Principal's Patch

Kia ora koutou

What a fabulous start to the year we have had! We have started the year with a record roll of 463 students which is, we think, the largest start of year roll we have ever had.
We had 435 learning conferences on Thursday and Friday of last week which is 94% of all of our children. Thank you all for engaging with this opportunity to get the year off to such a positive start. I know our teachers really value having the chance to meet each child and their family individually and to begin the year having already begun to develop a shared understanding of your child's goals and aspirations.

Our new staff and students were welcomed today at our first Welcome Assembly of the year.


We were welcomed in by our senior Kapa Haka students and later in the assembly, enjoyed seeing the parade of flags that represent our new families.


There was great excitement this afternoon around the sandpit as some trucks arrived to dig out the old sand, and replace it with fresh sandpit sand! What a wonderful surprise for the start of the year. The sandpit is such a popular place for so many of our children every day.
Thanks to Nigel for organising this and to Hamish Denny of Drainworkz for making it happen, and to Fulton Hogan for donating the sand. What fun will be had on Monday!


 We are looking forward to a very busy and exciting year ahead.

Ngā mihi nui
Sandy and the team

Important Dates

Please remind your child that if arrive at school after the bell has gone, they need to first go to the office and sign in. This will avoid you getting a text from school to say that your child hasn't arrived which can be very distressing when you know you sent them to school.

The same process applies if you take your child out of school at any time during the day, before 3pm. Please ALWAYS come over to the office and sign them out, even if this is a planned event that their teacher is aware of.

Please communicate ALL information about absences to Jacky in the office. Please feel welcome to copy the teacher in but do not rely on busy teachers to pass this information on to Jacky. 

Also, please do not text teachers or email teachers during the day about passing on information to children or about absences and assume that they will get it. Teachers don't always check texts or emails during the day, and we have had times when a teacher has been away from school on a course, or home sick, and important messages haven't got through to the right person. Please always email the office.

Wearing a sunhat is compulsory for all children when they are outside during Term 1 and Term 4. Please consider a hat to be as important as your child's lunch, and check each morning that they have it in their bag. 

Kapa Haka at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto 2019

Nau mai haere mai ki te tau hou (Welcome to the new year.)
“He kai poutaka me kinikini atu, he kai poutaka me horehore atu, mā te tamaiti te iho.” Look after the children to ensure the future strength of the people.
This year we have close to 150 tamariki involved in Kapa Haka across our four kapa groups, Kahikatea, Kōwhai, Pōhutukawa and Te Whānau Mahitahi. All the children from Koru take part in a weekly kapa haka sessions to learn the basics.
If your child expresses an interest in being part of a kapa haka group, please see Jackie at the office to register on the waitlist.  This year we are endeavouring to add development group sessions where children on the waitlist will be given time to experience some basic kapa haka learning.

Nga Mihi Mahana(Warm greetings)
Sherrilee Herangi
Kaiako o kapa haka
(kapa haka teacher)

Garage Sale

Jack Kelly who is a Year 7 in Kauri Hub, is raising money for a well for a village in Africa. As part of doing this, he is having a big garage sale on Saturday the 9th of February at 9am at his home at 33 Ngaio Street, St Martins.  He would love for anyone from Beckenham Kura to come!  There will be lots of toys, books, furniture, clothes and household effects for sale.  His neighbours in Ngaio and Koromiko Streets are supporting Jack by also donating goods.  There will also be a sausage sizzle.  We hope you can come along!

Scholastics Book Club 

Issue 1 for 2019 will be coming home with your child this week.

When ordering an item please include the HUB name that your child is in.

Hub names are:
Koru
Kahikatea
Kowhai
Pohutakawa
Kauri

Internal Hub group names such as Forest, River etc will NOT be recognised and will delay the processing of any order.

Lunchonline

At the beginning of every year you need to log onto lunchonline and check that they have the correct details for your child's team for the year. To do this, please log onto the lunchonline website https://orders.lunchonline.co.nz/home/AccountLogin and click "members" and change their hub name and school (otherwise your lunches will end up in the wrong location).  If your child no longer attends a school with Lunchonline then you can make them "inactive" by unticking the box next to their name.

If you have finished with Lunchonline altogether then you will want to close your account and get a refund of any left over money.  Simply click "close account" and follow the instructions to receive your refund (less a $5 admin fee).  If you have less than $5 left on your account you won't receive a refund.  Lunchonline now have the capability for you to donate your remaining credit on your account straight back to the school.

The next batch of refunds will be processed by Lunchonline at the end of Term 1 2019.

Wellbeing at Beckenham Te Kura

Wellbeing continues to be a priority for our staff and students. To help our tamariki understand what wellbeing is, we have developed and refined our own school definition, based on Te Whare Tapa Whā. Students will be learning about the ‘four walls’ or aspects of Wellbeing over coming weeks. Discussing Wellbeing at home can help cement your child’s understanding of it.

(INSERT IMAGE: TE WHARE)
Beckenham Te Kura: Wellbeing Definition
My wellbeing helps me feel good and flourish in life.
It is based on Te Whare Tapa Wha. It includes my mind, body, feelings and how I work with others.

The Patricia Paul School of Dance

The Patricia Paul School of Dance, your local dance school, is currently giving Jazz and Ballet 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, Contemporary, Tumble and Hip Hop starting from age 7. For all enquiries please phone 372-9191 or email info@studioone.co.nz

Children's Day

Sunday March 3rd 11am - 3pm  Please visit ccc.govt.nz/summertimes for further details.

Sydenham Rugby Club

Junior Registration Dates 2019:
Junior registrations (U6 – U18) will be held at the Cashmere Club in the Sydenham Lounge on:
Wed, 13th Feb, 5pm to 7pm
Sun, 17th Feb, 10am – 12pm
To register / purchase shorts and socks / measure for uniform size
Birth certificates / passport, are required for all new members.
Fees:
$80 subscription per player - (2 siblings $120) (3 siblings $140) (4 siblings $180)
Shorts $25, socks $20 will be available to purchase at each registration day with eftpos available
Register Online:
www.sydenhamrugby.co.nz/sydenham-rc/registration

CSM choirs

At CSM we have two great choirs - the Christchurch Children's Choir, an all-comers choir for 8-12 year olds. This choir meets on a Saturday morning from 9am-10am and is held at 62 Ferry Rd during term time. A fun choir to be in with plenty of performing opportunities. For this choir you can just enrol through our website www.csm.org.nz/enrol

Then there is our wonderful Christchurch Girls' Choir, an auditioned choir for 9-15 year olds. This choir formed last year and has gone from strength to strength impressing audiences with their beautiful sound and delightful repertoire. They meet on a Wednesday evening from 5pm-7pm during term time, also at Catholic Cathedral College . If you would like to audition for this choir please email Celia Stewart at musdir@csm.org.nz and I will send you an audition pack. Auditions are being held on 13 February.

Halswell United Football Club Registrations

Registrations are now open for 2019.  Please visit www.hawkfootball.org.nz for more info.

As your child is coming into the senior part of our school this year (Year 5) or continuing on (Year 6), they have the option to participate in our 'BYOD' 'Bring your own Device' programme.

Usually we have sent detailed information about our BYOD programme to parents at the end of Year 4, so that you have had an opportunity to look through this and consider if you want your child to participate and we have realised today that this information didn't go out at the end of the year as it has done in the past.

If you follow this link you will be taken to a detailed site that outlines our rationale, links to the New Zealand Curriculum, information about Digital Citizenship, links to Reading and Research, an outline of responsibilities, information about devices, and a FAQ page.

Please don't hesitate to raise any questions you have about BYOD with your child's home group teacher at their learning conference, or by emailing Tracy Inwood (Year 5/6 Team Leader) or Nick Bruce (ICT Leader)

Ngā mihi nui

Sandy Hastings

Principal - Tumuaki

Principal's Patch

Kia ora e te whānau

Today was Day 2 of our Staff Only Days and it is wonderful to have all of our staff back on site and talking with excitement and anticipation about the year ahead.

Yesterday we spent time introducing our 7 new staff and getting to know one another. We talked about how we work at Beckenham and what collaboration across and within our school looks like.

Today we spent the day working with Jo from Autism New Zealand as we learned about the way that we, as adults, can understand and support those children who are, or who might be, on the Autism Spectrum. It was a very interesting day which provided lots of great information and examples for us to reference during the year ahead.

Below are some important reminders for preparing for the start of school.

Ngā mihi nui

Sandy and the team

Learning Conferences - this Thursday and Friday

We are looking forward to seeing you all at Learning Conferences on Thursday and Friday this week. There is still time to book if you haven't yet done this.

Go to www.schoolinterviews.co.nz and enter the code: xn8bm

If you have any questions or need help with booking, please ring Jacky in the office between 8:30am and 4pm on 337 1404

The Learning Conference will take two parts. In the first 10 or so minutes, you will have the opportunity to meet all of the teachers in your child's team. The remaining 20 or so minutes will be spent with your child's homegroup teacher.

Your child’s homegroup teacher will be asking some questions to find out a bit more about the things that are important to your child and your family.
We are sharing these questions with you so you have the opportunity to discuss them with your child before the conference:

• What are your child’s strengths/passions - both academic and other. 
• What kind of play (juniors) or after school activities do they enjoy/engage in regularly?
• What specific needs does your child have?
• What goals / aspirations do you and your child have for this year?
• Is there anything else you would like to share (eg particular needs - glasses, left-handed etc)

How does your child learn best? (the following questions may help)

• What physical space helps your child to focus and learn best? e.g. seating, desk, high table standing, comfy seat, ground, need to move around a bit …
• Would you rather work on a task: on their own/in a pair/group
• Do you prefer learning something new through: a small group with teacher/with a buddy/show me website and I’ll teach myself thanks/other
• Would you rather learn by: reading and writing/seeing pictures, mind maps etc/hearing and listening/doing a practical activity/other
• What helps you to focus: exercise break/particular working space?
• Noise level: silent to focus/Ok with low noise/don’t mind
• How much water do you usually drink during school day?

• What are your after-school commitments?
• Is there anything else you would like to share?

Sunhats

Nude Food Lunchboxes
During our schoolwide focus on Sustainability last year, we began to realise how much rubbish we end up with at school that then has to be disposed of, and the impact of rubbish on our planet. Many of our children became more aware of actions they can take to reduce their use of plastic, including cling film. Our PTA also promoted the use of beeswax wrappers for food. Please consider if you need to send food to school wrapped in clingfilm so that we can all be making a positive impact on reducing waste.

Uniform

Remember new uniform can be sourced from Mainland Uniforms CITY store (189 Peterborough St) or purchased online: www.mainlanduniforms.co.nz

House Shirts are only available from the school office and cost $25. They are worn on Fridays and help the children to recognise the other children in their house and develop a sense of pride in their house group.

The PTA will be opening the SECOND-HAND UNIFORM shop  on BOTH the school conference days, Thursday 31st Jan and Friday 1st Feb from 10am-12pm & again at 3-5:30pm. The shop is located on the corner of Eastern Tce & Sandwich Rd in the old dental clinic.

All items need to be named, please!

Contact sheets being updated at Learning Conferences

Drink to Think

Staying well hydrated is critical for good brain function and for learning. Please ensure that your child brings a named water bottle to school from Day 1 of the term.

School hours

Please remember that school does not open until 8:30am each day. Children should not arrive at school before 8:30am as staff will not be available for support or supervision until 8:30am. If you need to drop your child at school before 8:30am please contact BOSCO and book your child into the before school care programme.

The bell to begin classes goes at 8:55am. Please ensure that your child arrives at school in time to be ready to start in class by this time. It is difficult for children to start the day successfully and is disrupting for other children and the teacher when children are late to school in the morning.

School finishes at 3pm and at 3:15pm there will be a bell rung to remind any children who haven't been collected to come to the office. This bell also reminds teachers that any meetings that they have are starting. Children should all be collected by 3:15pm. If your child is still at school at 3:15pm they need to come to the office and we will contact you to let you know that they haven't been collected.

Parking- Drop off Zone

Please remember that the parking area closest to the Administration building on Sandwich Road is a drop-off / pick-up zone only from 8:30-9:30am and from 2:30-3:30pm each day.

School Values

Shared Common Language

How you can help at school

The support of whānau at school is always very welcome. There are many ways you can help at school, including coming into the class to support during the day with particular groups, helping at lunchtime as a Parent Duty Helper in the Junior playground, helping on a school trip or camp, helping the teachers with resource preparation or organisation, joining the PTA or putting your name forward to be on the Board of Trustees, to name a few.
Please keep an eye on the school and team newsletters for requests for help that you can respond to as fit with your circumstances.

2019 Term Dates

Click here to view 2019 term dates.

Principal's Patch

Kia ora koutou

This will be our final newsletter of 2018. Another very busy year is almost over. Today we farewelled our Year 8 leavers with their graduation assembly. It was a wonderful celebration of their achievements and successes at Beckenham over the past years. Some have only been with us from part way through this year, through to others who started as far back as 8 1/2 years ago. We wish them all the very best as they head off to high school in 2019.

Staffing update

In our 23rd November newsletter, we noted that we had decided to restructure our leadership team and were advertising for a second deputy principal. In the last newsletter, we advised that Michelle Maule, our current Deputy (on secondment to the Ministry) has won another leadership position. This left us with two Deputy Principal positions to fill.

We were fortunate to have an excellent field of candidates and are very pleased to have been able to fill both positions, ready for the start of 2019.

Sue Leadbetter (who has been the Acting Deputy Principal this year) has won one of these positions. We are delighted that she will be able to continue the wonderful work that she has been doing this year.

Sue Leadbetter

We are also pleased to announce that Nigel Easson (past principal of Kaikoura School) will be joining us as our other Deputy Principal. Nigel and his family will be moving to Christchurch over the holidays.

Nigel Easson

As some of you will have worked out, Sue being appointed to Deputy Principal leaves us with a teacher and team leader position vacant in our New Entrant / Year 1 area. We are very pleased to have Jo Smith taking up the role of Acting Team Leader for the Koru Team for 2019. Jo has been working in our New Entrant team this year, and also in 2016, and she brings previous leadership experience to this role, and to our Leadership Team.


So - to clarify, here are the teams (with the home group teachers) again for 2019:

Koru (New Entrants and Year 1)
Jo Smith (Team Leader)
Stacey McLachlan & Elizabeth Drummond (sharing a learning group)

Kahikatea (Year 1-3)
Amber Donovan (Team Leader)
Charlotte Verity
Jules May
Anna Reid

Kōwhai (Year 3/4)
Paulette Newton (Team Leader)
Rowena Barker
Nick Bruce
Kate Swan

Pōhutukawa (Year 5/6)
Tracy Inwood (Team Leader)
Gayle McNaughton
Katie McFarlane
Steve Cooke
Rae Marsh

Kauri (Year 7/8)
Nicky Dunlop (Team Leader)
Jenny Diggle
Hannah Elliott
Megan Culver

Reports and start of year information

Tomorrow your child will come home with their end of year report in an envelope. Also inside that envelope will be their 2019 stationery list and a letter explaining who their home learning group teacher and the teachers in their team will be. Also in that letter, will be the important information you need to book your start of year learning conference with your child's teacher for 2019!

Our staff have earned a very well-deserved break and are looking forward to taking some time out from tomorrow with their own whānau.

The office will be closed until Monday 21st January.

Our best wishes to you and all your whānau for a safe and relaxing summer.


Sandy, and the amazing team at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto.

Citizen of the Week

Marlonique Wolmarans - Year 8

Marlonique, you bring positivity and tranquility to our Intermediate Hub. Throughout the year, you have demonstrated diligence that has supported your growth as a learner. Thank you for the thoughtfulness and consideration that you show each day. Your kind and caring nature makes a difference to others.

Sophie Macdonald - Year 4

Sophie, you are an outstanding role-model  learner in the Kōwhai team, where you always put in 100% to all you do! You are always eager to learn new things and have a genuine interest in space, wildlife and the environment, where you love to share your learning with others. You always show that you care for others by always being a courteous and kind friend, making you a delight to be around. Thank you for all your wonderful contributions that make our hub a wonderful place to be.

Max Graham - Year 6

Max, what a joy and inspiration you are to the Pōhutukawa team. You display impeccable manners, always holding the door open for us to enter the hub. Your creative and humourous comments entertain and often enlighten us. Max, you are kind, caring and so very flexible and you make a difference in our hub. 

Dental Care over the School Holidays

The Community Dental Service will be providing emergency dental appointments on the 20th and 21st December 2018.
 A service will also operate Monday, 7th January – Tuesday, 29th January 2019.

This service will operate by appointment only and if we are unable to see your child, alternative options will be given. If your child has dental pain as a result of an accident please contact your dentist in the first instance.

You can phone and make an appointment for these clinics by ringing 0800 846 983.

Julie Denton
Service Manager
COMMUNITY DENTAL SERVICE