We are a group of caregivers/teachers who meet on the 4th Wednesday every month to find ways to support the school not only financially, through fundraising, but also through events that bring us closer together as a school community.

Last term we enjoyed hosting the New Whānau Morning Tea, the Kids Masquerade Disco & co-hosting, with the Student Council, the Shared Breakfast on the Shortest Day. Amazingly 360 cans of food were donated to the local Salvation Army. Also, the first Clubbercise class was offered, which was a huge success - a sell-out, “whoop whoop”!

We have an extraordinary community at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto and because of this, the PTA can do a great job at supporting the school. Please click on the link Meet your PTA for a breakdown on who we are & what we do. We have a variety of roles, some that can even be done at home.

How does our PTA work?

Each event has a ‘coordinator’ who manages that event with the assistance from other PTA members & volunteers from our school community. Volunteers are sourced either via the PTA Survey (which gets sent out at least once a term via the newsletter) or from google forms sent out via social media.  Please click on the link if you would like to complete the survey: PTA Survey 

How do we decide what to fundraise for?

We listen to your suggestions made via the PTA Survey. We also ask the staff to create a “Wish List”. So far the following has been decided for 2019:

$115k Outdoor Spaces

- $15k contribution to Bike Fences & Mazda Treemendous Space

-$7k contribution to Pūkaki Play Space

-$93k tagged for the upcoming Junior Area Design

Wishlist

- $5k to cover the end of year bus trips for all Hubs (including the Intermediate Hub’s upcoming ski trip)

- Gazebo (Clubbercise profit tagged)

- Outdoor Portable Sound System (Quiz profit tagged)

- Toys/Books for Hubs (Weetbix TRYathlon Marshalls profit tagged)


We will have two long term members leaving at the end of this year & would love new people to come along & see how we work. Why not pop along to our next meeting: Wednesday 28th August at 7:30 pm & check the PTA out?

We have an action-packed term ahead. There is no expectation for families to participate in all the events listed below. Our mantra is “do what you can when you can”- we appreciate all contributions no matter how big or small. We like to offer our families a variety of events to participate in & hope you enjoy some of them this term. Next term will be quieter as we realise it can be a busy & stressful time of the year.

Take a look at these Term Three Events

Scrumptious Cheese Rolls - MAIN fundraiser for 2019

Some of you may remember the A & P Show Tip Top Fundraiser? This fundraiser would generate approx. $8k-$13k profit. 100+ caregivers would volunteer their time (across the 3 days) to sell ice creams in all weather!

We no longer do this fundraiser & are hoping you will support this Cheese Roll Fundraiser as our main fundraiser for 2019. We would love to generate funds at a similar level. Please share the order link (below) with all your friends, work colleagues & family.

These cheese rolls are guaranteed to be delicious & are economic. At $8 per pack (one dozen Cheese Rolls in a pack) OR $30 for four packs, how can you resist such a scrumptious treat?

Thursday 15th Aug: Last day for orders. Payment also required to ensure the order is made.

Sunday 18th Aug: Cheese Roll-a-thon- we will be seeking volunteers to help make the cheese roll orders in the Hall, times TBC.

Sunday 18th Aug 5 -7pm: Collection of your order from the school Hall

 Order now via this Link: Cheese Rolls Order

Clubbercise Christchurch with Chloé at Beckenham is back

Lock in this date -Wednesday 21st Aug at 7pm

What is Clubbercise?- it is a group fitness class held in the dark with disco lights & neon UV body paint. Your class fee includes hire of the Clubbercise branded LED glow sticks that are reused at every class. It is a fusion of dance, aerobics, combat and toning moves to a tracklist of Club Anthems from the ’90s till now, it is exercise in disguise.

Due to licensing requirements, participants need to be aged 16 years or over.

You were all fabulous last time & boy did we glow. Excitingly funds raised from the July class were used to purchase the school a new Gazebo to be used at community events where Beckenham Teams are participating.

Book your spot now to avoid missing out, $10 per ticket.  Book Clubbercise ticket

Read-a-thon

Read-a-thon was enjoyed so much last year we have decided to return to this format again this year. This replaces the Spell-a-thon. Important dates below -

Friday 16th Aug: Check those bags for your child’s Read-a-thon sponsorship card coming home. Your child will then get 14 days to read & collect sponsors supporting your child’s reading journey.

Friday 30th Aug: We will celebrate the end of this reading journey with a ‘Book Character Day’-come dressed to school in your favourite book character.

Mon 2nd Sept: Sponsorship Cards & funds collected can be returned to the school office.

Fri 6th Sept: The final day of collection. Remember to return your child’s Sponsorship Card even if no sponsors funds have been collected, this will ensure they go into a draw to win a prize, drawn at next Celebration Assembly on Fri 13th Sept.

Enjoy your book/books of choice and remember Dr Seuss' wise words, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

Beckenham Booty

On the last Sunday of each month, the PTA hosts a car boot sale in the school car park. This month we are offering a special Winter rate of $15 (normally $25) to book a space. This is a great opportunity to Re-cycle, Re-use and Re-wear. Book now for Sunday 25th Aug, 9-11am.  Beckenham Booty booking

Calendar Art

This term your child will be working on their art for the annual Calendar Art Fundraiser. Every year, at parents’ request, we offer the opportunity to purchase calendars of your child’s artwork. These calendars make great Xmas gifts to doting grandparents/relatives here & overseas.

And it’s not just Calendars that can be ordered - Cards, Diaries, Mouse Mats & Sketch Pads are all on offer. Photos can also be used instead of the artwork if preferred.

We are excited that this year the order process & art-viewing will now all be offered online & will speed up when we can get your orders back to you. Important dates to note -

Mon 9th Sept: Calendar Art Orders open online

Fri 27th Sept: Calendar Art Orders close online

Twilight Fair 2020 Planning Meeting

The Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Twilight Fair is a Bi-annual event. The next Twilight Fair will be on Fri 20th March 2020. This is the PTA’s largest fundraiser so planning starts this term. We are looking for people to help plan this event. The ‘Fair Team’ breaks into smaller teams - Food, Fair Attractions/Games, Sponsorship & Marketing/Admin teams. Initially, the teams meet once a month, increasing to weekly closer to the event. You would not need to attend every meeting as only one representative from each team is required to be present at the Fair Team meetings. The last Fair, in 2018, made a profit of $17.5k (& it rained!!) - we would love new people to join the Fair Team & help us crack the $20k mark!!

Come along to the first planning meeting this term: Wednesday 11th Sept at 7:30 pm (venue TBC- check the PTA Fb page for updates)

If you indicated via the PTA Survey that you were wanting to help with the Fair, you will be contacted soon.

Quiz

Saturday 14th Sept: Come along to the annual Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto PTA Quiz. Enjoy a night guaranteed to be fun with a capital “F”. The Quiz always sells out- last year’s theme was “Hollywood”, I wonder what this year’s theme will be???

One thing we do know is that all profit raised from this event will be used to purchase an Outdoor Portable Sound System

Three Boys Brewery Tour

Sunday 22nd Sept: Calling all Craft Beer Enthusiasts, the PTA in conjunction with Three Boys Brewery, will be offering a Brewery Tour. More detailed information to come.

We Care Range

We love our ‘We Care’ range, products that help us care for our environment & provide practical assistance in our daily lives. We have Jute Bags, String Vege Bags & Beeswax Wraps to assist you with your war on plastic. We also have a few Beckenham Tea Towels & Aprons left along with the Beckenham Grid A2 Canvas.

We are excited to be working in conjunction with our local Eatery, The Birdwood, to offer the following Deal - purchase a $17 Reusable Takeaway Cup from The Birdwood & your first coffee is free. Every time you refill that cup you will receive an 80c discount. Let's help keep those disposable cups out of the Landfill. These ‘Ideal Cups’ are NZ Made, BPA Free, Leak-Proof, Robust & Barista-friendly.

Order from our We Care Range using the following link Order We Car Range, or pop on down to the next Beckenham Booty Car Boot Sale & purchase direct.



It is a busy term ahead, remember to always check the PTA Facebook Page & the PTA Website for up to date information.


Thank you for your ongoing support


Regards

Leigh, Rachel & the PTA Team

Kia ora e te whānau

Principals' Strike Action Update:

Primary principals across the country have voted to reject the government’s offer for settlement of our negotiations. The government failed to make an offer that addresses our key issues. We are concerned that little is being done to ensure that being a primary principal is seen as an attractive career option.

While I’m really happy that our teachers won back parity with their secondary colleagues, the same wasn’t offered to primary principals. We think that if parity with secondary is fair for teachers, then surely it’s fair for principals.

The offer also would have seen some principals in smaller schools paid less than some teachers in larger schools. It’s important that all communities are able to attract teachers into becoming principals, and that won’t happen if they can earn more as a teacher.

As a sign of our concern, we have voted to take 'strike action' by withdrawing the goodwill we extend to the Ministry of Education work that is additional to our day to day role running schools. I will not be participating in any form of work programme, taskforce, meeting with or reporting to the Ministry between July 8 and August 16. I will continue my professional leadership of the school during this time. I will continue to engage with and invite the Ministry to meetings when the needs of our children and our school are the agenda. I will continue to be the best advocate I can be for our children, our staff, our school, and our community.

Principals continue to hope that the government will hear us and address our issues.  We are committed to continuing our campaign until they do.  Personally, I am grateful for the support that our parent community has shown throughout the campaign.  I hope you will continue to show your support next term if it is necessary.


I am looking forward to seeing everyone again next week, and to meeting our new children and their families.

Ngā mihi nui
Sandy Hastings
Principal - Tumuaki