Category Archives: Pohutukawa
Pōhutukawa Team Blog 2026-05-22 14:30:54
Almost halfway through the term already — unbelievable how fast it’s going! That’s always a great sign that we have happy, engaged kids enjoying their learning.
Angklung Interactive Session (Indonesian instrument)
Last Friday, we were incredibly privileged to host a demonstration and interactive session of the angklung instrument presented by the Indonesian Embassy. The angklung is a traditional musical instrument from West Java, Indonesia. It was a wonderful opportunity for cultural exchange and learning. Have a chat at home about this experience. Huge thanks to Lucky for sharing this experience with us!
Basketball Skills Session: Girls Got Game!
Upcoming Kapa Haka performance
Here we are practising hard for our upcoming Kapa Haka performance. We will proudly perform our waiata at the Celebration Assembly on Friday 5 June, we would love for you to come and support your tamariki if you are available.
Inquiry Topic
This term, our inquiry topic continues to centre around the school-wide focus of sustainability. Students are working in small collaborative groups to identify a local or global issue and develop innovative, sustainable solutions. It is awesome to see our “We Get There Together,” “We Make a Difference,” and “We Love Challenge” values being brought to life so beautifully.
"We Love Challenge" The Pōhutukawa Kids trying new things!
School Closed: Please remember Friday 29th May (Week 6) is a Staff Only Day, and the following Monday 1st June (Week 7) is King's Birthday. School will be closed on these days.
Staying Safe Online: Bullying
One in five young people in New Zealand have been the target of online bullying – it can happen to anyone, and it can be hard for parents and whānau to deal with. Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto takes online bullying seriously and would encourage you to chat to your tamariki’s teacher if you have any concerns about online bullying.
Visit Netsafe’s Online Bullying Advice for Parents to read more.
40 Hour Famine
19–21 June | Be Part of Something Bigger
This year, World Vision are again inviting young people across Aotearoa to make a real impact through the 40 Hour Challenge — raising life-changing funds for children and communities in the Solomon Islands.
Why?
Because right now, many children and families in the Solomon Islands are facing significant challenges due to poverty and the impacts of climate change. Communities rely heavily on farming and fishing, making them especially vulnerable to changing weather patterns and natural disasters. Funds raised through the 40 Hour Challenge help provide practical support and create stronger, more sustainable futures.
Our Year 5–8 students had the opportunity to sign up this week. We would love your support in helping them sign up, choose a challenge, and begin their fundraising journey. Click the link here to join our school's fundraising page.
Whether students choose to go completely offline for 40 hours or create a challenge of their own, every effort helps make a difference.
Child not taking part in the challenge but would still like to contribute? You can access our school fundraising page here.
Pōhutukawa Team News Term 2 Week 3 2026
Kia ora e te whānau,
What an awesome two weeks we have had in the Pōhutukawa Hub! Students have been showing excellent focus across all learning areas and are consistently demonstrating the Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto school values.
As the weather gets cooler, students are asked to keep there muddy footwear outside of the classrooms. If they would like to bring along slippers to wear in class then that is completely fine!
Cross Country
A highlight of the fortnight for many was our annual school Cross Country last Friday. We are so proud of all our Pōhutukawa students who trained hard in the lead-up to the event and gave it 100% on the day. Congratulations to those students who placed in the top 10!
Weekly Winter Sports
On Wednesday, we held our Weekly Winter Sport trials. It was fantastic to see so many students participating and giving their best effort. Teams will be named early next week.
Weekly Winter Sport will begin on Thursday of Week 5 (21st May) and will run for 10 weeks. Please keep an eye on Hero for further information regarding this.
The HDCA for Parents and Whānau
The Harmful Digital Communications Act (or HDCA for short) is an act passed by the Government back in 2015 to help people dealing with serious or repeated harmful digital communications. It covers anything digital like text, emails or social media content.
The most useful thing for parents to understand about the HDCA is the way the 10 communication principles define what is good or bad behaviour online.
If you’re ever concerned about your young person (or you just want to brush up on your knowledge!) visit Netsafe’s Guide to the HDCA.
Pōhutukawa Team News Term 2 Week 1 2026
Ngā mihi e te whānau,
It has been fantastic to see so many smiling faces back in the Pōhutukawa hubs as we kick off Week 1 of the new term! There is always such a great buzz in the air as students reconnect with friends and settle back into their school routines. We have spent the last few days sharing holiday stories and setting our intentions for the exciting learning ahead.
Please read on for some important updates and a look at what we have been learning over the past few days.
ANZAC Biscuits
Throughout the week, our spaces have been filled with the delicious, buttery aroma of ANZAC biscuits! As part of our wider learning about the significance of ANZAC Day and the history of our servicemen and women, homegroups have rolled up their sleeves to try their hand at this traditional recipe. It has been a wonderful way to blend practical kitchen skills with a bit of history, as the tamariki learned why these sturdy treats were so important back then.
We have included some photos below of some of our flour-dusted chefs in action.
Random Chat Online
How do random chat websites work? And what are the risks for tamariki using them?Random chat websites, like Chatroulette, pair users randomly through text or webcam conversations. The appeal is getting to talk to someone new that the user would never meet. But these websites are designed for adults and often allow nudity and other inappropriate content from users.
If you’re concerned that your young person might be exposed to these sites or you want to introduce parental controls, you can find out more on Netsafe’s Random Chat Websites page.
Pōhutukawa Team News Term 1 Week 8 2026
Ngā mihi e te whānau, warm greetings to you all
A wet end to the week, with quite a number of tamariki absent due to illness. With coughs and colds, as well as of course Covid, doing the rounds, we are being extra vigilant with our ventilation practices in the team, and giving lots of reminders to cough into elbows, wash hands regularly, and be aware of personal space. We hope you all have a happy, healthy weekend. Please read on for some updates and reminders.
Canterbury Hockey Sessions
This week we were lucky enough to have Canterbury Hockey come into Beckenham and run some sessions with us in preparation for Winter Sport. It was great to "have a go" for those who would not normally pick hockey as a go to sport! Thankfully the weather played ball too and we had a great time with the very knowledgeable instructors! Thanks Kate McG for organising these for us!
Winter Sports Starts Next Term
Our Winter Sports programme starts next Term and will take place on Thursday afternoons. The tamariki will be either participating in competitive hockey, netball, NFL flag football or football. More information will be coming up soon so keep an eye out on the BTKOP SPORTS Google Classroom and the Daily Daily Notices.
Muddy Months
As we head into the more winter like months we are noticing the inevitable increase of muddy shoes and clothes as students come back from play and lunch, having played sports and games on our beloved Beckenham Park. In Term 2 we will be asking students to take off muddy shoes before entering the Hub and lining them up neatly outside the door. We suggest that if your child is coming home with very muddy clothes, please consider supplying them with a spare pair of school shorts and a spare school top for them to change into once they finish their games. We appreciate your support with this.
Staying Safe Online: Online Grooming
As young people become more independent online, they can connect and communicate with people they don’t know.
Often this is a positive experience, but sometimes your tamariki could be being groomed or talking to someone
who isn’t who they say they are. Netsafe’s advice explains how unwanted contact works, including grooming and
what whānau can do to educate kids.
Check out the link here.
The Pōhutukawa Teaching Team
Chris, Nick, Kate, Rae, and Chloe.