Principal's Patch
Kia ora koutou
One of my favourite parts of the week is doing road patrol, especially in the morning when I get to greet the smiling faces arriving at school. This week, we had not only happy children, but I spotted some cheeky monkeys too!
Zone review
A reminder that the Proposed Zone Amendment Consultation process is ongoing. You can access all of the information on our school
website here, and you have until Friday 3rd April to make any submissions.
Kapa Haka Tutor
As you are aware, we are currently seeking a new kapa haka tutor. We have been fortunate to secure the services of Whaea Cath Milio for the immediate future, whilst we continue to seek someone more permanent. Whaea Cath will begin next Friday and will work with three kapa haka groups, Y3/4, Y5/6 and Te Whānau Mahi Tahi in Year 7/8. We are very excited to have secured her support, and look forward to seeing this important mahi happening again in our school.
Parking and vehicle safety on Sandwich Road
We continue to have challenges, particularly in the mornings, with vehicles being left parked for long periods of time in the 3min drop-off area, and with vehicles double parking and letting children then exit the vehicle from both sides of the car.
We have asked the City Council parking team to support us with monitoring this. They have asked us to warn that tickets will be issued to drivers who are not complying the signage and road rules.
Coronavirus and Pandemic Planning Update
As you will be aware, the biggest topic in the news at the moment is Coronavirus and the impact that this might have on our communities. I have met with Ester, our Board Chair, and we have reviewed our planning and are in regular communication about the changing landscape and what it might mean for our school.
We are currently receiving almost daily updates from the Ministry of Education regarding the situation with the Coronavirus and any specific actions that we should be taking.
As well as providing ongoing advice, the Ministry of Education provides comprehensive information about updating or creating a pandemic plan. See Planning for an epidemic/pandemic event (quick guide).
The key points are:
- Follow the advice of the Ministry of Health
- Protect students and staff
- Ensure a clean environment
- Communicate with the school community
- Make sure your contact information is current for parents and whanau, staff (including emergency contacts), and District Health Board and Ministry of Education contact numbers
- Identify rooms with amenities
- Plan for staff absences
- Plan for school closure
- Support boarding students and international students
- Plan for return.
Specific actions we have taken include:
- We have increased our communications and teaching with students about hygiene and handwashing. This will continue at a higher than usual level through the period of increased risk (as advised by the Ministry of Health).
- We continue to remind staff and whānau about the importance of staying at home if they are feeling unwell, and keeping their emergency contact details up to date with the school office.
- We have reviewed our cleaning protocols, in partnership with our cleaning contractors.
- We have reviewed the way we use our Hauora Room and specifically increased the cleaning regime within that space.
- We have begun considering how we could continue to support student learning in the unlikely event that the school was required to close for any significant period of time.
- We have increased our pool of relieving teachers so that we should be able to manage the unlikely event of large numbers of staff becoming unwell.
- We have direct communication as we need it with our local Community Public Health Unit.
- As we do each year, we are currently in the process of booking and paying for influenza vaccine for all of our staff who want to have it, in order to support the ongoing wellbeing of our staff.
Should a pandemic be declared, and/or active cases be identified within our community, we will follow the advice of the Ministry of Health, and follow the Ministry of Education Pandemic Planning Guide (full guide).
We will be reviewing these procedures on an as-needs basis - as frequently as daily if that is what is required in this changing situation.
Sandy Hastings and Ester Vallero (Board Chair)
6 March 2020
Important Dates
Upcoming Events
Wed 11 Mar - Zone Swimming Sports - qualifiers only - more details to come
Fri 13 Mar - Celebration Assembly, 11 - 11:30am in the hall. All Welcome
Fri 13 Mar - School Duathlon (Y5-8) Beckenham Park - 1:15-3pm
Wed 18 Mar - School photos taken by Heritage.
Fri 20 Mar - TWILIGHT FAIR! from 4:30pm
Mon 23 Mar - Canterbury Primary School's Duathlon, qualifiers only. 9:00am - 1:30pm. Ruapuna speedway
Wed 25 Mar - PTA Meeting in Green Room, 7:30pm. All Welcome
Thu 26 Mar - BOT Meeting in Staff Room 5:30pm.
Fri 27 Mar - Celebration Assembly, 11 - 11:30am. All Welcome
Mon 30 Mar - Fri 3 April - Kauri camp in Dunedin
Thu 9 April - Last day of Term 1
Term Dates
Click here to view 2020 term dates.
Citizen of the Week
Logan Maxwell - Year 8
Logan, your love for learning is admirable. You put forth your best effort in every task and strive to be the best learner you can be. You are a kind and caring friend and will help whenever needed. Your diligence and perseverance in improving your learning is phenomenal. You show initiative and drive to do the right thing and help make the Kauri Hub a happy place to work. Ka pai Logan!
Harper Freeman - Year 5
Harper, you are a stunning role model in our hub. You are always so polite, helpful and caring. You are an extremely conscientious learner. Thank you for always putting your best effort into everything you do. Well done, Harper!
School Notices
Mana Ake “Drop-Ins” are continuing…
We welcome our new Mana Ake kaimahi to our kura. Leanne will be running our drop in sessions and acting as a liaison for our school. A number of whānau have already made great use of the Mana Ake “drop-ins” that are available on alternate Wednesday mornings 4 March 2020 from 8:30 – 9:10am. These drop-in sessions are here to provide parents with an opportunity to have a private, informal conversation around the well being of their child with one of our Mana Ake workers (kaimahi). If you feel like you would like to attend a drop-in session, please book in a time via the link here:
Mana Ake booking The code to use is
88t39. Alternatively, you can contact Jacky in the office and she will make a booking for you.
Food at School
Please do not send or bring food into school to be shared with other children. (The only exception to this would be fresh fruit). Whilst we understand that there are times you want to celebrate special events for your children with their friends at school, e.g. birthdays or being awarded prizes, by bringing food and treats for them to share, we have a policy of children only eating the food that their whānau have prepared and sent with them. We have a number of students with food allergies and also need to respect the wishes of some families who want to monitor what their children are eating and prefer their children just to eat food they have prepared. From time to time, there may be an event that teachers have organised that will involve food (cultural or learning activities) and they will have advised families in advance that this will be happening.
Healthy Ōpawaho Leaders
Two weekends ago, we had the opportunity to stay overnight at Rehua Marae as part of the Healthy Ōpāwaho Project. We were welcomed onto Rehua Marae by the kaikaranga (a woman who called us on with a special chant). We learnt a lot about the marae. The patterns on the heke (rafters) inside the wharenui (meeting house) were amazing and one was specific to Rehua. It showed a kiwi embryo - inside the egg.
We learned a lot about the tikanga (customs) on the marae - for example, in a mihi, the reason that a phrase is repeated three times e.g ‘Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa’, is to acknowledge the people from the past, the people in the present and the people in the future. We heard lots of people do their mihi, and we had to share ours too. We got to know other people from different schools who are part of the Healthy Ōpāwaho project. We got to share lots of ideas and plan out some of these ideas that we will work on during the year.
We will be putting regular information in the newsletter about the project during the year! Keep an eye out for this and there will be events during weekends that families can get involved with such as river clean-ups.
Ben, Cleo & Anna (your Beckenham Healthy Ōpāwaho Leaders)
Outdoor Spaces Working Bee
A huge thank you to all the parents and children who assisted us with the working bee last Sunday. We had about 20 people who helped to weed, stain and tidy up the garden areas. We really appreciate you giving your time.
Playspace
The children had great fun watching the digger dig down five metres to create a soak pit due to the high clay content of the ground. The soak pit will prevent the area from flooding in the winter months. There were lots of questions and wonderings around the hole, and why it needed to be so big, a few children even thought we were getting a new pool. The main sandpit area will be out of action for some time while the extension happens. There will be a rock edging that will define the new expansion. Soon after the sandpit is completed, the balance play area will start to take shape and will have a creative aspect to it, watch this space.
Life Education
Over the past two weeks, the children have been visiting the Life Education truck and learning how to relate to one another, build relationships and show empathy. Harold remains a firm favourite at Beckenham. We even had a surprise visit from Harold in our celebration assembly!
PB4L Update
Working together to create a safe, supportive and inclusive community as we fill our kete for the journey.We are now entering into our second year of PB4L (Positive Behaviour For Learning). PB4L School-Wide looks at behaviour and learning with a view to teaching and acknowledging expected behaviour just like we teach our core curriculum areas. The idea is that the children need to be taught desired positive behaviours and have the opportunity to practise them. This term, we are focusing on looking after our belongings, e.g., bags, devices, lunch boxes, stationery etc. and also using respectful language and behaviour.
If you would like more background information on PB4L, please feel free to contact Anna or Nigel or visit
www.pb4l.tki.org.nz. Year 7/8 Leadership Week
Our senior students have had an action-packed week learning about leadership. The Year 7 students stepped up as leaders in junior hubs over the past two days. We have had fabulous feedback about their interactions and leadership with our younger tamariki. I think they have also developed a new appreciation for the life of a teacher!
Our Year 8s have spent Thursday and Friday on our annual Year 8 leadership camp. This involved many activities where they put ‘the seven habits of highly effective people’ into action. They have been able to apply the wisdom from recent guest speakers, including “The Blue Rower”, Isaac Giesen. It has been two days of fun-filled positivity! What a pleasure it is to work with such awesome young people.
A little more about our guest speaker: This week “the Blue Rower”, Isaac Giesen, presented strategies for mental wellbeing to our Year 8 students. Isaac was the first New Zealander to row the Atlantic Ocean solo in 2019, and to row two oceans in a year. He used these achievements to raise awareness of mental health challenges, and discussed the resilience, goal-setting, and positive mental health tools that helped him reach his goals. Students enjoyed the opportunity to ask questions about Isaac’s journey and to see his boat, Bonnie Lass. To learn more about Isaac and his work visit
thebluerower.com or follow The Blue Rower on social media. Keep on rowing!
Sports News
Huxster Mountain Bike Challenge
Congratulations to our awesome and intrepid Mountain Bikers who competed in the Huxter team challenge today! A couple of medalists in the mix - Hooray - and everyone was fantastic in their energy and participation.
Special thanks to the parents who supported the teams and enabled them to participate.
PTA News
Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Twilight Fair - two weeks to go!
Hey parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles! Your kids need you to have an amazing Fair!! We need more volunteers to help with shifts at the Twilight Fair. We have soooooo many fun games, stalls and delicious food but a team of 12 can’t serve it all! Please click this
link to sign up now! Because when it comes down to the actual event…it should be all fun and games!
And don't forget Mystery Bottles pretty please!!!!!! Read more in the upcoming Fair Newsletter #Two weeks!
Community Notices
(Notices placed here are contingent on space and do not reflect the views or opinions of the school.)
Magic the Gathering Club
Mondays 6.30pm in the green room at Beckenham school.
Fun, educational, great for making friends and building social skills. Magic the Gathering is the world's most popular collectible card game.
We welcome players of all skill levels and new players will get a FREE introduction deck.
Entry by gold coin donation. All proceeds to Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto.
For enquiries call or email Cameron Taffs cameronjamestaffs@gmail.com 02108566724
Introduce your kids to the joy of adventure racing - Try the Kids Challenge!
The Kids Challenge offers kids, ages approx 6 through 13, the opportunity to experience the joy of adventure racing.
They will race in a team of two, on foot, by bike and on water hunting down checkpoints.
The race emphasises teamwork, problem solving, sportsmanship, environmental awareness and fun. The kids cross the finish line, sweaty, smiling, full of pride, hopefully a little dirty and tired and maybe a little bit wet!
For more information –
www.kidschallenge.co.nzWorld Fish Migration Day
Create a fabulous feisty fish puppet during seaweek.
Aged 9 - 13? Head along to this workshop facilitated by experienced puppet maker, Juliet Neill. Puppets made at this workshop will be paraded during the World fish Migration Day Festival at Tūranga on May 16th.
When: Sat 7th March, 1;30 - 4:30pm at Ao Tawhiti 5 Mollet St, Central ChCh. cos is $10 pp to cover materials.
Register at:
https://forms.gle/EficXRhZEeMEmTkAA or contact Jocelyn chchnzaee@gmail.com
Sydenham Rugby online registrations are now open at:
www.sydenhamrugby.co.nzGo to Registrations 2020 and choose the required form (junior, coach, volunteer)
To avoid queues, it is much quicker to register and pay online so have your credit card ready.
The sub for one child is $85. (2 children $130 | 3 children $150 | $180 for 4+ family members)
However, if required, you can still come down to one of our junior registration days:
Sydenham Lounge at the The Cashmere Club
Wednesday 26 February, 5pm – 6pm
Sunday 1 March, 10am – 12pm
There is also a CRFU weigh-in on 23 March so please ensure you’ve registered before 20 March 2020.
JUNIOR GRADES AVAILABLE
U6 – U7 Rippa Rugby
U8 -U9 Rip Rugby (alternative to tackle)
U8 – U11: 10-aside Tackle
U12 – U13: 15-aside Tackle
U14 – U18
register through Cashmere Rugby at:
www.sporty.co.nz/cashmerehighschoolrugbyMcDonalds 202 Youth duathlon
the Rotary Club of Garden City has organised the event for may years and are doing so again in 2020. The event will be on Sunday 5th April in South Hagley Park . It involves running and cycle stages and is for indivodual entrants aged 7 - 15 years old.
Online entry and payment can be made at
www.mcdonaldsduathlon.co.nz. entries close on March 20th . The entry fee is $20 per person.
Elements Nature Based Play programmes are an option in Christchurch!
Are you looking to give your children a different experience in the next school holidays? Have your children active & imaginative in the great outdoors. Think huts, ropes, tools, water play, mud and paint! We have a great mix of planned experiences and play throughout our days. Programmes
throughout April school holidays including ‘Knights & Castles”& “Heroes in the Wild”. Located on a farm in Westmorland and a reserve in Marshlands.
For more info email elementsprogrammes@gmail.com. Holiday bookings are through https://elements.aimyplus.com putting ‘Elements Canterbury’ as the ‘school’. See facebook for what we get up to:
https://www.facebook.com/elementsprogrammes/
