Principal's Patch

Kia ora e te whānau

With less than two full weeks of the school year remaining, this newsletter has a LOT of important information and news in it. Please do take a moment to read it through.

2019 home groups

On the last day of term, children will be told who their 2019 home group teacher will be. During that morning all the children will be taken to their 2019 learning hubs to meet their new team of teachers. You will get that information in a letter that day with your child's report. Also in that envelope will be the information you need to book your start of year learning conference and a 2019 stationery list. Some of you will also get a letter about your child's attendance if it has fallen below 85%.

2019 enrolments

We have a record start-of-year roll for 2019 and are continuing to turn away all out-of-zone ballot applications, other than siblings. If you do know people who live in-zone and are planning on enrolling their children to start school during 2019, please encourage them to get their enrolment forms in before the end of the year as this helps us immensely in our forward planning.

Congratulations to Michelle Maule

As many of you will be aware, Michelle Maule, our Deputy Principal, has been working on secondment with the Ministry of Education this year, in the Severe Behaviour Team. Michelle advised us yesterday that she has been successful in winning the position of Cluster Manager for the Te Paeroa RTLB (Resource Teachers of Learning and Behaviour), Cluster 34.


Whilst we are very sad to see her moving on permanently from Beckenham, we are very proud of her achieving this wonderful promotion. This is the cluster of RTLB who cover our school, so we are extremely excited that Michelle will have continued contact with us, in her new role. This position will give her the opportunity to use her skills and capabilities to make a difference for staff, families, and children in many Christchurch schools, rather than just in our school.

A celebration of the end of the Building Project - this Thursday 13 Dec

Year 7 & 8 Production

Throughout the year the Year 7 and 8 Hub have been participating in an inquiry under the conceptual understanding, ‘People must act to sustain what is valued’. Continuing with this theme, our production is based around the human race being accused of destroying planet Earth. This is an original production; the script was written by Duncan Moulin-Gower and the children have been very involved in the conceptualisation and choreography of the show, as well as in the creation of some rather impressive props. Lawyers, witnesses, and groups of singers and dancers will help you, the jury, to decide whether or not the human race should be held accountable for the destruction of our planet.


We invite you to come along for an evening of thought-provoking entertainment in "Court For Thought". Performances will be this coming Monday 10th and Wednesday 12th December, starting at 7:00 pm. Admittance is by a gold coin donation at the door. Everyone welcome.

'We make a Difference' in our local community...

This morning I had the great pleasure to observe a small group of our Year 2 and 3 students speak to the Spreydon/Heathcote Community Board about their solutions for cleaning up the Beckenham area and preventing litter from entering our Ōpāwaho River system. Supported by their teacher, Charlotte Verity, the children represented their classmates and our school so well and their idea of having signage around the Beckenham area to encourage people to keep the area litter free was well received.


Many of you will have also noticed that the public toilet block by the Beckenham Ponds on Eastern Terrace has been getting a major makeover! A group of Year 7/8 students, as part of their 'passion learning', have been working with a local artist, Ira Mitchell-Kirk, to paint a wonderful mural on the toilet walls. There will be a formal 'unveiling' of the mural this coming Thursday 13th December, at 2:30pm for those who would like to attend. Thanks to the Spreydon/Heathcote Community Board for agreeing to the project and contributing $250 funding for the paint.


Ngā mihi

Sandy Hastings
Tumuaki - Principal

Important Dates

Citizen of the Week

Sophie Macdonald - Year 4

Sophie, you are an outstanding role-model learner in the Kowhai 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 great place to be. 

School Notices

Gift giving at the end of the year.

We are aware that gift-giving is one way that people often choose to show appreciation and that this is especially common as we head towards the end of the year and Christmas. We are also very aware that not all of our families celebrate Christmas and teachers are talking with children about the different ways that families celebrate cultural and religious festivals and traditions.

This year at school we have talked about the value of showing that 'We Care' through words and actions. Our teachers are talking with the children about the value of making and writing cards, and of doing or making something special to show appreciation or goodwill that doesn't involve buying 'presents' and where the focus is on the joy of giving and the kind thoughts that are being shared.

In line with this thinking, staff very much value a card or email of appreciation from parents and students and they do not expect gifts.

Many children often enjoy giving their friends a card at this time of the year, and sometimes add a candy cane or other treat with the card. To keep in line with our school values and healthy food policy, please refrain from sending sweets to school. If your child is wanting to give sweet treats to their friends, this can be arranged between families out of school hours. This will enable our tamariki to keep their focus on their learning for the last two weeks of school.

Uniform 

A quick reminder that our school uniform supplier is Mainland Uniforms who are located at 189 Peterborough Street.  They stock the full range of our uniform, including the senior jacket.  Layby facilities are available and there is ample parking at the shop.
When you have a spare moment or two over the holidays please check that your child's uniform items are clearly named!

Thank You Morning Tea

A thank you morning tea, where we say a huge THANK YOU to all those parents, caregivers, grandparents, volunteers and everyone else who has helped out in some way at our school, has become a welcome tradition at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto.

If you have volunteered, provided a helping hand, read books, donated books, been on a school trip, helped out with cooking in a hub or any other one of the myriad of ways that support our school community during 2019, then this invitation is for YOU.

Come and have a drink and bite to eat at the school hall from 10:30am onwards, this Friday 14th December. This morning tea follows the final Celebration Assembly which is from 9:30-10:30am in the school hall. You are also very welcome to also attend this assembly.


There is no need to RSVP, please just turn up on the day.

Sports News

On Wednesday, 11 children from Year 5 to 8 completed at the Canterbury Athletics Event, held at the new sporting stadium, Nga Punawai. It is a massive achievement to get to this level of competition and we are so proud of the way you represented yourselves and the school at this event. A huge congratulations to Tilly Harris, who competed in the 100m sprints and long jump. She finished 2nd in sprints and 1st in long jump. Tu meke Tilly!

Congratulations to...

Harper Ford - 

We received these wonderful comments in a letter this week from Pioneer Basketball:
"I am writing to commend one of your students, Harper Ford, who volunteered as a referee in our junior club competitions this year.  The programmes that our club provides for local families would not be possible without the valuable input from young people such as Harper.  Harper is an excellent role model for the children that he works with."
Well done Harper!

Debating Success

On Monday evening, our three debate teams from Year 7 and 8 participated in the second round of our competition against St Martin’s School. The motive up for debate was, ‘There is never a reason or excuse good enough to go to war’. On this occasion, we had one team taking the affirmative and two teams negating. Many strong arguments were raised in each of the debates, mostly focusing on short-term harm versus long-term gain. In the end, Hannah, Chis, and Adam secured a win, making the final score over the two round series 4 wins and 2 losses to Beckenham. The debate process has been a fantastic opportunity for the teams to develop their research, writing, presenting and collaborative skills.

Community Notices

Edible Garden Awards 

...recognise and celebrate those who are growing their own food, and all entrants receive a certificate.
Spreydon-Cashmere Edible Garden Awards 2019
The Spreydon-Cashmere Community Board is holding Edible Garden Awards for 2019 in partnership
with the Canterbury Horticultural Society.
Entry is free and open to individuals, groups, organisations, schools, early learning centres, communities, and businesses in the Spreydon-Cashmere Community Board area.
Enter your garden, or nominate someone else's garden (with their permission).  All entrants are recognised for their efforts.  In addition, there are Special Awards for:

• Sustainability
• Organics
• Use of rainwater
• Outstanding yield

Gardens will be assessed in March 2019.  Entrants are encouraged to take photos of their garden
throughout the summer for inclusion in the photo presentation at the award ceremony in April 2019.
Entries close 5pm, Monday 11 February 2019
Enter online at: Spreydon-Cashmere Edible Garden Awards 2019

My very humblest apologies to two of our staff members for 2019 who are part of  our teaching teams... 

Dorinda Hampton missed out on being in a photo on Monday, and was subsequently missed out by me when sharing the teaching teams with you!

Dorinda will be teaching in Kōwhai (Y3/4) and in Pōhutukawa (Y5/6) - providing release in both of those teams.

Rae Marsh is one of our new teachers who will be in the Pōhutukawa Team - I mistakenly named her as Rae Smith in the Pōhutukawa Team photo.

Ngā mihi nui

Sandy Hastings

Principal - Tumuaki

Principal's Patch

Kia ora koutou

It has been very busy at school these past weeks as we have been working through a number of changes to our staffing for 2019. We are very excited to have such talented new staff coming on board to compliment our current practice and work alongside us to help our tamariki to grow and succeed. We believe that we have put together some fabulous combinations of talent, new teachers with existing teachers, and we have some teachers moving around our teams too. This enables teachers to share the experiences and learning that teachers in different teams have gained with others and to enable all of our teachers to continue to learn from one another.

In 2019 our roll is expected to be slightly bigger next year than this year, and we have decided to go back to having five distinct teams again. This means that our NE team will be called Koru, and our Year 1/2 team will take on again the name of Kahikatea (a name that they had about 3 years ago before we combined the teams).

The Pōhutukawa (Year 5/6) team will be our biggest team in 2019 so they will be moving over to Parenga next to the Year 7/8 Kauri team (where the Year 3/4 Kōwhai Team are currently). This will allow them to utilise the three classrooms of Kōmanawa and Hangere as break out spaces. Kōwhai (Y3/4) will move into the space in Tahaki currently occupied by the Pōhutkawa Team.

This map may help!

2019 learning spaces:

On Monday this week, at our Staff Only Day, we were fortunate to have our new staff for 2019 join us. Each 2019 team spent the day working together, beginning to learn about the strengths and opportunities that their new team will be able to offer the children. 

We are excited to introduce you to the teams for 2019:

We are currently finalising the home groups for 2019, ensuring that they are balanced within each team. Some teams have already begun a transition process for children - visiting the new hubs that they will be learning in next year, and getting to know teachers around the school who are not currently so familiar to them. This will continue over the remaining weeks of the term. We understand that for some of our learners, change can be a time of heightened uncertainty, so our goal is to smooth this journey as much as possible over the next three weeks.

Ngā mihi nui

Sandy Hastings

Principal - Tumuaki

Library Stock Take December Monday 10

It is time to look under your beds, in your closets, your school desk, behind cupboards and dark places to get those books back to the school library BEFORE December 10.

Congratulations to...

2019 Student Leaders:

Earlier this month we interviewed Year 7 students who applied for House Captain and Student Council Exec positions for 2019. We had 30 people applying and the group interviews saw fabulous attitudes and ideas. Actually, the whole year has been a bit of an 'extended interview', as we have watched how the children responded in a wide range of situations.
Our current Year 7 cohort has an interesting gender distribution, with 18 boys and 41 girls. 3/4 of the people applying for positions were girls. This year we have decided to move away from our traditional approach of having one boy and one girl as captains/deputies of each house.
Being selected as a House Captain means that students may need to change house for your Year 8 year.

House Captains for 2019:

Freddie Winsor
Ben Evans
Emily Eade
Vienna Scott
Maddi McIvor
Gemma York
Sophia Brown
Meg McDonald

Deputy House Captains for 2019:

Jack Barton
Arran Robertson
Dom Hamilton
Ella Clarke
Roxy Murfin
Morvern McDaid
Samantha Maule
Matilda Hindin
Student Council Exec:
Chairperson: Lucy Gray
Secretary: Paolo Reid
Treasurer: Helena Sice

Te Reo Champion (new role): 

Maia Davis

One area our school will be giving more attention to in 2019 is the use of Te reo Māori in a simple and integrated way, so that whānau, staff and students can learn and use it together.  Our Te Reo Champion will play a pivotal role in supporting us all to make this happen.

We have many more leadership positions that will be sorted at the beginning of the school year in 2019.

Sports News

Canterbury Triathlon

The rain poured for the duration of the Canterbury Triathlon at Pegasus this week. Extremely undesirable conditions for a swim, bike and run but this added challenge did not deter our competitors nor did it dampen the smiles. We are incredibly proud of the determination and physical endurance of our six competitors from Years 5 to 8.

Aquagym

459 Cashel Street, Ph: 3810299.  Learn to Swim & Coaching.  Aquagym and Sumner Pool.  Book now for January Holidays and Term 1.  Leaders in Aquatic Education.

The committee comprises of: Matthew McDonald (BOT), Paulette Newton (staff), Amanda Wolt (PTA), Natalie Doering (parent) and Carmel Wade (parent/architect).

The committee has been meeting each fortnight and so far has worked together to:

• Develop a set of guidelines and processes to enable the school to achieve the best outcome for our students. 
• Identified the the purpose of the outdoor spaces so there is a natural a ‘flow’ across the school. Criteria:

1. Reflect the school’s cultural narrative
2. Accessible for all
3. Fun and meet the needs of all students
4. To grow as the school grows. 

• Identified areas across the school for development and begun to create a timeline for these.
• Present and ask for school engagement in the process. We have met with the Student School Council about using the school logo - Matau (hook) - to influence the shape of the renewed play space at the centre of the school. They were very excited about this!

We understand that this will be an ongoing plan that will have a number of smaller projects within it. The costings for each of the projects will need to be worked through. The fundraising the PTA have done will be a wonderful contribution towards getting these plans underway, but we don’t assume for a moment that it will cover the total costs! We will be making grant applications and seeking further funding from a variety of sources. Ministry of Education operational funding that the school receives each year is not able to be used to support significant capital investments such as these.

As the children are the Kaitiaki (guardians) of the school grounds and will be the ones using the spaces, it is essential they have a strong voice in this process. Much of the planning and design work will be developed and generated by the students, which is an authentic learning experience. This is such an exciting opportunity, and one that we know will take time to plan to ensure we get the best outcome possible.

The first area that we hope to develop with the students is Pūkaki (new entrants hub). The students have begun the process of generating ideas for this area. We hope to share the ideas before the end of term and work towards development early in term 1.

We will put regular updates in the school newsletter to keep you informed of proposed plans, and at times we will be seeking your input and ideas and offers of support for working bees as we action different areas across the school.

Principal's Patch

Kia ora e te whānau

We'll start with a reminder about the Staff Only Day on Monday which has been in every newsletter since 31st August. School is CLOSED on Monday and we will be working with staff on our planning for 2019.


It's been three weeks since the last newsletter, and there has been a lot happening at school. The weather is certainly keeping us all on our toes at the moment with its extreme fluctuations and changability. Our Pōhutukawa team struck it extremely well for their camp at Living Springs last week. A huge 'thank you' to the teachers and the parents who helped to make that camp such a success.


Our New Entrants had two wonderful days of trips to a farm belonging to the whānau of one of our children. The exploration and discovery of life on a farm and the experience of just being in the outdoors in a different environment was amazing. Every child had their own personal highlights including going on the bus, climbing on the tractor, feeding out hay to the cows, toasting marshmallows, eating sausages cooked over the firepit, playing on the trampoline or the flying fox, collecting treasures like wool from the fence as we walked around the farm, or simply being at the farm with friends.


A group of Year 7/8 students, with the blessing of the local authorities, are working on beautifying the Eastern Terrace ponds toilet block with a fabulous mural. Special thanks to Ira Kirk, a local artist and past parent of the school, for giving her expert assistance with this project.


The Koru Year 1/2 team had a big trip on Friday to the Art Gallery. We will try and include a couple of photos from that in next week's newsletter.

Staff News

Rebekah Stoop and her partner have made the decision to return to their home province of West Otago and are relocating to Tapanui at the end of the year. Rebekah has won a position at Tapanui Primary School and we wish her all the best with her new role. Rebekah started at Beckenham in 2015 and has made a wonderful contribution to our school and the teams she has taught in.

After seven years at Beckenham, Mike Matulewicz has decided to give himself the challenge of moving to another school to further develop his professional capacity and direction in different ways. He has won a position at Heathcote Valley School and will start there in the new year. This school is in the same cluster of schools as Redcliffs School, where Mike's two boys are enrolled, so this move will also give him the opportunity to be a dad on the sideline at local zone sports events. Mike has been teaching at Beckenham since the start of 2011 and has also made a wonderful contribution to the school and the teams he has taught in. We wish him all the best in his new role.

Our school roll is growing and we are on the cusp of having the biggest roll the school has ever had with 488 students at the moment. We have made the decision to grow our Leadership Team next year and to have two Deputy Principals, rather than just one. We currently have an advertisement out for this position, and hope to be able to appoint before the end of the school year.

There will be another newsletter next Friday, which will outline the teaching teams for 2019.

Ngā mihi nui
Sandy Hastings
Principal - Tumuaki

Important Dates

Citizen of the Week

James Stoney - Year 4

James, you are a creative and inquisitive learner. You love the environment and are the expert in the hub on native bird life and all the treasures of the Port Hills. You demonstrate amazing problem solving skills during Discovery and persevere with your learning until you achieve success. You are a loyal friend and always treat others with respect and kindness.

Abigael Cockfield - Year 6

Abby, you are a very kind and caring member of the Pōhutukawa team. You volunteer to help when you see a need and you are always looking out for others. Your quirky sense of humour entertains us, as does your love of drama and performing. Abby, you are articulate and hard working. You are a fabulous role model in our hub.

Family Support

We are very proud to bring you a webinar series we've produced about reducing stress in children. There are 6 short episodes helping to explain stress in children and how to deal with it. The episodes will be released over the next few weeks. The work is based on the research of Kathleen Liberty from the University of Canterbury and her team. We thank Dai Henwood for his time, and the many others who have helped bring this project to you.

Presented by Neighbourhood Trust & Papanui Youth Development Trust.

School Notices

Sports News

Athletics 

We recently held our senior school athletics day. This is an event where our school values are out in force as children put their PE learning to the test and encourage each other to go higher, further and faster. One of many examples of this was the Year 7 girls whose cheers filled the park as each competitor took on the challenge of the ever-increasing high jump bar. The sprint finals were the concluding part of the day with the House Relay providing an exciting and nail-biting finale. In the end, it was Fisher who brought it home with the staff and parents managing a respectable 2nd place, (a vast improvement on last year).

This year, we invited Year 4s who wanted to embrace the challenge of competitive sport to participate in the day. Like the year 5 to 8s, they had been out in the park learning technique and developing their fitness on many afternoons in the lead up to the event. This dedicated practice paid off and there was lots of fantastic technique on display and school records being broken. Above all else, there were lots of smiles; I’m a firm believer that if you look like your having a good time, you’re doing it right.

On Monday last week, over 50 children from Year 5 - 8 represented Beckenham at our zone athletics. The children all did their school proud, demonstrating great sportsmanship and holding their own among the best athletes from our zone. Eleven of our students have qualified from that event, to represent our school at the Canterbury Athletics competition which will be held on Wednesday, December 5th at the new Nga Puna Wai Park in Wigram. This is the first year since 2011 that we have been able to have the Canterbury Athletics in Christchurch rather than having to travel to Ashburton Domain for the day.

Summer Tournament

Last Wednesday teams from Year 7/8 competed in a fast and furious round robin tournament in the sports of slow pitch, orienteering, tennis and kiwi tag (touch). We met some really polished competition, which tested the children’s perseverance. The orienteering team, which comprised of Gemma York, Santi Montejo, Lucy Gray and Ella Clarke, came second in both the rogaine and orienteering. Many thanks to George York and Simon Scott, who managed teams during the day and to all the parents who helped with transport.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Winni Goldsbury, who came second in the Girls On Dirt Advanced Downhill Race in the under 15 years category. It is impressive enough that she can ride such an advanced track, let alone tackle such terrain at race speed!

Congratulations to Harper Ford who has been selected to represent NZ in baseball.

Also congratulations to Thomas Lyall who, in September, achieved a bronze medal in the Senior boys (11-14 years) under 40kg category of the South Island Judo Championship held in Nelson.

Special Congratulations also go to the following past students of Beckenham who recently graduated from Cashmere High School with the following distinctions:

Thomas Flynn - Head of Sheppard House Award

James Hanlon - Student Representative on the Board of Trustees

Sabine Grey - Leaders of tomorrow Scholarship

Briana Steven - Emerging leaders Scholarship, Engineering high achievers Scholarship, Hugh McDougall Rankin Science Scholarship, The Foundation Pupils All Round Excellence Prize, Cartwright Prize for Academic Excellence in Year 13, Dux.

Sportsperson of the Year - Liliana Braun, also a past Beckenham student.  Liliana is currently in Year 12 and this award is usually reserved for year 13 students.

We wish them all the very best for their futures.

TOP TEAM CHALLENGE & FAMILY PICNIC THIS SUNDAY!

Time to Celebrate!.....We want to THANK everyone for helping us reach our target
Please come along to the BeckenhamTe Kura o Pūroto TOP Team Challenge & Family Picnic - just ONE week away today for some well deserved FUN & GAMES.
Come in a team, $10 per team: https://goo.gl/forms/oPqxEmaeEyG7Ckbz2
OR Come & help: https://goo.gl/forms/6NH4CzeIf4m6Zhe63
OR come & be a SPECTATOR....however you want to participate, make sure you & your family are there.
So lock this date into your calendar NOW: Sunday 25th November from 2pm.
Let's celebrate reaching our OUTDOOR SPACES Target. We got there together & we deserve to have some FUN with a capital F!
The PTA are subsidising this event to ensure ALL can participate. If the $10 fee per TEAM is preventing your family from participating in this Challenge please email pta@beckenham.school.nz & we will assist.

BECKENHAM "We Care" XMAS DEAL:

JUST in time for Christmas & proudly brought to you by the PTA - the BECKENHAM “We Care” Products are available to ORDER NOW ready for Santa to deliver!

All orders will be ready for collection before December 1st, making overseas posting an option.

AND with the XMAS DEAL-FREE Jute Bag for all orders over $30, how can you resist?
Help your school & the environment with these sustainable products. These affordable items will make fabulous gifts for family and friends.

HOW DO I ORDER-click on this link: https://goo.gl/forms/j0Kr9v0JWmSRHrAV2

Community Notices

SURFKIDS

Childrens Surfing  Programme.

Learn the skills of Surfing in a fun, safe environment. All equipment provided and professional instruction from Aaron Lock and team. For kids 8 - 14 years.
Sundays 10am to 12pm.
Dec / Jan Holidays : from 17th Dec, 10am -12pm
Cost $30 per day or $135 for five. Bookings essential.
Venue :Sumner.
Call Aaron on 0800 80 SURF (7873) or register online at surfcoach.co.nz

Starfish Swim School

Bookings for the January Holiday Programme are now open!
Mo 21 Jan - Fri 25 Jan, $65 for the week.
info@starfishswimschool.co.nz.  Ph: 033381795.
2 Nash Road, Aidanfield.

Beckenham Community Christmas Celebration

In the grounds of Beckenham School.
Wednesday 13th December 2018 5.00pm -7.00pm
Free BBQ and/or bring a picnic.
Come and join the Choir, join in or just listen to some community carol singing.
Organised by Beckenham locals for the Beckenham community. BBQ provided by Beckenham Neighbourhood Association.

Community Choir (aka anyone who wants to sing).

If interested in providing a stall complete this form https://goo.gl/forms/wOF708smpAtVSpuG2