers and punches. Then solder the ring into a circle using a jewellers torch and finish with sandpaper and polishing. Students will create one ring in copper or brass and one in sterling silver. They can be worn on a cord or chain instead of the finger if preferred.

**Note to parents** this class uses fire! Please ensure you feel confident your child can follow instructions safely before enrolling them.

Piwakawaka - Pendant Making; 14 Oct, 10-11am, $34
Piwakawaka - Pendant Making; 15 Oct 10-11am, $34

Kereru - Ring Making; 14 Oct 12-2pm, $48
Kereru - Ring Making; 15 Oct 12-2pm, $48



Southern Districts Cricket is based in Beckenham Park, and require a few more players from Yrs 0-8 to complete teams.

Open Day & BBQ  Saturday 25th & Saturday 2nd from 12pm at Beckenham clubrooms. Or contact Cat for more information 
admin@kidsinaction.nz or 0272981031






Our Generation Give participant teenagers, from across the city and the plains, are as passionate about making a difference as we are.  We have been highly impressed by their dedication and enthusiasm to make Greater Ōtautahi Christchurch better.

We are thrilled to share that they have developed a fun way for you to support local charities whilst helping them learn more about philanthropy.

Who Gives a Duck is their upcoming fundraising event, a rubber duck race in the heart of central Christchurch, with a prize for the winning duck.

Donate a Duck to 'enter' the race then watch in person, or via live stream, as they race down the Ōtākaro/Avon River. 

The race is being held on Monday 11 October, 2021, starting at the Bridge of Remembrance.

Brannigans, Jarden and The Christchurch Foundation collectively will match the first $10,000 NZD raised. 

Please note that Covid restrictions may require changes in how this event is run.



Congratulations — the holidays are here!
Any school term that includes a Covid stay-at-home period is a term that isn't the easiest for staff and students. So, we hope you have some plans in place to unwind and reset.

Perhaps we'll see you at one of the Biketober events? Or exploring the city as part of the Passport Competition?

Be kind. Stay safe. Pedal.


Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Newsletter Friday 24 September 2021

Principal's Patch

Kia ora e te whānau

We look forward to Daylight Saving beginning this weekend, and the start of longer, (and we hope) warmer days as we head into the holidays at the end of next week. Please check your alarms and clocks on Sunday night so that everyone is on time for school on Monday!
Daylight saving begins when clocks at 2am go forward by 1 hour to 3am on 26 September 2021.

Home groups for 2022

We will soon be starting to look at the organisation of home groups for 2022. We have not yet finalised which teachers will be teaching in which teams, and, as always, there is likely to be a small amount of movement. We have a highly competent and dedicated staff, who work extremely collaboratively together and we are confident that all of our teachers are able to work successfully with all of our tamariki. Because of that, we do not engage in discussions with whānau about 'choosing teachers'. If you have information you want to share with me about any specific needs you want us to be aware of in relation to your child's emotional and social wellbeing, please email me directly at principal@beckenham.school.nz. We will add your thoughts to the wider information that we consider as we make up homegroups.

Ngā mihi nui
Sandy Hastings
Tumuaki - Principal

Important Dates

Upcoming Events

Week 10:
Fri 01 Oct - Last day of Term 3
Fri 01 Oct - Celebration Assembly (if we are at Level 1 - 12-12.30pm)

Term 4

Week 1:
Mon 18 Oct - First day of Term 4
Fri 22 Oct - Welcome to School Assembly (9.15 - 9.30am followed by Morning Tea for whānau)

Week 2:
Mon 25 Oct - Labour Day (School Closed)
Tue 26 Oct - Staff Only Day (School Closed)
Wed 27 Oct - PTA Meeting ( 7.30 - 9.30pm )
Sun 31 Oct - PTA - Halloween Picnic in the Park

Term Dates

Click here to view 2021 and 2022 term dates.

Citizen of the Week

Andi Green - Year 8

Andi, you are such a compassionate and caring person. You have made many positive gains in your two years in the Kauri hub. Your peers look up to you and when you smile, the room lights up. You have put so much effort into your learning this year and this is reflected in the tasks that you accomplish. Pai ki a koe Andi!

School Notices

Sunhats will be needed again next term

Please remember to hunt out your child's school sunhat in readiness for Term 4. Your child will need a named, plain red or black, bucket or wide-brimmed hat every day next term.



Dental Care during the School Holidays


The Community Dental Service will be providing dental care for children enrolled with our service during the upcoming school holidays.  The clinics will offer check-ups, treatment and relief of pain sessions by appointment only.   To make an appointment please call/email our Contact Centre which operates between the hours of 8am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday throughout the holidays.

The following Dental Clinics will be open during these school holidays:
  • Northcote Clinic, 24, Tuckers Road, Casebrook,

  • Hillmorton Clinic, Hillmorton Hospital, Sylvan Street
The clinics will offer appointments between 8.15am and 4.15pm for school age and preschool children.  If your child has dental pain because of an accident, please contact your dentist in the first instance.

To book an appointment at one of our clinics please:

Call 0800 846 983

Mental Health Awareness Week 27 Sep - 3 Oct

Here are some questions that are designed to help your tamariki and rangatahi (children, and young people) have a kōrero about the different things that make them feel good.
  • What do you like to eat to give your body energy? 
  • What activities make you feel calm?
  • What is your favourite song?
  • What's your favourite animal?
  • What activities do you like to do to move your body?
  • What is a favourite whānau memory that you have?
  • Where is your favourite place to visit with your whānau?
  • What is something that makes you smile?

ESOL Update

Lately, some of the ESOL students have been sequencing and re- telling the story of The Three Little Pigs.


Koru and Kahikatea groups have been busy weeding the raised gardens ready to do some planting.



The Kōwhai group welcomed some special visitors...some extra cute wee spring lambs. The children also completed Spring artworks.

2022 New Entrant Enrolments

Do you, or one of your neighbours, have a pre-schooler turning five in 2022?
Are they enrolled in a school yet? If not, please contact us (or your local school) about enrolment asap. It helps schools significantly with their staffing and planning if we know in advance who to expect at school the following year!
You can find enrolment information and forms on our website.

Ministry of Education - Gifted Learner Awards

The deadline for Gifted Learner Award applications has been extended to 4pm on 30 September 2021, due to the changes in Alert Levels.

WHAT ARE THEY ALL ABOUT? 
The Gifted Learner Awards can be used to challenge learners to try something new, or extend them in areas they're already involved in and passionate about.


Applicants can include tamariki in early learning through to high school students.

Applications can be for an individual or a group of learners, and can provide funding of up to $2,500 per individual or $5,000 per group (to be used within a 12-month period).

APPLY TODAY:

Congratulations to...

Sophie, Sophie, Tabea and Heidi who shaved their heads for Child Cancer - and donated the hair to Wigs for Cancer as well!
They have raised over $2000 so far, and you can still contribute to their Child Cancer Fundraiser by clicking here: https://givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/sophie-sophie-heidi-and-tabeas-child-cancer

PTA News

Readathon

A very very big thank you for those of you whom returned cards and money this week. We really appreciate you supporting this fundraiser.

A grand total of $4230.80 was raised this year!

Listen out at assembly next week to see if your name is drawn out for a Whitcoulls voucher. 

Picnic in the Park

Family Picnic in the park on the 31st of October! We did have our ever-popular quiz scheduled for the 30th, but due to COVID uncertainty, we have decided to change it from a fundraiser into a BYO picnic in the park on Sunday 31st. More details will follow soon!

Calendar Art

Keep your eye out for our Calendar Art Fundraiser. The students have been busy creating masterpieces, which are soon to be turned into easy Christmas gifts! We are hoping to be able to open orders before the end of term - watch this space (and your children’s bags).

With thanks from your PTA

Community Notices

(Notices placed here are contingent on space and do not reflect the views or opinions of the school.)

Rollickin' School Holiday Kids Gelato Class



The classes cater for 8-12 year olds & we share all our gelato making top tips & secrets.

There’ll be a little info session, part science lesson, a video, hokey pokey smashin’, chocolate drippin’, gelato whippin’, gelato taste testing, colouring in and a Free Scoop gift card for their next time visit. Promise lots of lickin laughs.

There’s 10 weekday classes during the school holidays:
Monday 4th October 11:30am-12:30pm
Tuesday 5th October 11:30am-12:30pm
Wednesday 6th October 11:30am-12:30pm
Thursday 7th October 11:30am-12:30pm
Friday 8th October 11:30am-12:30pm

Monday 11th October 11:30am-12:30pm
Tuesday 12th October 11:30am-12:30pm
Wednesday 13th October 11:30am-12:30pm
Thursday 14th October 11:30am-12:30pm
Friday 15th October 11:30am-12:30pm

How to book a ticket? 
Visit Eventbrite. 
or, simply google “Rollickin Gelato Classes”
Tickets are $35

The Gaia Collection

The Gaia Collection is a YES business that wants to help protect and spread awareness about New Zealand’s wildlife. They have created a unique line of wooden earrings in the shape of some of this endangered wildlife with $5 from every pair sold going towards Forest and Bird’s Fairy Tern Project. 

To make a further impact, they have created the Community Collection Challenge. An event running from 11th-17th October, where they are challenging all New Zealanders to clean up  their communities. You can register to be apart for $5pp with all proceeds going towards Forest and Bird's Fairy Tern Project. 

For more information about The Gaia Collection head to their website https://thegaiacollection.mystorbie.com  and for more information about the Community Collection Challenge and how to register head to the “CCC” page. 

Draw Like an Artist

The "Draw Like an Artist" camp will be held at St Margaret's College during the school holidays, starting on Tuesday October 12th and running until Thursday October 14th.
The camp is ideal for young people who have a dream of becoming a published illustrator or anyone who wants to improve their artistic skills.

The camp is non-residential, and runs from 9am to 4pm each day.
The course fee is $195.00, which includes a discount for early registration.
The number of places on the camp is strictly limited.

For more information go to drawlikeanartist.com.

Thumbelina 

Thumbelina is a beloved tale from Hans Christian Anderson about a tiny girl, no bigger than a thumb, who slept in a bed made from a walnut shell with a rose petal blanket. The story has been adapted by Jeff Clark into a delightful play that will be performed by the Canterbury Children's Theatre company at the Malthouse Theatre every Saturday and Sunday during the October school holidays. For more information and to book tickets, visit www.malthouse.co.nz 




Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Newsletter, Friday 17 September, 2021

Principal's Patch

Kia kaha te reo Māori!

Kia kaha’ is well understood in New Zealand English with its meaning of ‘be strong’. We often talk about languages as if they are people – talking about language health, strength and revitalisation. So when we say ‘Kia kaha te reo Māori’ we’re saying  - ‘Let’s make the Māori language strong'. 
This week has been Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week) here in Aotearoa and I have been really impressed by how much more te reo Māori I have heard and seen through the media this year than ever before.

At our kura (school), each hub participated in their own way in celebrating and learning more te reo Māori
The display below was put up in the Whare Pukapuka (library) by Anne, our amazing librarian. 
Our goal is always to make te reo Māori a language that our tamariki (children) understand and can use with confidence. This is a challenge when none of our staff are fluent in te reo, and there is a shortage of fluent te reo teachers throughout the motu (nation). We have a team of kaiako (teachers) at school who support us to upskill one another and make sure we keep our focus in this kaupapa (matter)!
We encourage you as a whānau (family) to ako (learn) together, and to add te reo Māori into your daily conversations!



It's been a week of fairly cold mornings at the gate this week, so a huge thank-you to our staff who work the entrances every morning. Thank you also to our road patrol team who are there each day, morning and afternoon, making sure we all get across the road safely. We do appreciate that it is tricky not being able to come onto the school site each day and we thank you all for your patience.

Enrolments for 2022



Do you, or one of your neighbours, have a pre-schooler turning five during 2022? 
Are they enrolled yet? If not, please contact Jacky in the office about enrolment as soon as possible. It helps us significantly with our staffing and planning if we know in advance who to expect at school the following year! 
You can find enrolment information and forms here on our website.

​Toys and trading cards at school

We have noticed an increase in children bringing both toys, and trading cards (especially Pokemon cards) to school recently. We know that all of these items are extremely precious and that if they get lost, or accidentally given away or misplaced, it causes very real distress.

Our policy ​has always been to ask that toys (including trading cards) are left at home. 

Whilst we are at Level 2, please don't bring the trading cards to the gate for your child to trade at 3pm, as this is causing quite a lot of additional congestion at the gate which is already very busy. Thanks for your support of this.



Ngā mihi nui
Sandy Hastings
Tumuaki (Princpal)

Important Dates

Upcoming Events

Week 10:
Fri 01 Oct - Last day of Term 3
Fri 01 Oct - Celebration Assembly (if we are at Level 1 - 12-12.30pm)
Term 4
Week 1:
Mon 18 Oct - First day of Term 4
Fri 22 Oct - Welcome to School Assembly (9.15 - 9.30am followed by Morning Tea for whānau)
Week 2:
Mon 25 Oct - Labour Day (School Closed)
Tue 26 Oct - Staff Only Day (School Closed)
Wed 27 Oct - PTA Meeting ( 7.30 - 9.30pm )
Sun 31 Oct - PTA - Halloween Picnic in the Park

Term Dates

Click here to view 2021 & 2022 term dates.

Citizen of the Week

Cahlen Stace - Year 6

Cahlen, your enthusiasm for learning is second to none! You share your excellent general knowledge and well-thought-out ideas with others in a positive manner. Your exuberance is infectious. Cahlen, you take action when the need arises and this helps the whole hub tick along. Tino pai rawa atu to mahi!

PTA News

Lockdown is over and the PTA is back!

The Readathon has been a bit disjointed thanks to COVID, but let's start where we left off! We will be at the main gate on Sandwich Rd every day next week collecting any cards that have been completed or money you still have to donate. We will have cool bookmarks to give in return.


We will still run the popular prize draw at the assembly on Friday 24th September. Everyone who did the reading goes into the draw, so let one of us at the gate know if you lost the card or donated online, alternatively email pta@beckenham.school.nz or message us on Facebook.

We won't be having the book character dress-up day but there will be a chance to dress up at our Family Picnic in the park on the 31st of October! We did have our ever-popular quiz scheduled for the 30th, but due to COVID uncertainty, we have decided to change it from a fundraiser into a BYO picnic in the park on Sunday 31st. More details will follow soon!

Finally: keep your eye out for our Calendar Art Fundraiser. The students have been busy creating masterpieces, which are soon to be turned into easy Christmas gifts! We are hoping to be able to open orders before the end of term - watch this space (and your children’s bags).

School Notices

Kōwhai miniball T4 2021



If your Year 3/4 child is keen to play Miniball at the Pioneer Stadium inter-school competition next term, please click on this link for more information and register their interest by next Friday 24th September.

NZ Mental Health Awareness 

Next week is NZ's mental health awareness week, 27 September - 3rd October.
This year, the focus is on making time to kōrero through our joys and challenges. Talk with your children about the benefits of talking through problems, and who they might go to.
More resources, ideas and stories are featured here online. 



The model describes health and wellbeing as a wharenui/meeting house with four walls. These walls represent taha wairua/spiritual wellbeing, taha hinengaro/mental and emotional wellbeing, taha tinana/physical wellbeing and taha whānau/family and social wellbeing. Our connection with the whenua/land forms the foundation.

When all these things are in balance, we thrive. When one or more of these is out of balance, our wellbeing is impacted. 


The parts of the wharenui:

TAHA WHĀNAU

Taha whānau is the people we care about, who recharge us and make us feel we belong. Whānau isn’t just our immediate relatives. It includes our friends, hoamahi/colleagues, iwi or community – the people who are close to our hearts. 

TAHA WAIRUA 

Taha wairua is about taking notice and appreciating the beauty around us. It’s about rediscovering things that make us feel awe, hope, strength, unity and connection. For some, wairua is faith or a higher power. Sometimes our wairua isn’t strong and we encourage you to think about what wairua means to you and ways to strengthen it. When your wairua is strong, it’s easier to feel good, cope with challenges and build strong whānau relationships.

TAHA TINANA 

Taha tinana is about how your body feels and how you care for it. Refuelling your body helps you to feel mentally well. Sometimes your tinana might not be where you’d like it to be and this might be beyond your control. What’s important is that you do what you can to nurture it.

TAHA HINENGARO 

Taha hinengaro is your mind, heart, conscience, thoughts and feelings. Just like your physical health, your hinengaro needs to be nurtured. Hinengaro is what you do to stimulate and refresh your mind so you can better cope with the ups and downs of life.

WHENUA 

Whenua is our connection to the land. It’s soil, plants, animals and people – tangata whenua. It’s the earth through which you are connected to your tūpuna/ancestors. Whenua is a place of belonging and it’s comforting that it is never too far away.

Update from Scholastic

"Scholastic New Zealand’s Auckland warehouse is currently closed due to the COVID-19 lockdown.
 
We have received a number of queries from schools and parents enquiring as to the status of their orders. Due to the lockdown, we have a number of unfulfilled orders stuck in our warehouse. As books are deemed non-essential items, we are not able to operate and ship any of these orders to school or homes.
 
I’m sure that you will understand that this situation is beyond our control, as it is for many New Zealand organisations and we thank you for your patience and understanding.  

Rest assured, we will be prioritising these orders as soon as Auckland reaches level 3 and our fantastic team gets back to our warehouse. Auckland orders will be dispatched to schools as soon as Auckland reaches level 2 and students return to in-person learning.
 
In the meantime, if you have any questions related to your order please email bookclub@scholastic.co.nz. Our Customer Services Team are working from home and will reply to your email with an update as soon as they are able to.
 
Please stay safe during the lockdown.
 
The Scholastic Team"

BOSCO

BOSCO’s October Holiday Programme is now open for bookings. We are very excited about the variety of crafts, baking and sport activities we have planned these holidays. We will also be visiting Ferrymead and playing a fantastic round of minigolf at Caddyshack. Pony Parties will bring their amazing animals to visit us and the boys from Cheapskate Skateskool are ready to come and teach us a few tricks again! We have limited spaces available so email Juanita now at office@bosco.org.nz to find out more or make a booking online via Aimy Plus.

Community Notices

(Notices placed here are contingent on space and do not reflect the views or opinions of the school.)

Bush Farm Education


CodeCamp

CodeCamp allows kids from the ages of 7-12 to develop 21st century skills in a fun and action packed environment. Develop confidence & initiative through design, creativity, solving problems, presenting & collaboration. Creating games, websites and apps as well as robotics.

4th - 8th October 

Learn to Sail

This Learn to Sail program based out of Naval Point Club Lyttelton, is a 10 week course that will teach children aged 8 +  how to sail and the basic principle of the sport

The Program starts on Saturday the 25th of September with the option to sail either on a Saturday or a Sunday morning from 9 – 12

The program come’s at a cost of $150 for the 10 weeks and this includes boat hire.

A wetsuit, warm clothes that will get wet and a lifejacket are necessary

For further details and registration please go to




We also have on offer our school program running from the 11th – 14th of October for anyone who wants to give sailing a try


 Write Like an Author - Holiday Writing Camp

Learn to write stories like a published author, with a published author!

Write Like an Author is the internationally acclaimed writing course for students aged 8-14 that shows you how to write stories the way authors do.

On a three-day, school holiday writing camp, award-winning author Maria GIll will take you on a journey of fun and discovery, learning how to create, develop and write awesome stories, guiding you every step of the way.

The course has been developed by international award winning author and writing coach Brian Falkner and proven for over a decade in classrooms in Australia, New Zealand and the USA.

The cost of the three day camp is $195 at the early-bird price.




Act2 Drama Group Auditions

Studio One Performing Arts

Your local dance school, is currently giving Ballet, Jazz and Contemporary lessons in your area. The school’s director is teacher, choreographer & ex-ballet dancer Patricia Paul A.R.A.D. (London). Ballet lessons from 3 years through to Advanced, and all levels in Jazz and Contemporary starting from age 7. For all enquiries please phone 372-9191 or email info@studioone.co.nz

Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Newsletter, Friday 10 September, 2021

Principal's Patch

Kia ora koutou

We were so thrilled to see all the children back at school yesterday and today. In fact, yesterday we only had 17 children absent out of 508 - a better attendance rate than usual for this time of the year! We had seven new children start school yesterday and today - a very special welcome to them, and their whānau.

Thank you to all of our whānau who have supported the dropping off and collecting of children at the gate each day. This will continue whilst we are at Level 2. The children were well prepared yesterday and even our newest students managed this very successfully. As of today, all of the Chromebooks that we loaned out have been returned - thank you very much for that.

Whilst we can't have whānau on site at the moment, it doesn't mean that you can't talk with your child's teachers. If you would like to talk to a teacher, please email the teacher or email the office (office@beckenham.school.nz) and they will be happy to call you back.

With only three weeks left of this term, teachers will be doing quite a bit of assessment over the next three weeks, in preparation for report writing from the start of Term 4. We expect to have reports out to you (via HERO for the first time) at the end of Week 5, and we will be offering Learning Conferences during Week 6 (23rd and 25th November).

Best wishes for the first weekend at Level 2 - whatever that allows you and your family to do!
Ngā mihi nui

Sandy Hastings
Tumuaki - Principal

Important Dates

Upcoming Events

Week 8:
Thu 16 Sep - Board of Trustees' meeting (5.30 - 7.30pm)

Week 9:
Wed 22 Sep - PTA meeting (7.30 - 9.30pm)

Week 10:
Fri 01 Oct - Last day of Term 3
Fri 01 Oct - Celebration Assembly (if we are at Level 1 - 12-12.30pm)

Term 4

Week 1:
Mon 18 Oct - First day of Term 4
Fri 22 Oct - Welcome to School Assembly (9.15 - 9.30am followed by Morning Tea for whānau)

Term Dates

Click here to view 2021 & 2022 term dates.

Citizen of the Week

Poppy Holton - Year 3

Poppy, you are an enthusiastic learner. You always show initiative and are willing to give it a go with everything you have been asked to do. You are also kind and caring to other members of Kōwhai hub as you make sure no one ever feels left out. We are so delighted to have you in Kōwhai this year, ka rawe!

School Notices

Lunch Ordering


Community Dental Van



Ministry of Education - Gifted Learner Awards

WHAT ARE THEY ALL ABOUT? 
The Gifted Learner Awards can be used to challenge learners to try something new, or extend them in areas they're already involved in and passionate about.
Applicants can include tamariki in early learning through to high school students. 
Applications can be for an individual or a group of learners, and can provide funding of up to $2,500 per individual or $5,000 per group (to be used within a 12-month period). 
APPLY TODAY: (Applications close at 4pm on 30 September 2021)

It's Māori Language Week next week!

Huatau | Ideas
Click this link to see some things you can do for your Māori Language Moment. It could be as easy as greeting everyone you see with 'kia ora', starting your Zoom call with "mōrena", or playing te reo Māori songs in your workplace all day. How you do it is up to you, but you can get started with some ideas linked here! (https://www.reomaori.co.nz/ideas)

Community Notices

(Notices placed here are contingent on space and do not reflect the views or opinions of the school.)

Beckenham Tennis Club

Action Sports Summer Season


If anyone has any questions about Indoor Netball or Indoor Football, they can contact ACTION on:

Ph 03-366 6601

Saint Albans Cricket Club 

I am Hope - Events coming up 

The Gumboot army is anyone who would like to raise money for Gumboot Friday – I am Hope charity.

Gumboot Friday – I am Hope is a charity started by Mike King, to raise money for counselling sessions for the tamariki of Aotearoa, aged 4-24 years old.

More information on this charity can be found at https://www.iamhope.org.nz/ 

Sunday 24th October - Little River Family Fun day! “Top town” gumboot competition, food, stalls, raffles and more! Find the event on Facebook at Little River Gumboot day. Two of the activities are design a gumboot and decorate a gumboot. It will be a great outing for everyone! If it doesn’t go ahead due to COVID, all prizes will be raffled and auctioned off on our FB page.

5th November 2021 – Gumboot Friday Take 2! We would love for you to get involved by encouraging your tamariki to wear gumboots and make a donation.

Vegan Expo Christchurch

Haere-Roa (UCSA, 90 Ilam Rd)
10am – 4pm
Sunday, November 7th

Enjoy great vegan food, watch top veggie chefs display their cooking secrets, learn about plant-based living and enjoy celebrating cruelty-free, pro-planet lives with Christchurch’s vegetarian and vegan community. Whether you are vegetarian or not, you will love the variety of foods and entertainment on offer, which includes a special kid’s zone, bouncy castle and activities.

Eftpos and plenty of free parking will be available.

Kids free (12 and under), adults $5 if bought online now (veganexpo.co.nz/christchurch) or $6 on the door.  


Please note: The Expo will only go ahead if we are in Covid-19 alert level 1. If the event has to be cancelled, refunds will be issued to anyone who has purchased tickets. 

Free leaflets and resources (click here).