Term 2 Week 2

Kia ora whanau!

Welcome back to Term 2. 

We have had an action packed programme for our concept-based learning approach this term, with children involved in either Science, Health or Visual Art. Each teacher is leading in a curriculum passion that they have to ensure that children get amazing experiences and deep learning opportunities. Each home room will have the opportunity to be involved in each of the different learning areas throughout the course of the term.

Hub 14 have started the term off with Amy for Health. They are focussing on understanding:
-what a good friend is
-what a bad friend is
-what bullying is and what to do about it
-what by-standing is
-the effects of negative self-image and tools to change our thoughts.

Hub 15 are starting the term off with a crime scene investigation with Gayle. The children are learning the basics of forensics and DNA.

Hub 21 have been very engaged in their Science lessons, in which they have been learning about identity through dissecting different things such as hearts and eye balls. 

Hub 22 are underway with their learning about 'Cubism', a style of art made famous by Georges Braques and Pablo Picasso. They have learned pencil techniques, had a play with fragmenting their drawings with different lines and shapes, and are now beginning their cubist style artwork.

Reading and Maths Groups

Term 1 provided a great opportunity for us to get to know the strengths and next steps of all of our children across reading and maths. Some reading and maths groups will be changing in the coming weeks to reflect the learning that children have achieved during Term 1. 


Sport updates


Winter Sport


We have now finalised teams for Winter Sport and communicated these to the children. The interest in playing sport was really encouraging and making up teams was a challenging task due to the level of skill and positive sportsmanship displayed by all the children. Unfortunately, we are limited to entering a maximum of two teams per sport in each age group and so can not take all the children who want to go.


Children participating in Winter Sport will have an early lunch each Friday (starting in week 3). They will be bussed to their game location at 12.30. Games start at 1.15 and should be finished by 2.15. On completion of their game they will be bussed back to Sandwich Road via Champion Street, arriving back at Beckenham by 3 pm.


Locations for matches are as follows:


  • Netball, Rugby and Year 7 and 8 football - Hagley Park
  • Hockey and Year 5 and 6 football - Nunweek Park


Children attending Winter Sport should ensure that they bring a warm jersey or jacket and a water bottle to their game. The following safety gear is also required:


  • Hockey - shin guards and mouthguards
  • Football - shin guards
  • Rugby - mouthguards


All players should have short nails and are not permitted to wear any kind of jewellery.


Of the children competing we have a mixture of highly able, competitive players and children who are trying out the sport for the first time. While there is a competitive element to Winter Sport, the primary focus is on participation and good sportsmanship. We look forward to seeing our school kete values on display.  

Cross Country

Cross Country

The children have been training regularly in preparation for our Cross Country Sports Event this Friday. We really appreciate your support. On Friday the children will have an early lunch before bussing back to Champion Street at 12.30. Teachers will lead a course walk to ensure the children are familiar with their route. The first race is the Year 6 girls who start at 1.30. Please ensure all children are wearing suitable footwear and have a warm layer to wear for before and after their race. Any children who are unable to compete due to medical reasons should bring a note from home signed by a parent or email the teacher.

Year 6 Girls – 1. 30 pm Year 6 Boys - 1.35 pm

Year 5 Girls – 1.45 pm Year 5 Boys – 1.50 pm

Year 7 Girls – 2:05 pm Year 7 Boys – 2:10 pm

Year 8 Girls – 2:20 pm Year 8 Boys – 2:25 pm

Thank you to all the parents who have offered to be course marshals. Please meet Jenny by the cricket pavilion at 1.15 to be given a high visibility vest and to find out your position.

Science

Kia Ora Parents / Caregivers

This term, the children in Team Pōhutukawa will be engaged in an exciting interchange programme for Science, Health and Art. One of the topics they will be studying is called “Life Processes.”

In this unit, the children will be learning about DNA, cells, organs and other aspects of the human body. As part of this topic, the children will be dissecting organs from sheep and pigs.

Hygiene and safety will be paramount in this unit. The children will be taught how to cut safely and will be wearing gloves throughout the procedures. They will be required to wash their hands thoroughly after each procedure.

When we’ve done this unit in the past, the response from the children has almost exclusively been that of enthusiasm and excitement. Any children that do end up feeling squeamish, however, won’t have to participate and will be provided with an alternative activity.

If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know.

Pohutukawa Newsletter Term 1 Week 10

Alpine Ice

We are looking forward to our Alpine Ice trip coming up on Monday 10th April. This is just a final reminder that each child will need their:
  • Jersey
  • Jacket 
  • Gloves 
  • Warm hat
  • Morning tea
  • Cut lunch (please note that there will be no lunch orders available on this day)
  • Drink bottle 
  • Any special items they may require, e.g., inhaler
  • Spare change of pants, just incase
  • Helmet - compulsory (bike, ski etc)
  • Pants (uniform, or as close to uniform as possible)
  • Thick socks (or 2 pairs). 
It would be very helpful at Alpine Ice if children know their shoe size. Please have this discussion prior to Monday. 


Wellbeing Circle Time

Part of our week is spending time in our home groups unpacking wellbeing. This term we have been focussing on wellbeing through understanding concepts around anxiety, family and hub culture, self-belief and identity. There has been a lot of discussion around how thoughts impact on behaviour and possible solutions for when these are negative. The resource that has been guiding these discussions is a book called 'Rising Tide' which has been put out by Worrybug. Your child will be bringing their own copy home next week for you to go through together and have further discussions.


Christchurch Libraries 

We have been lucky enough to have Kim, from Christchurch Libraries come to visit our team and take each reading group for a 45min lesson around authors, genres, new books and library programmes. 


The following are the library programmes available:

Mon - Science Snippets in the Library 
Mondays (3:30-4:30) – South Library
Free after school science programme presented by Science Alive! in libraries across Christchurch. Excellent Science Alive educators lead children through interactive activities to stimulate their interest in science, and something to take home every week! Cost: Free No Bookings required

Mon -  Maker Space Girls
Mondays (3:30PM – 5:00PM) – South Library - Girls' only version of our Maker Space Workshop.
This dynamic and innovative workshop will explore a range of exciting technologies. There will be four terms: 3D design, Coding and Robotics, Photo editing and Animation, eTextiles and Papertronics
When: Starts week two of every term
Age: 10-13 years               Cost: $20.00 per child per term

Thurs - Busy Book Club 
Tuesdays (3:30-4:30) – South Library
Explore new books, arts, crafts and technology and have after school fun in the library. Busy book club is a free activity that runs over two school terms. When: Starts week two of every term.
Age: 7-10 years                 Cost: Free                           Bookings required

Fri - Minecraft Club 
Fridays, (3:30PM – 4:30PM) – South Library
Get creative, start crafting! Build imaginative worlds and battle nocturnal creatures at the learning centres' Minecraft club. Novice or expert, join the club and play with your friends in our very own world. A tutor will be in attendance to supervise and assist if necessary. Starts week two of every term
Age: 8-13 years                 Cost: $20.00 per child per term                  Bookings required

Sat - Girls Minecraft Club 
Saturdays (2:30PM – 3:30PM) – South Library
Get creative, start crafting! Build imaginative worlds and battle nocturnal creatures at the learning centres' Minecraft club. Novice or expert, join the club and play with your friends in our very own world. A tutor will be in attendance to supervise and assist if necessary. Starts week two of every term
Age: 8-13 years                 Cost: $20.00 per child per term                  Bookings required

Roboclub: An after school programme for boys & girls Y4-8. 
Learn to programme EV3 Lego Mindstorm
April School Holidays – see website
3D Tinker Workshop
Tuesday, April 18, 2017 (9:30AM – 3:00PM)  - South Library Come along to our 3D Maker Workshop and use 123D to create your very own masterpiece.
Age: 10+ years                  Cost: $30 per child                                      Bookings required - limit of 12

Claymation Library
Discover the process of producing animated movies, in a style similar to 'Wallace & Gromit'. Plan an original story, create your own characters and craft your own movie using digital photography. This course runs over two days. See website for more details.
Bookings are required - limit of 12. Please phone to put your child on the waiting list.
Age: 8-12 years                                 Cost: $22 per child

Autumn Sewing
Tuesday, April 18, 2017 (9:30AM – 3:00PM) - Upper Riccarton Library
Fun workshop to learn the basics of sewing using a machine and create 1-3 projects. Choose a cushion cover, pocket scarf, pencil case or library book bag! You will need to choose and purchase your own fabric and supplies beforehand. Bring in your own sewing machine or borrow one of ours.
Ages: 9-12 years                               Cost: $15                              Bookings essential.

Alpine Ice Reminder

Kia Ora Whanau

We are looking forward to our Alpine Ice trip coming up next Monday 10th April. This is just a reminder that each child will need their:

  • Jersey
  • Jacket 
  • Gloves 
  • Warm hat
  • Morning tea
  • Cut lunch (please note that there will be no lunch orders available on this day)
  • Drink bottle 
  • Any special items they may require, e.g., inhaler
  • Spare change of pants, just incase
  • Helmet (bike, ski etc). 
Alpine Ice recommend that children bring a helmet as a safety precaution. We will be encouraging children to bring a helmet to wear also. If you are unable to get a helmet, please let your child's teacher know. We are also encouraging children to wear their uniform that is easy to ice-skate in. If your child doesn't have any uniform pants, they can wear pants that are as close as possible. 

We will be departing from Champion Street site at 11:20am and arriving back at Beckenham School by 3:00pm. 

If you have any questions please email your child's home teacher. 

Warm Regards
Pohutukawa Team